ST. MARY’S
(LEITH) RC
PRIMARY
SCHOOL
November 2015
Newsletter
SYRIAN CONCERT - Thank you so much to all parents and members of our community who came along
and supported our charity events – “St. Mary’s Got Talent”. Primaries 5/6 and 3a worked very hard to
organise these events and it was gratifying to see other members of our school community supporting them
in this. Our concerts on Wednesday were so much fun – with such a wonderful atmosphere! Altogether we
were able to raise £535.40 for our local refugee support charity Re-Act. Many thanks again.
STAFFING – I am very happy to inform you that I have agreed with Council to continue in the post of
Headteacher until Mr Gilhooley’s. I am also delighted to welcome to St. Mary’s [Leith] Ms Ciara Menzies
who will be working in Primary 4 on Monday and Tuesday and covering additional classes on Wednesday
and Thursday [P3b,P5, P5/6 and P7], this to allow Mrs Macfarlane and Mr Gillon to carry out their Principal
Teacher duties.
HALLOWEEN DISCO – Thank you to all the parents who organised and came along to the Halloween
Disco – I’m sure everyone would agree that it was a wonderful event and enjoyed by all!
P7 FOOTBALL- Congratulations the team who have just got through to the next round of The Primary
Schools Scottish Cup.
COMMUNITY CHOIR - for all staff, parents, carers, friends, neighbours and past pupils
and parents of St. Mary’s [Leith] Primary. Everyone is welcome - the only essential
requirement is that you enjoy singing!
We will meet in The School Hall, 7.00-8.30pm [including a coffee break!]
fortnightly on a Tuesday [2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month]
Our first rehearsal will be on Tuesday, 10th November! Hope to see you there!
Enquiries: Mary Bainbridge mary.bainbridge@st-marys-pri.edin.sch.uk or Sally Fraser
SCHOOL ENROLMENTS –Week beginning 9th November [for children who are starting P1 next year]
PARENT HELPERS – Thank you so much for all those parents who have volunteered to help in school.
[We will be in touch soon once the PVG clearance has come through] If anyone else is interested then
please do not hesitate to contact me to arrange a chat about possible ways of getting involved.
PARENT COUNCIL – Everyone is welcome so please do look out for information from the Parents Council
on the website or by fliers. Meetings are the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm.
[Next meeting is Tuesday, 1st December]
SCHOOL DINNERS – HELP! How can we help your child to eat up his/her school dinner?
Any suggestions gratefully received!! There is a huge amount of food wasted and many
children must be quite hungry in the afternoon after not eating the food they are given. Please
could you chat with your child about the choices they make and the need to finish their meals.
Thank you!
FREE SCHOOL MEALS – There are still very many families who may be eligible for free school meals –
please don’t hesitate to come to the office to collect an application form or give me a ring and I can look into
it. It is your entitlement, so please do apply.
LOST PROPERTY – there is a huge amount of un-named Lost Property outside the SSO’s office. Please
come in and check the boxes [or ask your child to] if you think your child has lost something.
This will all be recycled or thrown away shortly
LETTERS / RETURN SLIPS – Please could all returns come back to school by the appropriate, identified
dates [incl. school dinner sheets] and any money clearly marked in an envelope. Many thanks
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS – these will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, 10th November for families and
individuals. All children will be photographed on their own but if you would like a family picture taken with
brothers and sisters then you should bring in the form, distributed on Friday, or send in a note with your
child tomorrow. [Babies and Toddlers, who are to be included in Family Photographs, should be brought to
the hall at 9.00am] [Afternoon Nursery families will be photographed at 12.45pm]
CHRISTMAS DEBT WORRIES – relieving the burden. Christmas is a special time of year, but for many
people it can also be a drain on family finances. The expense of Christmas is often a tipping point for
families resulting in problems with debt. In the lead up to the festive period it’s always a good idea to check
your financial situation so that what should be a happy time, doesn’t turn into a crisis.
Over the next few weeks, up to Christmas, St Mary’s is working with Granton Information Centre to provide
advice and assistance to families who may want support with their family finances. GIC can provide advice
on whether parents are entitled to extra benefits and tax credits and can offer support if families are having
difficulties paying their bills. If you would like to speak to an adviser from GIC they will be at St Mary’s on:
Friday, 20th November from 10.00 to 12.00am and Saturday, 21st November from 10.00 to 12.00am
GIC is an independent advice agency funded by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. All the advice and
assistance they provide is confidential impartial and free of charge.
Przedświąteczne wsparcie w zakresie finansów
Boże Narodzenie to wyjątkowy czas, jednakże dla wielu osób może to być również niemożliwy do
udźwignięcia ciężar finansowy. Koszt świąt często wpędza rodziny w długi. W okresie przedświątecznym
warto skontrolować swoją sytuację finansową po to, aby czas kojarzony ze szczęściem nie stał się
kryzysem.
Przez najbliższe tygodnie prowadzące do Bożgo Narodzonia St Mary’s będzie współpracować z Granton
Information Centre, które służy poradą i pomocą w zakresie finansów rodziny. Granton Information Centre
może zidentyfikować należność zasiłków czy tax credits oraz wspierać rodziny, które mają trudności z
płaceniem rachunków na czas. Jeśli są Państwo zainteresowani, doradca z Granton Information Center
będzie dostępny w St Mary’s w
dniach 20 i 21 listopada w godzinach porannych od 10 do 12.
Granton Information Centre jest organizacją niezależną, finansowaną przez Scottish Legal Aid Board, a
porada, której udziela jest poufna, obiektywna i darmowa.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB – SocialBall Kids – this club is held at Hermitage Park Primary School but they
will collect from St. Mary’s. If you are interested in a place [there are a few places still available] then please
contact them on 0131 564 0264 or hello@socialballkids.co.uk.
COMMUNICATION – We have decided to send out paper copies of the Newsletter until the end of the
year. After Christmas we will e-mail the Newsletter to those parents that requested it and we will also
always update the Newsletter on The School Website in the last week of every month. Please check
the website on a regular basis. [Also please notify the office of any change of e-mail address or if you
wouyld like to be added to the mailing list]. Those who requested a paper copy will continue to receive one.
stmarysleithps.co.uk
CHATTER MATTERS! – Why not drop-in for a coffee and a chat and get to know some more parents at
school. Coffee/Tea will be available every Thursday in the Flexibase between 9.00 and 10.30am.
PARKING and CAR PARK – REMINDER – I would like to remind parents once again about the dangers of
parking and ‘dropping off’’ children near to the school. The Police and Traffic Department are continuing to
work with us to resolve this problem. No parents or children should access the school through the staff car
park at any time. Many thanks for your help in keeping our children safe.
SOCIAL MEDIA – I would like to take this opportunity, once again, to remind all parents of the huge
importance and necessity of talking with your child about internet safety and knowing who they are ‘meeting
and chatting to’ on-line. Many parents, I know, check their child’s phone every night and I would encourage
this as a way of keeping your child safe.
Mary Bainbridge [Acting Headteacher]
Dates for the Diary
w/b 9th
-
SCHOOL ENROLMENT WEEK
9th -
P5/6 visit to Ocean Terminal [film]
Peace and Justice Gp to Vue Cinema [after School]
10th -
School Photographs [individuals and families]
P5 visit to Ocean Terminal [film] am
Road Safety Magic Show [P1-3]
5.30pm Primary 7 taking part in a ‘Mock Court Case’
6.15pm P3 and P4 Sacramental Gp mtg in school
7.00pm Community Choir in School Hall – please join us!
11th -
Primary 2a and 2b going to The Library in the morning
12th -
9.15am Primary 6 Service
P3 to Ocean Terminal
4.30pm Primary 7 taking part in a ‘Mock Court Case’
14th -
Parent Council Parents’ Disco
15th – P3 and P4 Mass of Election
w/b 16th
17th -
Scholastic Book Fair arrives
18th -
3.30 – 6.00pm : Parent Consultations
19th -
9.15am Service Mrs Bainbridge [Library Service visiting Speakers]
3.30 – 6.00pm : Parent Consultations
20th - 10.00 to 12.00noon : Money Advice Session in school [see above]
21st -
10.00 to 12.00noon : Money Advice Session in school [see above]
2.30 – 4.00pm : Family ECO/Bee Event in school [see above]
22nd - Light Night on George St [choir singing] [more info. to follow]
w/b 23rd
24th - P5 to Pizza Express
25th -
Flu Nasal Spray Immunisation for whole school
26th -
9.15am Primary 3a Service
27th – 12.45pm : P4 Sacramental gp visit to church
w/b 30th
December
1st -
7.00pm Parent Council mtg – Everyone welcome
3rd -
9.15am Service Mrs Bainbridge [1st in Advent]
Primary 1 height/weight screening
4th -
CHRISTMAS FAIR
w/b 7th
8th –
7.00pm - P6 and P7 Christmas Show
9th -
Primary 6 and 7 Christmas Party
10th -
9.15am Primary 4 Service [2nd in Advent]
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
3.30 – 5.30pm ‘Shopping Sitting’! [leave your child at school and go Christmas Shopping! - £5.00]
11th -
Choir Carol Singing at Mimi’s
w/b 14th
15th – 11.00am Choir Carol Singing at Portlee Centre
P1 and P2 Christmas Nativity – 1.45pm and 6.30pm
16th -
11.00am Choir Carol Singing at Kirkgate
Morning - Primary 3 and 4 Christmas Party
Afternoon - Primary 1 and 2 Christmas Party
17th -
9.15am Primary 3/4 Service [[3rd in Advent]
1.00pm : Whole School to Snow White at The King’s Theatre
Nursery Party pm
18th -
11.00am Choir Carol Singing at Portlee Centre
Nursery Christmas Party am
w/b 21st
21st -
Nursery Nativity am and pm
Afternoon – Primary 5 and 5/6 Christmas Party
22nd - 10.30 am Carol Service in Church – Whole School. Everyone Welcome
12 noon CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS