Dalneigh Primary School Handbook
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Dalneigh Primary School Handbook 2012/13 Head Teacher – Shona Mackinnon St Ninian Drive Inverness IV3 5AU 01463 232636 [email protected] Dear Parents May I take this opportunity to welcome you as the parent of a new child, to Dalneigh Primary School. Starting school will be both exciting and challenging for your child. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss any issues that you may have. I would genuinely encourage all parents to come to school regularly in order that you may share in your child’s education and successes. This handbook explains most aspects of school life for your information. Please keep it for future reference. I look forward to getting to know you and your children over the coming months. Yours sincerely Shona Mackinnon Head Teacher School Aims Our School Aims are: - Provide a broad and balanced programme of work, through which each child should achieve his/her full potential. Further raise levels of attainment by providing more effective stimulating learning and teaching environment to ensure pupils realise their full potential academically and socially. Continue to build on our positive ethos of wider achievement by regular monitoring of progress, and then in turn celebrating our successes. Develop an awareness of citizenship and active health promotion by motivating a responsibility in children and staff alike. Meet the needs of all staff in order to maintain professional standards through continued professional development and staff development and review. Provide equal opportunities for all staff and pupils taking account of cultural, social and religious backgrounds. Nurture a close working partnership with parents and the wider community as well as external agencies for the benefit of all pupils. About Dalneigh Primary School Dalneigh Primary School was officially opened in 1954. The school is within easy walking distance of all parts of Dalneigh, the Caledonian Canal, Eden Court Theatre and the town centre. The catchment area, for interested parents is available from the school office. The current school role is 235 pupils with a further 40 places available in the nursery. School Accommodation The building houses two large nursery rooms, nine classrooms, a gym, library and general purpose areas. Round the school are extensive grounds, both grass and hard surfaced. The Staff Head Teacher Mrs Shona Mackinnon Deputy Head Teacher Mrs Lynne Lambert Principal Teacher Miss Kathleen Mackinnon Class Teachers Miss Lynne Ross Miss Murdina Riddle Mrs Irene Sherriffs Miss Marion Service Miss Morag Thomson Mr Daniel Torok Mrs Martine Kelly Mr Mark Doyle Miss Jillian Mackenzie Learning Support Teachers Mrs Heather Brockman Mrs Fiona Hewitson Pupil Support Assistants Mrs Reay McGill Mrs Laurie MacIver Mrs Catriona MacDonald Mrs Wendy Kelsey Mrs Alison De Venney Mrs Jean Morrison Mrs Carol MacLean Mrs Sheena Clark Nursery Staff Ms Karen Cox Ms Pat Bevans Mrs Susan MacIver Children’s Services Worker Mrs Jill Paxton Janitor Mr Alex Hooper Clerical Assistant Mrs Diane Martin Organisation of the school day Primary 1 - 3: 9.00 a.m. – 12.15 p.m. 1.00 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Primary 4 –7: 9.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. 1.15 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. INTERVALS . Morning Interval: 10.45 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. Lunchtime P1-3: 12.15 p.m. – 1.00 p.m. Lunchtime P4-7: 12.30 p.m. – 1.15 p.m. Term Dates Session 2013-2014 School Opens School Closes Tuesday 20th August 2013 Friday 4th October 2013 Tuesday 22nd October 2013 Friday 20th December 2013 Monday 6th January 2014 Friday 4th April 2014 Tuesday 22nd April 2014 Thursday 3rd July 2014 In-Service Days: Monday 19th August 2013 Monday 21st October 2013 Mid – Term Holiday: Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th February 2014 In-Service Days: Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th & Friday 21st February 2014 th May Day Holiday: Monday 5 May 2014 Enrolment Parents are invited to enrol their child each February. Advertisements are placed by the local authority in the press in January and February giving details of how to enrol. Your child must reach the age of 5 by the end of February 2013 in order to be enrolled this session. Details of enrolment week in Dalneigh Primary School will be posted on the Nursery notice board and the parent’s notice board within the school . * Birth certificates must be provided Adverse weather SCHOOLS DIAL-IN PHONE SERVICE Dalneigh Primary has a dial-in service if there is a risk of closure due to adverse weather. This allows parents to listen to a recorded message from school staff. You can also use the system to hear general information messages about events at the school. How to use the service: • Dial Highland Council's access number - 0870 054 6999 • Now enter your own school's pin number 041830 You have two attempts to enter the pin number and you will be disconnected after a second failed attempt. If this happens, check the number and redial. If you still have a problem check with your school. • You will now hear the school's name. Ensure that this is correct before going on. • You will now be taken to the MAIN MENU where you will be given 3 options: Press 1 to hear your school's message about the adverse weather for example whether or not the school is to close or if transport arrangements have been affected. The winter weather website www.schoolclosures.highlandschools.org.uk allows parents to access school closure information on the internet, thus reducing pressure on the very heavily used PIN number system. However we update the PIN number facility as well as the new website. Our aim is to provide clear, unambiguous information to parents with regard to school closures during periods of adverse weather. I would therefore encourage you to use either the PIN number system or the new winter weather website in this expanded winter weather information system. Press 3 to hear general information messages We use this as an additional way of informing parents about school events. Parents may hear up to ten messages with the most recent played first. Press 4 to enter the pin number for another school within the authority. Parents may have children who attend different schools. This option allows you to move from one school's messaging service to another without having to dial in again. ADVERSE WEATHER Guidelines for parents from Highland Council Education, Culture and Sport Service It is the responsibility of parents or carers to decide if a pupil should attempt to travel to school, by transport or on foot, in adverse weather conditions. The Education Authority encourages full attendance at school but in severe weather conditions the safety of pupils is much more important. The school updates its procedures for adverse weather closure annually, therefore:- • parents should advise schools of an alternative address, as close as possible to the school, which may be used by their children in emergencies. • the school will advise parents of normal local arrangements for school transport and any special arrangements in the event of adverse weather. • the school will establish a system of communication with parents and transport operators and ensure that parents are fully informed of the arrangements. This may include an 0870 telephone information service, details found previously. The website www.schoolclosures.highlandschools.org.uk will also be updated with information for individual schools. When weather conditions are poor:- • Local radio stations issue news and weather bulletins on traffic conditions and school closures. Transmissions may not cover all households and may be subject to re-scheduling but should be helpful. Parents are advised to remain “tuned in” to ongoing road weather, or school information updates. MFR will carry bulletins at roughly ten minute intervals between 7.00 am and 8.00 am. Please do not telephone local Radio for advice but listen to appropriate broadcasts. Health Care At some point during their first year at primary school, all pupils will have a medical examination by the school medical officer. Parents are invited to be present during this examination and may use this as an opportunity to discuss their child’s health. The Health department also provides routine health screening throughout the child’s school career, especially covering dental, sight and hearing care. It is very important that parents inform the school if their child has any condition which might affect their performance and / or require special attention or consideration. Please inform us as soon as possible if there is anything we should know about your child’s health. Dalneigh Primary School has been awarded “Health Promotion”, at the highest level 4 status. Free fruit is provided on a daily basis for all primary 1 & 2 children. Our School Nutrition Action Group provides a low cost healthy snack every day. A menu is available in the main foyer. Toilet facilities for all children are modern, clean and bright. Water thermostats are in operation at all sinks. The toilets are thoroughly cleaned every day. Administration of medicines Some children may require taking medication in order that they can continue to attend school. Parents are kindly requested to note that: A child may only take prescribed and labelled medication once the parent/guardian has completed the administration of medication form Parents should deliver the medication to school and only medication supplied by the parent/guardian will be administered to a child Pupils will take medication under adult supervision Non prescribed medication should be administered at home Illness During School Time If a pupil becomes unwell during the school day, the parents are contacted in order that treatment may be agreed. It is therefore very important that details of an emergency contact be provided.