Our Lady and St. Francis Primary School

Our senior pupils had a particularly busy week last week. They made their reconciliations in preparation for Confirmation and had a visit with Bishop Toal. They participated in a wear yellow walk on Wednesday in aid of St. Andrew’s Hospice and were also invited along to the ACN Youth Rally at Carfin Grotto on Thursday.

Last week ended with Sports’ Day. Mr Maxwell planned a full day’s worth of events for all pupils and the weather held for us.  Children participated in potted sports in the morning, and competitive races in the afternoon.  Well done to all the mums and dads who also participated in the afternoon’s races (although we think the chocolate eggs may have been a bit of an incentive!)  It was a great day, our children had a great time, and a huge thank you must go to Mr Maxwell for organising it all.

Looking to our week ahead, our P6 and P7 pupils make the Sacrament of Confirmation on Monday at 7pm and a separate letter with final details has been issued for this. We ask that you remember them all in your prayers as they continue their faith journeys.

Thursday is the day of the General Election, so our school and nursery will be closed to all pupils. Staff have a busy day planned as they will attend school for in-service training.

On Friday, Term 3 and Term 4 House Winners will have a special treat (Micro Fitness) and, weather permitting, this will take place outdoors.

As we continue our theme of New Beginnings, we have been looking more closely at growing. Some children enjoyed a walk to the grotto to look at the plants and flowers and others explored what we have growing in our own playground.  The children enjoyed investigating the feel of the bark and participated in some tree hugging. We received a delivery of logs to add to our outdoor area and have been using these for rubbings as well encouraging our balance.

Another young visitor was received into the nursery with much enthusiasm.  Adam came to visit with his mum this week.   This allowed the children to see how much a baby grows in a short space of time.  The water tray was used as a baby bath the following day, where many of the children enjoyed preparing the dolls for a bath.

Throughout the week we have been learning lots of new words in connection with growing and have been using these creatively.  All these experiences have sparked our creatively and encouraged us in our use of the playdough, paint and drawing.

We have been busy talking about growing this week and have been using collage materials and paint to create flowers and plants.  It’s been nice to be able to use the rhubbarb that we have grown for snack. This morning we had a visit from Lucie, who helped us learn all about babies.  Today we enjoyed the weather outdoors.

Mrs Douglas

Last week began with a trip to the Scottish Parliament with our Euroquiz Team – we came 13th out of 31 teams competing and our children did us proud! They prepared so well and presented themselves beautifully for the day – well done!

On Thursday our children experienced an outdoor learning day; this was so successful that it will become an annual event.  Children had fun toasting marshmallows, lighting fires (all risk assessed, of course!), playing on hammocks and rope swings and competing on assault courses.  It was sheer delight watching the children’s faces; they genuinely had the time of their lives! A huge thank you must go to all involved, including Mrs Murphy from Cathedral Primary, but the biggest thank you must go to Mr Maxwell for organising and overseeing the whole event.

On Saturday, the second half of our P4 children made their First Holy Communion.  Again, the weather wasn’t great, but our children did us proud. They participated in Mass beautifully and I’m sure their parents and families were as proud of them as we were.

Looking to our week ahead, it is our final Parents’ Consultation Evening on Wednesday.  Our P7 pupils are going to Taylor High on Wednesday and Thursday of this week for their two induction days.

The whole school will be attending Mass on Thursday at 10am to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension.  There will be no coffee morning following this Mass as it is not a First Friday Mass.

School and nursery are closed to pupils on Friday 26th and Monday 29th May for the May weekend holiday.

Our week began with some of our P4 children going to Church for confessions, in preparation for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Ed Griesl spent time with our P6 children, talking to them about bullying.  He commented most positively on our lovely children.  Our Primary 4 children had a lovely Retreat on Tuesday, led by Mrs McMahon.

On Wednesday, some  of our Pupil Council attended a North Lanarkshire event and represented our school well.  Wednesday was also day two of our Infant Inductions.  The feedback we have received from this is overwhelmingly positive and it was lovely to see our new Primary 1 children again.

On Thursday, Mr Maxwell took some of our football team to a Football Festival and he said our children did themselves proud.

On Saturday, we had the first of our First Holy Communion.  The sun may not have been shining, but I’m sure the children had a beautiful day regardless.  They did so well in Church, and were a credit to themselves, the school and their parents.

Looking to our week ahead, Mrs Shearer and Mrs Taggart will accompany our Euroquiz team to Scottish parliament to compete against teams from around Scotland.  There is a live feed for this event, and you can watch their progress by clicking on this link:  http://www.scottishparliament.tv/

On Thursday we are having an Outdoor Learning Day, planned by Mr Maxwell.  Regardless of the weather, we will be outdoors so please make sure your child is wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoors.  It looks set to be a very exciting day and I’m certain the children will get a lot out of it.

The Scholastic Book Fair will arrive in school on Friday in advance of our upcoming Parents’ Evening.

On Saturday, the other half of Primary 4 will make the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in St. Francis Xavier’s Church at 11am.

As always, if you have any comments to make regarding our blog, please feel free to do so.

It was a short but busy week  for pupils last week.

We welcomed our new Primary One children and their parents on Wednesday for our first induction day.  The children got to meet with their buddies and teacher and spend some time in their classrooms. Our existing Primary One pupils put on a welcome assembly for them and did exceptionally well.

On Friday it was our First Friday Mass and coffee morning and P4/5 led the Liturgy.  Thank you to all who contributed, participated, helped or attended.

Primary Four children had a practice in the Church for their upcoming First Holy Communion on Friday too.

For our week ahead, our Primary 4 children will make their Confessions on Monday in preparation for First Holy Communion.   On Tuesday, they will have a retreat over at the Grotto, led by Mrs McMahon.

The Rag Bags will be collected on Tuesday, so if you’ve not already had a clear out, there’s still time!

P7s will be having anti-bullying sessions on Tuesday; P6s will receive this on Wednesday.

P7s will have their photographs taken by the Motherwell Times on Wednesday.  Also on Wednesday, Pupil Council representatives will attend a North Lanarkshire Pupil Council event and P1s will have their medical checks.

Wednesday is day two of infant inductions so we welcome back our new parents and children and kick off the afternoon with a tasty school dinner!

On Thursday, Taylor High staff will visit our P7 pupils and some of our budding footballers will attend a football festival at the Ravenscraig.  Mary’s Meals will pick up their backpack appeal collection, so again, if you’ve not already contributed there’s still time.  Primary 4 children will go back to Church for a practice before Saturday.

On Saturday, our first set of children make the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at 11 o’clock in St. Xavier Church.  A letter with final arrangements will be issued tomorrow with full details.  I am sure you will remember them and their families in your prayers.