Remember, if Homework Grids get lost, or don’t make it home, you can always download a copy here:

Homework

We finished off our Scottish month with a celebration of learning, covering song, poetry and art.  Learners from all classes, including our morning nursery, took part, with their peers cheering them on and joining in.  The effort and achievements demonstrated far surpassed my expectations.  Yet again, Kirkshaws staff, pupils AND parents  gave it their all.  I know many of you will have heard the same poems over and over again at home as your children practised them this month.  Thank you for your encouragement and patience as you supported us in this learning…it certainly paid off!

In other learning this week, I had the opportunity to visit Mental Agility lessons across the school.  This new initiative is having a huge impact on the confidence our pupils have when handling mental calculations.  Not only are they carrying out calculations quicker, they are also becoming VERY articulate when explaining their thinking.  From P.1 to P.7 I was blown away by the standards set.  Try it at home…give your child a sum then ask them to tell you HOW they worked it out.  Talk to them about how YOU did it and share ideas.  I assure you, you will be impressed at the language used and the amazing arithmetic.

The school was represented at the local Euro Quiz and SSFA Soccer Sevens at Broadwood Stadium.  You won’t be surprised to hear that our senior pupils were once again complemented on their behaviour and commitment to the task in hand.  Thanks also must go here to the staff who took the time to organise these trips and prepare the children for the day.

We also had a full agenda at the Fundraisers AGM on Monday evening.  Thank you to everyone who managed along.  As you know, the Fundraisers organise a wide range of events throughout the year, aiming to involve parents and pupils in various activities during the school day and in the evenings.  The funds they raise benefit all pupils in the school: Nursery Hallowe’en party; Christmas gifts for our younger learners; buses for trips; subsidising Kilbowie; Golden Pathway awards…the list goes on!  A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has given up their time to make all of this possible!  There are plans afoot for more events in the near future – details coming soon!

One more week before the mid-term break.  What else can we fit in now…?

We are meeting this Monday, 8th February at 7pm in the Staff Room.

All parents are most welcome!

Well, it was good to get back to some sort of normality this week.  After school clubs got started at last and it was fantastic to see such an interest in our new Family Learning opportunities.  Whether it was FITNESS, KNITTING, WALKING FOOTBALL or DETECTIVE CLUB, the parents and grandparents of the Kirkshaws family were ready to give it a go…with particular respect to those adults who have joined more than one of these new clubs!  Old favourites, like Archery, Football and Netball restarted, alongside new clubs you have been asking for: Cheerleading and Dance.

As you know, we started the year with a focus on Family Learning and we hope this is something we can continue to build upon, with your support and input.

Our Netball team took part in the first of their league matches on Monday and we were delighted at their performance, enthusiasm and sportsmanship; before, during and after the event.  Worthy Ambassadors for Kirkshaws!

I found myself at a wide range of meetings this week.  These ranged from raising attainment briefings to transition planning with Coatbridge High School.  There are a vast number of cluster events being planned, not just for our Primary 7 pupils, but for our younger learners too.  Look out for more details coming home in newsletters or displayed in and around the school.

In assemblies this week we continued to consider our Motto: BELIEVE, ACHIEVE, SUCCEED! As a result, we celebrated academic achievements from all classes.  Well done to each one of you!

Next week will see us celebrate the success of our Scottish Poetry and Art competitions…Ah cannae wait!!

Homework grids for the coming weeks:

Week 3 lunch menus this week.  Please remember to talk to your child about what they are most likely to eat.

Well, that wasn’t in the plan!  What a week in the life of Kirkshaws!  Snow, ice and difficult journeys to and from school have made it tricky to function normally at times this week, but thank you all for the efforts you made to send your children daily.  Learning continued, despite the adverse weather conditions.

It has been a pleasure meeting all our new P.1 parents, and some children too,  at enrolment this week.  I look forward to getting to know you all better as we work together over the coming years.  It is amazing how many prospective parents are ex-pupils of the school.  It was lovely to hear all your happy memories of your time at Kirkshaws.  It is our aim to create similar memories to last a life-time for your children.

Despite the challenging conditions outside, we had many other visitors this week.  Claire, from Oral Health, popped in to check on our toothbrushing programme.  Did you know that all classes, from our Nursery to Primary 7, brush their teeth regularly in school?  There is a worrying history of poor dental hygiene in Lanarkshire, but here at Kirkshaws, we are determined to buck the trend.  Matt, from Entrepreneur Me, is continuing the work he has already started in Primary 6, as they launch their Do Good project.  Look out for more details coming soon.  Colin, from Tree of Knowledge, spent a day training Primary 7 in presentation techniques.  We don’t stop at the Three Rs when teaching your children.  We take great care to equip them with Skills for Learning…Skills for Life…Skills for Work!

At assemblies this week our older pupils met in family groups to help form our Curriculum Rationale.  They have given me MANY ideas to incorporate into our vision for the coming session.  Our younger learners discussed ‘Jobs for Girls & Jobs for Boys’!  Do you know what we discovered?  YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE!  This helped us continue to focus on our Motto of BELIEVE, ACHIEVE, SUCCEED.  We celebrated the successes of our Marvellous Mathematicians at our whole school assembly today, and P.7 put those perfected presentation skills to good use, helping us to better understand our School Values.

In the Nursery, the staff have started creating new interactive wall displays.  Look out for new information in the entrance hall next time you are in.  They are also working hard to modify current sign-in and sign-out practices.  Look out for information coming home on this next week.

However, the weather did cause us to alter some other plans.  After school clubs, swimming and some parent meetings had to be cancelled due to the snow.  We are confident that clubs will start again next week, although Mr Gall has already cancelled Cross Country on Monday as the ground conditions won’t be suitable after the week we’ve had!

So, did the snow ruin our learning this week??  No, we just adapted a little and made the most of the Topical Science opportunities that landed right on our laps!

Of course, the week ended a little abruptly for us all.  HUGE THANKS to you all for heading back to school early to collect your children after the emergency closure notice today.  Here’s hoping for brighter weather ahead!

All NLC schools will start closing from 12 noon today.

Staff will remain in school with your child until they are collected.