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On Tuesday two of our Citizenship Groups, The Eco Explorers and The Outsiders, went to find out about tree felling from Eva at the Forestry Commission who are chopping down trees beside the A9 along from the school.
First we walked to their office to collect hard hats and then we scrambled through a secret tunnel under the motorway which led to the right spot.
We got shown the machine and were told about the wildlife that lives around the area and in the trees.
The machine worked really quickly and weighed 37-40 tons. It burns 70 litres of fuel per hour and has 3 exits, one at the front, one on the side and a hatch on the roof. Aaron who operates the machine told us all about it then we watched in working. It grabbed the tree with pincers and chopped it off at the bottom with a saw. Next the rollers ran up and down stripping off the branches, then it turned the tree on its side and the computer measured it and cut the logs to the right length. Aaron has to look all around him and look out for the poles along the path that show where the gas pipe is.
We all enjoyed our visit, it was really interesting to watch and an exciting thing to see.

Eliza McDonald, Lewis Foster, Rowan Walsh

rsdl The dark February evenings have been brighter than usual for residents of Dunkeld and Birnam. Throughout the month, The Royal School of Dunkeld has been illuminated to mark its 450th anniversary. Indeed February launched 5 months of celebration for the school and the wider community, which will culminate in a Royal Garden Party on 27th June.
Believed to be the oldest ‘Royal’ school in Scotland, the school has educated the children of many ancient Highland Perthshire families and former pupils include a Prime Minister of Canada (Alexander Mackenzie), 2015 Great British Bake Off semi-finalist Flora Shedden and sports broadcaster Eilidh Barbour. The roots of education run very deep along the banks of the Tay and a church school would certainly have existed in Dunkeld by the end of the 8th century. Bishop George Brown, Chancellor of Dunkeld Cathedral, founded a Grammar School in the early 16th century for the education of choristers. The precursor of today’s Royal School, this was located in the Cathedral Chapel of St. George until much of the Cathedral was destroyed in 1560 during the Reformation.
A few years later, on 2nd February 1567, the Earl of Moray in the name of King James VI of Scotland granted a Royal Charter for a Grammar School "to be called for all time to come The Royal School of Dunkeld". At the same time the school came under the patronage of the Earl of Atholl and his successors and the original Royal Charter still resides in the archives at Blair Castle. Some of today’s children will have an opportunity to view this remarkable document at the castle and others may see it during the June celebrations at the cathedral and school.
After the school was destroyed at the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689 pupils were accommodated in a building attached to the east gable of the Cathedral, which still shows the marks. By 1798 the scholars numbered 80 in winter and 60 in summer, each paying 2/6d per quarter, and the schoolmaster’s annual salary was £34. During this century the school moved to a building at the foot of Cathedral Street, remaining there until 1891 when it relocated to Culloden House at the Cross. Both boys and girls were educated here, however in 1853 a girls’ school, endowed by Anne, Duchess of Atholl, was established nearby. When this closed in 1898 the girls rejoined the boys in the Royal Grammar School. By 1930, pupils from Dunkeld and schools on the other side of the river in Little Dunkeld and Torwood were transferred to the present building, which carries on the proud name and history of The Royal School of Dunkeld. The bishop's mitre in the school’s coat of arms recalls its Cathedral origins. To help mark the 450th anniversary, the Court of the Lord Lyon is restoring the school’s original coat of arms letter patent.
The Royal School of Dunkeld has always been at the heart of the community and the 450th anniversary provides many opportunities to join in. Any time from now and throughout the spring, former pupils are invited to schedule school visits for sharing memories with children.
Then on June 27th the cathedral will host a special service, local businesses will be invited to decorate their windows, children will be dressed from different historical eras at the school’s Royal Garden Party and local artists will display artifacts created to commemorate the anniversary. The Bridge and Heartland FM will bring you updates on this unique season of celebration in the months to come. Watch this space!
Calling all former pupils and teachers of The Royal School of Dunkeld:
As we celebrate the school's 450th anniversary, we are on the hunt for community archives. Do you have any photographs, cine films, postcards, letters, newspaper clippings especially relating to the school and perhaps the celebrations in 1967? Were you a star pupil who received a prize book or certificate? We would like to display these and make digital copies of some artefacts, where possible, for future generations. All items will be treated with care and returned. Please drop off at the Community Archive, The Cross, Dunkeld.

reporter The classes are learning in different ways to promote tourism where we live. Nursery, P1, P1/2 and P2/3 are looking at different buildings in Dunkeld. P3/4 are making a class brochure to advertise different attractions. P4/5 are taking photographs of parts in the school grounds and local area to make an attraction scavenger hunt. P6 are making an orienteering map of the local area. P7 are trying to achieve a John Muir award by exploring the Hermitage.
In other news P6 are lucky enough to be allowed to attend the junior Ryder cup in Blairgowrie and might even get a taster session!
By Emma and Carrie from the Tech Team

Well done to the Events Committee of the Royal School of Dunkeld which wins a crisp £10 for their committee.

Entries for Young Roving Reporter should be e-mailed to the editor with your name, age and address. (Addresses will not be published)

Congratulations to Aidan, this month's winner of a crisp £10 note.

On the road opposite the Royal School Of Dunkeld there is a very dangerous corner.You can't see round it. Lots of children from Stell Park that go to the R.S.D. have to cross there. Lots of people drive too fast on this stretch. While the council are increasing safety measures at Bruce Gardens andin Dunkeld for crossing the road they are doing nothing to make this corner safer. I think there should be speed reading signs here to make it safer for children to cross and maybe a zebra crossing too.
By Aidan Norris, age 11

Thanks to everyone who has been supporting the idea of having a skate and bike park in Dunkeld & Birnam.

Since my last update we have been to many different skate parks Pitlochry, Perth, and Dundee.

We have chosen things we liked and what things we didn't.

We also thought about where might be suitable place for a skate and bike track park in Dunkeld & Birnam. Ideas include the Rec and Jubilee Park.

We also went to the community council and talked to them about our ideas. We hope they will give us a grant to help us get started.

Our next meeting is going to be on Wednesday 21st August at 5 pm at the Birnam Institute. Everyone is welcome to come along and find out more.

Please 'like us' on Face book. (Dunkeld & Birnam Skate n Bike Park).

For more information contact me at: scott@hillrobertson.co.uk

Thanks, Scott Robertson

31-10-2019 Regular Columns

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