Mrs N’s Notes, 5.2.21
HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Thank you for all your efforts during Week 4 of home learning. I know this is not easy for anyone and we really appreciate all your efforts at home to keep your children motivated. We will continue to keep the learning opportunities coming on Teams. However, it is time for our Mid-term Holiday. Please walk away from screens this long weekend and enjoy the break. Don’t expect to see staff online over the next 5 days, either on Teams or answering emails. Lessons will resume next Thursday, 11th February. I look forward to seeing your child at Assembly as usual at 9.30am.
HOME LEARNING – THE PLAN FOR THE COMING WEEKS
At this point, we have had no more information regarding the phased return to school and nursery the First Minister announced this week. We will update you as soon as we know of any firm plans for a return later this month and what specific arrangements we will put in place at Kirkshaws. In the meantime, can we ask that you continue to encourage your children to do some learning activities each day? We have noticed a dip in the numbers of children engaging over this past week, but we need to work together to ensure no one is disadvantaged this term. As a mum myself, I KNOW how hard it is to keep the home learning going right now, but I hope this weekend break will help refresh us all and let us come back next Thursday with renewed enthusiasm.
Can I also take this opportunity to congratulate our P.7 pupils? We have more than 90% of our P.7s taking part in lessons each week and sharing their work with their teachers. It is so encouraging for us to see the hard-working independent learners these young people have become. 🌟
If you know your child is attempting school-work every day and trying their best, please thank them from me. We fully appreciate their effort and your support. From our youngest learners through to our oldest, we know from our online registers there are children who are attending every available lesson. Thank you. However, we also know that family circumstances change regularly, so if that is not possible in your house, we understand. We only ask that you keep in touch with your child’s teacher and let us know if there is anything we can do to help.
CHILDREN’S WELLBEING SURVEY
This week an email was sent home regarding a wellbeing survey being conducted across North Lanarkshire. If you did not receive this, please contact the school office on 01236 632054 when school reopens on Thursday next week. The letter explains the purpose of the survey and how you can opt out, if you wish. For those families for whom we do not have an email address, we have posted out those letters today.
PARENT PORTAL
Many parents have already registered with the new Parent Portal. I know there have been a few technical issues, but thanks to Mrs Quinn and Mrs McGrath in the office, we have managed to solve each of these problems. Do not hesitate to call the school office if you need help with this, or any other school matter. We are always here to help.
NURSERY ENROLMENT
Please remember that all children planning to start nursery next session (2021/22) should be registered by next week. Visit the North Lanarkshire’s website to download your application form and encourage friends to do the same.
Well, for now, I am signing out. Thank you for the messages of support received this week, appreciating all the planning and organisation going on behind the scenes daily…but for now I think all our hard-working staff are ready for a few days rest. Mr Sharp will upload next week’s learning grids in all the usual places on Wednesday evening, but for now…Happy long-weekend to you all!
