Not long now for the Harvest Hoolie Disco!!
To join in the fun, please purchase your tickets via ParentPay, as no cash will be handled on the night. Thank you.
All posts by Mrs Caldwell
Ochiltree Christmas Parties – Save the Date
Autumn Amble Sponsored Walk – Wednesday 1st October
Autumn Amble Sponsored Walk – Wednesday 1st October
Our pupils are gearing up for an autumn walk around the village on Wednesday 1st October during school hours to help raise money for the school.
There is no obligation, but we would be grateful if you could help by sponsoring your child to take part and by asking family and friends to sponsor too.
Please look out for sponsor sheets and envelopes in your child’s school bag.
If you are able to help, we would ask that all sponsor sheets and money be returned to the school in sealed envelopes on Monday 6th October by 12 noon.
Warm waterproof clothing and footwear suitable for autumn temperatures and weather conditions is advised for the day.
Thank you
Harvest Hoolie Disco – Thursday 25th September
Ochiltree Parent Council Presents…….
Primary 1 Class Photo
Dear Primary 1 Parents / Carers,
PRIMARY 1 – CUMNOCK CHRONICLE CLASS PHOTOGRAPH
The photographer for the Cumnock Chronicle will be visiting the school on Monday 8th September to take a photo of our Primary 1 class for publication shortly.
We’ll need to keep an eye out for our class in the paper over the next couple of weeks.
Thank you
Halloween STEM Workshops – MaidSafe Foundation
Dear Parent / Carer,
HALLOWEEN WORKSHOPS
Please see the attached poster ( Maidsafe Halloween Workshop) giving details of Halloween workshops being held:
Thursday 16th and Friday 17th October 2025
Both days have sessions at 10:30am – 12:00 noon, and 1:00pm – 2:30pm.
Places are limited; please book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/halloween-stem-workshops-tickets-1631208742259?aff=oddtdtcreator
For more information contact Heather at 07576 791963.
These sessions are sure to be spooktacular!!
Thank you
STEM Club – Maidsafe Foundation
Dear Parent / Carer,
MAIDSAFE FOUNDATION – STEM CLUB
Please see the poster below advertising a bi-weekly science club being held by the MaidSafe Foundation in the STEM Centre.
Alpha Group for P4-7 age group commences Friday 5th September – places can be booked via this link
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/alpha-friday-stem-club-tickets-1631128060939?aff=oddtdtcreator
Beta Group for P1-4 age group commences Friday 12th September – places can be booked via this link
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beta-stem-club-tickets-1631166034519?aff=oddtdtcreator
Please contact Heather Robertson at 07576 791963 for further information.
Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.
Thanks
CHILDSMILE TOOTHBRUSHING PROGRAMME for P1/2 Pupils
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Please see the attached letter from the Childsmile team providing details of the toothbrushing programme.
Please note that your child will be enrolled to the toothbrushing programme automatically, but if you do not wish your child to take part in the programme please write to the school within two weeks to advise.
If you require further information on the initiative, you can use the QR on the attached letter to connect to the Childsmile website, or click here https://www.childsmile.nhs.scot/.
Thank you
MacMillan Coffee Morning – Change of Date
Dear Parent / Carer,
Change of Date – MacMillan Coffee Morning – Friday 3rd October
Please note that we have changed the date of the school coffee morning to Friday 3rd October; further details will be issued closer to that date.
Any shop bought biscuits, cakes, or other treat donations would be very gratefully received. No products containing nuts please.
Hope you are all able to join us then.
Thank you
Parent Council AGM
Dear Parents / Carers,
The annual general meeting of the Parent Council is being held:
- Wednesday 3rd September 2025,
- 7pm,
- in Ochiltree Church Hall
For more information on the Parent council, please check out the school blog at: Parent Council
If you’re interested in attending the meeting, or would like to join, please drop Ochiltree Primary School Parent Council an email at: OchiltreeParentCouncil20@gmail.com.
Giving up a little time, could make a huge difference to our pupils future.
Thank you
Photograph Permission and Acceptable ICT Use Forms – Reminder
Dear Parents/Carers,
Can you please complete the two attached forms as a matter of urgency if you have not already done so?
Please ensure that both forms are completed.
Teachers are working on pulling together information for their class blogs and are unable to use pupil photographs until consent information has been received.
Thank you for your assistance.
Flu Immunisation Consent Forms – Return by Friday 5th September
Dear Parents and Carers,
Flu Immunisation consent forms have now been issued to all pupils; please have a look out for them in your child’s school bag.
All primary and secondary school pupils are offered the flu vaccine as a painless nasal spray. Further information can be found by calling 0800 030 8013 or at:
Please complete and return the consent form to the school, even if you do not want your child to be vaccinated, by Friday 5th September 2025.
Thank you
Bell Free School
Dear Parents and Carers,
You might have noticed things are a wee bit different here at Ochiltree Primary this session.
We have decided to remove the bells as part of our inclusive environment refresh. By removing 30 bells a day !!! we are hoping to create a more calming relaxed environment for all our learners.
By allowing children to filter into school we can greet them with a smile rather than the tension of lining up. We can also remove the anxiety some pupils have about being late – it happens.
The timings across the school remain the same as well as the entrance and exits, but our approach is now a bit different and more learner friendly.
We hope this will ease both you and your child into school with a smile.
Appointment of Head Teacher for Ochiltree Primary School
Please see the original letter attached announcing the appointment from Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Chief Education Officer –
The following if copied from that letter:
Dear Parent/Carer,
I wish to provide an update to you on the leadership of Ochiltree Primary School. I am very grateful to Mrs Pamela Lockie who has led the school since Mrs Black’s departure earlier this year, and I am sure you will join me in thanking her for all of her hard work.
I can now advise that, following discussions with the Chair of the Parent Council, Mrs Denise MacColl has been appointed as the Head Teacher of Ochiltree Primary School. Mrs MacColl is an experienced Head Teacher and will be ably supported by Mrs Lockie as Depute Head Teacher.
I hope that you and your families enjoy the rest of the term and have a very restful and enjoyable summer break.
Yours sincerely,
LINDA McAULAY-GRIFFITHS
Chief Education Officer and Head of Education
School Lunches
Please note that there is a change to the menu for Monday 17th June.
The Super Tattie’s Tasty Tray will now come with an egg sandwich and not the chicken mayo baguette as noted on the ParentPay app.
Please also note that menus may be subject to change at short notice as we come to the end of the academic year.
Thank you
WHATSAPP AND SOCIAL MEDIA – Advice for parents and carers
Mobile phones are a great way for children and young people to keep in contact with their parents, carers and friends, especially as they begin a new school year. However, issues may arise if our children and young people excitedly share their mobile phone number with other pupils in their new school year group and even wider, as they perhaps join ‘WhatsApp’ group chats or other social media group chats.
This can lead to your child or young person sharing their mobile phone number with a whole year group and being included in what could amount to over one hundred school pupils on single group chat! The reality of this is that they don’t all know each other, they will all be from different backgrounds, they will all have different levels of online awareness and they will most likely be seeing messages, images and even video footage shared in the group which you, as a parent or carer, would not like them to see but which is out with your control. This situation can be difficult to manage and could be distressing in relation to what is read or seen. Coupled to this, peer pressure could lead to bullying.
WhatsApp is by far the most used messaging App although there are many other similar messaging Apps, and it allows users to send instant messages only to contacts that they have added to their WhatsApp account. Only people who have a WhatsApp account can send and receive messages through the app. Messages can be sent ‘one to one’ or within a ‘group conversation’ and for all messages sent, WhatsApp sends “read receipts” to tell sender if the message was delivered, read, seen or played. These settings can be changed, see the ‘how to guide for parents’ link below for more information. In relation to a group chat on any social media platform, even those as a parent or carer you are involved with, you have no control what will be sent, seen or shared so it is worthwhile having a conversation with your child or young person about this.
We know peer pressure can lead to people of any age doing something they otherwise would not do, online or offline, so this awareness during your child or young persons’ early years is very important.
Our colleagues at Internet Matters have created information resources below to inform you of how the social media platform “ WhatsApp” operates and how you can you can put measures in place to protect what your child or young person sees on the app and awareness on the apps security settings.
Please see the links below for more valuable advice:
https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/whatsapp-safety-a-how-to-guide-for-parents/
https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/monitoring-apps-parents-guide/
https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/social-media-advice-hub/
East Ayrshire Summer Schools – William McIlvanney Campus, Kilmarnock, 22-26 July 2024
Please see the attached information regarding this year’s East Ayrshire Dance Summer School (P4-P7 & S1-S6).
Each day will begin at 10.00 a.m. and finish at 3.00 p.m. On the Friday afternoon there will be a joint performance at 1.30pm in the Assembly Hall to showcase to family and friends what has been achieved during the week.
The course will be based at William McIlvanney Campus and participants should bring a packed lunch each day. No previous experience or specialist clothing is necessary; enthusiasm and comfortable clothing are adequate.
There are limited places available on this course with the participants divided into groups according to age, experience and friendship-groups where possible.
This year’s course is being co-ordinated by Zara Smith, Cultural Co-ordinator, Dance and Movement and all sessions will be taken by highly qualified and experienced artists. To ensure maximum benefit for everyone, it is anticipated that the usual high standards of behaviour expected in our schools will be displayed.
The Summer School is subsidised by East Ayrshire Council, however, there will be a non-refundable administration charge of £30 per child (£25 for siblings) for the entire week. Once we receive your form an invoice will be sent out via Parentpay by the end of June secure your child’s place. Pupil’s entitled to FSM will be free.
Please note, each applicant must be able to make their own transport arrangements. If you would like to apply for a place on this course for your child, please complete the online form:
https://forms.office.com/e/XTxcJjKgjh
by Friday 14th June 2024.
Confirmation emails will be sent out the end of June.
Kind Regards,
Zara Smith
Cultural Co-ordinator, Dance & Movement
Creative Minds Team
East Ayrshire Council
P5 Sports Day
Could Primary 5 pupils please bring in a hat, scarf and pair of gloves for our novelty race.
Items should be brought to school in a labelled bag by Wednesday 29th May, for sports day Friday 31st May.
Many thanks,
Mrs Meek and Mr McMillan
Public Holiday Reminder
This is a reminder that Monday 27th May is a Public Holiday and Tuesday 28th May is an In-service day.
Pupils will return to school on Wednesday 29th May at 8:50am.
Enjoy a lovely long weekend
Super Hero Themed Lunch – Thursday 30th May 2024
Please note that there is a change to the usual Week 2 school lunch menu for Thursday 30th May.
For one day only….It’s Super Hero Day…..
- Batman Burger (beefburger), or
- Power Ranger Panini (cheese/vegan cheese panini)
both served with Wonder Woman Wedges (potato wedges) and Superman Salad.
Captain America Cupcake for dessert.
If your child would like a lunch from this menu on the 30th, please place, or amend your order on Parent Pay in the usual manner.
Thank you
