NOV/DEC
2014
Issue No 88
Dear Parent/Carer,
I cannot believe that Christmas is almost upon us again. I hope
everybody had an enjoyable November weekend and that you are
looking forward to the festive season.
Firstly, a huge thank you to all the families and local businesses who
supported the ‘Young Americans’ event at Garnock Academy. The
children who attended developed lots of skills around performance and
confidence from all the activities. The Shows, on Sunday 9th November
were exceptional and very well received by the audiences. This would
not have been possible without the support of local businesses who
sponsored the event and families who provided board and lodgings for
the young American performers.
In January 2015, all P1 – P3 pupils will be entitled to a free school
meal. This government driven scheme is based on balanced, nutritional
meals which the children will enjoy. Menus were sent home last week
and we hope our children will take advantage of this option.
Another big ‘thank you’ to Ranger Pete and the Community Windfarm
who support the school in developing learning around sustainable
living. Ranger Pete has been working with P3/4/5, helping to develop
an understanding of Animals in War and the senses which was highly
rated by the children. I am sure he will continue to work with all
classes around the school.
After a reorganisation of resources and materials (thanks to Mrs
Hamilton for this) in the portakabin, we would like to thank Carpet
Clearance, Bridgend, Kilbirnie for providing carpet samples for the
library and inner tubes for the play pod.
A big thank you to Holly Pearson for her £100.00 donation to our school
charity from their festive lunch raffle at The Gateside Village Hall.
There have been lots of exciting activities going on around the school
this term – already we have had the Young Musician of the Year, the
Day of Dance, our St Andrew’s Day celebrations and much practice for
the Nativity.
But let us begin by congratulating all the children who took part in the
Young Musician of the Year Competition that took place on Wednesday
26 November at Garnock Academy, they all did very well. The places
were as follows:
P3-4-5- Strings
2nd Freya Bailey
P3-4-5 – Electric Guitar 1st Andrew Hamilton
P5-6-7 - Voice
2nd Marjorie Gray
P5-6-7 - Voice
3rd Rebecca Conway
Our Halloween Party which took place on Tuesday 28 October was a great
success. The winners for best costumes were are follows:
P1 Theo Barker P2 Jane Addies P3 Calum Simmonds P4 Jayson McCleary
P5 (Joint Winners) Logan Aikman and Andrew Hamilton P6 Broadie
Wilson P7 Ross Dowie.
On Wednesday 29 October the footballers took part in a tournament at
Beith Astro Turf which they thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you to Miss
Irwin for her continued coaching and organisation of events for the team
and encouraging the Girls football team who came second in a recent
tournament.
On Friday 31 October Ross Dowie, Orla Graham, Marjorie Gray and Harry
Park took part in the Inter School Rotary Quiz at St Bridget’s Primary
School and they came first and received a cheque for £100.00 for school
funds - Well done!
The Scrap Play Pod started on 4 November in the playground at intervals
and lunchtimes. There is a timetable in operation for the use of the
materials in the play pod. I am sure you will agree that the children are
thoroughly enjoying their chance to play creatively with the items
donated. Thank you to everyone for their kind donations.
On Wednesday 12 November P7 took part in a Design & Technology
Challenge at Garnock Academy as part of their transition project. They
worked in teams to design and make their own wooden buggies that
could topple a specific item. They worked in the Technical Department
and were using various tools, from glue guns to saws, developing safe use
and getting familiar with the layout of the Academy.
Citizenship Week 18-21 November
This week focused on Fair Trade, Rights Respecting and anti-bullying.
P1-2-3 enjoyed the Rights Launchpad activities which led them through
each of the Articles and culminated in the creation of a class book.
P5-6-7produced an anti-bullying charter after lots of meaningful
discussion and plan to share this with the rest of the school. P3-4-5
completed the Fair Aware Award Learner Audit and have identified areas
to develop. They will continue to work on these next term.
At the school assembly on Monday 24 November we judged the
Christmas Baubles Competition and the winners from each class were:
P1-2-3 April Muirhead/Kaiden Ronald P3-4-5 Freya Bailey/Teighan
Mullen P5-6-7 Christopher Anderson/David Hunter – Well Done!
The pupils celebrated St Andrew’s Day by sharing Scottish songs,
dancing and traditions. The singing entrants for the Young Musician
of the Year performed to entertain the children and share their talents.
This was a most enjoyable afternoon for all concerned. The children
then enjoyed tasty Scottish snacks back in class.
On Wednesday 26 November the footballers took part in a 7-a-side
interschool cluster competition at Beith Astro Turf.
On Friday 28 November P5/6/7 pupils thoroughly enjoyed the Day of
Dance at the Magnum, Irvine.
The choir will perform at the Gateside Yuletide Fair on Sunday 30
November in the village hall where I am sure they will sing beautifully,
also at Dalry Trinity Church on Monday 1 December for their OAP Club.
They will be performing at Beith Lights & Laughter Evening on Friday 5
December in Beith at 6.30pm and fundraising for Hansel Village at the
Rivergate Centre, Irvine on Tuesday 9 December alongside Beith
Primary School choir. We would like to thank all the parents for their
support in transporting the children to all the choir events.
Can I take this opportunity to remind all families about travelling,
parking and turning safely around the school. We rely on the goodwill
of local residents in supporting the school and would ask that cars do
not turn in driveways (causing unnecessary damage) and be mindful of
their privacy.
Miss Dunlop
COMMITTEES
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM
We have been working on the school tie project and after
receiving the designs from the tie company sent voting slips
out to parents. We are awaiting a sample tie made up with the
chosen design and will be issuing order forms soon after this.
As well as this, we have been working on advertising to sell the
Garnock Valley Allotment Association recipe books. We will
continue to listen to ideas and work with staff to improve our
school. We hope to work with Mrs Logan and Miss Dunlop on
some school improvement activities.
ECO NEWS
The Committee have been working on this year’s action plan.
Litter mascots will soon be on display around the school. We
have been replenishing the bird feeders and working on ideas to
make our bird baths.
PUPIL COUNCIL/RIGHTS RESPECTING STEERING GROUP
The level 1 school audit has been complete and the group has
identified areas to work on. One of these will be to develop an
area on the school website to promote our rights respecting
activities. We have also made contact with the Hands for Hope
School in Uganda and will be planning to write to some of the
children there.
FAIR TRADE NEWS
During the Citizenship Week the learner audit for the Fair Aware Award
was completed and areas for development were identified. Various fair
trade activities also took place in each class.
JUNIOR ROAD SAFETY COMMITTEE
On returning from their JRSO training course the committee have been busy creating a new
wall display and coming up with competition ideas for next term – watch this space.
PARENT COUNCIL
A huge thank you to Mrs Dowie, Mrs Lockett. Mrs Hamilton, and Mrs
Addies for running the Christmas Decoration Club. We will be selling their
creations at the Gateside Yuletide Fair and at the school Nativity on
Wednesday 10 December. We also purchased 5 waterproof all-in-ones for the
Early Years Class. Any parent wishing to run or help out with an afterschool
club next term should contact the school office. I hope everyone has a lovely
Christmas and New Year.
James Robson, Chairperson
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
The after schools activities have been well attended. We would like to
thank Ewan Jamieson, Active Schools Co-ordinator for his support . The
last week for all the clubs this term was w/b 24 November.
Monday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Thursday
P1-2
P5-7
P5-7
P4-7
P4-7
P5-7
P3-7
after School Singing/Rhymes & Games Club
after school Rugby Club
after school Football Club
after school Badminton Club
after school table tennis Club – village hall
after school Homework Club
after school Christmas Decoration Club
Christmas Lunch – Wednesday 3 December
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
THURSDAY 4 DECEMBER
Letter went home in bags on Thursday 27 November regarding
a choir rehearsal at Beith Primary after school on Thursday 4
December. Please return tear-off slips to school as soon as
possible.
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER
The School choir will be performing at the Beith Lights and
Laughter evening alongside Beith Primary. Meet next to stage
at Beith Cross at 6.40pm.
TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER
School choir will be performing at the Rivergate Centre, Irvine, from
10am-11am to help raise funds for Hansel Village.
WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER
The School Nativity ‘Baubles’ will take place in the
village hall at 9.30am. Tea and coffee will be served
by the Parent Council at the end. The Parent Council
will be selling the Christmas Decorations the children
have been making. We would be obliged if you could
assist the Parent Council by kindly donating a raffle prize or supplying
some home baking please. We look forward to seeing everyone and we
are sure this will be most entertaining.
FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER
The whole school will travel to the Paisley Arts Centre for a
performance of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ The cost will be £10. If you
have not yet paid for the pantomime please do so as soon as possible.
We would like to thank The Parent Council for paying for half the price
of the bus keeping the cost down.
WEDNESDAY 17 DECEMBER
The P4-P7 Christmas Party in the hall at 1.15pm.
Children can either go home at lunchtime or bring in their party clothes
and get changed after lunch. Please let us know if your child is going
home on this day.
THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER
Early Years pupils Christmas party in the morning. Santa will visit at
10.45am and parents are cordially invited to see their child with
Santa.
THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER
The P1 - P3 Christmas Party in the hall at 1.15pm. Santa will visit at
2.30pm and parents are cordially invited to see their child with Santa.
Arrangement for party clothes:
 Pupils can be collected at 12.15pm to go home for lunch and be
changed.
 Parents can come in at 1.00pm to help change their child into
their party clothes.
 Send your child in with their party clothes in a bag.
HOLIDAYS
SCHOOL CLOSES AT 2.30PM ON FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER
AND
RE-OPENS AGAIN AT 9AM ON MONDAY 5 JANUARY 2015
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all at Gateside
Primary
Remember to use www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ when doing your online Christmas Shopping.