Dear Parents and Carers,
As we approach the Easter holidays I am hoping for sunshine and less COVID! We have recently had an increase in staff and pupils off, but fingers crossed, we hope to be returning to full classes so we can enjoy the final few weeks of term before the Easter holidays.
Obviously the First Minister’s update still means staff and parents wearing masks for a few more weeks, and in school anyone who still wants to wear a mask can do so.
I will be sending out more details about volunteers returning to our school after Easter; so if you are keen to support our reading programme, join in with numeracy games, help with the Snack Trolley or volunteer in other ways then send back the form with your son/daughter when it comes out.
Staffing Update
Mrs Eeles will be leaving her DHT role and going back into the classroom full time as from August 2022. She has been a fantastic DHT for 9 years, but her first love has always been teaching, and as her heart really is with Dunbar Primary School we are delighted she will still be part of our team! We will be advertising the post in May.
Class Organisation for Session 2022/23
Following the decisions being finalised last week regarding pupils staying on in Nursery, we now have our P1 numbers for next session. This allows for our class organisation to take place ready for August 2022. We will have 5 P1 classes plus a P1/2 class, there will also be a new P2/3 class and the current P4/5 will move on as a P5/6.
It is likely that most of our current Primary 1 and P2 classes will be moved about in some way and teachers will be very involved in ensuring that as best as possible pupils will move with friendship groups. Whilst I know many of you would prefer the classes to stay the same all of the way up until Primary 7, due to the size of our school this is not possible. Your support in being positive about changes to classes, and having the opportunity to make new friends we know helps your children with these life transitions.
PE Kit/Uniform – Heads-Up for Nest Session
At the recent Parent Council meeting it was identified by many parents that they would like to see a return to having a school uniform based PE kit – leggings/shorts/t-shirts, etc. in school colours. There is a poll on the PC website so everyone can have their say before we make any decisions.
We still intend to ask pupils to come into school in their PE kits on days when they are have PE as this really helps to ensure we get time in the gym or outside focusing on the activities and not changing.
However, please can I remind everyone that we do not allow football colours or crop tops or rugby shirts to be worn, so if your child does come in one of these items we will ask them to swap it for one of our stock of white PE t-shirts.
Neurodiversity Week 21st – 25th March
Please check our twitter feed and class websites for photographs and information about the activities going on this week. Miss Thomson has organised some great activities for classes to get involved, exploring the way we are all different. Children and staff are being invited to dress up to show off their unique selves on Friday 25th March as part of our celebrations. This is to celebrate and recognise that we are all unique- we all think and learn differently. Donations gathered that day will be put to further support the inclusion of all learners in our school environment. Please donate via school pay – thanks.
We are putting our assemblies from Friday that introduced this week’s activities online for parents to watch too.
Photographs
The photographer will be coming to school to take individual photographs (no family combinations this time), Wednesday 27th April P4-P7 pupils and Thursday 28th April P1-P3, Cove, Wed/Thursday Nursery, and Tuesday 3rd May is Monday/Tuesday Nursery.
Final Day Fun for the end of term – Friday 8th April
Help us raise funds for the school by joining in our Easter Great Make Recycling Competition We would love to see your fanciest, wackiest and most inventive Easter wear – our theme is to make it out of sustainable and recycled materials as much as possible. Bag, waistcoat, hat, shoes, complete outfit if you want – anything you could wear. If you would like to take part, bring it in or wear it on the last day of school (Friday 8th April)) when judging will take place with prizes for each class, very kindly donated by Hannah Renton at the Royal MacIntosh Hotel, Dunbar.
We have set up a School Pay section (similar to the Red Nose Day fund) to make payment for this activity with a suggested donation of £1. Nursery pupils will be able to take part in this activity within class with a prize for the Monday/Tuesday and Wednesday/Thursday cohort.
Have a great holiday and thank you for all your support for our school over this term. We look forward to the pupils returning on Monday 25th April.
PARENT/CARER LETTER FROM PROFESSOR JASON LEITCH
NYCOS SINGING GROUPS SUMMER TERM
East Lothian Council’s Arts Service and Youth Music Initiative is delighted to be able to once again offer the NYCoS (National Youth Choir of Scotland) singing groups to all P3-P7 pupils attending an ELC primary school. Due to Covid restrictions, we have had to change venues and shorten the block slightly but the sessions are still completely FREE.
From Monday 25 April we will be running sessions in:
Haddington & Musselburgh on Mondays
Tranent & Dunbar on Tuesdays
Cockenzie and North Berwick on Wednesdays.
No previous singing experience is required and there’s no audition. This is open to any pupil in P3-P7 who wants to sing with friends and have fun. Sessions are free but participants must register by Sunday 17th April. Please click on the link below for more information:-
https://pub.lucidpress.com/NYCoS2022/
Charlotte McMillan
YMI Arts Worker (Part time)
East Lothian Council Arts Service
