Oxgangs Primary School She’ll be coming ...
November 2009 Following the Departure of this article was (err … for Keith Berkley, the Parent copyright reasons) Council were instrumental in borrowed from the Ratho the appointment of the new website. We are not sure if Head Teacher. After this is a self portrait, but exhaustive interviews (both can reassure parents she for the panel and the has the skills and qualities applicants) Mrs Liz Walshe in all the core subjects to The Lothian and Borders was offered the move Oxgangs position. forward. Mounted Police visited Oxgangs Primary early in Mrs Walshe is At the time of October, giving the currently the writing this children a close up view Head Teacher at article, no start Ratho Primary date has been of both horse and rider. School. She has given for when The horses had crossed already visited Mrs Walshe will the road from an earlier Oxgangs on join Oxgangs as visit to Braidburn several occasions Ratho are trying and introduced herself to the to find someone to replace Primary. teaching staff and had a look her there. In the meantime, The visit was organised about our school. Mrs MacKenzie will remain as Acting Head (see by the Parent Council. The picture accompanying inside for article on her) 22 Years and still going Strong
Janet Buckle is the taught all stages of the school from P1 to P7 and a little longest serving member time in the nursery. of staff at Oxgangs having started here in Janet thinks Oxgangs is a great school with a super group August 1987. She is now of children, supportive parents and a very active school our Principal Teacher community. Janet is now teaching the second generations with responsibility for of the same families. She loves our new purpose built Playground Development school and enjoys developing our new playground. She is and the Safer Routes to always looking for volunteers of all ages to help in her School Group. She is also famous Work Squad events. on the school’s Eco- Group. Out of school, Janet enjoys cycling, gardening, travelling, walking and looking after her pet cat. She has been at Oxgangs
PARENT COUNCIL Primary for the whole of her teaching career and during that time has
Inside this issue:
Jacqui MacKenzie 2
Mercedes 2
Parent Council / PTA etc 3
Activities at School 4
Head Selection process 5
Lollypop Lady 5
Cluster Group 6
Oxgangs Primary - News Mock Court Case 6 Acting Head
Jacqui joined Oxgangs in August 2004, anti-bullying coordinator. working with Keith Berkley (recently retired Head) and others. During her time While the rest of us were topping up our with us so far, the school has excelled in tans and taking a well earned rest over various areas, most notably, in terms of the summer recess, Jacqui was frequently Mrs MacKenzie, the school nursery. in the school preparing for the new term. In addition, she agreed to pilot a project The school nursery was subject of an with SBC (Scottish Business in the unannounced inspection on 8 th June 2009 Community) to run a mock court case for by the Care Commission. The Care the P7’s in the Firrhill Cluster. Several Commission Officer interviewed the then meetings took place over the summer Head, Mrs MacKenzie, the Nursery holidays to prepare for this and the Teacher as well as the children project was released at the beginning of themselves and their parents. The results term to three schools, including were extremely welcome – Excellent Oxgangs. At the end of the project, all was scored in all four categories ; Care schools will meet in Edinburgh Sheriff and Support, Environment, Staffing: and Court to test their debating skills before a Management & Leadership. real Sheriff.
The full report can be found at If the above was not enough, Mrs http://www.oxgangs.edin.sch.uk/wp- MacKenzie has been instrumental in content/uploads/2009/09/InspectionRepo organising several visitors to the school, Mercedes rt11.pdf . The comments made by parents including a visit by the mounted Police, and children makes not only impressive and a local vet She was also the Draw Did you know that Oxgangs reading and gives justification to the Master as the Cluster raffle at Morrisons. Primary has been sponsoring an report itself, but further reinforces the Mrs MacKenzie started her teaching animal at Edinburgh Zoo for over value of Oxgangs and its staff. career back in 1984 at the International 30 years? Most recently we have School of Choueifat in Abu Dhabi. She Following on from Mr Berkley’s been supporting Mercedes the retirement, Jacqui took on the role of spends her weekends, like most parents, Acting Head Teacher – no easy task, ferrying her boys to various activities, Polar Bear but she is moving to giving she still has to fulfil the tasks although claims her triplets are all the her new home at the Highland required as a Deputy Head. same age (a reference there to the editor Wildlife Park. Soon, we will be who asked such a stupid question!). In Ignorant of what a Deputy really does, between her excellent home baking choosing a new animal to support the editor was given a list that would (several have tried this) and looking after but in the meantime you can still daunt many. Examples of her duties the family, the sofa provides occasional send your pennies in to school on include; Probationary teacher mentor, relief while she catches up with the latest Tuesdays. Last year we collected staff development, development of the happenings on the soaps! community room, monitoring quality of £325 so all those pennies really learning, teaching and attainment and Who knew in her younger days she was add up! also an expert water skier?
Free School Meals & Assistance with School Wear
To receive information on how to apply for any of the above, application forms can be obtained from the school office or online. To check the current qualifying criteria, please check with the City of Edinburgh Council
Page 2 OXGANGS PRIMARY - NEWS Making a Difference for OUR Children A L L parents and grandparents have the very real opportunity of making a difference to our children's school and their ongoing education.
Yes, there is an argument that we pay our taxes, so it is up to the City of Edinburgh Council to make it happen and it is all down to the teaching staff to do more? Not so.
The reality is most parents want our children to experience the very best from what can be offered. To achieve this and more we need to chip in where we can.
Each parent has different skills, interests and time commitments. It is because of this and not in spite of it, the Parent Council and its various sub-groups can offer not only the children something extra, but quite often the parents Wedding themselves. Whether it is you having a say on Bells at significant decision making or helping with reading and maths, there is something Oxgangs you could help with and more importantly, something your child can Congratulations to Miss Rhona Brown who became Mrs Fleming benefit from. th on Saturday 17 October 2009. Contact either Mr Hargest Best wishes to Rhona and David or the school office for more for their future together details on how YOU can help. School Nursery—Update
The first term of this school year seemed always come from Tesco, we made some students working with us until December. to fly by. Lots of happy faces returned of our home grown ones into mashed It's always good to get fresh ideas and the after the Summer Holidays and all our new potatoes. children enjoy having new faces around starts in the afternoon settled well. We are too. pleased too to have a healthy waiting list. The new turf in our garden looks very nice and helps to make the area more 'green' We are looking forward to a busy term. Over the summer we grew tomatoes, and friendly. We raised half of the cost of Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without strawberries, rhubarb, lettuces and having it done (which was quite our parties of course. We are all going to potatoes in our garden. The potatoes were expensive). try really hard to be good just in case a made into very popular and healthy soup. plump old man in a red suit comes to visit Also, just to prove potatoes don't actually We are glad to have three Nursery Nurse us...
OXGANGS PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS Page 3 What is on for your Children Who Activity Day Where Time Contact for?
Gymnastics P2 + Monday Oxgangs Gym Hall 5pm - 7pm Lesley Coutts 664 6537
Recorder P6 Monday Oxgangs PS 3.25pm - 4pm Mrs Frew at the school
Football P4 & P5 Monday Oxgangs Astro-turf 5.45pm - 6.45pm Mr Coventry via the school
Basketball P2 & P3 Monday Firrhill Gym Hall 4pm - 4.45pm Lorna Norman *
Basketball P4 + Monday Firrhill Gym Hall 4.45pm - 5.45pm Lorna Norman *
Mr Johnstone via the Football P6 Monday Oxgangs Astro-turf 5.45pm - 6.45pm school Mr McQuarrie via the Chess P3 + Tuesday Oxgangs PS 3.25pm - 4.15pm school
Multi-skills Club P2 Tuesday till 1/12 Oxgangs Gym Hall 4pm - 5pm Lorna Norman *
Hockey P5 + Tuesday till 15/12 Braidburn Astro-turf 4.30pm - 5.30pm Lorna Norman *
Mini-Tennis P4 Tuesday till 15/12 Oxgangs Gym Hall Lunch time Lorna Norman *
Beverley Knight via the Brass P5 + Wednesday Oxgangs PS During school time school
Rugby P5 + Wednesday Firrhill Rugby pitch 4.30pm - 5.30pm Lorna Norman *
Gordon McBirnie via the Jaffa Club P5 + Thursday Oxgangs PS Lunch time school
Fun, Fit & Active P6 + Thursday till 19/11 Oxgangs Gym Hall 8am - 8.45am Lorna Norman * Club
Chanter P6 + Friday Oxgangs PS During school time Donald via the school
12.30 -1.30 Karate P1 + Friday Oxgangs Gym Hall Lorna Norman * 1.30 - 2.30 * Lorna Norman, Active Schools Co-ordinator - Tel: 07884 191761
Page 4 OXGANGS PRIMARY - NEWS Remembering Word War II 65 years on and This year our class has been learning Welcome to our new School Crossing many people are Guide, Ann Jeffrey. She helps our children wondering if the about WWII. I haven’t just learned as they use the crossing opposite Tesco. events of the about what people did but how the Second World Before taking up her lollipop, Ann was a war changed peoples lives. I really War will still be Salvation Army officer. She then worked remembered. Well if Primary 7 pupils enjoyed learning more about it and for a company providing emergency care at Oxgangs Primary school are any for people in sheltered housing or with hope more people stop to think Lifeline. thing to go by the answer to this is a definite yes! about how many people died risking Ann's favourite part of her job is meeting their lives to defend us and how the children and their parents, and getting Primary 7 always study WWII in a lucky we are to be here right now. to know them. She says that there is considerable amount of detail and also nothing she doesn't like about the job! seem to find it an exciting and Caitlin P6/ 7 interesting project. Caylin (P1b) wanted to know if it is scary standing in the road. Ann says that it can be sometimes, when cars decide not to stop. However, she says this happens very rarely, and you just have to be alert.
Ann is very friendly and helpful, so please say hello to her the next time you are crossing
Original newspaper printed on D-Day 6th June 1944 How Was Our New Head Chosen? Oxgangs new Headteacher was one of the interviews. These followed a similar format with the first to be appointed adopting the new main difference being the inclusion of recruitment procedures at City of I'm not sure we were really prepared for two Councillors on the panel; Marilyne Edinburgh Council (CEC). Although the speed of the process that followed! Maclaren, City Convener for Education members of the Parent Council were For the first interviews, the two Oxgangs and Ricky Henderson, Labour invited to be involved in the selection parents were led by 2 senior managers spokesman for education. After another process, there was some uncertainty as to within CEC, from Children and Families round of questioning, the panel then had the extent of our involvement. We were in Dept., and assisted by another a big decision to make. At this point the no doubt by the end just how crucial Headteacher from the Firrhill cluster. All Oxgangs parents could have vetoed any parent involvement is to the process. candidates were asked to prepare a of the candidates if we felt they weren't presentation, then the panel asked a right for the school, and the process Firstly, parents wishing to be considered series of questions which we'd agreed would need to start over. However, we attended a training course which explained beforehand. The Oxgangs parents were were happily not in that position as CEC's procedures and interview 'entitled' have 2 questions from the 6 almost every candidate who applied had techniques. When the interview dates were asked at each interview. After a very the experience needed for the job, announced, the Parent Council decided on intense 4 hours of back-to-back making our decisions very difficult. As the two parents to attend; for consistency it interviews, we had to help make the quoted by the interview panel , was suggested the same people be decision, as a panel, which candidates to “Oxgangs attracts all the good available for both first and second ask back for 2 nd interviews. applicants!”
OXGANGS PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS Page 5 PARENT COUNCIL RAGS TO RICHES For further information please contact; We will be collecting unwanted clothes etc 11th Jan `10 as part Mr Keith Hargest (Chair) P4 & 6 Email: [email protected] Mr Gerald Murphy (Vice-Chair) P2 Email: [email protected] of our fundraising. Watch out for the flyer for further details. Mrs Audrey Timmins (Clerk) P6 Email: [email protected] Ms Carol Munro (Treasurer) - Email: [email protected] was for Oxgangs. It was especially pleasing to note that the first prize of £150 in Morrison’s vouchers went to a ticket sold by Sub-Committees: PTA: Oxgangs as did the fourth prize! Vacant (Chair) Vacant (Vice-Chair) The Cluster Group is trying to put together the “Big Experiment” Mrs Sue Murphy (Secretary) P6 Email: [email protected] as well as working with Mrs MacKenzie in reintroducing the Mr James Thorburn (Treasurer) P4 Email: [email protected] Community Room at Oxgangs. It is pleasing to see the City of PDG: Mrs Audrey Timmins (Secretary) P5 & 7 Email: [email protected] Edinburgh Council are supporting the latter and a meeting is being arranged with officials to see how this can be progressed. Telephone enquiries to Mr K Hargest 0131 444 0062 Unfortunately, the work commitment by the Cluster Group has Parents and teachers working together for fallen on just a few shoulders and one of the key supporters has a better future and a better school recently resigned. We would urge any parent who wants to make a difference to consider supporting this group through our Parent Council as it has already made some significant inroads and with Firrhill Cluster continued support can do considerably more for the community and your child. The Cluster Group represents the feeder schools to Firrhill High School (Bonaly, Colinton, Oxgangs and Pentlands) as well as For details concerning the Cluster Group, please contact either Braidburn special needs School. The Cluster has had Keith Hargest or Gerald Murphy. representatives from both St Marks and Merchiston Castle attend various meetings.
Oxgangs has, through its Parent Council, played a big role in this group (see last edition) and has been pivotal in organising the current mock court case and the Cluster Raffle.
The raffle raised some £1,300 for the local schools of which £347 CONGRATULATIONS The parent Council would like to congratulate the two families that won prizes in the Cluster School Raffle. Oxgangs families won both the 1st and 4th prizes! PARENT SOCIAL NIGHT Quiz night at Colinton Bowling Club - 30th January 2010 - Mark your diary NOW
Mock Court Case It is time for the parent Consultations Meetings. So In Primary 7 we are having a mock court Ltd. The defenders are arguing that they some of the various case. It is about a company that has not are not paying the bill because they have organisations within the paid their gas bill and the gas company, been charged too much, but the gas PowerGas Ltd, is taking them to court. company now think that the bill should school, like the Parent be even more. Council, the new Social We have been split into two groups, one Group and the Eco Group the defenders which represents the We have been to Merchiston Castle will be setting up tables in company, BMP Metal Fabrications, who School and to Firrhill High School to talk the dining hall so you can have not paid their bill and the other, the about this mock court case and at each get to see what we are up to. pursuers, who are acting for PowerGas meeting there have been lawyers from Anderson Strathern to explain how it all works. Mr Murphy has You will be able to see and been helping us to understand chat to folk on both the what some terms mean such as Monday evening (30th the calorific value and VAT. November) and Thursday
We will soon be arguing this in afternoon (3rd December) front of a real Sheriff, Sheriff Mark Thorley in one of the court We look forward to seeing rooms at Edinburgh Sheriff you then. Court. Meet the Teachers and meet us and the TeachersMeet meet