Month: February 2021

Dear Families and Friends of Crossmichael and Gelston Primary Schools,

 

We are delighted to be welcoming back our P1-3 pupils on Monday 22^nd February.  There is excitement in the air and we hope that it won’t be too long until our P4-7 pupils return too.  The First Minister is making a statement in two weeks and we hope that our older pupils can return from 15^th March but this will depend on the prevalence of the virus.

 

I know that many of you may have mixed feelings about sending your children back to school.  Please rest assured that we have stringent risk assessments in place to ensure the safety of our pupils and staff.

 

Here is a letter from Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director who explains the reasons for the partial re-opening of schools.

 

JL letter – 18 February

 

Additional Information for Pupils Returning on Monday

 

Crossmichael Primary School

On arrival, P1/2 pupils should play at the front of the school (from the main entrance to the library end) and then line up at the library entrance when the bell goes.

 

P2 and P3 pupils from the P2-4 class should play at the back of the school and line up at the Portakabin when the bell goes.

 

Pupils attending the Hub should play at the side of the school beside the PE hall and round to the main entrance.  They should line up at the main entrance when the bell goes.

 

Gelston Primary School

P1-3 can play anywhere in the playground and line up as normal when the bell goes.

 

School Meals

The school meals menu can be found here:

https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/media/23822/Primary-School-meals-menu-January-to-March-2021/pdf/0201-20-School-meals-January-2021.pdf?m=637431237068170000

For the first week, there may be slight changes to the meals offered but there will be a hot option and sandwich options available.

 

P1-3 pupils receive free school meals and P4-7 pupils pay £1.90 unless receiving free school meals.  Pupils may bring a packed lunch if they wish.

 

Gelston pupils will eat school dinners together in the dining hall.  At Crossmichael, P1/2 and P2-3 will have school dinners in the hall at different times.  Pupils who attend the Crossmichael Hub will eat meals in the classroom.

 

Water Bottles

Please ensure you send your child to school with a water bottle as we are unable to provide pupils with cups.  Pupils may re-fill their bottles in school.

 

Uniform

We are relaxing the dress code so whilst pupils are welcome to wear school uniform, it is not a necessity.  Please ensure your child brings several layers with them as we will have windows open for ventilation. Pupils should also bring a change of shoes so that they have an indoor and an outdoor pair.

 

Social Distancing

Pupils do not need to socially distance from each other although we will be operating a class ‘bubble’ system where there is more than one registration class in school.  Pupils should maintain a 2m distance from adults and adults should maintain a 2m distance from each other.  Please remember to wear a face covering when bringing your child to school or collecting them from school.  We ask that no adults enter the playground unless they have made an appointment.

 

 

Child Protection Scotland Campaign

Please remember that it is now against the law to use any form of physical punishment towards a child.  The pandemic has put increasing pressure on us all and this has led to an increase in reported cases of domestic abuse and substance misuse.

 

If you have concerns about the welfare of a child then please call Social Services on 030 33 33 3001.  Call the Police on 999 if it is an emergency or on 101 for advice.

 

If you see something, say something!

 

 

Retirement of Castle Douglas Headteacher – Mr David Tyson

Mr David Tyson used to be Headteacher at Gelston Primary School and we know that his well known and well respected by many people.  He is retiring at Easter and to mark the occasion, we will be asking for your help!  Please look out for an email containing details.

 

If you have any questions then please get in touch with us.  I will be based at Crossmichael Primary School and Mrs Glover (Principal Teacher from Crossmichael) will be based at Gelston Primary School (Mon-Thurs) and Mrs Maxwell on Fridays.

 

Best wishes,

Mary Lidstone-Scott

Headteacher

Dear Friends and Family of Crossmichael and Gelston Primary Schools,

 

I hope that you are well.  The sun is shining today and the days are getting longer.   I hope that we can all be optimistic and look forward to getting back to some normality over the next few months.

 

Return to School Information

We look forward to the return of P1-3 pupils from 22nd February and hope that this is possible.  This will be confirmed by the First Minister on 16th February.  In the meantime, we have been making preparations for the return of our P1-3 pupils whilst also continuing to provide emergency childcare for pupils in P4-7.

 

All risk assessments and hygiene practices will continue to be in place to keep us all safe.

 

Arrangements at Gelston Primary School from 22nd February

In Gelston, our P1-3 pupils will return and be taught by Miss Drummond.  Miss McNeill will continue to support pupils in her role as Learning Assistant.  Mrs Bielinski will teach the class on a Tuesday morning so that Miss Drummond can complete her reduction in class contact time (RICCT) time.

 

Mrs Glover (Principal Teacher from Crossmichael) will be on site from  Monday – Wednesday.  Mrs Maxwell will be on site each Friday.  Miss Reid will be working from home and can be contacted Monday to Thursday as normal.

 

Miss Reid, Mrs Maxwell and Mrs Bielinski will provide remote learning for P4-7 pupils as they do currently.

 

School meals will be available as normal.

 

Arrangements at Crossmichael Primary School from 22nd February

In Crossmichael, P1/2 will return as normal with Mrs Marscheider.  Mrs Stitt will continue to support pupils in her role as Learning Assistant.

 

P2 and P3 pupils from the P2-4 class will return to their classroom in the Portakabin with Mrs Burton (Mon-Thurs) and Miss Todd (Fri).  Miss Todd will provide the remote learning for the P4 children who are at home.   On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Mrs Jennings will support pupils in P2 and P3 in her role as Learning Assistant.

 

Miss Todd will also cover Mrs Burton and Mrs Marscheider so that they can complete their RICCT time.

 

I will be on site every day.

 

Each class will operate within a bubble so that they will play in zoned areas of the playground and will have staggered lunch breaks.

 

School meals will be available as normal.

 

Arrangements for Emergency Childcare for P4-7 Pupils

The emergency childcare hub will be collapsed into one site at Crossmichael Primary School from 22nd February so that we can staff it appropriately.

 

The hub will be staffed by our Learning Assistants, Mrs Cowan and Mrs Clifton.  This means that Mrs Clifton will not be available to continue with her targeted interventions – Closing the Literacy Gap/ Literacy Ladders.

 

This means that all P4-7 Gelston pupils will now join the hub at Crossmichael Primary School.  We have 13 pupils on the list for emergency childcare but there tends to be around 8 pupils attending each day.  Pupils who attend the hub will operate within a bubble so will have separate break and lunch times to pupils in the other classes.

 

Covid-19 Testing Arrangements In Our Schools

More detailed information will be available on the Dumfries and Galloway Council website soon.  All adults working in our schools will be tested twice weekly.

 

How to contact us

You will be able to contact the Headteacher at Crossmichael Primary School on 01556 670282 or 07741 686730.

 

For general enquiries contact the school office via email:

gw08officegelston@ea.dumgal.sch.uk

gw08officecrossmicha@ea.dumgal.sch.uk

 

If your enquiry relates to learning then please contact your child’s teacher via email.

 

Please stay safe and do get in touch if you wish further clarification.

 

Best wishes,

Mary E Lidstone-Scott

Headteacher

 

Dear Family and Friends of Crossmichael and Gelston Primary Schools,

 

I hope that you are well.  It has been lovely to see pupils online at TEAMS meetings and to see how well everyone is engaging with remote learning.  Thank you very much for your efforts.  I have been delighted to send home some Headteacher’s Award postcards this week.

 

 

Message from the Director of Skills, Education and Learning

You will be aware of the First Minister’s announcement this week and what this means for our children.  I would like to share a message from the Director of Skills, Education and Learning, Dr Gillian Brydson, who provides more detail:

 

“A couple of days ago (2 February) the First Minister made a statement in the Scottish Parliament in relation to coronavirus in Scotland and the steps that are being taken to tackle the virus.

Within her statement, the First Minister extended the lockdown until the end of February.  She also stated that nurseries and Primaries 1 to 3 will return to schools full-time on 22 February and for a part-time return, albeit on a limited basis, for senior phase pupils to allow in-school practical work that is necessary for the completion of national qualification courses.  These arrangements are subject to final confirmation two weeks from now, that sufficient progress in tackling the virus has been achieved.

 

We are waiting for the full details from the Scottish Government following the First Minister’s statement.  Once we have finalised our arrangements with Headteachers and partners, we will be writing to all parents to let them know what this means for all of our pupils.  We will do this by as soon as possible, by Thursday 11 February at the latest, recognising the midterm break for pupils is between Monday 15 – Friday 19 February.

 

We have just received guidance from the Scottish Government on the Asymptomatic Testing Programme, which is being put in place as part of the package of COVID-19 risk reduction mitigations in schools. The Schools/Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) asymptomatic testing programme will be available to all primary, secondary and special school staff (including school-based ELC and childcare staff), and all senior phase pupils in Scotland.  Self Testing kits are expected to be delivered to our schools from next week and the operational arrangements are being worked through with Headteachers.  We will provide further information in our letter to parents (mentioned above).

In the meantime, I’d like to thank all parents for their continued support in assisting with remote learning for our children and young people.  Many of our parents are juggling working from home whilst supporting their children.  The safest place for everyone at this time is to stay at home so we appreciate everyone’s effort to keep our communities safe.

 

We will be in touch soon to provide you with an update on the arrangements for our schools as we take this important step forward.”

 

 

Mid-Term Holiday

Please note that schools are closed for all pupils from Monday 15^th February until Friday 19^th February.

 

 

Emergency Childcare School Hub Places

P4-7 children who already have places at the emergency childcare hubs in school will continue to have a place from 22^nd February if required.  (P1-3 will hopefully be back at school anyway.)  There will be no childcare provided during the holiday week (15^th-19^th February).

 

 

Good News

Dumfries and Galloway Council is reporting a decreasing number of Covid-19 cases so thank you so much for everything that you are doing to help.  The restrictions are tough but with your ongoing support I am delighted that we may be able to re-open schools gradually from 22^nd February.  THANK YOU!

 

Best wishes,

Mary Lidstone-Scott

Headteacher