Dear Parents and Carers,
This letter provides some new information and some reminders to everyone about arrangements for events over the festive period.
Information is also posted on our school blog, accessible via GLOW or via our website
Updates are also regularly posted on the Parent Council Facebook page.
To keep costs down, we have reduced the number of texts being sent, so please ensure that you keep a note of date and times issued to you.
Staff Changes
We welcome Miss Gillian Brown to P3/4 and Mrs Kelly Goldie to P4/5/6. Both teachers are permanent to North Lanarkshire but are temporary to Plains Primary.
There will be further changes after Christmas as Mrs Erin McLuckie returns to work with P6/7. As Mrs Paterson begins her maternity leave at this time, Mrs Wilson will resume supporting maths and literacy groups in the mornings and will take responsibility for P1/2 on a Friday.
P7 transfer forms for High School
P7 pupils were recently issued with a form to complete and return to confirm the high school they wish to transfer to in August. Please return this as soon as possible so that the high schools can plan appropriately for transition.
Competition success
A number of our children entered the recent Story Stars Writing Competition in the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser. We are delighted to report that Megan in P6 made it into the top 10 primary school entries for her story “Never Judge a Book by Its Cover”. There were over 250 entries from primary schools across Monklands so this is a significant achievement. Well done Megan!
GLOW
Glow is an online platform that provides pupils will links to websites through the GLOW classroom and Microsoft Office 365 packages. Pupils can access these valuable resources at home and at school using their login and password. Some pupils have already been issued with these and others will receive them in the near future.
Apart from being a very useful resource to support learning, this resource would be extremely useful if schools need to close due to adverse weather.
If you have internet access at home, please encourage your child to log in and have a look around the site.
In the New Year, Gillian McOwat hopes to be able to offer a short course to parents on the use of GLOW to support learning at home.
Visit to Motherwell Pantomime-Snow White
This is booked for the morning of Monday 14th December. In order to be at the theatre on time, we will be leaving as soon as the buses arrive, just after 9am so please ensure that pupils come to school on time. Pupils should bring a snack and a drink as there will not be any opportunity to buy refreshments. We will return to school around 1pm.
Pupils must either bring their own packed lunch or order a school packed lunch to eat on return.
Pupils should wear school uniform as this allows us to identify Plains Primary pupils more easily.
We are most grateful to all those who contributed to the fundraising sponsored walk, as the money from this has enabled all of our pupils to attend this event completely free of charge.
In order for us to plan adult escorts, please let us know now if your child will not be attending.
Parent Christmas Craft Sale
A group of enthusiastic parents have been working together to make a collection of quality Christmas items for sale. The group has attached an advanced order form if you would like to order anything. Money must be sent with the order. Any left-over items will be sold at the Christmas concerts.
Christmas Dinner-8th December
All orders should now be in and any money paid.
Please note, there will be still be provision for pupils who would prefer to bring their own packed lunch on this day.
Prep Band Concert
There are 3 pupils from Plains Primary playing at the North Lanarkshire Schools Christmas Concert at Motherwell Concert Hall on Tuesday 8th December. We are very proud of their achievement. Arrangements for this and the rehearsal on Sunday 6th December will be communicated directly from the music staff to parents concerned.
Christmas Concert-16th December
There will be two performances of the Christmas Concert, one in the morning and one in the evening. Please note that timings are approximate.
Morning performance
9.30am-10am- Loch Morar and Loch Tay classes
The Sleepy Shepherd
10am-10.20am- Raffle/Brass group
10.20-11.10 Loch Lomond and Loch Awe classes
Who?
(Doors will open for audience at 9.10am)
Evening performance
7pm-7.30pm Loch Morar and Loch Tay classes
The Sleepy Shepherd
7.30pm -7.50pm Raffle and brass group
7.50pm-8.40pm- Loch Lomond and Loch Awe classes
Who?
(Doors will open at 6.40pm for pupils and audience. Pupils should report to the class base).
Admission policy
Admission will be at the cost of £2 per seat and should be paid at the door. (There is no charge for under 5s if they do not require a seat). The admission charge covers the cost of both performances. Members of the audience should sign in at the door.
Arrangements for pupils at evening performance
Pupils in “Who?” will remain in class bases during the performance of the nativity.
Pupils in the nativity will return to the class base after their own performance to get dressed, have a juice and snack and watch a Christmas DVD. Pupils can then be collected from the bases at the end of the “Who?” performance. This will allow parents and carers to watch both performances and will minimise disruption to the second performance.
Please note that Loch Morar and Loch Tay pupils will not be permitted to sit with their parents to watch the second performance. All pupils will get a chance to watch the performance during school time.
Any parent who is not attending the evening performance and wishes to take their child home straight after their performance (due to end around 7.30pm) should report to the class base to collect him or her.
Pupils in “Who?” will return to the class bases at the end of their performance.
All pupils (P1-7) must be collected by a known and responsible adult from the class bases.
Attendance at the evening performance
Please do your utmost to ensure your child attends the evening performance. Please notify the school at the earliest possible opportunity if your child is ill or is unable to attend.
Parent Council Raffle
The Parent Council are organising a raffle at each performance. Proceeds from both raffles will go towards funds for the school. A percentage of the admission cost will go to St Andrew’s Hospice and the rest to our own school fund.
Costumes
The school has endeavoured to provide most costumes, but you may have been asked to provide some items of clothing. Please ensure these are all clearly labelled with your child’s name and sent in on time.
Our first dress rehearsal is scheduled for Thursday 10th December so all costumes should be in for this date.
Cashless System
As previously intimated, our school will start using the cashless system on Thursday 17th December. Pupils will each have a card to pay for school meals. Those entitled to free meals will have their cards automatically credited each day to the value of £1.85. Those required to pay, those who wish to spend more than this or those who wish to purchase breakfast or tuck will be required to credit their cards. This can be done manually, via a machine in school or via the internet. It would be very helpful if parents would take advantage of this system, and where possible credit their child’s card online on a regular basis.
Other payments, such as trip money and fundraising contributions can also be made in this way.
A leaflet with further information, was issued with the September newsletter. It can be found online at http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/mobile/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6207&p=0
P1-3 Party- Monday 21st December (am)
Pupils should wear party clothes. Santa will visit this party and parents are permitted into the hall at 11.30am to see this.
P4-7 Party- Monday 21st December (pm) All P4s will attend this party
Pupils should come to school in party clothes. Santa does not visit this party and parents are not admitted. If preferred, pupils can go home at lunch to get ready for the party, but it is fine to wear party clothes all day.
Christmas Service- Elim Gospel Hall – Tuesday 22nd December 1.15pm
Pupils and staff will leave school at 1pm and walk to the Elim Gospel Hall, hoping to arrive for 1.15pm.
Pupils will return to school after the service and will be dismissed for the Christmas holiday at 2.30pm.
School will reopen on Wednesday 6th January 2016 at 9am.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes!
Yours sincerely
Gillian Matthews,
Head Teacher
