Dear Parents/Carers,

We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school after the Easter Holiday!  It has been lovely to have some sunshine in the last few days particularly!  We are heading into a busy term, but I do want to remind you of a few things so that we continue to keep everyone safe.

OUR PROCEDURES AND ROUTINES REMAIN THE SAME…

It is just as important that we all continue to co-operate and do our best!  We have all done so well up until now.  We have been lucky enough to have had only a couple of instances where groups of children/staff have had to isolate.  We want this to continue to be the case.

Some of the restrictions may have eased, but the message from the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council is clear… COVID has not disappeared!  The FACTS message is still in place.  Please make sure that anyone who is involved in the drop off or collection of your child is aware of and adheres to the information above and below.  This will be greatly appreciated.

Please take a quick look at the short clip from NLC about the return to school…

Parents and carers – please follow the latest guidance as schools and nurseries return next week. #staysafe pic.twitter.com/KJHcZFiIKg

— NorthLanCouncil (@nlcpeople) April 17, 2021

Once again, I thank you all for the tremendous efforts everyone has gone to – pupils, staff and our families alike – in a bid to keep our school COVID-free and safe for our children and staff to learn/work in.  This is testimony to the wonderful community spirit which exists within our school!

With renewed good wishes,

Mr Thomas.

All P7 children will be participating in the Outdoor Education Week at Strathclyde Park.  Information was previously emailed and hard copies were also given out in school.  There was also an Information Meeting held on Teams for Parents/Carers to share information and answer questions.  The Powerpoint that Mr Thomas used is saved below as a PDF which you can download easily to see the list of things the children need.  The original letter is also below for your information.

• The bus will leave once the last group of children have entered the building to avid congestion at the gate.  However, all P7s should arrive at school promptly this week.
• Packed Lunches have already been ordered for those who require them from the school kitchen.
• Please take  a close look at the information again – especially the list of what to bring – so that you are aware of what is required.
• All specialist equipment is provided but children can take their own helmets/waterproofs if they have them.  

The Weather Forecast looks good… but remember what the instructor said… prepare for all weathers!  You will find the information documents below the Weather.

P7 Outdoor Ed Week Information

P7 Outdoor Education Feb 21

In summary…

• No valuable items such as phones should come to the park. There is no safe place to store them. If a pupil does bring a valuable item, such as a phone, it is at their own risk.
• All activities will be done outside with no overhead cover. Pupils must be prepared to be outdoors all day. The kit the pupils will require is:
  • Spare socks
  • Waterproofs (We have spares if the pupil does not own these)
  • Change of clothes
  • Plenty of water (no filling at the park)
  • Healthy snacks & lunch
  • Warm clothing (Gloves, hat, scarf, layers if possible)
  • Own helmet if they wish & cycling gloves if they have these
  • Change of shoes/wellies (We have spare wellies if pupil does not own these)
  • A spare bag to put wet clothing/footwear in
• Children may not use all of this every day, but last minute changes to the programme are made for events/activities which are weather dependant.  

We wish the P7 an amazing week!  Here’s hoping that they make some wonderful memories together as they begin their final term with us before transitioning to Secondary School!

A special invitation to all of our P4, P5, P6 & P7 children…

Please click on the link below to access information about our planned Parents’ Night.  We are offering Telephone Consultations which can be booked online.

Parents’ Night March 2021

Please take a minute to read the letter by clicking the link below.  Thank you!

Update after Day 1

We have been asked to share the letter below, which has been provided by Professor Jason Leitch, the National Clinical Director for Scotland.  This gives information regarding the return to school for P1-3 and Nursery children.

We realise that there has been a lot of information sent your way, but we want to make sure that you have all of the relevant and up to date information.

Jason Leitch letter – 18 February

The following information is relevant to all families, regardless of whether your child is home learning or in school.

As you all know, our Nursery & P1-3 children will return to school on a full time basis from Monday 22nd February 2021 and we are very much looking forward to seeing their wee faces!

With the return of those children, we need to give you some specific information and reminders in order to keep everyone safe.  If your child is in P1-3 or if they are accessing time in school under the Keyworker/Vulnerable status, a letter will be emailed to you this evening.  Please keep an eye out for it as it give you the following:

• Reminder of what house your child is in
• Start/Finish times
• Reminder of PE Days
• Zones/Gates for access
• Health & Safety information & reminders  ALL adults are expected to follow these!

Please note:  Those families who are accessing school through the Keyworker/Vulnerable category, your child’s current hours remain in place.  These children do not come to school on a full time basis.  Remember, if there is an adult or alternative care available at home, your child should not attend!

Please click on the link below to see blank version of this letter.  If you do not receive a letter and your child is entitled to attend school, then please just come to school on Monday, as we must not have an email address for you.

School Reopening Nursery – P3 Feb 2021

IF YOUR CHILD IS IN P4-7 AND CONTINUING TO LEARN AT HOME:

We have had an increase in requests for older siblings to attend school when P1-3 return.  Please understand that we would like nothing more than to welcome all children back to school.  However, the message from the Government is clear and we should all be staying at home unless completely necessary for the time being.  I understand that many of you will be finding this situation challenging to say the least and we will continue to do what we can to support you.  However, the emphasis is currently on having the least amount of children and adults in school as possible.

Please do not disengage with digital learning!  We have made such great progress and the provision is very good.  I understand that there is the temptation to disengage.  Even if your child joins in with certain aspects or if they need a break but are then guided back to their lessons, it is better for them to be involved.

THE GUIDELINES FOR ISOLATION AND TESTING HAVE CHANGED…

If you live with other people and have symptoms, YOU WILL ALL need to stay at home for 10 days from the start of your symptoms even if the others don’t have symptoms themselves. They should book a test 3 to 5 days after your symptoms started. Even if they receive a negative result, they must still complete the 10 day isolation.

If they develop symptoms, they need to stay at home for 10 days from the day their symptoms started. They should do this even if it takes them over the original 10-day isolation period.

Your whole household should follow our stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.

Following the First Minister’s announcement yesterday, we are preparing some up-to-date information for you regarding the return to school for our Nursery and P1-3 children.  It will likely be Friday before final information is distributed, once North Lanarkshire have issued their guidelines to schools.  There are Head Teacher meetings today and tomorrow.

North Lanarkshire issued this statement yesterday…

Following confirmation from the First Minister, all children attending early years establishments (those eligible will continue to receive  1140 hours), pupils in primaries 1 to 3 and a small number of senior pupils on a limited basis will return to schools and centres from Monday 22 February 2021.

This includes children and young people in additional support needs (ASN) schools.

Early Years: All children should return to centres and nurseries as normal including partner providers.

P1-3: All children should return to school as normal including ASN pupils. School transport will be in place for those who are eligible. For those in composite classes, only children in P3 should attend school and those in P4 will be taught via online learning. All children in P1-3 will receive universal free school meal provision on return to school.

Please note that shielding children and young people should continue to shield under current lockdown guidelines, unless otherwise directed by a clinician.

I would also add…

Please take the time to read the information and guidelines we send out.  It is important now, more than ever, that EVERYONE abides by the guidelines for Lockdown and the school specific guidelines that we issue to keep our children and our staff safe.  The First Minister made it very clear that the concern was more about the behaviour of adults and how important it is for adults to stick with it and follow the rules for face coverings, social distancing and STAYING AT HOME.

NORTH LANARKSHIRE SURVEY – DIGITAL LEARNING

NLC have asked us to promote a survey being carried out about Digital and Remote Learning.  The link below will take you to the Parent/Carer Survey.  Children will have the opportunity to complete their own survey through Microsoft Teams.  The survey will close on Thursday 18th February 2021.

Survey for Parents – http://bit.ly/NLSurveyCarers

SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN EARLY YEARS AND P1-3 TO RETURN TO SCHOOL

NLC Psychological Services have produced some Parent/Carer information and a story for both Early Years (Nursery) and P1-3 to help with preparation for returning to school.

Transition – Going back to nursery after lockdown Early Yea (1)

Transition – Going back to nursery after lockdown Early Yea

Transition – Going back to school after lockdown P1-3 Narrative

Transition – Going back to school after lockdown P1-3 (info for parents)