Week 1 Menu coming up

 

 

ATTENDANCE CONCERNS

This session there is a huge focus on attendance in our school, across the Coatbridge Cluster and throughout the whole of Scotland.

There is a national expectation that pupils should be in school full-time for at least 90% of the year.  Across the country the average school attendance sits just above this figure.

In Kirkshaws we are falling far short of the local and national levels of attendance.

In January we had only 57% of pupils achieving 90% attendance or more.  In February I am delighted to report that this rose to 60% of all pupils.  We have 14% of pupils falling into the 85-89% category, so with a big push over the coming weeks, we could see a move towards the North Lanarkshire and Scotland average.

Whilst I am aware that children have legitimate illnesses throughout the year where they need to stay at home, we also have situations where pupils are absent with no reason reported from home and children returning to school telling us they didn’t know why they were off.

Can I please encourage you to send your child to school if at all possible.  As you will see from the graphic below, every school day really does count.  We want to help your child achieve their full potential.

This week we sent out an email communication asking you to complete the cluster questionnaire, helping us to better understand barriers to attendance.  If you have not done so yet, the link to this is below.

 

COFFEE MORNING

Many thanks to everyone who took part in our Coffee Morning this week.  Whether you made the tea, set the tables or turned up to support us…we THANK YOU!  Thanks to you we raised £232.40 which will be used by our Parent Council to buy those little extras we all appreciate.

Thanks too must go to our performers on the day.  Here a just a few photos of our Coffee Morning and this week’s assembly:

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HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION

Well done to this Confident Individual who took part in the Coatbridge High School Public Speaking competition this week.

He was an absolute star and we are so proud of him.   We know we are going to hear much more from him in the coming years!

Next week we are taking next year’s S1 pupils to another Coatbridge High event.  We are looking forward to taking part in a Rugby Festival on Wednesday morning.  Good luck to all!

Any pupils going to Coatbridge High in August, who would like to be considered for the School of Dance, should ask Mr Gall for an application form.  This is dependent on an audition, but all expressions of interest should be made in writing by 28th March.

Please also remember that an additional opportunity for pupils and parents to visit Coatbridge High School will take place on Thursday 23rd March from 4pm.  This is a small group session, where families from just our school will be able to speak to staff and have your questions answered.  This has been going down very well with families from the other feeder primaries, so I am sure you will enjoy it.

WRITTEN REPORTS

Pupils in the school should expect to be bringing their Reports home in the coming week.  Our nursery pupils will receive theirs in Term 4.  It has been a pleasure reading and commenting on all the reports over the past week.  I am very proud of all the progress each of our learners continue to make.  Please make use of the feedback sheet that will come home in your envelope to tell us how you feel.  Thank you.

SCIENCE WEEK

Next week is Science Week and we look forward to many investigations over the coming days.  Please ask your child to share their learning with you.  Lots of pics to come!

P.1 TRANSITIONS

Our transition programme to Primary 1 continues next week, with some Stay & Play sessions planned for Monday.  We have been delighted so far with the way our nursery pupils are adapting to visits to Room 1.  Many more opportunities still to come!

OPEN AFTERNOON

Please remember our next Open Afternoon in school will take place on Thursday 23rd March.  Classrooms will be open from 1.45pm until 2.45pm, with a focus on Health & Wellbeing across the school.  As always, we would invite adult family members to come along, prepared to take part in our learning!