Whole School News

For up-to-date Whole School News, please see the updates bar at the side (desktop) or the bottom (mobile) of the page. Our Monthly Newsletters feature all our up-to-date communications.

Please see historical articles below

Entry/Exit Procedures and Uniform Letter (11.03.21)

Dear Parent/Carer,

We look forward to welcoming your child back to St James’ Primary School on Monday 15th March. Our aim is to make the transition back to school as smooth as possible for the children.

Please read the following letter for updates on Entry/Exit procedures and uniform.

Entry/Exit and Uniform Letter – March 2021

Sun Safety (02.03.21)

During the upcoming spring and summer months, we hope to have the children learning and playing outdoors as much as possible. Sun safety is of the utmost importance, and your support will play a vital role in our efforts to ensure effective control measures, particularly with the application of sunscreen and the provision of water and sun hats. We would ask that you apply a long lasting sunscreen to your child/ren before they come to school, particularly for younger pupils who may not manage a top up during the day, as school staff are not permitted to assist with applications. A water bottle and sun hat/glasses are also advised, clearly labelled with the child’s name and class.

Many thanks for your continued support, as always, it is so appreciated.

Entry/Exit and Uniform Update (18.01.21)

See full letter: Letter to pupils re Entry/Exit and uniform etc – February 2021

Online Learning Survey (18.01.21)

To Parent/Guardian,

Thank you for all the great work our pupils have submitted last week. Our team have been very impressed with the high standard of the completed tasks.

At St James’ we are continually making improvements to our online learning through feedback from our school community. To help us improve further, we would like you to complete a short survey. It would be helpful if you could complete this with your child.

https://bit.ly/3nG1jTt

If you have more than one child and you feel the experience is not consistent across the stages, please complete the survey individually.

Many thanks,

St James’ Leadership Team

Information (8.01.21)

Dear Parent/Carer,

May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a Happy New Year. Whilst we are saddened not to be able to welcome all of our young people back to school in person this term, we can at least look forward to brighter times and the hope that the new vaccines bring us for the year ahead. None of us wanted to be in the position of full national lockdown again but at least this time we have the benefit of previous experience and so are more than ready and fully equipped for the challenges and opportunities of remote learning.

Please read the letter below for further information on online learning.

08.01.21 – Letter to parents carers – further information

Online Learning Information (7.01.21)

Dear Parent/ Carer,

As you will be aware, numbers of local cases of COVID-19 have risen to such an extent that, in liaison with Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland, Renfrewshire Council have taken the decision to close all schools/ establishments to most children as of Wednesday 6th January 2021.

Given the circumstance of lockdown we will return to the programme of online learning used previously.

After the First Minister’s latest announcement that school children will now be home learning, there is an expectation that all children will be online completing their work and engaging with the learning of their class at some point during the day. This may be in the evening or at a time that is suitable in your home and based on access to devices. As per our attendance policy, if your child is unwell and not going to be able to participate in their online learning, please let the school office or class teacher know each day.

Please read the link below for detailed information on Online Learning in St James’ PS.

https://sway.office.com/oLYnagYLR2a7A9Cz?ref=Link

Important information regarding return to school (5.01.21)

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope that you and your families enjoyed a restful break over the Christmas holiday period. As you know the school holidays have been extended for all pupils until Monday 11th January. Following the First Minister’s announcement today, pupils will then begin online learning from Monday 11th January and this will continue for all pupils until the end of January. The School Team will meet tomorrow to discuss and plan our approaches to online learning. We will provide you with more information about arrangements as soon as possible. For vulnerable children and children of key workers, the school will be in touch tomorrow through by e-mail to provide further information on arrangements for these young people to be in school.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Natalie Fitzsimmons
Headteacher

Christmas Lunch (2.12.20)

We are delighted to inform you that we will be offering our traditional Christmas Lunch to pupils on Friday 11th December.

Option 1 – Turkey
Option 2 – Steak Pie
Option 3 – Quorn Roast

An alternative menu is available for special diets.

Click to read the The Christmas Menu for 2020.

Christmas Parties (2.12.20)

Please note that Christmas parties for pupils will be held in their base in school on Tuesday 15^th December. Juice, crisps & a sweet will be provided. The pupils can come to school in their party clothes if they wish.

Interim Lunch Menu – Update (1.12.20)

Renfrewshire Council are continuing with the interim menu for the foreseeable future.

See below the new interim menu (from W.B 14th December 2020).

Primary Interim Menu 2020

Allergen matrix Interim – Primary School & Nursery

Parent Communication Group Update (24.11.20)

Thank you for all the parents/carers who have taken part in our Parent Communications Group over the past few months. Our digital meetings have been very successful and have led to improvements on our website and in our whole-school communication methods.

Over the past few weeks, we have taken your feedback and updated the following on our website:

• Improved accessibility to the website
• Added whole school updates section (PDFs of whole school letters)
• Added an interactive whole school calendar
• Added a ‘telephone’ contact button for iOS/Android devices
• Added direct links to Parent Pay and Parent Portal
• Added a translate option to help our EAL families access whole school information.
• Removed unnecessary tabs to make the website more accessible on iOS/Android devices

Read our full Parent Communication Letter 24.11.20.

Renfrewshire Latest Update (18.11.20)

The Scottish Government announced that Renfrewshire will move to level 4 protective measures from 6pm on Friday 20 November 2020 for three weeks until Friday 11 December.
This brings with it some extra ‘enhanced protection measures’ for our school. Please read the Parents and Carers Update Letter from Renfrewshire Council (18.11.20)

Renfrewshire Latest Update (11.11.20)

As you know, the Scottish Government has now introduced a system of new protection levels to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and Renfrewshire has been placed at Level 3.

This means some extra guidance for schools to help keep everyone safe. Please read the Letter to parents from Renfrewshire Council (11.11.20) for more information.

New Primary 1 Registration (30.10.20)

If your child has their 5^thbirthday 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.

Parking Around the School (30.10.20)

We are continually reviewing our risk assessments and have taken the decision to change our entry and exit times. This will allow us to maximise teaching and learning time. From 2 November all children should be in school for 9.00am. Our gates are opened from 8.45am which will allow us to continue with a staggered drop off in the morning. Please read our Change to Entry & Exit Times Letter (30.10.20)

Parking Around the School (21.10.20)

We would like to thank all parents and carers who are parking considerately around the school. However, despite recent police presence, there are some parents/carers who have continued
to create safety concerns. Please read our Parking Around the School Letter (21.10.20).

Communications Group (16.09.20)

Thank you all for the fantastic response to our parent communications group. Unfortunately, due to numbers, we have had to randomly select parents across all year groups to get a wide range of views and opinions. We will, however, keep a record for those interested for any other future parent consultations. Please read the full Communication Group Letter (16.09.20).

Nut Allergy Guidance (15.09.20)

We have an increasing number of pupils in St James’ Primary who suffer from nut allergies. Please read our full letter on Nut Allergies in the School (15.9.20).

Outdoor Learning Guidance (08.09.20)

During the upcoming winter months, it is important that all pupils get out to play when possible and are able to participate in outdoor learning in all weathers. This will be on a more regular basis as we are using outside as a safe, engaging and fun way to deliver the curriculum during these unprecedented times. Please read our full letter on Outdoor Learning (September 2020).

ASN Provision (12.09.2020)

Please read the review of Additional Support Needs Provision from Renfrewshire Council (RC ASN Review – September 2020).

St James’ PS HMIE Feedback (08.09.20)

After feedback received during our Education Scotland visit, we would like to streamline the methods of communication we use at St James’ Primary. Please read our whole school Communication Letter (8.9.20).

Approved School Holidays (10.08.20)

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

Click HERE to see the approved school holidays for session 2021/2022

Canteen Menu Update (03.09.20)

From next week (W/B 3/9/20) there will be an Interim Menu and Interim Vegetarian Menu for school lunches. Please read the following for allergen advice.

Welcome Back – Information for Starting School (10.08.20)

Click HERE for information on the return to school dates and H&S measures in Renfrewshire Schools.

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

Currently to assist social distancing staggered drop off/pick up times and locations are in place. Please click HERE to read the drop off/pick up times.

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

To avoid congestion, please remember that the gates are drop off and pick up points only. Arrive as close to your allocated time as possible. Please keep the required 2m distance at the gates.

After careful consideration, it is the agreement across all cluster primary schools that a temporary informal uniform (aligned to cluster schools current PE uniform) will be adopted across all cluster primary schools from August 2020. The full school uniform will be reinstated when safe and appropriate to do so. Please click HERE for more information on current uniform.

In line with government guidelines we are trying to keep our classrooms well ventilated and be outdoors as much as possible. Our weather is very changeable and it’s important that children have an appropriate outdoor jacket with them every day. Children should also bring a jumper every day as class windows will be open.