Our Primary 6 and Primary 7 children are really excited about starting their strings lessons next week! Mr Alistair McCullloch will be in school every Tuesday to work with the children 🎻
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Primary 6 and Primary 7 Swimming Lessons
Primary 6 and Primary 7 have had great fun over the past two days completing two of their six planned swimming lessons. A massive thank you to the staff at the pool for making this a fabulous experience and also to our Parent Council for securing the funding to make this happen! We look forward to taking the rest of the school across for their lessons at the end of the session 👍🏊♀️🤿
Primary 6-7 Swimming Lessons
Please see dates below for Primary 6 and Primary 7 swimming lessons which will take place at New Cumnock Swimming Pool. Can your child please bring a towel and swimming costume to school on these dates. If you request any further information please contact the school.
Wednesday 1st September
Thursday 2nd September
Monday 6th September
Wednesday 8th September
Monday 13th September
Wednesday 15th September
P1 First Day Photos
If any new P1 parents/carers wish an emailed copy of your child’s photograph from their first day at school.
Please email me at the address below with your child’s name and I will send a photo over.
claire.johnstone@eastayrshire.org.uk
Thank you
Mrs Johnstone.
P1-3 Reporting to Parents through Learning Journals
Last session, our infant department piloted online Learning Journals. The feedback from parents/carers on the use of Learning Journals during this trial period was extremely positive.
‘I have really enjoyed using learning journals. Very often when I ask * what he has been doing at school he doesn’t tell me much. However being able to see what he is doing improves this. I am able to ask * about the teachers entry and he engages in discussion with me about what he learned and how much he enjoyed it. * enjoys getting feedback on what we post from home. I’m sure it has given his teacher an insight in to what * is like at home.’
‘I really enjoyed being part of this, with all the current restrictions stopping us from having any face to face contact with teachers this allows us to see some of the things that * has been doing in class. Also allows us at home to feed back to the teacher. Definitely a great thing from my side.’
Due to the success of the pilot, we will now be rolling out Learning Journals to all pupils in our infant classes.
What are Learning Journals?
The Learning Journals app allows staff to upload photos and videos of your child’s learning. The system is clear, simple and easy to use for parents, staff and children.
A huge benefit of Learning Journals is that it provides a lasting visual record of a child’s time at school. The profiles can be exported to a printable PDF to be kept forever, as well as having an electronic copy that can be viewed whenever you want.
Learning Journals is a web based service, therefore parents are now able to login and catch up with their child’s progress wherever they are be it home, work or even out and about, by using their smartphones.
Parents can instantly leave comments and feedback ensuring that the school have a strong link with the home.
Please see the image below to view the app you must download from your play/app store.
Getting started:
In order to be sent a username, password and pin allowing you to log in to view your child’s account, all P1-3 parents/carers (excluding those from the trial who have already been set up) must complete the contact form below.
Once added to the system, Learning Journals will then send you the link to get logged in.
For further information, please visit the Learning Journals website by clicking the link below.
Kind regards,
Mrs McNulty
PE Days
Please see below the PE days for each class. On these days, pupils may come to schools wearing a PE kit (Trainers/ flat shoes, trackie bottoms/ leggings).
P1A: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
P1B: Mondays and Tuesdays
P2:Wednesday and Thursday
P2/3: Thursday and Friday
P3: Monday and Friday
P4: Monday and Wednesday
P5: Thursday and Friday
P6: Wednesday and Thursday
P7: Tuesday and Wednesday
Returning to School
COVID-19 guidance was changed recently. Here is some information to help you and your children on return to school.
First Day Back!
Good Afternoon Everyone!
I wanted to touch base with you all prior to starting back at school next Thursday 19th August. I hope you all have had a fantastic holiday, spending time with your loved ones. The summer holidays have gone in so fast!
Our Head of Education sent out letters via our school app on Friday 6th August, outlining the updated national guidance. I hope you feel reassured by these. All staff are ware of the new guidance and will be further briefed on the in-service days, reinforcing what this means in practice for New Cumnock Primary School.
Playground Supervision
The school day begins at 9am and there will be supervision in the playground from 8.45am. Please ensure your child/children are not arriving before this time.
Please see the table below to identify which gate your child should enter in the morning. Siblings must enter via their own class entrance/exit point. I would advise parents at the end of the day to pick up the youngest sibling first and ask the other child/children to wait inside the school gates until you walk to their gate to collect them.
Primary 1 Arrangements
On both Thursday 19th and Friday 20th August, all new P1’s will attend school from 9.30am to 12pm. From Monday 23rd August all pupils will be in school from 9am to 3pm.
As outlined above, P1’s should come in via the Community Entrance at the front of the school building. Staff will be waiting there on the first day to support the children and direct parents/carers where needed.
We appreciate that it is a big moment for both pupils and parents and we want to make the transition into school as special/easy as possible for everyone. Therefore, there will be an opportunity for our new starts to get their pictures taken at our ‘First Day at School’ photobooth should they wish to access this. Staff will organise this ensuring COVID procedures are in place.
School Uniform
We have always prided ourselves on how smart our children look in their school uniforms and hope you will support us with this. Our uniform consists of:
Skirt, pinafore, trousers (leggings on PE days only)
black or grey
Blouse/shirt white
Sweatshirt/Jumper red, black or grey
Polo shirt white or red
Tie red and white
Sweatshirts, polo shirts, fleeces and rain jackets can be purchased anytime from Donsport and Kenny’s within 0290 in Cumnock. Local supermarkets also tend to sell some of the items listed above.
Within our school reception area we have a Uniform Recycling Station where we stock a wide range of good quality uniform that has been washed and packaged. Please contact the school office on 01290 338404 or our Home Link Practitioner on tracey.bradford@eastayrshire.org.uk should you wish to access this.
Physical Education
PE can now take place in school. However, children should come to school dressed in jogging bottoms/leggings on PE days only, along with school polo shirts. School shoes can still be worn and children can change into trainers once in school.
PE will not take place during the first two days. Class teachers will notify parents when their class PE sessions are to give parents time to get kit organised.
Personal Belongings
Can I ask that all personal belongings have names on them. This makes it easier to identify lost items. Keeping in line with COVID guidance, toys etc, should not be brought into school. If a child requires a transition object from home, this should be kept in their school bag and not be passed amongst their peers.
Children are encouraged to bring in a a bottle of water to school which can be kept in schoolbags and accessed if needed. Pupils will need a small snack for interval.
A reminder that children in P1-P4 receive free school meals, as well as those entitled to a free meal in P5-P7. Remember to top up your Parentpay account if you pay for your child’s meal. If they would prefer, your child may bring a packed lunch instead. Please do not send your child to school with any nuts, as we have children with nut allergies.
Throughout the session, the main forms of communication will be via the school app and on our GLOW website, please check regularly.
COVID Safety Reminders
Staff will remind the children on return to school about the actions they can take to keep themselves safe. It would be great if parents and carers could also reinforce the main messages below prior to our children returning.
Thank you for your ongoing support and I look forward to another successful year working in partnership with you!
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the school office (01290 338404) on the 17th and 18th August when staff will be in school during our two in-service days, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Mrs Joanna McMurdo
(Head Teacher)
P4 Heritage Hero Award – We Need Your Help!
We are taking part in the Heritage Hero Award and we are learning about schools in New Cumnock in the olden days. We would like you to answer our questionnaire to tell us about your time at school in New Cumnock. We would be delighted, grateful, honoured and pleased if you would take time to fill it in. Thank you for your time.
From Primary 4
Euro 2020 (21) Diversity Day!
This year at NCPS, we are celebrating the Euro 2020 (21) kick off! Each class has been given a country participating and on Friday 11th June we will be coming to school in the countries national flag colours!
An example of this would be if a class were given Scotland, they would need to come in wearing blue and white! Unfortunately no football tops are allowed!
In addition to this, each class will complete an activity based on that country! This will link to diversity! Have a look below at which country your class have been given!
Primary 1 (Mrs Johnstone): France
Primary 1/2 (Mrs Armour): Sweden
P2/3 (Mrs Elliott): Spain
P3 (Miss McQueen): Scotland
P4 (Mrs Petrie): Belgium
P4/5 (Mrs Frew): Netherlands
P5/6 (Miss Mason/Mrs Ramsay): Wales
P6/7 (Mr McClure): Germany
P7 (Mrs Clarke): Portugal
