Over the past two weeks Primary one have have been busy planning & preparing to turn their role play area into a cafe. This week they celebrated the opening of The Candy Bar Cafe by inviting some of the boys and girls from the ECC to visit. They worked together to make a selection of cakes and sandwiches to serve to their visitors.
Month: March 2017
School Information
As we come to the end of a very busy term I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Easter holiday. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first full term at Catrine Primary and thought it important to give parents an update of where the school is on it’s improvement journey.
On 7th June 2016, HM Inspectors published a report on Catrine Primary School and Early Childhood Centre.
The inspection found the following key strengths:
- Children who are keen to learn
- Staff who work well as a team to create a positive ethos
- Early impact of the nurture class for children in primary 1 and 2
- The quality of outdoor learning experienced by the ECC
The inspection highlighted a number of areas for improvement which were agreed with the school and East Ayrshire Council and we have been working on these.
- Improve the leadership for learning of the Head Teacher
As you are aware there has been a change in leadership in the school and I was originally supposed to be at Catrine until Easter. This has been changed and we have written to Gargieston parents to extend my time here. Catrine’s Head teacher post is currently advertised.
Within the school and Early Childhood Centre all staff are taking on leadership roles. Everyone’s commitment to the school and ECC should be commended and I would extend my thanks to all support staff for their hard work.
After Easter, we welcome our new Senior Early Learning and Childcare Practitioner, Nyree Cooper to Catrine nursery. Joanna will be working with Nyree and the team to ensure a smooth hand over.
- Improve approaches to the learning needs of all children, in particular those with social, emotional and behavioural needs.
Nurture principles have been adopted throughout the school and extra staff employed to support children. We have all worked to undertake changes and create a more inclusive and nurturing learning environment. If you would like to find out more about nurture please don’t hesitate in contacting the school. In the school we have adopted restorative practices. The children are very familiar with how a restorative meeting works and we gave more information at parents’ night. Again if you want to find out more please let us know. In school staff, pupils and parents from our Parent Council agreed what an excellent lesson is. We have made posters based on ideas from Auchinleck Academy and put them up around the school.
- Improve self-evaluation, including effective monitoring and tracking children’s progress to raise attainment.
We have been working on a tracking system where we look at children’s progress and link their learning to national benchmarks. We are very keen to share this with you and on the children’s own blogs we have started to write their targets. As a school we want to raise attainment and give you information on how you can help your child. Like other schools in the country, many of our children need to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. At parents’ night we had staff from EAST team to give you information. Next term we are planning a parent drop in. Children can show you all their work and give you a tour of the school. We would be happy to give more information on benchmarks and how you can support your child.
Have a lovely holiday and we look forward to seeing you after Easter.
Mrs Wright
Sports Achievements
Well done to everyone that achieved a certificate from the Sports Committee group.
Easter Egg decorating competition
We’ve had a very creative day with all the children putting in a huge effort to create Easter Egg characters. Well done to all the winners. Well done to Gemma for guessing the name of the Bunny, which was ‘Chick’. Congratulations also go to Eryn Robertson for promoting our school values, not only during the Easter activities this week but at all times around the school. Have a lovely holiday everyone.
P6/7 Victorian Walk around Catrine
Yesterday Primary 6/7 went a big walk all around Catrine, to look for some Victorian Buildings, (because our new topic is The Victorians!)
These were some of the buildings we found on our journey, and we thought we would share them with you.
We took some notes about the buildings, so now we can record them into a jotter.
We enjoyed the walk yesterday, and we think it was a great idea to take us out of the classroom like that!
Thankyou,
By Kaiya and Martha.
Congratulations Whiteflat!
Congratulations to Whiteflat, the green house who are this term’s house winners. Can the captains please meet with Mrs Wright first thing to discuss your reward?
Easter Service
Well done to all the children who organised and performed at today’s church service. 😋
Parental Engagement
Children asked parents to complete the form below at Parents’ Night. If you haven’t completed it can you please do it now.
We wanted this information for our school. Questions link to the national survey.
Review of the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006
Ten years ago the Scottish Parliament passed a law to ensure that parents can be fully involved in their children’s schooling. This was to help parents be involved with their child’s education and learning, feel welcomed to take part in the life of the school, and to be encouraged to express their views, on their school and working together with the school.
We wanted this information for our school. Questions link to the national survey.
Easter Holiday – Early Closure
The School will close on Friday 31 March at 2.30 p.m. for the Easter Holiday and re-open on Tuesday 18 April 2017 at 9.00 a.m.
Have a lovely holiday.
Signs of Spring
The Nurture Class have been out and about in the village looking for signs of Spring. We are recording what we see in photographs in order to look for how things develop and change during the season. Please see photos below from todays walk. We also visited the fruit shop in the village to stock up on some of our favourite fruit for our healthy snack. Thank you to the very kind and patient lady who served us in the shop.
Congratulations!!
Tuesday 28 March 2017
Our girls football team have just come first in the East Ayrshire Active Schools – Girls Football Festival at Townhead Park, Cumnock! Congratulations and well done!!
Fun in the sun! ☀️
Primary 1 made the most of the good weather today by taking their learning outdoors. The boys and girls created invitations to send to the nursery, inviting them to their ‘cafe’ opening day on Thursday and designed a variety of cookies using the play dough. They practised their reading, counting & adding as well as developing their team building and leadership skills.
P5,6,7 Pupil helpers – during Parents’ day/evening
Mrs Wright is looking for some pupils from Primary 5, 6 & 7 to help during parents’ day/evening with various displays/notices and to share information. Please telephone the school office on 01290 551436 to confirm if your child can help. Alternatively please complete:
Easter programme from Active Schools Coordinator
Please follow the link below:
Peer Massage in Primary5/6
Primary 5/6 have been successfully taking part in the peer massage programme and it has been exciting to watch them learn, grow and develop their skills. They are now at the point where they can teach someone else and would like to create an open invite to anyone at home, who would like to come in to school and share the learning.
It will be on Tuesday the 28th of March at 1pm, and where I realise this might be short notice for some, do not despair! I will run another session next term and you will have the chance to come in and participate again.
Kind regards
Mrs Cowan and p5/6
If you can come tomorrow please complete:
Parents’ Day/Evening – Reminder
Parents’ Day/Evening is on Wednesday 29th March 2017 from 3.10 p.m. – 4.50 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. – 7.50 p.m. Please contact the school office on 01290 551436 to make an appointment.
P7 Bake Sale
Today the P7’s held a bake sale. It was a great success and they raised £172.56. This money will be put towards their leavers jumpers. They also got £71.50 for the glow sticks, so altogether they raised £244.06!
P6/7 Trip – Scotland Street School Museum
Primary 6/7 will be visiting Scotland Street School Museum in Glasgow on Wednesday 19 April. The children will leave at 10.30 a.m. and return by 3.00 p.m. Please complete:
Service at Catrine Church
All children will be attending the above service on Wednesday 29 March. Children will leave the school at 10.30 a.m. (the Service starts at 11.00 a.m.) and return by lunch. Please complete:
A Message from the Parent Council
The Parent Council would like to thank the children, parents and staff for supporting the DISCO on Wednesday 22 March!! A massive £176.00 profit was made! This was a tremendous success due to the commitment from all.
THANK YOU!