If your child has their 5^th birthday between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022, you should register them for school next week – and we’re asking you to do this online.

Go to www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/p1registration anytime between Monday 2 and Monday 9 November. 

You’ll need to have a few things ready to upload:

1.   a copy of your child’s full birth certificate

2.   proof of address – Council Tax and Child Benefit Statement (or Driving Licence, utility/bank statement showing last 3 months transactions)

3.   Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate (if applicable)

If you can’t register online, please phone your local catchment school to arrange an appointment. This is really important – please do not turn up at school without an appointment.

On behalf of all staff at St James’ Primary, we are delighted to be able to welcome your child back to school  for the new term.

Click HERE to read ‘Welcome Back – What to expect from term one of academic year 2020/2021’ from Renfrewshire Council.

We look forward to welcoming your child to St James’ Primary School this week. Please see below the return days for each year group:-

Wednesday 12 August – P1 and P7 return to school

Thursday 13 August – P2, P3 and P4 return to school in addition to P1 and P7

Friday 14 August –  P5 and P6 return to school, in addition to the above, marking the whole school return

Teaching staff will be in the playground to collect their class with a stage number. All other staff will be on hand to direct children and remind everyone of social distancing. We respectfully ask that parents do not access to the school playground for the safety of all. NB. Primary 1 & 2 parents will be allowed into the playground on the first morning only that your child returns to school. Social distancing marks will be on the playground for children to line up outside the door where they will access the building. Maps showing the drop off / pick up locations are on the school website.

Here are the arrangements for the staggered drop off/pick up times and locations for all year groups

Please click HERE to read the drop off/pick up times in the full PDF version.

Parents/carers should not enter school building unless required. For new registrations, please contact the school office to make an appointment.

If you are dropping off children from more than one year group, please do not gather outside the school and maintain a distance of 2m, as far as practicable.

For those arriving by car, please park further away from the school and then walk with your children to avoid congestion, or alternatively use active travel routes where feasible eg cycling, scootering, walking. Car sharing with children of other households should be discouraged.

Click HERE to see the our school map to assist you with pick up/drop off.

Click HERE to read the Celebration of First Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation 2020 letter from Bishop John

25 June 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Before the close of our schools for well merited summer holidays, I wanted to communicate to you our new plans for the celebration of your children’s First Sacraments which were postponed due to the Covid-19 Pandemic restrictions.

Both First Communions and Confirmations will now be celebrated in your local parish churches between September and November.  Each of these will be given by your parish priests.  I am happy to delegate the Sacrament of Confirmation to your parish priest to administer.

Our Head Teachers in both our Diocesan Primary and High Schools have committed to continuing the formation of our young ones to be ready for these Sacraments in support of our local parishes.

May I take this opportunity to thank our Parish Priests, Head Teachers and Diocesan Education Officers for their wonderful work in arranging a full consultation on this process in order to come up with the best solution for your families.  Amid all the business of lockdown arrangements they gave generously of their time and talents to ensure your children will not miss out of the joyful celebration of our Sacraments.

May I also commend you in your amazing commitment to the partnership of our schools and parishes to ensure the peaceful formation of our young people in faith and character in these unprecedented times.  May God reward your good work.

With every good wish and blessing,

Bishop John

Refunds for school trips

We apologise to our parents and carers who are waiting for a refund for any day and residential school trips that have been cancelled. It has been a complex process and our staff have worked incredibly hard to resolve matters to ensure refunds can be paid. All refunds should be made by the middle of July.

Refunds for school meals

All refunds for school meals, whether paid into our ParentPay system or paid directly to the school, have now been refunded.

Click HERE to see the updated calendar of holidays for session 2020/2021.

We have had a couple of enquiries re uniform, guidance still stands as per our previous communication, see HERE.

The relaxed uniform is still part of their PE/outdoor learning kit and is required during the recovery period and beyond. The full school uniform will be reinstated when safe and appropriate to do so.

St James’ Leadership Team

You will be aware of the statement made in parliament yesterday by the Deputy First Minister that the intention is for children to return to school in Scotland full time in August. This is due to the progress being made to supress the virus and is dependent on this trend continuing. This will be welcome news for many and I want
to once again thank you for your continued patience and support – it is greatly appreciated as we have tried to plan for our children and young people returning to school.

Click HERE to read the full letter from the Director of Children’s Services

Thank you for your continued patience and support which is allowing our early years centres, schools and central teams to work towards the delivery of a blended model of learning for our children and young people when they return in August.

Please click HERE to read the latest update from Renfrewshire’s Director of Children’s Services.

Dear Parent/Carer,

In order to support our recovery planning can you please complete the form below indicating if you have a child/children who does/do not attend St James’ but attend(s) another establishment (early years or special).

Please also complete the form if you have no other children attending other education establishments. We do not need to know about secondary schools.

Please complete and return by close of business on 12^th June, the tight turnaround is necessary to allow us to move forward with planning.

Many thanks in advance,

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=oyzTzM4Wj0KVQTctawUZKW_FjtWDagBOnhpPvTKyhq5URUxGQ01FMEpDSEhPQVVBOFpRU01HV1ZVUC4u