St. John Paul II Primary School & Nursery Class, Viewpark

We are on the Week One menu for lunches this week.

As we approach the start of the New School Year, I would like to give you some information which will help with the logistics and ensure a smooth, safe start for everyone.

There are three links below which will hopefully explain everything.

The first is a letter from Derek Brown, Executive Director of Education and Families for North Lanarkshire.  This outlines what the Council has put in place and explains why there are still some cautious restrictions in place for schools and other council buildings.  Please click on the link below.

NLC Letter to all Parents/Carers

The second is information for our Primary 1 children and their families only.

P1 Information August 2021

The third is information for all other families (P2 – P7).  Please take the time to read this information, as many of our routines from the last school year remain in place, with one or two changes.

P2 – P7 New School Year Information

We are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday!  I hope you all had a lovely Summer.

Mr Thomas

We’ve made it! Thanks so much for all the kind wishes, cards and gifts that have been handed in this week, but a huge thanks for all your support over this really difficult school year. It is so very much appreciated! We hope you all have a fab summer, see you in August! 🥳🥳

Please click on the link below to have the most up to date information and news from our school.  This will give you information about…

• Start and finish times on the last day
• Non uniform/dress down day (last day – no charge)
• Primary 7 Information
• Various other items of interest

Reports and new teacher information was sent home today.  Please check your child’s bag!

End of Term June 2021

Our Primary 7 pupils had their Graduation Ceremony this week in St Columba’s Church. We know you would have all loved to have been there to celebrate with them, but current restrictions didn’t allow for that. However, here are some links to videos on our YouTube channel to help you celebrate.

Graduation Ceremony

Class of 2021 Graduation Slideshow

Oh Lord, You Search Me

Lord I Lift Your Name On High

P7 Leavers’ Song

Week one menu for lunches this week. This will apply Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday it will be Snacks to Go only. These will need to be ordered in school on Wednesday.

FRIDAY 18TH JUNE IS FUN DAY & SPORTS DAY!

This year, to end our Health & Wellbeing Week, we will be holding a Fun Day for the children.  All of the details are below, however, it is important to note that no child will be left out.  All children will participate, regardless if they bring in money for games or non-uniform day.

The children have had an amazing Health & Wellbeing Week so far (and our prayers for good weather have worked so far!)  We are still disappointed not to be able to invite our Parents and Carers along to join us for any of our Sports Day.  Thank you for understanding.

RELATIONSHIPS & MORAL EDUCATION DURING HEALTH WEEK

As mentioned in the Newsletter for June 2021 (please see the News section or the school app to download if you haven’t already), the children are participating in Relationships & Moral Education by following the God’s Loving Plan programme.  Information regarding this is available by clicking the links below.  You will also find a document which explains the concepts covered at each stage.  Please do take some time to read the letter as it explains how we approach this with the children in more detail.   Staff will be extremely sensitive when teaching about more complex issues and all materials are age and stage appropriate and relate to the Curriculum.

God’s Loving Plan (Whole School) Letter to Parents & Carers

GLP Parents 1

GLP Parents 2

God’s Loving Plan (Vocabulary Guide)

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LAST DAY OF TERM

Thursday 24th June will be the last day of term.  Please note the start/finish times for our children.

If your child starts at 8:50am, they will finish at 12:45pm.

If your child starts at 9:05am, they will finish at 1pm.

Please make the necessary arrangements to collect your child at the appropriate time.  

CHILDREN IN OUR NURSERY:  The provision for all children is available within the usual times.  If you intend making use of the provision after 1pm then please let the Nursery staff know.  They are obviously happy to provide the service as usual for your child.

SCHOOL LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LAST WEEK

School Lunches are available until the last day.  The usual menu will apply on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday.  Only a cold lunch (Snack to go) will be available to order on the last day of term (Thursday).  Your child will be asked to order theirs on Wednesday 23rd to allow the catering staff enough time to make all of the sandwiches.

PRIMARY 7 GRADUATION

On Tuesday 22nd June, our Primary 7 will attend St. Columba’s Church.  They will participate in a short prayer service and we will present them with their Certificates and Graduation Medals as well as their High School ties.  Mr Thomas had to ask permission from North Lanarkshire Council to ensure that no COVID guidelines were being broken and we have been assured by NLC that they are happy with our mitigations and that they are in compliance with the Scottish Government Guidelines.

Please ensure that all P7s wear their full school uniform on Tuesday 22nd – Shirt and Tie!

It is still a great disappointment and source of sadness to all of the staff that we cannot invite Parents/Carers along to the celebration.  However, please be assured that we will continue to do all that we can to help our P7s have a wonderful send off… the best we can under the circumstances.

PRIMARY 6 – PRESENTATION OF P7 TIES

As is our tradition, our Primary 6 children will be presented with their P7 ties on the last day of term.  We hope to do this in a safe way during a short assembly.  We hope that as many P6 children will be in attendance as possible!

Just a reminder that this week is Health Week, and children can wear sports kit all week. Activities will take place outside so please ensure you are ready for all weathers!!

Week 3 menu for lunches this week!

As you know, we are trying to make things as ‘celebratory’ as possible for our P7s as they reach the next milestone and leave us for pastures new.  We want to give them a great send off and are doing all we can to achieve this.

• They are all wearing their Leavers’ Hoodies with pride – even in the blazing sun!
• They have all contributed to and will feature in the P7 Yearbook.  This is with the printers and we hope to have them soon.  This will be our gift to them.
• They will all be given a High School Tie from the Parent Council.
• Friday 11th June 2021 – This will be their Pizza Party Day.  We have organised for a Pizza delivery (thanks to the Parent Council for funding this) and the party will begin at 12:30pm.  We will have food, snacks, drinks, music, dancing and lots of fun!  This will be a NON UNIFORM DAY for P7 only.
• Graduation Ceremony – date TBC.  During the last week of term (when we would normally have our big evening celebration with the children) we will be holding a smaller scale Graduation Ceremony during the school day.  Children will be presented with their Medals and Certificates.  A date for this will be set this week, but we hope either 21st or 22nd.  Children should wear full school uniform on this day.  Unfortunately, we are not able to invite family members to attend this.  We will try to record at least some of it and share this event with you in some way, either with video or photographs or both!

I do hope that the Primary 7 children enjoy their last week or so with us.  It is important to us and to them!  I want to say a particular word of thanks to our Parents/Carers for the way in which you have supported us and accepted that we cannot have you with us at this time.  Those of you who have had children in P7 before will know that we would prefer to do things somewhat differently!  However, I feel that we are striking a good balance for the children.

I want to thank the staff for their support in pulling all of this together.

Mr Thomas