posted by: Auchterhouse Primary School

Three years ago St Ninian’s Primary School in Stirling encouraged children to walk or run a mile every day in almost all weathers. They found that there were clear improvements in the pupils’ fitness and focus in the classroom.

As a school this is something that we wanted to try. We discussed the various routes we could take and decided to use the local park. The P5-P7 class measured the route, identifying how far to walk.

On the 3^rd September 2015 we decided to start, and despite the brief rain shower, it was a very enjoyable experience. The P1-P4 class are currently doing the walk twice a week and the P5-P7 class are doing it every day. We have even managed to get parents involved!

Here are some of the pupils’ views:
‘I am more focussed in class after the walk’ Daniel, P7

‘It’s great to get some fresh air’ Hannah, P5

‘I am getting quicker at going around the route and it’s making me fitter’ Freya P7

‘It is good for my heart as it gets the blood pumping around my body and it gives me more oxygen, so that means I get more energy’ Sam P6

posted by Pauline Meikleham, Schools & Learning Support Officer, Arts & Culture

Angus schools are invited to participate in the annual Provost Christmas card competition 2015.  

P4-7 and S1-3 pupils from all schools are invited to take part.

Primary schools should choose one entry, Secondary schools may submit up to 3. It is expected that schools from all clusters will participate.  And suggested that schools may wish to have their own internal competition to be judged internally.

NB Please don’t submit more than one entry from primary and three entries from secondary schools.   

Christmas card designs may be submitted as original art work A4 (297mm x 210) or A3 (420 x 297) size maximum. You can also submit a digital design as long as a copy is sent as a jpeg and of a high enough resolution ( minimum 300 dpi)  .  Please don’t embed in a word or PDF doc.  

Please send your final entry to: Roselyn Brown, Members’ Services Supervisor, Angus Council, 7 The Cross, Forfar, DD8 1BX or email digital entries as jpegs to BrownR@angus.gov.uk

Deadline is 26 Oct. The Provost’s Christmas cards go out to all Provosts and Lord Provosts in Scotland, Councillors and Council employees, Emergency Services, Support agencies,  Church representatives, Military, NHS, Local Businesses, Foreign Dignitaries and many more people.

This is a great opportunity to celebrate and share the talent and creativity of Angus pupils.

The information the Provost will require from the entrants is:

Name
School
Age
Year
Class 

If anyone has queries regarding the technical aspects of a digital entry, please contact Graham Pert on 01307 476124 or pertg@angus.gov.uk

posted by Fiona Robertson, Principal Officer, Extended Support for Pupils (3-18)

Development Officer: Rights, Support and Wellbeing
Secondment:   Duration: 23 Months:   Location: Any of the Education Scotland offices subject to availability

Education Scotland wishes to appoint a Development Officer to take forward key national developments relating to rights, support and wellbeing. This is an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and enthusiastic individuals with a proven track record of successful professional experience in leading and delivering on these key areas.

The post holders will: work in partnership with colleagues from across the education system, Scottish Government and other national organisations to develop, promote and support effective and innovative approaches to promoting positive relationships and behaviour , recognising and respecting children’s rights, and to securing positive wellbeing for all children and young people; provide advice to the Scottish Government and education authorities on strategies to support the implementation of Getting it right for every child; promote links across local authorities and other national bodies and organisations; and further contribute to key national developments such as Curriculum for Excellence.

Candidates should possess a degree, or equivalent, and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Candidates will be expected to be on a current salary of no more than £48,120.

Closing date for application: Midnight on Wednesday 23^rd September 2015.

For further information please contact Maggie Fallon, Senior Education Officer for Rights, Support and Wellbeing. Maggie.fallon@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk

Applications should be returned electronically to edshr@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk

Committed to Equal Opportunities

Role Description:  Rights Support and Wellbeing DO – Spec April 2015

posted by Helen Moore, Brake, the road safety charity:

Brake is encouraging educators to register for Road Safety Week (23-29 Nov), promoting the ‘drive less, live more’ theme. Educators can link activities to this theme or any road safety topic. Brake will be encouraging families to consider how they use roads, and if they can switch to walking, cycling or using public transport as much as possible. Educators can engage pupils in exploring benefits of sustainable and active travel and opportunities for their family to get around in this way. Teaching road safety and active, sustainable travel in their classroom can help to meet goals of compulsory curriculum subjects such as science and geography, and also meet goals as part of a citizenship agenda.

Road crashes are the biggest cause of death among young people, and there is increasing acknowledgement of the threat traffic pollution and sedentary lifestyles pose to children and families. Raising awareness of road safety and creating safe spaces for sustainable and active travel is vital.

REGISTER NOW! Brake is urging educators to register to take part in the Week and receive support and free email action pack resources available from Brake.

Find out more and register online at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk.

Schools: Nov 23-29 #RoadSafetyWeek by @BrakeCharity teach road safety & promote #drivelesslivemore theme. REGISTER: http://bit.ly/TSepPn

posted by Rodger Hill, Service Manager:

SCSSA’s Career Long Professional Learning programme for session 2015/16 is now available and is targeted at school leaders, teachers and local authority staff and can be accessed at  the SCSSA website at  http://www.ed.ac.uk/education/scssa .

You can also link to specific primary and secondary courses flyers at http://www.ed.ac.uk/education/rke/centres-groups/scssa/courses/course-flyer

This session’s programme is particularly exciting with a range of new Curriculum for Excellence programmes specifically designed for secondary schools addressing quality assurance, interdisciplinary learning, the Wood Report and supporting learners.

We also have two brand new primary and early years one day programmes entitled  ‘Curriculum for Excellence in Primary and Early Years – Innovation for Effective Practice’ and ‘Leadership for Powerful Learning in Primary and Early Years’.

In addition, we  continue to offer sector leading programmes that include ‘Developing your Staff: Leadership for Professional Learning’ and ‘Principal Teacher Leadership of Learning.’

If you would like further information on any aspects of the SCSSA programmes please do not hesitate to contact me.  I would be delighted to hear from you.

Graham Thomson
Director Scottish Centre for Studies in School Administration
School of Education
University of Edinburgh
EH8 8AQ
T:  0131 6516179
Mob:  07712596533

posted by Lesley Watson, Business Liaison Officer

Aberdeen’s Science Centre, Satrosphere, is in possession of a wide range of hands-on materials for exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and is happy to loan materials out to teachers that wish to explore topics in their classrooms before or after visiting Satrosphere with their class. Satrosphere’s STEM Learning Team has designed a selection of kits for primary schools on the themes Colour and Light, Windy Day and Puzzletastic Maths.  Each loan box comes complete with teacher guides and activity ideas. A vast array of equipment such as microscopes, model skeletons and maths puzzles can also be loaned.

For more details, please contact Satrosphere’s STEM Learning Team: 01224 6403640 or visit the website.