Return to school newsletter August 2024
Welcome back to the new school year! As always, there is a lot of information to share with you regarding our return. Here is the most important information with more to come in the following weeks:
Drop off and pick up arrangements
The school bus will be arriving at 08.50 for our new start time of 09.00. Staff will be available to supervise children in the school from 08.45. If you require an earlier drop-off time, please get in touch with the school to arrange this. School finishes at 3.00pm.
Break time and lunchtime arrangements
Pupils should take a bottle of water and a snack for break time to school each day.
Possessions and Clothing
Outdoor learning continues to have high priority. Could you make sure your child comes to school suitably dressed for being outside for longer durations? The school has a supply of wellingtons and waterproofs for those that need them.
Please ensure your child has suitable joggers, shorts and trainers for PE. It would be preferable if they had a pair of joggers, some shorts and gym shoes/trainers they could leave at school as lessons may take place on any day of the week and wearing jeans will not be acceptable.
Staffing Update
We have a new Music teacher – Miss Kirsten O’Dwyer – she started on yesterday and will be covering all 3 Northmavine schools every Thursday. We also have a new Gym teacher – Mr Adam Fulton. He will be taking gym on Tuesday afternoons so we look forward to meeting him then. Mr Seth Travins is covering the ASN teacher post on Mondays this term as we recruit for a replacement for Vaila Stevenson. We are also in the process for recruiting for a support worker (play). This person will work with class teachers to support play based learning in the primary department for 1 day per week.
| Timetable for Term 1 | |
| Mon | Mr Travins– ASN teacher
Mrs Fraser in P5 – 7 |
| Tues | Mrs Fraser in P5 – 7 every second week
Gym in the afternoon with Mr Fulton Accordion tuition with Mr Bruce Peebles |
| Wed | Art in the afternoon with Mrs Sarah Mullay
|
| Thurs | Music in the morning with Miss O’Dwyer
Piano and fiddle tuition with Miss Pauleen Wiseman |
| Fri | |
Communication
We will continue to communicate with you through a range of media, including our closed Facebook groups, our website, email, and paper (when necessary/on request), telephone and face-to-face.
ParentPay
ParentPay will operate the same as last year. The school will add on your child’s attendance so you can see how much you owe. School dinners cost £2.30 per day for P6 – 7 or £87.40 for the term. P1-5 school dinners are free. Milk for Primary pupils costs £1.05 per week. Please let us know if you would like your child to get milk.
FREE School meals and Clothing Grant
Please see the SIC website for more information – Google ‘clothing grant shetland’.
What’s On
The diary is starting to fill up with a range of activities – these are already planned:
20th August – STEM land yacht challenge with Emma Chittick for p5-7
23rd August – Helen Budge visiting the school for a farewell visit – you are welcome to drop in and more information will follow.
27th August – Bruce Peebles will be holding an accordion taster session so if your child is interested in learning to play the accordion this is a great opportunity as he has space for another pupil at Urafirth.
3rd September, Tues 1st October, Tues 5th November, and Tues 3rd December – Teatime Tuesdays – an after school club run by Anchor Shetland and Danny Peterson.The sessions are held right at the end of the school day. Firstly there will a snack for everyone and then they will get a chance to do an hour of activity with Danny and/or some craft then we all come together to follow a recipe and make our tea at the school which we then eat together and take the leftovers home. Transport home can be arranged if you require it. The sessions run for around 2hours. More information to follow.
Thursday 26th September – visit to Mareel to see Treasure Island on stage. More info to follow.
And looking to the future, I am arranging a visit from the police to show their equipment and talk about safety. There will be an event on Saturday 30th November to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the school and the hall is booked for our Xmas concert on Wednesday 11th December.
Please get in touch if you have any queries.
Kind Regards
Wendy Fraser
Wendy Fraser
Head Teacher
