Dear Parents and Carers
Parents Evenings
We had a very good turnout at our Parents Evenings last month. If you were unable to attend, you
should have received a new appointment by now. If you haven’t, please call the school to arrange
this. A feedback form has been included with this newsletter. We would be very grateful if you
could fill this in and return it to school at your earliest convenience.
Hallowe’en Discos
There was a very good turnout at the recent Hallowe’en discos. The children had a great
time and a big thank you must go to the Parent Council for all their hard work. It was
lovely to see so many children dressed in a variety of costumes. These activities can only
happen with parental support so, if you can help at any future events, please get in touch
with the school office or a member of the Parent Council.
The children also had fun ‘dooking for apples’ during their class parties. Again, it was lovely to see so
many children getting dressed in Hallowe’en costumes and taking part in a variety of traditional
games.
Harvest Assembly
Thank you to everyone who donated food to our recent Harvest Service collection. Women’s Aid
was very grateful to receive the donations and will put them to good use in our community.
Joint Pupil Council
James Newlands and Ellie McQueen represented the school at a recent joint Pupil Council
workshop, which was held in Seamill Hydro. The children worked with pupils from West Kilbride
Primary, Dykesmains Primary, Stanley Primary, James McFarlane School and Ardrossan Academy.
This was a valuable opportunity to shape the future of Pupil Councils and to meet children with
whom they will be in secondary school. They worked hard all morning participating in a variety of
activities before enjoying a lovely buffet lunch.
Parent Council Annual General Meeting
The Parent Council’s Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 20th
November at 3.15pm in school. There was quite a poor turnout at this meeting.
If you are able help at any event, please come along as you will be made very
welcome. The more people who come, the less each person has to do. Why not
come along to the next event and find out what’s going on?
Spanish lessons
Our Primary 1 pupils are currently participating in a project, which teaches them some basic Spanish
words and phrases. Mrs Yolande Cowan, a native Spanish speaker and teacher, is in school each
Thursday morning. If you would like to ask any questions or comment, please do not hesitate to get
in touch.
Tempest Photographs
Tempest was in school on Tuesday 19th November to take class photographs. Unfortunately, there
was not sufficient time to take family or individual photographs at this visit. If you would like us to
arrange for Tempest to return to school later in the year to take family photographs, please let us
know.
Football Team
Our football team played their first game of the competition at Stanley Primary and
was very successful. Well done to all players who took part. They played really well
and were a credit to our school. Thanks also to Mr Martin and Mr Quinn for all their
hard work in training the team to their current high standard. The next match will
be held on Monday 25th November at Stanley Primary School.
Transition
Alison Crawford, DHT at Ardrossan Academy, is currently visiting our pupils in Primary 7 as part of
our transition programme. The pupils will also spend the day at Ardrossan Academy participating in
a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical) activities on Wednesday 27th
November. Letters are attached and should be returned quickly.
Author Visits
We have been very fortunate in gaining a few places at the author visits, which will be held later in
the month. A small group of children from Primary 3 and 7 will travel to Irvine to take part in
presentations by Julia Donaldson and Janis Mackay. Letters will be sent to the children taking part.
Primary 1 Library Visit
The children and staff in Primary 1 will visit the library on Monday 25 th November when they will be
gifted a book bag. They will keep the books in school for a little while but will have the opportunity
to bring them home soon.
Christmas Fayre
Our Parent Council are holding their Christmas Fayre in school on Thursday 28 th
November from 3.00pm until 6.00pm. If you can help in any way, please get in
touch. Donations for the bottle stall, bric-a-brac etc. can be made any day until
Thursday. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.
We are hoping for a great turn out …. Come and visit our Primary 7 Nail Bar, our
Christmas Fireplace Game should be fun and Santa will be dropping in with his elf!
Come and have your photo taken with Santa!
Open Afternoon
Our school will be open on the afternoon of Thursday 5th December from 1.30pm to allow parents
and friends to see the quality learning and teaching that takes place in school. We would also like to
invite parents and carers of pupils due to start school next August. Please feel free to invite any
families you know who have children due to start school in August 2014. The school dining hall is
staying open during the afternoon to allow parents to come and sample lunch. So come along and try
some food or just have a tea or coffee.
New Playground
There has been a lot of activity in our rear playground over the last few weeks.
We are very fortunate that North Ayrshire Council has significantly upgraded our
playground and we now have lovely new paths. When the work is finished we will
also have large areas of turfed ground, which will allow the children to sit out in
the sun next spring. Next spring, we will then begin to design our orchard,
vegetable patches and flower beds. If you are interested in gardening, we would
love to hear from you as we have a beautiful greenhouse that needs someone to help the children to
plant and grow things.
New Lighting
We are going to have our lighting replaced in the New Year. We are looking forward to this taking
place as it will help to ‘show off’ all the beautiful work in the corridors, which has been created by
the pupils
Community Choir
If you like singing why not come along to our new Community Choir?
Parents and pupils meet in school each Thursday at 2.30pm. You don’t
have to be a good singer – you just have to want to have some fun! Mrs
Meldrum is looking forward to many new people.
If there is a club that parents would like us to set up in school, please
speak to me or a member of the office staff and we will do our best to
help.
Planting bulbs
Mrs Meldrum took her class to the Plantation recently to plant bulbs for the spring. The children
had a great time and they were complemented on their good behaviour. Well done to everyone!
After School Clubs
We have a variety of after school clubs running in school at the moment. Miss Gilchrist has her
Dance Mania Club on a Monday, which is enjoyed by the infants. They will take part in a Day Of
Dance at Dalry Primary School later this month. More details will follow. We also have our choir
practice on Mondays, Athletics on Wednesday, Football on Thursdays and Netball on Fridays. If
there is a club that you think your child would enjoy attending, please let us know and we’ll try to
arrange it.
Media permission
We would like to begin to contribute to the local press on a regular basis and to upgrade our school
website. In order to ensure that our permissions are up to date, please complete the attached form
and return it to school.
Pantomime
We will travel to the Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock on Thursday 12th December to watch
the pantomime ‘Jack in the Beanstalk’. As we are subsidising the cost of this trip, it
will cost £8 per child. Please remember you can still make instalments but full payment
must be made before the date. If you would like to chat to us about this, please get in
touch. Children will be given a small snack and drink. Please do not send sweets with
the children. The children will have lunch in school on their return.
Joint Churches Service
On the evening of Thursday 12th December, the pupils from Primary 1, Primary 2 and Primary 3 have
been invited to perform their Nativity in the Congregational Church in Ardrossan. This is a joint
churches and schools service. All friends and parents are welcome to attend.
Christmas Jumper Day
Staff and pupils are invited to wear a Christmas jumper or hat on Friday 13 th
December. Staff will make a donation to Save the Children. Children are welcome
to bring in some small change if they wish to.
Christmas Lunch
The dining hall staff will be serving Christmas Lunch in school on Friday 13 th December. The usual
cost of £1.90 applies and children in receipt of free school meals will get their lunch as usual. It is
hoped that all children will have lunch that day. Staff will eat lunch with their pupils in the
lunchroom on the day.
Christmas Parties
The staff and children from Primaries 4, 5, 6 and 7 will have their party on Tuesday
17th December in the school hall. The infant party will take place on the afternoon
of Thursday 19th December. Santa will visit the infant party.
Christmas Concert
The infants will perform their Nativity ‘A Little Bird Told Me’ on the morning and afternoon of
Wednesday 18th December in the school hall. The pupils from Primaries 4, 5, 6 and 7 will perform
Christmas songs. As this concert will be popular and space is limited, each child will be offered 2
tickets at a cost of £2 each. Entry will be by ticket only. Tickets will go on sale on Monday 2 nd
December at the school office.
Christmas Church Service
The staff and pupils will walk to church to celebrate Christmas on Friday 20 th December. The
service will start at 9.45am. If you are able to help us walk the children to church, please let us
know. Everyone is welcome to join us. School closes at 2.30pm.
I would like to thank everyone for their support over the last few months. I don’t know where the
time has gone. The next few weeks will be busy ones for us at school but we are looking forward to
seeing the children becoming more excited as we approach Christmas. I wish each of you a lovely
Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
Kind regards
Lesley K Bell
Headteacher
Calendar
Thursday 28th November
Christmas Fayre
Thursday 5th December
Thursday 12th December
Open Afternoon
(AM)
Thursday 12th December (evening)
Whole school visit to pantomime
Joint Churches Service
Tuesday 17th December
Party for P4/5, P5/6 and P7/6
Wednesday 18th
Performance of Christmas Concert and Nativity – 2
December
performances
Thursday 19th
Party for P1, P2, P3
Friday 20th
Christmas Service at church (9.45am)
School closes for holidays at 2.30pm