School Information Line for Snow Closures, Etc

Banff Primary School Newsletter

September 2017

Academy Drive

Banff

AB45 1BL

Telehone:

01261 813100

Email:

Website:

School information line for snow closures, etc:

0870 054 4999 PIN 021320

Banff Primary School Newsletter

September 2017

Banff Primary School Newsletter

September 2017

Welcome back!

We hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable summer holiday. It was good to see the children happy to be back at school. They all looked so smart in their new school uniforms. A reminder - please name all the new school clothes so they can be returned to the rightful owners if misplaced. Thank you.

Acting Head Teacher

Mrs Roselynn Birnie has been appointed to the position of Acting Head Teacher from 21st August 2017 until January 2018. Mrs Birnie is an experienced Head Teacher and is delighted to be working in Banff Primary school.

The permanent position of Head Teacher has been advertised and the recruitment process has started.

Staffing

We would like to welcome a new teacher to Banff Primary School,Miss Katie Coolidge P5 and Miss Christine Steiner, Early Years Lead Practitioner in Nursery.

School Meals

The cost of a school meal has increased to £2.20 from August 2017. Schools meals for P1–P3 pupils are free, meals for pupils in P4-P7 should be purchased using the online payment system.

Please ensure your account remains in credit at all times.

Primary 1

The new Primary 1 pupils have settled into school life very well and have completed 2 weeks of attending school in the morning only. From Friday 1st September 2017they will be in school all day from 8.55am – 3pm.

Reporting to Parents

The School Reporting Calendaris being reviewed and will be issued to parents once this is complete.

Parent Council

The next Parent Council meeting is to be held on Thursday 14thSeptember at 7.00pm in the school staff room. The Parent Council AGM will be held at the end of September and all parents are welcome to come to this meeting. It would be especially good to see parents of our new pupils. Please come along and find out how you can help out with Parent Council activities. It is not a big time commitment as there is usually just 1 meeting a term so please come along – and bring a friend!

P7 Residential Trip to Dalguise

The pupils in P7 will take part in a residential trip to Dalguise from 20th to 22nd September 2017. Miss Conn, Deputy Head Teacher will lead the trip and will be supported by 3 other members of school staff.

Attendance

Attendance at school is closely monitored by Aberdeenshire Council and it is important to arrive at school for 8.55am each day. It is also important for family holidays to be taken within the school holidays as time off for holiday during the school term is recorded as unauthorised absence. Pupils can also miss significant parts of their learning and it is not possible for teachers to go over what has been missed.

Parent Helpers

We are looking for some additional Parent Helpers in school to support with various activities, learning in class, in the playground and on school trips. If you have some free time and would be interested in helping out in school please contact the school office for a volunteer application form.

Flu Jab

The NHS are offering all pupils in P1 -7 the Flu Jab as last year and a letter providing information is enclosed with this newsletter. The Flu Jab is optional and parents/carers are required to give their consent before it will be administered. Please can we ask that you complete and return the

consent form in the letter pack before Friday 15th September 2017. Please complete and return the form even if you do not wish your child to receive the Flu Jab by indicating this in the options on the letter.

Parent Meetings/Christmas Card Artwork

Parent Meetings with class teachers will take place on Wednesday 11th October 2017 from 3.30pm – 6pm.

This year pupils will take part in designing their own Christmas Card and the artwork will be on display during parent meetings when you will be able to place an order.

Big Conversation Questionnaire

The Director of Education and Children’s Services, Maria Walker, has asked Head Teachers to discuss with you what you feel makes a good partnership.

Questionnaires have been prepared to gather parent views to support the development of a document which would illustrate how we, Aberdeenshire Council work together for our children, schools and communities. The questionnaires will be sent out to you and there will be an opportunity for you to come in to school to discuss the questions to further support this development.

Education Scotland

Following the visit from a team of inspectors from Education Scotland in May 2017 to Banff Primary School and Nursery the report of findings will be issued in the next few weeks and will be available for parents to view.

Dogs on School Grounds

For health and safety reasons dogs should not be walked in the school grounds or be in the school grounds when parents come to drop off and collect pupils.

Bikes to School

Just a reminder that pupils should always wear a helmet when riding their bike to school and stay safe when on the streets and the playground.

Groupcall Xpressions App

Thank you to everyone who has

updated their email address and mobile phone details with us.

Please download the free app

“Expressions” if you have not

already done so. Help can be

found by going to the website

below and following the

instructions:-

setup/1st-time-user/

From October 2017 we will be using this system for all communications, there will be no further emails. Paper copies will only be available in exceptional circumstances.

Guidance to use of Social Media

Please see the attached guidance for use of social mediafor parents to support positive relationships between home and school.

School Library Volunteers

We are looking for parent/family volunteers to support the running of the school library. Days and hours are flexible. Please contact the school office if you would like to help out. We greatly appreciate any support given.

Banff Primary School Newsletter

September 2017

School Events: September - October 2017