August 2015

Dear Parent/Carer,

I would like to take this opportunity of welcoming your child back to school after the summer holidays. I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to our new S1 pupils. I am confident that they will be happy, safe and flourish in their new environment.

At this early stage I would like to take this opportunity to pass some important information on to you.

The new shape to the school day in Lourdes Secondary

School begins at 8.50am and finishes at 3.15pm each day.

Pupil Support

We have made some significant changes to the delivery of Pastoral Care within the school this session. The House system no longer operates. Pastoral Care staff will support pupils from one year group. Each year group will have a Depute Headteacher(DHT), a Pastoral Care teacher and a number of My Time Tutors. The My Time Tutor will have daily contact with your child and will work with Pastoral Care and the DHTs to ensure that your child is well known, supported, safe and working to their full potential.

If you have any questions and/or concerns regarding your child’s welfare and progress please do not hesitate to contact your son/daughter’s Pastoral Care teacher.

The DHTs and Pastoral Care teachers are assigned as follows:

Yeargroup Depute Headteachers Pastoral Care Teacher
S1 Mrs Downie Mr MacKinnon
S2 Mr Kerr Mr Downes
S3 Mr Kerr Mrs Black
S4 Ms Cairney Ms Sellar and Ms McSween
S5 Mrs Devine Mrs Kennedy (Mon-Wed)/Mrs Hughes (Thurs- Fri)
S6 Mrs Downie Mrs Kennedy (Mon-Wed)/Mrs Hughes (Thurs- Fri)

Mrs Dolan, Principal Teacher of our Additional Learning Needs Provision, Mrs Taylor (Support for Learning teacher) and Mrs Barclay (English as an Additional language teacher) work very closely with many children in Lourdes Secondary and are also available to offer help and support to you if required.

School Uniform

I am delighted at the very high standard of uniform this session. I would like to ask that you ensure that your child continues to wear the full school uniform every day. Your support with the uniform is very much appreciated.

School Diary

Pupils have been issued with a school diary this week. The diary should enable your child to organise and plan their homework for all their subjects. The diaries will be checked on a regular basis by staff, particularly by the My Tutors, Pastoral Care and the Depute Headteachers. Your help and support ensuring that your child is completing homework on time and to the best of their ability will be greatly appreciated.

Data Check

All pupils have received a data check sheet with home contact information and details of any medical concerns etc.
I should be grateful if you would check the details and update as required. Please ensure the data sheets are returned to school as soon as possible.

Pupil Absence Procedures

If you child is absent from school, Parents/Carers should not automatically contact the school. Glasgow City have set up a Pupil Absence line for all schools and Parents across the city are encouraged to phone: 0141 287 0039.
Information from the Pupil Absence line will routinely be passed to us.

Important Dates for your diary this term:

Event/Activity Dates
Welcome Mass for all pupils & Parents/Carers Thursday 17th September
September Weekend Friday 25th and Monday 28th September
S1 Parents’ Evening Tuesday 6th October 4-6pm
October Holidays Monday 12th to Friday 16th October
Staff In-service Monday 19th October

I am looking forward to working with you and your children in the weeks and months ahead.

Yours faithfully

G McGuigan
Head Teacher