November 17, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
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Friday email 17th November

Good morning all.

As we approach the most hectic time of the year, you will find that the classes are getting really busy. A wee reminder that the Class Wakelets and the school website “Calside Courier” have all the diary dates on them: QR codes for the Wakelets can be found on the class newsletters.

In the maildrop today, you will find your learner conference appointment time, should you have requested a slot for next Wednesday or Thursday. You will also find an invitation from the Parent Council to join them on Friday 1^st December for “Christmas by the Fire” for lots of lovely festive activities. P7 will also be running games so bring your pennies!

You will also find a letter from the Pupil Council about buying tickets for the Christmas Hamper raffle. They are still looking for donations towards the hampers: the more donations, the better the prizes!

Have a lovely weekend.

November 15, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
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Children in Need Friday 17th November

A wee reminder that it is Children in Need on Friday, and the Pupil Council invite everyone to come in their jammies. Donations to Children in Need welcome.

November 10, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
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Friday email 10th November

You will find a letter about the Christmas show tickets in the maildrop this week: we have had to increase the price of the tickets due to price increases in hiring the church centre. Please ensure you return your ticket requests by 28^th November, so that any remaining tickets can be re-allocated to other families who have asked for additional tickets.

Also in the maildrop, you will find a letter from the Pupil Council about the hamper raffle they are organising: they would very much appreciate donations for each class hamper by 28th November.

You should have received the Learner Conference letter in the maildrop last week: this should be returned by Monday 13^th so that teachers can co-ordinate appointment times for families. We will then send out appointment times next week.

Class termly newsletters for this term can now be found on the Class Wakelet, as well as on the school website in the Newsletters section. Parents/carers were emailed the Wakelet links last week: please let the class teacher know if you are struggling to access this at all.

Looking forward to next week, we have a busy week with flu vaccinations, author visits, curling, the P5-P7 Aladdin trip and P4 swimming to just mention a few! P7 in particular have a hectic week: a separate email was sent earlier this week. May we remind parents to check the Class Wakelets as these include class diary dates as well as sharing what we have been learning. The diary dates are also on the website “Calside Courier”. We celebrate Children in Need on Friday 17th: children are invited to come to school in their jammies, and donations to Children in Need will be collected.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Gamble.

November 3, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
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Strike Action 8th November= Suspended

Dear Parents and Carers

STRIKE ACTION 8 NOVEMBER – SUSPENDED

We have had notification from Unison that a pay offer is being considered by them, and as such, the strike action that was planned for Wednesday 8 November has been suspended.

This means our schools and early learning childcare settings will remain open as normal, and that learning will continue unaffected across all our education and learning settings.

John Thin
Head of Education (Learning and Resources)

November 3, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
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Friday email 3rd November

Welcome back to what will be a hectic term. Please see the newsletter for an overview, as well as the wider achievements for Term 1 (in “Newsletter” section of the website). You will find the diary dates for this term in this week’s maildrop, as well as on the school website in the “Dates” section. There will be further dates added so please make sure that you keep checking the website. We will send out further details of all the Christmas activities in a few weeks.

Also in the maildrop, you will find details about the November learner conferences. Please return the appointment request slip by Monday 13^th November to allow the teachers time to co-ordinate appointments for families.

Parents/carers should have received further emails today with links to the class Wakelets. If you have not received these for the class/classes your child/children are in, please let the office know.

Mr Mac made the October draw earlier this week for the Parent Council 100 Club. The lucky winner of £33 was Amy McKinnell. If anyone would like to join or take another number then please email calsidepc100club@outlook.com. There are 8 draws left so the cost would be £8 and you are in with a chance of winning at least £33 every month. The next draw will take place on the 30^th November.

Have a lovely weekend, and if you are celebrating Bonfire Night, please stay safe.

November 1, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
Comments Off on School Closure 8th November: letter from the Director of Skills, Education and Learning

School Closure 8th November: letter from the Director of Skills, Education and Learning

Please note that by now you should have received the following information directly from Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding school closure on Wednesday 8 November 2023. The teachers will advise as to home learning next week.

Dear Parent/Carer,

Strike action is due to take place on Wednesday 8 November. The decision has been made to close all our schools and Early Learning Centre (ELC) settings on the strike day – Wednesday 8 November.

Parents and carers whose children are entitled to free school meals via qualifying benefits will have a cash payment made to their bank accounts in due course.

We appreciate the inconvenience associated with this information, but please be assured that this information is coming to you as a parent/carer in as timely a manner as is practically possible.

Dr Gillian Brydson
Director Skills, Education & Learning

October 13, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
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Friday email 13th October

In the maildrop this week, you should find a summary of your child’s progress with their learning targets this term. This would usually have been shared via Dojo. If there are any aspects that you wish to discuss, please email the class teacher. Learner conferences will be held in November to discuss the next steps in your child’s learning journey: dates and appointment forms will be issued after the holidays.

We aim to start the Weekly Wakelet after the holidays: if you have not yet returned your permission slip, please do so after the holidays in order that you do not miss out on the weekly updates.

At the end of a very busy term, we wish you a happy holidays, We will see you all back to school on Monday 30^th October. The Pupil Council will be hosting Halloween on Tuesday 31^st October: please see their letter in the maildrop today. We look forward to seeing your creepy costumes.

October 6, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
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School Meals Autumn Winter 2023

Primary School Meals

Autumn Winter 2023

View the menu here

Free School Meals

Free School Meals for all children in Primary 1 – 5

Every child at a Dumfries and Galloway Council school can get free school lunches during term-time if they are in primary 1 to 5. This applies to all children – your family’s financial circumstances do not matter.

Your child will receive free school meals if you are in receipt of the following:

Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £726
Income Support
Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, with an income of less than £18,725
Both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an income of up to £8,717
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Coordinated Support Plan (CSP)

Getting free lunches if you’re not getting benefits or tax credits

Your child might still get a free lunch in school, early learning or childcare if you’re experiencing financial hardship. This could be because:

Your immigration status means you can not get help from the government
You’re still waiting on your first Universal Credit notice

Your child may also be able to get a free lunch if at any point since they were aged 2 they’ve been:

Looked after
Had a Kinship Care Order
Had a Guardianship Order

View further information about school meals here

October 6, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
Comments Off on Weekly email Friday 6th October

Weekly email Friday 6th October

Reminders, returns and updates in this week’s email and maildrop:

The School Improvement Plan has been updated following a number of changes. A summary for parents was attached to the email, but can be seen here for ease: Improvement Plans Update to Parents Sept 2023. The full School Improvement Plan was also attached to the email; is located within the “Calside- Our School” section on the website; and also can be seen here for ease: Calside School Improvement Plan 2023-24 updated September 2023

The final payment for the Aladdin trip is now required: P5-P7 parents should receive the letter with payment and trip details in their maildrop.

Flu vaccinations will take place in school Monday 13th November and will be timetabled around other class activities such as curling or the author visit.

P7 parents/carers should also have received details about the Dumfries High School open evening in November (busy week for P7!).

September 29, 2023
by Mrs Gamble
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Friday email 29th September

With the loss of Dojo, the staff have been looking at ways that we can share learning with you, until the authority sources a suitable replacement.

We are going to trial sending the weekly class updates via email after the holidays. In order to be ready for this, please can all parents/carers ensure that we have your current email contact details. In the maildrop today, you will find a letter explaining how we hope that the system will work, and a permission slip that needs to be returned before the October holidays.

In the meantime, class teachers can be contacted via their email addresses, as per the September newsletter. If you lose this, a copy is located on the school website “Calside Courier” in the Newsletters section.