Dear Parent/Carer
We are fast approaching the end of yet another very busy and exciting session, this last term has simply disappeared and soon we will break for Summer vacation. A final newsletter therefore to keep you informed of the many and varied activities that have happened over the last few months.
Link Corridor
The building work in creating the link corridor will continue throughout the summer months and will continue until early November. Primary 4 and Primary 5 children will move in to the adjacent building on the first day in August. The building will be fully “kitted out” with furniture etc and internally there will be new carpets, blinds and painting will also take place during the holiday period. P4 and P5 pupils should assemble in the ‘ junior school ’ playground on the first day back in August. The children will be dismissed at the end of the day at 3.10pm as usual; however, any children who have younger brothers or sisters or who go home by school bus will be escorted down to the main playground at 3.05pm to meet them or to catch their buses. Further information will follow separately.
First Communion
We celebrated First Communion in our local parishes during the month of May. Congratulations and thanks to all of our families and parish communities. The celebrations were very moving and extremely prayerful. Thanks to the PSA for funding the certificates and the celebration cakes for the Primary 4 children and the choir who sang beautifully at the Masses. Thanks also to Mrs Baird and Mrs Collins who led May devotions during lunchtimes.
Confirmation
Again congratulations to the children in P7 who were confirmed during the month of April in St Vincent’s, Holy Name and St Mirin’s Cathedral. The children prepared well and celebrated the sacrament with sponsors and family members, a significant milestone in the children’s continuing faith formation. I have no doubt this will continue and deepen as they progress through St Ninian’s High School. The Primary 7 pupils are now more than ready to progress to high school and they have certainly enjoyed a very full programme of activities during this final term and indeed year in primary school. We wish them well for the future.
Bikeability
Mrs Wright coordinated the cycling proficiency training for P6 pupils once again and coordinated a large staff team to train the pupils. For the first time this year the training took place both in the school playground and out on the local roads. The children should be more aware of how to conduct themselves while cycling in the local area and will undergo their assessment on Monday 23rd June. Many thanks to everyone in undertaking what is actually a mammoth operation.
Health Week
Thanks to all of the parent volunteers who visited the school during our recent Health Week and shared their skills, talents and professional expertise with the children. Thanks also to Mrs Cochrane PT who organised our Health Week.
The Parent Council intend through a sub-committee to continue to promote healthy choices with regard to food and nutrition, healthy snacks and tuck in the new session, in tandem with the Pupil Health Committee and staff as part of the Health and Wellbeing agenda on our School Improvement Plan. With this in mind we have uploaded a government information leaflet regarding healthy snack and packed lunches onto the school website for your information.
Summer Fete and Matthew Carney Memorial Trophy
Sincere thanks to everyone who played their part in ensuring that our annual Summer Fete, which took place last Saturday, was a great success despite the adverse weather. Our Parent Staff Association prepared well in advance in organising stalls, activities and helpers. A very big thanks to Joe Shaw the Chairperson and his team of volunteers not only for the Summer Fete but for all of the events that they have organised during yet another very busy year for the PSA. Many thousands of pounds raised have been used to fund a wide range of ventures for which the staff of the school are extremely grateful.
New members of the PSA are always welcome. Please come along to the AGM on Tuesday 2nd September to volunteer your services and get more involved.
The Matthew Carney Memorial football tournament also took place last Saturday thanks to Paul MacConnell for coordinating the event which saw 13 teams competing from our own and a range of local schools. St Fillan’s Primary won the tournament and Sally Smart was awarded the Matthew Carney Trophy for outstanding talent and contribution to our own P7 team.
Parent Council
Mrs Anne Forsyth and Mrs Gillian Boyle have once again done a fantastic job in leading our Parent Council during the session and have pursued a number of agenda items including the transition into our new building, traffic management and litter issues, in addition to the healthy eating agenda and improved communication strategies. A special thanks to the Parent Council members who meet regularly and who have given me tremendous support throughout the year. The AGM of the Parent Council is scheduled to take place on Thursday 11th September at 7.00pm here in the school.
School Sports Day
The annual Sports Day is due to take place next Thursday 19th June and a separate leaflet is in the school bags today.
If the weather is inclement please check the school website/twitter from 8.30am onwards on Thursday to ensure that the event is going ahead and not being transferred inside.
Thanks to the PSA for providing ice cream for everyone.
Dress Down Day for Dambo School, Kaponda, Malawi
As you may be aware East Renfrewshire Council through The Betty Cunningham Malawi appeal are sponsoring a school in Kaponda, Malawi and are seeking our support in continuing to fund this very worthwhile project.
We are therefore proposing to have a ‘Come as you please day – Dress Down Day’ on Friday 20th June and the children are asked to make a donation to this appeal.
Thank you for you continued support in all of our fund raising events.
Success in Sport
This session has been a particularly successful year on the sporting front with netball, football, cross country, badminton and tennis trophies galore being carried back triumphantly to our school from a range of tournaments. Thanks to the staff, pupils and parents for giving of their time and expertise to developing and nurturing the talent of our pupils.
Many thanks to the football coaches who take football training and attend weekly fixtures from P1 to P7.
A special thanks to the coaches at P7 who have looked after their teams throughout their primary career: Mr Paul, Mr Morran, Mr McLaughlin and Mr O’Donnell and to Mr MacConnell for coordinating football for all teams across the school.
Our netball team recently put on a terrific performance in the East Renfrewshire Active School Netball Final. They met St Thomas’ Primary in the final and enjoyed a well deserved win both for the team and the coaches.
We offer our thanks to Miss Lamb, Miss Fawcett, Miss Dunn and also Mr McCann who have given freely of their time to help organise a range of sports throughout the session.
Recent Successes
Congratulations to Euan Smith, Leo McCarrey, Antony Harley and Susie Brown who won both the East Renfrewshire and Regional Rotary Club Quiz. A fantastic achievement, well done!
A number of children also took part in the Scottish Mathematics Challenge and competed in three very demanding rounds of questions. They excelled and returned with seven golds, four silvers and three bronze certificates with Matthew Connolly scoring a magnificent 100% in the event.
Gold – Matthew Connolly, Euan Smith, Ewan Forbes, Conaill McLaughlin, Sophie Inglis, Alex Morran and Charlie Mone
Silver – Mia Jennings, Heather Spooner, Callum Holmes and Orla McKee
Bronze – Aidan Lau, Antony Harley, Matthew Tunn and Heather McHugh
Some of our P7 pupils also took part in the UK Maths Challenge alongside students from first and second year in secondary school. The group returned with five silver and five bronze certificates.
Silver – Euan Smith, Matthew Connolly, Alex Morran, Charlie Mone and Antony Harley.
Bronze – Conaill McLaughlin, Anthony Collins, Callum Holmes and Orla McKee.
Twelve children from P7 exhibited work at the Glasgow Art Club Primary Schools’ Exhibition and Daniel Smith was awarded a highly commended certificate.
Extra Curricular
Thanks to Kerry Comerford, Mrs Cochrane, Mrs Cumming and the office staff for organising a vast array of after school activities including ski-ing, golf, netball, Zumba, dance, Commonwealth Clubs, Cluster Clubs, badminton, tennis, judo and many others during the course of the session. We have also enjoyed gardening, cookery, choir and Gaelic. We look forward to building on the success of these extra curricular activities next session.
Final Reminder – Cashless Catering
If you receive a text from the school office regarding the payment of school meals then it is necessary to “top up” your account immediately in order firstly to pay off the debt that has built up as a result of your child having lunch with no funds available and also to add additional funds for future meals and/or tuck. Can I ask parents to check accounts on a regular basis and avoid going into the red as this incurs a great deal of additional work by the office staff in trying to pursue the debt in order to balance the accounts. Primary 7 pupils require to spend any remaining monies in their accounts as the money cannot be redeemed or transferred to St Ninian’s.
Bishop John Keenan’s Visit
We were delighted to welcome Bishop John Keenan into our school on Thursday. The Confirmandi and First Communicants were particularly pleased to be given the opportunity to meet and talk to Bishop John directly and we look forward to working closely in the future and continuing to develop strong ties with our local parishes and both diocese.
Retirals
A few members of staff will be retiring this year.
Mrs Kennedy has taught here at Our Lady of the Missions from December 1999 has been a fantastic teacher particularly dedicated to the infants. Dr Lyon has worked here since October 2001, having a wealth of experience in additional support needs and who has helped to coordinate the support for learning programmes. Finally Mrs Paterson, Pupil Support Assistant has been a strong member of the support staff team working with individual pupils and giving great assistance to the teaching staff since August 1996.
We wish all three members of staff a very long and happy retirement and thank them most sincerely for their dedication and excellent service to the school, authority but more directly to your children over these many years.
Moving On
A few members of staff are also moving on to new positions and we wish them well and thank them for their contributions to the school. Miss Sweeney, Mrs Kelly and Miss McKenna have made valuable contributions over the last few years to our school community and we thank them and wish them well in their new positions.
New Arrivals
In August we will welcome three newly qualified teachers in addition to Mrs Joanne Baker who will take up post as principal teacher for Primary 4 and 5. We also welcome Miss Roisin McArdle who will teach Primary 4c.
Some Final Events of the Term
Tuesday 17th P6 Museum of Religious Life
P1 Teddy Bear’s Picnic
P7 Leaver’s Mass St Joseph’s Church 7.00pm
P5 Commonwealth Showcase
Wednesday 18th P5 Commonwealth Showcase
Thursday 19th Sports Day
Blazer Sale 6.00pm until 7.30pm
Friday 20th Dress Down for Dambo
Monday 23rd P7 Leaver’s Ceilidh 6.45pm until 9.00pm in school
Tuesday 24th Final assemblies
Please note that school finishes at 1.00pm on Wednesday 25th June. This will be a non uniform day. School re-opens for children on Wednesday 13th August and (11th & 12th August being in-service days for staff)
I wish to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, safe summer break. Many thanks again for all your support which makes Our Lady of the Missions such a great community. I look forward to working with you again in August. For those of you for whom this is your last contact with the school, I wish you and your families every good wish for the future.
Yours sincerely,
Charles Jamieson
Head Teacher
