I am posting this update with some items of interest and some information about how we are planning to take forward our Digital Learning provision in the coming weeks.  Please take a look at the information and if you have any questions, get in touch for assistance.

WE ARE BEGINNING TO USE MICROSOFT TEAMS as our Digital Learning Platform

Up until now, we have been posting items on our Class Blogs.  We will continue to do this and post news items on there too.  However, all work and assignments will be placed onto the Class Teams page.  Microsoft Teams is a fantastic resource with lots of functions which make it easier for children/families to interact with Class Teachers.  The benefits are…

• Class Teachers can post assignments
• Children and staff (including HT/DHT & PTs) can interact and chat
• Staff can monitor the traffic on the site
• Staff can mark and comment on assignments more readily and regularly
• Children can contact each other in a safe environment
• Teams can be accessed on an PC/Mac Computer/Laptop, any Tablet/iPad or Phone.
• Teams can be accessed on X-box and PlayStation too as well as on your SMART TV.
• We can offer events such as Assemblies and interactive lessons through video conferencing

We want to support you and your child as you get to grips with this…

Miss Guidi has created a fantastic guide, in which she talks you through and shows you how to access GLOW and specifically Teams.  You can listen to/watch the whole thing (it only lasts a few minutes) or swipe to the bit that is relevant to you.

Click on the link HERE to access the guide.

HOME LEARNING PACKS

Many of you have made use of the Home Learning Packs we offered at the end of last week and the beginning of this week.  It was lovely to be able to say a socially distanced “Hello” to some of you as you did this.  If any of you are struggling to get out to collect things in the future, please let us know and we can post or drop off these to you.

Home Learning Packs going forward

You will understand that, given that staff are not regularly at school and do not have all of their resources to hand, it can be difficult to put hard copies of differentiated packs together.  Differentiated means the tasks are geared towards ability groups in Literacy and Numeracy.  Online tasks should be differentiated for Literacy and Numeracy.

We have ordered Numeracy and Literacy Jotters which will be available with the next set of Home Learning materials.  This will give the children space to do their tasks, whether it is an online task or a task from a printed copy.  We also hope to offer practical resources such as stationery (Pencils, rule, rubber, etc.) if possible.

Dates and times for this will be published in the coming weeks.

MAY – THE MONTH OF OUR LADY

During the month of May, we pray for the intercession of Our Lady, particularly in these difficult times.  If we were in school right now, we would be praying the rosary regularly and keeping Our Lady at the forefront of our prayers together.

The Diocese of Motherwell will be showing clips of various school staff and children saying the prayers contained within The Angelus.  This will be led by Bishop Toal.  Some of our staff and children will be involved with this, so please follow the Diocese on Facebook and on Twitter to see this.  The Angelus is a long-standing Catholic devotion, which traditionally is said at 12noon each day.  The Angelus is prayed regularly by Fr Morris and the parishioners of St. Gabriel’s.  There are free resources on the Twinkl website for May Devotions and The Angelus.  Remember there was fe

100TH BIRTHDAY OF ST. JOHN PAUL II 

During the coming month, on 18th May, we had planned to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of St. (Pope) John Paul II.  Even though we will not be together for this celebration, we will be sending you ideas of ways in which you can mark this occasion.  We will also be planning some events which we can participate in as a whole school.  Please watch this space and please keep praying to our Patron, St. John Paul II for his help, support and intercession.

We had planned to go on a school Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (Carfin Grotto) where we would have had Mass and a Picnic Lunch.  Mass would have been (weather permitting) outdoors, at the altar next to the Shrine to St. John Paul II.  The shrine consists of a statue which is based on the picture below.

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to arrange this, but maybe sometime in the future we could have our own celebration there.  Please do join us for whatever events we organise for the 100th Birthday of our Patron Saint.

‪We are missing you all terribly, so here’s a wee video of how we’re all staying safe at home!!‬

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We have produced some learning packs which will be available to collect from the school (outside the main entrance) from tomorrow at 10:30am.  Please read the information so you know what is on offer before coming to collect anything!

These are mainly for those who cannot print and/or cannot access the digital learning materials which are being offered.  However, anyone can come along and collect a pack!

If you are collecting your pack from school, click HERE for more information.

We have also scanned the packs so that you can, if you wish, print them for your child if you have that facility available to you.  Click on the links below…

Primary 1 Homework Pack

Primary 2 Homework Pack

Primary 3 Homework Pack

Primary 4 Homework Pack

Primary 5 Homework Pack

Primary 6 Homework Pack

Primary 7 Homework Pack

Information from NLC Music Provision – Recording of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’

Dear pupil/parent/carer
You will be aware that “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” has been adopted as the song that that says “Thank You” to the NHS and to all of the public services that have kept the country going during this difficult period and Thursdays at 8.00pm has become that time in the week when the country comes out to applaud the efforts of these dedicated professionals.

The Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG), would like you to add your voice (or instrument) to this appreciation of our public services by playing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on Thursday 30th April at 8.00pm along with thousands of others around the country.

It would be great to see as many of our North Lanarkshire instrumentalists and singers as possible joining in.

Here is a link to the MPEG site that allows you to download the music and backing track for your particular instrument or voice.  Please note that there are easy or more advanced parts depending on your level of experience.   Backing tracks are constantly being added so please check back regularly if you cannot find the backing track for your instrument yet https://wemakemusicfornhs.weebly.com/

We would love if you could send us a video of yourself performing this so that we could put together a montage to highlight all the amazing talent that we have in North Lanarkshire.

STV have also been in touch and are keen to have some young people playing live on the news at 6.25pm and for others to send videos in to be used on the later news.

Please send your videos or any enquiries to gw09brodieandy@glowmail.org.uk

A wee message from Mr T in what is possibly his shortest EVER assembly!!  (although it’s still too long for Glow!)

https://www.facebook.com/1486694804931689/posts/2541388122795680/

Good afternoon everyone.  I have been working on a newsletter so that you still kept up to date with vital information.  Please click on the link below to download it and have a look.

April 2020

There is important information about Free School Meals during school closure.  In order to sign up for this, you must have given your most recent and up-to-date contact details.  There are more instructions on how to sign up for Parents’ Portal.

I have also included an update on our Digital Learning programmes and blogs.  Please do take a look at them and use them to help engage your children in Learning and encourage them to keep in touch with their teachers.

I hope you are all well.

Mr Thomas.

North Lanarkshire are offering a new service to ensure that, in the current situation, all children who are entitled to a Free School Meal receive it.  This will come in the form of a VOUCHER which will most likely be texted or emailed to you.  HOWEVER, WE NEED YOUR CORRECT CONTACT DETAILS AND MANY OF YOU HAVE NOT KEPT US UP TO DATE!

The voucher will be redeemable at any PayPoint Shop and will be to the value of £20 per child, per week.

TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION WITH US, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW ON HOW TO SIGN UP FOR PARENTS’ PORTAL.

Information about this new system can be found on the NLC website by clicking HERE.

The school office is not staffed just now, so you may not get someone on the phone to help you.  You can contact us using office@johnpaul.n-lanark.sch.uk

Signing up for Parents Portal will give you access to lots of the online services we currently offer and more in the  future.  You can:

• Update your personal information/address/phone number – this means you will receive up to date information and we can contact you if necessary
• Report an absence
• Read reports
• Use the payment system
• Book an appointment for Parents’ Night

This is all under ONE password and user name!

Download the instructions below…

Accessing the Parent Portal

Happy Monday to everyone!  I hope that you are all keeping well and are following the guidelines to keep healthy.  I wanted to give you an update on what I have been up to in the last week!

The past week has been a very busy one for myself and all of the other Head Teachers in our area.  Our school is now a Hub School for the Bellshill Locality, which includes Viewpark, Tannochside and Birkenshaw.  The schools involved are…

Cardinal Newman, St. John Paul II, Holy Family, Sacred Heart and St. Gerard’s.

Bellshill Academy, Lawmuir, Noble, Mossend, Aitkenhead, Tannochside.

Laburnum Family Learning Centre is also a hub and is taking in children from the area too.

St staff of St. John Paul II were the first to offer their services in setting things up to ensure that all children and families were made to feel at ease and welcomed in a strange school with new faces and new routines.  Thank you to all of them.  True professionals, as always.

Going forward, staffs from all of the schools have been put on a rota to work which enables us all to keep healthy and safe.

The children who are attending the Hub are children who’s parents/carers are BOTH Keyworkers in either Category 1, 2 or 3.

INFORMATION FOR KEYWORKERS:

The Bellshill Locality Hub at St. John Paul II offers the following care options:

Lunch is offered for children from 12:30pm.

 If you have any questions regarding this, please call the school.  The office is not always staffed, but those in school will try to help if they can.

Please see a letter with information from NLC which Head Teachers have been asked to circulate.

Parent&Carer Letter 22nd March

Please download the information for children attending school.  This applies from Monday 23rd March 2020.  As you will be aware, the situation is changing at a fast pace and so more information will be coming from NLC in the coming days.

Keyworker Info 1

A form has been circulated by North Lanarkshire so that they know who is attending school and when.  This came out after Mr Thomas issued the form asking similar questions.  Even if you have already complete the St JPII form, you are still required to complete the NLC form.  Apologies for this duplication.   This should be completed by Parents/Carers who are sending their children to school.  Copies will be available for you when you drop your child at school.  Or you can download and print it yourself.  Click on the link below.

PLEASE ENSURE YOU COMPLETE A FORM.

Key Workers Pro Forma 2