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)
