There will be a change to tomorrow’s lunch as follows:
Lentil Soup, Pepperoni Pizza, Quorn Chow Mein, Gammon and cheese roll.
Thursday’s lunch menu has also been changed as follows:
Vegetable soup, Chicken curry, Vegan sausage roll and beans, Gammon and chees roll.
Lauren, Vivienne, Judyta and Rhianna from P6 recently attended the Grand Hall for the annual Day of Dance.
They had a great day and did a wonderful job in representing our school!
Don’t miss out on winning a fabulous prize in our November raffle!
Tickets are £1 for 5 and can be purchased on Parentpay now!
The Scottish Government are currently consulting on the delivery of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenting within Scottish schools.
You can read about the proposed content and delivery via the link shown below, and I would strongly encourage you to do so.
In addition, and perhaps of greater accessibility/ease of reading, Parents/Carers may find that the RSHP website provides a clearer insight into the content often recommended for delivery against the above guidance.
At Primary School age, the curriculum is at Early to Second Level.
As a Catholic faith-based school there are elements of the proposed content linked to the guidance that may, depending upon individual perception, sit in direct contrast to the faith dynamic of our provision, which naturally permeates our ethos and delivery.
We absolutely understand and welcome the fact that not all of our pupils are Catholics, but also recognise strongly that all families sending their children to our school respect and understand our ethos, and the central role that faith plays in the wider life of the school and in our daily practice.
Given that parents/carers are the first educators of their children, I feel it is imperative that you are fully aware of the above consultation and are encouraged to submit a response.
The previous version of the guidance was very clear in acknowledging the rights of Catholic schools to deliver Catholic teaching on aspects of human relationship and sexual development. The revised guidance has removed this reference.
Encouraging parents/carers to do so is also strongly advocated for by the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) and the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.
SCES, on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference has produced a briefing paper for the consideration of parents/carers who have elected to send their children to Catholic schools. This briefing paper is attached for your information.
SCES has also produced a supporting consultation return that you may, if you see fit, elect to refer to prior to making a response. Both of these items have been combined in the attachment provided.
As with any consultation, parents/carers are free to respond in full, in part or not at all. However, parent/carer voice is extremely important and central to the education of children in schools across Scotland. I sincerely and strongly encourage you to try to complete a response prior to the consultation deadline of Thursday 23rd November. Responses can be submitted via this link:
Parents/Carers wishing to make a response by post can do so by submitting a response to:
RSHP Teaching Guidance Consultation
Area 2B North
Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH
EH6 6QQ
It is my understanding that responses need not address every question within the consultation. I am to understand that some parents/carers are electing to respond to questions one and six specifically. It is for individual parents/carers to determine whether or not they wish to respond in full or in part.
Thank you for your support in this matter.
Kind regards
Andrea Fergusson
Briefing Paper and Letter Template For RSHP consultation (1).pdf
Reminder that dogs are not allowed to be in school grounds at any time whether they are on a lead or being carried.
Thank you for your continued support with this matter.
Mrs Fergusson
Tempest will be in school on Monday 20th November for individual and family photographs (if requested) to be taken.
Thankyou
TeamMC
Our classes are having their photographs taken this week for our “Class Christmas Calendars”. We will be taking orders for these at our Christmas Fayre on 1st December. If you do not wish your child to be in their class photograph, please contact the school office asap.
Thank you
As you are aware, our Christmas Fayre takes place on Friday 1st December. We are kindly asking for donations of home baking for the Fayre.
If you are able to donate any baking, please hand it into the school no later than Thursday 30th November. If you require any tins/tubs/tupperware back, please make sure your child’s name is clearly marked on it.
Thank you
Please find attached the outcome of the schools recent Learning Visit. This will also be posted on the school app and a copy sent via email to parents/carers.
If you received a text message to say you child/children had been successful in gaining a spot in our school choir here are the details of the rehearsal time etc:
Rehearsals begin tomorrow ( 14th November) after school from 3pm-4pm and will run on a Tuesday for the following 3 weeks up to and including 5th December.
If your child is a member of school choir they will be required to sing at our Christmas Fayre on Friday 1st December, more details on that to follow…..
If your child/children had expressed an interest in the school choir and were unsuccessful, we apologise; our numbers were very limited, however, there will be many more exciting opportunities to take part in activities throughout the coming year.
A reminder that our Pupil Progress Meetings are this week on the following days:
Wednesday 15th November @ 5pm-8pm
Thursday 16th November @ 3.30pm-6.30pm
You should by now have received a slip with the date and time of your allocated appointment. If you have not yet had this, please check your child’s schoolbag in the first instance and thereafter contact the school office .
We are delighted that the Book Fair will be available at both our Pupil Progress Meetings and that FOMC will also be there selling raffle tickets for Christmas Fayre prizes.
We will be holding our Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 15th of December this year. If you have any children’s Christmas jumpers at home that no longer fit or you no longer need, please hand them into the school and we can use them for our jumper exchange.
Thank you!
A reminder that this Friday (17th ) is a dress down day for Children In Need.
Please do not bring any donations into school. You can make any donations for Children in Need through a direct link which is now live on Parentpay.
Thank you
Gentle Reminder that payment for this years trip to the Pantomime is now overdue, payment can be made using your childs Parentpay account or if you require a barcoded letter please contact the school office
Thankyou
Reminder that our Pupil Progress Meetings will take place next week on the following days:
Wednesday 15th November 5pm-8pm
Thursday 16th November 3.30pm-6.30pm
Next week is Book Week Scotland
On Wednesday next week (15th November), P1-3 will be gifted their celebration bags, and can bring pyjamas to change into in school in the afternoon and will enjoy milk and cookies.
A reminder that tomorrow (Friday 10th Nov) is a dress down day!
We are kindly asking for pupils to bring in donations tomorrow for our tombola and bottle stall for our Christmas Fayre which is being held on 1st December.
***Please note that any alcohol must be handed straight into a member of staff at the school by an adult***
Please note thar due to unforseen circumstances swimming lessons for P5 are cancelled today and will now commence on Thursday 23rd November.
Sorry for any inconvenience caused
TeamMC
During November we will have a number of dress down days on Fridays.
Friday 10th November – please bring in a donation for the Christmas Fayre tombola or bottle stall
Friday 17th November – Children in Need Dress Down Day. Please follow the link on ParentPay to donate
Friday 24th November – please bring in a donation for the Christmas Fayre tombola or bottle stall
There will be a change to Thursday’s lunch menu (9/11):
The choice will now be: Vegetable soup, Chicken Curry, Vegetarian sausage roll, Gammon and cheese roll.
There will be a change to tomorrow’s lunch menu (7/11):
The choice will now be: Pepperoni pizza, Quorn Chow Mein or Chicken mayo pasta.
Welcome to the P3 curriculum overview for term 2. This will be a busy term with lots of new learning as well as fun and exciting activities to prepare for Advent and Christmas.
Literacy
Our focus in term 1 was using our class novel to create descriptive writing by describing the main character, Horton, and using rhyming words and adjectives to describe what he hears and the things he sees. Through descriptive writing, we also have been using our topic about vertebrates and invertebrates when using descriptive bubbles. During term 2 we will now focus on narrative and report writing. As well as talking and listening games and activities such as Show and Tell.
P3 have been participating in reading and spelling activities and children have been working within groups to revisit previous sounds and texts, ready to use their skills and strategies to tackle new and unfamiliar spelling sounds and reading books. Our writing focus is currently descriptive writing, and these written pieces will come from our class novel and topic of Vertebrates.
Numeracy
Our focus in numeracy has been place value, however, this is something we will regularly revisit with children consolidating previous learning on 2-digit numbers, initially to 99. Then the children moving to three-digit numbers beyond 100. Children were and will continue to partition these numbers and confidently discuss this in terms of (H) hundreds, tens (T) and units (u), whilst building on their understanding of number and number patterns. In term 2 the focus will be using addition with two-digit numbers before moving to three-digit numbers. Word problems will also continue to be a focus to consolidate our strategies within this operation of number. Children have been using their ‘Thinking it through’ jotters as the term progresses to develop problem solving skills, applying knowledge of number to new contexts and develop strategies for number problems.
Beyond number, children have been focusing on measurement and using different equipment to measure in cm and metres. Children have been estimating using rulers and metre sticks before measuring objects to see how close their predictions were. For term 2 the focus will be 2D and 3D shape identifying real life examples, comparing the properties of 2D and 3D objects, and creating their own 3D shapes.
Health & Wellbeing
All children have now had the opportunity to be Pupil of the Day and will start to be chosen for the second time in term 2. Our Pupil of the Day has been receiving lots of compliments. We will continue to explore emotions, and how we recognise these emotions within ourselves and in others and learning how to control them.
In P.E, our sessions will continue to take place on a Tuesday and a Thursday and our focus in term 2 this time will be, Social Dance, Football and Gymnastics. In term 1 children were participating in hockey and badminton. Children will use their transferrable skills when playing in a team.
Our focus during R.E sessions has been Mary in October, moving to Saints and Remembrance, the routines of the church and the celebration of Mass. We will also spend some time reading and discussing bible stories relating to friendship and love, whilst considering how each of us are unique and have our own God given talents.
Topic
The children will be participating in activities in different areas of the curriculum including social studies and will be focusing on climates and weather around the world. Children have been exploring and developing an understanding of living things as this was a focus on our topic Vertebrates topic where children have been sorting and categorising living things into vertebrates and non-vertebrates.
We hope this is the start of a very fun filled successful term and that the children enjoy learning across the curriculum.
Take care,
Miss Grimley
Term 2 is upon us! Primary 6 are making progress in all areas and are showing leadership across the school.
Literacy
Listening and Talking
Listening and Talking will continue to be a focus across the curriculum. Pupils will participate in a range of activities to allow for this.
Reading
The class novel this term is ‘Titanic Detective Agency’ by Lindsay Littleson. The pupils will complete various reading and writing tasks related to this appropriate to their level. This novel study also has links to our Social Studies and Science topic ‘Titanic’.
We will also continue using the ‘Bug Club’ reading resource to aid our comprehension skills.
Spelling
Spelling will be individualised to groups and will form a focus for homework as well as class tasks.
Numeracy
All groups made great progress last term and will continue with addition and subtraction this term, this will be followed by a topic of multiplication and division, so get practising those tables! Outcomes are determined in groups.
Money will be a focus during beyond number lessons again differentiated across the class. Please discuss financial aspects with children at home; topics could include budgeting, credit and debit and savings.
Health and Wellbeing
Our focus this term is Health and Wellbeing Champions, pupils will participate in an authority wide topic via ‘Teams’, this will allow participation from P6 classes across the area where they will collaborate in challenges from the comfort of our classroom!
Primary 6 will continue to be PATHs playground leaders; an important responsibility, and one we are more than ready for!
Children will also continue to follow the PATHs resources, this helps pupils to identify their emotions, act accordingly and build resilience.
‘Do be mindful’ strategies and mindful learning blocks will reinforce all that we do.
Religious Education
Children will examine the initial stages of the ‘Pope Francis Faith Award’ this term, this focusses on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the unique qualities we all possess. We will look at 3 gifts this term and will continue this journey into primary 7. There will be an occasional homework task related to this.
French
Our French skills are developing and pupils are becoming more confident in this area. We will focus our attention this term on discussing pets and familiarising ourselves with accessing French dictionaries.
Homework
Homework will be issued weekly and at primary 6 level children should be able to complete these tasks individually with limited support. Please check that your child is accessing these tasks and is becoming responsible around this. Homework will always be issued to reinforce learning and children will have been taught the area in class. Homework creates routine and independence and will be an expectation at every stage of school life especially secondary school. In developing good habits in the upper primary this will ease that transition when the time comes.
As always your continued support is appreciated across the school year.
Mrs Crawford and Mrs McIntyre.
Term 2 has arrived and Primary 1 are back on the learning train! We have a busy and fun filled term ahead. We have started the term with some spooky Halloween activities and look forward to celebrating our first Christmas as part of the Mount Carmel school community.
Literacy
This term we will be continuing to practise our letter formation and pencil control skills to ensure we can write the letters we have been learning.
Now that we know some of the sounds the letters of the alphabet make, we will be “blending” these together to make words. These words will help us with our reading and writing tasks.
We are very excited that we are becoming “readers” in Primary 1 and will soon be bringing home our first texts with words in them. We will be answering questions about the stories we read in class, to check our comprehension skills.
During writing activities, we will be describing a range of objects by thinking about their colour, size, texture and shape.
Numeracy
Now that we have explored the numbers to 10 fully, identifying quantities which are “more” and “less”, we will be focusing on the concept of addition. We will begin by combining two quantities and understanding that when you do this, the quantity gets bigger. This will lead us on to learning the addition facts, where we learn the different ways to “make” our numbers. These number stories (or facts) are the building blocks to which all of our calculations are built upon, so we will spend a lot of time on these, ensuring they are well embedded before moving on.
Numbers are tricky to write, so number formation will continue to be reinforced in class and through homework tasks.
Health & Wellbeing
We will continue to welcome our PATHS puppets to help us talk about our emotions and friendships. We have been talking about the kinds of things friends do together and have discussed what makes a good friend.
We have been exploring our emotions and sharing our experiences and we will be looking at ways to help us manage our feelings.
We will also be talking about ways to keep ourselves safe when indoors and outdoors.
Topic
Our topic this term is “Local Superheroes”. We will initially be exploring our community and identifying shops, buildings and our natural environment. We will then consider the “heroes” who work in or serve these areas. Through our discussions and role play opportunities, we will learn more about the world of work and the different types of jobs which we find interesting.
RE
During RE we will continue to give thanks for God’s love.
We will also explore the story of creation, developing our awareness of the natural wonders of the world around us.
As the term progresses, we will celebrate advent together, preparing for the birth of Jesus by showing love and kindness to those around us as much as we possibly can. We will be exploring the story of the nativity through songs, role play and craft activities.
Expressive Arts
The seasonal themes of Autumn, Winter and Christmas will be the focus of our drama, music and art activities this term.
A very exciting and busy time ahead. Now that we are getting into the colder weather, could the zipping/fastening up of coats please be practised at home.
Thank you,
Mrs Duff
