Telephone: 01346 415860 Mobile: RATHEN SCHOOL NEWSLETTER 07999853906 Information line th 0870 054 4999 Pin 27 September 2019 number: Newsletter 2 02 24 80

Classroom Charters Here are our Classroom Charters, co-created with the pupils to help ensure that every child is given the right to an education. Article 28.

‘Raving About Rathen’ World Peace Day At ‘Raving About Rathen’ whole school assemblies, we Another Article we have focused on at a whole have been ‘thinking about how we think!’ We have school assembly is Article 38 – ‘Governments been looking at the benefits of changing from a must do everything they can to protect and ‘Fixed Mindset’ to a ‘Growth Mindset’. Here are a few care for children affected by war. prompts we have been using to help us change the way Governments must not allow children under the we approach our learning. age of fifteen to take part in war or join the Fixed Growth armed forces’, to coincide with World Peace Instead of saying… Try thinking…. Day celebrated on September 21st. I’m no good at this. What can I do to improve? This will do. Is this my best work? I’ll never do it, this is too This may take some time and hard. effort. I just can’t do this. I’m going to try a different strategy. I’m not clever enough to do I will learn how to do this. this. How come my friend can do I will learn from them. it? I made a mistake. Mistakes help me learn and improve.

Please ask your child to tell you more.

P3-7 Trip to Techfest Here are a few snapshots of P3-7 pupils during their trip to Techfest on Friday 30th August.

Playground Improvements Playground Equipment Our P7 pupils are being very responsible, On behalf of the staff and pupils of Rathen ensuring that each child has the right to School, I would like to thank Rathen, Cortes & ‘relax, play and take part in a wide range of Memsie Community Council for applying to cultural and artistic activities’, Article 31, by Banff and Area Initiatives Fund improving the playground experience for all. 2018/19 and successfully securing funding for From the Playground Experience and playground equipment and allotment bunting. Equipment surveys they carried out at the We are delighted with the equipment, which beginning of session, they have prioritised the has also enhanced outdoor learning and fun at following development areas: Improve the playtimes. activities and Upgrade the equipment. They have set up a variety of ‘Zones’ in the playground, which are changed on a fortnightly basis, to engage the children during playtimes: Skipping Zone, Sandpit Zone, Lolo Ball Zone, Play Mat Zone, Magazines in the Quiet Area Zone, Construction Zone, Sensory Zone, Stencils Zone, Stamp Zone and more. They have had a budget of £150, a donation, greatfully received at the end of last session, and have ordered playground equipment including bouncy hoppers, goals, balls, cars and marbles.

Trip to Aden Park Farm Museum On Monday 16th of September, P3-5 visited Aden Park Farm Museum as part of their studies on Harvest Time. They saw how farming methods and techniques have changed over the years and were amazed at how the farm house had been relocated, brick by brick, from its original place in .

Trip to the Lighthouse Museum and Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station On the morning of September 17th, P6/7 visited the many exhibits at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh and were given a guided tour of Castle and Lighthouse building, as well as the mysterious Wynd Tower. They loved hearing all about the old stories and myths the tour guide, Michael, told them. In the afternoon they went to Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station. They were very grateful that so many of the lifeboat volunteers along with coxswain, Victor Sutherland, gave up their time to teach the children about the different lifeboats, safety awareness in the open water and what to do in an emergency whilst near the sea. To their delight, they also went aboard the Fraserburgh lifeboat, ‘Willie and May Gall’ and received a full explanation about what was all on board. The class all agreed that we are all so lucky to have so many brave and dedicated volunteers who are so passionate about their work.

Visitors to Rathen School Trip to Loch of Strathbeg th On Wednesday 4th September, Sharon Cooper, On Thursday 26 Sept P6/7 visited the Loch of the Welfare Officer at Fraserburgh Strathbeg. Here they are pond dipping and bird Fishermen’s Mission visited P6/7 with watching. They spotted a variety of birds including pink fisherman, Edward from Ghana. They talked to footed geese, mute swans and heron birds and caught the pupils about how the Fishermen’s Mission water scorpions, leeches and back swimmers and many support our local and foreign fishermen. Their more invertebrates from the pond. services include providing financial support to bereaved families and to families of fishermen who have been injured at sea, as well as, helping fishermen from other countries settle in Fraserburgh by helping them with Drs, Dentists etc.

‘Book Look’ Parents and Pupil Interviews Parents are invited to come to school on We are planning to meet with parents and pupils on Tuesday 12th November to our ‘Book Look’ event. Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th November. The Pupils will share their learning with their purpose of the meeting is to discuss pupils’ progress parents in a time slot allocated to them to avoid and agree on targets and next steps with them in their overcrowding in the classroom. More learning journey. Appointment times will be issued information to follow. later.

P3-5 Swimming Lessons Bags 2 School On Wednesday 6th November, a six-week block The next Bags 2 School pick up is Tuesday 8th of swimming lessons at Fraserburgh Swimming October. Your child will take home a ‘Bags 2 School’ Pool and Sports Centre will commence for P3-5. bag with instructions. Parent Permission Leaflets will be issued after the October break.

Harvest Service Children In Need Rathen School Harvest Service will be on Tuesday This year schools across the nation are joining the 8th October at 9:30am in Rathen Public Hall led by ‘Big Spotacular’ to raise funds for BBC Children in Lisa Ruth Lyall. Everyone is welcome to come along Need. We are planning ‘Spotacular’ games and to see P4/5 perform. Donations of fresh fruit and activities from Wed 20th – Friday 22nd vegetables or flowers would be greatly appreciated November, finishing with ‘Wear your Spots’ Day on for our Harvest Table. After the service, the items Friday 20th. Keyrings for £2 and wristbands for will be bagged and delivered to Senior Citizens in £1 will be for sale too. More details to follow. the community. If you are available to help prepare the produce bags please stay behind after the service. Also, please let me know of any Senior Robertson Road Centre Eco Project Citizens in the Rathen area who have not received The clients at Robertson Road Centre are looking produce packages in previous years and we will add at how many trees are cut down for Christmas them to our list. The collection at the door as you wrapping paper. They have decided to wrap their come in will be donated to the Fraserburgh Christmas presents in scarves. We would like to Fishermen’s Mission. Thank You. help them by donating scarves and would be grateful for any contributions.

Chris tmas Save the Date: Christmas Fayre Scholastic Book Fair The Fundraising Group is planning to have a The Scholastic Book Fair will be in school from Christmas Fayre, after school on Friday 29th Wednesday 27th November to 4th December when November. Please plan to come along and join us to pupils will be given the opportunity to browse and get ahead of the Christmas rush. buy books. More information to follow.

Christmas Cards and Gifts FJAS Panto – Jack and the Beanstalk Soon our pupils will be designing their own We are planning to go to the Fraserburgh Junior Christmas pictures to be printed on to cards, Arts Panto during the week beginning December keyrings, mugs, calendars etc by Photo Gifts UK. 16th, preferably on Tuesday 17th or Wednesday 18th Order forms will be issued after the October at 6pm, held at the Dalrymple Hall, Fraserburgh. holidays if you wish to place an order. Once our booking is confirmed, details of drop off and pick up times will be given.

Sickness and Diarrhoea Guidelines from Grampian NHS Board: There are simple measures that can be taken to help prevent the spread of infection both at school and in the home which include: • Remain at home until 48 hours after the symptoms have settled. • Encourage thorough handwashing particularly after visiting the toilet and before eating. • If you have concerns and symptoms persist after 48 hours, contact your GP.

Safety Week Road Safety We are planning to have a focus on safety during May I remind all drivers to adhere to the 20 mile the last week of term. Community Warden, Alia per hour speed limit in Rathen to ensure the Sutherland will visit each class on Thursday 10th safety of the pupils? Thank you. October to give a presentation on safety, which will cover Road and Helmet safety, Stranger Danger and Be Seen in the Dark. Dress Down Day Inservice Day We are planning to have a dress down day (casual Schools are closed on Friday 11th October to clothes) on the last day of term 1, Thursday 10th pupils for in-service training for staff. October. A donation of £1 would be greatly appreciated for the Fraserburgh Lifeboat Service.

Upcoming Events November October 6th – P3-5 Swimming Lesson (block of 6 lessons) 2nd – Rathen, Cortes and Memsie Community Council 12th - Book Look Meeting at 7pm in Rathen Public Hall 13th – P3-5 Swimming Lesson Wb 7th – Safety Week 13th/14th – Parents and Pupils Interviews 8th – Bags To School, 9am pick up 20th – P3-5 Swimming Lesson 8th – Harvest Service at 9:30am 20th – 22nd - Children In Need 10th – Dress Down Day (£1 donation for Lifeboat) 22nd – Dress in Spots Day 11th – School Closed for in-service 27th - 13th – P3-5 Swimming Lesson 14th – 25th – October Break 27th – 4th Dec - Scholastic Book Fair 28th – Day 1 Term 2 29th - Christmas Fayre

Yours truly,

Alison Patterson Head Teacher