January 2013

Dear Parents and Children

Happy New Year to you all and I hope it will be a good one for you. It has started well in regard to the weather and I hope it continues although we could do with a few heavy showers up in the Lecht and Cairngorm area over the next week. That would suit our skiers very well indeed. Apparently there is word of low temperatures and snow at the weekend so do remember to check the phoneline on Monday morning if there has been snow. I do try to update it before 7.15am.

Traffic Lights

You will all be aware of the delays Colin is experiencing due to the traffic lights. Whilst very frustrating there is little we can do other than be patient for the duration.

The children have been full of their Christmas news and telling us about all the things they got. Very exciting for them all!  Can I just remind everyone who got a mobile phone that they are best left at home. We really do prefer children not to be texting etc from school. If anyone needs to get in touch with home we are only too happy to let them use the school phone.

Events

The diary is surprisingly empty but I do know that there are a few dates coming up in February and March which I will list in a “Dates for the Diary” page  at the end of this newsletter. Please keep it handy for reference.

Dance – Pamela Younie will start again with us next Thursday  for  a six week block of dance so please make sure that PE kits are brought in to school every Monday. Pamela really motivates the children and they thoroughly enjoy learning new dance skills and taking part. I am excited to see all the different things they will be learning this time. If you would like to join in just come along every Thursday morning from 9am – 9.45am

Enterprise – Mrs Mailer will shortly issue information about the topic the children will be undertaking throughout February which is a Social Enterprise Activity raising funds for third world countries. It is still in the planning stage and sounds very exciting. I do hope you will all manage to get involved in some way. Two dates that have  been fixed are, a Bring and Buy Toy sale on Friday the 8^th of February which  will give everyone a chance to clear out the toy cupboard and a Coffee Morning on Friday March 1^st. This will be the culminating event of a month of fundraising activities which we hope the whole community will get involved in.

If you have any fundraising brainwaves then please let Mrs Mailer know.

Science – We will be taking part again in the national Science and Engineering week from March 15^th – 24^th so if anyone wants to come in to school to take part in, or lead an activity then we would be delighted to see you. This year the theme is “Invention and Discovery” and we have been awarded a grant of £200 pounds to use for this event.

Annual Reports

Once again we will be inviting you in with your children to have a discussion about progress and achievement on March 14^th. These discussions together with further input from the children will form the basis of the yearly reports which we hope to have ready to give you by the end of April. I look forward to seeing you on that evening. However, as you know, you are always welcome to come in to school to discuss any issues you may have with me or Mrs Mailer at any time.

Chill and Chat

On that same note you are all invited to come along to the school on Thursday February 14^th at 2pm. It’s just an informal  opportunity to get together with myself to chat over a coffee about this, that and the other and the direction you would like to see the school taking and / or things you would like to see introduced. These opportunities to talk about the school are invaluable to me and I would really appreciate seeing as many of you there as possible.

Parent Council

The next meeting is at the school on Wednesday February 27^th at 7pm.

Please come along.

I know you will all join with me in wishing the skiers a great week when they head off to the slopes on Monday January 21^st. Mrs Laing will accompany the children and I know she is looking forward to it just as much as they are.

Only eight children will be left in school that week so Mrs Mailer, Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Duncan won’t know what to do with themselves……………(I am sure there is a cupboard or a shed that needs clearing out or sorting so rest assured they will be kept busy!)

In the meantime take care of yourselves and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Kind Regards

Head Teacher

 

                    Dates for the Diary    January  2013

January

21^st – 25^th              Ski Residential

February

Friday 8^th              Bring and Buy Toy Sale

Thursday 14^th         Chill and Chat 2pm

Friday 15^th             Mid term holiday

Monday 18^th           Mid term holiday

Tuesday 26^th Childsmile Fluoride Varnishing

March

Friday 1^st               Coffee Morning

Thursday 14^th         Parent and Children’s  Appointments 3.30pm – 6pm

Friday 29^th            Good Friday Holiday and start of Easter Holidays

December 14^th 2012

Dear Parents and Children,

So far so good and we have not had to have a snow closure yet. Keep your fingers crossed though as we have a few things to get done before term ends and snow would make it just that little bit trickier.

Thankfully the weather behaved itself yesterday and we were able to get to the Panto and back even although we had to take the long route to Inverness. The panto was good, the costumes sparkly and the children enjoyed it greatly.

 

School Bus delays

You will be aware that the traffic lights are making a bit of a nuisance of themselves at the moment and causing delays for Colin getting the bus through at his usual time. Thankfully they do seem to be getting the work done quickly so hopefully we won’t have to be held up for much longer. Thank you for your patience and understanding in the meantime.

Press Release

The recent article in the Press and Journal highlighting the running costs of Inveravon Primary compared to those in larger towns may have unsettled you a bit. I can assure you that I was completely unaware that this was going to be printed and although factually correct (for the most part) I felt that the article would have been improved if it had also mentioned that Inveravon is still the only primary School in Moray to have received an excellent award from HMI.

On that note I was recently invited along with Mr Laurence Finlay (Head of Schools) to the national conference held in Livingston for the launch of the “Its My Future” DVD which includes three film clips about Inveravon. You may recall that this was filmed last June to capture what we do at Inveravon to be shared nationally as an example of excellent practice.

You can find this at www.journeytoexcellence.org.uk

 

Christmas Lunch 

This was enjoyed by us all again today and thanks go to Mrs Cornes and her team in Aberlour Primary for doing all the cooking  and also to Mrs McBain who is our dinner lady and who always serves us with a smile.

Christmas Concert

I am looking forward to our own concert next Tuesday night December 18th

This year we have taken a different approach and have opted for amore traditional theme with some well known songs, carols and Christmas poetry recitations so you will have plenty of opportunity to join in. There will be the usual raffle and festive fayre after the show is over which is one of our Inveravon traditions……….(I can remember the first one!) It’s a good chance for our school community to get together in a happy and relaxed environment and I always the chance to catch up with you all.

Many thanks to Mrs Allison Gillies who has given up her spare time over the last six weeks to come into school to teach the children the songs.

The show will start at 7pm and children should aim to be in school at about 6.45pm so that they can calm their last minute nerves.

School Uniform should be worn (quite a few children expressed a desire to wear uniform including our two senior pupils John and Neil so we are respecting their views as this will be the last concert for them). The children should wear something sparkly or festive on their heads e.g antlers, baubles etc.

The Parent Council have already contacted you requesting some food and nibbles etc for the “after concert party” and I would appreciate it greatly if some of you could help with setting out the food and clearing away again. I know how good you all are at getting stuck in at these events.

Carol Service  Wednesday December 19th

This is yet another Inveravon tradition that I really enjoy and look forward to and I hope to see lots of you there. Once more we will welcome the staff, children and parents from Glenlivet Primary who will join us as usual for the service which starts in the church at 10am. This will be followed by Teas, Coffees etc back at the school. Reverend David Whyte will officiate as minister.

 

Christmas Party Thursday December 20th

I am really looking forward to the school Christmas party again as it’s always such a great afternoon. Even after all these years I still really enjoy sharing this special time with the children and it is the highlight of my year. Hopefully Santa will be able to make it again as I know how good the children have all been. The party food will be prepared by staff next Thursday morning in school and school lunch will be earlier that day so that we can get the party started promptly.

Please note that all the children will go home together on the bus at 3.15pm 

 

School will close at the usual times for the Christmas Holidays on Friday December 21^st.

 

All of the above will of course be weather permitting and I will keep the phone line updated should there be any changes. In the meantime keep warm and stay safe if you are out and about on the roads.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at Inveravon Primary

Kind Regards

Mary R Smith

 Head Teacher

 

 

November 2012

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

I have to start this newsletter with an apology. I realised today that I have not notified you about the parents evening this week…………..aaagh!  I am really sorry and I can only blame old age and forgetfulness. Thankfully Mrs Mailer picked up on this and sent a wee note home in the children’s homework diaries yesterday. I hope this does not inconvenience anyone and that you will all be able to come along despite the very short notice. Again I am really sorry.

Parents Open Evening Thursday November 15^th 6pm -7pm

The children have planned which of their learning activities they really want you to see and you will be able to try out some of the things they do in class. Each child has made up a wee quiz for you and the answers will be found on the wall displays and in the children’s pukka pads so it will be quite an informal evening. Teas and coffees will be available in the hall and I look forward to seeing you there. If you would like to speak to Mrs Mailer or myself about anything specific regarding your child’s progress please call the school and we can organise a time for you to come in. As you know our door is always open.

Parent Council News

The auction last Friday night was a huge success and I think the final total of just under a thousand pounds astonished everybody. Well done to the members of the Parent Council for all their hard work and also to the staff who gave up their time and helped out on the night. Many thanks to everyone who donated goods and also to all those who came along and bought things.

There was a happy buzz in the hall and a lot of stuff but surprisingly we were left with very little. The teas, coffees and cakes were well received and what was left was auctioned off. Great stuff!

As you know this fundraiser was important to boost the coffers of the Parent Council so that they/you can continue to provide a fantastic level of support to the children in the school. It is this support which makes the point of difference between us being able to provide the broad general education which Inveravon is known for or not. By taking the children out and about on trips and getting specialists in to work with the children, e.g Pamela Younie for dance which the children just love, we can maintain and develop the high quality of learning experiences which earned us an excellent report from HMI last year. So on behalf of the children I extend a huge thanks to you all.

Illness and Viruses

There is a nasty vomiting bug on the go at the moment so in order to limit the spread of this can you please keep your child at home if you are in any doubt. Early symptoms are headache, sore tummy etc. If your child does succumb please remember that 48 hours needs to have passed since the last sickness or upset tummy episode before they can come back to school. Adhering to this is our best chance of avoiding it sweeping through everyone.

Our thoughts are now turning towards the festive season and the children have made an early start to learning some traditional Christmas songs in preparation for our annual and much loved  concert. Mrs Allison Ghillies who teaches the recorder is helping us with this on a voluntary basis and we are extremely grateful to her for giving up her free time.

I am issuing a Dates for the Diary at the end of this newsletter for you all to stick to your fridge door (I will be putting my one somewhere prominent too I can assure you!)

In the meantime I hope you are all well and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Kind Regards

Head Teacher

Inveravon Primary School