In our December Home Circles we highlighted Article 17 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child which states that every child has the right to reliable information from a range of sources, and governments should encourage the media to provide information that children can understand.  Governments must help protect children from materials that could harm them. 

Our questions were –

How do you find out what is happening in your community and in the world? What kinds of social media do you use?

Why is it important that there are rules about using social media sites?

Take a look through our answers in our Home Circle jotters …

At our Parents Night in October, we asked parents/carers for their views on Homework – and the comments confirmed our thoughts that there is a very wide range of opinions on the benefits and necessity of homework coming home from school. 

As a staff we value your input and will take all of your suggestions and comments into consideration as we continue to review our homework policy and provision.  We will, as always, update you with any changes.

Please have a read through the collated comments, and thanks to everyone who contributed their thoughts.  Mrs Govans 

Homework consultation 11.10.23

Thank you to everyone who came along to our Literacy Open Morning today, despite the horrible weather!

Our pupils and staff really enjoyed showing off their Literacy learning and we hope you had a great time looking at our work and displays.

P1, P2 and P3 pupils were presented with their Bookbug and Read, Write, Count book bags – we’re sure you’ll have a lovely time reading and learning together at home.

Thanks to Captains Georgia and Marley for the photos 🤩

A huge well done to Caleb and Curtis in P6 who have both been chosen to play for the East Ayrshire District Primary School Football Team this year.

Both boys have attended three trials and have made it through the rigorous selection process.  We are very proud of them both and look forward to hearing about their games with the EAC team.

Thanks to all staff, pupils and parents who helped ensure our 13 P6 pupils had a wonderful Big Sleepover experience last Friday.

We tidied up our school gardens, painted stones for display around the school grounds, played games such as skipping and Peevers/Beds (Hopscotch) and a fiercely competitive game of Rounders!

After a supper of hotdogs and marshmallows around the campfire, everyone was in their tents for 10.00pm – although they didn’t fall asleep for quite a while after that ….

Special thanks to Zac’s dad and Ewan’s mum, Mrs Schendel, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Murdoch, Miss Brown and EAC LOST Team – we’re already booked up for next year!       Mrs Govans

The whole school were involved in our first Home Circles session since March 2020 this week.

Each house – Avalon, Ayrbank, Marneil and Whiteflat – is split into four small groups, made up of pupils from all stages, and we all have a BIG question to focus on.  Our P7 pupils are in charge of each Home Circle and they make sure that every pupil – from P1 to P7 – has a chance to voice their opinion and give their answers.

March’s BIG question was based on Article 31 of the UNCRC and is part of our Rights Respecting School focus.

• Why is it so important for us to be able to play?
• How do you like to spend your free time?
• Who do you spend your free time with?

We collate all of the answers and it helps us to make changes and improvements to our indoor and outdoor learning environments.

Thanks to everyone who came along to our Scots Verse Celebration. Our judges, Mr Clipston and Alana from Catrine ECC, presented the prizes to our winners.

Primary 2 – Quinn

Primary 3 – Owen

Primary 4 – Brody

Primary 5 – Lucy

Primary 6 – Millie

Primary 7 – Lexie

The winner of the Libby Papworth Memorial Trophy is Lexie, with Brody as the runner-up.

Well done to everyone- we are very proud of you all!

As we close today at 2.30pm for our Christmas holidays, it’s time for some big Thank You messages!

Thank you … to our Cleaning and Janitorial Teams of Helen, Janette and Stuart,  for making sure our classrooms and learning areas are always clean, warm, safe and ready for us to use.  Special thanks to our jannie, Mr McCreath, for also being our Lollipop Man this term and getting our pupils safely to and from school.

Thank you … to our Catering Team of Shelagh, Helen, Pauline and Tracey for our delicious school lunches.

Thank you … to our Senior Clerical Assistant, Mrs Robertson, for getting us organised, stocked up and kept up to date.  Our school office is a very busy place and she keeps us all running like clockwork!

Thank you… to our Classroom Assistants – Mrs Watt, Mrs Goudie and Miss Brown – for their professional and enthusiastic attitude towards the million different tasks they are asked to do on a weekly basis!  Their support of our pupils is just wonderful.

Thank you … to our class teachers – Mrs Cook and Mrs Ferguson, Mrs McKenna and Miss Norman, Miss McLean and Mrs McCaig, Miss Murdoch and Miss Burleigh – for their creative, interesting and challenging teaching and learning approaches as they continually strive for the best for our pupils.

Thank you… to our Depute Headteacher, Mrs Schendel, for, amongst her very varied responsibilities, ensuring that every child receives the quality learning support that they deserve to help them achieve their potential.

Thank you … to all of the staff at Catrine ECC for sharing their wonderfully creative, inventive and fun learning and teaching approaches with us during their time at the PS.  We will miss the ECC staff and children when they return to Newton Street, and we can’t wait to visit them in their gorgeously refurbished nursery.  Special thanks to our Depute Manager, Alana, for her enthusiasm and innovation – and crazy costumes!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.  Looking forward to seeing our pupils return on Monday 9th January at 9.00am.   Take care, Mrs Govans x

Please click on the link below for details about buying raffle tickets, tickets for our Christmas Show on 14th and 15th December, class party dates, House Reward party date and our Christmas Service …

A busy couple of weeks ahead!!

December dates for your diary

All pupils have been learning some Christmas songs to sing at the Make Catrine Sparkle event on Sunday 4th December.

After the main lantern parade, all Catrine PS pupils, friends and family are invited to meet in the Square at 6.15pm to have a Community Christmas Singalong – guaranteed to get you feeling festive!

We hope you can join us.

We are very pleased to introduce our new permanent Senior Clerical Assistant at Catrine PS – Mrs Deborah Robertson.   

Lots of our pupils and families already know Mrs Robertson as she has worked in our ECC office for the last five years, and we’re delighted that she’s now going to be part of our Catrine PS Team.

Literacy Open Morning  – Wednesday 16th November – 9.00-10.25am

As part of Book Week Scotland please come along to our Literacy Open Morning to see our wonderful Literacy learning in action.  You can visit the classes, investigate the resources and help your child to complete their Literacy work.  All welcome.

Reminders …

Monday 14th November from 3.00-4.00pm – Week 2 of our afterschool Sports Club for P3 and P4 pupils with Miss Norman

Tuesday 15th November from 3.00-4.00pm – Week 3 of our afterschool Homework Club for all stages with Mrs Schendel and Miss McLean

Wednesday 16th November from 9.00-10.25am – Literacy Open Morning

Friday 18th February – all day – ‘Children in Need’ Day.  Pupils can come to school wearing spots/Pudsey gear/casual clothes.  The school/ECC is not collecting money for ‘Children in Need’ – the link for making donations directly is on a previous GLOW post.

We’re looking forward to a great week of learning and fun!

Mrs Govans

At our recent Parents Night on October 12th, our House Captains did a wonderful job of asking parents/carers to complete a short survey of two questions –

What are we doing well in Catrine PS?

What can we improve in Catrine PS?

Thank you to everyone who contributed.  I’ve compiled all of the responses and they’re proudly displayed in the school as we’re chuffed to bits with the positive feedback we received.

Please click on the links below to view the responses.  Mrs Govans

Doing well Oct 22

What could we improve on Oct 22