If a parent notices they have lost an item at the school gates this afternoon, please call the school office for more information.
Thank you
All posts by Mrs Caldwell
PHONE LINES
Dear Parents / Carers,
Please note that the school phone lines have now been restored.
Thank you
Burns Day Lunch – Additional Menu
Dear Parents / Carers,
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.
Thank you
Phone Line Fault
We have discovered that the phone line for the school is down.
We have reported this to IT as a matter of urgency.
If you need to get in touch with the school, please pop in or contact the school on eaOchiltree.PS@eastayrshire.org.uk.
Apologies for the inconvenience.
!! Choking Hazard – Grapes !!
Dear Parent/Carers,
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.
Thank you for your assistance
OCHILTREE PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL
The next meeting of the Parent Council will take place on
Wednesday 21st January at 7pm
Ochiltree Church Hall
All parents / carers are welcome to attend. Please drop an email to
OchiltreeParentCouncil20@gmail.com
should you wish to attend.
Thank you
Happy New Year and Reminder of Dates for Your Diary
Welcome to 2026!
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.
Thank you
P1 Registration
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.
To register you should complete an online application and submit no later than Friday 16 January 2026. Register at: – https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions
If you are unable to register online, then please phone the school office and we will assist you to register your child.
Thank you
Bethlehem: The Musical
Ochiltree Primary School Presents
Please click on the link below to see the video of this year’s nativity:
Ochiltree Primary – Bethlehem The Musical 2025
Reminder of Early Closure
The school will close tomorrow, Friday 19th December, for the Christmas break at 2:30pm.
Bus / School Transport 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.
Thank you
Wishing you all a …..
Children First Support
Festive Week – Diary
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.
Thank you
Lunches – Wednesday 17th December
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?
Thank you
Achievement Assemblies
Please see the attached Sway to see pictures of our certificate winners at our Achievement Assemblies held on the 14th and 28th of November.
Thank you
 |
| Achievement Assemblies |
| 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: |
Lost Property
Following today’s fabulous Nativity, we found the following items in the church.
They are being held safe and sound in the school office ready to return to their owners.
Thank you
Sustainable Sparkle – Recycled Christmas Crafts
This year each class was challenged to create a Christmas craft using recycled materials.
These will be available to take home after tomorrow’s nativity for a small donation if you wish.
They will be on display in the main hall while you enjoy your teas and coffees.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Bethlehem: The Musical
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.
We look forward to seeing you all on Friday.
Thank you
P7 Transition to Secondary – TO ACTION
This is a reminder that this application needs to be completed by Friday 12th December 2025. Thank you to everyone who has already applied.
Dear Parent/Carer
As you are no doubt aware, your child is due to transfer from primary to secondary education at the beginning of the new school session (August 2026).
Secondary school hand books are available at: https://eastayrshi.re/SchoolHandbooks
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.
Thank you
Depute Head Teacher Announcement
Dear Parents / Carers,
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 .
le durachdan
Mrs Denise MacColl
Nativity 2025 – Bethlehem: The Musical
Our pupils have been very busy rehearsing and are well on the way to being ready for their Nativity performance of Bethlehem: The Musical.
We are in the process of finalising the costumes for the nativity and your child(ren) will be provided a costume for the performance. However, our Wardrobe Department would be grateful if you could help out with clothing underneath their costumes; but only if you have them already at home.
Please do not feel that you have to go out and buy new items for the Nativity performance, especially at this late stage. We apologise for the tight deadline.
Ideally these clothing items should be sent into school in a separate, clearly labelled bag with your child(ren)s name on it by Wednesday 10th December.
ANGELS:
- white / light coloured or sparkly leggings or tights. But, plain grey or black leggings would be fine.
- Ballet pumps would be lovely, but only if the girls already own these.
ALL OTHER ROLES:
- black long-legged leggings or trousers (preferably no jogging bottoms).
- Plain crew-necked t-shirt (no collars), preferably white or neutral coloured, with no patterns and no football tops. T-shirts can be worn inside out if printed designs need to be hidden.
FOOTWEAR:
- plain black school shoes, if pupils have these, or black boots or black plimsoles or any other plain black footwear.
Please feel free to contact the school on Monday if you gave any queries.
We look forward to seeing you all at Ochiltree Parish Church on Friday 12th December at 9:30am. Doors will open at 9:15am. You are invited to stay for tea and coffee served in the school after the Nativity.
Thank you
