The school operates a system of Home-School Plastic Folders. All communications from school are placed inside the Plastic Folder each day and parents are asked to place any communications to school in these also. Plastic Folders are collected each morning by school staff and are returned to children at the end of the school day. All important and routine communications from the school are delivered to home/school in this manner Parents are encouraged to check their child’s schoolbag each night to retrieve the Plastic Folders for any communications. School staff also encourage parents to communicate with us by email and telephone.
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Unexpected School Closures
It may be necessary, occasionally, to close the school at short notice and send the pupils home, for example, in exceptionally bad weather or if the electricity, water or heating fails. If parents are not regularly at home during school hours, they should always make arrangements to have someone available to receive their children should such an emergency occur. The school asks each parent at the point of enrolment and every August thereafter to provide the address and/or telephone number of a person who can be contacted in these circumstances. Please ensure this information is kept updated and notify the school of any changes.
In the event of severe weather conditions materialising overnight – we will, after consulting with bus drivers, put out a notice on Radio nan Gaidheal and Isles FM between 8.00am and 8.30am. It should be noted however, that in the event of severe gales, the school will only exercise an emergency closure if children are deemed to be at risk from remaining in school or if the transport operators inform us that conditions have worsened to the extent that they are unable to carry out their duties. A copy of the Policy on Disruption to Education on Account of Bad Weather may be found at:-
Parents should also feel free to contact the school if they are concerned about the safety of the children because of severe weather conditions and are free to call for them at any time.
Travel To and From School
Primary School Children living two miles or more from school and Secondary School Children living three miles or more from school are entitled to free transport. Children who are not eligible for free transport will have to pay a contribution towards the cost of transport if they make use of it. It will be possible for parents to:
¨ buy weekly books of tickets or
¨ purchase a termly pass or
¨ purchase a session pass.
Payment for the above can be made by direct debit if parents wish. The overall price is the same regardless of which method parents choose – in other words, there is no cost penalty for choosing to pay weekly or monthly.
There is also a system of stepped discounts for families with more that one child travelling to school.
It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure their child arrives at the pick up point on time and behaves in a safe and acceptable manner while boarding, travelling in and leaving the vehicle. Children who misbehave can lose their right to home to school transport.
It should be noted that under guidelines issued in October 2002, the transport operator is responsible for taking reasonable care of the children on the bus. We are very fortunate to have extremely caring drivers who take an interest in the children and are concerned for their welfare. Our drivers ensure that pupils board and alight safely at pick-up and drop-off points.
Pupils are also expected to follow the behaviour code for travel on the bus, details of which have been issued to parents in the information guide “School Transport – A Guide for Parents and Pupils.” A copy of this information guide may be found at:-
http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/education/policiesprocedures/documents/policy/pupilparentguide.pdf
Footwear and Clothing Grants
All parents in receipt of Family Credit or Income support are eligible for a clothing grant to ensure that their children are able to make use of educational provision. Application forms for clothing grants are available from:
Department of Education and Children Services
Comhairle nan Eilean,
Sandwick Road,
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
TEL: 01851 822 763
School Uniform
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Dress Code Policy states that “pupils attending schools within the Western Isles shall wear school uniform.” We support that policy and encourage our pupils to wear uniform on a daily basis. A copy of the Policy can be found at:-
The school has a uniform which consists of a sweatshirt, polo shirt and fleece with black trousers or skirt. The School badge is very distinctive and is embroidered on to items of uniform. Order forms for school uniform are issued to parents once a year but the school office does keep a small stock of uniform which can also be purchased throughout the session.
Attendance and Absence
Pupil attendance is recorded electronically every morning and afternoon by a member of school staff. If pupils are unable to attend school for any reason, parents are asked to telephone the school on the first day of absence by 9:30am to inform the school office of the absence and to indicate the reason for absence. Should parents fail to do this the School Assistant will phone parents/emergency contact to ascertain what the reason for absence is.
All parents are required to provide the school with written explanations for all absences. Children will be issued with absence certificates on their return to school, which parents are obliged to complete and return to school within three days following the child’s return to school. Where no explanation for an absence is given the absence will be recorded as “unknown.” It is useful in the case of long term absences if the school can be informed of the reason for absence prior to the pupils return in order to support pupils appropriately in their schoolwork at the time of their return, or indeed during their absence. Parents must put all requests for leave of absence for their child to the Head Teacher in writing giving full information on the exact date, time and reason for the absence. Where possible, requests for absence should be submitted at least one week in advance of the proposed date(s).
Where pupils are removed from school by parents for family holidays, weddings etc, these absences are classed as “unauthorised,” and show up as such on official data.
The Head Teacher is required to report all attendances which fall below 90% to the Social Worker (Education) for Learning Community Areas 3/4 who will investigate the matter further.
Agreed Term Dates for Session 2012-13 and 2013-14
SESSION 2012 – 2013TERM 1: AUTUMN 2012 13 August 16 August 11 October 12 October
TERM 2: WINTER 2012 23 October 25 October 29 November – 3 December 4 December 20 December
TERM 3: SPRING 2012 7 January 14-18 February 19 February 29 March
TERM 4: SUMMER 2012 15 April 2 – 6 May 7 May 28 June
SESSION 2013 – 2014TERM 1: AUTUMN 2013 12 August 15 August 10 October 11 October
TERM 2: WINTER 2013 22 October 24 October 29 November – 2 December 3 December 20 December
TERM 3: SPRING 2014 7 January 13-17 February 18 February 28 March
TERM 4: SUMMER 2014 14 April 2-5 May 6 May 27 June |
School opens (Teachers) School opens (Pupils) Local Holiday – School closed School closed for Autumn Holiday
School opens (Teachers) School opens (Pupils) Local Holiday – School closed School opens (Teachers and Pupils) School closes for Christmas Holiday
School opens (Teachers and Pupils) Local Holiday – School closed School opens (Teachers and Pupils) School closes for Easter Holiday
School opens (Teachers and Pupils) Local Holiday – School closed School opens (Teachers and Pupils) School closes for Summer Holiday
School opens (Teachers) School opens (Pupils) Local Holiday – School closed School closed for Autumn Holiday
School opens (Teachers) School opens (Pupils) Local Holiday – School closed School opens (Teachers and Pupils) School closes for Christmas Holiday
School opens (Teachers and Pupils) Local Holiday – School closed School opens (Teachers and Pupils) School closes for Easter Holiday
School opens (Teachers and Pupils) Local Holiday – School closed School opens (Teachers and Pupils) School closes for Summer Holiday |
Organisation of the School Day
Start Time: – 9:10am
Morning Break:- 10:50am
Lunch Time:- 12:45 – 1:45pm
Close of School Day:- 3:25pm
Currently our pupils receive teaching and instruction from visiting staff on the following days.
DAY/TIME | 9:10-10:50 | 11:05-12:45 | 1:45-3:25 |
Monday | SUPPORT FOR LEARNING(Fortnightly am) | SUPPORT FOR LEARNING(Fortnightly am) | SUPPORT FOR LEARNING(Fortnightly pm) |
Tuesday | CHANTER | ||
Wednesday | GAELIC MUSIC/GUITAR | PE | |
Thursday | ART | MUSIC | |
Friday | ASSEMBLY |