Calside Courier

As per the email sent out by John Thin, Head of Education (Learning and Resources) earlier today, members of UNISON will be on strike on Tuesday 26^th September, Wednesday 27^th September and Thursday 28^th September. As this includes learning assistants, nursery staff, clerical staff, catering staff, cleaners and janitors, this unfortunately means that we are not able to open the school or the nursery on these days. Calside will be fully closed.

We realise that this causes immense disruption to learning and to parents and carers in terms of childcare, and we are sorry for the inevitable inconvenience that this will cause.

Home learning activities will be sent out on Monday afternoon. Please do not feel that you have to do all the activities contained in the pack: these are suggested activities, and every family and childcare circumstances are different. We hope that your child enjoys the activities: do what you can, when you can, and don’t have any battles!

Good morning.

Please see the September newsletter attached: with the absence of Dojo, this contains the contact details for the class teachers so you can still contact them while D&G try to find a solution.

Lovely to see so many of you at the BBQ on Saturday, despite the weather being on the chilly side: the Parent Council and the P7 proceeds will be put to very good use. We hope that you enjoyed yourselves.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mrs Gamble.

The vision for all children and young people in Dumfries and Galloway is that they should be safe, nurtured, healthy, achieving, active, respected, responsible and included. All children have the right to be protected and kept safe from harm (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child). We all have a part to play in this and in making sure that children and young people get the help they need when they need it. Dumfries and Galloway Council recognise that staff within schools and early childcare and education settings have a key role to play in keeping your child safe.

All staff within our schools and early childcare and education settings have been trained to be able to recognise when a child may be suffering from, or at risk of, harm and to listen to children if they want to talk to them about anything which might be worrying them. Each school and early childcare and education setting in Dumfries and Galloway has a senior member of staff who has overall responsibility for ensuring the protection of children within their school or establishment. They are called Child Protection Co-ordinators (CPC). If a member of staff does have a concern about any child s/he will discuss this with the Child Protection Co-ordinator who will decide what action might need to be taken to keep that child safe. This may involve talking to the child, other members of staff or other professionals who may be working with the child. The Child Protection Co-ordinator in our school is Mrs Gamble, and the Deputes are Miss MacRae, Mr McIlorum and Mrs Hooper in the primary and Mrs Douglas in the nursery.

Our Safeguarding, Child Protection and Wellbeing Policy has been updated in line with local and national guidance. This has been emailed out to parents, but can also be seen here: Calside Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy September 2023 . We will also be discussing safeguarding in class with the children: this is linked to our work with Rights Respecting Schools, so that all our children understand that they have a right to be safe. The child-friendly guidance was emailed to parents with the policy, and can also be seen here: Pupil CP Poster Calside Sept 2023

If you have any concerns about a child, please contact Mrs Gamble on 01387 263594.

Thank you in advance for your ongoing support in keeping our children safe.

A reminder that the school photographer will be in school on Tuesday 19th for individual and family photos: bright smiles please!

Enjoy your weekend.

I have great pleasure in publishing this year’s Honours: 2023 Honours. This is also on Dojo. A huge well done to all our pupils for their achievements this year, but particularly to those who receive awards today.

Congratulations also to MacAdam who win the House trophy at the end of a well-fought competition.

We say farewell to our P7 pupils and wish them all the best as they move to high school. We also say goodbye and thank you to Mrs Henderson, Miss Kempsell, Miss McCormick and Mr Palmer as they move onto pastures new. We wish Mrs McIlorum all the best as she starts her maternity leave.

Wishing you a happy and safe summer.

Mrs Gamble.