Giffnock Primary School Walk to School Week

At Giffnock Primary School, we are keen to encourage children to be healthy, safe and care for the environment. Walking all or part of the journey to school is a great way for children to get fit, healthy and active.

Of course, we understand that it might not be realistic for everyone to walk the whole way, but why not ‘Park and Stride’ – that is, park the car further away from the school gates and walk the last bit of the journey together?

Walking Bus activities

• We will encourage all children to walk to school between 15th and 19th May.

• A staff member will organise an informal Walking Bus to support children to walk the last part of their journey together.
• Pupils should meet at our meeting point at the entrance to Huntly Park, next to the pavilion, ready to walk back to school at 8:40am.
• Children will be issued with a fluorescent vest and will walk down Church Road, Rosslea Drive, onto Academy Road and into school.

All parents wishing to accompany the Walking Bus will be most welcome.

Click on the link below to see the full letter:

Walk to school letter

Dear Parent / Carer

We would like to remind you that the school and nursery will be closed on Thursday 4^th May 2017 as it is being used as a polling station for the local election.

Could you please also note that the school and nursery will be closed on Thursday 8^th June 2017 as it will again be used as a polling station for the general election.

 

East Renfrewshire Council Facilities Management and Communications have recently put together a short video of a day in the life of school meals within primary. The aim is to ensure parents and carers are aware of how the school meals service works and how they can ensure their child can access the service on a daily basis.

The link to the video is: https://youtu.be/Cpv878PSs7Q

Dyslexia? What now?

Using your strengths to overcome the weaknesses

Presented by Mary Jane Bird

Dyslexia Scotland

Glasgow East Ren Branch

Parents, Pupils and Teachers are welcome to our OPEN MEETING on Thursday 4th May 2017.

7.15pm-8.15pm Mearns Castle High School, Newton Mearns G77 5GU

http://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/your-branch/glasgow-east-ren

Email Address is: dyslexiascotland.er@gmail.com

Congratulations to Sam Harrison of P6A for winning the Voice Box joke competition!

Voice Box is an annual national joke competition for mainstream and specialist schoolchildren, designed to raise awareness of the fun and importance of communication in a light-hearted and inclusive way.

Sam travelled to London to tell his joke in the finals held in Speaker’s House, Westminster. He was very excited to be in London for such a big event!

Click on the links below to find out more:

http://www.givingvoiceuk.org/voice-box/

http://www.barrheadnews.com/news/15219440.East_Renfrewshire_schoolboy_s_joke_voted_funniest_in_national_competition/

April – June 2017

Dear Parent/ Carer,

During the school year each class will present their own assembly.

Your child’s class will send you an invitation in advance to attend; please reply to this so that we know for seating arrangements.

Assembly starts at 9.50am and finishes at approximately 10.30am.

Dates	Classes who are presenting at assembly
28.4.17	P1A Miss Bruce & Mrs Sibile
12.5.17	P2A Miss Stead

Pushchairs: Parents/ carers with pushchairs can access the school via the front ramp entrance and pushchairs can then be ‘parked’ in the Brown hall (for Health & Safety reasons please do not leave buggies in the corridors).

Secured entry system:

As the safety of our pupils is a priority at all times and following Health & Safety guidelines, can parents/ carers please remember not to ‘buzz’ other parents into the school building as everyone should gain entry via the main office door. Thank you.

End of term service will be held at Orchardhill Parish Church on Tuesday 27th June 2017 at 11 am.

We look forward to welcoming you to share in the children’s learning!

Dear Parent/Carer

We have been notified by the school kitchen that on Wednesday 29^th March 2017 the chicken option on the menu will be replaced by steak pie.

Nursery to P7

We would like to remind you that our end of term Spring Church Service will take place on Wednesday 29th March 2017 starting at 1.30pm in Orchardhill Parish Church – all parents are warmly invited to attend. The collection at the church service will be donated to Water Aid. Pupils will return to school for normal dismissal at 3.00pm.

As you will be aware the term ends on Friday 31st March and as usual pupils will be dismissed at the earlier time of 2.30pm

Red Noses will be on sale daily during the week beginning 20th March. Please remember to bring a £1 to school.

Children will learn about the issues facing young children across the world and how the money from Red Nose Day helps them. We will watch videos and listen to stories and songs.

Pupils are invited to pay an entirely optional donation to tell a joke to their class. They may wish to wear something comical such as a funny hat, a pair of silly glasses, and pair of deely boppers. This is optional and there are templates on the Comic relief website which can be used at home or in class to create a comic prop.

Below is a link to the Comic Relief website with a range of resources and ideas including templates for glasses, hats, masks and beards:

http://www.rednoseday.com/schools/primary/fundraising-resources

Since we have already used the theme of dressing in red to support the Red Card To Racism initiative this session, and since we are very aware that we have just celebrated World Book Day including costumes, we have agreed to not suggest any further ‘dressing up’ activities for the event.

The money we raise will help people living really tough lives in the UK and across Africa. For example, £2.50 could buy a mosquito net to protect a family in Africa. In the UK, £5 could pay for an isolated elderly person with dementia to have dinner at their local support group. On their behalf, thank you.

We really appreciate your support and hope that you’ll have fun helping us to raise lots of money for Red Nose Day.

Many thanks to everybody for supporting our school Book Fair this March. The total money raised was £2229, which is a record! The school gets just over half of this back in the form of commission which we can spend on books for the school. Thank you!

Information about planned activities for Red Nose Day can be found in this letter:

Red nose day letter March 2017

We have been advised by the school kitchen that on Thursday 16th March the lunch option for Steak Pie will be replaced by Mince Pie.

Love to dance? Then audition for Scottish Ballet’s Associate Programme.

The Associate Programme provides classically based training for boys and girls from Primary 6 to Secondary 5.

Our aim is to develop confident, dedicated and motivated dancers by supplementing the training provided by private dance teachers.

Full details are in the leaflet below:

Scottish Ballet Auditions

A reminder that there will be no after school clubs on Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th March. Parent/teacher meetings will be held on these days.