<p> Gortin Primary School 9 Plumbridge Road, Gortin, BT79 8QB Tel. no: 028 8164 8268 Fax no: 028 8164 7032 Email: [email protected] Principal: Mrs I Wallace</p><p>13 March 2017</p><p>Dear Parent</p><p>After School Activities The afternoon sports club will cease this Wednesday 15 March with Mr Kane and this will be replaced by tennis for any Y4 – Y7 pupils interested in participating in our school tournament on Wednesdays commencing Wednesday 29 March for 6 weeks from 3.15 – 4.15 pm. Year 4/5 will stay for the first 3 weeks (29 March,5 & 26 April) and Y6/7 will stay for the next 3 weeks( 3,10 & 17 May). The charge to cover coaching is £6 per pupil.</p><p>World Book Day The children thoroughly enjoyed World Book day celebrations with Maddie Stewart children’s writer and poet and learned much about the life of a writer. (See some lovely photos in the Tyrone Constitution and Ulster Herald). Y1/2 winners were 1st Samuel McPhillimy 2nd Alice Hempton 3rd Poppy Rickford. Y3-5 Winners were 1st Betha Rickford 2nd Ellie Magee 3rd Leah Campbell and Y6/7 1st Charlie Hempton 2nd Lucy Dunn 3rd Joint Sophie McMullin & Daniel McCrea. All judged by Maddie herself after talking to them about their character. They have each received a book of their choice from the book club. Well done to parents and children for reaching targets to read more in that week and hopefully the book tokens encouraged parents to invest in a few books.Y3-5 keep up the good work with the paired reading which is going into week 5 this week. We are looking forward to sharing with you the results of your hard work!</p><p>The love of books and reading promotes life-long learning</p><p>Smartie Tubes Thank you to all who have returned their Smartie boxes. If you have not already done so can you please return these even they are not full. A voluntary donation in lieu is also welcome to maximise our fund raising efforts. Money raised to date is £382.20. </p><p>Clothes Collection Please keep your unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, belts, bed linen (excluding duvets or pillows) etc. for our recycling bin at the school gates as it raises much needed funds for school. The last three months raised £120.00. All contributions welcome.</p><p>Ulster Scots Robert Burns Celebration Dinner – Y6/7 This memorial and celebration of the life and work of Robert Burns took place on Thursday 9 March and the children in Y6/7 participated in the Immortal Memory, Address to the Haggis (2 verses recited by Andrew McPhillimy), Singing of A Red Red Rose written by Robert Burns and the Selkirk Grace before being treated to a lovely dinner and an opportunity to taste the Haggis. The children were also treated to a performance of Ulster Scots Ceilidh dance and dances from a Highland Dance group and some participated in a dance themselves. All of the children participated well joining in the well know Scottish song Auld lang Syne to finish. Thanks are due to Irene Spratt and Ulster Scots for organising/funding the event and to Newtownstewart Model for hosting it. </p><p>Gortin community 10k/5k Fun Run –Saturday 16 April 2016 Our Fun Run has been launched, (see the Tyrone Constitution, Ulster Herald & Omagh Today). Many thanks to our PTA who have met and are busy organising the above event with parents from St. Patrick’s school. Plans are now well underway and posters and fliers with entry forms on them are now available. Please help to distribute these if you can. .The children have been given their own registration form which we would like them to return ASAP and a sponsorship form for them to gather as much sponsorship as possible. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 21 march at 7 pm in our school. Children must register early so we can allocate their numbers in school before the run. Parents have also been issued with the official entry forms last week for other members of the family or friends, please let us know if you need any more and please return ASAP. All children must be accompanied by an adult. All children returning their sponsorship form will receive a water bottle sponsored by MFC (Mugs for Clubs) Single child families collecting £20+ or families with two or more children collecting £30+ will be put in a draw for a special prize.</p><p>If anyone is attending any running events please contact school and distribute leaflets for us to promote our event. Also if anyone knows of anyone who would be willing to sponsor the event in any way please contact school. Thanks to all our sponsors to date. Parents are also asked to provide 1 dozen tray bakes per family on the day.</p><p>Cycling Proficiency – Y7 This will commence with a bicycle inspection on Tuesday 21 March from 3.15 – 4.30 pm for 10 weeks, straddling the Easter holidays and the Trip to York so please make sure your bicycle is in good working order with a bell fitted. Helmets must be worn at each session. Further dates to follow!</p><p>French Club Mrs Alison Hempton will commence French lessons on Tuesday 21 March for 4 weeks to take fun interactive oral French classes in each of the classrooms. This will be funded through our PTA and we thank her for sharing her expertise. Please try to locate their French folder (older children) or sheets so they could have a look over these to refresh memories and maximise learning.</p><p>Best kept School We will be entering this competition once again (runner-up last year) so would ask that we all make sure we keep our grounds litter free. Anyone who could help with ideas for improving our grounds or with any time to help with gardening, power washing, painting would be very welcome. </p><p>Year 6/7 Trip to York Year 6/7 will receive a final itinerary for their trip before Easter and will be staying in the South Milford Hotel. Please note the balance of the trip is due on Monday 10 April just before Easter. Total cost was £339 minus payments already made. </p><p>Students Council – Sale / Easter Basket The Bake Sale went very well on Friday morning many thanks for parent’s contribution to this event a total of £116 was raised for new playground equipment. The student’s Council have also asked Mrs Joan Monaghan to put together an Easter basket which they will use as a draw prize to raise further funds for the equipment they would like to buy. The basket will be in school this week and tickets will be 20 pence each or £1 for 6. Thank you to Mrs Monaghan in anticipation of her usual generous attractive baskets which will be drawn for on the last day of term.</p><p>Easter Art Competition Student’s council have met and agreed to hold a Design an interesting Easter Egg Holder competition for Years 3-7. Children are asked to bring in items for decorating in school week beginning Monday 27 March. There will be a First, Second and Third in each classroom and prizes presented. Y1/2 will hold their own art/colouring competition and the council have requested that all year groups have an Easter egg hunt outside.</p><p>School will close for Easter on Wednesday 12 April at 12 noon reopening Tuesday 25 April</p><p>Reminder Friday 17 March……………St Patrick’s Day Monday 20 March…………Staff Development Day Fun Run…………………….Saturday 8 April @ 12 noon (Registration from 10am onwards) Easter Holiday……………..Thursday 13 April – Monday 24 April (Inclusive- SDD day included))</p><p>Yours sincerely</p><p>Iris Wallace Principal Permission Slips</p><p>Cycling Y7 I give my permission for my child…………………………………………to participate in the cycling programme starting with bicycle inspection on Tuesday 21 March</p><p>Signed:………………………….parent</p><p>……………………………………………………………………………………………………………</p><p>Tennis Y4 – Y7 I give my permission for my child/ren………………………………………………….to participate in the tennis tournament.</p><p>I enclose £6 per child.</p><p>Signed:………………………….parent</p>