Merrylee Primary School
June 2009
Dear Parent / Carer
Staff news
With much selfish regret we anticipate the retirement of Ian McAulay, our very popular janitor. Ian
has decided to hang up his keys after 16 years in Merrylee. Many of us had great fun celebrating his
retirement Friday night in Newlands Tennis Club. The children will also give Ian a huge send off on
his last day. I know you will all join me in thanking Ian for his caring attitude towards all of us in
Merrylee. He will now need to pass on his skills to the new
janitors, Mr Douglas and Mr Miller of ringing the bell with his
nose, how to sing the sausage song and how to remember all
our birthdays to give us our dumps and sing ‘happy birthday’.
We will all miss Ian and dearly hopes he continues to play some
part in the life of Merrylee after he retires.
Goodbye With regret we must bid farewell to Miss Lisa Leiper, Miss Christine Gallagher and Mr
Colin Sinclair. All three teachers have been with us all year and have worked tirelessly as part of our
very dedicated team of teachers. I wish to thank them for their commitment to the life of our school
and wish them luck in their new posts.
It also looks as though we will be saying goodbye to Mrs Sandra Thornton who has been a PE
teacher in Merrylee for 10 years. Unfortunately my staffing allocation does not allow me to keep her.
This will be a huge loss for us all. I would like to thank her for her fabulous contribution to the health
and well being of our pupils and staff in Merrylee. She gives the pupils amazing opportunities to
express themselves through physical activity. I have requested additional staffing to allow us to
retain Sandra but within this current financial climate… who knows.
Welcome Many of you will know Mr John Douglas, janitor, who has been working alongside Mr
McAulay since we moved into this building. John has fitted in beautifully to the Merrylee ethos and
already plays a very active role in the school community. He has been a great help in settling us into
our fabulous new school. I thank you for this John and look forward to continuing to work with you.
Welcome to Mr Tommy Miller who has joined us this week as Mr McAulay’s replacement. Tommy is
looking forward to getting to know us all and I am sure he will become a valued member of our team
also.
I am delighted to report that Mrs Murray from the school office has returned to work following her
back injury. Its great to have her back and looking so much better.
Closure of Merrylee Nursery Class
With much regret our nursery class closes on Wednesday 24th June for the last time. This is a sad
time for our school community. I would like to thank Mrs Caroline Deans who established the
original Holmlea Nursery Class many years ago. She has maintained a service to pupils over the
years which has been recognised by both Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education and the Care
Commission. Mrs Deans has enjoyed the support of very able and caring staff, Kevin Edgar, Janice
Barbour, Eileen Martin and Marie Anderson. I would like to thank them all very much indeed and
wish them luck in their new posts. The ladies will join the staff of Lime Tree Nursery and Kevin is to
join the pre 5 peripatetic team.
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Natural Play Site
Growth on the site has been slow due to the very dry weather. If there is any further news it will be
posted on the Parent Council website.
Planting of the Lime Tree
Many thanks to Rolf and Felicity, parents of Rowan in P2/3 who planted the lime tree which was
donated by Cathcart and District Community Council. The tree has been planted in the nursery
garden adjacent to Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary School. The position was chosen as the
best as it is in the middle of our schools representing the schools/nursery at the heart of our
community.
Parents Association
Many thanks to all in the PA for all their fabulous efforts this year. Despite all the delays in moving
into the new school, the PA still managed to raise fabulous sums for the benefit of all in the school,
arrange many social events and also support the work of the school.
I would like to wish the Hemmings family best wishes as they leave Merrylee to move to England
due to work relocation. Gillian has been on the PA for the past 5 years with 3 in the role of
secretary. Thank you for all your support.
Pupil Council Update
The Pupil Council have been involved in many initiatives lately. The most recent to support Mrs
Shona MacRae, Pupil Support Assistant, in her quest to collect toys to take to an orphanage in
Kenya. Shona has been overwhelmed by the support she has been given and looks forward to
seeing the delighted faces on the children of the orphanage in the outskirts of Nairobi. I am sure you
will join me in wishing Shona luck on her trip to Kenya at the end of the month.
Eco committee
Much of the work of the eco committee has centred around the allotment and the filming of the
television programme for the BBC. The children have been recording the progress of their produce
and also their many activities. Please look on the BBC website to view their photos.
The group visited an organic farm in Fife with the television producer where they learned more
about organic farming and enjoyed a lovely meal in the organic restaurant. The group welcomed
members from the North Glasgow Asylum growing project to the school plot. The two groups
worked together, shared ideas and looked forward to the time in July when they will help each other
harvest their produce and then prepare healthy food in our school kitchen on July 30th.
Health Committee Update Thank you so much to the Heath Committee and Mrs Haddock for a
fabulous Health Week. Although health and well
being is always important to us in school it was
fabulous to be able to highlight all the good work
going on in the school, to enjoy visits from various
experts and to invite the local community in to share
it with us.
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Chess club
Well done to the chess team who gained third place in the Glasgow Chess League. Many thanks to
Miss Leiper and often Mr Sinclair for leading the chess club.
Football club
The Saturday football club grows from strength to strength with even more parents willing to
become involved. They offer a fabulous session of fitness, football and fun to pupils from P1 –P7.
Many thanks to all of you who have helped offer this great opportunity to our pupils.
Football Team
Once again our pupils have enjoyed great fun when involved in our school football team. This would
not be possible without the tireless efforts of our football mad Principal Teacher, Mrs Irene
Sutherland. Occasionally it is forgotten how much she does to develop football in the local
community so I would like to extend a very sincere thanks to her at the end of another busy season.
This year Irene has been most ably supported by her son David. Many thanks also to him.
Badminton Club
Mrs May Bennie continues to be the champion of badminton development in
Glasgow. We are very lucky to have her promoted the sport amongst our
pupils. The team has been very successful throughout the season. Kane
Henderson recently represented Glasgow at an Anglo Scottish tournament
weekend at the National Sports Centre at Inverclyde. Well done to Kane and
many thanks again to May.
After school clubs
Once again our after school clubs this term have been full and very popular. Currently we offer 4
lots of football, golf, badminton, art, cooking, technology, chess and craft. If you would be interested
in being involved in or running an after school activity next session, please do not hesitate to contact
me at the beginning of term.
Traffic management
Thank you for your comments in relation to the traffic management around the school. The Parent
Council will write to Education Headquarters on your behalf.
I do however realise that many of you still have concerns. Can I suggest that you contact the Parent
Council which is most anxious to take up this cause on behalf of us all? You can do this by emailing via the Parent Council web site http://merryleeprimarypc.org/ at the e-mail addresscontactus@merryleeprimarypc.org. You will also be able to access contacts for individual members
on the web site. Please also feel free to leave any written communication with our school office staff
who will ensure that it is passed to the Parent Council.
Potted Sports
Apologies for the cancellation of Potted Sports due to the rain. Hopefully they will be held on
Thursday afternoon. That is the only time left within a very busy week.
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Classification for session 2009-10
Although very late once again, I can advise you of the classification for next year as I have received
confirmation of my staffing quota. There will be 11 classes due to the numbers at several stages.
Mrs Sloan will continue to work 0.5 of the week in the area of support for learning. At this moment I
will not be able to employ Mrs Sandra Thornton to deliver PE as I do not have enough staffing
entitlement. I have requested 0.4 extra (2 days) but in this financial climate I have my doubts if this
will be granted. This will be a huge loss to our school as she has been with us now for ten years.
Sandra is a gifted PE teacher who gives our children fabulous experiences in the gym.
I am pleased to welcome Miss Julie Matheson and Mrs Veronica Gray who have been appointed to
two of our vacant posts in school. The 3rd vacancy has yet to be filled. I will await instruction from
Headquarters.
P1a
P1b
P1/2
P2
P2/3
25 pupils
25 pupils
12/8 pupils
30 pupils
Miss Julie Matheson
in room 4
Mrs Helen Pattie
in room 2
Mrs Anne Fishwick
in room 1
Mrs Hilary Thomson
in room 6
Mrs Janet Stephen Mon/Tue
in room 5
Mrs Myra Young Wed –Fri
P3
Mrs Marlene Anderson Mon-Tue in room 7
Mrs Lynne Crichton Wed-Fri
P4
Vacancy
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n room 8
P5
Mrs Caroline Campbell
in room 9
P 5/6
Mrs Colette Haddock
in room 12
P6/7
Mrs Veronica Gray
in room 10
P7
Mrs Irene Sutherland
in room 11
Mrs Stephanie McKillop will continue to deliver French throughout the school and give some
teachers their planning and preparation time. (McCrone). The remainder to relief and support will be
offered by Mrs Caroline Deans, DHT and I.
Where the children have been moved into composite classes, they have been allocated according
to maths groups.
Happy holidays!
On behalf of all staff may I thank you for your fabulous support again this year. I hope you all enjoy
a wonderful summer and I look forward to welcoming you back in August.
Dates for your diary
Wed 24th June
10am
Leavers assembly All friends & family welcome at Cathcart Trinity
(Please note this is not a religious service. The venue is being used as our school hall is not large
enough.)
Pm
P2,2/3,3/4,4 to watch P7 perform Cinderella
Pm
Both P1 to Cathcart trinity for a mock Christian baptism
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Thurs 25 June
10am
P1, 6/7, 5, 5/6 to watch P7 perform Cinderella. P7 parents most
Welcome
1pm
P4-7 potted sports
2pm
P1-3 potted sports
Thurs 25th June
P6 & P7
Ceilidh 7-9.15pm in school hall
th
Fri 26 June
1pm
School closes for the summer holiday
Mon 17th August 9am
School resumes
Yours faithfully
Mrs Liz Mahindru
Head Teacher
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