ROYSTON PRIMARY SCHOOL
September 2017 Issue 1
Welcome!
Welcome back everyone! The start of a new and exciting session 2017/18. All pupils have come back to school fresh and full of energy…ready to learn. Primary 1 pupils have settled in very well and are enjoying a great variety of learning opportunities in class. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, queries, worries or concerns. We are looking forward to a BUSY, BUSY term! Read on…
Building Works
I thought I would start off with this because it is so noticeable! Scaffolding on the front is complete and work will begin soon cleaning and re-pointing the stonework. Roofers will then move onto the roof where parts will be completely replaced. All drainpiping and guttering is to be completely renewed. As this is ongoing, scaffolding will continue round the rest of the building and I’m afraid this will remain for a year. The inside of the building is set for some refresh too. Toilets are the main priority and these will be completely refitted. IF there is budget money still available, we will have the classrooms decorated and newly carpeted…however this will be confirmed soon. There may be times where entrances and exits are altered due to the works and I ask for your support and patience with this. Your child’s safety and security are our top priority and we will continually assess works to ensure all service users are kept safe. If you have any questions or concerns, please do let me know.
School Improvement Plan
At the beginning of every year, we produce a school improvement plan in order to guide our developments for the coming session. We are always looking for ways to improve and enhance our service to you and your children. This is why your comments on questionnaires and evaluations are so important…we use these to shape our plans. We also seek the views of the pupils and build these into our improvements. This year, we have a heavy focus on raising attainment. Our school was given £85,200 to help us to do this and we have used this mainly to increase our staffing…we believe that human resource is the best way to really push our pupils on in their learning. We are looking closely at our infant learning environment, digital literacy, resources, specific progression in core areas of literacy, numeracy and health and well-being. Our second priority is assessment, which goes hand in hand with raising attainment. We have brought in standardised assessments in reading, writing, spelling and numeracy and these will be tracked throughout the session. You will be given information on this specific to your child in due course. Priority 3 is on sustainability. As you know, we managed to gain our green flag for our ECO work and we need to maintain and develop this. We will also focus on children’s rights, ensure pupils understand their own rights, and respect the rights of others. Priority 4 is family learning. An addition to our staffing this year is Christine who works for Quarriers organisation. She will be working with small groups of pupils and will be trying to get to know our parent body. Christine starts with us this week and I will keep you informed as to how we will progress with this.
All in all, a busy session! It’s good to be busy though!
Staffing
Our staffing this year has started of very well. We are fully staffed with teaching and support staff which ensures a settled and supportive environment for pupils. Miss Laird is now called Mrs Mair after she got married in the summer break! Congratulations Mr and Mrs Mair!
I must also tell you that Mrs Jamieson will be retiring at October break. Mrs Jamieson will be missed by pupils and staff and we wish her lots of rest, relaxation and fun in her retirement! I can assure you that recruitment process has started already in order to ensure a smooth transition for primary 6/5 class. I will keep parents informed as the process develops.
Attendance
Our overarching attendance figure for session 2016/17 was 93%. This is not meeting Glasgow’s standard of 97%. I am disappointed in this as the previous session 2015/16 the figure was 94.5% We have not gone in the right direction. I am lost as to why our figure is poor and I ask for your support in this. Pupils need to be at school every day, school is compulsory. There should only be very rare occasions when children require to be off school. Pupils can come to school with colds and coughs. They can come to school if they have minor skin infections/allergies. They can come to school with a minor temperature. They can come to school even if they have slept in. There are very few reasons as to why a pupil cannot come to school. If you are not sure, please phone us. Please also be re-assured that if your child is unwell while at school, we will contact you. Appointments should be made out with school hours if at all possible. However, if this is not possible pupils should only be out of school for the time needed for appointment and not a half day. Our attendance must improve and I will contact you directly if I am concerned about your child’s attendance.
Stay and Play
I am almost certain that when many of you ask your child what they did at school that day, they may say ‘nothing’ or ‘just played all day’…these are very standard responses! Learning in school is very different now than it was 10 or more years ago. Learning is facilitated by the teacher by using practical hands on experiences – games, activities, cooperative learning etc. This ensures coverage of curricular content but also teaches the children how they learn – sharing ideas, problem solving, communication and team working, thus preparing them for the world of work when they grow up. In order to demonstrate this, we would like to invite you in for a stay and play session with your child, in your child’s class. This will replace an open afternoon this term and we will seek feedback from you on the value of this. On your allocated day you are welcome to come to school from 9.15am-10am and take part in some learning activities selected by your child’s class teacher. Class teacher will be supporting these activities but may also be able to speak with you about how you could use some of these activities at home, and strategies for homework. They will not enter into confidential consultations but they will indeed be able to give you ideas and strategies to help you support your child at home. Please see dates below:
P1 and P4/3 – Tuesday 12th September 9.15-10am
P3/2 and P5/4 – Wednesday 9.15-10am
P6/5 and P7 – Thursday 13th September 9.15-10am
Please note: from 9-9.15am class teacher will be completing attendance records and sorting dinner money and orders out, hence 9.15am start time.
Credit Union
Many of our pupils have joined credit union which is effectively like a savings account. Pupils are taken to Spireview Housing Association on a Wednesday where Credit Union staff are based and pupils can deposit their money. Pupils will bring home a receipt each week stating how much they have saved so far. Money can be withdrawn but one week notice needs to be given. This is a great opportunity for pupils of all ages to start thinking about money management and savings. Pupils wishing to join should collect an application form from the school office.
Primary 1
As I have said already, P1 pupils are settling very well. They are engaging in learning experiences and enjoying what school has to offer. I am delighted to be able to report this and I have no doubt they will continue to grow and develop positively as time goes on. P1 pupils will come to school 9am-3pm starting on 4th September.
Prospective Parents
We will be inviting any prospective parents into school on 25th October 2-3pm. This is to allow parents the chance to see inside the school and ask any early questions they may have. We will be informing the nurseries of this opportunity but if you know of anyone due to enrol for Royston Primary starting August 2018, please do let them know!
Website
We are looking to enhance our school website by including more specifics on class activities. Each class will have a spot light area where class teachers will post some things pupils have been working on over each term. We are just getting this up and running now and will let you know when there is something to see!
Family Carnival
St Rollox Tesco are hosting a family carnival event from 7th September until 17th September. For a cost of £5.99, children can have unlimited rides and use of all available equipment. A proportion of the money raised will then be given to the school for school fund. Please do go along and support the school!
A few things from the diary so far…
Primary 1 pupils will be having their picture taken for the Evening Times on 7th September 11am. Please ensure P1 pupils are wearing shirt and tie.
There will be a major focus on Basketball this coming session. We will be participating in a mini league with local schools, and engaging with a club championship programme also.
Primary 7 will soon have the opportunity to learn paddle sports and bike skills. This will begin on the 18th September, more information to follow.
Gardening and Cookery will start again soon, along with the very popular parent and child cooking class. Look out for sign in letters coming as this club fills up VERY fast!
P5 pupils will participate in Great Scottish Schools Run on the 29th September. More information nearer the time
Flu vaccines will be given on 3rd October.
First induction day at Smithycroft Secondary is 10th October. There is an Open Evening for all prospective parents on 7th September at 7pm.
Parent’s Evening will be on 21st November, with the interim report coming out a week or so before hand.
We will be having a ‘Purple’ day on 11th October. This is in order to raise money for children’s charities, and we ask that each pupil brings £1.
Harvest Assembly will be on 12th October with P5/4 and P4/3 leading.
Please see reverse of this sheet for holiday dates for this coming session.
A few regular items…
- PE Kit – Pupils MUST bring PE kit to school for PE days. Mr Steer issued a letter with each class PE allocation on it and pupils must bring suitable clothing and footwear. This is a part of the core curriculum and is not an ‘opt in’ extra.
- Water – Pupils are only permitted to drink water in school. At play or lunch time this can be a flavour water but should still be clear in colour. No squash or colourings to be added. In class, pupils should have a water bottle and bring water to drink during working time.
- Weather – As we know, the weather each day can be very changeable. I have noticed many pupils coming to school unprepared for this. Pupils should have a waterproof, hooded jacket to wear to and at school. There will be very few occasions where pupils will not be outside during the day. Pupils WILL be outside even if it rains! It would only be in very extreme or dangerous weather conditions that I would allow the pupils to be inside.
- Healthy Eating – we focused closely on this aspect during last term. Pupils were working hard to ensure healthier lifestyles by exercising and trying to eat healthy foods. This appears to have slipped a little over the holiday. We now have pupils bringing in large family size bars of chocolate and big packets of crisps. This is not necessary and not healthy. Pupils only need a very small snack to eat at playtime and their lunch at lunch time. There is NO need for multiple snacks during the day. I’m sure you will support us in trying to ensure healthy lifestyles for all pupils.
- Late coming – I am disappointed at the number of pupils not ready in line for school at 9am. This does not make for a positive start to the day. I am monitoring this very closely as I begin to book house trips and behaviour treats. I will also require to speak with parents/carers if pupils are continually late for school.
Jane McShane
Head Teacher
