Rouken Glen Park’s Autumn and Winter Evening Talks Programme recommences on Tuesday 18 August.  The talk will take place in the Pavilion Visitor Centre, Rouken Glen Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock G46 7UG.  The talk is suitable for all family members.

‘Rouken Glen Park Nesting Birds Survey’

Tuesday 18 August, 7 – 9 pm

• Doors open at 6.45 pm for tea and coffee
• Rouken Glen Park recently commissioned a nesting birds survey in the park and tonight we receive the results.
• Discover which birds nest in the park, how to recognise birds from their calls and how we can protect their habitats.
• Talk by Neil Middleton, an experienced ecological consultant.
• Neil Middleton of Echoes Ecology returns to give another talk following his very informative bat evening in May 2015.
• No booking required.

Future evening talks in Rouken Glen Park Pavilion:

Tuesday 8 September,  7 – 9 pm    Dragons in your Garden – frogs, toads, newts, lizards and slow worms

Tuesday 29 September, 7 – 9 pm    Fungi in the Park

Tuesday 20 October, 6.30 – 8.30 pm   Bryophytes – mosses, hornworts and liverworts  (Please note earlier start time)

Tuesday 3 November,  7 – 9 pm    Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre

Tuesday 1 December, 7 – 9 pm    Rouken Glen Park Archaeology

Liz Rodger
Activity Project Officer – Rouken Glen Park
East Renfrewshire Council
Environment Department
Thornliebank Office
190 Carnwadric Road
Glasgow   G46 8HR

Tel:  0141-577 3912
Email: roukenglenpark@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk

 The PTA have a beach/Hawaii themed Summer Disco organised for Wednesday 17th June.  Consent forms have been issued today which need to be brought along on the night.  P1-3 is from 6.30 – 7.30pm and P4-7 is from 7.45 – 8.45pm.  Entry costs £1.  We look forward to seeing you there!

This is a reminder that on Wednesday 17th June we are holding a special ‘Loop the MUGA’ event to raise money for our school fund.  Please click here to read the letter which was issued last week.  Sponsor forms are available from Miss Watson or Mrs Holmes in the office.  Please support us in this event – we are really looking forward to it!  Pupils can come to school dressed in their PE kit as Sports Day takes place in the afternoon.  The weather is not scheduled to be dry the whole day, so please ensure your child as a waterproof jacket.

The deadline for sponsorship money to be at the school office is Monday 22nd June.  Remember there are individual and class prizes to be won!

Thank you for your support.

The National Parent Forum recently held a Curriculum for Excellence focus group.  East Renfrewshire Council hosted the event which was facilitated by consultants.  Parents from various local authorities attended, including some parents from our local schools.  Please click here to read a copy of the report from that meeting. 

On Saturday 13th June from 10am – 1pm, the PTA have organised a Summer Fete which will be held in the school hall in St Thomas’ Primary.  If you have any donations for the tombola or raffle, or any home baking, could you please either bring them into school this week or in the morning of the fete?  Also, if you are interested in having a stall at the Fete, please contact the school office and we can arrange this for you.  The tables cost £10 for 1 and £15 for 2.  The school will be open from 9am on Saturday.  We appreciate your support and hope to see you there!

As a result of our school’s continued efforts to promote healthy eating and sustainable growing, we are delighted to announce St Thomas’ successful bid to Education Scotland’s Food for Thought Application Fund which has awarded us £3000.  The fund was set up to improve learning and teaching within food education in Curriculum for Excellence using national initiatives such as the Year of Food and Drink Scotland 2015 and Commonwealth Games Legacy. Indeed, we are one of only two schools in East Renfrewshire that made a successful funding application!

St Thomas’ will use the fund to extend opportunities for our pupils to grow produce in different conditions by buying, for example, an outside poly tunnel to cultivate a variety of fruit and vegetables. The produce would then be harvested and used, for example in class cooking activities, promoting a sustainable food system.

On Wednesday 10^th June, pupils in St Thomas’ will be taking part in the Brake Giant Walk to support the Brake charity and to campaign for safer roads and reductions in pollution from traffic. It will be an opportunity to empower pupils to take action and make a difference and for their collective ‘Pupil Voice’ to be heard. Taking part in the Brake walk also links in with our school Travel Plan targets, created by the Eco Committee.

Parents, carers and families can get involved by making the Brake Pledge. It’s a Pledge to do simple things to protect you and people around you, build happier communities, and help save the planet. Sign up at http://www.brake.org.uk/pledge (just click on the link).

We are leaving school at 1.30pm and are walking through Main Street then on to Kingston Playing Fields. We would be delighted if you can join us.

Please click here to read the minutes from the last Parent Equalities meeting for this session.

Applications are now invited for all current P1 and P2 pupils wishing a place on the Singing Games and Rhymes programme starting in September 2015, at the Saturday Music Centre in Williamwood High School.  The letters along with an application form and a consent form have been issued today, if you wish another we have spares in the school office.

The course consists of three blocks of classes; two terms of 10 weeks and 1 term of 6 weeks, each weekly session lasting 30 minutes, and is designed to help develop throughout the year, a variety of skills through Kodaly based musicianship training, singing and musical games. If you would like your child to be considered for a place please complete the application form and consent form to Linda Fenn, no later than Monday 22 June 2015.

The cost for each term of 10 weeks is £40.00 and £24.00 for the 6 week term, with the first term starting on Saturday, 5th September 2015 – Saturday, 28th November 2015 inclusive. The centre will be closed on Saturday 26th September, 10th and 17th October 2015, for the school holidays N.B. No monies should be included with your application form, as an invoice will be issued on confirmation of place.

Singing Games and Rhymes classes can take place at any time between 9.00am and 12.00pm. Once all applications have been received a timetable of classes will be compiled and you will receive details of the time allocated to your child.

If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact Linda Fenn on 0141 577 2568.

The Singing Children of Africa are returning to Barrhead on Wednesday 27^th May.  They will be performing a fundraising concert in St John’s church at 7pm on the 27^th May.  This will be followed by tea and cakes in the church hall.  Please come along and support this great cause!!  Please click here to view poster.