Staffing Update

Mr. David Steward, Head Janitor from Dalry School, will continue to provide some cover for Mrs. Daly until she returns in June.

Mrs. Jackie Povall is currently working with us as our temporary cleaner.

P7 / S1 Transition

P7 pupils will continue to visit Dalry School every Thursday morning. This term the pupils will be doing French, PE, Geography and Information Technology. Transport arrangements will be as before.

P5-7 ‘Tri-Golf’

Mark Turner, our Active Schools co-ordinator, has organised four Tri-Golf sessions for the upper primary pupils in association with New Galloway Golf Course.  The sessions will take place on a Friday morning, starting on the 1^st May.

P1-4 Multi Sports After School Club

This will continue this term with a block of four sessions. The dates are Thursday 30^th April, 7^th, 14th and 21^st May. P1-4 pupils should have brought home a letter. Please contact the school office if you need any other information.

Pupil Absence

In light of the tragic case in West Lothian in 2005 we have been advised to put procedures in place to ensure the safety of all the children in our care. In order that our procedures work efficiently and effectively we require your co-operation in the following matters:

Parents are asked to ensure that:

1. The school is informed if the family is running late.
2. Any legitimate absence is notified to the school by telephone before 9am on the first day of the absence without fail, and that further calls, before 9am, are made on every subsequent day of the absence.
3. Contact telephone numbers, whether for home, for parents at work or for other emergency contacts, are kept up to date and are genuinely numbers where a response will be received. This is particularly important with mobile phone numbers.
4. The school is kept informed of the absence and the likely return date.
5. Any planned absences are officially notified to the school, in writing, in advance.
6. Latecomers report to the school office on arrival at school.

Staff will ensure that absences are checked every day and follow up the whereabouts of any child for whom we have no explanation. Due to the amount of extra work involved and necessity of having the correct information, I would ask you to make a note of the above requirements and ensure that you follow through the procedures to ensure the safety of all our children.

Whist

The next monthly Whist Drive will take place on the evening of Thursday 7^thMay.  This provides a regular income for the school and we are very grateful to those of you who help out with catering and raffle prizes.

Netball

Mrs. Maxwell has decided to give up the Monday after school netball sessions at Kells as a result of other netball and cricket coaching commitments. We are very grateful for the contribution that Mrs. Maxwell has made over the years at Kells and we wish her well in her new coaching roles.

Replacement Water Bottles and Caps

Replacement water bottles and caps can be purchased at the school office.  The prices are £1 for a new bottle and only 20p for a new cap.

Rag Bag Collection

Our Rag Bag collections continue to raise money for school funds. Last term we banked another £112 as we had collected 280kg. The total money banked so far this session from the Rag Bag Bin is £258. Please remember the Rag Bag Bin is available at all times for any unwanted textiles. Our next scheduled collection is on the 25^th June.  Thank you.

Book Club

All orders to be received by 13^th May, please.

PTA Communication to Parents

The PTA are keen for the parent body to be kept up-to-date with decisions made at their meetings. Please could you pass on your e-mail address to Mrs. Best if you would like an electronic copy of the Minutes. A paper copy of the Minutes can also be found on the Parent Noticeboard at the main entrance. Thank you.

P5-7 Carbon Busters

The Crichton Carbon Centre will be delivering six workshops on the following topics to the upper primary class:

Introduction to climate change

Energy, transport and climate change

Food and climate change

Waste and climate change

Biodiversity and climate change

Forests and practical session

The sessions started on the 22^nd April and continue weekly until the 27^th May.

P1-4 Marie Curie ‘Mini Pots of Care’ Appeal

Many thanks to those families who supported our daffodil mini pots of care appeal.  We have donated £88.17 to Marie Curie to help those living with cancer. Well done P1-4!

Sunny New Galloway!

Hopefully the recent good weather will continue for the rest of the term. With that in mind, it is a good idea for the children to have a hat or cap in their school bag which can help protect them from the sun at break times or when they are outside for PE. Pupils would need to apply their own sun cream. Thank you.

Dates for the Diary

Mon. 4^th May                         School Holiday (May Day)

Thurs. 14^th May                    Tempest Class Photographs @ 1.30pm

Fri. 29^th May                          Pupil Holiday / Staff In-service day

Tues 2^nd June                       P6 Glenkens pupils at Operation Safety in Stranraer

Mon. 8^th June                      Pupil Reports issued to parents

Wed. 10^th June                     Parent Consultations

Wed. 17^th June                   Sports Day

Tue. 23^rd June –                  P7/S1 Transition

Fri.  26^th June                     (Tue & Wed – in Dalry school/Thu & Fri – Stronord)