Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to our new term and a brand new year. We hope everyone had a good festive season.
Staff Carpark
The Staff carpark at the front of our school is out of bounds for children at all times. This is a very busy little car park as it is also our delivery area and area for the uplift of school dustbins. Please do not allow the children to use this as a short cut at any time.
School Uniform
Thank you for yet again ensuring that most children have returned to school wearing their uniforms. Wearing school uniform plays a very important part in ensuring that children display a good attitude and behaviour standards are maintained.
Telephone Numbers
Please keep the school informed of any changes to home or mobile telephone numbers. This is particularly important at this time of year as colds and bugs spread quickly among children.
Extra Curricular Activities
We are fortunate to offer many different ‘After School Clubs’ to our pupils. We try to ensure all children have the chance to take part. I would like to say a big thank you to Lauren, our Active Schools Coordinator, to fifth and sixth year pupils from Greenwood Academy, College studentsand our school staff who give up their time to do this.
Can I please ask you to inform the school office if your child cannot attend a club they have signed up for? This saves a lot of time having to phone parents to ensure children are safe.
Term 3 we will have:
Tuesday- Fun Fitness for P2 and P3, 3.00-3.45
Wednesdays- Football for P5-7, 3-4 (outside every week, bring outdoor clothes)
Wednesdays- Multi Sports for P4-5, 3.00-4.00pm
Friday- Street Dance for P4-7, 3-4pm, 2nd Feb,16th Feb, 23rd Feb, 2nd Mar
-Street Dance for P1-3, 3-4pm, 9th Mar, 16th Mar
Term 4
Mondays- Netball for P6,7
Tuesdays- Cycling Proficiency, P6,7
Wednesdays- Spanish P4,5
Thursday- Badminton P6,7
We are now using the text system to ask for parents’ permission to allow children to attend after school clubs. Please text back with the exact wording from the text so we know your child’s name and which club you wish them to attend.
Scottish Verse Speaking Competition
The children have all been working hard to learn their Scottish poems. Mrs Margaret Cook, who is a member of Burns Lasses Club, will be in school to judge the children’s efforts on Wednesday 7th February, 2018 in the morning. Mrs Cook is always very appreciative of the children’s efforts and gives them excellent advice on how to improvetheir recitation.
Tartan Day
On Thursday 8th February children are asked to wear a piece of tartan to school. This is a small celebration to finish off our Scottish topics. The certificates for the verse speaking competition will be given out that day.
Early Years Class
Registration for Early Years aged children is on Monday 29th January and Tuesday 30thJanuary from 9.15-11.30
On Thursday 29th March the Early Years Classes will have a shorter session as school closes at 2.30pm on that day. The morning class times will be 9.30-11.30am and the afternoon class times will be 12.30-2.30pm.
School Photographs
The Tempest photographer will be in school on Wednesday 14th March in the morning for individual and family photographs. If you have any other children who are not school aged children, they can be brought in at 9am to have photos taken with their family.
P7 Arran Trip
P7 will be going to Arran on Monday 19th March – Friday 23rd March. There will be a meeting for children and parents about this trip on Monday 19th February, 3-4pm. Parents will be shown slides of Arran Outdoor Centre and have a chat about the activities and the equipment the children will use. Staff from Arran centre are no longer able to do school visits so this meeting will be taken by Mrs M. Shedden (HT).This year Miss Sneddon, Mr Baillie and Mrs McFadzean will accompany the children to Arran.
Bikes and Scooter Racks
Please remind children that they should not cycle or go on scooters in the playground at any time as there are too many young children entering and leaving the school. The bikes and scooters should be put in to the appropriate racks to keep the grassy area clear.
School Website
We have a new school website which has lots of information about what is happening in school. Details of School Improvement Plan, Standards and Quality Report, School’s Self Evaluation, Class Information letters, Newsletters, photos etc. will all be on the website
Breakfast Club
You will already have received your letter telling you about our breakfast club which is starting on Monday 19th February. The times are 8.25-8.55am. Please return your permission slips as soon as possible if you wish your child to attend.
Read, Write Count Bags
Children in Primary 2 and 3 will again be gifted Read, Write Count Bags from Scottish government. We are planning to have two parental engagement activities looking at the books and the activities suggested around reading, writing and counting. These afternoons will be on Wednesday 21st February and Wednesday 28th February, 2-3pm. All parents of primary 2 and primary 3 children are invited to take part.
Class topics
The children are all completing a mini topic on Scotland before starting their big Curriculum for Excellence topics:
P1/2 - Space
P2/3 - Knights and Castles
P3/4 - The Romans
P5/6 - The Egyptians
P6/7 - Space
The children will become immersed in these topics and look forward to sharing this with you at our School Open Afternoon on Friday 16thMarch at 1.45pm. Please come along and see our excellent work. The children may be signed out to be with you on that day, but may not leave the school premises before 2.30pm.
Parents Nights
Our parent night this year will be on Wednesday 28th March. All the parent appointments will be taking place on the same day and will start at 3.10pm and finish at 8.30pm. Appointment slips will be sent home with children early in March. This is an opportunity for you to meet and discuss your child’s progress with their class teacher.
Primary 7 visit to Greenwood
Primary 7 pupils who will be attending Greenwood will have their second visit on Wednesday 1st February 9.15-12.30pm. Children will need their gym kit on this day.
Gym Kit
Some children have been unable to take part in gym lessons as they have not had appropriate gym kit with them or have grown out of it. Can I please ask that you ensure your child has gym kit with them as it is important for all children to have weekly gym lessons.
Street Dance
The children who have been attending Street Dance will have the opportunity to take part in the Greenwood Cluster Dance Show on Monday 27th March, 6.00-7.30pm.
The Street Dance after school club, for those who have already been attending, will restart on Friday 2nd February for P4-7 for
Outdoor Education Day
Our Outdoor Education Day for term 3 will be on Tuesday 28th March, 2017. Please ensure children come to school on that day wearing clothes appropriate for the weather.
Parental Engagement
We have had several parental engagement activities over the last two terms and hope to continue to build on this. Details of class parental activities will be with you in the near future.
World Book Day
World Book day is on Thursday 1stMarch. Children can come to school on this day dressed as a character from a book. We will have different activities throughout the day based around stories and books.
Diary Dates
Thursday 1st FebruaryP6 visit to the Burns’ Club, Irvine,
Friday 2nd FebruaryP7 visit to Greenwood, 9.15-12.30
Friday 9th FebruaryHoliday
Monday 12th FebruaryHoliday
Tuesday 13th FebruaryHoliday
Wednesday 14th FebruaryIn-Service day, staff in only
Monday 19th FebruaryP7 Parents’ meeting about Arran
Wednesday 21st February, 2-3pmRead, Write, Count, P2&3 Parents Activity
Wednesday 28th February, 2-3pmRead, Write, Count, P2&3 Parents Activity
Wednesday 14th MarchTempest School photographs
Monday 19th to Friday 23rd MarchP7 to Arran
Monday 26th March, 6.30-8.00pmGreenwood Cluster Dance Show
Wednesday 28th March, 3.10-8.30Parents’ night
Thursday 29th March Easter Service, 9.30am followed by
Daffodil Tea
School closes on Thursday 29th March at 2.30pm for the holidays.
School re-opens onMonday 16th April, 2018at 9.00am.
Yours sincerely,
M. Shedden
Head Teacher