Even though Kinloss Primary School is currently closed to its pupils, Kinloss Primary Virtual School is very much open, and pupils, families and staff have been taking part in weekly ‘Get Caught Challenges’ shared with the families through social media and set by the Head Teacher. Last week, pupils, families and staff shared photographs of themselves Getting Caught Reading in unusual places, and this week Mrs Wolford’s challenge was to Get Caught Celebrating VE Day.
Mrs Wolford contacted Morayvia, Kinloss to see if they would be able to help provide some historical facts and information about Kinloss, which she could share with the virtual school community. Morayvia were not only able to provide photographs, maps, information and books about the history of RAF Kinloss during the Second World War and its role as an Operational training Unit, but they also helped the school’s special bear to have a really fantastic socially distanced day out!
Kinloss Primary School runs a Parents Working Away Group (PWA) for all children in Kinloss whose parent may be in the military and deployed, away for training or working offshore or working away from home. The PWA has its own mascot, Eddie the Engineering Bear, who was able to go to Morayvia and visit some of the incredible exhibits they have on display.
After talking to Eddie, he said he enjoyed sitting inside the Wessex helicopter and on the Fire engine, but his favourite aircraft was the Sea King XZ592 Helicopter which he got to sit next to, he also really liked the Anderson Shelter, which he said helped remind him about the air raids in World War Two. Later that day, Eddie the Engineering Bear got to see the Poseidon P-8, Duke of Edinburgh but he said he still preferred the Sea King! Eddie’s exploits will provide another activity for pupils to do at home with their parents, when they try to work out where Eddie was in Kinloss and Findhorn as part of the VE day celebrations.
The response to the most recent Get Caught Challenge has been amazing from our school community, with a wide range of different pictures and stories, sharing of preparations and pictures and memories of family members who served during World War Two. All of the contributions from pupils, families, staff, Morayvia and Eddie the Engineering Bear, have been compiled into a 75th VE Day celebratory slideshow.
On behalf of everyone at Kinloss Primary Virtual School, thank you very much to Chris, Willie, Lynne and everyone at Morayvia for helping and supporting us to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day during these unprecedented times.