The pupils have enjoyed the warmer weather and there have been plenty opportunities for outdoor learning across the school. Next session, we hope to increase outdoor learning opportunities in all weather. Our Nursery pupils already have access to outdoor learning every day (unless it is dangerously icy) and this will be extended into Primary 1 from August 2019. If you have a pupil starting Primary 1, please bear this in mind when purchasing school shoes and jackets. Shoes need to be flat and sturdy with good grips to enable pupils to play and learn safely. Jackets should have hoods and be warm enough to spend periods of time outdoors in winter.
PTC Summer Fayre
The PTC members are beavering away in the background to organise a summer fayre for everyone to enjoy. The event will be held on Friday 31st May. There will be a wide range of activities including tombola, face painting, tuck shop and a bouncy castle. The PTC work tirelessly to support the school and raise funds which make a difference to the pupils’ learning experiences. Some of the recent donations have included replacing footballs and netballs, purchase of computer tablets, topping up a book order and buying ties for our children transitioning to new schools. Please come along and support the summer fayre and help raise funds for next session.
PTC Shorts and Shades Disco
The annual Shorts and Shades Disco will be held on 20th June. Tickets can be purchased from the school during the week beginning 17th June. This is the first year we have sold disco tickets in advance and it has proved to be successful in reducing the waiting time to get into the hall.
PTC and School Primary 7 Celebration Event
We are very grateful to the PTC for supporting Primary 7 pupils to run the Mothers’ Day shop which partly funds their end of term celebration. The PTC also makes a donation to this event. In previous years, pupils have visited The Time Capsule for swimming, skating and lunch. Last year the pupils chose to visit M & D Theme Park. Over the next week, our current Primary 7 pupils will be making suggestions and voting for their choice of trip. The venue must be approved for day excursions. This means the activities and venue have been risk assessed as suitable for a school excursion. Unfortunately it does mean that the pupils are unlikely to be able to select some popular but higher risk activities (e.g. trampoline park) however Mrs Gray and Mrs McGee will work with the pupils to ensure it is as close to the pupils choice as possible.
Primary 7 Transition Updates
Calderglen: Information evening for parents on 28th May. Induction days are on 12th and 13th June. Pupils will be informed of their S1 register class during the first day at Calderglen High School.
Duncanrig: Induction days are 22nd and 23rd May. 23rd May is a school closure day for Heathery Knowe PS however pupils attending Duncanrig transition events should still attend.
Unless you have received confirmation that a placing request has been granted then pupils must attend the transition events for the catchment secondary school. Calderglen and Duncanrig High Schools cannot offer transition events to pupils with pending placing requests or placing requests not yet submitted.
Primary 1 Transition Updates
We will welcome our new Primary 1 pupils on 6th and 13th June from 10-11.30am. On 6th June, parents are invited to attend to hear more about our school and there will be short presentations from Head Teacher, PTC, Credit Union. On 13th June, there will be no presentations. Parents are welcome to wait in school or leave their child and return at 11.30 to join their child for a school meal.
The nursery graduation ceremony is Tuesday 11th June. We are looking forward to celebrating the children’s learning as they transition into Primary 1.
Class Update
Last week I outlined the process for allocating pupils to class groups. We have received a number of letters requesting pupils are grouped together with specific friends. Please be assured that class teachers know the pupils well and social groups are taken into account along with literacy teaching groups. Pupils may not be grouped with their closest friends from this year but they will not be placed in a class with no social group. As you know, young children change their friendship groups often as they grow up and their interests change. We encourage pupils to make friends across the year group and often anxiety about entering a new class in August changes to friendships very quickly.
Our staffing is not finalised for next session and I am still waiting for confirmation about the number of teachers allocated to the school. I must stress that the only teachers finalised for a specific stage are Miss A. Harris and Miss Houldsworth who are teaching Primary 1. No other stage will be confirmed until the final allocation of teachers is made.
What’s on next week?
Tuesday and Wednesday – Mrs French is attending National Nurturing Schools Training.
Tuesday – Summer Holiday Lunch Club parent meeting (You will receive an invitation if this is relevant to you)
Wednesday – Room 3 pupils visiting Kelvin Hall and Kelvingrove
Wednesday – Room 6 pupils visiting New Lanark
Wednesday / Thursday – Duncanrig Transition Days
Thursday – School closed to pupils
Friday – School closed
Thank you for your continued support
Kind regards
Kirsty Duff
