By Monica Gibson

PUPILS at St Thomas’ Primary were heroes for one day last week as they learned about respecting the rights of people around the world.

The Neilston school celebrated heroes of past, present and fiction – from a battle recreation and super-hero afternoon to the visit of record-breaking Team GB heptathlete Jade Nimmo.

The athlete, the current Scottish long jump record holder, spoke to pupils about her ambition to compete at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast, before teaching them about the benefits of health and fitness.

The day was also about healthy minds, as the school’s younger pupils suited up as “Superheroes of Change” to learn about the importance of respecting others’ rights.

The primary five class, which is learning about Scottish wars of independence, didn’t miss the opportunity to get into character, as it staged a recreation of the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Brendan Docherty, headteacher at St Thomas’ Primary, told the Barrhead News: “Many of these activities were part of the school’s Rights Respecting Day to raise awareness of children’s rights and the global goals for sustainable development as part of their work on learning for sustainability.

“Parents and carers were invited to the school to share in children’s learning.

“Prayer stations were set up, where children were encouraged to reflect and write down their ‘big questions’ about the world.”

“Pupils also enjoyed a separate event in which they dressed up as ‘Superheroes of Change’ and learned about how they could play their part in changing the world.”

Other visitors included S6 pupils from St Luke’s High School, in Barrhead, whose science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) ambassadors spoke to the Neilston kids about the science of the digestion system – which seemed to go down well.

Some children who have siblings at St Luke’s took part in a cookery club at the high school.

Meanwhile, pupils in primary three shared their creative writing skills with children from the Madras Family Centre.