It’s lovely to be back to school. The children are all looking very smart in their uniforms and everyone seems to be settling into their new classes. Classes have been issued now with their Termly Newsletter from the class teacher to let you know what they will be learning and how you can help.

I’m needing some more training on Blogging so that I can add classes to the Blog so children and staff will be able to upload things pertinent to their class. Watch this space!

Please remember that we have an “Open Door” policy so if you have any concerns about your child do get in touch so we can discuss it at the earliest opportunity.

I look forward to meeting with you at various times throughout the session.

Everyone was delighted when our newly formed netball Team came third at their first tournament against eight other teams from the Burgh. Well done girls.

Last night Primary 7 performed their World War 2 show called Archibald’s War. It It told the tale of a teddy bear called Archibald who was left on a train when his young owner was evacuated to the country.

The children did a fantastic performance which was greatly enjoyed by families and friends.

Well it’s the last term of the session and before we know it we will be at the summer holidays! This term will see the P7 children visting their new secondary schools for transition experience before they start in August.

As yet we don’t know the final numbers for new entrants to P1 but it appears to be around 25 but this may increase before the start of the new session. This term we will be making decisions about which teachers will be in which classes. Staff often work at around the same stage for a few years then get a move. This ensures they get a broad overview of the primary curriculum. All staff are of course trained to teach at any stage of the primary sector. We will let you know aout classes as soon as possible.

I wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope we have some nice weather to enjoy during the break.

We have had a very exciting week with visits to the Ice Bowl to see the Under 18 Ice Hockey Championship. Primaries 4 – 7 have all been to cheer on the teams at matches during the day. Some children went to GB’s first match in the evening against the Netherlands. Although they were beaten, it was an exciting match to watch. We had a special interest in the team as Joshua Grieveson is a former pupil of Loreburn Primary. He was the P7 buddy to Brogan who is now in P6.

On Wednesday all of P4 – 7 went to meet the GB Team. Everyone got skates on and skated onto the ice. There were a few who fell over but their determination was terrific and all of them managed to skate. The GB members gave coaching to all the children and a great time was had by all. There will be many photographs in the local press at the weekend.  We have a selection of our own to view.

We were delighted with the photos that children brought in of themselves  reading in unusual places. They are displayed in the foyer if anyone would like to come and look at them.

Here are photos of children reading around the school! The excitement meant there wasn’t a lot of actual reading going on!

Neil Gillon, Vidhi Naik, Bronwyn Jeffries and Catrin Ace were Loreburn’s finalists in the Dumfries Ladies’ Speaker Schools’ competition. They each had to give a speech entitled “If I had three wishes.” Each had very different ideas about what they would wish for. Catrin was chosen to enter the final phase of the competition on the 26th March.

All our pupils learned a Scots Poem off by heart. They are so good at delivering their poems adding actions and expressions to help their poem come alive. This year, Harry McCabe, Vidhi Naik and Rhea Donaldson took part in the Dumfries Association School’s competition, giving a very good account of themselves.

This year half of the Christmas Raffle proceeds will go to the D.E.C. Phillipines Typhoon Appeal. It is a very worthy cause as I’m sure you will all agree. Sending support at this time shows the true spirit of Christmas.

Primary 5 have now got their Christmas gift shoeboxes away to children abroad who are less fortunate. We hope their contribution will lift some spirits this Christmas.