The senior pupils enjoyed participating in and supporting the ‘Autumn Cup’ football tournament. Thank you to Mr Wilson for continuing to lead the school football league. The children are enjoying developing skills in football and working as a team.
Flu Immunisation
There is an additional flu immunisation session at school on 1st December. Any child who missed the first session, can be vaccinated on 1st December 2021.
Sumdog
Every school pupil has a log in for Sumdog. Sumdog is an adaptive website with questions aligned to the curriculum. By participating in Sumdog, children are able to reinforce key literacy and numeracy skills in a fun way.
Teachers are able to set tasks on Sumdog that are closely matched to classroom learning including current spelling lists, numeracy concepts and grammar content. Children enjoy the games based approach with the reward of coins for completing tasks and correct answers. There are in school leaderboards and children compete against friends, share coins or spend them on their avatar.
As it is an adaptive website, it carries out an initial test to set the level and then adjusts questions in response to answers given. It is essential that older siblings and adults do not help the child with answers or it will become too difficult for the child to complete independently. If this happens, the child’s account needs to be reset and an additional diagnostic assessment will be part of the child’s programme the next time they log in.
Even if this is not set as a homework activity, I would encourage children to log in and practise their skills using Sumdog for 10-20 minutes each day.
If you would like to find out more about Sumdog, please use the link below:
https://www.sumdog.com/en/support/parents/
Uniform
Thank you to parents for their continued efforts to ensure pupils come to school in uniform. Children should wear shirt and tie or polo shirt along with skirt or trousers. We appreciate that some pupils are sensitive to the fabric of clothing and find wearing a shirt and tie unsettling. Please let us know if your child needs an individual arrangement for uniform. Shoes should be comfortable and with good grips to enable children to play freely without slipping.
Almost all children wear uniform each day and I appreciate your support to sustain high standards. If you need any items of uniform, please contact Miss Wharton.
Adverse Weather Arrangements
All children will have an opportunity to play and learn outdoors during winter. However, if the weather is icy then it may be necessary to close the Nursery garden or areas of the playground. Children enjoy playing in snow and if it is safe underfoot, children may be allowed to choose to go out to play in snowy weather. Please ensure your child carries gloves, scarf, hat and a change of socks over the winter months.
The janitor’s priority is to ensure there are safe walking routes into school and these will always be gritted first. The first route is the access gate at the left hand side of the building and up to the front door. The janitor will then move on as quickly as possible to clear a route from the right hand access gate, along the side of the pitch and towards the cafeteria door.
South Lanarkshire Council has issued its updated guidance on preparing for adverse weather conditions. Every effort will be made to ensure that Heathery Knowe PS remains open to pupils. However, in cases of severe weather conditions, there may be a need to open later, close earlier or be closed all day.
A parent guide to adverse weather arrangements can be accessed using the following link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pM38C7gTr7-
This is a Microsoft Publisher document. If you cannot access this file, a paper copy can be provided by the office.
Head Teacher Absence
From Monday 8th November, I will be absent from work as I need to take medical leave for upcoming surgery. I hope to return to work at the start of December. In my absence, Mrs French will be Acting Head Teacher supported by Mrs McGee, Miss Inglis and Miss Wharton.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards
Kirsty Duff
