March/April Newsletter

Thank you for your continued support in making sure staff and children stay safe in school by ensuring that you adhere to guidance around 2m distancing and wearing face coverings, especially around the perimeter of the school, at pick up and drop off. Please ensure the gates at all entrances are kept as clear as possible.

Remember if your child is unwell, they should not attend school or nursery and if they have any symptoms of COVID (new continuous cough; fever or loss of taste and/or smell) you should keep them at home and arrange to have a test.

There are specific details around what to do if your child gets unwell over the holiday period and these are in a letter which accompanies this newsletter.

Communication
Our preferred form of communication at this time is by email schoolmail@crossarthurlie.e-renfrew.sch.uk and unfortunately the school building is only accessible to staff.

Thanks to everyone in school for being open to continuing with our planned parents’ night via telephone. All staff were very grateful for the ability to share information on children’s learning and the work we are doing to build children’s confidence in their learning, now we are back in school.

I know that nursery staff were in contact regularly with many parents during Lockdown and it’s a bit difficult as we haven’t got a system up and running yet for sharing information with nursery parents. Please be reassured that we are looking into how we can do this and as soon as we have found a possible solution we will be in touch.

We will also be spending time ensuring that children have lots of opportunities to socialise and build up their team working skills again. This may mean that we will be working outdoors or spending time playing games or talking about how we are feeling. All of these will help support children as they settle back into school life.

Fundraising

The Parent Council have lots of events for fundraising planned. Have a look at their Facebook page to see what they have planned. They have also established an ‘easy funding’ account. Anyone looking to support the school while buying on-line can do so via the account https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/xarthurliepcfundraisers/

Parking
Now that the nursery is finished, staff are able to use the car park which should hopefully ease congestion in the local area. Please note the car park is for staff and visitors only.

Easter Service
Unfortunately this year we can’t have our usual Easter Service. I know that the tradition of bringing in flowers, which are then distributed to local Care Homes, is wonderful and something which is a genuine blessing to those who give and receive, but unfortunately this year, like many other things it won’t be able to go ahead.

Uniform
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that the children feel part of the school by wearing school uniform. I understand that some children have grown out of specific Cross Arthurlie uniform, so please remember that as long as your child is wearing navy or grey school clothes, that is school uniform. At assembly this week I mentioned this and reminded children to avoid trainers and branded clothing and hoodies.

The only exception to this is P7. They will hopefully be receiving their ‘leavers’ hoodies soon and many of them have had a significant growth spurt over the Lockdown period. I completely understand that a P7 parent may choose to buy a black skirt or pair of trousers that children will be able to get use of when they go to High School, rather than new navy clothes, for only a few months.

Holidays and In-Service

Mrs Fiona MacDonald
Head Teacher

March Newsletter

March 10, 2021 Miss Rice

Dear families,

We are really looking forward to welcoming all of the children in P4-7 back to school on Monday.

Thank you for your continued support in making sure staff and children stay safe in school by ensuring that you adhere to guidance around 2m distancing and wearing face coverings, especially around the perimeter of the school at pick up and drop off. Please ensure the gates at both entrances are kept as clear as possible.

Remember if your child is unwell, they should not attend school and if they have any symptoms of COVID (new continuous cough; fever or loss of taste and/or smell) you should keep them at home and arrange to have a test.

If a child is at home self-isolating, work will be available through their ‘Home Learning’ Google Classroom.

Communication
Our preferred form of communication at this time is by email schoolmail@crossarthurlie.e-renfrew.sch.uk and unfortunately the school building is only accessible to staff.

There are also restrictions placed on the time staff can stay in the building. All staff have to be out of their classrooms by 3:30pm and out of the building by 3.45pm, continuing their preparation and planning from home. This makes it more difficult for teachers to return phone calls. We will try to get back to you, but it might be one of the SMT (Mrs MacDonald; Miss Rice; Miss Galloway or Mrs Craig) rather than your child’s class teacher.

Returning to School

School day
We are still operating a staggered school day to try to avoid congestion in and around the school gates. Primaries 1,3,5 & 7 will start at 8:45am and finish at 2:45pm. Primaries 2,4 & 6 will start at 9am and finish at 3pm.

The children will use the playgrounds and entrances they used previously, washing their hands when they come into school and at various points throughout the day.

Grab bags
When your child returns to school, it would be really helpful if they could bring their ‘grab bags’ and any jotters they have completed. The children are still in the habit of completing mental maths and spelling tasks for homework and this will continue on their return to school.

Learning and teaching
Teachers will spend the next few weeks finding out where the children are at in their learning. A range of different approaches will be used to make sure we have a good grasp of levels children are confident working at within reading, writing and maths so that we can plan well for the next steps in learning.
We will also be spending time ensuring that children have lots of opportunities to socialise and build up their team working skills again. This may mean that we will be working outdoors or spending time playing games or talking about how we are feeling. All of these will help support children as they settle back into school life.

Chrome Books
As the children are now all back at school it is really important that all Chrome Books are returned. If you borrowed a school Chrome Book, could you please arrange to drop it off, along with the charger, at the front entrance, at the following times/days –

P4/1 – Tuesday after 9am
P4/2 – Tuesday before 3pm
P5/1- Wednesday after 8.45am
P5/2- Wednesday before 2.45pm
P6/1 – Thursday after 9am
P6/2 – Thursday before 3pm
P7/1 – Friday after 8.45am
P7/2- before 2.45pm

Red Nose Day
This year for Red Nose Day we will be giving each child a Red Nose to take home with them. If you would like to make a donation to Comic Relief you can do so on their webpage -https://donation.comicrelief.com/

Fundraising
The Parent Council have lots of events for fundraising planned. Have a look at their Facebook page to see what they have planned.

Nursery Update
I am delighted to let you know that the nursery will be open from Monday 15th March. The children and staff have had some taster sessions this week and are loving their new space. I shared a video with the children on assembly last week which you can find using this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_H48u6gtQc. I’m sure you’ll agree it is amazing what has been created in the space that was available.

Parking
Now that the nursery is finished, staff are able to use the car park, which should hopefully ease congestion in the local area. Please note the car park is for staff and visitors only. It is important that this is strictly adhered to as nursery children and parents will be lining up at various points throughout the day to collect and drop of their children.

Yours truly
Mrs Fiona MacDonald