Calside Courier

Thank you to those parents who attended the Online Safety event at Dumfries High School, presented by the police as well as Nickie Reynolds the Education Safeguarding Manager. The police have asked that we circulate the information from the event for those parents who could not attend. This is particularly important given that there have been a number of parental concerns raised over posts online and online activity.

Please note that some aspects of the presentations are not appropriate for children due to some of the content. This guidance is to support parents to help their children to stay safe online.

Education Safeguarding presentation: DHS Cluster Keeping Your Children Safe Online (1)

Police Scotland presentation: Parents+Carers – Online safety

Advice for parents on conversations to have with children: Child safety – parental conversations

The majority of issues within Calside are around use of TikTok and Snapchat: we sent these out last month as part of our Internet Safety Week, but they can also be seen here for ease: TikTok Snapchat

All parents/carers should have received an email from Dumfries and Galloway Council confirming that, following advice from our Local Resilience Partnership, the Council have taken the decision to close all schools for pupils and staff on Friday 24 January 2025 due to the incoming Storm Éowyn, and the associated Red and Amber weather warnings, where exceptionally high wind is forecast. There is also the likelihood of snowfall across parts of the region.

We appreciate that this will inconvenience many families. However the children’s safety must be our paramount concern.

Advice for home learning will be emailed to parents/carers later this afternoon.

We have been notified that there is an AMBER weather warning for Dumfries tomorrow Friday 24th January from 6 in the morning to 9 in the evening. Currently winds are expected to be at their strongest at lunchtime: however, we need to ensure that all parents/carers are aware of the emergency procedures.

As parents/carers, you have a key role to play in the event of severe weather. If you have concerns about your child/ren travelling between home and school, you should “play safe” and keep your child/ren at home, informing the school that they are doing so. We need to know where all child/ren are, and that they are accounted for. 

If the school has to close, parents/carers will be notified via the usual Groupcall system. Please ensure that the school has up-to-date contact details. If several schools are closing at the same time, the message can take some time to come through. The parental Whatsapp groups will also be likely to have this information, and any school closures are also reported on the Dumfries and Galloway Council website https://info.dumgal.gov.uk/esc/home. 

We ask all parents to ensure that their children are fully aware of where they should go in the event of an emergency closure. Parents should make it clear to their older children whether or not they may escort younger siblings to their destination.

​If it is customary for pupils to walk home at the end of the school day, it would be reasonable for the school to release these pupils to walk home in an emergency, but only if there were a parent or an identified adult expecting their arrival. Account should be taken of the distance to be walked and the severity of the weather. It would not be seen as reasonable to release pupils with the instruction to return to school if they find no-one at home. We also do not advise any travel at the height of a storm. 

​It may be that a parent who collects his/her children offers to give shelter to other children. The agreements of the parents will be sought before releasing pupils in this way.

The safety and well-being of the children is paramount.  Safe and speedy dismissal of pupils in the event of an emergency closure depends on school and home working in partnership. We thank you in advance for your help. 

Scottish Poetry in School 2025:

To celebrate Burns Day at Calside Primary, pupils are asked to learn a Scottish poem. They are given the choice of poems and should select one to learn and recite. The poems have been emailed to parents as well as a paper copy sent in the maildrop.

On Tuesday 21^st January, staff will listen to the pupils in class and select the three who it is thought have given the best recitation. These pupils will go forward to the final. A guest will judge the final on Wednesday 22^nd January. Pupils who are placed first will recite their poem at assembly on Thursday 23^rd January. All pupils who recite a poem will receive a certificate.

The children will be familiar with their poems having heard them in school. Please encourage your child to recite the poem clearly, with some expression and to look at their audience. It should be good fun!

• Monday 16th December: P3 and P4 at the Ice Bowl/Queen of the South in the morning;
• Tuesday 17th December: Movie Afternoon in school, with refreshments provided by the Parent Council (please do not send additional treats, there is no need);
• Wednesday 18th December: Christmas Dinner day;
• Wednesday 18th December: P1 and P2 Christmas party in the afternoon;
• Thursday 19th December: Christmas assembly 9.30 a.m;
• Thursday 19th December: P3 and P4 Christmas party in the afternoon;
• Friday 20th December: Inter-House Quiz P1-P3 9.30 a.m. and P4-P7 11.15 a.m;
• Friday 20th December: P5-P7 Christmas party in the afternoon;
• Friday 20th December: Nursery party 2pm in Nursery.