The Fife Herald has kindly given the Dairsie web site permission to copy the Dairsie News that is printed in the Fife Herald every week.
Carol Owen, Convener of this year's collection, thanks all who collected and all who gave this year, especially as the sum of £427.14 was well up on last year. Collectors were J.Davies, D. Eccles, H. Horsburgh, M. Jones, Y. Littlejohn, C. Owen, M. Williamson, and Dairsie's Autopoint, Church, Mini Mart and Rural.
The winners of the November draw of the Dairsie War Memorial 200 Club were: Mrs. Sewell - £20: S. Jones - £10: Mrs. Bagnall - £5. All are local folk. Draw tickets are available now - £5 each for entry to 12 draws.
Communion will be celebrated in Dairsie Parish on Sunday 5th December at 10am.
To celebrate Guild Week and the Guild theme of caring and sharing, members invited a party from Age Concern, Cupar for an entertainment and afternoon tea. As the meeting coincided with St. Andrews Week, the chosen theme was Scottish, so all enjoyed a lively hour of mainly Scottish music, with fine playing by Dave Gibb on the accordion, and delightful singing by church member Anne Angus. It was a very enjoyable afternoon, with much appreciation of the entertainment and the tea supplied by Guild members.
Our pupils have been busy making Christmas Cards over the past few weeks and there is a wide range to choose from. Anything from robins to holly and baubles to stars, at 40p a card we think you are getting great value for money! The cards have been on sale at the recent parents' evening but there are still lots to choose from and are available to all - just contact the school!
As I write, the children are preparing to hop on board a bus to travel to Cupar to take part in the annual Scottish Country Dance Festival. This is an eagerly awaited trip when the children can demonstrate their skills after weeks of practice. They will be dancing old favourites like the Gay Gordons.
What is this? We are a group of people who with the help of Ken Scott, the school travel plan co-ordinator, are looking into safer ways for children to travel to school. The group met on Thursday, 18th November to discuss the way forward. It was decided that Mr Swinley, our parent member, Mark Edwards and Ryan Crowe our pupil members, should investigate the local area to pin point areas of potential danger. Mrs. Masson the school crossing patrol officer is also a valued member of the group and her extensive local knowledge will be a great help.
The group is meeting at regular intervals and our next meeting is planned for the 8th December when Ken Scott will meet with us, and with the help of Mrs Dillon, will plot the information gathered onto a large map and look for alternative safer routes.
Four pupils will be attending this conference at the Corn Exchange in Cupar to have their say. They have been given the opportunity to discuss with their fellow pupils aspects of the school environment that they think are good and select one important thing to take along to the conference. All schools in the East area will be sending representatives.
The Christmas Concert is set for the evening of Thursday 9th December at 6.30 pm in the school. Absolutely EVERYONE is invited. The primaries 1-4 will be performing a nativity play called "Are we nearly there yet?" and primaries 5-7 will entertain us with a variety performance of "The Good Old Days". This theme was chosen as they have been studying the Victorians in their recent project. As is the norm at Dairsie School there will be refreshments and the usual stalls after the performance. Looking forward to seeing you all there.
The funeral service for Ian Stewart, Woodville Park, Dairsie, who died on the 1st. of December, was conducted by the Rev. Alex Strickland. In his tribute to Ian, the minister spoke warmly of the fullness of his all too short life; of the many friends he had made; and of the respect and affection felt towards this man who never gave in to the partial paralysis he suffered as a result of a motorbike accident as a young man. He was unable to complete his Engineering course after the accident, but typically, later he gained an Honours degree with the Open University, and was working for his Masters when he died. Latterly, he worked at Fife House where he was Policy Officer, a responsible post in which he was a popular and esteemed officer. He had also made good friends through his many interest. He was a devoted and dearly loved son to his mother, Muriel, and dear stepson and best pal to Ken, with whom he shared many interests. He will be sorely missed by them and by his many friends and colleagues.
Last week's story of the urgent need for more parents or carers to bring their wee ones to this happy and well-equipped group has so far met with no response. At present, they meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, but may not be able to continue, as numbers are so low. The Christmas Party is on Tuesday, 21st December at 10am in the village hall, and all pre-school children are welcome. Phone Drew or Jane if interested.
The Sunday School takes part in the service in Dairsie Church at 10am this Sunday, 19th December. As their numbers are small, they are looking for as many folk as possible to be there, to give the children their active support.
Word has probably travelled that the school's Christmas Concert was a roaring success. With the help of the School Board, parents, staff and our visiting teacher of music a great night's entertainment was had. Primaries 1-4 performed a play entitled Are We Nearly There Yet, which was a mixture of modern day and biblical times, both with the same theme of travelling. Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to register for the census, and a modern day family with their 3 children with the inevitable question - Are We Nearly There Yet. I'm sure we've all been there!
The older children showed us what it was like in Victorian times with street sellers, washerwomen and young boys employed as chimney sweeps. They sung songs and entertained us with music from that time. It certainly proved that they had done a lot of research into their project.
There were various stalls to browse over after the performances and parents could purchase Christmas cards made by the pupils for their Enterprise project.
And the fun doesn't stop there! On Monday the whole school will be attending the Dundee Rep to see Merlin the Magnificent, on Wednesday we will be having our Christmas Lunch and on Thursday and Friday - it's Party Time - when hopefully a certain gentleman dressed in red with a white beard will visit the school. The following week the younger children will be taking part in a rural sports morning at Elmwood College. PE and Drama are the topics being covered. A busy end to a busy year.
Everyone at the school would like to wish all the Dairsie residents a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
If you require any clarification on any of the above, please telephone or drop into the school and ask for Mrs Fulton or Mrs Berry, who will be delighted to help.
The Guild ladies celebrated this very special time in the Church year with a Christmas lunch at the Elmwood golf club Fairways restaurant - a cheery beginning to the time for remembering the coming of Jesus.
Dairsie Church was well filled on Sunday when three children, Bethan, Catriona and Hannah, together with the Sunday School leader, Avril Paul, reminded us all of the true meaning of Christmas, beyond the food, the cards and presents, to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The loving thoughts as cards are sent, the gifts, as Jesus had gifts, and the joy of families uniting in happiness. The congregation were invited to join in the singing using the alternative words given for the familiar tunes - who wrote them I wonder? The children and their teachers well deserved the words of praise and thanks given by the minister and the congregation as they went into the hall for tea and biscuits after the service.
Mr. David Murdoch looks forward to welcoming a large congregation when he leads the Christmas Eve service in Dairsie Church tonight at 11.30pm.
The blessings of Christmas to all, and may there be peace and joy in 2005.
Lucky winners of the larger than usual December draw of the Dairsie War Memorial 200 Club were - E.Forbes - £50: J. MacLeod - £20: D. May and J. Fraser - £10 each: and £5 each to G. Grainger, A. Roberts, I. Wallace, A. Thornton, and S. Connel. Tickets now available for 2005.
After the retiral of Mr. Strickland next year, the Rev. Donald McEwen, minister at St. Monans and Largoward, has been appointed to be the Interim Moderator for the linked charges of Dairsie and Strathkinness. Kemback Church, currently in the linkage, will then join with Ceres and Springfield.
There was a special welcome to the service as the Thomson family-David, Lewis, and Gavin, members of the Methil and Buckhaven Brass Band, were playing carols as we entered the church, which was well filled for the Watchnight Service. There were the usual well loved carols, with Lewis moving from brass to his usual seat at the organ. The tree glowed, and the floral displays were beautiful. As the hour arrived for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Mr. David Murdoch invited all to turn to their neighbour to exchange warmest Christmas Greetings. The retiring collection was towards the cost of installing water at a top-of-the-hill Church manse in Transylvania. Currently it is a downhill walk of around two miles to bring every drop of water!
A Sunday, so there was a service as usual in Dairsie Church, led by the Moderator of the Presbytery, Elspeth Smith, at which the congregation heard more of the true meaning of Christmas, and rejoiced in the singing of carols.
An easy 2 to 3 mile walk, starting at the Church at 2pm. and back to a hot cup of tea in the church hall - all are welcome to this cheering walk, and what a great way to start the New Year. Strong footwear advised!
Every Good Wish to All for 2005.