News & Resources for the community of Kippen in Scotland
Community Affairs in Kippen.
During Book Week p2/3/4 were learning about “Porridge the Tartan Cat”. The series of books has been written by the author Alan Dapre, and we were very lucky to have him visit us for an Assembly. Alan told us all about how he came up with ideas for the characters. We showed our tartan cats to Alan and then wrote some character descriptions. We had fun trying to say the tongue twister at the start of the books – “Porridge the tartan cat toppled into a tin of paint”.
As we neared the end of 2017, Primary 5/6 explored some of our traditional Christmas customs many of which emanated from the Victorian period. The pupils researched how life was different in those days, and we used ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens as a context for our reading during Scottish Book Week. Pupils found traditional language in the texts such as; bestow, ledger, gaol, and recorded meanings from the dictionary. The class were surprised to learn that the original ‘Father Christmas’ not only wore a green cloak (in keeping with the Mid-Winter Festival) but that he did not initially come to bring presents for children! Instead, he went round neighbouring houses for food, drink and conversation with the adults! Greenery such as Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe were brought indoors as part of the Festival: a tradition which has continued with Christmas trees. Foodwise, we discovered that cakes called Twelfth Cake were eaten. These had pastry crowns on them, but this tradition evolved into our Christmas cake. Mince pies were popular, however contained meat rather than dried fruit. We made mince pies in class after a suggestion for a ‘Victorian Bake Off’ and Mary Berry would surely have marvelled at the creativity of these pies! P5/6 has some artful artists too and created Victorian tile designs for our feature Victorian fireplace.
Primary Seven have been very busy during Book Week! Following on from their outdoor learning, working towards their John Muir award, the class decided to choose ‘Light on Dumyat’ by Rennie McOwan as their class focus during Book Week. They enjoyed reading and discussing the many adventures of Gavin and Clan Stewart, especially as the book features a number of local spots that the children have visited themselves. We also spent some time researching the author, Rennie McOwan – creating fact files on his fascinating life and career. As he is a locally based author, we were able to contact him directly by email and we received a wonderful reply, full of interesting advice and inspiration. We hope that he will be able to visit us at Kippen in the near future. We also had great fun designing and creating our very own interactive book T-shirts. Each Primary 7 selected a favourite book and designed their own ‘interactive’ T-shirt with extra information concealed inside pockets and flaps. They are looking forward to sharing these with the other children of the School when we return in the New Year.
Kippen Primary pupils from Primary 3, 4 and 5 had a great treat in November in the form of a day out at a ‘Heroes and Villains’ musical concert. As part of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s schools outreach programme, staff attended a training session and followed this up with a series of lessons centred on the musical programme they were to experience on the visit day. This included the popular Faure’s Pavanne, The Overture to The Magic Flute, A Night on Bare Mountain by Mussorgsky and some pieces by Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. To top the excitement, the audience had a visit from ‘Darth Vader’ himself, as the John Williams theme music from Star Wars played. We were also lucky to have a visit from two local professional musicians prior to the concert; Helen, a flautist and Duncan, a clarinet player with the R.S.N.O., came to demonstrate the range and tone of their instruments and to set the scene for the concert. As we have many talented musicians on our school roll, the duo were impressed by the children’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject. Maybe we shall see a few of them in the RSNO ‘pit’ in years to come. Many thanks to Annabel Gaywood, our parent helper and a violinist herself, for enhancing our musical tour bus experience on the day.
“Be Bold, Be Strong” – “Go in Love”
All men and women are welcome to attend
Guild meetings held in Kippen Church House:-
13th February 7.30 p.m.
“Wigtown Book Festival”
Mrs Anne Brown
27th February 2.00 p.m.
“Buddhism”
Sarah Hill
2nd March Time TBA
“World Day of Prayer”
Aberfoyle Parish Church
13th March 7.30 p.m.
“Rock Gardens”
Mr Sandy Leven
Saturday 17th March Coffee Morning/
10.30 a.m. to 12 noon Gift Day
Guild Projects: This year Kippen Guild is supporting two
Projects – “Street Pastors” and “Breaking the Cycle of FGM”
Further information is available from
Joanna M. McPhail 870681 or
joanna.mcphail@btinternet.com
Building works at Kippen Surgery are now finished and we are delighted with the results. Please note that there is now a joint Reception window for both Surgery and Pharmacy.
Dr Annette Schmauz
Since moving to Kippen some 19 years ago, we have thoroughly enjoyed all the amenities this village has to offer, but perhaps one of the most beneficial to life here has been the tremendous service we receive from the Surgery and all its staff. Today, it seems to be the norm for the media to decry the NHS, although everyone else who has had call to use the service normally has nothing but praise for the treatment received, and for the dedication of all the staff.
Whilst it appears that some people will complain about anything, everyone we have spoken to has had nothing but praise for our Surgery. To be able to guarantee that you can see a doctor on the day needed seems to be a rarity today, with tales of having to wait days for an appointment in other practices. Also, to have access to all the other services provided at the Surgery is greatly appreciated. Finally, to have a Pharmacy on site is such a benefit, rather than having to go into Stirling when, in all probability, you are not feeling on top form or may not have transport readily available.
We await with interest to see the new improved Surgery, but we have no doubt we will still greatly benefit from an excellent service.
On behalf of two frequent flyers of Scott Brae.
The February meeting on the 21st is a Travel Night, and the competition is a holiday photograph.
Everyone is welcome to come along to our meetings.
Kippen Heritage plans to produce a Calendar for 2019 comprising photographs of areas of the Village (or views therefrom), both past and present.
If you have a photo or photos you feel would be appropriate for possible selection for the calendar, we would be delighted if you could forward it, or them, to us via the Wee Vine –
enquiries@theweevine.org (minimum size 2 Mb if possible) Or hard copies to Stuart Thomson, Margaret Oswald or myself.
12 will be selected from those submitted, and all hard copies will be returned to their owner.
It is our intention to have the Calendar available for sale by the Summer to give visitors the chance to take one home as a souvenir so, if you would like to participate, it would be great if you could let us have your photo(s) by 1st April 2018.
Margaret Diamond
The annual Whist will be held at 7 p.m. Friday evening, the 2nd February in the Village Hall.
Please put this date in your diary and come along and support this fun Village occasion which raises in excess of £5000 annually for this worthwhile charity.
Anyone wishing to book a table should contact Stuart Thomson on 01786 870529, 07736 362011, or stuartsthomson@aol.com.
In January there will be some brush-up lessons in the Reading Rooms. This will be on 30th January at 7:30 p.m.
Also, lessons for those interested in either learning the game, or dusting off rustiness, will be available any Thursday evening in January at 8:00 in the Cross Keys, where the Bridge Club will be happy to help.
Naomi Hirst
The Wee Vine 