UNICEF Rights Respecting School Bronze Award 2023. Digital School Scotland Award 2023. Eco School Green Flag 2017 & 2019. SportScotland School of Sport Gold Award 2018. Better Energy and Green Acorn awards 2019. GCC Environmental Task Force Award 2019.
Keep Scotland Beautiful are offering new online learning courses throughout July for students and their families. These are all free and are varying lengths so there is something suitable for everyone. All the courses are listed on our website and families can register here.
We also have some new Eco-Schools at Home activities for pupils to do either at home or in the classroom. We’ve added activities on energy, water, wildlife, dandelions and more.
Dear Parents
As we move to the next phase out of lockdown and following government advice, I wanted to keep you up to date in as much as I am able to in these uncertain times.
I am very grateful to all our staff who have been continuing to support your children through school hubs, on-line support, learning packs and phone calls to check in to see how you are getting on.
I also wanted to say thank you to all our parents and carers for doing their best to support remote learning during lockdown – we know that this has been a difficult few months for us all.
In line with the current government advice, we are making arrangements for senior staff to start returning to school during this week. Next week, starting Monday 8 June, we are planing for small groups of staff to start to come back into school to plan for the children coming back into schools from Tuesday 11 August. Our school calendar has Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 August as in-service days with pupils returning Thursday 13 August. We are awaiting further government advice to confirm whether we can stay with these arrangements.
A table showing advice for staff is attached to this letter.
We are now working with headteachers to consider how we could phase some in-school learning. It is clear that social or physical distancing will remain as something we should all be practicing in the coming months, this will mean we will have to think differently about how we deliver learning.
We are planning for a blended approach of in-school and learning at home.
This will be very different for all of us and I understand that this temporary way of learning will mean that families need too make adjustments for work and childcare arrangements.
Our in-school learning will be small groups of children coming in for part of the week and learning at home for the rest of the week. Outdoor learning will be used wherever possible. Staff would also provide tasks/activities to be carried out at home and this will be set by teachers while children and young people are at school.
We understand that this would mean some continued disruption for those of you who are working. I apologise for this but I am afraid in order for us to follow physical distancing advice from the government we would be unable to have all children in school at the same time for the time being. Given the different style of buildings and outdoor opportunities across the city, each school will develop their own plan that supports their school community needs as much as possible.
We will be providing childcare for the children of key workers in line with government advice. Parents will have to apply for this. It will not be possible for this to take place in our school buildings so we are working with out of school care providers and other partners to consider how and where this can best be delivered. As our plans develop, we will keep you informed. We will also be appealing to employers to work with their employees to consider flexible working patterns to enable parents to care for their children on the days they are not in school. the advice remains that, where possible, children should be cared for at home when not in school.
Thank you again for all your support. I know this period has been and continues to be challenging for us all.
However, as I said at the very outset of this health crisis, I know you will continue to work with us to ensure that we deliver high quality education to all children and young people in the city.
I will continue to send out more information and updates to our families as our plans are confirmed and try and give as much notice as possible over the summer holidays for going back for the beginning of the new term. The more detailed information about your child’s pattern of schooling will come direct from your school.
If you would like to read the current government guidance on the re-opening of schools you can access them on line at:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-civic-19-re-opening-schools-guide/
https://news.gov.scot/news/safe-return-to-schools-and-nurseries
Yours sincerely
Maureen McKenna
Executive Director of Education
Advice for staff:
w/c 1 Junes 2020
w/c 8 June 2020
w/c 15 June 2020 and w/c 23 June 2020
The following information has been sent over by Margaret and Laura – two family learning officers in Royston area.
We hope you are staying well during this time.
Here is some information that may help you.
Health
Call NHS Inform on 111 if you or your family have coronavirus symptoms that are getting worse.
For general coronavirus information call 0800 028 2816
Local Food and Gas/Electric Advice:
Roystonhill Community Hub 0141 212 7386 or email communityhub@spireview.org.uk
GHA Tenants: Royston Corridor Homes 0141 274 8645
For questions about Farmfoods Vouchers for families who get the uniform grant 0141 276 1177.
General Help, e.g. Medicine delivery
Glasgow Community Response Team 0141 345 0543 (Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm)
Refuweegee for Toys, Toiletries and Food – text PACK to 07520648388
Children’s Activities
Find lots of ideas on Twitter – you can sign up and follow @RoystonPrimary @parentclubscot @RYA_YOUTHCLUB but if you do not want to sign up you can still access the twitter pages and see the activities (you just cannot follow and receive notifications about activities this way).
You can also go to www.parentclub.scot for games and ideas.
World Book Day
This Thursday 5th March is World Book Day. Children are invited to come to school in their pyjamas. They can bring a cushion and their favourite book too, as we will be having a day of reading for enjoyment and interest. Pupils will have time for their own personal reading in addition to engaging with staff members in exploring different texts. There will be a level of personalisation and choice during the day in order to promote reading as an enjoyable and stimulating activity.
Parent Appointments
All parents should now have a note of their parent appointment with the class teacher for our formal parents’ afternoon/evening. If you do not know your time, please do contact the school office and we will be able to find out for you. Parents/carers requiring an interpreter will have appointments on the 4th March, with the majority of our parents having appointment times on Thursday the 5th. (Please do excuse anyone you may see with pyjamas on that evening, as this will coincide with World Book Day!) If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment time, please do contact us and we can arrange a different day to meet.
Which Way?
Primary 7 pupils will soon embark on a programme designed to support transition to secondary school. This will be delivered by qualified professionals and will examine issues such as drug and alcohol misuse, self-harm, resilience and emotional regulation. This programme will start this week and run for 4 weeks in total.
Parental Engagement
Our sessions seem to be going very well so far – still some classes to have their session. I have noticed that numbers of parents/carers attending these sessions is continuing to drop. This worries me as there is wide spread research supporting the direct link between parental engagement in school and pupil attainment. I will be looking for your help at parents’ night to ask what might work better for you and how we can engage 100% of our parents/carers in school life. I fully understand if lack of engagement is due to work/college/training commitments and would fully support this. However, often this is not the case and I wonder whether we are not doing this in the best way.
Primary 7 residential experience
Our residential experience for primary 7 pupils will take place Friday 29th May until Monday 1st June. Almost all pupils have paid the £20 non-refundable deposit. I request a further £20 by the end of March – this can however be paid anytime. I must reiterate the information below as noted in my last newsletter…
I must stress that exemplary behaviour will be a basic pre-requisite to being able to attend. I will not allow staff to take pupils away from home and school if there is a risk that they will not fully comply with given instructions and behave with respect, good manners and tolerance. Pupils will be in amongst pupils from other schools, this is part of the exciting experience. Due to health and safety, I will refuse to take individuals who I believe present risk.
There are a few pupils who, at the present time, I have concerns over. My staff are reluctant to take these pupils away from home. I will soon write out to the parents/carers of these pupils to make this information clear and hopefully work together to make the necessary improvements thus allowing them to participate. It is unfair on other pupils and staff if a few pupils are allowed to waste the experience by behaving negatively and poorly.
Scottish Weather
Please ensure your child comes to school with appropriate clothing and footwear. Your child will not be kept indoors if it is raining and a bit windy. Pupils function better academically if they have exercise and fresh air and I fully support this. Pupils will only be kept indoors if weather is deemed a health and safety risk ie if there is a severe weather warning for gale force winds and rain. General day to day weather presents no risk to pupils if they are appropriately dressed. Pupils do not catch a cold from being out in the cold – they will catch a cold if there immune system is weakened for any reason. Fresh air and exercise will actually help support a strong immune system and therefore, even if pupils do have a common cold, fresh air will help. Please ensure your child comes to school dressed for cold/wet weather as this will make them more comfortable when they are outside every day.
Parent/carer de-stress and relax
Ultimately the job of parent/carer is a hard one! To this end we have funded some parent/carer sessions on relaxation. You will not be expected to do anything you feel uncomfortable with – much of the session is chatting and reflection. At the present time we only have 3 parents attending, please come and try this out as it would be a shame to waste this resource with no one using it.
Numeracy Clinic Celebration event
Pupils who were engaged in the numeracy clinic this session will be invited along to Strathclyde University Barony Hall for a graduation event. This will be held on the 19th March and parents/family are invited along!
SOS partnership working with St Roch’s Primary
Primary 6 pupils from Royston Primary and St Roch’s Primary will soon work together to address the theme ‘Sense over Sectarianism.’ Pupils will work together for 3 sessions – one of them being hosted in Royston Primary. These sessions will commence on 11th March.
Snapshot
Last week and this week is snapshot week in school. This means that all pupils complete a weeks’ worth of activity in their special jotter. An evaluation form is stuck in at the end of the week. This is for you to share your thoughts and views with us. Education is a service to you and your child – therefore we need to know what you think! If you think we need to make changes please do tell us. If you agree with what we are doing and understand why, please do tell us. If you don’t think our ways make sense, please do tell us.
In addition, I would urge you to call in if you have any concerns/queries. Some parents phone/e-mail me at varying times and apologise for having contacted me. Please do not apologise or think this is not appropriate. It is entirely appropriate and worthwhile.
Healthy drinks and snacks
We continually try to pass messages of healthy eating and drinking onto pupils. Pupils can drink water at school. During class time pupils can drink plain water. Research proves that this actually enhances performance in the classroom – class teachers will encourage this. Pupils can bring flavoured water (eg lemon lime, strawberry) for break times although we do try to dissuade them from this as there is some sugar contained. We also try to encourage pupils to bring healthy snacks to school. A piece of fruit or chopped vegetables are excellent choices. Pupils are rewarded for making healthy choices in eating and drinking and can win a special active treat if their good choices become consistent.
I am always disappointed when I see pupils coming to school eating sweets and drinking fizzy drinks. I’m not sure if parents and carers know pupils are doing this but I would encourage you to speak with your child about this.
P2/1 and P3/2 Tennis Festival
On the 17th March the above classes will attend the City wide tennis festival at the Gorbals Leisure Centre. This will showcase the work they have been putting into the tennis lunch club they have been attending for several weeks.
Holidays dates to note
School will close on Friday 3rd April at 2.30pm for spring break. School will re-open on Monday 20th April.
Jane McShane
Head Teacher
Headteacher@royston-pri.glasgow.sch.uk
