Meldrum Primary School Blog

February 14, 2016
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Road Safety

I would like to remind you that the picking up and setting down of children in the school car park is prohibited.  This is a matter of great importance and we need your support to keep all our children safe.

Recently, there have been some tragic high profile incidents involving young people being struck by vehicles.  Within the last month, there have also been issues around schools in which vehicles have been parked irresponsibility or in which drivers have reversed into pedestrians, some of them children, causing injury.  This will continue to have a high profile in our school with the support of our Junior Road Safety Officers.

You will find some helpful advice on the link below.

Road Safety advice

February 12, 2016
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Further information on Keeping Safe Online

We have reached the end of National Safer Internet Week.  I hope you have found the information provided helpful.  With this in mind, there are additional websites with helpful support and guidance for parents and once again, these are listed below:

 

February 11, 2016
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Security settings and dealing with malware

The number of devices that can access the internet grows year on year. Regardless of the type of hardware you use to surf the Web, browsing online will always carry a risk that your machine will pick up malicious or unwanted software.

Microsoft defines malware (malicious software) as: ‘any software designed to cause damage to a single computer, server, or computer network’, and includes Trojans, viruses, and spyware.

Combatting malware is a complex and rapidly changing field in the world of IT, but the good news for is that protecting the devices you have at home can be both simple and cheap.

The most popular anti-virus and anti-malware packages offer basic, free to use versions that are easy to control, and provide adequate protection for the average home user.

While most people are aware of the need to use security software on PCs and laptops, many still leave smartphones and tablets unprotected. For more information see: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/free-anti-virus-software

A reminder that this Friday 12 February, you are invited to the new Bathgate Cinema, St. David’s, George Street, where industry experts will offer practical advice on parental control settings for different devices. There will also be the opportunity to see the first ever big screen-screen showing of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) internet safety films that your children see in school.

This event is free to enter, and open to everyone, so why not invite family and friends along? For more info see www.westlothian.gov.uk/saferinternet

Remember to visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents for additional support and advice.

 

February 10, 2016
by Mrs Brown
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Primary 4 visit to Frankie and Benny’s.

2016-02-09 09.49.58

Let’s get cooking!

First spread tomato sauce and then shake the cheese all over.

First spread tomato sauce and then shake the cheese all over.

The toppings were delicious.

The toppings were delicious.

Ready for the oven.

Ready for the oven.

Waiting for them to cook in the oven.

Waiting for them to cook in the oven.

And waiting....

And waiting….

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

Our thanks to the lovely staff who were so generous and told us all about their jobs.

February 10, 2016
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Gaming Safely

All of the popular fixed gaming consoles – and many mobile gaming devices – now connect to the internet. This can allow gamers to interact with others across the globe, allowing exciting opportunities for collaborative and competitive play. However, it can also lead to problems with harassment and bullying, exposure to age inappropriate material, and grooming.

Parental controls can be used to manage:

* the type of interactions permitted through the games console, including:

* the text messages and photos that can be sent and received

* the age ratings of games that can be played and downloaded

* the nature of the video content that can be accessed from the internet For more advice see: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-gaming-stay-safe-avoid-risks/

February 9, 2016
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Sexting/Nude Selfies

Twitter – see the WLC Facebook page for more information on how to approach this delicate subject

Facebook

Sharing nude or nearly nude selfies is commonly known as sexting. Young people may see this behaviour as normal, and not be aware of the dangers of losing control of an image once it is posted online.

Many young people are also unaware of the potentially criminal consequences for sharing indecent images. Beyond the legal issues, being associated with such material can also have a far reaching impact on future education and employment opportunities.

However, the message: ‘what goes online, stays online’ does not tell the whole story. While it can be very difficult to get images that have been copied and shared many times over entirely removed from the Web, it is still worth seeking help in the event that a child you care for has made a mistake with sexting.

All of the major social media companies have a policy of removing indecent images from their platforms, and the Police can take action against those distributing images of minors.

See: Think U know and Parent Info for more guidance on sexting, and how to deal with it.

February 9, 2016
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P5 Ambitions

Coinciding nicely with our assembly on ambitions, P5 along with P4, P6 and P7 had the opportunity to meet with some parents at the careers fair and find out about their different jobs. We were challenged to match the jobs with the clues given, and then were able to ask the parents questions we had prepared. We gained lots of interesting knowledge and insight, and the experience inspired new potential careers for some pupils!

IMG_0365IMG_0375IMG_0367

Below is the video from P5’s ambitions assembly, well done to the whole class who worked hard to create the interviews and perform in front of the school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpEhZc3P6KE

February 8, 2016
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National Safer Internet Day

West Lothian Council have organised some helpful advice when dealing with cyberbullying:

Twitter: Cyberbullying – any form of bullying that takes place through online communication. See [Facebook page]

Facebook

Cyberbullying is any form of bullying that takes place through online communication. Although the use of technology has changed the way that some of the bullying takes place, the core problem is the same as it has always been – as are many of the solutions.

If the child you care for receives a nasty message, regardless of whether it comes from a known or anonymous source, it is important:

* Not to respond

* To keep a copy of the abusive message – it may be needed for evidence

* To block the user from making further contact through the social media platform or app

* To report the abuse to the platform on which it took place For more advice on how to tackle cyberbullying: http://www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying

This Friday 12th February, you are invited to the new Bathgate Cinema, St. David’s, George Street, where industry experts will offer practical advice on parental control settings for different devices. There will also be the opportunity to see the first ever big screen-screen showing of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) internet safety films that your children see in school.

This event is free to enter, and open to everyone, so why not invite family and friends along? For more info see www.westlothian.gov.uk/saferinternet

February 5, 2016
by Mrs Stephenson
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Rights Respecting School

One of our priorities this session is to re-establish Meldrum as a Rights Respecting School. In order to do this we have set up a steering group led by Mrs Lang which includes class representatives from P3-P7, Miss Ross (Class Teacher), Mrs MacDonald (Pupil Support), Mr Smith (School Chaplain), and Mrs Moffat and Mrs Stewart (Parent Council).

On Friday 5th February we are delivering a school assembly to inform the children about the Rights Respecting School Award and the work of UNICEF.

A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the rights of every child under 18 years across the world and how these rights should be met. All children have these rights, no matter who they are or where they live.

Young people and the school community learn about children’s rights by putting them into practice every day through learning in Health and Wellbeing, Literacy, Global Citizenship, Social Studies, RME, Class Charters and Assemblies.

There 54 Articles or Rights in total. Article 1- States Everyone under 18 has all the rights in the convention and Article 42 states that governments must make the convention known to children which is why they are included in our school curriculum.

UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and is the main UN organization defending, promoting and protecting children’s rights. It also works towards protecting the world’s most disadvantaged children.

Day for Change is UNICEF UK’s annual fundraising campaign for UNICEF’s work to keep children safe around the world.

This year the challenge is to collect as much loose change as you can from January to May – from around the house, down the sofa, your pockets – and anywhere else you can think of! All the change you collect will go directly to the Children’s Emergency Fund to save and protect children caught up in emergencies around the world.

In school we are going to have a container at the office to collect any loose change. We are going to start our fundraising with all proceeds from Friday 5th February’s Dress down Day going to this charity and we hope to have some more events in the future to raise funds. So any spare 1p, 2p, 5p that are in your home please bring into school so that we can help to raise as much money as possible.

Thank you.

Rights Respecting Schools

Films and Songs created by schools

http://www.cypcs.org.uk/ www.unicef.org.uk/Get-Involved/Your-organisation/Schools/day-for-change/

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