Week beginning St Ninian‘s R.C. Primary 22 March 2010 School Newsletter Please note that this newsletter can be found on the website www.st-ninians.btik.co.uk Dear Parents and Guardians, Have you bought your Easter Eggs yet? I was told by a shop assistant just last week that they didn‘t have the kind of egg that I wanted in stock and that they wouldn‘t be getting any more in because already they were getting towards the end of their stock! This was said when there was still over three weeks to Easter! Therefore don‘t be disappointed, if there is a particular kind of egg that you like, whatever you do, get out there for your Easter eggs as soon as possible. Fundraising during Lent St. Ninian‘s, as with every Roman Catholic school, has an ethos that includes justice and peace throughout the world with a focus on service towards others. In a world where everyone seems to be concerned with their own needs; often with an ‗I‘m alright Jack‘ approach, it is always refreshing and heartening to see the care, love and consideration that the pupils of St. Ninian‘s have for those in our world who need their support. Lent is a time for growing in love. During this six week period of Lent, we prepare for Easter and the celebration of the risen Christ on Easter Sunday. Lent offers us the opportunity to reflect on how we can live better with others and is a time to ask for forgiveness for all our transgressions. It is time to reflect on our relationship with God and how we talk and pray to Him; and over the centuries Lent has always historically been a time for giving – a time to give to charity. As you know, the children have been asked this year to give their pocket money and raise funds for SCIAF/L‘Arche this Lent. When we ask for monetary support for any of these ventures, and we try to keep our requests throughout the year to a minimum, we only expect people to give as and when they can afford to give, particularly during this time of recession. Any amount big or small is always appreciated. It is even better when the children give up their own money instead of spending it on sweets or treats for themselves. A big thank you to all of our children, parents and wider families who have kindly supported the charities this Lent and throughout the year. Meeting with the Management Team Thank you to the many parents who are kind enough to ask me about my health. As some of you may know, I have a chronic rheumatoid illness which impacts on my mobility. I find it difficult to stand or walk around for long periods of time and often when I go shopping or to an event, I have to use a wheelchair (so if you see me out and about in a wheelchair, please don‘t think that something new has happened). This means however that I am in the playground less and miss out on the social opportunities to meet with parents. Therefore, for a trial period of April, May and June, Mrs. Brack and I would like to offer you the opportunity to come and meet with us informally. If you would like to share your thoughts, ideas or just come in to say hello, we would welcome that. The first meeting offered will be on Thursday, 29th April at 4.30 until 5p.m. If you would like to come along to meet with Mrs. Brack and me, please do come along. Edinburgh Council – Children and Families - Follow Up to Inspection: After every school inspection when the inspectors are very happy with the inspection they have just completed, they invite the local authority to do a follow up to their inspection within two years. I hope that everyone managed to read their copy of that follow up which was sent out in early March. You will note that we continue to be a very good school offering ―a very good standard of education for its pupils‖, and that the school has progressed ―well since the inspection‖. This is high praise indeed. This is added to the high praise that the nursery received from the Care Commission when they did their unannounced inspection recently and judged the nursery to be ―very good‖. It may be of interest to know that many of the newly enrolled children to our school, come here because their parents have researched schools and asked within the community, advising us that they have chosen St. Ninian‘s RC Primary School because of its reputation for being a very good school. Curriculum For Excellence – Curriculum Evening – 31st March 2010 We continue to implement our new Scottish national curriculum called a Curriculum for Excellence. In the past our curriculum has focused very much on knowledge, this new curriculum expands on this work with a focus not only on knowledge but on skills for learning, for work and for life. Please do come along to our Curriculum Evening on Wednesday 31st March from 6–7p.m. when we will share information about Reciprocal Reading and our new writing programme ‗Big Writing‘. I hope that many will be able to come along as both topics are taught to all children in the school. Three Way Conferencing Thank you to all parents who came along with their children for our three way conferencing recently, it was good to see you. This opportunity truly allows for important dialogue and agreement from the three partners involved in the education of your child; the parent, the teacher and of course your child! The practice that we have developed here at St. Ninian‘s is being recognised as very good practice throughout our City. We have also evaluated this way of working together and the evaluations from parents, staff and children are extremely positive, as we previously shared with you at a Curricular Evening. Please note however, that if there is a need for you to speak to a member of staff without your child being present, please telephone the school office, or come into the office to make a mutually agreeable appointment to see a manager or, as appropriate, the class teacher. Your views are always important to us. Easter Holidays The Easter holidays will be upon us before we know it. We finish up on Thursday, 1st April at the usual time at the end of the day; this is 3.05p.m. for the pupils in Primary 1 and 2, and 3.20p.m. for the pupils from Primary 3 to Primary 7. We return back for the summer term on Tuesday, 20th April at the usual time of 8.55a.m. I wish you and your family, the peace and happiness of the Risen Christ over the Easter holidays. H. Massaro Head Teacher THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM For those of you who come into the school playground I am sure you have seen the wonderful job that Mr. Park has done in creating a fence to separate the top section of the meadow from the other area. You may also have noticed that the area has been cleared. All of this has been done in preparation for the creation of our Outdoor Classroom. On your return from the Easter Holidays there should be more happening in this area. The staff are really looking forward to the development of this area as it will open up so many learning opportunities to the pupils. Keep your eyes and ears open!! Angie Brack Acting Depute Head Teacher NURSERY It‘s nearly the end of another term and life in the nursery is a busy as usual. The children are learning all about Easter and with luck will have a lovely surprise for all parents and carers on Wednesday, 31st March. Thank you to all parents who attended parent‘s evening - it was good to have a chat with you about your child‘s learning. As Spring has arrived it is time for us to start planning for growing in the garden. A few parents and grandparents have already volunteered their services and are planning to tidy up the bottom area of the garden first. Keep an eye on the noticeboard for any further plans and please feel free to volunteer your help - just speak to one of the staff. We are also looking for ground covering plants so if you have any cuttings from home or happen to be in the Garden Centre you could perhaps buy something extra for your child to plant in our garden. We have a special Easter Craft Day on Wednesday, 31st March for parents and children. Plenty of activities for the children, some wonderful Easter baking and a special treat for the adults. Please come along and have a fun day. Remember if mum or dad can‘t make it, grandparents, aunts, uncles or friends are welcome - the children really appreciate it that someone from their family has come along and they are working hard on your treat. PLEASE support them, Nursery closes for Easter on: Thursday 1 April at 11.30a.m. Nursery resumes for Term 3 on: Tuesday 20 April at 12.30 p.m. Thank you as always for all you support. Margaret Merry and the Nursery Team PRIMARY 1 Hello from Primary 1 Primary 1 had a lovely time on Thursday baking cakes. A very big thank you to everyone who came to join us for snack on Friday to celebrate Down‘s Syndrome Awareness Week.