Please note a number of previous posts in relation to crossing patrol, change to the cost of school lunches, Halloween and School Improvement Priorities for this session.

Many thanks to the PTA for providing Halloween treats for all children.  Trick or treating won’t be happening for our children this year but we aim to ensure children get the opportunity to celebrate Halloween in style. Please review earlier post.

Welcome this week to our Nursery Class who now join the school campus and have a wonderful new learning environment.  We look forward to getting to know our new families.

Last week Interim Reports were sent out to all families to give an update in regard of your child’s progress and engagement in learning.  Please contact the school if you wish to discuss any aspect of your child’s report.  We aim to continue to strengthen home /school partnership and greatly value your feedback and support to help meet your child’s needs.

This week we welcome a number of Strathclyde University students. Please be assured they are complying with the risk assessments from the university and our own risk assessments to ensure everyone  safety.

Celebrate #NLHalloweek with CultureNL Libraries

Monday 26 October – Friday 30 October

Across North Lanarkshire, there will be loads of fantastic spooky events happening online which you can get involved in by searching on social media for #NLHalloweek to see what’s on.

They will be transporting ourselves to a week of spooky fun in the grounds of Hogwarts with magical Harry Potter-inspired crafts and activities.

Wands at the ready, memorise that potion and don’t be scared of the dragons as you enjoy a week of Halloween fun with CultureNL Libraries.

Like them on Facebook, follow  on Twitter, on Instagram too and subscribe to them on YouTube to keep up with the action.

Keep an eye on the NL page for more details and some helpful worksheets, templates and spellbooks coming soon.

Spooky Facebook Storytelling

Get in the Halloween spirit by catching NL Halloween story too in their Facebook Storytelling group. During #NLHalloweek, you’ll be able to catch up with Christopher Pumpkin (the book character – not our E-Services Librarian) and watch out for another spooky story on Halloween too.

Join the group to hear the stories from Saturday 24 October at 6pm.

This session’s improvement priorities for St.Augustine’s Primary School and Nursery Class

Priority 1:Improve outcomes for learners via the Recovery Programme for Literacy and Numeracy

Priority 2: Improve outcomes for learners via the Recovery Programme for HWB

Priority 3: Improve outcomes for learners via an established Digital Pedagogy across all stages

 Nursery Priority: Improve outcomes for learners through the establishment of a staff team with a shared vision, values and aims that support a nurturing and achieving environment.

Cluster Priority: Improve outcomes for children via implementation of the GIRFEC Pathway for Planning and Support refresh, the establishment of Integrated Cluster Wellbeing Teams and Bases and the further development of Assessment and Moderation across the cluster.

This session’s priorities mostly continue on from last year due the Covid situation and closure of school. As always, the school and our new nursery will strive to ensure that we are constantly evaluating and improving our service. In the next few weeks a questionnaire will be made available for your comments and suggestions, please take the time to do this as we value all feedback and use this to further improve the school and nursery

The school will be in full Halloween mode on Friday with all pupils invited to dress up in costume for the day. Children can arrive in costume for the days lessons and spook filled activities. Children as are asked to bring in a £1 for school funds.

Please note this is entirely optional so if children do not wish to dress down or wear a costume, they don’t have to.  Please be mindful that we have young children so costumes should be age appropriate and we ask that children don’t wear any scary masks or bring any props.  Children will also be unable to go home to change or change in school as we don’t have any changing facilities so all participants must come dressed in their Halloween outfit in the morning, so please ensure any costumes are comfortable.  We hope this goes some way to ensuring our children enjoy the usual St.Augustine’s opportunities, albeit in a slightly different way.
The children will be taking part in Halloween activities in class and will be provided with a snack and a juice courtesy of our amazing PTA on the day.  We hope they will enjoy some Halloween fun!

A number of children have been bringing lollipops to school for snack or as a treat after lunch. As the children are outside and running around this may cause potential risk of injury, so we are asking that they do not bring them to school.  Please ensure your child has a healthy snack for school break time.

A few of the teachers have noticed that children are bringing juice in their water bottles. As these bottles sit on the children’s desks it can be very messy if juice spills over jotters and books.  We are a health promoting school and advocate that water is sipped throughout the day and not juice.  Please ensure your child brings water only to school.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Dear Parent/Carer

As part of the council’s budget-setting process for 2020/21, it was decided to remove the lunchtime school crossing patrol service at all primary schools.

The decision was based on the fact that the number of children using the school crossing patrol service at lunchtime has decreased significantly over recent years. In addition, all children in
primaries 1-3 are entitled to a free school meal and many parents/carers take up this option. It has also become the council’s practice to remove the lunchtime patrol when vacancies occur and
it is evident they are no longer required.

The last day of the lunchtime crossing patrol service will be Friday 30 October.

All children may dress for their Halloween on Friday 30th October.  Unfortunately due to ongoing restrictions we can’t have our annual Halloween disco or parade for Pr. 1 – 3.  Halloween celebrations will take place in each class in the afternoon.

Primary Menu

From Monday 26^th October 2020 the Primary menu has been updated and this menu cycle will run until the end of March 2021. As well as our hot main meal option we are now offering a Baked Potato choice on a daily basis. The two course lunch consists of a main course plus soup and bread or sweet treat fruit or yoghurt as indicated on the menu and the option of plain milk or chilled water. With each meal children also have a choice of two seasonal vegetables and/or salad with their lunch. The council would also like to reassure parents that the school meal service has worked hard to provide a safe working environment and staff are working to COVID 19 protocol.

Price of a School Meal

Due to financial pressures over the last few years, the council can no longer afford to subsidise school meals which is why it was decided as a budget decision at a meeting of the full council in February 2020 to fully recover the cost of school meals which has resulted in a price increase which should have been implemented in April 2020.  The price of a Primary 2 course lunch is now £3.00. We understand the impact that this may have on families and we do advise families who are eligible for free school meals to take this up. A free school meal entitlement is up to the value of the school meal price of £3.00. This includes all pupils from P1-P3 who are entitled to a universal free school meal.

Payment methods

In response to the COVID 19 outbreak we have made changes to our payment methods.  This includes taking cash out of the process which will help reduce the spread of the virus. (Localised solutions will be in place for anyone who is unable to sign up for online payments.)

It will be wonderful to see everyone return to lessons after a well earned break from school.  Our first term was a challenging one but all children and staff responded marvellously well to all the new protocols and regimes.  Throughout the pandemic we have all had to respond to new restrictions and updated guidance and schools are no different.  We will keep you up to date with any new guidance that impacts upon school life.  Please continue to adhere to all social distancing guidance and wear a face covering when at the school gates/fence.  Please contact the school by phone if you have a query.  The school will get back to you.

As we move into colder weather please ensure your child is wrapped up well for school and outdoor play. Please ensure all garments have your child’s name on it so that they can be returned to the rightful owner.  Jackets and uniforms are costly.

We look forward to working with you all in the term ahead.