TEN new digital cameras have been purchased and distributed to classes at Athelstaneford Primary School as part of a series of improvements at the school.

The school’s pupil council dished out the technology, which means great opportunities for classes making use of digital cameras to record their learning.

The school’s headteacher, Catriona McKinnon, told parents in the school’s monthly newsletter: “It also means that we now have greater means of recording achievements.

“The P5/6/7 pupils should feel proud of their efforts in recording each of us for display on our Commonwealth wall in the hall in various sporting poses!” That was just part of the school improvements, with the dining hall also coming under “great change” in the last year.

Lunches are now set out very differently, offering a canteen-style of selection.

Mrs McKinnon added: “As always there is plenty of fruit and bread available.

“Packed lunches continue to sit with school lunches in the hall and the next step is to look at improving how this environment feels, perhaps through some softer furnishings or music.” Outside the school, work has also been ongoing to make improvements.

Plans are already being drawn up for another shed to store equipment, as well as more flowers, cutting back some of the bushes and cleaning up the pond.

Mrs McKinnon added: “You may also have noticed the tractor tyre and logs that arrived. Thank you very much to Mr Lowe for this and the nursery musical instruments have made an interesting addition to the top playground!” The nursery is also on the lookout for a number of items – camping mats, small wheelbarrows, a hosepipe, funnels and pipes of different sizes, crates, wooden planks and old Belfast sinks.

The headteacher added: “The request for more seating also came in from children, although this was before the return of our wonderful playground benches from Mr Coppinger.

“If you have not seen our lovely Saltire benches, please admire them.” Meanwhile, the school has been celebrating after raising a third Green Flag.

Mrs McKinnon described the flag-raising as “the big news of the term” and praised the hard work of the school’s eco committee, who “have certainly not rested on their laurels”.

She added: “They were keen to publicise Earth Hour and delighted to meet with Mr Gerlings, who spoke with them about ways to improve the energy efficiency of the lighting around the school.

“This has led to discussions with our energy officer so watch this space for something new being trialled and the eco committee monitoring our electricity usage.” They are not the only ones venturing outside the classroom, though.

P5/6/7 were busy before the Easter break digging over a stretch of land to the side of the public footpath leading to the field behind the school.

They were working with parents to create a wildflower strip in the hope of attracting more bees to the area.