Hillington Highlights
August 2015
Dear Parent/Carers,
Welcome Back!
It’s the beginning of another exciting school year in Hillington Primary and
on behalf of the staff team and myself, I would like to offer a very warm
welcome back to all the children and staff. I hope you have all enjoyed a
relaxing summer holiday and managed to catch a glimpse of the sun.
Staff News
Mr Kevin Edgar, our P2a teacher has retired during the summer break. He
has been teaching in Hillington Primary School for the last few years,
bringing with him an extensive experience of Nursery education. He will be
much missed by staff, parents and children. I am sure you will join us in
wishing Mr Edgar all the joy and happiness that a happy retirement can
bring.
We welcome back Mrs Taylor and Ms Kaur who will be teaching P4/3 this
year and who worked successfully with our children last term. We also offer
a warm welcome to Mrs Mitchell who will be teaching our P2a children this
year.
Classes for 2015-2016
P1a – Mrs MacKenzie & Mrs Paterson
P1b – Mrs Lawson
P2a – Mrs Mitchell
P3/2 – Miss Turner
P3a – Ms Russell
P4/3 – Ms Kaur & Mrs Taylor
P4a – Miss Dawson
P5a – Miss Dorrian
P6/5 Mrs Nixon & Mrs Edgar
P6a – Miss Murphy
P7/6 – Mrs Gibson
P7a – Mrs Bouhadjar
School Lunches
A gentle reminder that Glasgow City Council will be increasing the price of a
school lunch to £1.70 from Thursday, 13th August 2015. All children in
P1-3 will continue to receive a free school lunch. Parents who are not in
receipt of any qualifying benefits, who will have a child in P1 – P3 in session
2015/16 will receive their free school meal automatically and do not need
to apply to the Grants section.
Packed Lunches
If your child wishes to have a packed lunch in school we would appreciate it
if you could put their name on it. This can make a big difference during a
busy lunch time with many bags/boxes having the same design, thank you.
School Clothing
May I request your support in labeling all your children’s clothing please? It
would be a great help if you put your child’s name on all their jackets,
shirts, skirts/dresses, ties and shoes. As you can appreciate, we have over
300 children attending the school and we know the cost of the uniform and
the effort parents put in to ensuring their children look their best. Thanking
you in advance for your support in this matter.
Medication
We are aware that children may require medicine in school and this may
have changed over the summer. If your child requires medication, please
come in and speak to school staff and sign the ‘Administration of Medicine
Form’. Only by giving your consent to school staff, will we be able to
supervise/administer medication as appropriate.
School Library
With the support of the Parent Council we now have a stimulating and
relaxing environment for the children to read and learn. All classes will be
timetabled to use the Library. The new chairs, settees, cushions, tables and
rugs creates an interesting space to develop the vital reading skills that we
use in all areas of our lives. We hope the new library will motivate and
inspire children to develop these skills. Again, a big thank you to the Parent
Council in providing invaluable support to our school, it is very much
appreciated.
Fundraising
A big thank you for helping us to raise money at the P7 Leavers’ Service in
June. With your generosity we raised £202.25. This will go to the Neonatal
Ward at the South Glasgow University Hospital. Again, thank you all for
your generous donations.
Swimming
I am delighted to inform you that Primary Six and Primary Five children will
have the opportunity to learn to swim or to improve their existing skills this
school session. This is an important life skill which will help to improve
their overall fitness levels and health and wellbeing. We hope the children
will benefit from the sessions and have fun too!
PE Kit
Please help to keep our children safe during P.E. by following the Education
Department’s guidelines, thank you.

Pupils must wear clothing and footwear suitable for the activity. We
would recommend shorts, tee shirt and rubber soled sandshoes.
FOOTBALL COLOURS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Jewellery and belts with metal buckles, which could cause injury to
the wearer and others should be removed. Pupils who have just had
their ears pierced cannot take P.E. until they can remove their
earrings.

Long hair must be secured please.

Bare feet are acceptable where conditions are suitable but no work
should be undertaken in stocking feet.

All pupils must participate in P.E. Please notify the teacher in writing
if there is a reason why your child should not take P.E.
Primary One Photographs.
The Evening Times will be coming into school to take photographs of this
years Primary One pupils, week beginning Monday 24th August. I will send
a flyer out to you as soon as I know the day/date. I would appreciate it if
the children would, as they have been doing, be in full school uniform that
day, thank you.
Primary One Parents
Primary One parents are warmly welcomed to come in to speak to their
teachers over the next few weeks and appointment slips have been issued.
Induction day three will take place for Primary One parents on Tuesday1st
September between 6.30p.m – 7.30p.m. We look forward to seeing you
and hope you find the meetings reassuring and helpful in supporting your
children’s learning.
Whole School Photographs
In discussion with the Parent Council the ‘School Photography Company’
will be coming into school on the 26th August to take individual, siblings
and class photographs. I would appreciate it if the children would, as they
have been doing, be in full school uniform that day, thank you.
Owners of Dogs
If you have a dog with you when coming to collect your child, can I ask you
to stand a bit further back from the playground gates or wait across the road
please? Some of our children can be very frightened coming out of school,
particularly if the dog is big in size or perhaps barking. I would appreciate
your co-operation in this matter, thank you.
Eco-planters
We have recently had outdoor planters delivered for the playground. The
Hillington Express train planter will be sited in the lower school playground
and the Hillington School Garden planter will be sited in the upper school
playground. They look fantastic and will look even better when the children
plant their own seeds or plants and look after them.
Building Resilience Project
P7a & P7/6 will have an exciting opportunity to work with Castlemilk Youth
Complex over a six week period starting early September. The learning focus
will be:
 exploring thoughts, feelings and behaviours
 anger management
 teaching relaxation/breathing techniques
 building self-esteem
 problem solving
 stress management
I think the children will benefit greatly from this programme and I hope to
offer more opportunities to other Upper school classes.
Youth Music Initiative Programme
I am pleased to advise you that P4/3, P3a & P3/2 will be receiving music
tuition with a music instructor throughout the year. We hope the children
will learn a lot and take great pleasure in the sessions offered.
Annual Updates
I would like to thank you in advance for completing all the paperwork which
has been sent out you over the last couple of days. I appreciate that it is a
lot to fill in. It would be a terrific help if you could complete the paperwork
and send it back to the school as soon as you can in the envelope provided.
Again, thank you in advance for your co-operation in this matter.
French Development Officer
I am delighted to inform you that we will have a French Development Officer
teaching some of our children throughout the year. The teacher will teach
French to P7a, P7/6, P6a, P6/5 and P5a. We hope the children will enjoy
learning a new language and have fun too!
As always, if you have any concerns about your child, please do not hesitate
to contact the school and ask to make an appointment with Miss Gillies
(DHT – Infant School), Mrs Quate (DHT - Upper School) or Mrs Cassidy (HT)
By working together, we can make a difference to your children achieving
her/his highest potential and improving their health & wellbeing.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Mary Cassidy
Head Teacher
School Holidays 2015 - 16
Return Date for
Tuesday 11 August 2015
Teachers
Return Date for
Thursday 13 August 2015
Pupils
September Weekend Friday 25 and Monday 28 September 2015
Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2015
First Mid-Term
(inclusive)
Wednesday 23 December 2015 to Tuesday 5 January
2016
Christmas/New Year (inclusive)
* Please note that schools will close at 2.30pm on the
last school day before the holiday
2016
2016 Return to
Wednesday 6 January 2016
School
Second Mid-Term
Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 February 2016
Good Friday 25 March 2016 and Easter Monday 28
March 2016
Good Friday
Monday 4 to Friday 15 April 2016
Spring Holiday
(inclusive)
(Easter)
* Please note that schools will close at 2.30pm on the
last school day before the holiday
May Day
Monday 2 May 2016
May Weekend
Friday 27 and Monday 30 May 2016
Friday 24 June 2016
School Close
* Please note that schools will close at 1pm on the last
school day before the holiday
In-Service Days
Day
1
Tuesday 11 August 2015
All
Schools
Day 2
Wednesday 12 August
2015
All
Schools
Day 3
Monday 19 October 2015
South
Area
Day 4
Wednesday 17 February
2016
All
Schools
Day 5
Thursday 5 May 2016
All
(To coincide with Election) Schools