Category Archives: News

Achievements, Events, Nursery, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7, School News, Technical Troopers, Technologies

Mid Calder Primary Wins National Award for Excellence in Digital Teaching and Learning

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Wednesday 6th September – Mid Calder Primary and Nursery School have gained national ‘Digital School’ status for excellence in digital technology in teaching and learning.

The Digital Schools Award recognises the dedication and innovation shown by Mid Calder Primary in areas of leadership and vision, digital technology for learning and teaching, school culture, professional development and resources and infrastructure.

22 primary schools from cities and towns across Scotland were recognised for their work on digital technology in the classroom at a special presentation ceremony.

Recognised by Education Scotland and supported by HP, Microsoft and Intel, the award is designed to encourage and recognise schools that make the best use of digital technology in the classroom.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, said: “This programme positively impacts upon pupils’ motivation to learn as well as recognising achievement by teachers and schools in advancing the integration of technology in the classroom. I commend all the primary schools receiving their digital schools award on their great achievement.”

Depute Head Teacher, Sarah Burton, of Mid Calder Primary, West Lothian said: “The Digital Schools programme offered our  school a supportive structure to evaluate our digital learning journey and where we needed to go.”

“It has also enabled our Technical Troopers pupil group, to take on a valuable leadership opportunity within our school. We are very proud of how digital learning is embedded in our school from nursery to primary 7, and this award was a chance to celebrate this work and share with others.”

Mid Calder Primary in West Lothian is now among 43 Scottish primary schools from across Scotland that are recognised for excellence in digital teaching and learning

 

 

 

 

Newsletter, Nursery, Nursery Newsletters, School News

Nursery Newsletter August

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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

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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

 

 

Class Community Contracts, Community, Health & Wellbeing, Primary 1, School Values, Uncategorized

P1P Class Charter

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During the first two weeks, Primary 1 have been looking at the story of the Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. This story is all about being kind and friendly to others through sharing. We thought this linked well to our own classroom expectations and some of our School Values.

Through various activities we have explored the Rainbow Fish further and have also shared our thoughts and ideas on our school’s values. We used these brilliant ideas to create a Rainbow Fish themed Class Charter that also linked to the UN Rights of the Child.

Each bubble contains something that we think is important for us in and around the classroom and each shell contains one of our school values. We have all signed a scale on the Rainbow Fish to remind ourselves that we have agreed to our Class Charter and will use this throughout Primary 1. Brilliant work Primary 1!

Achievement Awards, Anytime Anywhere Learning, Events, Technical Troopers, Technologies

Digital Schools Award Accreditation

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27th June 2017

Dear Mid Calder Primary,

Following your recent Digital Schools Award Scotland validation visit by June Jelly, I am delighted to inform you that Mid Calder Primary School has been successful in its application to become a Digital School in Scotland.

On behalf of all the partners involved in the Digital Schools Award Scotland I would like to congratulate the whole school on achieving this award.

The Digital School Award is recognised by Education Scotland and we are delighted that your school has been among the first to receive this new award.

We are confident that Mid Calder Primary School will be a pioneer among schools where digitally enhanced teaching and learning is helping our children and young people prepare for living and working in the 21st Century.

Kind regards

Aoife O’Connor

Programme Coordinator
Digital Schools Award Scotland