Congratulations to the amazing Mr Bertoncini. Today he completed his first ever parachute jump. We are so proud of him and for doing this for such a wonderful charity. So far he has managed to raise over £800 for The Ayrshire Hospice. We always knew he was a hero and today he became our flying Superhero. Well done Mr B!

If you would like to donate please click on the link below. Thank you.

Ayrshire Hospice

Due to the September bank holiday and Tuesday holiday our Meet the Teacher Sessions have been rescheduled.

These will now take place on:

Wednesday 21st September – Primary 5

Monday 26th September – Primary 6

Wednesday 28th September – Primary 4

Please complete the form below for attendance at these events.

Form

Kind regards

Mrs Fergusson

Dear parents/carers,

The public information is now available on the Council’s website in regards to closure of all educational establishments, as part of the national day of mourning and public holiday and is available here:

Additional public holiday arrangements for Tuesday 20 September 2022 (east-ayrshire.gov.uk)

East Ayrshire Council

A reminder, as you will have read in our September update, our Dress Down Day will not take place on Thursday this week and has been rescheduled to Friday 14th October.

Please see the attached update to our September news.

September Newsletter- update.docx

Please see the letter below with details of an HMIE inspection taking place for our school.

HMIE National Thematic Inspection letter to inform parents

A reminder that St Josephs will be running the first primary 7 parent information evening on Thursday 25th August 6.30pm until 7.30pm.  This information was originally shared via text to all Primary 7 parents last week.

Please read the attached letter regarding the consultation on stages of future educational provision for children at Willowbank School, Onthank Primary School, Onthank Early Childhood Centre (ECC) and Mount Carmel Primary School.

Consultation Letter – 23.8.22 – parents and carers

Apologies this information was missing from the August newsletter:

Please see the attached newsletter for important school information and the attached School Improvement Plan.

August Newsletter

School Improvement Plan

A reminder of the arrangements for the start of school:

Primary 1 parents/carers will be allowed into the classroom to take a “first day of school” photograph of their child in their new classroom. Please ensure, however, that it is only your child(ren) that is in the photo. To ensure the children are not overwhelmed by the number of adults in the room, we would ask that there are no more than two adults entering the class with each child. The children will be split into two groups to reduce the numbers in the class at any one time. Details of the groups were emailed to all parents/carers before the holidays.

The arrangements for the first day of school on Thursday 18^th August are as follows:

• All parents and children will enter the infant playground through the gate nearest Crossgates nursing home for 9:15am/9:30am (depending on child’s group)
• Group 1 parents and children will enter the classroom for settling and photographs at 9:15am.
• Group 2 parents and children will enter the classroom for settling in and photographs at 9:30am.
• As it is the first day of school, children can be picked up anytime between 2:30pm and 3:00pm from the Primary 1 classroom door (please enter playground through the same gates as before)
• If your child is having a school lunch, please remember to look at the lunch menu with your child beforehand to allow you to choose the best option together.

The arrangements for Friday 19^th August are as follows: 

• Children and parents will arrive in the infant playground (same gates as above) for 9am.

• Adults can stay in the playground until the children line up at their classroom door when the bell rings.

• Children are collected from their classroom door at 3pm.

The arrangements for Monday 22^nd August onwards are as follows: 

• Children arrive in the playground between 8:45 and 9am. We kindly ask that all adults remain outside the gate from this point to allow the children to get used to the morning routine.
• Children will line up at their classroom door when the bell rings – staff will be on hand to help.
• Children are collected from the classroom door at 3pm.

Please remember to bring your child’s homework bag on their first day back.  Please note that children should not arrive in the playground before 8:45am as it will not be staffed before this point. 

We look forward to welcoming all of our children back to school at 9am on Thursday 18th August.

A reminder that all children should come to school in full school uniform. This consists of black/grey trousers or skirt with blue/white shirts and ties or a polo shirt as well as a blue jumper.

On PE days will get changed in school.  A PE kit can be left in school on their peg or brought in on each of their PE days.  Details will be provided of PE days for each class.

We are pleased that our Breakfast Club is returning on Monday 22nd August at 8:15am.  All parent/carers that requested a place were emailed before the end of term detailing if a place was/was not available.  We had a high response for this, unfortunately our numbers are limited so a waiting list is now in place.

A reminder that if your child is absent from school you should contact the school and leave a message or speak with a member of our office staff.  Please complete this by 9:15am.

Apologies for the delay, passwords have been sent out today.

Primary 5 night at the movies

P5 Night at the Movies …

Primary 5 have been looking at the advancement of the Film Industry. We have studied the evolution of cinema from the ‘Silent movie Era’ looking at Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and our fa…

Go to this Sway

Please complete the form below if you would like to assist on future school trips when parent/carers are once again able to support with these.  This form will remain open until the new term.

Please complete the form below if you would like to assist on future school trips when parent/carers are once again able to support with these.  This form will remain open until the new term.

As part of their class topic ‘Night at the Movies’ primary 5 have been creating their own films and would love to share them with the primary 5 families.

This will be shared via a password protected Sway document, with the password provided to the main contact for primary parent/carers. If you do not wish your child’s film to be shared please contact the school or complete our query form by Monday 27th June.

Mrs Fergusson

We are requesting that our current Primary 1 parents/carers take the time to provide us with some information regarding your experiences of Learning Journals.  This will shape how we use this across the whole school.

Primary 1 Parent/Carers please complete the survey below by the end of today.  Thank you for your feedback.

Parent/Carer Primary 1 Survey

Please complete the form below if you would like to assist on future school trips when parent/carers are once again able to support with these.  This form will remain open until the new term.

We are requesting that our current Primary 1 parents/carers take the time to provide us with some information regarding your experiences of Learning Journals.  This will shape how we use this across the whole school.

Primary 1 Parent/Carers please complete the survey below by Thursday 23rd June.  Thank you for your feedback.

Parent/Carer Primary 1 Survey

We are requesting that our current Primary 1 parents/carers take the time to provide us with some information regarding your experiences of Learning Journals.  This will shape how we use this across the whole school.

Primary 1 Parent/Carers please complete the survey below by Thursday 23rd June.  Thank you for your feedback.

Parent/Carer Primary 1 Survey

We are pleased to announce that our Breakfast Club will be returning after the summer holidays.  This will begin on Monday 22nd August and will support 30 children per day.

As you are aware the focus of the Breakfast Club is to support families by providing a healthy and nutritious start to the school day as well as opportunity for children to engage in social, physical and educational activities.

Breakfast Club will begin at 8:15am each morning and will cost £1 per day paid via ParentPay or will be free for those who have applied for Free School Meals.

Please be aware that the purpose of Breakfast is not to provide early morning childcare, as stated it is about supporting families and children to make healthier choices.  Priority places will be provided to specific families.

If you would like your child to be considered for an additional place at Breakfast Club please click on the link below.  Please complete this for Sunday 19th June:

Mrs Fergusson

Sports Day was fantastic!  Our children have had a really enjoyable day and was great to see them taking part in so many different activities.  Thank you to all of our team for organising the events today.

We cant wait to share our Sports Day photographs.  It was also super to see so many parents/carers/relatives/friends come along to see our children.

Thank you.

#TeamMC

#MCFamily

A reminder that a letter was sent home yesterday regarding an Education Scotland visit on Monday 13th June at 1:30pm.  Thank you to the two parents that have kindly volunteered so far. Please consider being part of our parent group sharing your views on the educational benefits of an ECC and refurbishment of our school.

Sharing your views in this group will help to strengthen our bid process.

Please complete the return slip on the letter or email myself.
andrea.fergusson@eastayrshire.org.uk

Please check school bags tonight for a letter regarding an Education Scotland visit on Monday 13th June at 1:30pm. Please consider being part of our parent group sharing your views on the educational benefits of an ECC and refurbishment of our school.

Sharing your views in this group will help to strengthen our bid process.

Please complete the return slip on the letter or email myself.

andrea.fergusson@eastayrshire.org.uk

Further information from St Joseph’s this afternoon:

• Pupils should be at St Joseph’s for 8.50am either via own transport/our school buses/their own primary buses if at St Andrews.
• Pupils will leave at the end of our school day – 3.40pm
• Pupils can access canteen facilities
• Pupils should be in full school uniform and bring PE kit if needed
• Pupils should bring with them their timetables and slips they were asked to return during Miss Cathie’s visit.

Please read our June Newsletter containing important and exciting information.

*****Please note that there is an error in this newsletter. The P7 leavers assembly will take place on Tuesday 28th June at 2pm. Apologies for this error. *****

Newsletter June 2022

At this time of year we consider what our school priorities should be as we prepare for 2022/2023.

Please take the time to complete the survey below presenting your views on our future school improvements.

Parent/Carer School Improvement Plan Consultation

This survey will close on Thursday 26th May.

​​​​​​​Thank you.

Today has been a busy day for Health Week.  Primary 6 took part in a range of playground games which they shared with other classes in the school.  Mark Devlin from Active Schools worked with children across the school.

Primary 1-4 also had a very special visitor.  The author Shirley Husband came to the school to share her new book ‘Captain Conker and the Dastardly Plan’.  The children thoroughly enjoyed hearing the story and were delighted when Captain Conker came to see them too.

We have lots of photographs of all our activities from this week to share soon.

Please see the letter below.

Letter to Parents and Carers from Jason Leitch National Clinical Director – April 2022