Dear Parents and Carers,
This letter should bring you up to date with school news and alert you to times and arrangements for forthcoming events. Please keep this letter for future reference or write all the events on your house calendar.
We are inundated with phone calls from parents asking for information that has already been provided, and as I am sure you appreciate, this is not the best use of staff time.
Due to the costs involved, we are actively trying to reduce the number of texts being sent, so you will not receive as many reminders as before. The Parent Council does post reminders on their Facebook page.

Staff changes
As you aware, Mrs Coleman and Miss Gray are employed at Plains Primary on a temporary basis. As part of North Lanarkshire’s staffing recruitment process, both teachers have secured full time permanent positions; Mrs Coleman in Stepps Primary and Miss Gray in Logans Primary. Both teachers have made very positive contributions to Plains Primary and both staff and pupils will miss them very much.
It is not yet known when Mrs Coleman and Miss Gray will take up their new positions or who is likely to take over their temporary posts here in Plains.
I would also like to welcome Miss Mooney who is taking P6/7 on a part time basis and thank Mrs Paterson for taking on extra hours to help us maintain teaching cover until Mrs McLuckie returns after Christmas.

Progress Interviews
Thanks to all those who attended the progress interviews with their child. I hope you found it helpful and have a good idea how we can all work together to ensure your child makes good progress at school.

Community Learning and Development Groups
Gillian McOwat will be running a number of groups this month. Please look out for more details about the following groups:
P1 Bookworms- Thursdays between 11am-12pm.
Cooking by Numbers-Wednesdays 10.45am-12pm (invited pupils).
Grandparent Open Afternoon- Thursday 5th November, followed by a group for grandparents.
Superheroes afterschool club- Thursdays after school for children and their parent(s). If you are going to this club, please note that parents should collect their child(ren) as usual and then re-enter by the main door and sign in. This is a security procedure.
If you would like more information on any of these groups please contact Gillian on 01236 757769.

POPS
We are lucky to have the group Parent Action for Safe Play coming into school to provide an after-school club for our pupils. Sadly the numbers are very low. For this reason POPS is now open to ALL PUPILS. They must have returned a consent form and pay £1 each week. Pupils need to know if they have to go or not and who is picking them up.

Netball
Pupils have attended this club well. The club will run until 11th November.
A team will be selected to attend netball festivals at St Margaret’s on Wednesday 4th November and Wednesday 25th November between 12.30 and 2.30pm. Selected pupils will receive a text and should either bring or order a packed lunch on this day.
Photographs for Parent Council Calendar
You should have received a letter and order form for this year’s Parent Council fundraising calendar.
Elizabeth Orr, a local photographer and parent of a Plains Primary pupil has very kindly agreed to take the photographs and Gillian McKinlay, also a parent, has agreed to do the artwork and have the calendars printed. We are very grateful to everyone concerned with this process.
Please ensure your order form is in before 6th November. We will only take photographs of the children we have an order form for.

Any parents who may be looking for a photographer to carry out personal work can contact Elizabeth Orr’s Mobile Photography Studio on 07702100834 or 01236 606610, via email orrphotostudio@outlook.com or on facebook.

Micro-fitness
Micro-fitness will visit the school on Friday 6th November. They will deliver a half hour taster session of their fitness programme to P3/4 and P4/5.

Science Challenge
P7 will visit Caldervale High on Monday 9th November between 12.30 and 2.30pm for a transition activity. Our pupils will work with pupils from other local primaries on a science challenge.
Pupils should bring or order a packed lunch on this day.

Cross Country
Selected pupils from P5, P6, P7 will take part in the cross country festival at Coatbridge Outdoor Centre on the morning of Tuesday 10th November. Those selected will be issued with an information letter and consent form. Only those who return the form by Monday 9th November will be permitted to go.

Dress as You Please or Wear Pink and Blue
A “Dress as you Please Day” will be held on Friday 13th November. Pupils should pay £1 to wear their own clothes. The money raised will be forwarded to Mrs Forbes’ collection for equipment for the Wishaw Maternity Unit.
As “Pink and Blue” is a campaign to raise awareness of pregnancy and infant loss, it is suggested, but not compulsory, that your child might want to wear something pink or blue.

In-service Day
A reminder that the school will be closed to pupils on Monday 16th November for a staff in-service training day.

Kilbowie
P7 will attend North Lanarkshire’s outdoor education centre from the 17th- 20th November inclusive. Mrs Coleman and Mr Paterson will go with them.

Flu Immunisation
This will take place in the school on Monday 23rd November. Only those pupils who have returned the consent form will be immunised. The entire process is managed and administered by Health Professionals.

School Photographer
The photographer will visit on Tuesday 24th November to take class photographs and those who were missed on the last occasion. If you have any queries about this please contact Mrs Paul or Mrs Miller in the office.

Bible Quiz
A team on P6 and P7 pupils will take part in the Monklands Bible Quiz at Airdrie Ebenezer on Tuesday 24th November. Thanks to Mrs Paterson for coaching this team.

Childline/NSPC
Pupils in P6/7 have been issued with an information letter about the work planned for Thursday 26th November.

Health Promotion
Pupils are not permitted to bring fizzy drinks to school, nor are energy drinks to be consumed in school. Only water, still juices and milk are permitted. I would also ask that parents limit the amount of sugary snacks given during the school day. Too much sugar is bad for the teeth and can affect the behaviour of some children. In the interest of safety please do not give lollipops to school. Thank you for your help and support with this.

Dates for December
• Parent Council Meeting 6.30pm Wed 2nd Dec
• Visit to Motherwell Theatre for Pantomime- Mon 14th Dec
• Natvity plays (all classes) 9.30am and 7pm- Wed 16th December
• Cashless system launched 17th December
• Christmas Parties- Mon 21st Dec
• Christmas Service at Elim Gospel Hall- 1.15pm Tues 22nd Dec
• Stop for Christmas holiday 2.30 pm Tues 22nd Dec
• Return to school Wed 6th Jan 2016

Yours sincerely

Gillian Matthews
Head Teacher