Election Fever Hits King’s Park

Election Fever Hits King’s Park

 

On Wednesday 14th November there was a real sense of excitement in King’s Park as the much anticipated House Captain Election Day had arrived. The election was the culmination of a huge amount of learning for Primary 7.

 

Over the past couple of months, Primary 7 had learned about types of government, focusing specifically on democracy. They investigated political parties and their manifestos, researched the role of an MP and MSP through reading texts and speaking to their local representatives.  The Primary 7s also analysed election results and created a variety of graphs.  They looked at what makes a good campaign and discovered what happens in the run up to, and during, an election day.  Not only did they learn all this, they also worked hard to develop their understanding and use of persuasive techniques!

 

After each child in Primary 7 delivered a House Captain speech in class, they voted to decide who would be the candidates for each House – Buccleuch, Dalhousie and Lothian. An intensive campaigning period began and the candidates all demonstrated great leadership skills and were ably assisted by their campaign teams.  Speeches were upleveled, press releases and posters produced, and manifestos written.  The campaign teams were then ready to canvas for votes!

 

The P4-7 pupils gathered in their Houses to listen to the speeches and watch the campaign videos. Pupils and staff alike were hugely impressed by the confident way in which the candidates’ delivered their speeches to the large audience.  Everyone agreed that the content of the candidates’ speeches was also outstanding, full of their skills, qualities and interesting ideas about how to make King’s Park an even better school.  Each candidate effectively used persuasive techniques to engage the audience and encourage the staff and pupils to vote for them.  Mrs Renton said “I have never seen such a high standard of public speaking.  I was truly blown away by what I saw and heard today!”  Then it was time for the King’s Park learners to select their favourite candidate by casting their vote, made even more difficult due to the exceptionally high standard of the speeches and videos.

 

The Primary 7s made fantastic polling staff and helped ensure the polling station and voting ran smoothly. Prior to the Election Day, every P4-7 pupil and all members of staff had registered to vote and received polling cards.  Most brought their polling cards with them on Election Day to help speed up the voting process.  The ballot papers designed by the Primary 7s were impressive.  Not only did they look brilliant, they also included clear instructions on how to vote.  The polling station buzzed with election fever as people marked their x on the ballot paper.  Everyone enjoyed using the real-life polling station resources which had been borrowed from Midlothian Council.  Using the polling booths and ballot boxes really added to excitement of the day.

 

The votes were counted and the results locked away until the special assembly the next day. The     P4-7s, their teachers and the candidates all gathered on Thursday morning, eager to hear which candidates had been successful in being awarded the prestigious role of House Captain.  The gym hall erupted when the Houses found out who their new captains were:

Buccleuch Captain – Isla     Buccleuch Vice Captain – Connor

Dalhousie Captain – Mya      Dalhousie Vice Captain – Ben

Lothian Captain – Alfie        Lothian Vice Captain – Natasha

 

Mrs Renton led the swearing in ceremony where the new House Captains took an oath to serve the school with empathy, integrity and resilience.

 

All the P4-7 learners got a taste of democracy in action during our House Captain elections and now everyone can’t wait to see what the new House Captains will achieve this year!