It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost upon us and that we are coming to the end of another busy term. Pupils and staff have been working incredibly hard as we combine core learning activities with preparing for our Christmas celebrations. The pupils (and staff) have coped admirably with changes to routines and lots of rehearsals. Senior pupils of our choir have been patient and kind as they encourage younger pupils to learn their words, practise the songs and overcome a little bit of stage fright. It is all coming together and we are looking forward to sharing the performances with you at our P1/2 Nativity ‘Angel Express’ and our Christmas Café, when all of the classes and the choir will entertain guests while they enjoy some festive treats.

The children have also been busy with their Christmas Enterprise topics. Some examples of the enterprise topics are Primary 1 Christmas School Post, a Christmas shop where the theme is, ‘It’s Better to Give than Receive’, and various Christmas craft activities. 

We celebrated St. Andrew’s Day at a lovely Mass on Thursday morning. The children were exemplary in their conduct, through their participation in the Mass, answering out the responses and their excellent singing. Father Stephen contacted me afterwards to congratulate the children on how well they had done. Thank you to Father for celebrating the Mass for us and to Mrs Macneil and members of the choir for their musical accompaniment, and of course to the children who read and did the offertory procession. It was a tartan takeover on Friday as we continued our celebrations with the children and staff resplendent in their tartan attire! Thank you for your contributions to our fundraising for our business partner St. Andrew’s Hospice. We will also have buckets for donations at our Nativity performances and will give a total amount raised after this.

Looking forward to what’s on this week, Anne Love from Love Autism, is visiting the school on Tuesday evening to speak to parents and carers about Autism and sharing the information and advice on supporting families and our young people. On Thursday we will be at Mass for First Friday at 9.30 a.m. and all parents and carers are invited to join us. Then on Friday we have our much anticipated visit to Lanark Memorial Hall for the pantomime ‘Snow White and the Seven Wee Muppets’. The bus will leave the school at 9.00 a.m. sharp and return by lunchtime. The Classroom Curriculum newsletters will also be issued this week, sharing all aspect of learning for December to February.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Mrs McCart