Week 3 menus ahead:
As next week is Burns Night, we have a special menu on Thursday (see below). Sandwiches and baked potatoes will be offered as usual on Thursday; check the menu for fillings.
Week 3 menus ahead:
As next week is Burns Night, we have a special menu on Thursday (see below). Sandwiches and baked potatoes will be offered as usual on Thursday; check the menu for fillings.
Week 2 menus coming up. Please remember Breakfast Club opens at 8.15am each morning for P.1-7 pupils. No need to book.
ENROLMENT FOR AUG 2024
Next week we will be registering pupils who are due to start school in August 2024. Please phone the school office to arrange an appointment, if you haven’t done so already. A current Council Tax bill and your child’s Birth Certificate are required to register.
Nursery enrolment is also open now. All information is on the council website:
If you need any help with this process, please call the school office. Mrs Quinn & Mrs McGrath are only too happy to help you.
PARENT PORTAL
Please remember to sign up to the NLC Parent Portal if you haven’t done so already. Once again, if this is causing you any problems, just call into our school office and the ladies there will be only too willing to help.
In line with council policy, we will be introducing on-line payment for trips in the future, so best to be registered now.
FLU CATCH-UP
The team from NHS will be back in school next Wednesday for the final catch-up for the Flu Vaccine.
ATTENDANCE
Thank you to everyone who is supporting us to promote regular attendance across the school. This week I have made several calls and sent out many letters to make families aware when attendance falls below the threshold of 90%. Any attendance below this is classed as CAUSE FOR CONCERN. If you need special measures put in place to allow your child to attend, please let us know and we will work together to find the best solution for you.
Can I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
School closes at 2.30pm today, while nursery hours remain the same as always. We realise that many families want to pick all children up at the same time, so we will accommodate any requests to suit our families. Just ask the nursery staff and we’ll work with you to make a plan that works.
RETURN TO SCHOOL & NURSERY
We all return on Monday 8th January at the normal times. Mrs Stewart will also open Breakfast Club that day at the normal time of 8.15am.
Week 1 Menus on our return
SCHOOL HANDBOOK 2024
Download your copy of our new Handbook here. Paper copies are also available from our school office on request.
REGISTRATION OF INFANT BEGINNERS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL SESSION 2024/25
Children who attain the age of 5 years between 1 March 2024 and 29 February 2025 should be registered for education during the week commencing Monday 15 January 2024.
Parents/carers should take their children to the appropriate local primary school during that week at the times(s) designated by the school concerned. Birth certificates and a current council tax notice must be produced.
Information for parent/carers about the registration of children in schools can be obtained from any school or by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/primary-school-registration-p1.
Information on submitting an early entry request can be obtained from any school or by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/early-entry.
Information on submitting a placing request can be obtained from any school or by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/placing-requests
Choosing a school booklet can also be downloaded from the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/10093528/0
Information for parent/carers about about Gaelic Medium education is available on the Council’s website https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/gaelic-learning
Parent/carers who wish to defer entry for their child to Primary School and who wish to apply for an additional year of part time pre-school education should register their child for school as described above and complete the deferred entry application form which can be obtained from the Primary School.
Enquiries regarding Deferred Entry should be directed to the Head of Establishment in the first instance.
Further information regarding your catchment school can be obtained by visiting https://maps.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/public/inyourarea and selecting school catchments.
In Kirkshaws, we will offer appointments to enrol your child on 2 mornings and 2 afternoons that week. Please phone the school office when we return in January to make your appointment.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
The final amount raised from our recent Christmas Market was £1,528.
Many thanks to EVERYONE who contributed to this.
PENNY WARS
Our Penny Wars concluded today. We raised an amazing total of £296.27 . Room 16 was the winning class, raising the most across recent weeks. Each member of the class received an extra Christmas treat today as a very special thank you!
FLU CATCH-UP
The vaccination team will be back in school again on 17 January to catch-up with any pupils they missed on their last visit.
REGISTRATION OF INFANT BEGINNERS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL SESSION 2024/25
Children who attain the age of 5 years between 1 March 2024 and 29 February 2025 should be registered for education during the week commencing Monday 15 January 2024.
Parents/carers should take their children to the appropriate local primary school during that week at the times(s) designated by the school concerned. Birth certificates and a current council tax notice must be produced.
Information for parent/carers about the registration of children in schools can be obtained from any school or by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/primary-school-registration-p1.
Information on submitting an early entry request can be obtained from any school or by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/early-entry.
Information on submitting a placing request can be obtained from any school or by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/placing-requests
Choosing a school booklet can also be downloaded from the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/10093528/0
Information for parent/carers about about Gaelic Medium education is available on the Council’s website https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/gaelic-learning
Parent/carers who wish to defer entry for their child to Primary School and who wish to apply for an additional year of part time pre-school education should register their child for school as described above and complete the deferred entry application form which can be obtained from the Primary School.
Enquiries regarding Deferred Entry should be directed to the Head of Establishment in the first instance.
Further information regarding your catchment school can be obtained by visiting https://maps.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/public/inyourarea and selecting school catchments.
In Kirkshaws, we will offer appointments to enrol your child on 2 mornings and 2 afternoons that week. Please phone the school office when we return in January to make your appointment.
TRANSFER TO SECONDARY SCHOOL
This week all P.7 pupils were given their transfer forms to allow them to enrol for their preferred high school. Completed forms should be returned to their teacher or the school office by the end of term next week, in order to allow the necessary arrangements to take place.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
We can’t thank you enough, if you contributed in any way to our Christmas Market this week. Primary 6’s Enterprise stalls made in the region of £260 profit for their DO GOOD COMMUNITY PROJECT and, at the last count, our school fundraiser has raised around £1,000. What an amazing team effort! As always, all school funds will go straight back to providing all those ‘extras’ we need to enhance learning opportunities in the months ahead.
REMAINING DATES FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
18th – Christmas Show (1.30pm)
19th – Christmas Show (9.45am)
20th – Christmas Show (9.45am)
20th – P.2 & 3 Christmas Party (pm)
21st – P.1 Christmas Party (pm)
22nd – Nursery Christmas Party
22nd – Close for holidays (school shuts 2.30pm/nursery normal hours)
WE RETURN TO SCHOOL & NURSERY AT THE USUAL TIMES ON MONDAY 8TH JANUARY 2024.
Week 2 menus coming up…but remember pack-a-snacks only on Tuesday as we’re off to the pantomime…Oh yes we are! Pupils can also bring their own packed lunch and we will eat together when we return to school.
Christmas Dinner was a huge success this week. Many thanks to everyone who cooked, served, cut and cleaned up! We LOVED IT!
ASSEMBLY SUCCESS STORIES THIS WEEK
CHRISTMAS PLANS
Remember to refer to your Annual Calendar of Events for all the remaining dates coming up this term.
DECEMBER DIARY DATES
4th – School Show tickets go on sale. TWO PER FAMILY IN THE FIRST INSTANCE
12th – Panto Trip (Packed Lunches or Pack-a-Snacks only today)
13th – Any remaining School Show tickets will go on general sale
13th – Choir performance (letters home for those involved)
13th – Christmas Market (Parents welcome 3-4pm)
14th – P.4 & 5 Christmas Party (pm)
15th – P.6 & 7 Christmas Party (pm)
18th – Christmas Show (1.30pm)
19th – Christmas Show (9.45am)
20th – Christmas Show (9.45am)
20th – P.2 & 3 Christmas Party (pm)
21st – P.1 Christmas Party (pm)
22nd – Nursery Christmas Party
22nd – Close for holidays (school shuts 2.30pm/nursery normal hours)
Week 1 menus coming up, but remember…we will enjoy our Christmas Dinner on Wednesday next week, so there is a MAJOR menu change there! If you have not ordered a Christmas Dinner, your child should bring their own packed lunch. There are no sandwiches or other alternatives on a Christmas lunch day.
If you pay for school meals, this money should be added to your child’s card before Wednesday.
CHRISTMAS JUMPER AND HAMPER DONATIONS
On Wednesday 6th December, as well as our Christmas Dinner, we are also celebrating our own Christmas Jumper Day and inviting families to bring in any items you would like to donate to our PARENT COUNCIL HAMPERS, which will be raffled at our school shows on 18th-20th December.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
Our school Christmas Market will take place on Wednesday 13th December. Pupils will get the chance to visit the stalls in the afternoon and we will welcome any adults who wish to join us at 3pm for an hour in the hall.
On Wednesday, at our Open Afternoon, we started selling raffle tickets for our big prize draw. If you missed out and would like to buy some tickets, pop into the school office and they will sort you out, or get them at the Market on 13th. If you haven’t seen the prizes, look below! You won’t believe it!! Huge thanks to so many of our families and local businesses for your kind donations; we have been blown away by the generosity you have shown this year. The BIG PRIZE DRAW RAFFLES will be drawn at the end of the Christmas Market on 13th Dec…you’ve got to be in it to win it!
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR RAFFLE DETAILS
SCHOOL GROUNDS IMPROVEMENTS
I’m sure you can’t have missed the Poly Tunnel that has appeared outside over the past week. We are very excited at the thought of a season of growing ahead! Each class will be involved in outdoor projects next term and this will extend the learning opportunities. In addition, we would love to restart our Family Learning Gardening Club. If we have any adult family members who have an interest in growing fruit, vegetables or flowers, please get in touch. We would be delighted if you could share your expertise, particularly as we plan the best way to use this space.
Then, this week, our new Infant Trim Trail has taken shape. It looked good when our pupils planned it on paper, but it looks even better in real-life! I know we’ll have lots of outdoor exercise over the coming months! PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS EQUIPMENT CANNOT BE USED UNTIL MONDAY in order to let the base set properly.
PENNY WARS CONTINUE!
Room 16 have won the Penny War over the past 2 weeks! In the first week they raised £18.21, then last week it was a HUGE £35.10!! Will they win again this week? Surely not…!
We have banked the proceeds to date, and we can’t believe that you have helped us raise a MASSIVE £200 so far! Many thanks to everyone for sending in your coppers and loose change. We’ll keep collecting until Christmas and update you as we go!
ECO CLOTHING RAIL
Remember, our Eco Clothing Rail is in the school hall and you are welcome to come and see what your family can use. We are suggesting a Friday between 2.45pm and 3.15pm, but if that time doesn’t suit you, let us know and we’ll make a plan that works.
READING SCHOOLS SURVEY
Many thanks to everyone who took time to complete our Reading Schools Survey. This will help us in our action plan as we aim for accreditation this year. Click the link below to see the results:
Parental Survey Results – Reading Schools, Nov 2023
CHRISTMAS PLANS
Remember to refer to your Annual Calendar of Events for all the remaining dates coming up this term.
DECEMBER DIARY DATES
4th – School Show tickets go on sale. TWO PER FAMILY IN THE FIRST INSTANCE
6th – Christmas Lunch, Christmas Jumpers, Christmas Hamper donations
12th – Panto Trip (Packed Lunches or Pack-a-Snacks only today)
13th – Any remaining School Show tickets will go on general sale
13th – Choir performance (letters home for those involved)
13th – Christmas Market (Parents welcome 3-4pm)
14th – P.4 & 5 Christmas Party (pm)
15th – P.6 & 7 Christmas Party (pm)
18th – Christmas Show (1.30pm)
19th – Christmas Show (9.45am)
20th – Christmas Show (9.45am)
20th – P.2 & 3 Christmas Party (pm)
21st – P.1 Christmas Party (pm)
22nd – Nursery Christmas Party
22nd – Close for holidays (school shuts 2.30pm/nursery normal hours)
Week 3 Menus coming up:
Please remember, today is the final day to order a Christmas Lunch for 6th December. If you have not yet returned your child’s order form, PLEASE CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE TODAY as we need to make sure all the shopping is done on time!
Remember, P.6 & 7 pupils need to pay for meals BEFORE they order them. We have a number of pupils running up lunch bills just now. Please call the school office if you are having any difficulty paying.
OPEN AFTERNOON
Next Wednesday, 29th November, we will open our doors to welcome the families of P.2-P.7 pupils in to join in our learning. We look forward to seeing many of you next Wednesday between 1.45pm and 2.45pm. There is no need to stay for the whole hour and if you have multiple classes to visit you can pop in and out as you please.
(Remember, P.1 pupils and nursery children have already had the opportunity to have parents in, so their rooms will not be open to visitors on this occasion.)
ST ANDREW’S DAY
St Andrew’s Day falls on Thursday next week. We look forward to having a special Scottish-themed assembly that day. If your child wants to, they are welcome to wear a touch of tartan with their uniform. As always, please do not go out and buy something specially for this; we mean an item you have at home already.
ECO CLOTHING RAILS
From next Friday, 1.12.23, our Eco Clothing Rails will be available to any families who wish to come and browse. Please call at the school office between 2.45pm and 3.15pm any Friday afternoon and you can take time to see if you can make use of any of the clothing there. Bring a bag and help yourself! We would be delighted if you could support us in this venture as our Eco and RRSA pupil groups aim for higher accreditation.
6TH DECEMBER – A BIG DAY!
On 6th December we have 3 things happening!
We are celebrating our Christmas Jumper Day, the Parent Council are collecting donations for their Christmas Hampers and we have our Christmas Lunch in both the school and nursery! Not long now!
CHRISTMAS PLANS
December is just around the corner, so remember to refer to your Annual Calendar of Events for all the remaining dates coming up this term.
DECEMBER
6th – Christmas Lunch, Christmas Jumpers, Christmas Hamper donations
12th – Panto Trip (Jack & the Beanstalk)
13th – Christmas Market (Parents welcome 3-4pm)
14th – P.4 & 5 Christmas Party (pm)
15th – P.6 & 7 Christmas Party (pm)
18th – Christmas Show (1.30pm)
19th – Christmas Show (9.45am)
20th – Christmas Show (9.45am)
20th – P.2 & 3 Christmas Party (pm)
21st – P.1 Christmas Party (pm)
22nd – Nursery Christmas Party
22nd – Close for holidays (school shuts 2.30pm/nursery normal hours)
CHRISTMAS SHOW
Letters will be coming home in school bags today, with details of tickets sales for our Christmas Show: Christmas Around the World. As our nursery pupils are taking part in only one performance, there are slightly different arrangements in place. Nursery parents need to check which day their child is taking part BEFORE buying tickets. Please check your child’s bag for this information tonight.
As always, we will try to ensure every family gets the chance to purchase at least 2 tickets. Space in the hall is limited, but we will work with you to make sure tickets are shared out fairly.
Week 2 menus coming up. Remember to return your Christmas Lunch order form if you haven’t done so yet. We need to get the turkey and trimmings bought!
PARENTS NIGHT
Our Parents’ Night will take place next week, 23rd November. If you haven’t yet booked your slot please do this as soon as possible. Bookings will close tonight at 7pm. If you need help, contact our school office. Mrs Quinn and Mrs McGrath are only too happy to assist you.
On Parents’ Night please enter the school building by the main doors and make your way to the hall, where your child’s teacher will be seated at a table, ready to meet you at your appointed time. Everyone has been given a ten-minute appointment. Staff will make every effort to stick to these time slots, in order to accommodate all parents at their preferred time. If you feel you need more time, a further appointment can be arranged at a later date. You will have the opportunity to read a sample of your child’s work, either before or after you speak with the teacher. In your child’s folder of work, you will find a ‘speech bubble’ sheet. This is for you to leave your child a short positive message they can read when they come into school the next morning. Write your message and pop it back in their folder, ready to surprise them when they open it in class!
Our Eco School Uniform rail will be available on the night. Please make use of this if your child has lost or outgrown any items of school clothing. We are doing our best to Recycle, Reuse and Reduce. It is important that we show the younger generation we take this seriously. Please take any items you can make use of.
BRING & BUY SALE
P.7 pupils continue to organise their next fundraiser. Their Bring & Buy Sale will take place on Friday 1st December. All donations gratefully accepted next week, if you have anything suitable at home.
OPEN SESSION
An email went home this week, inviting families to join us for our next Open Session on Wednesday 29th November. On this occasion, only P.2-P.7 classes will be open as P.1 and Nursery parents have already been in to work and play.
FOCUS ROOM
We are delighted to launch our new family space in Kirkshaws. All classes had the opportunity to name our new meeting space and the favourite name is THE FOCUS ROOM. This room is already being used by pupil committees, parent groups, after school clubs, staff members…the list goes on!
ATTENDANCE
Attendance continues to be a huge issue for us in Kirkshaws. Our attendance levels remain below every other school in the Coatbridge Cluster. If your child is ill, we know they may need to stay at home, but if we can support your child to be here…please let us know! If they are not in school, they are missing vital learning opportunities. Let’s work together to turn this around.
Week 1 menus coming up.
IN-SERVICE DAY – MONDAY 13TH NOVEMBER
Please remember that school and nursery will be closed to pupils on Monday. This is due to a staff in-service training day. We will open at the usual times on Tuesday 14th November.
COFFEE MORNING
We are delighted to report that our Parent Council managed to raise £265 yesterday at their coffee morning. Huge thanks to everyone who took time to join us and support this venture.
NEW FUNDRAISING IDEA
We are planning on starting a new fundraising venture that will run from now until Christmas. We’re having a PENNY BATTLE!
Do you use all your copper coins at home regularly, or do they lie around gathering dust for ages?
We’re hoping that we can make good use of any loose change that’s lying around to boost our school funds. From Tuesday 14th November until Christmas your child’s class will be collecting as many coins as they can, battling to be the top class each week.
Please remember, we are not asking for big coins, just those coppers that are weighing down your pockets.
LET THE BATTLE COMMENCE!
FLUORIDE VARNISHING
Fluoride varnishing will take place on Tuesday next week for pupils from our nursery class through to P.4.
TWITTER (X) ISSUE
You may think we have been very quiet on Twitter this week. Unfortunately there is an issue across NLC connecting iPads to Twitter (X). This means we can’t easily upload photographs to this platform. Rest assured, we will continue to follow up this problem looking for a solution.
Week 3 Menus ahead:
STAFF CAR PARK
Please remember that the Staff Car Park should not be used for dropping children off at any time. This includes at Breakfast Club. The car park is not a safe place for children to be walking and staff are having difficulty with access when parents are driving in and out. All pupils know that they should be keeping safe and not using this area. We want to ensure everyone is safe at all times.
POPPIES
We have a small number of Poppies which will be put on sale to all children next week. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE, SO THIS WILL BE ON A FIRST-COME/FIRST-SERVED BASIS. No-one will be allowed to buy more than one Poppy to be as fair as we can. Although Poppies do not have a price attached, we ask that donations are at least 20p to ensure we are covering production costs. Poppies will go on sale from Monday.
COFFEE MORNING
Our Parent Council will be organising a Coffee Morning next Thursday morning. As always we would welcome any families along to support this venture.
P.1 OPEN SESSION
Next week, we look forward to welcoming in our P.1 parents to see their child at work in their reading group. Parents should only come on the DAY YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED. If you come on the wrong day, you will not see your own child working with the teacher. Please note, you will not miss out on the Coffee Morning, if your day is Thursday. We will make sure you have plenty of time to take part in both events.
READING SURVEY
If you have not done so yet, we would appreciate you taking part in our Reading Survey. This link was emailed out earlier this week:
https://forms.office.com/e/cSZ9tCCaKX
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