News & Films

Every child loves a story and none more than any one of our primary school pupils.

Reading and writing are at the heart of the primary school.  

Our pupils also love writing stories and this term, the Head Teacher ran a story competition giving every pupil the chance to write their own short story.  The entries came flooding in and all those who entered a story had the privilege of a hot chocolate and piece of cake with the Mr Rattray.

Each and every story was outstanding. Every child who entered was awarded a certificate and a book.  There was however one overarching winner - Year 6 pupil Dylan, who wrote a beautiful short story about Father Christmas.  In the words of one of the judges 'this story included lots of details, twists and turns which completely captivated anyone reading it.'  Dylan was awarded a Star Writer award and won a £10 Amazon voucher. Well done Dylan.

Here is Dylan's story below.

The Christmas Chimney Sweeps  

3 o’clock in the morning. 

Connor woke up to the sound of boots on the roof. “Boots on the roof! That can’t be right!” thought Connor. Connor got out of bed, tiptoeing so his uncle Otis wouldn’t wake up. The reason why he lived with his uncle was because his parents were both dead. His father had been the Square Emperor Nicolas who ruled over the four islands in the archipelago, so until Connor was old enough Otis would govenor the islands for him. As Connor opened the window and climbed onto the window sill, he grabbed hold on the roof and prepared himself for what was there. 

10 past 3 in the morning. 

Connor climbed on the roof and saw a green figure on the the chimney. It had long pointy ears, a long pointy red hat and a long pointy nose. Though it had a green fur coat, it had red trousers and was rather small. It was also holding a broom and a hosepipe. It took the broomstick out of the chimney and said something very strange: “Ingle lingle cingle. Gingle hingle.” Suddenly Connor noticed several other creatures saying the exact same thing! Just as Connor was about to run, a voice said: “Ho ho ho!” Connor gasped when he heard the voice “It couldn’t be”. he said, flabbergasted. But it was. It was really Father Christmas! His ruby red clothes, his wonderful white beard, his laughter that made his tummy shake like a bowlful of jelly, it couldn’t be anyone else! “Wait a minute, you’re supposed be asleep”! said Father Christmas. Then the creature, which was actually an elf, whispered something in his ear. “If you don’t tell any one about this,” said Father Christmas, “ I will give you a sleigh ride.” Connor agreed, and the sleigh set off in the night.  

Half past 3 in the morning. 

Once Father Christmas had delivered the presents to the town, the sleigh set off. Father Christmas called the reindeer on. “On Dasher! On Dancer! On Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen! Oh, and Rudoplh. I nearly forgot about you.” They went on to the church of the island to the sound of Rudolph’s cross grunting and sneezing. When they arrived at church, the elf went to the chimney, cleaned it and said again “Ingle lingle cingle. Gingle hingle.” As Father Christmas went down he said to Connor “That’s elf for: It’s all clear. Go ahead.” Vicar Crow, the church’s vicar was lying in bed, his Chrismas speech about Hassan the angel, who God had gave the Square Archipelago to, ready. Hattie, his pet lemur who is often in his hat, was in her basket, sucking her tail. The reason why Archipelagan vicars have pet lemurs is because the nearest country to the islands is Madagascar, and some creatures there are said in the archipelago to be sacred. Father Christmas gave Vicar Crow earmuffs and Hattie two coconut halfs. Then they moved on. 

4 o’clock in the morning. 

Father Christmas next stop was Mountain Island. They arrived at a ballon parked in the snow. This was the home of Connor’s friend Howard the Pilot. Howard had a very busy day and was sleeping like a baby. There was no chimney so the elf had nothing to do. Father Christmas just opened the door and gave Howard a compass. Then they flew towards the cave. In the cave, the Ice Dragon and the Protector Dragon. These two dragons were one of the most famous things about the archipelago as they can’t be found anywhere else. Father Christmas gave the Ice Dragon a torch and the Protector Dragon a fish. Then the sleigh left to another place. 

Quarter past four in the morning. 

Connor didn’t like the place where they were going next because the people there were responsible for his parents death. They killed his mother and tried to lower his father into their volcano, Mount Murlod. Though it didn’t work and they were now at peace, his father burned anyway. The place was  Murlod Island and the people were the Murlod Army. However, they deserved as much from Father Christmas as anyone else. First, they delivered to Anthony Andrew, the Leader. They gave him a teaching book. Second they delivered to General Aragaccus Hadrail, the army’s commander. They gave him a chair with wheels instead of legs. Last, they delivered to Hassan himself. Every Archipelagan worshipped Hassan as he looked after them. They gave Hassan some cotton and laid it on a rock in his volcano which was of course, Mount Murlod. Then they set off for anywhere else and left.  

Quarter to 5 in the morning.  

They delivered to the places Father Christmas hadn’t visited yet. Finally they arrived in the North Pole. “Tingle ingle tingle Ningle Pingle. Yingle wingle mingle cingle tingle hingle.” said the elf “This is the North Pole. Your wishes may come true here.” translated Father Christmas. Connor stood in the snow and wished hard. “Wingle ingle lingle ningle tingle Ningle Lingle wingle single ongle yingle.” said the elf. “Wish in elf and the Northen Lights will shine on you.” translated Father Christmas. “But I don’t know how to speak elf.” said Connor. “How about I teach you at my grotto?” Father Christmas suggested. In the grotto it was warm, cozy and decorated. After the lesson Connor tried again and Father Christmas wiped Rudolph’s nose as the snow was making his nose cold. “Ingle wingle tingle single mingle pingle gingle”. Then suddenly the Northen Lights glew over him! And then he saw two faces in the light! These were the faces of his parents! “Connor.” the faces said “Connor, wake up.” 

6 o’clock in the morning. 

“Connor, wake up” said Otis. Connor woke up. “What!” he said, shocked. “It’s time for presents.” Connor opened his present and gasped. It was a small portrait of his father! This was a great Christmas. “Eat your breakfast quickly because we need to go to church.” Otis told him. As soon as Otis left Connor spotted some initials at the back of the portrait: FC. Perhaps it wasn’t a dream... 

10 o’clock in the morning. 

At Vicar Crow’s treetop church it was bustling. Howard had been very quick thanks to his compass. Mr Andrew was teaching the army about churches with his book. Aragaccus gave the chair with wheels to a Murlod who couldn’t walk. The Murlod called it a wheelchair. In the cave, the dragons warmed themself up with the torch and shared the fish. Hassan was pleased with the cotton as it was a comfable place to rest. Hattie began hitting the coconut halves and covering herself with coconut milk, laughing. Vicar Crow wore earmuffs instead of his hat to block out the noise. It was a stupendous Christmas!