Category: School

Primary 1, Primary 2/1 and Primary 2 Updated Dismissal Arrangements.

Good evening.

Dear parents/carers.

We would like to thank you for your cooperation, as we implement the staggered end to the school day for the children of our  infant department.  We appreciate it takes more time than usual. However, it is an essential requirement to ensure the safety of all.  As such, we would like to remind parents/carers of the arrangements for dismissal.

The children will be dismissed in the following order;

P2- Mr Benyon, followed by P1- Miss McCullagh and finally, P2/1- Mrs Warner.  Please stand back from the allocated dismissal zone until it is your child’s turn to be collected. Staff will inform you when it is your turn to move forward and collect your child.

There will be a clearly marked waiting area, located on the grass, at the Zebra crossing, in front of the large gates, leading to the top staff car park.   We ask that you adhere to physical distancing requirements around the school building.

Signage will be in place to remind parents of the arrangements and staff will be available to assist.

Thank you for your continued support at this time.

School Staff

NURSERY RETURN AUGUST 12th 2020

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your patience in receiving this information.

We take this opportunity to express our delight in welcoming our children back to the nursery, on, Wednesday, 12th of August. We appreciate that some of our children may feel a little anxious about doing so, especially with the current climate. Therefore, the health and well being of all children will be at the heart of all we do moving forward.

Having been away from the nursery for an extended period, we recognise that some children may need additional time and support to re-adjust to the nursery environment. We expect our new starts will require significant time, to familiarise themselves with their new setting, this is all very normal. Rest assured, your child will be fully supported by the nursery staff.

The safety and the health and wellbeing of children and staff is our key priority. At all times, we will adhere strictly to the advice from the Scottish Government and WL Council to ensure everyone is safe and well, as we implement the arrangements for a safe return.

Drop off and Pick up

Drop off and pick up arrangements will be different when we return. We will continue to use the entrance on the footpath that runs along the side of the infant playground, where clear signage will be in place to direct parents. We ask that only one adult accompanies your child to and from the nursery. There will be a familiar member of staff waiting at the gate to welcome your child into the nursery, within the outdoor area. Please ensure your child has dressed appropriately for the weather. The adult will then assist your child, helping them with personal belongings. We regret that at this time, adults are not able to enter the nursery building. If staff needs to invite parents into the building, hand sanitiser will be available at entry/exit zones for general use. Provisions will be in place to ensure physical distancing and infection control measures are maintained.

 

Key Groups

The staff team has developed three key groups of children and wherever possible, have placed children with their friends. Children will remain in these groups during their time at nursery with their designated Key Worker. The staff will continue to review the groups and in consultation with parents, make changes if necessary, to address the needs of your child. We know that for some of our children, this is their first time in the nursery so; additional staff members will be present to support our new starts in their new environment.

Risk Assessment

A risk assessment has been carried out and appropriate action has been taken to ensure robust procedures are in place within the nursery setting allowing for a safe return. Over the summer period, it has been cleaned using electrostatic spray and staff will continue with regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces throughout the nursery day. This essential requirement will not impact on your child’s learning experiences. Children will also wash their hands on arrival at the nursery which they will repeat regularly during the session, being encouraged to do so, using social stories, videos and songs.

Contact with Parents

Following the Scottish Government and WL Council guidelines, we are confident that the arrangements being put in place for our return to the nursery will ensure a smooth transition and the safety of all.

We are committed to offering our full support to parents and have made arrangements to contact parents directly, on, Monday, 10th of August 2020, to discuss your child’s return, medical information and inform you of your child’s key worker. Please be advised that the call is likely to be made from a private or unknown number.

Further information on the full detailed plan for our return, including all the specific arrangements will be published on, Monday 10th of August 2020.

We know that not all parents, especially those of our new children, may not be aware of our school Blog or may not visit it regularly. For that reason, we would ask that you share these details with others who would benefit from knowing the arrangements.

Please enjoy the last few days of the holiday, stay safe and well and we look forward to welcoming you all very soon.

Regards,

The Nursery Team.

BLOG POST Word Document

 

Sumdog Challenge – Come on St Joseph’s

Welcome to the contest!

Sumdog’s West Lothian is now underway.

As it progresses, you’ll find the latest scores on the leaderboards:

Contest leaderboards

In case it’s useful, we’ve got some helpful support pages showing you how to play:

How to play

We hope you all enjoy the contest! If you would like to enter more classes, you can still do so:

Manage your entry

Best of luck to St Joseph’s Primary !

Apply for Clothing Grant, Free School Meals and Free Milk

If you have not applied for Free School Meals, Milk and Clothing Grant check out the information below:

Families in receipt of the following will be eligible for Free School Meals and a Clothing Grant:

  • Income Support / Pension Credit
  • Income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance
  • Any Income-Related element of Employment and Support Allowance
  • Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit with an annual income of £7,330 or less
  • Universal Credit where “take-home pay” does not exceed £610.

Families in receipt of the following will be eligible for a Clothing Grant only

  • Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit with an annual income of £16,105 or less
  • Universal Credit where “take-home pay” does not exceed £1,342.

All children in primary 1, 2 and 3 will receive free school lunches, regardless of financial circumstances, however families who are in receipt of the above benefits should complete an application to ensure their child receives free milk and a clothing grant.

School Pupils

Applications can be made by completing our online form. You may need to send us evidence of your benefits to support your application. Any Tax Credit Award Notices should show a confirmed income for 2019/2020.

Emails/letters from Education Services and school Group Call texts will be sent to parents, as a reminder to apply, however applications can be made at any time. We will contact families directly if we already know they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

Nursery Children

If your child attends one of our early learning and childcare establishments for full day provision, and you are eligible for free school meals, a lunch will be provided on the days your child attends. You can apply using the link below;

Clothing grants are not paid to children attending early learning and childcare.

 

First Communions

Some of the children in P4 were due to receive their First Holy Communion on Saturday 6th June. Unfortunately we have had to postpone our big day however the boys and girls still wanted to mark their big day with a video, which we’d like to share with you (click on the link below to view).

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the coming days.

Thank you,

First Communicants

https://vimeo.com/426158775

 

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