Life in any school tends to follow a cyclical pattern , and in a rural community like Dalmally the influence of the seasons is particularly significant. In the 19th and early 20th century the school year was marked by particular local holidays and seasonal occupations such as harvesting or working "in service" had a significant effect on attendance. The history of the present school from the mid 1970s seems to have been marked similarly by local annual celebrations and the impact of seasonal weather conditions. The winter season was of course a regular period of celebration, with Christmas parties or ceilidhs for pupils and end of term church services which were initially held by Rev. McLean and Father MacMaster, usually with the Letterwood pupils attending. The very first Christmas party in the new school featured then probationary teacher Mr John Edgar as Santa, giving presents to P.1-4. Often in December the school would attend a pantomime or festive show either locally or as far afield as Glasgow or Stirling. Each Christmas was the occasion of a donation by the Forestry Commission of a fine tree to decorate the school.

For such a rural and relatively remote school, with its wide catchment area and far-flung population, the winter months presented perennial problems in terms of transportation. Historic accounts of the struggles of young pupils to reach rural schools in Argyll early in the century are actually mirrored by quite recent events. From the start the new school building faced occasional closures due to flooding, burst mains, power cuts and heavy snowstorms. In November 1976, for example, local Glenview pupils managed to attend school while those from outlying areas were told not to attend until further notice due to inclement weather. The transport of children from the Port Sonnachan area of Loch Awe was a particularly persistent problem over the years. In December 1977 a proposal was made to open the school at 9.45 am and to shorten the lunch hour, in order to allow the bus time to arrive. However staff felt that 9.30 was already late enough, causing disruption to the school timetable. In January 1978 heavy snow kept pupils from Loch Awe, Stromilchan, Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum away - though for once the Port Sonachan children made it through only to be immediately returned home before the weather worsened. One of the teaching staff at this time, Mrs Duff, was also unable to get through from Loch Awe. Later that winter the school faced a fuel crisis when a transporter was unable to deliver due to the bad conditions. The following winter saw heavy flooding in the Craig area which prevented two staff members reaching the school and all the local Glenview pupils had to be sent home. Blocked roads and school closures continued to disrupt the school year. Again in 1983 trees were brought down in a storm and the school was hit by power cuts while 1984 saw one of the most severe blizzards in the school's history. Only a dozen local pupils turned out one week in January and one teacher, Miss Mathieson, was stuck in Tyndrum with several other people. Many were stranded in Bridge of Orchy that weekend, including police and a party of skiers, and by the following week the snow was so deep that the school gate had disappeared and a plough was required to clear a path for the fuel tanker. One year an electrical storm led to a fire in the transformer next to the school building and again the school had to be closed for safety. Yet another winter storm, in 1989, led to severe flooding with one family stuck in Glenorchy and another family forced to spend the night with relatives in Dalmally, unable to get home.

Once the spring and summer terms come round the weather is less problematic and there are several regular annual events for children and adults alike to enjoy. Attendance at the Dalmally Agricultural show was a highlight of the season and the school often won several prizes. The school log for September 1981, however, records that Ardchonnel School was so certain of retaining the Schools' Project cup for a third successive year that they failed to bring it along to the event and when Bridge of Orchy won that year there was some embarrassment! The school usually made an annual trip at this time to the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston too, reflecting the strong agricultural roots of this community. The academic year was rounded off with the prize-giving and sports day, initially held in the local Mart field until 1983 when the roll was small enough to allow the event to be held in the school's own grounds. In 1977, the year of the queen's jubilee, special jubilee spoons were presented to winning pupils along with the sports cups as a suitable memento. In September 1982 the school log records a transport problem as the bus bringing pupils from Port Sonachan arrived later and later each morning. This was due to visiting tourists and shooting parties being given priority. This was a perennial problem as tourism had been a major local industry since the last century. In December 1987 the Schools Council in Oban reviewed the annual holiday structure and decided to amalgamate five local holidays with the October break to give a fortnight's holiday at this busy season. Previously absenteeism had been high at this period because so many families were involved in catering for the tourists.

Certain years saw special events slotted into the calendar which often proved memorable and on occasion other anniversaries took precedence for some pupils, as in 1980 when the closing day was poorly attended due to many children going off to Oban to see the centenary celebrations of the local railway line. In October 1985 the school decided to hold a fancy-dress day to mark the end of term. Children came to school in costume and paid 10p for the privilege. Members of staff participated too "amidst much hilarity" and even some parents and younger family members joined in the fun. After a parade in the hall kitchen staff selected a winner who received a prize donated by Mrs McIntyre. Katie Dudgeon dressed as Mary Poppins was awarded the prize. That same year there was a special "Fun Day" held on June 6th for the whole community, with races, tug-of-war, coconut shy, and throwing wet sponges at two brave members of staff, Miss Mathieson and Mrs Parkes, included on the programme . A good day was had by all - even the wet teachers.

In June 1984 a group of P. 5, 6 & 7 pupils attended the inaugural St. Columba's six-a-side shinty tournament at Mossfield, Oban, thus continuing a strong sporting tradition of the area. In 1986 on Halloween the school held a special Mask and Hat competition, judged again by the kitchen staff, Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Gibson. One pupil in each class won a first prize and everyone was given some reward for their efforts. In 1990, in March while the P.6 & 7 dancers were performing in Glasgow's Kelvin hall, the rest of the school did not miss out on the fun. A cafe was organised in the school hall with all pupils involved in some form of cooking, including cake baking by the older classes. The day was completed by a viewing of Roald Dahl's B.F.G. on video. In 1991 at the beginning of November a "healthy eating" week was organised and special menus prepared by the ever-helpful Kitchen staff. Not all the events in the school calendar were so welcome however. In May 1990 there was a risk of new disruption to the school when workers from the Hydro Electricity Board appeared without warning to erect a transformer next to the school building. A tractor was discovered one morning towing a trailer and a huge reel of cable across the playing field and heading for the garden of the school house. On investigation the Head was assured that no permission had been granted for such work and due to the adverse response of the local community the transformer, which "looked exactly like a large grey tardis", was immediately removed. No further work was to be done until permission was granted by the education authority.

Other regular annual events included a summer playscheme; the November fireworks display organised, initially by youth club leaders, and later by Rev. Hogg; annual visits to St. Conan's Kirk and Well; and occasional Burns' dinners organised by the pupils themselves. In 1983, for instance, a successful Burns afternoon was held for parents with pupils providing music and dances as well as speeches. The event was M.C.'d by Graeme McKechnie; the toast to the haggis was given by Jamie Galbraith and an able reply made by Iona McPhail.