Rothienorman Primary School
Bulletin Number 4:
28th October 2015
Dear Parents/Carers
School Website
Our School Website is in the early stages of development. One of our Citizenship Groups,
‘ICT and School Website’, are going to be adding more to it. If you have any comments or
suggestions for it we’d love to hear them. Please have a look at it:
http://rothienorman.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/
P1 Induction Feedback
Again thank you very much to parents who have provided feedback, a summary is provided
below:
 In general parents felt the school staff were very welcoming, helpful and informative.
 The general feeling was that mornings for 2 weeks was helpful but many thought that
it would have been good for them to line up with older ones during the second week.
 Learning Packs were considered very useful but they need updated and perhaps used
for longer to let children have access to more of them.
 Taster sessions went well giving pupils a chance to meet others and integrate.
 Sports Day was generally enjoyed and some felt they would have liked more pre-school
races, unfortunately there is not time for more but the nursery do their own.
 Some would have liked more than one trial lunch in that first fortnight – we can
investigate whether this could be possible.
 The Buddies relationships varied, as it inevitably does, but there was a huge amount of
praise for some excellent buddies. There was a suggestion that more could be done
before the summer to make connections between their buddies.
 A P1 Starters book was suggested to provide more details on certain things. Most
information is in our School Handbook (which can be found on our website
http://rothienorman.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/school-handbook/ ) or in the P1 induction
booklets but we will try to reflect on anything else that could be added.
 It was mentioned that the Literacy and Numeracy meeting was early in the evening but
it is a great way to encourage parents to stay on for our PPG AGM.
 A tour of the school was suggested for the induction evening.
 Literacy and Numeracy evening was considered very helpful.
Lots for us to think about to improve how we do things next year, thank you!
Feedback on Development Plans
Thank you for all your feedback regarding our progress last session and what we should
focus on this year. There were lots of really useful comments in there which have helped
finalise our plans for the year, a summary of your comments are below.
 There were a lot of positive comments about our focus on British Sign Language (BSL)
and how this is progressing in the school.
 A number of people commented on the Citizenship Groups and how they help to
promote responsibility and it was felt important to continue with this and in embedding
it into general school life. We do try to change pupils groups from year to year but we
also take into account their preferences and that of everyone else, so the make-up of
the groups are always a bit of a compromise.
 It was recognised that we had made progress with behaviour management and that it
might be helpful for parents to have more information on positive behaviour
management; we will do this later in the session.
 There was a request for more detail on exactly where children are compared to
national expectations, this is part of our annual pupil reports and parents are welcome
to contact the teachers to discuss their child’s progress at any time. The pupils’
Personal learning Plans and weekly Learning Logs have been well received and parents
enjoy hearing more about what their children have been doing, how they are
progressing and their upcoming targets.
 Concern was expressed regarding our lack of visiting specialist teachers, we do
however have very keen core staff who either have expertise or are developing their
skills in the areas required. Staff training is key and our staff are very enthusiastic to
attend courses to improve their skills as well as speak with or shadow others. We are
hoping to get further support through the Youth Music Initiative and Kodaly
programme later in the year.
 There was a lot of praise for our staff and I can certainly echo your thoughts there, I
feel we have a great team here at Rothienorman. In general it was felt that we have
evaluated where we are accurately and done our best to make good progress.
Our Standards and Quality Report 2014-2015 and Improvement Plans 2015-2016 can be
viewed on our website http://rothienorman.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/school-inprovement-plansand-standards-and-quality-reports/
Young Musician of the Year Competition
The annual Young Musician of the Year
Competition
was held on the evening of Monday 5
October at
Meldrum Academy. All our competitors,
Imogen,
John, Nathan and Rhiannon played well and
enjoyed the
experience of playing in front of an audience.
It was
brilliant that Rothienorman was so well
represented and to hear that John won the P4-7 section and that Rhiannon was the Most
Promising Young Musician. It was also lovely to hear that our ex-pupil Ruaraidh won the S1-3
section. Well done to everyone.
Staff Training
Staff have recently taken part in the following training:


Positive Behaviour management
British Sign Language (BSL)
Work Experience
We look forward to having Rachel Wood in school next week on work experience.
European Day of Languages
Families will receive leaflets detailing the Scottish government’s commitment to improve
language learning; ‘Developing Literacy through Language learning: A Guide for Parents’ and
‘Inspiring Scotland’s Young people to Embrace Language Learning’ as part of our focus on
Modern Languages 1+2.
Citizenship Groups
Our Library group work with P1-3 pupils on Monday 26th October to read them some Roald
Dahl and carry out activities relating to characters from his poems and books. Teachers
commented on what a super job they did – well done!
Scholastic Book Fair
Our final total for money raised to be spent on books is £637. Thank you!
Harvest Assembly and Collection
Please ensure all donations of non-perishable food items are in school by 3rd November when
Mrs. Barbara King from the Aberdeenshire North Foodbank will visit to discuss how
foodbanks operate. Further information on: http://aberdeenshirenorth.foodbank.org.uk/
PPG Coffee Morning
Our next PPG Coffee morning will take place on Monday 2nd November at 9.15am in the school
staff room.
PPG Fancy Dress Disco
Pupils are all looking forward to our Fancy Dress Disco on Thursday. Pupils can bring money to
school before then if they would like to get a chance to win the Halloween bear.
Jack and the Beanstalk
M&M Productions were in school on Tuesday 27th
October to perform Jack and the Beanstalk. If you have
not yet put your donation in to school we would really
appreciate it if you can pop it in as soon as possible.
Traditional Tales
Both our morning and afternoon nursery sessions will join the playgroup in the village hall on
Monday 9th November for a Kids Gloves Puppet Show; Traditional Tales. More information to
follow.
Joint Trip to Fyvie
The Rothienorman Playgroup will join our morning group at Fyvie on Tuesday 3rd November.
Support for Learning
Many of our pupils get support from time to time or on a regular basis from support for
learning staff. This may be individual work, small group work or when the support for learning
teacher is in class supporting a particular lesson. Our staff work very well as a team and are
continually assessing pupils and adjusting their teaching accordingly this means that we are
flexible to adapt to need as it arises whether it is an ongoing area that a child is finding
difficult, because they missed a particular lesson or for some reason they have just not
understood something. Parents are not necessarily informed if a child is working with
learning support staff as they are regarded as part of the school team. If however we felt
there was something where we needed to speak to parents then we would do this either at
parent’s evening when discussing general progress or get in touch with you directly if
necessary.
Tempest Photography
Tempest Photography will be in school on Wednesday 25th November from 9am to take
individual and family photographs, class photographs will be taken later in the session. More
information to follow.
Scottish Schools Football Association Primary School Competitions
We will be putting forward a P7 and under team to play at Inverurie on Thursday 5th
November and a P6 and under to play at Inverurie on Wednesday 25th November (Tempest
photos will be taken before they leave). More information to follow to those involved. Thank
you to Brian Cormack for organising and taking our teams.
Active Schools Activities
Please find attached the information on Active Schools activities for this term.
Parking around the School
We encourage parents not to use the bottom car park as it is really for staff and the bus.
Also it is better if you keep the area around the school clear of traffic, particularly the
yellow lines and corners where it is tricky for people to see whether there is any danger.
Where possible it is best if you can support your children to walk, cycle or scoot. Otherwise
‘Park and Stride’ works really well as parking elsewhere, for example the village car park, and
then walking with your child encourages them in a healthier lifestyle as well as keeping the
area around the school as safe as possible. Thank you.
Poppies
Poppies are for sale in the school entranceway if anyone would like to make a donation.
Rotary Club Shoeboxes
Please return your filled shoeboxes as soon as possible as they will be collected the week
beginning 9th November. If anyone would still like a box then there are still some in the
office.
Teeth Varnishing
Morning session nursery pupils will be getting their teeth varnished on Wednesday 18th
November by the school dental team. We are waiting to have a date confirmed for the
afternoon children.
Dogs in the Playground
We are still finding dog excrement in the playground which is not hygienic for pupils to be
playing amongst. Can you please help us to ensure that no dogs are brought into the school
grounds? Thank you.
Nursery Visits to Fyvie
Our afternoon sessions visited Fyvie for the first time
on Wednesday 28th October and explored the different
signs of autumn. Please remember to wrap your child up
well (and yourself if you’re coming too!) now that the
weather is not so nice.
Regards
Ms. Julie Symington,
Head Teacher.
Information for Adverse Weather Closures
Telephone Information Line: 0870 054 4999
Rothienorman School Pin Number: 022530
ABERDEENSHIRE WEBSITE http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/closures
TWITTER http://twitter..com/aberdeenshire
(The web page is re-set at 4pm every day to be clear for next day’s information)
Northsound 1
FM 96.9
Tel. 01224 337000
Northsound 2
MW 1035kHz
BBC Radio Scotland
FM 92.4-94.7
MW 810kHz
Moray Firth Radio
FM 97.4
MW 1107kHz
North East Community Radio
FM 97.1-106.4
Tel. 01467 632878
Waves Radio
FM 101.2
Tel. 01779 491012
Original
FM 106
Tel. 01224 293800
DATES FOR THE DIARY 2015-2016
Thursday 29th October 2015
Friday 30th October 2015
Monday 2nd November 2015
Thursday 5th November 2015
Monday 9th November 2015
Monday 16th November 2015
Tuesday 17th November 2015
Wednesday 18th November 2015
Friday 20th November 2015
Wednesday 25th November 2015
Wednesday 25th November 2015
Monday 14th December 2015
Tuesday 15th December 2015
Wednesday 16th December 2015
Thursday 17th December 2015
Tuesday 22nd December 2015
Tuesday 22nd December 2015
Friday 18th December 2015
Tuesday 22nd December 2015
Wednesday 6th January 2016
Friday 12th February 2016
Monday 15th February 2016
Tuesday 16th February 2016
Wednesday 17th February 2016
Friday 25th March 2016
Friday 1st April 2016
Monday 18th April 2016
Monday 2nd May 2016
Monday 6th June 2016
Friday 1st July 2016
Fancy Dress Disco (Nursery-P3: 6-7pm, P4-7: 7-8pm)
Road Safety Magic Show for P1-3
PPG Coffee Morning, 9.15am
P7 and under Scottish FA Competition
Kids Gloves Puppet Show for Nursery pupils
In-service Day (teachers only)
In-service Day (teachers only)
Teeth Varnishing for morning Nursery pupils
Fluenz vaccinations
Tempest photographer; families and individuals
P6 and under Scottish FA Competition
P1-3 Christmas Show, The Bethlehem Builders, 2.30pm
P5,6,7 Christmas Party
P1-3 Christmas Show, 2.30pm, 7pm
P3,4 Christmas Party
Christmas Assembly, 11.00am in school, parents welcome
P1,2 Christmas Party
Christmas lunch
School closes
School reopens
Holiday (occasional day)
Holiday
In-service Day (teachers only)
In-service Day (teachers only)
Holiday (Good Friday)
School closes
School reopens
Holiday
Holiday (occasional day)
School closes