Carmunnock Primary

School Handbook

January 2011

Contents

  1. Headteacher’s Introduction,
  2. School Values and Aims,
  3. School Information
  4. Castlemilk New Learning Community
  5. CarmunnockSchool Staff
  6. Headteacher Remit
  7. Principal Teacher Remits
  8. School Hours and School Year
  9. Enrolment
  10. How Good Is Our School ………What Our Pupils Say!
  11. Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting
  12. English Language
  13. Modern Languages, Maths,Environmental Studies,Enterprise Educ.
  14. Expressive Arts
  15. Information & Communication Technology/Structured Play
  16. Health Education/Personal & Social Development/Citizenship
  17. Religious & Moral Education
  18. Equal Opportunities & Social Inclusion/dealing with Racial Harassment
  19. Additional Support Needs/Accessibility Strategy/Additional Support for Learning
  20. Homework
  21. Extra Curricular Activities
  22. Clothing & Uniform
  23. School Discipline
  24. Supervision of Playgrounds
  25. HomeSchool Links
  26. School Board
  27. Attendance at School
  28. Attendance & Absence Data
  29. Transport
  30. Medical & Health Care
  31. Child Safety/Child Protection Policy
  32. Transfer from Primary to Secondary School
  33. Data Protection Act 1998/Freedon of Information(Scotland) Act 2002
  34. Comments & Complaints

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Welcome to CarmunnockPrimary School’s Handbook. I hope you find the information interesting and useful. We are a happy, caring school where everyone is valued and treated with respect.

Primary school is among the most important and enjoyable experiences of a child’s formative years. In their seven years with us our pupils learn not only key educational skills but also develop themselves socially, morally and culturally. Our school prides itself in its positive, inclusive ethos which celebrates our children’s achievements not only academically but in a wider sense.

A strong home-school partnership will ensure that your child will make good progress and I am always willing to answer any queries or address concerns you may have. In return I would ask for you to support your child by becoming actively involved in their education.

I look forward to getting to know your child and yourself over the next few years and thank you for entrusting our school with your child’s education.

Yours,

Margaret Macleod

Headteacher

Shared Values

Wellbeing: we aim to be safe, secure, happy and healthy

Equality: we believe everyone deserves the same opportunities

Community: we work together in our class, school and our community

Achievement: we always do our best and are proud of what we can do

Respect: we respect ourselves, others and our environment

Each other: we treat others with kindness and consideration

These core values were drawn up in full consultation with staff, pupils and parents and reflect the principles which underpin our actions and practice at Carmunnock.

School Aims

  1. To maximise the attainment of our pupils, particularly in Literacy and Numeracy.
  2. To provide high quality learning opportunities which enable each of our children to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
  3. To foster an ethos of achievement, inclusion and equality in which all members of the school community are happy, secure and valued.
  4. To work in positive partnership with pupils, parents and the wider community.

School Information

Name: CarmunnockPrimary School

Address: 158 Waterside Road

Carmunnock

Glasgow

G76 9AJ

Telephone: 0141 644 4164

Fax: 0141 644 0872

Email:

School Website:

GlasgowCity Council – Going to School website:

Carmunnock Primary is a co-educational, non-denominational primary school, with stages from P1-7.

Present Roll: 177 pupils

Stage / P1 / P2 / P3 / P4 / P5 / P6 / P7
Number / 24 / 24 / 30 / 23 / 27 / 23 / 26

Working Capacity – 231 Planning Capacity – 217

It should be noted that the working capacity of a school may vary dependent upon the number of pupils at each stage and the way in which the classes are organised.

Community Facilities

After the school day the building is also used for the following:

MondayYouth Club 6.45 – 8.45pm

TuesdayKarate Club 6.30 – 9.30pm (3 sessions)

WednesdayFootball Practice 6.45 – 9pm (3 sessions)

ThursdayFootball Team 6.30-9.30pm

Applications for the use of the school should be made in writing to,

Glasgow City Council,

Letting Section,

20 Trongate

Glasgow

G1 5ESTelephone: 0141 287 6802/03

Parent Council

The school has a Parent Council which works in partnership with the school to enhance and improve the children’s school experience.

PTA

The PTA is a sub-committee of the Parent Council and works hard to support the school by fundraising and developing a social network for parents and families.

Pupil Council

Our Pupil Council is elected each session and has two children from each class from P2-7. It’s role is to be the voice of the pupils. They meet twice monthly.

Castlemilk Learning Community

Carmunnock Primary is an active member of Castlemilk Learning Community. Each partner establishment’s Headteacher belongs to the Learning Community Senior Management Team. They meet monthly to plan joint initiatives. We have the expertise of Health and Fitness Co-ordinators and also an Enterprise Officer to assist us in providing wider learning contexts for our children.

The seven partners in Castlemilk New Learning Community are:

Arnwood Day Nursery

CarmunnockPrimary School

Castlemilk Family Learning Centre

CastlemilkHigh School

CastletonPrimary School

KirkriggsSchool

MillerPrimary School

School Business Manager:Ms Adele Bowman

c/o CastlemilkHigh School

Telephone: 0141 582 0050

Glossary of Terms

Assessment / An evaluation of how a child is progressing in their learning
Additional Support Needs (ASN) / Extra or specialised supports, outwith regular provision, required for a child to reach their potential
Catchment / The local area where children live and automatically attend a given school
Co-operative Teaching / Two teachers working together to teach a class
CPD / The ongoing training of staff (Continuing Professional Development)
Curriculum / The subjects taught in school across the stages
Eco-School / A school which has a special focus on health, ecology and sustainability
Enterprise / Activities which allow children to develop important life skills such as co-operation, creativity and an awareness of the world of work
Ethos / The “feel” of a school – particularly in reference to values, behaviour, and the social development of children
Extra-Curricular / Activities outwith the normal class teaching eg after-school clubs
Formative assessment / Assessment which focuses on the gap between present performance and desired goal. To be formative, the information gathered must be used to plan next steps towards this goal.
Learning Community / A group of schools who work together
School Improvement Plan / The plan of how a school proposes to improve year by year.
School Business Manager / Person in the area who helps the schools with administration and budgets
5-14 / A programme of national guidelines for learning from P1-S2. This is being replaced by the Curriculum For Excellence

.

Carmunnock Primary Staff Team

Headteacher: Miss Margaret Macleod

Principal Teachers: Miss Karen Aitchison

Mrs Zahida Din

Class Teachers (as at December 2009)

P1 – Mrs Elaine Kitsakis

P2 – Mrs Janette Paterson

P3 – Mrs Sadie Gibb

P4 – Mrs Shona Fraser

P5 – Mrs Gillian Browne

P6 – Mr Andrew Welch

P7 – Mrs Carol Frazer

Pupil Support Assistants (Classroom)

Mrs Lorraine Davitt

Mrs Tricia McCormack

Pupil Support Assistants (Additional Support Needs)

Mrs Katrina Aitchison

Mrs Caroline Davidson

Admin Support Assistants

Mrs Margaret Sanderson

Mrs Irene McGown

Janitor

Mr Brian Ashe

Cleaning Staff

Mrs Marie Blake

Ms Mary Watson

Kitchen Staff

Irene Newall

Jacquie Marr

Sandra Taylor

Promoted Staff Remits

Headteacher: Miss Margaret Macleod

Curricular Responsibilities:

  • Co-ordinator for Maths, Expressive Arts, Social Subjects

Pastoral Responsibilities:

  • Leading whole school assemblies
  • Promoting Positive Behaviour and Behaviour Management
  • Child welfare and protection
  • Inter-agency liaison

Management Responsibilities:

  • School effectiveness and continuous improvement
  • Staff management and development
  • Monitoring pupil attainment and achievement
  • Quality Assurance
  • School Improvement Planning
  • Professional Advisor to the Parent Council
  • Implementation of Council Policies
  • Health and Safety
  • Enrolment and attendance
  • Management of budget and resources
  • Management of communications
  • Management of the corporate life of the school
  • Member of PTA
  • Member of Learning Community Senior Management Team

Miss Karen Aitchison – Principal Teacher

Teaching Responsibilities:

  • 0.4 co-operative teaching P1-3

Curricular Responsibilities:

  • Co-ordinator for RE, Citizenship, Health and Wellbeing, French
  • Eco-Schools
  • Development of active learning, P1-3

Pastoral Responsibilities:

  • Leading assemblies P1-3
  • Pastoral care for P1-3
  • Promoting Positive Behaviour and Behaviour Management P1-3

Management Responsibilities:

  • Supporting colleagues, in particular reference to the infant stages
  • Development of Pre-5 liaison and Induction Programme
  • Parental links, P1-3
  • Responsibility for students, P1-3
  • CPD co-ordinator
  • Assisting the Headteacher in the daily management of the school
  • Member of PTA

Mrs Zahida Din – Principal Teacher

Teaching Responsibilities:

  • Additional Support for Learning P1-7

Curricular Responsibilities:

  • Development of Literacy programme and policy
  • Co-ordinator for Science and Technologies
  • Lead Learning CommunityLiteracy group
  • Teaching for Effective Learning co-ordinator

Pastoral Responsibilities:

  • Leading assemblies P4-7
  • Pastoral care for P4-7
  • Promoting Positive Behaviour and Behaviour Management P4-7

Management Responsibilities:

  • Supporting colleagues, in particular reference to the upper school
  • Overseeing P7-S1 transition
  • Parental links, P4 – 7
  • Responsibility for students, P4-7
  • ASL co-ordinator
  • Assisting the Headteacher in the daily management of the school

School Hours

Our school hours are:

School starts – 9.00am

Morning Break - 10.30am – 10.45am

Lunch – 12.15pm – 1.00pm

School finishes – 3.00pm

Primary 1 attend school mornings only until the first week in September.

Breakfast Club
The Big Breakfast is a free service open to all pupils and offers cereal, milk, toast and fruit juice. If your child requires special dietary or medical needs and intends to attend the breakfast service please contact 0141-353 9237 so suitable arrangements can be made.
Service starts: 8.15 am Any pupils arriving prior to this time will be in the playground unsupervised.
Breakfast is served: 8.15 am - 8.45 am to pupils who arrive during these times and go to the dining hall, register attendance and eat breakfast under adult supervision.
Access to playground: 8.45 am - 9.00 am. Pupils leave dining hall and go to the playground and mix with pupils who have not attended the breakfast service.

Carmunnock After School Care

There is an After School Care facility in the school which runs on school days between 7.45- 9.00 am and from 3pm to 6pm. There is also holiday child care provision.

Contact Monica Sweeney for further details on 0797 438 4766.

The School Year

2010-11

Return Date for Teachers / Thursday 12 August 2010
Return Date for Pupils / Monday 16 August 2010
September Weekend / Friday 24 and Monday 27 September 2010
First Mid-Term / Monday 11 to Friday 15 October 2010
(inclusive)
Christmas/New Year / Wednesday 22 December 2010 to Tuesday 4 January 2011
(inclusive)
2011
2011 Return to school / Wednesday 5 January 2011
Second Mid-Term / Monday 14 February and 15 February 2011
Spring Holiday / Monday 4 to Friday 15 April 2011
(inclusive)
Easter Holiday / Friday 22 and Monday 25 April 2011
May Day / Monday 2 May 2011
May Weekend / Friday 27 and Monday 30 May 2011
School Close / Friday 24 June 2011

There are 6 inservice training days in session 2010-11, when the schools will be closed to pupils.

Day 1: Thursday 12 August

Day 2: Friday 13 August

Day 3: Monday 18 October

Day 4: Friday 11th February

Day 5: Wednesday 16 February

Day 6: Tuesday 31st May

Enrolment Into School

Any parents wishing to enrol pupils in our school are very welcome to visit the school. The Headteacher will be happy to conduct a tour of our school and answer any questions.

New Starts – Primary One

When your child is ready to begin school for the first time, you will be asked to bring him/her to school for registration sometime during the month of January. Dates will be announced in the local press, displayed locally and in educational establishments.

You will also need your child’s birth certificate and proof of address e.g. a utility bill in your name.

Children who have been enrolled for Primary 1 will be invited to take part in our Pre-Entrant Programme during the previous summer term. This allows you and your child to be informed about the first few weeks at school.

Other pupils

If you are considering enrolling your child in this school, please contact the Headteacher, Miss Macleod, either by calling personally at the school or by telephoning 0141 644 4164 to make suitable arrangements.

Placing Requests

If parents are not resident within the actual catchment area allocated, we will be happy to help make arrangements for a Placing Request through our School Business Manager. However, you are expected to visit your local primary school to register, even if your child will not enrol there. Limits of space may mean that those failing to make a Placing Request may find they do not have a place kept for them in the school.

Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting to Parents

At Carmunnock we are moving from following the 5-14 Curriculum Guidelines to the new Curriculum For Excellence.

Assessment is on going throughout the year in all areas of the curriculum. Every pupil has an assessment folder, which will show his/her progression from P1-7. These are available for parents to see at any time. Children will also undertake National Assessments in the core subjects of Maths, Reading and Writing whenever the class teacher feels the child is ready. The level your child is working at will be reported to you in his/her school report from the teacher.

Our school reporting calendar allows three opportunities during the school year when parents receive a report on children’s progress. If, at any time, you require more information, we are happy to make an appointment for you.

November/March - Interview by appointment

June - Annual Written Report

English Language

Our Language programme covers the different strands of talking, listening, reading and writing.

Reading

Reading is one of the most important and basic skills your child will learn. By using a variety of resources and teaching approaches, we encourage our pupils to read with expression and understanding and develop a love of books.

The main scheme for P1-3 children is Oxford Reading Tree.Reading books are sent home for nightly reading practice. A language programme is built in and teachers work on aspects of written language at the same time as teaching reading.We also have an Early Literacy programme which helps the children to become better readers and writers at an earlier age. We use Jolly Phonics at the early stages to teach the building blocks of reading and writing.

In P4-7 the core teaching resource is Focus in Literacy. Although there are no home readers linked to thiswe use an approach called Literature Circles. Children will take home real books to read with set tasks to complete. They then discuss this in class within a small group. From time to time classes base their reading and language programme on a children’s novel. Class and school libraries have a great variety of reading material, both fiction and non-fiction. Children are encouraged to read for pleasure both in school and at home.

Writing

Written language covers spelling, grammar, personal, imaginative and descriptive writing, poetry and functional writing. Many teaching approaches are used to encourage children to express themselves in writing. Big Writing is used to develop skills. Nelson Handwriting is used to develop handwriting and presentation skills.

Talking and Listening

We encourage our pupils to express themselves confidently and to listen carefully. We create many opportunities for the children to give talks to a variety of audiences. Children take part in talks, discussions, debates, drama and reciting poetry. Listening for information or to each other is a skill we develop throughout the school.

Modern Languages

In Carmunnock we have four teachers who are qualified to teach French in the primary school. The children begin to follow a formal French programme in Primary 5, although informal lessons are given in P1-3. This is done mostly orally, using everyday vocabulary and conversation.

Mathematics

Much of our mathematics is taught by oral interaction between teacher and pupil. This ensures understanding through active learning i.e. by talking, doing and investigating. Learning of tables and mental maths are also part of the programme. As well as Number work the children study Shape, Position and Movement, Measurement and Information Handling and are given the skills needed for problem solving.

We use a range of resources for teaching maths including Heinemann Maths and TJ textbooks. We also use active learning approaches, especially in the infant stages, to teach and practiceskills and concepts through real experiences.

Social Studies

This includes History, Geography, Societies, Science, Technologies. To cover these, children work through carefully planned topics e.g. Myself, Road Safety, Rain Forests, Victorians, Europe, Electricity & Magnetism.Our aim is to encourage our pupils to become independent learners and to use their knowledge to develop informed attitudes.

Where appropriate, classes visit places of interest in connection with their Topic e.g. Glasgow Landmarks, Science Centre, The Health Centre, Museums etc.

Enterprise Education

Carmunnock has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in this important area and have won many awards for their achievements in this field. Each class takes part in an Enterprise project each year where they will plan, carry out and evaluate a project. The aim is to give our pupils the skills and attitudes that they will require in real life situations e.g. independence, confidence, perseverance, problem solving, communication and co-operation.

Expressive Arts

Art and Design, Music, Drama and Dance play an important part in your child’s education and pupils are taught to develop skills in all four areas. They get the opportunity to put these skills into practice during assemblies and productions as well as taking part in a variety of competitions and community events.

Our aim is not only to give our children the skills they need to use their leisure time in an enjoyable and satisfying way but also to foster the natural talent and creativity that the children have in these areas.