Click on the images of the Gardenrose Primary marathon below to view them full size. Taken 2005.

July 2004 - Mrs Valenti  presented house captains with special medals. The winning house shield was presented by Mrs Whiteman to the captains of Merrick. Henry Anderson, from Culzean’s Dophin House, presented special John Muir Award certificates to the P7 pupils who had spent four days at the Dolphin House recently saying that Gardenrose was the first school in the West of Scotland to qualify for these certificates. John Muir was born in Dunbar in 1838 and moved to America with his family when he was 11 years old. In the spring of 1868, he moved to Yosemite and “changed the world”. 

Earlier this year, on March 29, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his selection of the Muir Quarter to represent the Golden State in the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters Programme. He said, "John Muir has been a role model to generations of Californians and to conservationists around the world. He taught us to be active and to enjoy -- but at the same time protect -- our parks, our beaches, and our mountains." In 1976, the California Historical Society voted him "The Greatest Californian" and President Theodore Roosevelt once said of him, “Our generation owes much to John Muir”. The P7 pupils were also presented with Farewell certificates and a class photograph to mark their hard work over the years.

 The competition is organised annually by Alloway Rotary Club in memory of the late Donald McLean, former depute Director of Education with Strathclyde Regional Council in Ayr.  Last week Allan Baird, youth projects convener with Alloway Rotary, and committee members Iain Oliver and Douglas Graham visited the school to present the pupils with the winning trophy, a certificate and a cheque for £250.  Mr Baird said that Donald McLean’s vision was to acknowledge the invaluable work done in local primary schools. “He envisaged a challenge competition where the pupils, helped and guided by their teacher, would carry out investigative and research work individually and in groups,” added Mr Baird.  “Donald thought this would be an exercise in confidence building, educational advancement and personal skills development of the pupils,” he continued, “and he hoped participation in the challenge competition would assist the pupils in their preparation for senior school.”  As part of the project the pupils set up a management committee of Lisa Campbell, Manufacturing; Claire Scobie, Accountant; Claire Houston, Secretarial; Iain Coleman, Advertisement; and David McCulloch, Buyers.  “We wanted to make something to sell,” said a spokesman for the pupils, “and decided on healthy food and that fruit kebabs would be fun.”  They had to decide on a name for the company and after considering some that were “OK” and some that were “just a bit silly”, they settled on Kebabylon. They also decided to put the fruit kebabs on straws because it was the cheapest way.  They were all delighted with their win and Lisa Campbell thanked Mr Baird for presenting the prizes to the school adding, “We’re not sure yet what to do with the money but we’ll let you know!” (From the Ayrshire Post March 26th 2004)

This primary 1 photo was taken August of 2002. Click on the image to view the photo full size. Courtesy of the Ayr Advertiser.

A new garden at Gardenrose Primary School in Maybole has been named after former head teacher Mrs Pat Forrest.

FUN-CERCISE SESSIONS

Afternoon delights: There was no shortage of nursery kids and adults to join in after lunch either.

Adults and kids alike show off their muscles at the Gardenrose fun 'n' fitness Nursery Class.

Feet in the air: senior teacher Deirdre Cuthbertson enjoys the fun as she leads the exercises.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

SPRING is in the air. And youngsters at Gardenrose Primary School's nursery class have found even MORE energy! But nursery staff are adept at finding ways to channel that vitality into learning experiences. The nursery has a blue room and a green room, and youngsters spend an hour in each. The blue room offers loads of activities with sand, water, paint and toys available for the tots to use. The green room is a bit more sedate, with a `story corner', but it's still fun all the way. Theme at the nursery right now is `Babies and Spring', and youngsters have been singing Spring songs. The nursery has morning and afternoon sessions for pupils aged three and four. And local parents with youngsters aged two or over are advised to get in touch with the school to pave the way for their child's place.  (From the Ayrshire Post March 29th 2002.)

400 NEW BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

YOU might think that books were on the way out in the age of the computer. But that's not the case - thank goodness! And people still like to get to grips with real pages. Maybole's Gardenrose Primary gave a huge vote of confidence to the printed word by ordering 400 new books for the school library. And the books were on the library shelves in time for World Book Day. Pupils got the chance to pick out one of the wonderful storybooks now available. Cash to buy the books was raised at a Crocodile Fun Day in the school, when pupils were sponsored to complete an exciting obstacle course. Ayrshire Post 22/3/2002