Charlene Armstrong, parent from St Thomas’, is organising a Macmillan coffee morning at St Thomas’ Church Hall on Saturday 26th September from 11am – 2pm.  All parents/carers and children are invited to come along.  There will be Disney characters, face painting, cake decorating and much more!

As part of our commitment to improving local air quality, East Renfrewshire Council now has powers to issue fixed penalty notices to drivers who don’t switch off their engines when stationary. Council officers will be carrying out patrols around local schools and speaking to drivers who let their vehicles idle unnecessarily.

Air quality within East Renfrewshire is generally good and meets national standards, however we are always keen to make further improvements. Within East Renfrewshire, road traffic is the main source of air pollutants. Parents and others taking children to and from school can help to reduce children’s exposure to exhaust fumes by leaving the car at home, by parking further away from the school and by turning off their engines when stationary.

Parents from Catholic schools across Scotland are invited to participate in the latest in a series of Parent Assemblies which are designed to inform and consult them on important issues.  These are the details of the next assembly of Catholic School Parents:

Making Sense of This Is Our Faith
Supporting parents to make sense of the Religious Education programmes taught in Catholic primary and secondary schools.

Saturday 3rd October 2015;  10.30 to 12.30pm
St Francis Xavier Centre, Taylor Avenue, Carfin Lanarkshire ML1 5AJ

To book your place, go to Catholic School Parent Assembly 3rd October 2015 or email: parents@sces.org.uk 

Three representatives from St Thomas’ Primary 7 class were invited to the Children and Young People Regional Summit on Monday 24^th August in Oban. Elise, Ryan and Gordon joined approximately 100 other children from schools and youth organisations across Scotland to have their say on improving our education system for all. This summit follows ongoing work by the Scottish Government to tackle the attainment gap in Scotland.

The event was coordinated along with an official Cabinet meeting and gave Government Ministers the opportunity to engage directly with children and young people to talk about their views on things like educational attainment, participation, children’s rights and social justice. There was an opportunity to pose questions directly to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Angela Constance. Later, the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon talked to the children and was happy to pose for ‘selfies’, much to the children’s delight.

Please click on buttons below for information from Dyslexia Scotland:

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.