Burns’Competition Winners
I would like to congratulate the winners and runners up from each class and from the Communication Centre. They did a fantastic job of performing Scots poetry to the panel of judges who were very impressed and had a very difficult time judging.
On Friday 27th January we enjoyed a further Burns’ Afternoon where the winners and runners-up were given the opportunity to recite their poems to family and members of the local community.  I would like to thank Mrs Weidner, and the P7 pupils for hosting this event.

Communication
The School currently communicates through a variety of ways e.g. Facebook, Website, Emails and text messages. The Communication Centre classes are piloting the use of Class Dojo to communicate with parents also. It is important to keep the office up to date with any changes to your email and phone numbers.
As you know we operate an open door policy where you are able to come in to school and speak to one of the management team if you have any concerns or issues. I would appreciate that if you have a concern about your child, or the school that you contact one of the management team to discuss the matter. 

Nut Allergy
Can we please remind all parents that we have a few people in the school that have a severe nut Allergy and carry lifesaving epipens in the event that they take an anaphylactic reaction to nuts? Please help us keep them safe by making sure your child does not bring any foods into school that may contain nuts. Note that most chocolate spreads contain nuts. 

Football
The football team played their first round in the McWilliams Cup and performed brilliantly and enjoyed a resounding win over a very good St Patricks team in Troon. They are waiting to hear when their next game will be. 
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Eco-school 
The Eco Committee have had a few meeting with Mrs Brown and Mrs Wilson. They have discussed a Spring Eco Project and are looking at ways to keep the playground tidy. Primary 6/7cc have been involved in the John Muir Award planting trees in the school playground and are planning to do some planting for the Spring.
Kilmarnock Rotary quiz 
On Tuesday 6th February Avah Cook, Kayra Creevy, Charlie Fletcher, and Leah Kerr represented Crosshouse Primary School at Kilmarnock Rotary Quiz for P7s in Kilmarnock and the surrounding area. They performed really well and will each be presented with a commemorative photograph and certificate.
Crosshouse Campus
P5-7 have settled in well to their new classrooms. We will have an open day very soon as the snow meant we couldn’t go ahead with the last one.

World Book Day  	Rescheduled – Friday 16th March - Pupils are invited to dress up as their favourite character from a book. Class teachers are planning a variety of activities to celebrate the day. Let’s have a book filled fun filled day!
Dyslexia Friendly School 
Following on from our bronze Dyslexia Friendly Schools we are beginning to work towards our Silver Dyslexia Friendly Schools award and this will continue next year.  New resources have been purchased for our coats boxes (‘Chef Jumble’s box of ingredients’) including more ear defenders, privacy screens for all classes and some alligator easy grip rulers for Primaries 1-4.  The steering group are going to carry out audits of the resources in the coats boxes.  
Afterschool Clubs

Please contact the office if your child cannot attend an afterschool club.

STEM 
STEM day will be on Wednesday 21st March.  Each child will participate in a Science, technology, engineering and maths afternoon.  The classes will rotate round the activities.  Activities like building pyramids from dowelling, designing and building playgrounds using K’Nex material, making bouncy balls and planning a birthday party within a budget will be used to develop skills.  If any parent or carer has expertise in any aspect of STEM and could run an activity or even talk to the children about their job, please get in touch and we would be happy to organise an event. We wish to thank Mr Burns, our stem ambassador for working with our pupils in primary 4 to 7 on various engineering projects. After the holidays he is going to be working with our primary 1-2 pupils.
World Autism Awareness Week - Onesie Thursday!

26th March - 2nd April is World Autism Awareness Week. Autism is close to our hearts here at Crosshouse and we would encourage all parents to support us. We would like to invite you to send your child to school wearing his/her onesie for Onesie Thursday on 29th March and make a donation on parent pay of £1 which will be donated to the National Autistic Society.  The mainstream pupils will also have an opportunity to participate in Autism awareness sessions throughout this week.
Book Fair 

Scholastic Book Fair will be in school for the parents’ evenings (Wednesday 28th March).  Children will have a preview visit with their class either on Monday 26th or Tuesday 27th March.  Book tokens from World Book Day can be put towards a book here.

Big Pedal 
This year the Big Pedal will be run over 2 weeks from the 23rd April to 4th May, with the fundraising Superhero Day being on the last day Friday 4th May.  The JRSO’s encourage as many pupils, staff, parents and grandparents to cycle or scoot to school during this 2 week period!  All Parents, staff and children are also invited to dress up as their favourite superhero, decorate their bikes and donate £1 on the last day. (Make sure capes do not reach pedals/chains) All money raised for Sustrans will enable thousands of children to have an active, fun and sustainable school journey. Our thanks to Miss Paterson’s class for leading this initiative.
Spare Clothes   
The School are looking for donations of socks (boys and girls) or tights and pants age 7-9 years. Can you please remember to return items of borrowed clothes! 
Nessie Spring Clean 
Having a spring clean at home? Please support the School by putting your old clothes in our Nessie bins located in the playground. Charity bags will be given out before the Easter Holidays with a collection at the school around Thursday 19th April.
Health Week
 
Health week will be week beginning 18th June. If any parent has a particular skill or talent that they could offer experiences for classes please let the school know. Mrs Allan is coordinating this event.

Spring Holiday 
The school will close for the Easter holidays on Thursday 29th March at 2.30pm and pupils will return to school on Monday 16th April.  
Kind Regards,

Tina Gaitens 
Head Teacher

Dates for Your Diary

Tues 6th March			Individual & Families Photos by Tempest 
Wed 7th 			Primary 1 & Primary 7 Group Photos
Thurs 8th 			3.10 to 4.10	Primary 3-7 Afterschool Girls Football	
Fri 9th 			Primary 7 to Grange Academy – Science Transition Day	 
Mon 12th 			Primary 7 to Rugby Park “Show Racism the Red Card”
			3.10 – 4.10 Primary 6 & 7 Afterschool Street Dance
Tues 13th			3.20 – 4.20 Primary 6 Afterschool Cycling Proficiency 
Thurs 15th			3.10 to 4.10	Primary 3-7 Afterschool Girls Football
Fri 16th					World Book Day - 	Rescheduled 
Mon 19th				3.10 – 4.10 Primary 6 & 7 Afterschool Street Dance
Tues 20th			3.20 – 4.20 Primary 6 Afterschool Cycling Proficiency	
Wed 21st			STEM Day
Thurs 22nd 			Scholastic book fair arrives – classes will visit
			3.10 to 4.10	Primary 3-7 Afterschool Girls Football	
Mon 26th			3.10 – 4.10 Primary 6 & 7 Afterschool Street Dance		
Wed 28th 			Easter Service at Church 11am
			Parents Evening 3.30 till 7.30pm	
			Book Fair available at Parents Evening
Thursday 29th 		Onesie Thursday - World Autism Awareness Week – donations can be made on parent pay
2.30		Dance Fest @ Palace Theatre Show 7 – 9.30pm
			School closes at 2.30pm

Monday 16th April			School re opens
Tues 17th			3.20 – 4.20 Primary 6 Afterschool Cycling Proficiency

Thurs 19th 			Nessie uplifting “Spring Clean Bags”
Week of Monday 23rd 			Big Pedal
Tues 24th			Primary 3, 3/4 & 4 – Glasgow Science Centre
			3.20 – 4.20 Primary 6 Afterschool Cycling Proficiency
Tues 1st May		3.20 – 4.20 Primary 6 Afterschool Cycling Proficiency
Wed 2nd		Primary 7 PE Transition at Grange Academy
Fri 4th		Super Hero Day “The Big Pedal” come dressed as your favourite super hero – donations can be made on parent pay

Advance Notice
Week begin 18th June			Health Week
Wed 20th June			Sports at Lyndsay Park
Tues 29th May               	 		P7 Residential – Dumfries House.