Merrylee Primary School s2

Merrylee Primary School Newsletter 6

Dear Parent/ Carer

Staff news

Mrs Beattie leaves school on Friday 14th February to begin her maternity leave. She looks fabulous and is keeping so well. We will all miss her but wish her all the very best for the exciting times ahead. We have been delighted to welcome Mrs Margaret Miller to our office team every Wednesday and Thursday. Margaret is covering the foster leave of Mrs Suzie Capaldi.

Extension news

All the major ground works are complete so we hope to see some steel work rising from the ground very soon. Internal adaptations have been made to establish a new office for Mrs Haddock. Her room is now next door to Mrs MacDonald’s office.

P1 registration for next session

We have registered 92 children for next session’s P1. 5 children will defer until next year and 14 have made placing requests to other schools. (Most of these because they live much closer to other Glasgow schools)

Christmas festivities Seems such a long time ago now but all the pantomime visits and parties went well. The pantomime seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by all ages this time. The parties were all lively events with Santa making a surprise visit to the P1 party. Thank you also to our friends in Merrylea Parish Church who welcomed us for our Christmas Service. The service was conducted by the Reverends Hood and Pearson with their usual energy and sense of fun.

Monday 13th January pm Visit from African artists

We were very grateful to Mr. and Mrs Lynch, parents of Scott in P7, for arranging a visit from a group of African musicians. Mr. and Mrs Lynch were so impressed by the learning undertaken by Scott’s class about Tanzania that they wanted to enhance it further. The musicians entertained the senior classes with traditional music and songs. They shared stories of their culture and allowed the children to have a closer look at their hand made instruments.

P7 to GFT to see Boy in the striped pyjamas

The senior classes are studying conflict next learning block so P7 accepted the opportunity to visit the cinema to watch ‘The boy in the striped pyjamas’. The children and adults were all very moved by the film which was certainly thought provoking.

P6 & P7/6 Dance coaching

Both classes are engaging well in these coaching sessions and are thoroughly enjoying the experience.

1 P7/6 & P7 Celtic Connections Concert

The classes went to the Royal Concert Hall to listen to the orchestra perform Far Far from Ypres. It was a very moving experience.

P1 visit the Science Centre

P1 children have been learning about space. They are learning about identifying the sum, moon and stars. They are also learning about how the pattern of day and night is linked to the position of the sun, moon and stars. To enhance this learning they all had a great day at the Glasgow Science Centre.

The Clyde in the classroom project

The eco committee is heading up a whole school project about the River Clyde. A group representing the committee went to the Science Centre to learn about how they could help with the rejuvenation of life in the river. We now have a tank in which many young trout are now hatching and developing. The children have to maintain the tank at the optimum temperature and ensure the eggs and young fish are properly cared for. So far so good! In a few weeks the young trout will be released back into the river to continue their journey into adulthood. A fabulous learning opportunity. Hopefully there will be a link form the website soon that will lead you to our blogs about this project.

P7 Burn’s Supper

This was a fabulous event. We all enjoyed haggis, neeps and tatties and the various traditions of a Burn’s supper. Several children had learned verse and were led by a very competent master of ceremony. Following the supper we were entertained by talented musicians on the accordion, violin, flute, clarinet, drum and piano.

P6 Tobacco Health Project

P6 children have now begun the Rangers Study Centre health project. This is to raise awareness of the effects of tobacco on health and fitness. The lesson is a mixture of both practical and workshop.

P2a & P2b Visit from Nancy Nicholson

These classes enjoyed storytelling sessions with Nancy Nicholson as part of the Celtic Connections programme.

Science Team visitor

A science ambassador from STEM visited our science team to help them understand some very challenging contexts. Mrs Sutherland said her visit was very helpful and the children learned much from their visitor.

‘As new’ uniform board

A pin board has been put on the wall inside the first door at the community entrance to allow anyone to advertise nearly new school uniform for sale or gift. The PA members have already put pins, cards and pens on the board so it is ready for use. Why not make a few pennies by offering uniform your child 2 has outgrown for sale to another parent? Or offer it as a gift to anyone who wants it? Or put up a request for items you are looking for? This seems a great way to self-help within our community. Please note that this board is only for uniforms.

The Parents’ Association Committee

The PA has just donated a cheque for £4000 to the school fund. This is amazing! Many thanks again to every member of the extremely hard working committee and to all in our community who supports the work of our PA committee. The money donated to the school fund helps enhance the learning of everyone in our community. Below are just some of the ways money from the PA is spent. *Every school trip is subsidised. *The money funds class initiatives such as cooking, special art work, visitors to class etc. *We have bought 8 hand held movie cameras. *12 cases for our new ipads *New Logo technology *New mats for gymnastics WE are so lucky to have this fund to enhance learning in ways we could only dream of otherwise. Many thanks once again.

Mary’s Meals fundraising

Our young independent entrepreneurs continue to raise funds for the Mary’s Meals charity which has clearly touched the hearts of our children. Well done to Hannah Mason in P3/2 who raised £3.35 by giving turns to guess Cracker’s birthday. Well done also to Emma Copeland who raised £20 selling tablet.

Medication

Please do not in any circumstance send medication to school in your child’s school bag before registering it with the school office. All medication in school must be recorded and registered.

Call for spare school uniform please

If you have any uniform, especially for small boys, that you have no need for, please hand it in to the school office. This is handy for those odd accidents!

Rag Bag Donations

Since the pods were installed we have noticed a sharp fall in the amount of donations to the Rag Bag container. Please remember that it is there and encourage friends and neighbours to use it.

Stuart. Crossing patroller

This is a heartfelt plea from Stuart who is loved and respected in our community. He feels his role is being undermined by parents who ignore him and cross the road without his assistance close by to his normal position in the road. Please help Stuart by crossing with his help if you are crossing outside our main entrance. Many thanks.

3 Any information required? Need help with understanding what we do in school?

If there are any issues you would like me to address I would be very grateful if you could e-mail, letter or drop in and let me know. We have arranged workshops, leaflets, discussion opportunities before which have not always been well attended so I would like to offer you the chance to let me know how best I can help you understand what we do in school. Such topics could be- How we help your children learn? Methodology of learning? Help understanding the roles of ?? Teaching of a specific aspect of learning? Or even the chance to discuss a range of topics. Please let me know how we can continue to support and develop our home school partnership. I look forward to hearing from you.

Dates for your diary

Tues 5th Feb 17 senior children Participating in the Glasgow Cross Country finals P5a, P5b, P3a, P3b, P3/2 Visit from SSPCA Mon 10th, Tues 11th School closed for holidays Wed 12th School closed to children for staff in service training Tues 18th Feb Basic life support training for senior pupils and staff Wed 19th Feb P6 To Glasgow Science Centre Mon 24th Feb P4a To begin tennis coaching for 6 weeks at Newland tennis club Wed 26th Feb P2a & P2b To Glasgow Science Centre Wed 26th & Thurs 27th All classes to have Powerwise workshops Week beginning Monday 3rd March is Literacy Week. Mon 3rd Mar 9.30am Glasgow Lord Provost visiting Wed 5th Mar P6 & P7 Children’s author, Sam Wilding visiting Wed 5th Mar P7 & P7/6 Flood defence workshop Thurs 6th Mar World Book Day Thurs 6th & Fri 7th Mar PA run obstacle course Fri 7th Mar P4a, P4b, P5a, P5b Metaphog workshops Fri 7th Mar P6 To ‘Wee Write Festival’ to hear Dani Sacerdoti (children’s author) Fri 7th Mar P7 & P7/6 To ‘Wee Write Festival’ to hear Teresa Breslin (children’s author) Tues 11th Mar P6 To ‘Wee Write Festival’ to hear Philip Ardagh (children’s author) Tues 11th Mar All classes Parent/Teacher consultations 4-7pm Thurs 13th Mar All classes Parent/Teacher consultations 4-7pm Wed 19th Mar All P6 To Summerlee Museum Wed 19th Mar P3/2 To Glasgow Science Centre Thurs 20th Mar All P7 To Summerlee Museum Wed 26th Mar P1 & P7 Dental inspections Fri 4th April 2.30pm School closes for Spring Break Tues 22nd April 9am School resumes after the holiday

Best wishes Liz Mahindru Head Teacher