Dear Parents and Carers,
\nThis 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.
\nWe 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.
\nDue 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.<\/p>\n
Staff changes
\nAs you aware, Mrs Coleman and Miss Gray are employed at Plains Primary on a temporary basis. As part of North Lanarkshire\u2019s 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.
\nIt 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.
\nI 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.<\/p>\n
Progress Interviews
\nThanks 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.<\/p>\n
Community Learning and Development Groups
\nGillian McOwat will be running a number of groups this month. Please look out for more details about the following groups:
\nP1 Bookworms- Thursdays between 11am-12pm.
\nCooking by Numbers-Wednesdays 10.45am-12pm (invited pupils).
\nGrandparent Open Afternoon- Thursday 5th November, followed by a group for grandparents.
\nSuperheroes 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.
\nIf you would like more information on any of these groups please contact Gillian on 01236 757769.<\/p>\n
POPS
\nWe 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 \u00a31 each week. Pupils need to know if they have to go or not and who is picking them up.<\/p>\n
Netball
\nPupils have attended this club well. The club will run until 11th November.
\nA team will be selected to attend netball festivals at St Margaret\u2019s 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.
\nPhotographs for Parent Council Calendar
\nYou should have received a letter and order form for this year\u2019s Parent Council fundraising calendar.
\nElizabeth 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.
\nPlease ensure your order form is in before 6th November. We will only take photographs of the children we have an order form for.<\/p>\n
Any parents who may be looking for a photographer to carry out personal work can contact Elizabeth Orr\u2019s Mobile Photography Studio on 07702100834 or 01236 606610, via email orrphotostudio@outlook.com or on facebook.<\/p>\n
Micro-fitness
\nMicro-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.<\/p>\n
Science Challenge
\nP7 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.
\nPupils should bring or order a packed lunch on this day.<\/p>\n
Cross Country
\nSelected 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.<\/p>\n
Dress as You Please or Wear Pink and Blue
\nA \u201cDress as you Please Day\u201d will be held on Friday 13th November. Pupils should pay \u00a31 to wear their own clothes. The money raised will be forwarded to Mrs Forbes\u2019 collection for equipment for the Wishaw Maternity Unit.
\nAs \u201cPink and Blue\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
In-service Day
\nA reminder that the school will be closed to pupils on Monday 16th November for a staff in-service training day.<\/p>\n
Kilbowie
\nP7 will attend North Lanarkshire\u2019s outdoor education centre from the 17th- 20th November inclusive. Mrs Coleman and Mr Paterson will go with them.<\/p>\n
Flu Immunisation
\nThis 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.<\/p>\n
School Photographer
\nThe 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.<\/p>\n
Bible Quiz
\nA 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.<\/p>\n
Childline\/NSPC
\nPupils in P6\/7 have been issued with an information letter about the work planned for Thursday 26th November.<\/p>\n
Health Promotion
\nPupils 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.<\/p>\n
Dates for December
\n\u2022 Parent Council Meeting 6.30pm Wed 2nd Dec
\n\u2022 Visit to Motherwell Theatre for Pantomime- Mon 14th Dec
\n\u2022 Natvity plays (all classes) 9.30am and 7pm- Wed 16th December
\n\u2022 Cashless system launched 17th December
\n\u2022 Christmas Parties- Mon 21st Dec
\n\u2022 Christmas Service at Elim Gospel Hall- 1.15pm Tues 22nd Dec
\n\u2022 Stop for Christmas holiday 2.30 pm Tues 22nd Dec
\n\u2022 Return to school Wed 6th Jan 2016<\/p>\n
Yours sincerely<\/p>\n
Gillian Matthews
\nHead Teacher<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>\n