School Security

This leaflet describes the procedures we have in place to make sure everyone is safe and secure in school. These procedures have recently been reviewed in line with Health and Safety procedures to reduce risk.

Please read it carefully and follow the procedures outlined.
When you come into the school building to see your child or a member of staff, no matter how short the visit is, please call at the office; let the staff know the purpose of your visit and sign the visitors’ book. As a visitor to our school you are expected to report to reception where a member of staff will greet you.

On most occasions our office staff will be able to help you to pass on a message, leave a bag, contact a member of staff etc. for you. If you do then have to go into the school, please wear a ‘visitor’ badge.

Should your child’s class be in the gym / dining / assembly hall, please inform the office staff, who will radio over to the hall to let the teacher know you are coming.

We realise that this may take a little more time, but I am sure you will agree, it is well spent to ensure a safe and secure school.
If you have any further suggestions or concerns about security, please let us know. (274923)

Our aim is to ensure that our school is safe, happy, welcoming and secure for everyone.

 We ask staff and children to think carefully about their own safety.
 We lock children’s entrances after the start of the school day.
 We ask all visitors to sign in and out and to wear a ‘visitor’ badge in the school or school grounds.
 We ask all staff to wear identification badges.
 We ask all visitors to follow carefully the directional signs both inside and outside the building.
 We ask you to let us know if you see anyone acting suspiciously near our school.
 We ask that all parents who volunteer to help in our school should undertake a PVG check.
 We ask you to share with us any ideas you may have to make our school safer.
And in particular
We ask everyone to be patient – good security can be frustrating!

The playground is part of the school and children need to be safe and secure in it also.

Please follow our playground code:

If you want to see or speak to your child during a break, please report in to the office and sign in. Our office staff will radio our playground supervisors to send your child in for you.

If you are accompanying your child to or from school or passing through the playground to the nursery, please do not approach other children for a chat or to give them a row.
Part of coming to school is learning to get on with other people and our children do fall out with each other from time to time.
If your child has told you of such an incident and you are concerned about it, please let a member of staff know and we will deal with it. An adult approaching another child in the playground can cause the situation to escalate.

We hope your child’s experience is a very happy and lively one in the playground.

If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Head Teacher.

Thank you for your cooperation and support,

E Clinton (Head Teacher)
March 2014

Dear Parent/Guardian,

7th March 2014

Here in our school community we have around 200 children allocated to 8 classes. For the vast majority of the time they get along together very well. They learn and work together in classes, many of them eat together in the dining hall and they play together in the playground. Part of the whole school experience is social development as children acquire skills for learning, life and work. Our children learn how to communicate with each other, play games with each other, show kindness and concern for each other, help each other and solve disputes that may arise. This is all part of growing and maturing, recognising and learning how to handle feelings and emotions. As part of the children’s work within their classes, each teacher will set a social skills target on a weekly basis.

Learning Matters… Parental Consultations- Thursday 27th
In order to ensure children are fully involved in their learning, please talk with your child about their work. The children will also be able to talk with you about their work in their Progress Folders. This will be an opportunity to celebrate success and will help us to plan next steps in learning together.

Attendance Matters….
We continue to encourage children to attend school every day and to arrive on time. I would appeal to you to help your child to develop the habit of regular attendance. Attendance matters as it helps your child to make progress in their learning. Absences can add up before you know it!

DID YOU KNOW?………
90% attendance= ½ day missed every week!
1 school year at 90% attendance = 4 whole weeks of lessons missed!

We are currently monitoring absence levels and late arrivals as per guidance from North Lanarkshire Council. As you know we make contact with you to ensure absences are explained. The Attendance Officer will contact you if attendance levels are considered unsatisfactory.

Can you help us?
If you have any items of school uniform that your child has outgrown, but are still in good condition, please send them into school as we can ‘recycle’ them to
Safety Matters- School Buses (Transport)
Please note that you are responsible for the conduct of your child at all times when they travel on our school buses. We encourage your child to make sensible choices and wear their seat belt for maximum safety. Please talk to your child about how to travel safely on our school buses.

Security Matters… Our security arrangements and procedures for entry to our school are very important. Please be patient as good security can be frustrating but it remains my job to ensure everyone feels safe and protected. Please take time to read the enclosed leaflet. Please can I also remind you that if you need to use the toilet in our reception area that you let a member of our office team know?
Transition to Secondary Education- Dates for your Diary
I have been advised that the dates for Primary 7 children to visit their feeder High Schools are:
Clyde Valley High- 29th and 30th May 2014.
Coltness High- 20th and 21st May 2014
St. Aidan’s High- 10th June 2014

Parent Council News

The next meeting of the Parent council will be on Monday 12th May at 6.30pm in the school. I know the council would be delighted to see you if you could manage along. The next disco is planned for Thursday 20th March. Tickets (£1) are on sale from Mrs Dempster at the school. The Parent Council require items for their Tombola, as they will have a stall at our Parental Consultations.
Parent Council Event for Parents and Friends
The Parent Council will be selling tickets for a fundraising event at our parental consultations. This will take place at St Brigid’s Bowling Club at 7.30pm on Friday 30th May. We need your support for this very worthwhile event.

Easter Holidays
The Easter holidays are only a few weeks away; this term really has flown in! School will close on Friday 4th April at 2.30pm. (The buses will collect children at 2pm, as usual and the remaining children will leave at 2.30pm.) We will re-open at 8.55am on Tuesday 22nd April. Our Spring Celebration will be held in Coltness Memorial Church on Thursday 3rd April at 10am. Please do come along and join us!

Health Matters
As you are aware, our children’s health and wellbeing is very important.
P.E Kit: We deliver two hours of Physical Education in school each week. This is an important part of your child’s education. All children are encouraged to bring their full gym kit for P.E, but the minimum requirement is a pair of gym shoes. All children should have a change of footwear for P.E lessons as outdoor shoes can mark and damage our gym flooring. We would ask you to ensure that your child has their P.E kit with them on the appropriate days. Pupils may only be withdrawn from P.E if they bring a letter to school, signed by you, explaining why they should be withdrawn. Thank you in advance for your full support.
Head lice: Please remember to check your child’s head on a regular basis for any signs of infection. It is no longer the role of the school nurse to do this and responsibility falls to the parent. The school can no longer inform parents of any outbreaks of head lice. Advice given by the school nurse is that checks should be made on a weekly/fortnightly basis. If a child has head lice, they should be treated before returning to school. Please seek advice from your local Pharmacist or G.P about which treatments are most effective. Further information is available from www.onceaweektakeapeek.com.

Royal Rockstars Event at Newmains Primary School
The school will be working with ‘Royal Rockstars’ after the Easter holidays to record a CD and host a performance for parents. Due to health and safety tickets will be limited to comply with reducing risks. The planned date for both performances is Wednesday 7th May. More details to follow.

ECO News: We all know the three ‘Rs’ to help us reduce the amount of waste we generate – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – but we’d like to remind you about the fourth ’R’. The Fourth ‘R’ is REFUSE! REFUSE carrier bags when you can.
Please note that there are nine recycling bins in the car park beside the school- three for clear glass, two for green glass, one for brown glass, one for shoes, one for food and drink cans and one for clothes.
I do hope you have a very happy, sunny and peaceful Easter holiday.
Best wishes,
E CLINTON (Head Teacher)