Our Lady and St. Francis Primary School

After our  holiday we are all refreshed and happy to be back. We are noticing the rapid change in weather with the trees in our outdoor area losing their leaves fast.  The children have enjoyed investigating the masses of coloured leaves outdoors and are having fun with them in the wind.

The changes in our environment have merged nicely with our Goldilocks and the 3 Bears theme creating a lot of discussion about the woods. We made a big tree which is displayed in the cloakroom and this has created further opportunities for discussion about size.  Measuring height has been a natural progression for us and this has been done alongside the tree.  Our tree story is also evolving within the cloakroom for you to see.

The computer has been displaying a variety of Autumn games over the week, allowing the children to develop their memory and matching skills while gaining knowledge about healthy fruit and vegetables.

Pumpkins have been sourced and the children enjoyed investigating them before making pumpkin soup for snack. These experiences have helped them develop their knowledge of healthy, seasonal foods.

Our literacy outcome for this month has encouraged the children to discuss stories they like and dislike, affording a floorbook to have been completed with their views.

Our Halloween party will be held at the normal session times on Wednesday 31st October, we look forward to seeing your children in costume.

Last week we welcomed Her Majesty’s Inspectors from Education Scotland to our school and nursery.  I am sure you won’t be surprised to hear that they commented most positively about our confident, respectful and articulate children.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of our school team for their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to our school and children.

On Thursday evening, our P7 pupils enjoyed a Mass and a tour of Taylor High School as part of the continuity programme.  On Friday, our P7s led the liturgy at our first Friday Mass and then hosted our coffee morning.  Our coffee morning raised £230 – thank you to all who contributed or helped in any way.

Looking to our week ahead, it is our Parent Council AGM on Monday evening at 6pm.  Please come along if you can as we are desperately looking for new members.

On Wednesday evening, it is Parents’ Evening and we look forward to welcoming you to the school.  Our book fair has already arrived in the school, so feel free to have a look at this on Wednesday evening when you are with us.

Friday is the last day of school and nursery before our October week break.  Both school and nursery will be closed next week and will reopen at the usual times on Monday 22nd October.

We wish you all a restful break.

Another busy week in the nursery with the introduction of our new context “Goldilocks & the Three Bears”. The children have been learning about their senses this week with many porridge related experiences. Dry oats were introduced  in the water tray with this evolving into a science experiment with the addition of water.
Our maths outcome for the month is based on size.  We have used a variety of different sized resources through out the nursery to encourage the children to look at amounts.  Measuring cups were used by the children to make their own porridge for snack with cinnamon as an added extra, the smell was something everyone found pleasant.
The story of Goldilocks has put the risk of stranger danger in a context that heightens their understanding. This is especially helpful at this time of year with Hallowe’en fast approaching.  Mrs Douglas.

Last week our P7 pupils had a wonderful time in Kilbowie Outdoor Centre in Oban.  As always, they were fantastic ambassadors for our school and staff commented on how well they represented themselves.  A real credit to their families and our school – well done!

Our school photographer took whole year group photographs on Friday for our school foyer; you will also get the opportunity to purchase these photographs if you wish.

Looking to our week ahead, we welcome Her Majesty’s Inspectors from Education Scotland.  They will be in our school all week observing the good practice that goes on in OLSF, and will get the opportunity to meet our fantastic children.  There will be a P7 Welcome Mass at Taylor High School on Thursday evening – letters will be issued tomorrow from Taylor High School regarding this.

On Friday, it is our First Friday Mass and coffee morning, led by our P7 pupils.  As always, we are looking for donations of shop bought biscuits and cakes (nut free, please) and raffle prizes.  We hope you can come along and join us for this.

Last week, we welcomed staff from both Crosshouse Primary and Blackwood Primary in South Lanarkshire.  They worked alongside our teachers in P1, P1/2 and P7 and our staff will have the opportunity to visit their schools in November of this year.  I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear they commented most positively on our children!

John Wilson, the school photographer, took photographs of individual children and family photographs.  They will be returning to take year group photographs on  Friday 28th September, so again, full school uniforms including shirts and ties please.

It is a very exciting week ahead for our Primary 7 pupils, who are off to Kilbowie in the morning! I am sure they will have a ball and staff will be tweeting regularly, so keep an eye on our twitter page for updates.  Our Primary 6 pupils will be taking on additional duties in their absence and we are sure they will rise to the occasion.

Our Primary 1 pupils continue to settle very well and are working hard and making good friends.  Our walking club continued on Wednesday; please come along at 8.45am each Wednesday if you can and  join in.

Our children enjoyed Golden Time on Friday and participated in all sorts of activities, including Hama Beads, football, arts and crafts and cake decorating (to name a few!)

Looking to our week ahead, we will be welcoming teachers from South Lanarkshire during the week. This includes Primary 1 teachers from Crosshouse Primary, a Primary 4 teacher from Machanhill Primary and a P7 teacher from Blackwood Primary.  This is part of our ‘North/South Family Group’ and gives our teachers the opportunity to observe their stage partners in other authorities and share good practice.  Our teachers will have the opportunity to visit them in November.

John Wilson, the school photographer, will be in school in Tuesday to take individual and family photographs; full school uniforms for this please, including shirts and ties.

Meet the Teacher evening is on Wednesday and we look forward to welcoming you then (a letter with final details will be emailed/issued tomorrow).

Primary 1 parents will receive a settling-in report this week.

School and nursery close on Thursday for the September weekend and will reopen as usual on Tuesday 25th September.

P7 parents – please remember our P7 pupils go to Kilbowie on Tuesday 25th September; please ensure the balance is paid in full this week including tuck shop money, if you haven’t already done this.  Please also remember to send in any medication that your child needs this week, including travel sickness pills.

Observing and following the children’s interests has led us to transform the home corner into a hairdressers this week. Consultation with the children helped us resource this area and their ideas have been inspirational. This experience is encouraging role play activities along with involvement in both literacy and numeracy skills.
Our new outdoor waterproof suits have arrived and are being used daily to keep the children clean and dry while involved in physical play and exploration. Thanks to everyone who has already contributed to the toy fund to allow us to replace our old waterproofs. Children are enjoying their time spent in the natural environment and have invented dramatic play scenarios involving dragons and knights.
In discussing with the children about what it means to be safe in nursery, we are introducing Sid & Shanarri to the new children and home packs are already in progress. This pack explores the GIRFEC principles in a fun way and you can expect your child to have one home soon.
We continue to use signs to introduce and enforce the nursery rules and routines, the children are responding well to this. Staff were happy to hear that children were continuing good hygiene practices into their own homes.

It was a beautiful day on Friday, when we celebrated ‘100 Years of Catholic Education’.

Our World of Week last week was a huge success and children enjoyed participating in the many lessons and activities related to the workplace.  On Thursday, parents came in to deliver workshops to our senior pupils on their own particular jobs and all commented most positively on our children.  A huge thank you to everyone who gave up their time on Thursday to make this event so successful, and thank you again to Mr Rankin for overseeing the whole week.

On Wednesday, our P7 pupils presented their manifestos at assembly to try to win votes for the pupil council elections on Friday.  On Friday, voting took place and a winning team has been elected – I am sure you will hear lots from them in the coming months!  Well done to all Primary 7 pupils; they all worked hard and represented themselves very confidently.

On Friday, we finally managed to have our whole school picnic as part of our celebrations for 100 years of Catholic Education.  The grass at the Grotto was still too wet so we used the tarmac area in our yard instead. The sun shone for us and the children had great fun.  We will return all picnic blankets this week – thank you to those who sent some in.

Looking to our week ahead – we have the first Parent Council meeting of the year on Monday at 6pm and desperately need new members.  Please come along if you can; they meet for an hour once every six weeks and support the school in so many ways.  We are eternally grateful to them.

Mrs Shearer, Miss Lewis and Miss O’Donnell will be having learning conversations with pupils throughout the school this week.  Some pupils from each class will be asked to show off the hard work they’ve been doing in literacy and numeracy in class as part of our ongoing calendar of self-evaluation.

As always, if you have any comments or suggestions for our blog, please use the comments facility on this page.