It was lovely to welcome all the children back for the start of the second term at Heathery Knowe Primary School and Nursery Class. Many of the pupils in Primary 1-3 participated in the 21st Century Family Play Awards over the break. I hope the children enjoyed the activities and would like to thank families for encouraging their children to complete the activities with such enthusiasm.
Student Teachers
All schools in Scotland share the responsibility and privilege of supporting student teachers as they participate in the Initial Teacher Education Programme. School placements provide essential experience for student teachers as they develop practical skills in the classroom to support academic learning.
Schools benefit from increased teaching support for learners, new and innovative teaching approaches and building connections with the universities. Mrs Gallacher oversees all student placements and has been liaising with the universities to agree risk assessments in relation to COVID – 19 whist students are in school. All teaching students have signed an agreement with their university regarding adherence to national and local restrictions whilst on placement.
Some of the additional measures in place at Heathery Knowe include:
- student teachers have a designated work space at least 2 metres from the class teacher and pupils.
- student teachers will have access to a personal resource pack so that they are not sharing with class teachers
- student teachers will have lunch break at a separate time and will lead outdoor learning / playground health and wellbeing activities over lunch break.
- classes with student teachers will have an agreed system for adults moving around the room.
I would like to welcome Ms Shepherd (P6/5), Ms MacKenzie (P4) and Miss Harvey (P2) to Heathery Knowe Primary school for placements starting on Monday 26th October 2020.
Instrumental Music Service – Halloween
South Lanarkshire Council’s Instrumental Music Service are excited to wave their magic wand and invite you to attend their first ever online concert ‘Halloween Spooktakular’. Talented instrumentalists from across South Lanarkshire’s schools have continued to make spine-tingling music using the sorcery of Google Classroom. With a little bit of hocus pocus and a spell or two you can be entertained by pirates and wizards and ghouls! Join us at 7pm on Friday 30th October using the link
Playground Zones
All of the playground zones include both a grass and tarmac area. In the summer this has provided additional space for children to spread out and play. In particularly wet weather the grass areas are becoming very muddy and slippery. This is causing slips and falls and some children are wearing uncomfortably muddy clothes or shoes through the day.
To ensure children are both safe and comfortable the grass areas will be closed during periods of inclement weather. When this situation arises children will be expected to play in the tarmac area of their allocated zone.
In the current climate we encourage children to play outside every day. There are plans in place for indoor breaks if the weather is dangerous however this would be very exceptional circumstances. Ensuring classrooms are sanitised and ventilated whilst children are playing outdoors is a key routine in reducing the transmission risk of Covid 19.
Covid Response Group
Mrs French will chair the next Covid Response Group for the school and nursery on 28th October. Parents have requested that the school considers purchasing a digital forehead thermometer that effectively measures temperature without skin contact to reduce the number of children going home because they feel hot but do not have a high body temperature. This will be considered at this meeting.
If parents have any other concerns, compliments or suggestions about the routines and procedures in place to reduce the risk of transmission of Coronavirus please email Mrs French prior to the meeting. She will ensure the views are shared with the group and action points agreed.
The Covid Response Group is made up of the following members:
- Mrs French (Chair Person)
- Mrs Duff (Leadership Team representative)
- Mr Loveday (Teacher representative)
- Mrs Robertson (Support staff representative)
- Ms McPherson (Nursery representative)
- Mr Gilmour (Facilities staff representative)
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards
Kirsty Duff
