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**School Club Links Go From Strength to Strength**
One aim of Active Schools is to build links with local clubs to create pathways for pupils to move from school activities to their local club. Great examples of this have been in Lauder, St Boswells and Melrose, where primary five pupils have been making links with their local golf clubs. Pupils took part in the firstclubgolf programme during the summer term, which gave them an introduction to golf using modified plastic clubs, rubberized balls and velcro targets. These pupils then had the opportunity during the summer holidays to continue to enjoy and learn to play golf using real equipment at their local club, led by qualified PGA level one coaches. These sessions have proved hugely successful with up to 20 pupils attending in Melrose, 15 pupils in Lauder, and similar numbers in St Boswells. A huge thank you goes to all the coaches who have been giving up their own time each week to give the pupils this valuable opportunity.
 
A further example of this has been in St Boswells and Newtown Primary Schools, who have been making links with St Boswells Tennis Club. Both schools have been lucky enough to be working with local tennis coach Toni Lemmon for eight weeks, who very kindly volunteerd her time during the summer term to promote tennis at the club. Sessions have proved very successfull, and staff and pupils would like to thank Toni for all her hard work.
**Football Fours & Cricket Challenge**
The sun shone brightly for the Earlston cluster football & cricket festival at Rhymer's Park in May, with every school in the cluster sending at least one primary four squad to take part. For two hours pupils played against neighbouring teams, showing off the skills they had been practising in the weeks running up to the event. A big thank you goes to the cricket and football development teams for making the afternoon so successful, to all teachers and parents who transported pupils to the event, and to PE staff and teachers who ran extracurricular sessions to prepare the pupils.
**Teachers Jog Towards More Activity**
Twenty teachers and PE staff from Earlston and Selkirk attended a junior joggers training course at Earlston High School at the end of May. The Junior Joggers programme aims to encourage children to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle, and to promote jogging/running as a fun activity. The activities are desigend to help children become more active, but most importantly to show them exercise can be fun!
**Pupils Cycle to Success**
The summer term saw over 100 primary six and seven pupils completing their Scottish Cycle Training. The course introduced basic skills and knowledge necessary for competent and safe cycling. Each child received a certificate, assessment card and badge on completion of the 6 hour course. In order for these sessions to run and be sustained year on year, schools need to provide volunteers to help tutor the pupils - so huge thanks go to all those parents and teachers who gave up their time so this could go ahead.
**Champions in Schools Visit 3**
Ross Ford made his third and final visit to Gordon in May to conclude this year's Champions in Schools programme. This last visit focused on a positive winning attitude, where pupils learnt about using positive, winning thought to help them succeed. Four pupils from Gordon then went on to represent the school at the CIS showcase event, which brought together athletes, pupils, parents and coordinators involved in the programme, to share their CIS experiences. Well done to Gordon for their fantastic healthy eating presentation. Active Schools would like to say a huge thank you to Ross - it has a super experience which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
**Melrose Bowl Over Opponents**
Primary six pupils from Melrose Primary School earned themselves a place in the National Kwik Cricket Finals in Perth on 16th June. After a fantastic performance at Nertherdale the week before at the National Tournament, Melrose came up against fifteen other schools from all over Scotland at the finals competition. The team put in a very commendable performance, only losing one game to the eventual winners George Watson's, and ending up a fantastic fifth overall!! Congratulations to all those involved, and a huge thank you to Mrs Robertson and Mr McKay for their hard work running the after school club in preparation for the events.
**Primary 7 Transition Festival**
This year Active Schools organised a three-week transition club for all P7 pupils in the cluster. Youngsters were invited to Earlston High School between 4-5pm for three Wednesdays in June. Sessions gave pupils the opportunity to meet new class mates, to experience some sports they will be taking part in when they move up to high school, and to familiarise themselves with PE staff and facilities. Week one saw pupils playing in a football and hockey round robin competition on the astro turf, while in week two, PE teacher Scott Renwick took a basketball session in the games hall. The final week saw Marianne and gemma taking a badminton session. The club proved a huge success with no fewer than 65 pupils attending each week. Marianne and Gemma would like to thank Scott for his time and basketball expertise, and would also like to wish all P7s good luck for their move up to high school.
One aim of Active Schools is to build links with local clubs to create pathways for pupils to move from schools activities to their local club. A great example of this has been seen in Lauder, St Boswells & Melrose, where primary five pupils have been making links with their local golf clubs. Pupils took part in the firstclubgolf programme during the summer term, which gave them an introduction to golf using modified plastic clubs, rubberized balls & velcro targets. During the holidays, these pupils were given the opportunity to continue to enjoy & learn to play golf using real junior golf equipment at their local golf club, led by qualified PGA level one coaches. These sessions have proved extremely popular with up to 18 pupils attending at Melrose, 14 at Melrose, with similar numbers attending St Boswells. A huge thank you goes to all coaches who have been giving up their own time every week to give pupils this valuable opportunity.
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