St Columba’s Primary
School Newsletter - October 2015
Head Teacher: Miss Michaelina MacLellan
Tel: 01631 568090
01631 568092
E-mail: enquiries@St-Columbas.argyll-bute.sch.uk
Dear Parents and Carers,
PARENT FORUM
Unfortunately, very few parents attended our Parent Forum meeting which was held
last month. To ensure the continued success of the school and to ensure that we
are offering the highest possible standard of education, it is vital to have parents
involved in the life of the school.
A number of issues were raised at the meeting including the need to fundraise a
significant amount of money if we wish to continue with the current activities that we
offer within the school. For example, all pupils in P3-7 are currently taught a block
of swimming each session. Without extra funding this will not be able to continue in
session 2016/17 due to budget cuts and rising costs of bus hire etc. Each pupil
within our school currently has an iPad, however with an increasing school role it
will not be possible for us to continue this unless more funds are available so I
would urge you to please support fundraising activities.
We are also seeking parent helpers who would be willing to go along with class
teachers and pupils on school trips, visits to the Cathedral etc. We would require to
ask anyone who is able to assist to complete a PVG check. If you are willing to do
this then please contact the school office as soon as possible.
The next Parent Council meeting is on Tuesday 3rd November.
HARVEST SERVICE
The Joint Harvest Service will be on Friday 9th October. Food donations are being
taken in this week and they will be donated to the Hope Kitchen, The Lord’s Larder
and St Vincent de Paul.
HEAD LICE
Please ensure that you check your child’s head regularly for head lice. If you have
any questions or need some advice about head lice then please contact Elaine
Hendry, the school nurse, at the Lorn Medical Centre.
SCHOOL CHOIR
Our school choir will be competing at the National Mod on Monday 12th October at
1pm in the Corran Halls. It would be lovely if people were able to come along to
support them.
ALTAR SERVERS
We are currently looking for some new altar servers for the Saturday Vigil Mass at
6pm and Sunday Mass at 10.30am. If your child has received their Sacraments
and would like to become an altar server then please inform the school office by
Friday 18th September.
NON-UNIFORM DAY
We have had to change the day of the non-uniform day to Wednesday 7th
October. The theme, as chosen by the pupils, is ‘Mix and Match’ and we ask for
pupils to come to school dressed with odd socks, odd shoes etc. We ask for a
donation of £1 for this and all monies raised will go towards school funds.
DIDBOOK
Please return the consent forms for Didbook by Thursday 8th October and
remember to indicate whether you do or do not give consent. It is important that we
have all of the forms back to school on time.
CONFIRMATION MEETING
Just a little reminder that there is a meeting for the parents whose children will be
receiving Confirmation this year in the school at 6pm on Tuesday 6th October.
Father James has asked that all parents attend.
PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT
There will be an information night on Tuesday 27th October for any prospective
parents from 5.30pm-6.30pm. Please spread the word!
HALLOWE’EN DISCO
The Parent Council are organising a Hallowe’en Disco which will take place on
Wednesday 28th October from 6.30 - 8pm in the Gym Hall. There will be prizes
for the best costumes!
DRUMATHON
Connor Edwards, a pupil from Oban High School, has been working with small
groups of children in P7/6/5 teaching them some drumming. The children are very
enthusiastic about it and have thoroughly enjoyed their lessons with Connor but,
unfortunately, we do not have any drum sticks or drumming pads to ensure that
everyone gets a chance to try it. The P7/6/5 pupils have suggested that they have
a sponsored ‘drumathon’ where, alongside Connor, they will be drumming all
afternoon to raise funds to buy our own pads and sticks which will enable all pupils
to learn drumming as they reach the top end of the school. This will take place on
Thursday 12th November and sponsor forms will be issued within the next few
days.
BINGO
A special thanks to everyone involved in supporting and organsing the school bingo
which took place last Saturday afternoon. A massive £262.39 was raised!
HOMEWORK
Please ensure that your child is completing their homework. The tasks that are set
consolidate the learning that has taken place in the classroom. Also, a number of
children are not logging onto Bug Club to do their reading tasks. Although there
are not specific pages set there is an expectation that children will log on most
nights to complete reading as they would have when they were in reading groups.
IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday 6th October – Meeting for parents with children who will be receiving
Confirmation this year, 6pm in the school
Wednesday 7th October – Non-uniform Day
Friday 9th October – Harvest Service
- Close at 3.15pm for October Holidays
Monday 26th October – re-open at 9am
Tuesday 27th October – Prospective Parent Information Night, 5.30pm –
6.30pm in the school
Wednesday 28th October – Hallowe’en school disco, 6.30pm-8pm in Gym
Hall
Monday 2nd November - P5/4 with Stramash
Tuesday 3rd November – Parent Council Meeting 6pm-7pm in the school
Wednesday 4th November – PLPs going home
Friday 6th November – PLPs back to school
Monday 9th November – P5/4 with Stramash
Thursday 12th November – Sponsored ‘Drumathon’
Friday 13th November – In service Day
Wednesday 18th November – Parents’ Night 4-8pm
Thursday 19th November – Flu Vaccinations
Wednesday 25th November – Confirmation, St Columba’s Cathedral, 6.30pm
Monday 30th November – St Andrew’s Day Celebration, all welcome, 2pm in
the school
Tuesday 15th December – Christmas Movie Night, 5.30pm-7pm, in the school
Wednesday 16th December– P1-3 Nativity, 2pm, in the school
Tuesday 22nd December – School closes for holiday at 2.30pm
As always, if there is anything that you’d like to discuss with either myself or your
child’s teacher then please do not hesitate to contact the school to make an
appointment.
Yours sincerely,
Miss M MacLellan
Head Teacher