Loanhead Primary School
Newsletter
August 2011
Welcome back!
School has started for another session, and
we would like to give a warm welcome to
all new pupils and parents to the school. A
special welcome to our new Primary 1
pupils who are settling in very well with
their teachers, Mrs Macmillan, P1/2 and
Miss Brunt, P1. Also, a big hello to new
Nursery pupils who are starting in the
Nursery.
School Uniform
How smart all the children look in their
school uniforms! It really does give a good
impression, and makes them look like they
are coming to school on a mission – to
work hard and do their best of course!
Hopefully, this can continue throughout
the year. I am sure you will agree that
wearing school uniform really does help to
create a sense of identity and pride in our
school.
Staffing
School Office/Reception
Mrs Lesley Black
Mrs Mairead Rae
Nursery – Miss Laura Dempster, class
teacher and Mrs Jennifer Bernard,
nursery nurse.
Class teachers
P1 – Miss Sara Brunt
P1/2 – Mrs Lindsey Macmillan
P2/3 - Mrs Ailsa Duncan and Mrs
Sheila Wallace
P3/4 – Miss Julie Smith, with Mrs
Anne Hunter on Wednesdays
P4/5 – Mrs Anne Hunter and Mrs
Sarah Roy
P6 – Miss Sam Malcolm
P7 – Mrs Melanie Caldwell (Principal
Teacher) with Mrs Jack Aitken on
Fridays
Support for Learning Teacher
Ms Kirsten Duncan
Learning Assistants
Mrs Karen Black
Mrs Morag Cairney
Mrs Caroline Kitching
Mrs Pauline McCrossan
There is vacancy for a Learning
Assistant, which is almost at the
interview stage.
Visiting Specialists
Drama – Mrs Cheryl Aird
Music – Mrs Liz McKeon
PE – Mrs Hazel Johnson
Meet the Teacher
For those of you new to the school – every
year at the beginning of the year, your
child’s class teacher holds a short informal
meeting to explain the work of the class
for the year. It gives you the opportunity
to meet your child’s teacher and get to
know them a little. They will also explain
about class organisation and possibly trips
happening through the year. Teacher also
aim to provide more information each
term on topics that will be covered by your
son/daughter.
Dates for these meetings will follow
shortly.
Pupil Council
Members from P1/2/3/4/5/6/7 are duly
being elected and the first meeting is set
for Friday 23 September. Mrs Karen Black
will assist at the meetings.
House Captains for the year
After giving superb presentations to
the class, the following were voted in:
Edgelaw – Jack, Natalie R
Dryden – Erin, Luke
Gladhouse – Emily, Fraser P
Well done! Good Luck leading your
team!
Junior Road Safety Officers – P6
To be announced shortly
Eco-Committee
To be announced shortly
Learning Council – P5
To be announced shortly
Playground Friends
We will soon be asking for applications
from children who wish to be playground
friends. Even if they have been one before,
they can apply again.
Rights Respecting School
Every year, our whole school positive
behaviour plan is reviewed and amended
where necessary. This year, we will
continue to aim to be a Rights Respecting
School. Everybody, pupils, staff, parents is
expected to have respect for everyone.
This involves knowing our rights and
responsibilities and the difference between
what we want and what we need.
Rules, Rewards and Sanctions.
Each class will discuss and decide on a
class charter, including rights and
responsibilities. The greater majority of
children keep to the rules, and understand
that they are there to keep everyone happy
and safe in school. Children collect stamps
or points, which will lead to them being
awarded a certificate – Bronze, Silver,
Gold, Platinum and Diamond! Children
can also gain points for their House team.
On occasions, some children choose not to
keep to the rules, and we have to impose
sanctions to remind them of how we
expect them to behave.
Good to Be Green is a whole school
programme where every child has a set of
cards on display in the class room –
Green, Yellow and Red. The aim is for the
child to stay on Green. If they choose to
misbehave, their cards will be turned over.
They can also get back to green with good
behaviour. In serious misbehaviour or
defiant behaviour, the cards may be turned
until the red card is reached. In this case,
the Headteacher will be told, and a letter
or phone call may be made home to
parents.
Being Cool in School is a series of lessons
which run alongside the Good to be Green
programme. This teaches children about a
variety of responses to situations and helps
to develop skills of assertive behaviour,
without becoming aggressive.
Please contact your child’s teacher or Mrs
Finlayson if you have any concerns about
your child’s progress or well-being. It is
by working together that we can provide
the most effective teaching – and learning!
Parent Forum
A reminder that all Parents and Carers are
automatically members of the Parent
Forum. A smaller group, the Parent
Council also works hard to support the
school. The first meeting for the Parent
Council is on Wednesday 7 September at
6.30pm in the school. A warm welcome
is extended to all Parents and Carers to
come along.
The Parent Council Events Committee
works very hard to organise some exciting
and successful events for the children and
adults. Many thanks to all who help or
contribute at any of these events.
School Improvement Plan 11/12
This coming year, we shall be working on
the following areas:
Improving Attainment and
Achievement - Literacy and Numeracy
 All Classes P1 – P7 will use a
writing programme called Big
Writing. It is highly recommended
to motivate and inspire children in
their writing skills.
Rights Respecting School Award
 Every class to have a class charter
and the whole school to have a
charter – this will help us to:


form a new vision/logo for the
school. You may recall we held a
competition last session for a new
logo, however, very few took part.
We need everyone to take part in
this!
The Lasswade Associated Schools
Group (see below) aim for all our
schools to get accreditation for
this by next summer. More
information to follow - we will be
asking for parent support , so if
you are interested – watch this
space!
Curriculum for Excellence
 Further training for teachers on
assessment levels and information
to parents on annual Reports for
Parents.
 Cooperative learning – training for
class teachers and learning
assistants on developing this
approach in class.
Health and Well Being
The Lasswade Associated Schools
Group includes: Bonnyrigg
PS,Hopefield PS, Lasswade PS,
Loanhead PS, Mount Esk Nursery,
Paradykes PS, Rosewell PS and
Lasswade High School.
 The group will be working
alongside representatives from
HMIe on transitions.
 Loanhead and Paradykes will be
working on the Food and Health
aspect of Health and Well Being
to develop more resources for
teachers.
Green Flag
We need everyone to support us in
going for green this year! The Ecocommittee have worked hard over the
last year and we need to keep up the
momentum for the school to be awarded
a green flag. Some parents have already
indicated an interest. More details to
follow soon.
Quick links
Parents and schools
www.ltscotland.org.uk/parentzone/index.a
sp
Learning and Teaching Scotland
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/
Glow
https://secure.glowscotland.org.uk/login/lo
gin.htm
Curriculum for Excellence
www.curriculumforexcellencescotland.go
v.uk
Scottish Qualifications Authority
www.sqa.org.uk
Internet Safety Information for Parents
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/Parents/
School Website
http://loanhead.mgfl.net/?p=657
Events coming soon!
To follow soon:
 Annual Standards and Quality
Report
 Yearly Calendar of Events
All staff at Loanhead PS look forward to
working alongside parents and carers this
new school year. Thank you for your
ongoing support and cooperative working!
Best wishes
Jeanette Finlayson
Headteacher August 2011
Ps
If you are a smoker, please refrain from
smoking around the school building and
near the school gates. Thank you.