Dear Parents / Guardians
A warm welcome back after the summer break. We extend a particularly
warm welcome to all our new parents and children who have joined our
school family in Primary 1, nursery and at stages throughout our school. I
hope you will feel very welcome at St. Kenneth’s.
We extend a warm welcome to Miss Diamond (P2), Miss McHale (P3), Mrs
Elaine Sheehan (nursery) and Mrs Caroline Turnbull (P7 Job share) who have
joined our staff team. We also welcome back Mrs Walker from maternity
leave. We hope they will be very happy and well supported throughout the
year.
Our children are looking very smart in their school uniforms and I thank
parents for their support in this. It contributes to the high standards that we
expect here at St. Kenneth’s. We look particularly to our senior pupils as
good role models in wearing school uniform. Can I remind all parents to label
items of uniform so that lost / misplaced clothes can be returned quickly to the
correct children.
Physical Education
In line with Scottish Government Guidelines, which advises two hours of
physical education per week, all classes have two PE slots in their timetables.
Can I ask that all parents support this by ensuring that children keep their PE
kit in school where it can be accessed readily. Can I remind parents that
pupils should remove jewellery / earrings etc prior to PE lessons for the health
and safety of all pupils.
Classes will have PE on the days outlined below:
Class
Day
P1 Mrs O’Hara
Tuesday
P1 Mrs Hutchison
Tuesday
P1/2 Miss Boyle
Wednesday
P2 Miss Diamond
Tuesday
P2/3 Miss Hanlin
Monday
P3 Miss McHale
Monday
P3 Mrs walker & Mrs
Tuesday
Dow
P4/5 – Miss Holmes
Wednesday
P5 –Mrs Wright & Mrs
Tuesday
Dow
P6- Miss Jamieson
Tuesday
P7- Mrs Wordie & Mrs
Monday
Turnbull
Day
Thursday
Wednesday
Friday
Friday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Thursday
Friday
Absence
If your child is going to be absent from school please call the school office as
early as possible (O1592 583 458) to inform staff. This allows school staff to
know that your child is safe. It also saves school time and a phonecall or text
home to you, allowing staff to focus on the teaching and learning of our
children
St. Columba’s High School Information Evening
Staff from St. Columba’s High School will come to St. Kenneth’s on Thursday
18th September at 6:30pm to present an enjoyable and informative
presentation on St. Columba’s and the opportunities High School will provide
for pupils. This information evening is targeted at our P7 pupils and parents.
However, interested pupils and parents from P6 are also warmly invited. It is
never too early to begin thinking about this important next step in your child’s
educational journey. Tea & coffee will be provided after the meeting where
you can chat informally with Mr Mooney (HT) and the staff from St.
Columba’s.
School Fayre
On Saturday 13th September the Parent Council have organised a School
Fayre from 10:00 am – to 1:00pm. There will be a whole range of exciting
activities including a climbing wall and a bouncy castle. There will be many
stalls including cake & candy and hot filled rolls. . So please come along and
enjoy the day.
The Parent Council have requested donations of toys, games, cake & candy
(on the day), bottles of wine for the water and wine stall and prizes for
tombola and raffle. If you would like to come along and help out on the day
please send your name and contact number to the school office and a
member of the Parent Council will contact you.
Reading Records
All our primary children have reading records which will come home regularly
with their reading books. I ask all parents to take time to comment / sign your
child’s reading record and where possible take time to read their book with
them. Both our pupils and staff value your interest and comments on reading
progress.
Pupil Safety
The safety of all our pupils is paramount. Can I ask that parents do not park
on Hill Road, at the infant entrance, when dropping off or collecting children at
the start or end of the school day. Parking in this area puts our children in
danger. Can I ask that all parents co-operate fully with our crossing guards,
who work hard to ensure our pupils are safe.
Our Staff car park is in use throughout the day with visiting teachers, visitors
from partner agencies such as health and Speech & Language Therapy as
well as deliveries for the school and kitchens. Can I ask parents not to use
the staff car park when dropping off or collecting children to ensure that
visiting staff members are not held up supporting our children. Thank you.
New P1 Pupils
On Thursday 28th August at 11:15 am P1 parents are invited to come along
and participate with our P1 teachers in an informal meeting where key
strategies for supporting our newest pupils in homework tasks will be
discussed. Working in partnership like this will help our new P1 pupils to fulfil
their potential. P1 children can be collected directly after the meeting. All our
P1 teachers look forward to meeting you again.
Coffee Morning dates will be issued soon. Please look out for these, put
them in your diary and join us for a cuppa!
I’ve listed below the topics our classes will be covering over the coming
weeks. This will help you discuss and support your children in their topic/
research and science learning.
Class
P1 Mrs O’Hara
P1 Mrs Hutchison
P1/2 Miss Boyle
P2 Miss Diamond
P2/3 Miss Hanlin
P3 Miss McHale
P3 Mrs walker & Mrs Dow
Topic
School & the immediate environment
School & the immediate environment
The local environment, shops and services
Dinosaurs
Ballingry & the local area
transport
transport
P4/5 – Miss Holmes
P5 –Mrs Wright & Mrs Dow
Water
The Great Barrier Reef
P6- Miss Jamieson
P7- Mrs Wordie & Mrs
Turnbull
Rainforests
Democracy in Scotland
I have included dates for your diary. Please note that I’ve attempted to
spread the days that shared finishes for P1-3 take place across the academic
year to accommodate all parents that find it difficult to attend due to work
commitments.
Finally, this term promises to be busy, so please keep an eye on your child’s
school mail and our school website for important dates and information.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have
regarding your child’s progress at school. We all want to work together so
that our children fulfil their potential.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Mr F Gillan
Headteacher
Dates for Diary
August
 26th -Parent Council Meeting – AGM –5:00pm all parents welcome
especially those with an interest in joining the Parent Council
 28th – P1 meeting at 11:15 for all P1 parents

September
 1st -P1 pupils in all day
 5th – Creative singing group project for P5
 11th – Learning Journals to parents with term targets
 11th 7:00pm – Meeting at St. Margaret’s RC Primary for Parent Council
representatives
 13th – 10:00-1:00pm – School Fayre – all welcome
 15th – Parents return learning journals to school
 17th – Barnardo’s Substance misuse workshop for P7
 18th – St Columba’s Information meeting for P7 pupils and parents at
6:30 / P6 pupils and parents welcome to come along too!
 22nd – St Kenneth’s ECO week begins
 25th – P6 & P7 Carbon footprint workshops
 26th – P4/5 & P5 – Respecting the environment workshop
October
 2nd – 10:00 – Mass to celebrate 100 Years of St. Kenneth’s with
Archbishop Cushley
 2nd – Open evening for parents/former pupils – guest speakers
presenting – more info to follow
 9th – P2,P2/3 and P3 – shared finish
 10th – P1, P1 and P1/2 shared finish & last day of term
 27th – Staff and pupils return
November
 3rd – P1, P1, P1/2 – shared finish
 4th – Parents Evening
 7th – P2, P2/3, P3A& P3B – shared finish
 11th – Parents Evening
 14th – Inservice day 3 – School closed to pupils