Due to the success of the Home Economics Taster Session held in The Robert Burns Academy in October, the department will be running another event on Tuesday 10th March where P7 pupils will get the chance to cook alongside one of their parents/carers.
Please find an information flyer below with all the details included.
There are two sessions available and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis – due to Health & Safety restrictions there are only 30 places available at each session.
Parents/carers can sign up by e-mailing the school mailbox, eaRobertBurns.Ac@eastayrshire.org.uk, and office staff will reply issuing a ticket which must be brought along on the day (screenshot of ticket is fine if unable to print) to gain access to the event.
To celebrate Burns Day, on Friday 23rd January 2026 the catering team are laying on an additional Burns Day menu, as below.
The usual week 3 Friday menu is available, but if you wish your child to have the alternative Burns Day selection, please place your order via ParentPay.
We have noted that some of our pupils are taking whole grapes into the school as a play-time snack or for lunch.
Following on from our advice regarding Halloween sweets and the choking hazard that small spherical food items can pose, we would encourage parents to half or quarter grapes sent into school.
Given that pupils could be running around over break time whole grapes can be incredibly dangerous.
Lovely to see our pupils return after the festive break and we welcome Maxine Gorman to the school today as Depute Head Teacher.
With new diaries and new calendars being started for 2026, we thought a reminder of the planned activities, as we know them thus far, would be useful.
Please find the letter we initially sent to you early November 2025 attached for your reference.
Activities, as they become known, will be added to the online calendars (app and blog) throughout the coming months, but please feel free to contact the school office should you have any queries.
Children who attain the age of 5 years between 1 March 2026 and 28 February 2027 and whose parents/carers wish them to attend school should be registered for education during the week Monday 12 January 2026 until Friday 16 January 2026.
Just a wee reminder of our school diary for the remainder of this final festive week of term:
Tuesday 16th December
P1-4 Christmas Party – after lunch. Children can come to school dressed in their party wear or can change into their party clothes after lunch (pupils can be assisted by staff if required). Lunches will be at the usual times.
P5-7 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – movie showing. PG film, if parents do not wish their child to see this film, please contact the school office.
Wednesday 17th December
Whole school outing to the Galleon Centre to see ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Panto– leaving school at 9:00am prompt. Buses should be back to school by no later than 1pm, but in case of delay, Soup and Sandwich lunch available to all pupils (Please amend order on ParentPay to reflect the change should a school lunch be required). A small individual snack (no nut products and no share bags please) and drink (no fizzy or canned juice) is permitted.
Thursday 18th December
P5-7 Christmas Party – after lunch. Children can come to school dressed in their party wear or can change into their party clothes after lunch. Lunches will be at the usual times.
Friday 19th December
School closes at 2:30pm – bus pupils will be collected at 2pm. Pupils will return on Monday 5th January 2026 at 8:50am.
Please feel free to contact the school should you have any queries.
As the whole school will be going to the Galleon Centre, Kilmarnock, on Wednesday 17th December to see the panto ‘Sleeping Beauty‘, a decision has been made to change the lunches being offered that day.
The performance is due to finish at 12 noon, but to plan in case the buses are delayed coming back from Kilmarnock, a later lunch of only Soup and Sandwiches will be available that day.
Apologies for the change in menu at this late stage.
Can parents / carers please amend / cancel orders via ParentPay for this date?
In the past few weeks, at our Achievement Assemblies, we have celebrated the successes of some of our pupils, and we have awarded the following categories of certificates:
The countdown is on to our 2025 Nativity; only 4 days to go!!
We are looking forward to seeing our pupils perform on Friday 12th December, 9:30am, Ochiltree Parish Church. Doors will open at 9:15am.
PLEASE NOTE: no photographs or filming is allowed during the performance at the church. There will be an opportunity for parents / carers to get a photo of their performer(s) in their costumes back at the school after the nativity.
Refreshments will be served at the school following the performance.
You must complete the online P7 transfer application at http://eastayrshi.re/p7transfer no later than Friday 12 December 2025 to ensure your child is allocated a place within their secondary school.
As you will be aware the school has been without a designated Depute Head Teacher (DHT) since Mrs Lockie’s retiral.
We have had the support of Mrs Meek and Mrs Kane in an acting capacity and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their hard work taking on this role.
We are however delighted to be welcoming Ms Maxine Gorman in the role of DHT .
Maxine will be joining us after the Christmas break and I know she is as excited as we are to get to know everyone and to support our continuing improvement journey here at Ochiltree Primary School .
