It doesn't seem like a year since the last time I sat down to write an account of school happenings for the Coll Magazine, hoping that I get it done before Martin rings up looking for it.
Much of the early part of the school term was spent planning and raising money for the school trip in June. Several fund raising events were held, including Whist Drives and a Coffee Afternoon and Sale, which raised a great deal of money, to take thirteen children, myself and Fay and Frank Anderson to Edinburgh for five days.
Before we headed for Edinburgh, a few noteable things happened which livened up the year. Early on I had been contacted by the BBC to see if I would be willing to have some filming done around the school, to accompany a programme they were doing on one of the Katie Morag children's books for the series 'Words & Pictures". I agreed to this and at the beginning of June the film crew duly arrived. As well as taking part in the filming, the children also saw how much work was involved in making even a short piece of film. If anyone had dreams of becoming a film star, they almost certainly were having second thoughts at the end of the week. At the time of writing, we have still to see the end product but I'm sure all the effort put in will be worth it.
During the same week we also had a visit from the Fire Prevention Officers who were visiting the island with their mobile display caravan. They certainly got the message across to the children about the benefits of smoke detectors!
At last the day dawned. It was time for the School Trip. Everyone arrived at the pier in good time for the boat. Fay and Frank looked a little apprehensive. Wonder why?
We arrived in Oban safely, picked up the minibus and made tracks for Edinburgh. During our time there we visited places such as the Castle, the Camera Obscura, Holyrood Palace, the Butterfly Farm and the Mining museum. On one of our days we crossed the Forth into Fife to visit the Sea-Life Centre at St. Andrews and the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. Visits to the cinema and the swimming pool were also crammed into a very tight schedule.
A party of American teachers and librarians also visited us before the end of term; they seemed amazed that a school could be quite so small.
Our end of term prize giving came around again. The children performed a short musical play and the prizes were presented by Mairi Hedderwick this year. The trophy presented for Aimon Geechil by Biddy Russell was awarded to Emily Taylor. Prizes were awarded to Julia Payne, Alison Kennedy, Claire Kennedy and Andrew Fraser for project work done after their school trip.
Early in the Autumn term, we held the launch of the children's book Gully and the Isle of Lloc. The children wrote and illustrated this book by themselves, motivated by Mairi Hedderwick. It has proved to be a very successful venture selling 150 copies so far. The book even ran to a second edition!
During October, we received a rare treat the painters! The colours may not be to everyone's taste but the school is certainly much brighter and fresher looking!
Our annual Nativity Play and Carol Concert was held just before the Christmas holidays. A collection for the African Famine Appeal raised £65.11.
At the start of this year we received some very sad news about the death of Biddy Russell. She had been a good friend to the school, donating the trophy for Airson Geechil and showing a great interest in the children. We shall certainly miss her visits every June.
I can't close without once again thanking the school board, the parents and everyone else for the support throughout the year. We certainly could not have achieved so much this past year without their support.
... and what do the workers say?
"My favourite part of the school trip was Edinburgh Dungeons. I liked it because you could see all the old torture instruments." - Joanna Taylor.
"I liked Waynes World best of all because it was funny." - John-allan MacRae.
"I liked Hook best of all." - Donald Munro
"I liked Waynes World when they were in bed and Wayne started dancing about and singing in a bikini, the lady on the phone hung up." - Claire Kennedy.
"I liked the swimming pool best because you could splash about and play in the water." Alison Kennedy.
"I liked Hook the best because it was long and a funny film." - Sandy Munro. "I liked Hook best at the cinema. It was brilliant and exciting." - lan Fraser.
"What I liked best about the school trip was the films we saw. We saw Wayne's World and Hook but I liked Wayne's World best because it was funny." - Julia Payne.
"I liked the school trip because we got to see Hook and Waynes World." - Emily Taylor.
"I liked Hook the best of all because it was really good." - Robbie Payne.
"I liked Hook when the boy stands on the piece of wood and it goes into his leg."
Andrew Fraser.
"I liked Hook the best of all the things we did on the school trip." - Neil Kennedy.
"What I liked best was Edinburgh dungeons and the castle." - Sara Oliphant.
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This seems a good spot to offer our warmest congratulations and good wishes to
Louise and AlIan Gallacher on their maniage in December 1992.
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