All posts by Mrs Timoney

Covid-19, Parent Information

Schools update – January 2021

Schools update – January 2021

Please find attached a letter from the Director of Education with information about the return to school for pupils in January.

Director of Education 22nd Dec update

On Thursday 7 and Friday 8 January we will be open to offer childcare to the children of keyworkers only.

Keyworker Clarification

Where a parent is able to work from home then they should do so and support their child’s learning. Parents and carers should be aware that other family members, such as grandparents can provide childcare. 

Keyworkers: 

  •  Health and Care workers directly supporting COVID response, and associated staff; Health and Care workers supporting life threatening emergency work, as well as critical primary and community care provision; Energy suppliers (small numbers identified as top priority already); staff providing childcare/learning. 
  • All other Health and Care workers, and wider public sector workers providing emergency/critical welfare services (for example: fire, police, prisons, social workers), as well as those supporting our Critical National Infrastructure, without whom serious damage to the welfare of the people of Scotland could be caused. 
  • All workers (private, public or third sector) without whom there could be a significant impact on Scotland (but where the response to COVID-19, or the ability to perform essential tasks to keep the country running, would not be severely compromised). 

These are the Scottish Government definitions issued in March 2020. 

All other children will effectively have an extended holiday until 11 January 2021.  Please note that where a parent is able to work from home then they should do so and support their child’s learning.  Parents and carers should also be aware that other family members, such as grandparents can provide childcare.

From Monday 11th January, learning will be online for pupils. Further information about this will be provided when we return to school.

We sincerely hope that these measures are going to be short term in an effort to reduce the transmission of the virus and keep everyone safe. I thank you again for your patience and understanding during these difficult times.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday.

Take care and stay safe,

Colette Haddock

Head Teacher

Parent Association, Parent Information

December Information

Gallery

Parent Information for December

I am sure you will have noticed that Merrylee is looking very festive both inside and out! I hope you have had the chance to see Miss Kirk’s video showcasing many of the Winter Wonderland decorations. Grateful thanks to all who were involved in this project. It has been a huge joint effort with so many of you getting involved. It has certainly given us a lot to smile about, spreading happiness and joy to all!

If you haven’t had a chance to look at the video, have a look on our Merrylee YouTube Channel, and please subscribe while you’re there!

YouTube player

Below are a few updates and reminders of upcoming events:

Pupils will have the chance to enjoy an online pantomime production in their classrooms this week. Although it is not quite the same as a trip to the theatre, I am sure they will enjoy all the fun and panto jokes! Oh yes they will! ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ online panto will be available for the whole school this week. P1 & P2 classes will also be able to watch the online production of ‘White.’ Over 100,000 worldwide audience members have fallen in love with this magical, highly visual show for P1-P2. Treats (popcorn and funsize chocolate) and drinks will be provided. If you would prefer to provide an alternative treat for your child, please let me or the class teacher know. Many thanks to the fundraising efforts of the PA for providing the funds for this.

A few other dates for December

Parent Council Meeting – Monday 7 December

(please email the PC if you would like details about how to join the meeting at merryleepc@gmail.com)

Christmas Lunch – Wednesday 9 December
Parent Association meeting – Wednesday 9 December
Flu Vaccinations – Thursday 10th December
Christmas Jumper Day – Friday 11 December

Children are invited to wear a Christmas jumper on Friday to support the Save the Children campaign. The school will make a donation to the Save the Children from the school fund so there is no need for any further donations.

Glasgow Times Toy Bank Appeal

many thanks to P6a for organising this campaign. You should have received a bag inside a copy of the Glasgow Times last week. If you have any unused or toys in good condition that you no longer want, please pop them in the bag and return to school by Thursday 10th December. P6a will collect all donations for uplift at the end of the week. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far.

Christmas card reminder

May I respectfully request that children do not bring in cards to exchange with their friends this year? While we appreciate the risks of transmission through this kind of contact is low, we don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.

Many thanks as always for your continued support.

Stay safe and take care.

Colette Haddock

Fundraising, Parent Association, Parent Information

Marvellous Merrylee Monster March

Make your window or garden part of our Halloween trail!
The Parents Association would like to invite you all to take part our Halloween Trail. A worldwide pandemic doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of the fun Merrylee Primary school is known for.

We propose that over the next few weeks you came come up with a display for your garden that will be included within this monstrous trail. This could be a spooky window display, a scary scarecrow or a petrifying pumpkin.

If you are happy for it to be included, contact us with your address and we will add it to our map. This map will be available to download from the week of the 26th of October when hopefully all the displays will be ready. Hopefully it will include houses throughout the Merrylee catchment area and perhaps slightly beyond.

You can find the houses around you or perhaps even try and see
them all! We propose the trail stays up for the rest of the week before Halloween.

We would love to feature your displays on our facebook page on the lead up to the trail going live. Send us your photos and perhaps you can inspire others with your marvellous montages. If you haven’t joined our facebook page, this would be an ideal time to do so –
it’s the Merrylee Parents Association, see the link below.

We’d like to build on all the lovely things Merrylee are already doing for the children and given them something else to be part of and enjoy this Halloween.

If you would like to, it would be nice to add a fundraising element to this trail and perhaps make a small donation for the map which would go to the Merrylee Parents Association.

If you didn’t know already, Merrylee PA will usually organise events throughout the year to raise funds which go towards resources within the school. Many of these events will not be happening this year. It would be nice to use this event to contribute towards funds.

If anyone is keen to join, we would always welcome new members, not just to join the committee but also perhaps to help out with events like this or even share your creative ideas of how else we can organise fun but CoVID safe events for the children this year.

You can contact us on merryleepa@hotmail.com
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/237423799686385/?ref=share