Pupils enjoyed Halloween celebrations on Friday afternoon. We had a whole school parade, followed by parties in the hall and a variety of games back in classrooms. The children all looked fantastic and went to a lot of effort to celebrate. Check out some pictures on the SWAY below.

Halloween Celebrations 2023

Go to this Sway

Children are welcome to come to school dressed up on Friday or bring in a costume to change into. Staff in school will assist any child who needs help getting changed.

Mrs McDicken our Senior Clerical, Mon/Fri has moved to a new post. We wish her every success and thank her for her contribution to the life of the school.

We welcome Mrs Caldwell to team Ochiltree on Mondays and Fridays.

If you have not already done so, can you please complete the online payment on Parentpay for the Pantomime by Thursday of this week (26th Oct).

If you are unable to make payment by this date but wish your child to attend the Pantomime, please contact the school to discuss payment options.

Please note that the school is subsidising the Pantomime by £2 per child.

If you do not wish your child to attend the school’s Pantomime, please let us know so that we can then offer your child’s place to the wider community so that the school can meet the cost of the Pantomime.

Please note that education provision will be made for those children not attending the Pantomime.

Thank you.

Please see PDF for further information:

Free Swimming – October holidays

The school will close today for the October Holiday. The children will start back on Tuesday 24 October.

Garden update October 2023 

After a very successful meeting with Jenna Cairns from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere and Malcolm Haddow SWSEIC support officer (South West Environmental Information Centre) we have a plan to take the garden further. 

Increase the biodiversity in the garden by: 

1. Introducing more native flowers, planting bulbs, flowers, and scattering seeds (Emily Hay from CEI will be providing some of these and working with the school.
2. Cap group have given a donation of £100 to raise the planting beds.
3. Using the resources, we have we will be encouraging a host of wildlife including hedgehogs by moving the branches we had from clearing previously from the garden into a more suitable area.
4. Looking at introducing water areas in the garden to encourage a whole host of insect, mammals, and bird life.
5. Malcom has said they would lend us a trail cam to record and watch to see what wildlife comes into the garden when the children are not there. 
6. Compost area will be made, we will be asking the community if they have any unused compost bins they will donate, or we will make our own.
7. Wildflowers being planted along the fence between the garden and pitch and up along the fence with the field to encourage insects and birds.
8. Bird houses and bird feeders will be purchased for the garden also.
9. We will also be installing a weather station within the garden for the children to record the weather.

M.Donald

MaidSafe Foundation

Church lunches begin tomorrow, Thursday 12th October.

Pupils from P4-7 who wish to attend should hand in written permission from a parent/carer.

Pupils from P1-3 who wish to attend should be collected by an adult. Written permission with details of the adult who will collect them should be sent into the school beforehand. Please collect and return your child via the main entrance.

School staff are not responsible for your child whilst attending church lunches.

Yesterday was World Mental Health Day. You may have seen the Get Britain Talking adverts on television.  The children will be learning more about the importance of good mental health and sharing their worries at Assembly on Wednesday.

As part of  their homework this week, we would like to encourage  your child to draw a picture and talk about it with you.  All your child will need is a piece of paper, a pencil and some time with you. The document is a guide but if you would like a printed copy, please contact the school by Wednesday.

Your child can decide whether or not they wish to bring this homework back into school by Friday 13^th October. If you would like to discuss anything about this homework further, please contact Mrs Lockie at the school.

itv-bgt-homework-easier-reading-task P1-4 pupils

itv-bgt-homework-task P5-7 pupils

Congratulations to all those who took part in this morning’s Cross Country Competition in Kilmarnock.

Everyone ran extremely well and should be proud of their achievement. Special Congratulations go to Libby Brown who placed 2nd overall in the P7 girls competition and to Jess Brown who narrowly missed out on 3rd place.

Thanks also to all those who provided transport to and from the event.

As a reward for attaining EAC Clean Green Silver Award Rangers from Dean Country Park will be working with Primary 1/2 and last year’s Eco-Committee children this Friday afternoon. They will be building dens and camp fires. Children will be provided with hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows. Please advise of any food allergies your child has.

Children should wear suitable outdoor, waterproof clothing and shoes for their activities.

Fingers crossed for a dry day!

Mrs R. Gregor

Hexagon sessions at Barony Campus. Please click on the link below for further information.

https://x.com/KillieCommunity/status/1705930083838369887?s=20

Primary 4/5 will be “gardening” tomorrow. Please ensure your child has appropriate clothing to take part.

Thank you.

https://forms.office.com/e/JRRwkn3VK0

Please complete the attached form by Friday 6th October 2023

Thank you.

We are working behind the scenes to finalise the residential trip to London. Once we have all risk assessments completed and approval from EAC for the trip to go ahead, we will then require a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of £80.

Please lookout for further updates.