Dear Parent/Carer
As we continue through Lent here in the school Iwould like to share some of the special moments and events of this term here in Our Lady of the Missions.
Our World Book Day celebration on 6th of March was a great success. Thanks to everyone who joined in and special thanks to Miss Lamb and Miss McKenna who organised the day and to all of the staff who participated whole heartedly alongside the children. The costumes were fabulous and the day’s events were inspiring for our budding young authors £451.75 was raised and the charities which benefited were ReadWell, which provides books and storytelling to children in hospital; CLIC Sargent, giving support to children and young people with cancer and their families; and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, which helps seriously ill and disabled children.
Fairtrade Fortnight was marked with assemblies led by Dr Lyon and our Eco-Committee, representatives from all 27 classes from Primary 1 – Primary 7 participated in three Fairtrade assemblies throughout the week enacting the journey of the banana with the aid of ‘Tipping the Balance’ video and the Banana Game. They also set up a Fairtrade stall where over £2400 was spent on items supporting Fairtrade producers across the globe. Some of our local councillors who champion Fairtrade status here in East Renfrewshire also joined us and made a few purchases at the stalls.
The Eco Committee has been extremely busy of late. The committee members organised a very successful litter awareness week and the entire school took part in a clean up operation with golden bin and bin bag challenges, design a litter poster competitions and they also developed an Eco Code. As part of the work of the committee we are taking part in the ‘flushed with success’ initiative being championed by the Children’s Commissioner here in Scotland. The school will be re-assessed in June in order to retain our ‘green flag’ status.
The Health Committee are presently conducting a survey on healthy snacks, tuck shop and school meal preferences in order to inform the Parent Council on healthy eating habits here at our school.
The House System continues to flour ish and this term an added incentive to winning points has been the introduction of the weekly house winners being allowed into lunch first on a Friday!! School House Captains have organised a design an Easter bonnet competition. Pupils who wish to take part can design and make an Easter bonnet in their house colours and wear it to school on Thursday 3rd Apr il. There will be prizes for winning bonnets in each house for pupils in infant,junior and senior departments .
During Lent we have supported several charities and have donated over £700 towards SCIAF as a result of donations made in advance for the performance of Resurrection Rock and also through the ‘wee boxes’ in each classroom.
Thanks to Fr. Jim Duggan from St. Joseph’s Church for celebrating Stage Masses here in the school throughout the year these have been extremely moving and uplifting celebrations for staff, pupils and a very large number of parents and relatives. This has been an excellent way to share Gospel values as a school community.
The Primary 2 stage Mass will take place on Thursday 24th April at 1.40pm – further invitations will follow .
Primary 4 pupils made their First Confessions in our local parishes. We were all impressed with the simple but beautiful services. Congratulations to all of the children! Our prayers are with them as they prepare for their First Communion in May.
Primary 7 pupils are also preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which they will celebrate after Easter.
Those children who belong to St Joseph’s Parish will be confirmed by Bishop John Keenan, newly ordained
Bishop of Paisley Diocese on Thursday 151 May at 7.00pm in St Mirin’s Cathedral.
Pupils in St Vincent’s parish will be confirmed by Archbishop Tartaglia on Monday 28th April at 7.30pm.
Pupils in Holy Name parish will be confirmed by Father Burke on Tuesday 29th April at 7.00pm.
A big thank you to Mrs Gear and Mrs Paterson who are Pupil Support Ass istants and Mrs Munro, recently retired, who spent many hours after school making up gift bags for our Mother’s Day Sale.Thanks also to all staff members, their family and friends who donated the items. Primary1 and Primary2 pupils were very excited when choosing their gift for their Special Person and in so doing £340.00 was raised for Glasgow Women’s Aid.
Primary 5 pupils raised £101 on Lots of Socks day during which awareness was raised across the stage with regard to Down’s syndrome . During the course of the day the pupils wrote letters and designed posters.
Primary 6 classes will perform the Easter story “Resurrection Rock” in song and narration both here in school and in Eastwood Theatre next week. This will be a very powerful presentation during this Lenten period. Thanks to the Primary 6 staff , Mr Docherty Acting DHT and Mrs Devlin DHT and of course the pupils for their tremendous efforts in ensuring the success of the production.
Primary 7 classes thoroughly enjoyed their visit recently to our friends in Cartsbridge Evangelical Church in Busby to take part in Cracking the Christianity Code, an interactive exhibition. A huge thanks to all concerned. Primary 7 pupils are currently enjoying several visits to St Ninian’s Techno logy, ICT and Art Departments as part of their transition to High School. The pupils have been busy making ‘pull along toys’ as part of their transition visits. They had great fun at the Cluster Ceilidh along with St Joseph’s and St Cadoc’s pupils.
In anticipation of Confirmation the pupils recently enjoyed a retreat with pupils from St Joseph’s Primary to Schoenstatt Retreat centre in the Campsie Hills and as part of their fundrais ing efforts to commemorate their Confirmation they will enjoy a Day at the Movies’ after the Easter break.
Thanks to Mr Docherty and Miss Kane for leading our school choir so successfully at the Glasgow Music Festival and other events. We were so proud of all of the children. They looked so smart, full of poise and they sang beautifully. This year the choir came fourth in hymn singing class and third in Scot’s song.
Three pupils from Primary 7 enjoyed their day at the annual Renfrewshire Association of Burns Clubs (RABC) competitions run by the Robert Burns World Federation . Leo McCarrey, having addressed the haggis delivered a fine recitation narrowly missing a medal. Sophie Inglis played Loch Lomond beautifully on the piano and gained second place while Aidan Lau impressed all the adjudicators with an amazing performance on the piano. He won a gold medal and trophy and also the overall winners’ cup and will go forward to the National competition in May where we are sure he will impress the judges .
The Parent Staff Association (PSA) organised two highly successful events this term including the first Primary1 ladies’ pamper evening during which the mums of pupils in primary one had a chance to become acquainted as part of the seven year association which they will have with our school. Last Friday in Carmichael Hall the PSA also organised a very well attended Family Ceilidh evening which was a sell out event. Thanks to everyone for their hard work and tremendous support .
A special word of thanks to staff and parents who have given of their time to continue to develop wider achievements and in so doing developed additional skills and talents of our pupils out with the school day . We now have cross country running, badminton, football, rugby, netball, dance, skiing, cookery and gardening to add to our showcase of talent. Thanks to parents, Mr and Mrs Spooner who delivered ICT lessons to Primary6 pupils and to Mrs Reilly who engaged pupils in a Commonwealth Games Art project across the school.
Primary 6 pupils will soon add bikeability to their list of skills through cycle proficiency training which for the first
time this year will be conducted both in the playground and on the surrounding roads around the school.
The Education for Love programme dealing with relationships education which was available during our recent highly successfu l parents’ evenings will be delivered across the school in the final term. If you do not wish your child to be involved please contact the depute head teacher responsible for your child’s class to discuss further .
Spring Break
School will close at 2.30pm on Friday 4th April for the annual Spring break and will re-open on Tuesday 22nd April at 9.00am.
Thank you for your continued support of the school. We wish everyone a very happy and holy Easter.
Yours sincerely
Charles Jamieson
Head Teacher
