We are pleased to launch our new Robert Burns Academy app on the existing School App for Parents platform. All of our future communications via the school app will come from The Robert Burns Academy centre. The Auchinleck and Cumnock Academy centres will be removed next week. To stay up to date all you need to do is select ‘The Robert Burns Academy’ from the main menu in the app.

This morning at PLP all of our pupils took part in a lesson about the importance of face coverings in school and on school transport. This is in response to concerns raised by parents as well as a noticeable reduction in the  number of pupils bringing a face covering to school. With cases of Covid-19 in Ayrshire and Arran rising it is essential that we all play our part in stopping the potential spread of this virus. As a school we are supplying pupils with face coverings if they do not have access to one and are reminding pupils to wear them at the appropriate times for their own safety, as well as the safety those who they come into contact with. We would appreciate your support by reinforcing this message to your child and by supplying them with a note if there is a reason why they are unable to wear a face covering.

Thank you

The first Robert Burns Academy Parent Council AGM will take place on Monday 14th September and will be held virtually. Anyone interested in attending the meeting should email  therobertburnsacademy@gmail.com​  to enable a link to be sent to them to join the virtual meeting.

We would encourage as many parents and carers as possible to join.

We are pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government have approved the exceptional closure days in October to allow us to make the move into the new building on the Barony Campus.

Please see the attached letter from the Head of Education for more information.

Barony Parent & YP Letter

Truancy

I would very much appreciate it if all parents would emphasise to our young people that we regard truancy as a serious risk to a pupil’s health and wellbeing and will result in parents being contacted and sanctions being enforced.

Friday Bus Times

It has become obvious that the vast majority of our young people are choosing to have their lunch at home rather than in school when the school closes at 12.30 on Fridays.  As a safety measure, from Friday 4 September, school buses will therefore leave Auchinleck and Cumnock Campuses once those who choose to do so, have had the opportunity to have their lunch. All young people choosing a school lunch should pre-order it in the usual manner.

Many thanks

P. Gilchrist

Please find attached a letter from the Deputy First Minister relating to Common Cold and COVID-19 Symptoms and an open letter to all parents and carers from Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director.

2020 DFM Letter

Coronavirus – Jason Leitch Letter on testing and common colds – 31 August 2020

We have created a user guide to help our parents and pupils navigate the school meals pre-order portal. We would encourage all of our pupils to use this to help reduce waiting times and unnecessary queuing.

SCHOOL MEALS PRE-ORDER PORTAL

Dear Parent/Carer

I would like to thank you very much for your support and help in ensuring our young people have had such a positive start to the new term, especially in these very strange times for everyone. They look so smart in their new uniform, have engaged really well with their new  teachers and have already made a host of new friends from all our neighbouring towns and villages. It is lovely to see how well they are making a clear commitment to our three Campus values of Respect, Achievement and Equity.  The potential of our young people is absolutely enormous!

I would very much appreciate your support in two further ways:

1. If your child has any difficulty in establishing positive relationships or have any other concerns, please ask them to talk to their Guidance Teacher or Head of House They will be very happy to help!
2. I would also ask you not to use the hospital car park across from Cumnock Academy to collect or drop off your children as this results in a number of vulnerable patients and carers being unable to park or be safely dropped off, as well as generally increasing the safety risks.

Thank You

Keep Safe and Well

Peter Gilchrist

Head of Barony Campus

Minibus Transport

Pupils who live in rural areas and are transported by taxi or minibus to connect to another school bus will continue to do so.  The pickup time will 10-15 minutes earlier than before.

We are pleased to be able to give you an update on the transport arrangements for our split campus. These arrangements will run until October, when we move to our new campus.

The two attached documents provide details of the transport arrangements for pupils attending the Auchinleck and Cumnock Campuses. Please read these documents and ensure that your child is aware of the changes, most notably the earlier pick up times to ensure all pupils are in school in advance of the 8.45 am start.

RBA School Transport August 2020

RBA Bus Organisation August 2020

On your child’s first day back, we will gather them in the assembly hall immediately after the first bell. From here we will ensure that they are in the correct PLP class and they will be escorted to their room for an extended PLP period. During this time we will cover all the necessary housekeeping and health and safety arrangements for each campus

We look forward welcoming our pupils back to school next week!