All posts by Mrs Jess

Happy Holidays – Last Weekly Information

Save the Date
There will be an Internet Safety Session at Balmerino Primary School on  Tuesday 3rd September at 6pm. This is being hosted by Balmerino Parent Council for parents at both schools.
The main topics parents are interested are:
– Setting up parental controls online
– Preventing cyberbullying
– Spotting signs of online abuse
– Guidance on social media and apps
– Mobile phone health and safety
The session will aim to cover those topics. A signup form will come out next term.

The Speech and Language Service off advice to any parent worried about their child’s speech or understanding:
 

From the Library Service:
   
Summer Youth Events

Weekly Information – 21st June 2024

Summer Reading Challenge

This starts tomorrow! Pauline visited us at Assembly today to share the details. We encourage you to get involved if you can: Click Here for Details.

 

Waterstone Crook Football Camps

Please click here for information.

 

Cafe Inc

Café Inc will be back during the summer holidays for children and young people across Fife. It is a free lunch club providing tasty, healthy meals for our children and young people while our schools are closed during the holidays. No need to book, just turn up. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult, who can also have a meal.

Cafe Inc venues will all be listed on our interactive map, which is available along with other advice and help with the Cost of Living, at our.fife.scot/gethelp

Click here for information about the St Andrews Area

 

On Behalf of Public Health Scotland

You may be aware that we are currently seeing an increase in the number of people getting ill with measles.

If your child is about to start P1, please read this letter.

If your child is about to start S1, please read this letter.

 

It’s the Newport Festival Tomorrow

Here is the programme for the day:

Weekly Information – 14th June 2024

Message from Active Schools

Dear Parent/Carer,

I am delighted to showcase all of the fantastic opportunities our young people and families have across the local area to participate in sport and physical activity. The below SWAY details all of the club and partners community session information! Please click the link below to access a whole new community through sport!

 https://sway.cloud.microsoft/6dURYxOpRfvxWk8e?ref=Link

 A reminder that Active Schools are running Family engagement sessions across week 1 of the holidays too and that we are still adding to these sessions! To register click the link below 

https://forms.office.com/e/X0PbMQfKTt

 Please note our Community Use camp is now fully booked, however, we are operating a wait list. 

 Thank you,

Madison Garland 

 

 

Newport Festival

Click here for information:Newport Festival Poster

 

Reports

Children in their pre-school nursery year and in P1-7 will bring home their school report on Friday of next week (21st June). Please take time to read the report with your child and complete the feedback sheet together.

 

 

Seesaw Next Year

The cost of Seesaw to the school has increased a lot and it is not longer viable for us to afford it for P1-7. Next year, Nursery will continue to use Seesaw but P1-7 will not, instead they will have a dedicated page on the school website on which teachers will share examples of learning from the class. More info will follow in August.

 

Procedures

Ahead of next year, if your child will be in P1-7, please read the updated procedures sheet: A-Z (glowscotland.org.uk) A papercopy will also come home with the reports.

If your child will be in Nursery, please make sure you are familiar with the procedures in the nursery booklet: Wormit-Nursery-Handbook-May2024.pdf (glowscotland.org.uk)

 

 

Dates

Please check you know the dates for the rest of the year:

 

Tuesday 18th June – Nursery Sports Day at 10am – parents invited to watch

 

If the planned Sports Days are wet, back up for Nursery is Wed 19th or Friday 21st. The times will stay the same.

 

Wednesday 19th June – P7 Show at 6.30pm – all P7 parents are invited. There is space in the hall for each child to have 4 guests (anyone 3 or under can sit on an adult’s lap and not be included in that total. We won’t issue tickets – please just come along. If your family doesn’t need as many as 4 seats, please let other know in case they need more.

 

Friday 21st June – P1-7 and pre-school Nursery Children bringing reports home

 

Friday 28th June

– Last day of term

– End of Year Service at 9.30am in the Church. All P1-7 pupils will attend with their teacher. All parents are welcome to join us. Nursery parents can bring their child with them.

Weekly Information – 31st May 2024

Extra-Curricular Clubs

Over the last couple of weeks, a few parents have indicated to us that they would like the school to offer more extra curricular activities at lunch time and after school. In particular there has been an expression of interest in a  girl’s football club. We are always keen to provide as many opportunities as possible but we are reliant on volunteers to do so. I have contacted Madison at active schools and she is happy to support us in a recruitment drive. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in coaching a sports or activities club at our school, please click here to complete a form. More information is provided in the form. While there seems to be a particular interest in girl’s football we are also interested in hearing from someone keen to offer mixed of boy’s football and in hearing from someone keen to offer other sports and activities for younger children. Feel free to share the link – Active Schools carry out PVG checks and offer support to all their volunteers.

 

Summer Sandcastle Competitions

Everyone likes a free event in the summer! Click here for information…

 

Tesco Stronger Starts

Just a reminder that voting for Balmerino Parent Council’s project to set up a school library is currently open in Dundee Tesco Stores – closing at the end of June. If you are in store, and don’t have a link to either of the other projects, I would love it if you could support my other school.

 

P1-7 Sports Day  – 7th June
Please arrive from 1.15pm and set up your chairs or rugs on the slope of Big Park. The children will come out and we will start at 1.30pm.  Your child should wear kit to school all day and bring a waterbottle.

 

Message from Active Schools

Dear Parent/Carer 
 
I am delighted to announce that Active Schools in partnership with Community Use are running a Summer camp from the 1st -5th of July at Madras College. This years summer camp will be our biggest yet with something for all of the family to enjoy. We have linked in with multiple services across the council to pull this together to ensure it is our best camp yet as part of the Active Fifers Working Group! I have listed below what we have on offer this far. Registration opens Saturday 1st June! 
 
Play Scheme – Multi Sport/ Activity 
Who – P1-P7 pupils
When – 1st July to 5th July 
Time – 9:30-12:30
Where – Madras College
Cost – £30 for the full week! 
 
To register your child for a place please contact Community Use on Communityuse.madras@fife.gov.uk or call 01334 659354 
 
Family Afternoons 
Who – No age limit bring your whole family
When – Friday 5th July 
Time – 1:30-3pm 
Where – Madras College
Cost – Free
Activities – Rugby and Pickleball 
 
 
Teenager and Adult offering 
What: Curling 
Who – Aged 12-100
When – Friday 5th July 
Time – 11:30 – 12:30
Where – Madras College
Cost – Free 
 
We are still working with some partners to add even more to our programme! We will be in touch soon as more activities are finalised. 
Be sure to get signed up quickly as spaces don’t hang around long! We can’t wait to see you all there!! 
 
Thank you,
Madison Garland 
Active Schools Coordinator 

 

 

Weekly Information – 10th May 2024

Safe in the sun

From now until the end of September we recommend you apply sunscreen to your child each morning. Nursery staff can top up children if needed but P1-7 staff cannot. If you want them to, P1-7 children can bring a bottle of sunscreen in their bag and top up in the cloakroom at lunchtime but they need to be able to do this independently and you must make sure they know not to share due to allergies. Please don’t send your child to school or nursery with bare shoulders or wearing a cropped top – this includes for PE kit. I recommend longer shorts and skirts to protect the upper thighs which can also burn easily. Please remember waterbottles and sun hatss too.

While talking of PE kit, I’d like to also take this opportunity to remind you that team colours (including football strips) are not suitable for PE nor are t-shorts featuring video games with a 12+ rating or more. Thank you for your support.

 

P7 Photo Next Week

The Tempest Photographer is coming in on Thursday next week (16th) to take a group photo of the P7s. They should wear their leavers hoodies. All children will bring a proof home. There is no obligation to buy.

 

Madras Guidance Visits

The Madras Guidance Team will visit on Friday 17th May at 9.30am to meet the P7s and help them learn about their new school. They will also meet with Ms MacLean for face to face handover information.

 

No Uniform Day today

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our no-uniform fundraiser. Click here to find out about the charity the children chose to support and see the total. If anyone wants to contribute and hasn’t been able to, you can also donate on this page.

 

Contagious Illnesses

Click Here to see a useful poster which has come into school regarding how long your child should stay off school when unwell. Please follow the advice on this poster if your child is ill.

 

Free Community Fun Day in July (SAMH mental health charity)

Weekly Information – 3rd May 2024

Message from Active Schools

I wanted to share this brilliant opportunity that Fife AC are offering our young people to participate in a series of running events:

flyer_Minitour_of_Fife_24

Madison

Playground 

The PSA team have been doing great work with the children listening to what would make the playground better. This week we have invested £200 from school fund to get picnic blankets and cushions to make spaces for children to sit and chat and from Monday, P6/7 children will be running lunchtime clubs for P1-4 children – Art, Rubik’s Cube, Lego and Board Games will run each day Monday-Thursday and we will still have mix-up Fridays (where everyone can play in all parts of the playground). We have more plans and Parent Council have kindly donated £300 to help us get more seating in place to help make the playground feel a more sociable space.

 

P1-7 Next Week

All children have been busy working on a communication topic and are ready to show off their learning.

Monday

May Holiday – school is closed to pupils and staff

Tuesday and Wednesday

Open days: children will be dismissed as usual. Parents are welcome to drop in from 3.15 until 4.15 to look around all P1-7 classes to look at the displays of work. Come to the main reception door and then make your way upstairs using the main stairwell. There will be no access to nursery, cloakrooms or pupil toilets as they will be getting cleaned. The POD doors will be open and all parents are invited to go in to see the P1’s learning displays. There are toilets in the P5/6 area which can be used if needed. We are really looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible in school.

Thursday

Inservice Day – school and nursery closed to pupils

Friday

No uniform day. Children can come to school wearing clothes of their choice but no pyjamas, cropped tops, vest tops or high heels pleases. And no team colours or inappropriate slogans. Through the week, the children will choose a communication charity to support from the no uniform day. We will let you know the charity once it is chosen. Please send your child with a coin donation if you can. Depending on the charity the children choose, there ay also be the chance to contribute electronically.

The House Quiz for P4-7 children will be held in the afternoon – the questions will be on the theme of communication so the more carefully the children read the displays when looking round with their class and with you, the better the chance of their team doing well in the Quiz!

 

Dates for the rest of term

Monday 3rd June – School Holiday

Friday 7th June – P1-7 Sports Day at 1.30 – parents invited to watch

Tuesday 11th, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th June – P7s on three-day Transition visit to Madras

Tuesday 18th June – Nursery Sports Day at 10am – parents invited to watch

If the planned Sports Days are wet, the back up for P1-7 is Monday 10th/Friday 14th. The back up for Nursery is Wed 19th or Friday 21st. The times will stay the same.

Wednesday 19th June – P7 Show at 6.30pm – all P7 parents are invited

Friday 21st June – P1-7 and pre-school Nursery Children bringing reports home

Friday 28th June

– Last day of term

– End of Year Service at 9.30am in the Church.* All P1-7 pupils will attend with their teacher. All parents are welcome to join us. Nursery parents can bring their child with them.

 

 

 

 

End of Term and Looking Ahead to Next

Sponsored Run

A huge thank you to everyone who donated to the sponsored run – Team Wormit have raised £1224 to date and the donations seem to keep coming in for Comic Relief. As you know, it was too wet to run today but we all got together to celebrate the total and to do a fitness routine led by the running club.  The run will be held as early as possible in the new term.

 

Café Inc Easter 2024 

Cafe Inc is a free lunch club for children, and young people. It provides tasty, healthy meals
for our young people, while our schools are closed during the holidays. No need to book, just
turn up. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult, who can also have a meal.
Cafe Inc venues will all be listed on our interactive map, which is available along with other
advice and help with the Cost of Living, at our.fife.scot/gethelp

 

Active Schools have asked us to share this poster:

 

Please make sure you have a note of all of next term’s planned dates:

Monday 15th April

– First day of term 4

– P1-7 will all start a 2 week learning theme on Communication

 

Monday 6th May – School Holiday

Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th May – Open Afternoons – all parents welcome to come in from 3.15-4.15 to look at the displays created from the Communication Learning Theme. This is a nice opportunity for Nursery parents to see round the whole school before their child goes into P1.

Thursday 9th May – Inservice Training Day – School and Nursery closed to pupils

Friday 10th May – P1-7 No Uniform Charity Day, Playtime Disco and P4-7 House Quiz

 

Monday 3rd June – School Holiday

Friday 7th June – P1-7 Sports Day at 1.30 – parents invited to watch

Tuesday 11th, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th June – P7s on three-day Transition visit to Madras

Tuesday 18th June – Nursery Sports Day at 10am – parents invited to watch

 

If the planned Sports Days are wet, the back up for P1-7 is Monday 10th/Friday 14th. The back up for Nursery is Wed 19th or Friday 21st. The times will stay the same.

 

Wednesday 19th June – P7 Show at 6.30pm – all P7 parents are invited

Friday 21st June – P1-7 and pre-school Nursery Children bringing reports home

Friday 28th June

– Last day of term

– End of Year Service at 9.30am in the Church.* All P1-7 pupils will attend with their teacher. All parents are welcome to join us. Nursery parents can bring their child with them.

 

Weekly Information – 22nd March 2024

The P7s will be running a fundraising sale after school on the last day of term (Thurs 28th March) outside the main school office. This is to raise money for their end of P7 party! There will be cakes, loom bands and temp tattoos on sale (please remember to bring cash!). Thanks! The Primary 7s

A few reminders:

Please check your child’s hair regularly and follow the advice here if you should find nits or lice.

Please check your child has shoes to change into for indoors so that the mud stays in the cloakrooms.

Please do not park on yellow zig zags or lines around the school.

Wednesday 27th March – P1-7 Sponsored Run in aid of Comic Relief – children will wear kit all day and can wear red if they want! – Parents are invited to spectate at these times:

P1&2 at 10am
​P3-5 at 1.30pm
​P6&7 at 2.15pm

Click Here to donate via our Just Giving page. Please share the page with friends and family to help Team Wormit reach their target of £1000 – We are over half way there, one last push could mean we make it!

Thursday 28th March  – Last day of term 3

Thursday 28th March – Spring Service at 9.30am in the Church.* All P1-7 pupils will attend with their teacher. All parents are welcome to join us. Nursery parents can bring their child with them.

 

Message from Active Schools

Dear Parent / Carers, 
 
Please check the link below to access our latest North-East Fife: Clubs & Partners Sway (March 2024). We have a growing list of local clubs & partners sharing opportunities for children and young people from Nursery, P1-S6, Adults and Families. 
 
Message from Forgan Arts Centre

It’s getting closer to our children’s Spring Art Club at Forgan Arts Centre and we can feel the excitement building! With explorative arts and crafts activities and outdoor play in our vast grounds and mini woodland, we are here from 9am – 3.30pm over the Easter holidays. We are sure that we have something for every budding young creative! As well as our general places, we provide 4 free places each day for families on low income. Led by professional artists, we have a variety of activities which are listed by day via our website here: Forgan Arts Centre (pembee.app)

More information is available here: kids whats on Forgan Families

We hope to see you there!

Weekly Information – 15th March 2024

Upcoming Dates – March-May

Wednesday 27th March – P1-7 Sponsored Run in aid of Comic Relief – children will wear kit all day and can wear red if they want! – Parents are invited to spectate at these times:

P1&2 at 10am
​P3-5 at 1.30pm
​P6&7 at 2.15pm

Click Here to donate via our Just Giving page. Please share the page with friends and family to help Team Wormit reach their target of £1000.

Thursday 28th March  – Last day of term 3

Thursday 28th March – Spring Service at 9.30am in the Church.* All P1-7 pupils will attend with their teacher. All parents are welcome to join us. Nursery parents can bring their child with them.

Monday 15th April – First day of term 4

Monday 15th April – P1-7 will all start a 2 week learning theme on Communication

Monday 6th May – School Holiday

Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th May – Open Afternoons – all parents welcome to come in from 3.15-4.15 to look at the displays created from the Communication Learning Theme. This is a nice opportunity for Nursery parents to see round the whole school before their child goes into P1.

Thursday 9th May – Inservice Training Day – School and Nursery closed to pupils

Friday 10th May – P1-7 No Uniform Charity Day, Playtime Disco and P4-7 House Quiz

 

New Vegetable Bed

Thanks to a parent volunteer, we have a new vegetable bed down on Big Park near the shed. This will be used by the Nursery children to grow their own veg.

 

Decider Skills Workshop for Parents

This workshop is aimed at helping parents & carers both recognise and support their own mental health, but also develop skills they can use with children. I have done this course and found it hugely helpful – I thoroughly recommend you attend if you can. Please sign up in the following form if you’d like to attend: https://forms.office.com/e/dgFzFCmVm7

 

Wormit in the News

Click here to read an interesting article linked to our school!

 

Message from Families First, St Andrews

We would love for families and staff  to be able to come along on Saturday morning to support our coffee morning, it is drop in 10-12 at St Andrews Baptist Church. Also if any parents or carers would enjoy volunteering with Families First there are a number of roles available and the next round of training will be on Friday 19 April 2024. Please see the posters below for further details.  Families First is a wonderful charity supporting children and young people and their families with additional needs. We have lots of student volunteers but are seeking volunteers who are local and able to offer more stability. There are roles available during school hours and out with. We are particularly seeking volunteers who can support families and someone who would be able to help with web design using elementor/ word press. If you would like more information please email Laura Veitch vc@familiesfirststandrews.org.uk .

 

Weekly Information – 1st March 2024

Sponsored Run

It is time to launch our biggest fundraiser of the year!

Wednesday 27th March – P1-7 Sponsored Run in aid of Comic Relief – children will wear kit all day and can wear red if they want! – Parents are invited to spectate at these times:

P1&2 at 10am
P3-5 at 1.30pm
P6&7 at 2.15pm

Click Here to donate via our Just Giving page. Please share the page with friends and family to help Team Wormit reach their target of £1000.

 

Parentwise Survey – Last Chance if you haven’t done it yet!

Please complete the Parentwise Survey – it is open until 8th March. Click here to read more details and find a QR code to scan to go to the survey. Or click here to access the survey directly. All Fife Council Schools take part in the survey and your responses and comments will be collated and shared back to me. Staff and I will use the results to plan School Improvement Priorities for next year. We really value your feedback and I encourage you to take part.

 

Primary 1 Enrolments for August 2024

Just a reminder that all enrolments must be done by 15th March. You must enrol for your catchment school but can then make a request for another school if you have a preference for a different school. If this is the case you should note that you won’t hear the outcome of your placing request until the end of April. If you are making a placing request to our school, please understand that I won’t be able to give you a decision until then. Click here to complete online.

 

Rag Bag Collection

There will be a Rag Bag Collection on Wednesday 6th March.  Please can we ask that any donations are brought into school on Tuesday 5th March.  Thank you

 

Nut-free school

A reminder that due to some children in the school having severe allergies, our school is a nut-free environment. Please do not send your child to school with any items (including snacks) which contain nuts or peanuts as a highlighted allergen. This includes Nutella Snacks. For safety reasons, if snacks containing these items are brought to school we will have to ask children to leave them unopened.

 

World Book Day – 7th March

Primary children should come to school in uniform as usual, they will do tasks to promote a love of reading during the day. Nursery children can come dressed as a book character to promote conversation if they would like.