P3/4/5 | Ballantrae Primary School and EYC

Ballantrae Primary School & Early Years
Below as per this afternoons parents information session.

Contingency Arrangements
Ballantrae Primary School

Whilst we are all devastated over the loss of our school due to fire on Monday evening, we have a duty to ensure the education of our children continues. As such, emergency contingency arrangements have been made , which I will detail as follows:

• All children from Primary 1-7 will move, temporarily, to Girvan Primary School, where we have been allocated our own classrooms.
• Ballantrae children will be transported, in one bus, to Girvan Primary School by Smith’s Coaches. Teaching staff will accompany the children on the coach, to and from Girvan Primary School.
• Smith’s Coaches will leave Ballantrae at 8.50 am.

We would ask that all children arrive at Ballantrae Community Centre, no later than 8.45am for a class register to be taken, before boarding the bus.

Any parent/carer who knows that their child is going to be late should immediately contact Mrs Ball on 01465 716803, who will inform staff at Ballantrae.

Children, who arrive later than 8.50am will require to be transported by their own parent to Girvan Primary School, as unfortunately, the bus is unable to wait for latecomers.

The bus will depart from Girvan Primary School at 2.45 pm and return to Ballantrae Community Centre at approximately 3.05 pm, where parents can collect their children.

Rural children travelling by School Taxi

School taxis will pick up outlying children at their normal times and drop children off at Ballantrae Community Centre in time for Smith’s Coaches departing.

School taxis will collect rural children at 3.05pm and children should arrive home at their usual time.

School Meals

School meals will be provided by Girvan Primary School. Meals are already organised for Thursday, 7th June and Friday 8th June.

From next week pupils wishing to purchase a lunch (hot meal or a sandwich) should bring their dinner money with them on a daily basis (approx. £2.10 per day). School staff will monitor this closely, and no child will ever be without a meal at lunchtime.

There are no tuck shop facilities at Girvan Primary School. Children should bring their own playtime snack from home.

Daily Breaks

Ballantrae Pupils will have their own time for breaks. Morning break will be at 10.30 am and children will play out in the quad area in Girvan Primary School.

Lunch time will be at 12.15 pm. Children will be escorted to Girvan Primary School lunch hall to have their lunch prior to Girvan PS having their lunch. Ballantrae staff will supervise our children.

Medication

Unfortunately, we lost all medication in the fire. Children requiring inhalers etc, should provide new ones (new prescriptions) on Thursday morning.

Diary Dates

Our diary dates will still continue from now until the end of term. Mrs Ball will continue to remind parents/carers of events by text. An updated diary will be with you as soon as possible, and indicate where and when activities will be taking place.

Sports Day

Sports Day will take place on Monday 11th June at 10 am in Ballantrae Village Park. All primary children will remain in Ballantrae all day on the 11th. Further information will follow.

Early Years

It is proposed that Ballantrae Early Years Class will move into the Buffet Room in Ballantrae Community Centre. Further information will follow as to when this will happen. At the moment, we are hoping this will start from Monday 11th June.

I fully understand that at this difficult time, parents, carers and their children will be anxious and worried. However, I will work hard to ensure that you are kept fully informed at all times. Information can be obtained via texts, newsletter updates, the school blog and Information Ballantrae Facebook page. Anyone requiring blog details should contact Mrs Ball.

Yours sincerely, Yvonne Templeton