Category Archives: Newsletter

Newsletter, Nursery Newsletters

November Newsletter

Leave a comment

Dear Parent/Carer

It was very encouraging to see so many parents at parent’s night. The children were all keen to know what was going to be said about them and I hope there were no surprises when parents discussed what the outcomes were. Every child, it is hoped, will know how they are progressing in their learning and be able to discuss the targets they have set themselves in conjunction with their teachers. It is extremely important that children know what the next steps in their learning are to enable them to challenge themselves and make progress. It is also very encouraging to know that some pupils have gained a bronze award in their personal achievements through the I-Achieve process. It is equally important that as well as attainment in school outside achievements are recognised, please encourage your children to record these and be recognised for them.

Primary 6 and Primary 7 children had a very successful residential to Loch Inch with many children overcoming fears and reservations to take part in skiing lessons and sailing activities. Every member of staff, with the children, said how proud they were that everyone demonstrated a ‘have a go’ attitude. Well done to all the children who gave of their very best.

The children across all stages  are presently looking at Mid Calder as their IDL and it is with great anticipation I look forward to the open afternoon to not only share your child’s learning but to celebrate 40 years of Mid Calder Primary School. We look forward to welcoming you into school on the 22nd of November from 1.30pm. Specific details will be sent out nearer the time but it is hoped you will put this date in your diary.

Please look on our school blog for our diary dates for the rest of this term.

Mary McKenzie

November newsletter

November newsletter page 2 

Dates For Your Diary – parents

Newsletter, Nursery, Nursery Newsletters, School News

Nursery Newsletter August

Leave a comment

Dear Parent/Carer,

It has been a busy and exciting first week in our new nursery building with the return of our preschool children and welcoming new families and children to our school.

Our nursery motto is ‘playing to learn, learning to play’ and that has been evident as the children explore their new building and resources. The staff worked hard over the holidays to ensure the learning environment was set up and ready for the new school term, and it lovely to hear positive feedback from you all.

It is great to see so many of you choosing to wear our new nursery uniform, which was designed by a pupil last session. This helps to give the nursery a sense of identity in the larger school community.

We would like to welcome Mrs Williamson and Mrs Murphy who are new early years practitioners in our nursery team.

We look forward to seeing you all at Meet the Teacher on Thursday 7th September at 6:30. This is a session for parents and carers, which will let you find out about learning in the nursery and how you can support your child at home.

Miss Burton

Depute Head Teacher

Nursery August Newsletter

Newsletter, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7, School News

September School Newsletter

Leave a comment

Dear Parent/Carer

When we left school for the holidays in June everything seemed in place for the start of the new school session, but we have begun the session with no P7 teacher. We are very pleased Miss Tuke has secured a permanent position as principal teacher in East Lothian but it has altered the planning we had in place for our upper primary children. However, we have been very fortunate to have Mr Clancy return to the school and he will work with Mrs Redmond to teach the P7 class until we have a new Acting PT in position. Despite this setback we have had a very good start to the new term and the children seem very settled in their new classes. The new Primary 1 children have already embraced the school routine for coming in with Miss Prior and Mrs Walker having lovely quiet classes to begin the day.

The children have been looking at the school aims, with each class taking an aim and looking closely at what it means for us in our school. They will present to each other at our assembly this week so everyone will be aware of what the aims mean to the children and staff and that these are the aims we will live and learn by.

I have high expectations of what I believe our children can achieve and having spent a lot of time in classes over the first few days I believe our children and staff have high aspirations of what they can achieve. I thought I would share a poem about always doing your best and if we all do our best then we can reach these aspirations we have!                                                                                                                                                                                                    Mary McKenzie

2017.08.27 Ist newsletter of 2017-18

2017.8.28 page 2 ist newsletter 2017 – 18

 

 

Newsletter, Nursery, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7

June Newsletter

Leave a comment

Dear Parents / Carers,

Here we are approaching the end of another school year. We have had many highlights since the beginning of the session and it will conclude with the same excitement. From Nursery to P7 the children will have their own special memory to look back on. It could be their performance in the Nativity, the production of Alice, their Remarkable Reader Award or Stem Award, a Living the Values certificate or an achievement recognised through I – Achieve. It may even be the completion of an amazing piece of work, coming up with a theme for new learning, presenting at a conference or sharing learning at their class assembly. As a school our highlights have been many but a few are, sharing our digital learning with colleagues from across West Lothian, being recognised for our achievement in peer mediation from both out with and within West Lothian, the monies we have raised for various charities and the food the children collected for local food banks. The list could go on, but I think what is most important is that every child has tried their best in everything they have completed and these accolades help us to say that they do.

 

I would like to thank the members of the PSA for all their fund raising events this year; they have worked relentless to raise money for our playground and to improve the space for the children. The grand total is over £10,000, which is a massive achievement. The Pupil Council will take time to get feedback from all children about what they would like for the playground and feed this back to the PSA to move this forward in the new year.     I hope you have a safe and happy holiday.

Mary McKenzie

June newsletter final (1)

Newsletter, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7

Newsletter

Leave a comment

Dear Parents / Carers,

What an exciting but extremely busy term ahead for everyone involved with Mid Calder Primary School.

Primary 7 have begun the countdown for  transition to High School and the nursery children have started transition arrangements for moving up to P1. It is an exciting but nervous time for them and I am sure as parents you will experience the same feelings.

 

May newsletter

Newsletter

March Newsletter

Leave a comment

Dear Parents / Carers,

Here we are with Easter almost upon us and what a busy term we have had so far!

Many classes have been out on field visits to enhance their learning and build on previous knowledge and understanding of the topics they have been exploring. We have had very enjoyable assemblies where the children have then demonstrated this knowledge through interesting and fun presentations.

We are also very proud to let you know that our Peer Mediation Team  were put forward for the Stellar Awards in conjunction with West Lothian Council Education Services and were chosen as overall winners for their category. A huge well done to them!

Many children have also reached the stage when they are achieving their I – Achieve bronze and silver awards, again a huge well done to them. Please keep up to date with all learning and happenings at our school through Mid Calder school blog.

Mary McKenzie

Feb -March newsletter

Newsletter

January Newsletter

Leave a comment

Dear Parents / Carers,

I do hope you had a lovely Christmas. I would like to wish everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year.

The children have all settled back into school routine and are now thinking about their next topics, including learning a Scottish Poem for the Burns competition.

Having completed an audit about our resources for Reading and Spelling we have begun to update and extend the resources within the school. It is lovely to get new books into circulation and supply the children with high quality resources to use both at home and in school. I would like to thank all parents who took time to complete our evaluations; this information will feed into our School Improvement Plan and help determine how we continue to take it forward. Our staff have been working closely with West Calder cluster schools to further develop the understanding of ‘Growth Mindsets’, ‘Building learning Power’ and ‘Visible Learning’. They will be, in conjunction with all cluster staff, implementing small tests of change within their classrooms. Information to report on the outcomes will be available to parents on our Standards and Quality leaflet next session.

School is not just about children extending their knowledge but about everyone within our learning community ‘learning’ in some capacity. We intend to have another open afternoon this session, to share our learning with you. We hope you will put this date in your diary and come along and enjoy seeing what your children are achieving. The date for this will be Wednesday 15th march at 1.30pm. If you have any ‘skills’ or ‘expert knowledge’ you would be will to share with staff and children in our school please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Mary McKenzie

jan-newsletter

Newsletter, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7

October Newsletter

Leave a comment

Dear Parent/Carer

Where has a full term gone?

Throughout the school the children have been learning about many different topics and the classrooms are looking bright and inviting. Some children have been experiencing outdoor learning this term and the children were very excited when they came back to explain what they had been doing and what they had seen. It is great that new opportunities arise which keep the children enthusiastic about their learning and give them ownership of how to take the learning experience forward. It also gives them the opportunity to explore different ways of learning; sometimes the classroom is not always the best place to enthuse children. I would like to thank the parents who helped on these trips because without helpers these outings could not go ahead. If you are a parent/carer with a few extra hours and feel you could offer help please call at the office and complete a PVG form and we could add you to our list of helpers.

We are almost at a full complement of staff and following very recent interviews we, hopefully, will have a new teacher starting soon. This will be after all West Lothian Council checks are carried out and when they can be released form their own school. This will give class teachers a regular professional dialogue opportunity through time out of class with our support for learning also back to a full balance of hours.

I hope everyone has a lovely break and I look forward to seeing all the children back on Tuesday 25th October 2016

Mary McKenzie

Pages 1-2

Pages 3-4

Newsletter, Nursery, Nursery Newsletters

Nursery Newsletter – October

Leave a comment

Dear Parent/Carer,

The children have all settled into the new school year and are confidently making new friends and learning the Nursery routines. We have created a community contract so that the children have an opportunity to discuss what they would like to learn at Nursery and what it should feel like to be part of our Nursery.

Thanks to all of you who attended our Meet the Teacher Session, if you were unable to attend you can access the information on the school blog: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/wl/mcps/2016/09/09/nursery-learning-letter/

You can keep up to date with our learning on the school blog by clicking on Learning Stories, Nursery: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/wl/mcps/category/learning-stories/nursery-am/

As a staff team we have been collaborating with our cluster nurseries and have visited Polbeth, St. Ninian’s and Riverside Nurseries to investigate how they are implementing new nursery planning advice and guidance.

Miss Burton

Depute Head Teacher

nursery-newsletter-october

Newsletter

September Newsletter 2016

Leave a comment

Dear Parent/Carer

We have had a very good start to the new term and the children seem very settled in their new classes. The new Primary 1 children have already conquered the school routine for coming in with Mrs Smith and Mrs George having lovely quiet classes to begin the day. The new staff members, including myself, are getting to know the school, the children and each other. I feel it is of extreme importance that we all work together, get to know each other as a school community and build upon the previous good work that has been achieved in our school. I do look forward to meeting parents at our ‘meet the teacher’ evening and hope that we will build strong links to ensure our children are at the forefront of everything we do.

The children have been looking at the school values, with each class taking one value and looking closely at what it means for us in our school. They will present to each other at our assembly this week so everyone will be aware of what the values mean to the children and staff and that these are the values we will live and learn by.

I have high expectations of what I believe our children can achieve and having spent a lot of time in classes over the first few days I believe the children have high aspirations of what they can achieve. I thought I would share a poem with you and maybe you can help them on the way.                                                                                                                                                          Mary McKenzie

A Child

You have many talents,
of that I am sure.
Your dreams are beautiful,
innocent and pure.

Use your imagination,
to learn and explore.
Just like a bird,
you’ll be able to soar.

You’re still very young,
and some have much ahead.
Your love for life
may you joyously spread.

The paths that you choose,
I’ll support and believe.
If you commit in your mind,
you shall definitely achieve

Remember to smile,
each morning and day.
Feed your mind with books,
and body through play.

Don’t pay attention,
to trends or mere fashions.
Use your heart and imagination,
to follow dreams and your passions.

page 2

page 3