Please read Primary 2M’s letter about how you could help them.
Category Archives: Important Information
Social Media Advice
Mobile phones are a great way for children and young people to keep in contact with their parents, carers and friends, especially as they begin a new school year. However, issues may arise if our children and young people excitedly share their mobile phone number with other pupils in their new school year group and even wider, as they perhaps join ‘WhatsApp’ group chats or other social media group chats.
This can lead to your child or young person sharing their mobile phone number with a whole year group and being included in what could amount to over one hundred school pupils on single group chat! The reality of this is that they don’t all know each other, they will all be from different backgrounds, they will all have different levels of online awareness and they will most likely be seeing messages, images and even video footage shared in the group which you, as a parent or carer, would not like them to see but which is out with your control. This situation can be difficult to manage and could be distressing in relation to what is read or seen. Coupled to this, peer pressure could lead to bullying.
WhatsApp is by far the most used messaging App although there are many other similar messaging Apps, and it allows users to send instant messages only to contacts that they have added to their WhatsApp account. Only people who have a WhatsApp account can send and receive messages through the app. Messages can be sent ‘one to one’ or within a ‘group conversation’ and for all messages sent, WhatsApp sends “read receipts” to tell sender if the message was delivered, read, seen or played. These settings can be changed, see the ‘how to guide for parents’ link below for more information. In relation to a group chat on any social media platform, even those as a parent or carer you are involved with, you have no control what will be sent, seen or shared so it is worthwhile having a conversation with your child or young person about this.
We know peer pressure can lead to people of any age doing something they otherwise would not do, online or offline, so this awareness during your child or young persons’ early years is very important.
Our colleagues at Internet Matters have created information resources below to inform you of how the social media platform “ WhatsApp” operates and how you can you can put measures in place to protect what your child or young person sees on the app and awareness on the apps security settings.
Most popular apps – a guide to parents
NSPCC Top Tips for Parents and Carers
Sports Day Postponed
Due to the considerable rain and the puddles on the running track Sports Day has been postponed. The next date that had been provisionally booked is the 31st May. Again, this is weather dependant.
Parking Plea P3G
Please read the letter from the pupil council representative in Primary 3G
Hendrie Award
Nominations of pupils towards the Hendrie Award, for contributing to their community, should be completed by the 5th of June. Please use the online form below to nominate.
The Children’s Champion – Hendrie Family Award
At a meeting in the Crown Inn Hall on the 6th of May 1864, the burgh of Galston was established by the householders of the town. One of the main proposers of this act, was a banker by the name of Mr John Hendrie. With this in mind the Hendrie family, who still live and work within the Galston area, have donated a fund for the establishment of a prize for the pupils of Galston Primary School. This is to encourage the children to promote Galston and help their fellow pupils and members of the community, wherever possible.
We are a Rights Respecting school in conjunction with members of the Hendrie family and staff in school we award a trophy at our annual prize giving in June.
The award is given to a child who has acted in a way that ensures one or more of the articles from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are promoted within the school and/or the wider community of Galston.
Children should be nominated by staff, House Captains and by community organisations using a simple nomination form. The nominations will then be considered by school staff and a representative of the Hendrie Family.
The Children’s Champion will receive the Hendrie Family Trophy.
We are looking for children who are or may have been an active member of a youth group or club and been a good ambassador. Alternatively, someone who has been involved in community initiatives ie a litter pick, gardening etc or someone who has helped and supported other children to feel included and safe.
Nomination forms are available from the school office or using the link below to access an electronic form.
We would encourage you to share this information as widely as possible and for you or any member of the community to make your nominations by 5th June.
https://forms.office.com/e/5dmh2xDih5
Thank you
Parking Plea P4K
Please read Primary 4KM’s concerns letter by clicking on the link below.
Walk to School Week
Due to the change in Sports Day today’s walk to school theme is crazy hair.
Parking Plea P5HM
Please read today’s letter from P5HM
Change of Date – Sports Day
In order to give parents as much notice as possible, due to the prediction of heavy rain on Wednesday, (22nd May) we have decided to delay Sports Day. This will now take place on Friday 24th May when the weather should be drier. Any further updates will be sent out via the School App as soon as possible.
This will also change the theme of the Wednesday’s walk to school to crazy hair and on Friday the theme will be sports attire.
We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Thank you
Parking Plea P7S
This is the first in a series of letters written by each class in the school.
Pupils want to highlight their concerns with regards the car park particularly in the afternoon. These concerns have been raised by pupils to the pupil council representatives, eco committee members and the right respecting group. In every query, pupils from every class asked these committees to help and to see if there was anything that the group could do to help sort it out. Parents have also raised the issue with the Parent Council.
The children are passionate about their school, their friends and their safety and this is reflected in the letters they have written.
Please read the attached letter from P7S
