It was a very busy and productive week as our pupils completed their first full week of session 2019/2020. All classes settled well into routines, revised previous learning and completed baseline assessments. Mrs Gallacher joined the leadership team and is already busy planning exciting opportunities for our pupils.
Leadership Team
The Senior Leadership Team at Heathery Knowe Primary School and Nursery Class comprises the Head Teacher, two Depute Head Teachers and a Principal Teacher. To support the Senior Team, Mrs Robertson leads the School Support Assistant Team and Mrs McPherson leads the Early Learning and Childcare Team.
The Leadership Team have the following remit and responsibilities this session:
Kirsty Duff (Head Teacher)
- Overall responsibility for all aspects of the school and nursery class
- Raising attainment for all pupils
- Lead practitioner and parent contact for Early Level Curriculum (Nursery and Primary 1)
Laura French (Depute Head Teacher)
- Lead practitioner and parent contact for Second Level Curriculum (Primary 5-7)
- Raising attainment and curriculum development for Literacy and English
- Pupil Leadership, Pupil Voice and Family Learning (Big Blether, Parent Evenings, Meet the Teacher etc)
- Local Community links
- Newly Qualified Teacher Support and Mentor
Wendy Gallacher (Acting Depute Head Teacher)
- Lead practitioner and parent contact for First Level Curriculum (Primary 2-4)
- Raising attainment and curriculum development for Numeracy and Mathematics
- Additional Support Needs Co-ordinator
- Active Schools and Residential Experience co-ordinator
- Student and Volunteer placement co-ordinator
Karen McGee (Principal Teacher)
- Curriculum development for Health and Wellbeing
- ICT co-ordinator
- Special Interest Weeks (finance, anti bullying etc)
- Food for Thought initiative leader
- School Traffic Plan co-ordinator / leads JRSO Team
Carole Anne Robertson (School Support Assistant Team Leader)
- Leads School Support Assistant Team
- Leads Office Team
- Responsible for daily deployment and support for SSAs
Carine McPherson (Early Learning and Childcare Team Leader)
- Leads Early Years Team
- Responsible for daily operation of the nursery
- Lead responsibility for care and welfare of all Nursery children
Parent Contact
Heathery Knowe Primary is a very busy school and we are always keen to respond as quickly as possible. If you would like to discuss any aspects of your child’s experience at school, please contact the parent contact for the appropriate stage in the first instance (Kirsty Duff for Nursery and Primary 1, Wendy Gallacher for Primary 2 -4 and Laura French for Primary 5-7). At any stage, you can request to speak with the Head Teacher by making an appointment at the office or emailing directly using headteacher@heatheryknowe-pri.s-lanark.sch.uk
Meet The Teacher
This event takes place on Wednesday afternoon. Teachers will share information with you about classroom life, plans for the year ahead, homework and how to get in touch if you have a concern. Pupils are able to attend the event too however if classrooms are very busy then older children / siblings may need to take a seat in our open areas whilst the presentation takes place.
Drop Off Zone
The car park at Heathery Knowe Primary School is always very busy in the morning and we appreciate people move through the drop off zone as quickly as possible. The Junior Road Safety Officer (JRSO) team will be organising escorts in the morning to offer a new service. As parents come into the drop off zone, the JRSO team can meet younger pupils at the kerb side and escort them safely into the playground to save parents parking. If you would still like to park and wait until the bell rings you are welcome to do so. The JRSO Team will share more information about this soon.
Plans for the Year Ahead
Teachers focus on ‘Developing the Young Workforce’ and extending learning outwith the classroom. There are a number of exciting adventures already planned including:
- A visit to Pizza Express to learn about how this restaurant operates and a chance to make a pizza
- A visit to the Amazon Warehouse to find out how this business operates and how they can deliver items to our doors
- A visit to Sky Academy to produce a mini-film / documentary
- A visit to the Bear Factory to experience travelling on the train and making a class mascot
- ‘Clyde in the Classroom’ – growing brown trout to release into the Clyde and participate in this conservation project
- A visit to the Fire Station to find out more about the emergency service
- Working in partnership with community initiatives to sing, share stories and play games with older residents in our community
What’s on next week?
- Maths setting starts for Primary 4-7 pupils
- Tuesday – Rick Walsh (Educational Psychologist) planning meeting with HT
- Tuesday – PTC meeting 7pm
- Wednesday – Meet The Teacher event 3.15pm
- Thursday – PTC Back to School Disco
- Friday – Head Teacher attending SLC Head Teacher Meeting (Quality Improvement)
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards
Kirsty Duff
