Author: Administrator

October 2012
Newsletter

Work together to be the best we can be.

Dear Parents,
Welcome back to what has been a very wet and cold start to the term. Autumn has well and truly started! I am please d to see that the children are coming prepared for this with warm jackets , hats and scarves. Thank you for your support with this.
Coming into school
Can I ask that all parents/visitors to the school please come to school via the main entrance, especially at the start / end of the day. Our locker area can become very busy and while I appreciate you may want to help your child, we would like to encourage all children to become as independent as possible. If you should need to speak to your child's teacher please also call at the school office either prior to 9am or after 3:20pm, as the teachers are required to be in class from 9am. Equally a message may be left at the office for a member of staff.
PE/ Indoor Shoes
P3/4 set the scene at the beginning of this week when most of the class were very smartly kitted out in white t-shirt and black shorts for PE. Thank you to their parents for making this effort. Can I remind you to check that your child has their PE kit back in school from the holidays and that your child also has suitable indoor shoes to wear during the school day and for PE. Also if your child has long hair it should be tied back during PE so your child will require a hair bobble and if your child cannot take out pierced earrings, plasters should be provided.
Our Procedures For Sending Letters Home
I am aware that an agreement was made last session and as far as possible all letters will be sent home on a Friday only, so please can I request that you ask your child and check your child’s school bag every Friday to see if any letters have been sent out.
The Parent Council opted for a Friday for letters to be sent home because they felt this would give parents the weekend to take time to look at the information so any return slips can be completed and returned to school on Monday. There may occasionally be an exception to this if we need to get information out to you sooner. However we will endeavour to send all communications out on a Friday only.
If you have any queries or concerns about this please just get in touch.

Dalguise visit 12th—14th September
Some of our P7 visited Dalguise for 3 days of activities
accompanied by Mrs Boath. The highlights were abseiling, raft making, climbing wall, the catwalk and big swing. They were all very enthusiastic about their visit and meeting pupils from other schools. We were also highly praised for the excellent behaviour of the children, which is wonderful news.
Cool in School
This session we are continuing to implement ‘Cool in School.’ This aims to teach children positive social skills, resilience and a respectful attitude so that they can cope with the challenges of school and beyond and operate as responsible citizens in society. The programme explores managing responses in school and selecting the correct response, the correct response being the ‘Cool’ /Assertive response. We will explore weak and aggressive responses through drama and stories to teach children why these responses only make situations worse.
Please take time to discuss ‘Cool in School’ with your child to reinforce the positive messages and encourage them to choose and use the assertive ‘cool’ response. Please refer to the ‘Cool in School’ leaflet that was sent home last session. I have enclosed a leaflet for the parents of P1 pupils. If you need a new leaflet, please let us know and we’ll send one home.
I would just like to remind you that if you have any concerns regarding bullying type behaviour directed to your child in the playground, that you feel we have not picked up on please get in touch with us promptly so the situation can be investigated.
Partnership working is the key to a successful school.

Newtyle Horticultural Show
We again supported the Newtyle Horticultural show to encourage positive community links. During class time all pupils
produced exhibits for entering in the show with very pleasing results. Many of the children received prizes for their efforts. Work has been displayed in school and we also have put
photos in our successes and achievements book. We received a lovely letter from secretary of the show saying how impressed the committee were with the children’s efforts and thanking us for taking part.
Well done everyone!
Meet the Teacher Open Evening
In September we held a successful Open Evening that was well attended by parents, with 47% of families represented. It was a good opportunity for you to find out about learning in your child’s class and how you can support this at home.
At this Open Evening a number of parents made a response to how well we communicate. If you have not had an opportunity to make a response please return the attached slip Friday 26th October
Harvest Service
On Thursday 27th September at 2.30pm the children led our
Harvest Service.
Many Parents and Grandparents also attended this service. Thank you for allowing your child to bring an item of produce for the Harvest table. Fresh produce was distributed to
Belmont Home in Meigle and non perishable food items were sent to the Angus Food Bank.

Children in Need Friday 16th November.
Show your Spots for Children in Need!
Bring £1 and come to school dressed in spotty clothing on Friday 16th November.
We are also face painting. To have a
Pudsey spotty patch painted on your face please bring 50p.

PRE -SCHOOL NEWS
We have welcomed 5 new pupils this week.
Miss Henderson, Miss Glen and Mrs Lemanczyk are kept very busy as our Nursery is now full and we have a waiting list!
During this term we will be looking at animals which
hibernate during the winter and how they prepare for hibernation.
We are looking forward to our Halloween/ Fancy Dress Party on Wednesday 31st October where we all enjoy dressing up and joining in the Halloween activities. Start thinking about your costumes!!
We are also on the hunt for any spare clothes that you no longer need. We would appreciate any contribution that is made.

Success and Achievements
Our VIP groups have been established once again, they have met once this session and agreed their action plans.
Pupil Council
The Pupil Council discussed their priorities and agreed on our Pupil Friendly School Improvement Plan
Health Group
We introduced Ross Quirie and Kieran Jamieson and as our new Junior Road Safety Officers for the school. They have been to police headquarters in Forfar for training and we hope they will keep us all informed about Road Safety. They also plan to have various competitions though out the session centred around road safety.
Eco Group
The Eco group has had its first meeting. We have eight areas we are looking at.—Litter, Waste, Energy, Water, Biodiversity, School grounds, Sustaining the World and Food and the Environment. We will be completing an audit at the next meeting. The Eco group and Mrs Marchant are working very hard towards maintaining Green Flag award
Library Group
The Library group has had its first meeting. We have
decided our action plan for the year.

Head Teacher Postcards.
Samuel Fisher has received a head teacher postcard for improvements in handwriting and sentences.
I hope to be sending out many more postcards through out the session!
Tayside Contracts Competition.
Frankie Kennedy recently entered a Spot the Difference competition run by Tayside Contracts School Meals.
Frankie won two tickets to the 3D film Madagascar.
Cycling training
Last term, most of our P6 and P7 pupils were prasticing weekly for Cycling Competency with Mrs Sherriff. The children have learned skills, such as balance and control, safety on the road and navigating junctions.
All school children are able to cycle to school after they have filled out a cycling permit.

Parent Council
Our Parent Council AGM will take place in school on Wednesday 24th October at 6pm.
All parents are welcome to attend this meeting. I will report on the
progress of the school and our planned next steps, and Mrs Hackney (Chairperson) and Mrs Marion Brown (Treasurer) will report on the achievements of the Parent Council.
We also hope to recruit new members.
Christmas Fair
The Parent Group are again to be holding a Christmas Fair in the school on Saturday 24th November. If you are able to help with this or would like a to have a table/stall please contact a parent group member or the school office.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
24.10.12 Parent Council AGM 6pm
30.10.12 P5-7 Football Festival ( we will be looking for
parent volunteers to help with transport)
12.11.12 N-P7 parents evening. 4-6pm
14.11.12 P1 –P7 parents evening. 5-7pm
9.11.12 P4-5 Club Festival in Forfar
16.11.12 BBC Children in Need
28& 29.11.12 Inservice Days
30.11.12 St Andrews Day Holiday
24.11.12 Christmas Fayre
07& 08.12.12 Pre-School Stay and Play 12.45pm onwards
14.12.12 M&M productions Dick Whittington
17.12.12 Pre-school/P1/2 Nativity
18.12.12 P3-7 Nativity
19.12.12 P1-4 Christmas Party
20.12.12 P5-7 Christmas Party
21.12.12 End of term 12noon

Parent Comment
If you have any comments you wish to make, issues you would like to raise or successes you would like to share, please do so below and
return the slip to school.

Comments :
Name _________________________________ date _______