Munlochy Primary School School Brochure 2018 WELCOME TO MUNLOCHY PRIMARY SCHOOL This prospectus is intended to give you information about the school but please feel free to get in contact with us if there is anything about which you are uncertain. Munlochy Primary School 56 Millbank Road Munlochy Ross-shire IV7 8ED Telephone: 01463 811489 Email: [email protected] website: www.munlochyprimary.wordpress.com All the information provided is considered to be correct at the time of printing. It is possible that there may be changes affecting a matter dealt with in this document. Dear Parent/Carer, At Munlochy Primary we take great pride in ensuring that we offer a warm welcome to all pupils, parents /carers and members of the local and wider community. If your child is to join us for the first time we welcome you and look forward to a happy and successful association over the coming years. If you already have a child here, we are pleased to renew the links between us. Education at Munlochy Primary is a team effort. Our dedicated team is made up of teachers and support staff who work in partnership with parents and the community to enable our children to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. Throughout the year many activities are organised by the Parent Council and school, giving parents the opportunity to meet/work with us, take advantage of the opportunities for consultation and to contribute to the life of the school. We look forward to meeting you on as many occasions as you can manage. Confidence in a school comes from knowing and understanding what is happening within it and being a part of shaping it. The aim of this handbook is to give you a flavour of life at Munlochy where we hope your child will flourish. Your child’s education is the start of an exciting journey and equally so for you the parent/carer! It is important that mutual understanding and trust should be the basis of our shared responsibility. If you require further information or have any concerns regarding the education or welfare of your child in the future I will be only too happy to help. Yours faithfully Audrey Buchanan Head Teacher Dear Parent / Carer, We are very lucky at Munlochy Primary School to have an active parent body with many willing volunteers who help with a wide range of activities, from helping out on school trips to the running of after school clubs and organising of fundraising events. The Parent Council at Munlochy aims to support the school in any way we can and to provide a closer link between the school, parents/carers and the wider community. We work to provide assistance and much needed additional funding to the school to ensure that our children will have as wide a variety of experiences as possible during their school life. As a small, close-knit school, Munlochy Primary School brings with it many opportunities for you to get involved in supporting the school. In the last year, parents have been greatly supportive in organising amongst other things, after school sports clubs, the summer fair and a raffle at the Christmas show. In recent times, funds raised from these events have paid for a variety of things from educational resources and transport, to school trips, discos and snacks at the pantomime. We really appreciate new parents getting involved in whatever way they can, even if you can only offer an hour or two at one event or donate some baking to a coffee morning, every bit of help is appreciated. Everyone is welcome at parent council meetings (we don’t bite!) and we are always grateful for new members and new ideas. If you would like to become involved or have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to get in touch by email or through the school. Emma Patience Chairperson – Munlochy Primary School Parent Council Email: [email protected] If a child lives with criticism He learns to condemn If a child lives with hostility He learns to fight If a child lives with ridicule He learns to be shy If a child lives with shame He learns to feel guilty If a child lives with tolerance He learns to be patient If a child lives with encouragement He learns confidence If a child lives with praise He learns to appreciate If a child lives with fairness He learns justice If a child lives with security He learns to have faith If a child lives with approval He learns to like himself If a child lives with acceptance and friendship he learns to give love in the world CONTENTS THE SCHOOL 1. School Vision, Values and Aims 2. Description of the School 3. Staff 4. School Day 5. School Session 2018-19 6. Enrolment Procedures 7. Behaviour 8. Lunch in school 9. Children at intervals 10. School uniform 11. School transport 12. Attendance and illness 13. Emergency contacts 14. Transition into Primary 1 15. Transition from Primary to Secondary 16. Extra-curricular activities 17. The school and the community 18. Medicines in school 19. School closure 20. Visitors to the school 21. School fund 22. Comments and complaints COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS 1. Liaison with Parents 2. Munlochy Parent Council 3. How Parents Can Help Their Children Develop as Whole People CURRICULUM 1. Introduction 2. How our learning is structured 3. Languages & Literacy 4. Mathematics 5. Expressive Arts 6. Social Studies 7. Religious & Moral Education 8. Health & Well Being 9. Technologies 10. Sciences 11. Assessment 12. Additional support needs 13. Homework INFORMATION ON SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT 1. The Standards and Quality Report 2. The School Improvement Plan The School 1. School Vision, Values and Aims In autumn 2012 the children, staff and parents worked together to create a new vision and values for the school. MUNLOCHY SCHOOL VISION Learning together to be the best we can be. MUNLOCHY SCHOOL VALUES Determination, Responsibility, Respect, Friendship, Happiness The aims of the school were revised in December 2010. We aim: To provide a welcoming, happy and secure atmosphere throughout our school; To provide each child with a broadly based relevant education, through the provision of Curriculum for Excellence with planned continuity to enable progression throughout their seven years at our school; To meet the needs of each child; to allow for them to develop and attain intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually and physically to the maximum of their potential; To develop positive attitudes towards learning, acquiring a healthy lifestyle, the acquisition of skills and to promote each child’s self-esteem; To provide an environment that stimulates and motivates children and staff to view the twin processes of learning and reflection as essential perequisites to achievement, success and happiness. To develop attitudes of tolerance, inclusivity and open-mindedness towards others, to encourage self-discipline and to promote a sense of community; To be approachable, to keep parents informed and to encourage their interest and participation in their children’s education; As a staff, to be committed to developing ourselves both personally and professionaly, meeting staff development needs in relation to school priorities as expressed in the School Improvement Plan; To maintain and where possible, raise our standards of attainment by creating an ethos whereby genuine achievement and success are recognised and celebrated; To value children for themselves as unique and individual beings regardless of their race, gender, socio-economic background or creed. 2. Description of the school Munlochy School has for over 100 years served the village of Munlochy and the surrounding rural area. The Tarradale sandstone building with its distinctive belfry overlooks the village and Munlochy Bay. Pupils within the delineated area normally attend Munlochy, but we have a number of families who live outwith our catchment area, who have chosen to send their children. The Parents’ Charter allows this choice so long as the request does not incur extra finance at the expense of the Council. In these circumstances, it is the responsibility of the parents to transport their children to and from school. Recent years have seen many changes. The Victorian building and its hutted annexe have been refurbished. The school is furnished and equipped to fulfil the needs of modern day education. A large playing field is nearby. Our families come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but at school we strive to create a ‘family’ atmosphere, where all children can feel a sense of partnership. It is our community’s school where staff and parents endeavour to provide our children with a happy secure education of high quality. Parents who are interested in seeking a place for their child(ren) are welcome to phone to arrange a visit. The current roll of our school is approximately 84 with the children split into four classes. 3. Staff Head Teacher Mrs Audrey Buchanan Class Teachers Mr Chris Rasdale P1-2 Miss Emily Scott P3-4 Mrs Kirsteen Hotchkiss P5-6 Principal Teacher Mr Ben Sharp P6-7 Management Teacher Miss Laurie Gordon Pupil Support Assistant Mrs Alison Jack Pupil Support Assistant Ms Liz Downing Pupil Support Assistant Mrs Alison Moyes Pupil Support Assistant Mrs Isobel Harrison Pupil Support Assistant Mrs Sandra MacSween Clerical Assistant Mrs Sheena Mackenzie Playground Supervisor Mrs Alison Jack Canteen Staff (Cook supervisor) Mrs Ann MacDonald Mrs Hazel MacDonald We are fortunate to be supported by the following visiting staff: Support for Learning Mrs Anne Murdoch Physical Education Mrs Eileen Foster Stringed Instruments Mrs Isabel Grant School Chaplains Rev S Chord Rev F Renwick 4. The School Day Children are asked not to arrive before 8.50am.