Category: Parents

Parent Council – Reimbursement of Christmas Card Money

Dear Parent/Carer,

As per our correspondence of 14th Dec, we have managed to cancel the payment to APFS.  Should the cards still arrive, we will give you the option of keeping them but we feel this is unlikely at this stage and we cannot rely on the limited communication coming out from the company.

If you have lost money due to APFS not returning your Christmas Card order, please email giffnockpc@hotmail.co.uk with details of:

  • your eldest child’s name and class
  • the amount you have paid
  • the name you wish the cheque to be made out to

We will collate all the responses and issue cheques after the next Parent Council meeting on 9th January.

Kind regards

Giffnock Primary Parent Council

Class Christmas Parties

Primary 1 – Primary 7

You have been advised that your child will be having a “class party” in school before the end of term and we would confirm that pupils can come to school dressed in party clothes on the appropriate days.

Primary 7 pupils will also be going out of school for a Christmas lunch and to a Ceilidh at Woodfarm High School and they can come to school dressed in Christmas finery on those days.

Fizz Boom Fair Trade P5

Over the past fortnight P5A and P5B have been running a Fair Trade stall in the school. The stall has sold a variety of items which all support small farmers and producers through the Fair Trade scheme.

The children have ordered stock and run the stall, learning to keep an accurate record of items sold. Everyone had a great time and the stall proved very popular with other children. Thanks to everybody for their generous support!

Our final cash total was £1550.88 which includes a profit of £276.78 after we pay the cost of the goods. This money will be donated to charity.

Early Learning and Childcare Consultation

As part of the consultation on the expansion of early learning and childcare in Scotland the Scottish Government wants to hear the views of parents and carers and is running a series of Ministerial engagement events with parents in December. This includes an event in Glasgow at 6pm on Wednesday 7th December. Places for the event can be booked at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/expansion-of-early-learning-and-childcare-in-scotland-consultation-event-tickets-29847825650.

The Scottish Government is also working with stakeholders to organise a series of smaller targeted engagement events across the country in December and January.

The consultation A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland was launched on 15th October and runs until 9th January 2017.

More information on the consultation is available at: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/creating-positive-futures/expansion-of-early-learning-and-childcare.

Christmas Lunch Menu 7th December

tree

We have attached the menu for the Christmas Lunch for pupils for Wednesday 7th December. If your child would like a hot meal that day, the kitchen staff have requested that pupils “pre-order” their selection and therefore your child should today bring home a “pre-order” slip which should be returned to their class teacher by Monday 5th December. Please do not respond to this email with lunch choices as you must use the slip which has been sent home with your child.

The menu can be read in the attached file:

Christmas Menu 2016

Smoking in Cars

From 5th of December 2016, a person smoking in a car which is carrying passengers under 18 years of age will be breaking the law. Offenders could face a £100 fixed penalty fine.

The Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Act 2016, creates a new criminal offence, committed by any adult (aged 18 or over), where that adult smokes in a private motor vehicle in the presence of a child (under 18years of age), while that vehicle is in a public place. The aim of the legislation is to protect children and young people from the harmful effects of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in a confined space.

Exposure to second-hand smoke in cars involves higher concentrations of health-threatening chemicals than in larger, open areas. Even if the windows are opened or air conditioning is used, harmful particles can remain in the atmosphere long after the visible smoke has disappeared. The restriction of a vehicle also means individuals are unable to move away from the smoke.

smoking-in-cars-photo

We all have an obligation to protect children and young people from the risks to their life and health, caused by the exposure to second hand smoke and ensure that every child in Scotland has the best start in life. Growing up in a smoke-free environment is an important part of that.

The Scottish Government hope that the introduction of this legislation will help their drive to cut the number of children exposed to second-hand smoke to 6 per cent by 2020. This is a momentous step in pulling Scotland on the path to becoming a tobacco-free generation.

For more information, visit the Healthier Scotland website.

Giffnock Primary Badminton Team

Yesterday Giffnock Primary Badminton Team took part in the East Renfrewshire Primary School Badminton Finals in Barrhead and our team came 3rd out of 7 teams!

badminton-nov-2016
Our team! Back row, left to right – Matthew, Calum, Philip, Zoe and Ava. Front row, left to right – Kirsty, Pete and Jessica

Last year Giffnock came 5th out of 7 schools so there has been a great improvement and the team did exceptionally well considering that the school does not have an after-school badminton club and the team has not had much chance to practise together.

It was really close with Uplawmoor at one point and the team came close to 2nd Place. There were not many points in it!

Well done!

Christmas Fair Stalls

P6 pupils blew ‘The Dragons’ away yesterday afternoon during their very professional pitches for investment from the Parent Council for their Christmas Fair stalls. They have come up with four very creative ideas which they researched and budgeted. Finance secured, the classes will now go into production and then start marketing their products so look out for information on the school website and twitter feed and get along to the fair on Sat 3rd to snap up their festive gifts. Well done P6!

parent-council-christmas-fair-2016

Parent Council – Wear Something Seasonal Friday 2nd December/Christmas Fair

The Parent Council have asked us to share the following information with you.

‘Wear Something Seasonal’ – Friday 2nd December

To support the School’s Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December, all children are able to wear seasonal accessories (for example a hat, hair-band or jumper) alongside their normal uniform on this day.

If you can, we would also ask for donations that you can provide for the Christmas Fayre to be brought in that day. We need prizes for the raffle and red items for the very popular red stall.

Everyone loves home baking and it is critical for the tea room, so we need your cakes (and tiffin and shortbread and scones….)

Many thanks in advance!

The Parent Council.

Eastwood Park Theatre Winterfest

East wood park Theatre has a programme of events for the run up to Christmas. Celebrate the holidays with a seasonal programme of winter warming activities to gain some sparkle, peace and magic at Eastwood Park Theatre. There’s something for everyone whether it’s getting excited about Santa, joining in with some festive activities, a trip to the Panto or a break from all the hustle and bustle.

Advanced booking is required for all activities. To avoid disappointment book a space for any of our activities by calling 0141 577 4956 or visit Eastwood Park Theatre’s website

Switch Off Fortnight

Nursery – P7

Dear Parent / Carer

Switch Off Fortnight begins on Monday 14th November and the Eco committee are going to be leading the monitoring of energy usage within the school. There are many things you can do at home to save energy and the attached factsheet will give you some ideas and fun facts too.

Energy Factsheet

You can play the online interactive games which are all about saving energy, recycling and generally helping our planet! Click on the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/sysm/eco/flash/flash.shtml   

If you’d like to learn more about Switch Off Fortnight and other Eco matters click on the following link:

http://jointhepod.org/home

Keep an eye on the school and nursery Twitter feeds for more information

https://twitter.com/GiffnockNursery

https://twitter.com/giffnockprimary

Play Therapy

Nursery – P7

Dear Parent / Carer

We have been asked by East Renfrewshire to forward information regarding a two part play therapy workshop for parents of children with additional support needs. The course will take a practical approach, exploring the importance of play and how play can indicate stages of development.

flyer-play-therapy

Fairtrade Stalls

Primary 1 – 7

This term P5 are learning all about Fairtrade. As part of our learning we have decided to organise and run a Fairtrade Stall in our school. This will help us to raise awareness of, and money for, the Fairtrade charity. Prices range from 50p to £4.00

From Tuesday 22nd November until Thursday 1st December we will be running Fairtrade Stalls in the Achievement Hall during the day and all of the classes have been timetabled to visit.

Week 1

On the first two days all children will be given a chance to look at the products and also buy if they wish. On the second two days, children who have money for a product will be given an opportunity to visit the stall and buy their product.

Tuesday – P1, P2, P3, P5

Wednesday  – P4, P6, P7

Thursday – P1-P7

Friday – P1-P7

Week 2

In this week children from all classes with money will be able to visit the stall each day. The last day of the stall is Thursday.

Please find letter attached with more details.

fairtrade-stalls-letter-to-parents-nov-16