St Bartholomews

This can sometimes be a time of year of worry. There are many changes afoot and it is natural to respond to change with some trepidation. I was reminded in yesterday’s Gospel about Jesus’ reassurance to us that everything is in his hands and we should not worry. Perhaps we need to get into good habits of working alongside Jesus and be safe in the knowledge that we have done our best in a given situation and then entrust it to him. And every time we start to feel worried, we must offer it to him again , in the certain knowledge that he will look after that person, that family member, that friend who is suffering. God is our Father and he loves those who are dear to us infinitely more than we do.

Friday’s nursery graduation was a great success! The children were wonderful and many parents and carers thought it was the best graduation show ever. I remember when these children starting in our nursery 2 years ago, some of them very anxious about leaving mum for the first time! The graduation show certainly demonstrated that those days are well and truly over…. the children all performed with confidence, sang beautifully and remembered all of their lines. What a bunch of superstars! We wish them all the best of luck in Primary 1 and look forward to seeing many of them again in August.

Mrs Bolland 🙂

Primary 1 – Gabrys

Primary 2 – Maia

Primary 2/3 – Cara

Primary 3 – Harrison

Primary 4 – Sean

Primary 4 – Connot

Primary 6 – Stella

Primary 6/7 – Rebecca

Cool Class Cup: Primary 4

Our Pre- School children in St Bartholomew’s nursery are graduating today!  I vividly remember these children starting our nursery two years ago, many of them not used to spending time apart from their parents.  There is now a huge difference in confidence, maturity and ability which is largely attributed to our fantastic staff. A huge thank you to all of the St Bart’s nursery team – they are such a dedicated bunch and have the children’s welfare at the core of everything they do. I know that the children have been practising for some time now and will put on a fantastic show for all of our parents and carers – you are certainly in for a treat! Well done boys and girls and we look forward to seeing many of you again in the ‘big school’ in August.

Final school reports and letters regarding what class your child will be in next session will out on Monday of next week. I know that many children and their families will have cause for celebration due to some of the lovely comments that have been written – very well deserved!

Mrs Bolland 🙂

As the summer holidays are very nearly upon us , some of our mums and dads may need some ideas and inspiration for keeping the children busy! Our NLC Active School’s team popped in with a flyer that details the types of activities that are on offer across the authority. Please have a wee look at it and consider some of the interesting options that are available.

We should really all start praying for good weather now- St Medard is the relevant Saint that we should send our petitions to. Hopefully, the children will get a chance to be out and about during the holidays and take advantage of all that the local area can provide.

There are no after school clubs in the diary for today. Thank you to all of our dedicated staff who organised these clubs for the childrens’ enjoyment and also to Mrs MacIntyre and Vikki from NLC Active Schools for organising sporting activities.

Mrs Bolland 😀

This photograph was taken a number of weeks ago and I forgot to post it! Apologies to this wonderful young man, who had made such a fantastic effort with his art work. As you can see, his enthusiasm knows no bounds and his polo shirt is evidence of that. Well done for creating such a fabulous piece, we could have a potential artist in our midst…

Our Primary 1 pupils are working hard on presenting at a ‘Farewell Tea’ on Friday for parents and carers at 2pm in the Primary 1 classroom. They will have the opportunity to showcase some of the wonderful work that they have produced over the year. The fantastic amount of progress that the children have experienced will be very obvious and I know that we will have some very proud parents and carers on Friday afternoon!

I know that Mrs Carlin is very pleased with the progress that the boys and girls have made and also the fact that many talents and gifts have been cultivated in this time.Thank Mrs Carlin for all of your efforts and I know that our parents and carers truly appreciate it.

A reminder about after school clubs – both ballet and cookery after school clubs are on today.As always, Please remember appropriate kits etc.

Mrs Bolland 😀

Thought for the day…
The philosopher Richard Taylor offers this thought experiment: A man goes for a walk in a forest and stumbles across a translucent white ball. The sky and earth he ignores, but this ball full of mystery? He circles it, wondering, and finally comes to the conclusion that only someone, some being, could have placed it there. What he doesn’t notice, Taylor says, is that he could just as easily have circled any tree, any rock, and wondered at its existence. As we get older our capacity for wonder dims. The world becomes gradually predictable and ordinary. Only occasionally do we wake up and behold the utterly inexplicable givenness of the world around us and in our very lives. “We appeal to you,” Paul urges today, “not to receive the grace of God in vain.”
2 Corinthians 6:1–10
Psalm 98:1,2b,3ab,3cd–4
Matthew 5:38–42

After school club reminder- our Jewellery making club, very generously organised by Mrs MacFarlane is on this afternoon. Our parents and carers, who join their children/ grandchildren report that this is a very worthwhile class and an opportunity for some nice relaxing time with the youngsters.

Mrs Bolland 😀

This is the beginning of the last full week of school and can’t quite believe where the time has gone! However, it is also a very busy time of year with many tasks still to do for both pupils and teachers. Patience can be tested and with that in mind, I though I’d include an extract from ‘ Holiness foe Everyone’ by Elizabeth Ruth Obbard;

‘The more patient we are the more perfectly we are self possessed and calm, not allowing ourselves to be shaken by troubles and contradictions,whether they come to us from good people or bad.In fact, it is harder to bear the criticisms of the good and a greater test of our forebearance.

The true servant of God bears up no matter from what quarter criticism comes.Be ready to accept everything that God sends without picking and choosing.

Learn to be patient when suffering comes your way, especially illness or inconveniences of one kind or another, no matter what may be their source.

Quit complaining! It does no good to you or anyone else! Learn to turn your gaze to Christ Crucified and see his own patience under suffering.Then you will get a better sense of proportion about your own troubles.”

This is indeed food for thought.

On a completely different note…A wee reminder that Cheerleading after school club is on today, and as always, please remember appropriate kits and water bottles etc. Our pupils have loved taking part in this fantastic activity and I am sure that the new skills and fun they have had over a number of weeks will remain with them for a wee while yet.

Mrs Bolland 😀

cheerleading

Primary 1 – C-Jay

Primary 2 –  Gabrielle

Primary 2/3 – Lewis

Primary 3 – Sophie

Primary 4 – Jay

Primary 5 – Callum

Primary 6 – Neve

Primary 6/7 – Lauren

Cool Class Cup: Primary 1

The Knights of St Columba very kindly thought of St Bartholomew’s boys and girls when they dropped off a fabulous replica trophy of the 1967 European Cup that Celtic football club won in the championships. Two of our senior pupils surprised all the boys and girls yesterday afternoon when they visited classrooms to give them the opportunity to experience this significant piece of history. Celtic were the first British football club to win this trophy up until 1967 – what an achievement for a club less than 10 miles from the school!

Our local community Police officers will be paying St Bartholomew’s a visit at assembly time today. They will be giving the children some advice and information about the important of sociable behaviour within our communities. The consequences of unsociable behaviour will be explained to the children and they will have the opportunity to ask relevant questions and voice any concerns that they may have. A big thank you to Police Scotland for volunteering their services and keeping in touch with the younger members of the community.We are looking forward to it!

The nursery are hosting their annual summer fun day. There will lots of things for the boys and girls and their families to do and see. What a great opportunity for our families to experience some of the activities that go on in the nursery, with the addition of a wide variety of fun and entertaining activities. A big thank you to all of our nursery staff for organising this event.

Mrs Bolland 😀

Sports day was a great success…we had a huge turnout from parents and carers and all of our boys and girls participated with great sportsmanship.All of the events, without exception, ran like clockwork. The children had a ball and were delighted with their achievements –  some children looked liked they needed a wheelbarrow to take all of their medals home! Well done boys and girls, we are all very proud of you. Again, a big thank you to Mrs McLean for organising this event.

We have the football after school club on today and could we ask that kits  and water bottles are packed in school bags. I am sure that the boys and girls have learned a few new skills during their participation in this club and will put them to good use. Thank you to Vikki from NLC Active schools for helping us out with this.

Mrs Bolland 😀