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Song contest kids rewarded


By Sean McAngus

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Turriff Primary School was presented with £100 from the Turriff Christmas switch-on organisers after youngsters took part in the popular event which saw the town centre host a wide variety of traders and stalls.

Organisers set local schools the challenge of coming up with a Christmas song, with the winners given the honour of turning on the lights.

Turriff Primary and Auchterless were declared the winners and pupils Skara Grant, Caitlin Harrison and Jamie Simpson from Turriff P6 turned on the tree lights next to the library having been chosen by their classmates.

For Auchterless, the honours were to turn on the lights at the Turra Coo, which this year is adorned with its own display.

Turriff Primary's P6s won the Christmas Switch On song contest and were rewarded with a cheque of £100.
Turriff Primary's P6s won the Christmas Switch On song contest and were rewarded with a cheque of £100.

The school was also given a cheque of £100 from organisers for winning the contest.

Turriff pupils wowed spectators who came along to the switch-on with their version of a popular pop chart topping song.

The inspiration came after P6A teacher Kayleigh Peace, who was heading home in the car, heard George Ezra’s Shotgun song.

It was a lightbulb moment for the teacher as she thought about what the song would sound like if it was transformed to a festive tune.

She said to the Advertiser: “While I was driving my car I was listening to the radio and the song Shotgun came on.

“At that moment I wondered if you could turn Shotgun into a Christmas song.

"Once I got home I went on my laptop and wrote the lyrics to go alongside the tune “

The pupils even got the opportunity to record the song for Deveron FM.

P6C teacher Erin Strachan who was also involved with the creation of the song added: “The kids really loved recording the song on the radio.

“Our 90 P6 pupils sat silent as we were about to record it for the radio and they all behaved really well.”

Deputy head teacher Claire Smith also helped with the school’s entry for the competition.

Turriff Christmas Lights Group’s Marj Chalmers said: “Our group presented the schools with their £100 prize money for the competition to compose a Christmas song and winner would perform their song at the switch on event, and a representative from the school would switch on the Christmas tree lights at the square.

“In previous years we have done a colouring competition but this year we decided to change the competition.

“It was open to Turriff Primary School and all feeder schools in the area.

“As Turriff Primary and Auchterless were the only two schools that took part we decided to award a prize to each as we had entries from nearly all the primary classes at Turriff with P6 the winner.

“As Auchterless school winning song was Tinsel The Turra Coo and its shiny bell, we decorated the coo with tinsel, a shiny bell and lights, so the pupil chosen could switch on the Turra Coo lights on the countdown after they performed their song.”

Turriff Primary head teacher Fiona Eaton added: “Turriff Primary School were delighted to take part in the competition and support the town’s Christmas Lights Switch on Group.

“Our largest year group with just shy of 90 pupils won the competition.

“Thanks to the three P6 teachers, the P6 pupils and parents.”


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