This week the children had the opportunity to enjoy this continuing spell of warm weather. Let’s hope it continues throughout this term as there are a great number of events taking place and we want to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. I was delighted to see that our wonderful gardeners are back in business and doing a wonderful job in our school grounds. Many thanks to Mrs.Chisholm who gives up so much of her own time to ensure our garden area is well maintained.
A number of parents have approached myself enquiring if the girls could wear a summer dress in this warm weather. I am happy for this to be the case this term with the preferred colour of either green or blue as they match with our school colours. I will include this information within our next newsletter to ensure all parents are aware of this. For the beginning of term in August all pupils must return to school in full uniform.
This week our Primary 6 pupils started a block of badminton coaching. An afterschool club for badminton will commence next Thursday for Pr. 6 in the first instance and extended to Pr.7 pupils.
Details in regard of the afterschool clubs for this term will be issued this week.
Update on dining hall arrangements. This term we have introduced the banding system in order that we can reduce food waste, speed up serving times and ensure all pupils receive their preferred food choice for lunch. There has been a dramatic increase in snack to go options for lunch and the overall number of pupils receiving a school lunch has increased considerably. No doubt because Mrs.McKeown and her catering team make such delicious lunches. We have experienced several hitches but we hope to have this addressed this week to ensure an efficiently run service at lunchtime. Our fingers are crossed!!
Staff have been busy this week planning Interdisciplinary projects with their classes for this term. They have consulted the children and are making inquiries about organising outside visits for this session. Details in this regard will follow as soon as bookings have been made for this term.
Pupil Learning Communities – this week staff and pupils were consulted in regard of setting up learning communities across the school that will enable all children to be part of a committee with a clear aim and rationale for bringing about change within our school, local community and globally. The children’s proposals were well thought out and demonstrated that our children are keen to be responsible citizens and effective contributors that want to make a difference. The school aims to pilot the Learning Communities and Pupil Voice Groups this term. Updates will follow as soon as progress is made in this regard.

Our Daffodil Tea in aid of St.Andrew’s Hospice raised over £120 thanks to donations on the day and the sale of raffle tickets. The school is delighted to announce that thanks to donations and raffles sold at our Easter Bonnet Parade the school raised over £500 from both events which is a tremendous sum of money. We look forward to inviting a representative from the Hospice to come along to the school in the new term to make our presentation. Visiting parents and grandparents were entertained at their morning tea thanks to the talented bunch of musicians we have here at S.Augustine’s. The morning was a great opportunity to show off their talents!

Miss Ross’s group of chefs from the cooking club were delighted to be awarded their Junior Chef Certificates at the end of term.
They completed their training and are now ready to assist with all cooking jobs at home!
Children made many delicious dishes throughout this club such as Bruschetta and experienced a real life cooking experience during a recent trip to Frankie & Benny’s!
A very successful learning experience for all. Let’s hope they put all that training to good use in their own kitchen!!