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.

How can you and your child take part?

• If you usually walk to school, then carry on doing exactly that and your child will get their daily sticker!
• If you don’t usually walk, it couldn’t be easier to give it a go! Perhaps you can walk to school just one or two days during the week.
• If you live too far away from school, or you need the car for work, parking a five minute walk away will reduce the congestion outside school. You’ll still get the health benefits and help improve your child’s road sense.
• By taking part, you will be joining the thousands of other children and their parents walking to school in East Renfrewshire.

 Enjoy your walk to school!

The last Parent Equalities Forum of this session will take place on Thursday 14 May in Braidbar Primary School at 7pm.

 Psyhcological Services department are once again running Parent Workshops.  On Wednesday evenings in Barrhead High School from 13 May to 3 June 2015 from 7-9pm, they will hold workshops for pre-school, primary and secondary aged children.  In addition, they will have group targeted towards families with issues related to autism or Asperger’s and a group for Dads and male carers.

The workbooks used at the course are available to purchase at a cost of £6.50 but otherwise there is no charge to attend the group.  Tea and coffee will be provided at some point during the evenings also.  To book a place on the course or to get further information anyone who is interested should contact Psychological Service at ps@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or on 0141 577 8510.  Please click here to view the poster.

 Please click here to read the latest flyer from Dyslexia Scotland for their meeting in May 2015.