Newsletter No. 6, December 2006

Dear Parent

In this newsletter, I provide some information about recent events, and give details about Christmas arrangements.  

Parent’s Afternoons and Reports

The recent parent afternoons went very well. We thank you for your attendance and for your comments on the feedback sheets. 

Parents Forum - St Andrew’s Evening Beetle Drive

This was an excellent family evening with all tickets sold and approaching 200 participants. The games were as competitive as usual and the raffle, lucky bags and refreshments well received. Thank you for all the parent and school staff help to make the evening a s success. The parents Forum raised about £450  for funds.

Blythswood Shoe-Boxes

Thank you to all families who have contributed shoe-boxes for the Blythswood Appeal and to Mrs Macleod’s class for organising the collection in school. The boxes have now been taken to the Blythswood Depot for sorting and transporting out to Eastern Europe.

Marie Curie Mini Pots Daffodils

Also thank you for your contributions towards the mini-pots of daffodils planted by our nursery and Primary 1 to 3 pupils. £ 363 was raised for the Marie Curie Charity.

Collections of Tesco Sport and Computer Vouchers and Postage Stamps

We have collected over 15,000 Tesco Sports Vouchers so far. If you have any at home please send them in before end of term so that we can complete the school collection.  Last year we were able to purchase play equipment for the gym, and the playground as well as two movable basketball stands. We also have received two new computers as a result of the ‘Tesco computer vouchers scheme’. These help provide additional computers for the classroom.

Please note that we are also continuing to collect postage stamps for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Christmas Information

As Christmas is approaching, the school is making preparations for the school festivities:

Christmas Cards

 Whole School  Christmas Assembly  with parents

Each year at Lochardil School we do something different for the pupils and parents to celebrate Christmas e.g. musical entertainment, nativity, art shows and assemblies for the pupils  and their parents. Because we have had limited hall space for pupils and parents, we have never been able to accommodate a whole school Christmas Service along with parents. However with the opening of the Culduthel Christian Centre, we have, for the first time, the facility to offer this experience to our pupils and parents in this modern and attractive venue.   

So this Christmas we plan to conclude the term with a whole school Christmas Assembly with parents and friends on the last day of term, Thursday 21^st December.  Weather permitting, we plan to walk the classes across from the school at 9.15 with a view to starting at about 9.45.  During the Service we will sing a number of carols, listen to readings of the Christmas Story, and listen to some Christmas poetry which the children have written.

The poems will also be shared on the school web site and on the programme notes.

 Parents are very welcome to come along and join in with the carols and take part in the Christmas service.

The doors open at about 9.30, and as parking is limited, we encourage parents also to walk to the Centre if possible.  

School Christmas Post – The school runs a Christmas Postal Service. This will start on Monday 11^th December.  The pupils are asked to keep cards at home until this date                                      

 Christmas Parties & Events

The dates and times of Christmas Events are shown below. Please remember that the pupils will require their indoor shoes for dancing and games at the parties. School Funds will cover the cost of most of the expenses and food (pizzas, sausage-rolls, crisps, drinks and ice cream). The teachers may request some voluntary contributions from parents for cakes and biscuits. While we understand parents wish to be generous in this respect, we always have plenty of food, so please adhere to the staff’s guidelines to reduce waste:

End of Term Arrangements

The school will close at the normal times on Thursday 21^st for the Christmas Holidays and reopen on Monday 8^th January. I hope to see you on the morning of our assembly.

 hope you all had a pleasant and enjoyable summer. Thank you again for the high standard of uniform worn by the pupils on return. This adds a strong sense of support and purpose to the school.  Welcome also to our new pupils and parents and staff. 

Classes, Lunch Times, Calendar of Events - Session 2006-07.

Our roll at the start of session stands at 261 and the class arrangements announced before the summer holidays have been put in place.  A reminder that the lunch time for P. 1, 2 & 3 is 12.15 to 1.15; and Primary 4 to 7 have the slightly earlier times of 12.30 to 1.25. The session’s calendar of events, including holiday and in-service dates, will follow with details of staff etc.

 Staff Changes

We regret that Mrs Liz Robertson, our Learning Support Teacher, is being relocated to Kinmylies School. Mrs Robertson has provided excellent support for the teachers and pupils over the last few years. In addition Mrs Jay Rankin, assistant in the kitchen, will be leaving at the end of this week after many years of supporting the provision of meals. The school staff will be thanking both these ladies for their personal contribution to the school and their particular personal interest in the staff and pupils.  We also welcome Mr Jim Aird who has been as appointed as our new school cook.

Family Information- Print outs from Phoenix

At the beginning of the session we need to ensure that family details kept on the school information management system is kept up to date. We would be obliged if parents could check and amend their own family details from printouts to follow next week. In particular, information about emergency contacts and any particular health characteristics are important and should be updated. Thank you for your help in keeping school records accurate. We would also be obliged if you could also supply an e-mail address for future development of electronic communication. 

School Meals & Healthy Morning Snack

 A reminder that the price of a school meal remains £1.50 and tickets should be purchased on Friday for the following week (or month).  Cheques should be made payable to Highland Contract Services with your address on the back. Menus are displayed on the school notice-board, school website and are available from the office.  A healthy snack is also available at interval (payment notes will be issued next week).

School Fund Contributions

School Funds cover the annual expenses that arise from events e.g. Christmas parties, Sports expenses and other events. Last session these items came to over £700. A voluntary contribution is requested from each family of £5 (plus £1 for the Pupil Council) towards meeting these expenses. A return slip is attached and a receipt will be issued from the school. Thank you in anticipation of your contributions.

Helpful School Routines

As usual, at the start of a new session it is important to remind everyone about the simple school routines which make school life easier and safer for all:  

·         Your Child’s clothing and possessions

Please ensure that all your child's clothing and possessions are marked with his or her name or initials. ‘Lost’ items with no names cannot be identified. Valuable items should be left at home.

·         Your Child’s footwear for the classrooms and gym kit

We ask that all children have indoor shoes for gym, assembly and for wearing in the classrooms when outdoor footwear is wet and dirty. This is for their own comfort and safety e.g. for full participation in physical activities and speedy evacuation from the classrooms and hall.              

·         NEW * Notification of reasons for absence

It is in the child's interest that absences are kept to a minimum.  Absence through illness is unavoidable and children should be kept off school until they are fully recovered.  Please note that new arrangements are being put in place for the welfare of children.  If a child is to be absent you should now inform the school, early on the morning of absence i.e. before 9.30, as the school may be required to investigate unexplained absences on the first morning.

·         Health Promotion – Healthy Eating, Dental Hygiene.

The school promotes healthy eating and dental hygiene through our health education programmes and the suggested guidelines agreed by pupils and parents for healthy choices during school time. These guidelines on ‘Packed Lunches’ and ‘Dental Health’ have been distributed previously and are currently available on the school web site and in the homework planners (P.4-7). We have new water fountains installed in cloakrooms and entrance halls and we welcome pupils having water in bottles in the classroom (n.b. no juice or sweetened drinks in classrooms).

·         Safer Routes to School

The school and community also actively encourage families to walk to and from school. The safety barriers placed outside the gates help designate this area as a dispersal area and should discourage the parking of vehicles in this area. If you are coming by car please try to drop off children away from the gates so that the children walk the last part into school.

Cycling Storage provision is available for pupils who regularly travel by bicycle as their normal means of transport. However, we ask that children, who live near the school, do not bring their bicycles. Please note that additional bicycle storage is also available at the back gate.

Please also follow the safety procedures for accessing the annexe and nursery, using the pedestrian and playground access and not the driveway.

Special Note for Parents of Infants

On arriving at the school in the morning, it is helpful for your child’s independence if you can leave them at the gate, allowing you to depart and reducing the congestion for other children arriving.

The class teacher will let you know when the children are to get gym.  Infants should come to school wearing their gym kit below their clothes.  Jumpers, skirts and trousers can then be slipped off at gym time. We appreciate the help of parents in teaching the younger children to cope with buttons and zips and with changing shoes. This makes them feel more independent.

Anti-bullying or problems arising

Finally, a reminder, that parents are always welcome to pop into the school at the end of the day to sort out minor everyday issues i.e. to look for forgotten jackets. If you would like to discuss something of importance please contact the school to arrange a convenient time, as staff are often engaged in planning meetings after school.  In particular, if you have anxieties or knowledge of any matter which affects the welfare of the pupils, please do not hesitate to contact the school. A copy of the anti-bullying policy is displayed in the prospectus, on the school’s web site, and is available from the office. We stress the importance of early good communication between home and school about any matter that causes children stress.

Yours sincerely

 Head Teacher

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School Funds Contributions                                      Receipts will be issued. 

Eldest Pupil’s  Name ……………….…………………………………………………………………………………………… Class………….

 I attach a £5 voluntary contribution towards School Funds

And an additional £1 towards the Pupil Council fund

(cheques payable to Lochardil School Fund)

signed …………………………………………………………………………….………………. Parent/guardian