Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,
I came across the following quote whilst reading Norman Drummond’s book ‘The Power of 3.’
“ I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Dr Albert Schweitzer
DIARY DATES
Nov
Thur 17 Parent Council 7pm
Fri 18 Children In Need
Dec
1 & 8 Readiness for School workshops
Wed 7 Craft Fair 2.30 pm More information
later
Thur 15 Christmas Concert 7pm @Knox
Academy Further information below
Wed 21 P5-7 Christmas party
Thurs 22 P1-4 Christmas party
LAST DAY
Jan
Mon 9 Training day for staff
Tues 10 Pupils back to school
Feb
Tues 7 P1 & P7 Group photographs
ASK THE TEACHER EVENING
Thanks to all who came along to this event. Parents have told me that the question and answer format was very helpful.
PRIMARY ONE ENROLMENTS
Children who are five on or between 1 March 2012 and 28 Feb 2013 will be eligible to start school in August 2012.
We will be enrolling children on 16 and 17 November. Please contact the school office to make an appointment.
READINESS FOR SCHOOL WORKSHOP
One of the new activities planned this session is a talk from Anita Harrison, Senior Educational Psychologist and Mary Preston East Lothian’s Pre School Education Support Officer about readiness for Primary 1. These
talks are planned for December 1st am session and December 8th pm session. The venue is Haddington Infants. More details will follow.
SHARED CAMPUS
Our P2/3 and P5/6 classes have both been doing a project about our new school. A group of children from both classes, along with children from Haddington Infants had the opportunity recently to meet with Alex Neil, the Housing & Communities Minister on our shared campus site. Representatives from other groups involved in the building of the new school were also present. Our pupils did a short presentation about the school building whilst Haddington Infants talked about the playground and then both groups asked questions about the new school.
PTA
Many thanks for another successful Halloween Party. We had some amazing pumpkin lanterns: choosing winners was no easy task. Well done the winners:
P1-3 1st Anna McKinlay
2nd Anna Nairn
3rd Ava & Isaac Hamilton
P4-7 1st Tala Davidson
2nd Shannon Harkness
3rd Melissa Smith
CITIZENSHIP GROUPS
All our pupils now have the opportunity to participate in one of six citizenship groups:
Health; Playground: Display and Design, Eco;
Global Citizenship; Edubuzz school website.
The groups meet once a fortnight during the school day and the pupils have considerable input into the agenda and projects.
PE KIT
All children are expected to wear gym shoes (when indoors), and a t-shirt and shorts or plain jogging trousers for PE.
Clothing with logos eg Nike, and football team clothing is not permitted. Our PE teacher is in school on a Friday but children may participate in other physical activity with their teacher or a visiting specialist on other days.
ABSENT CHILDREN
Can we ask that parents/carers please ensure that they telephone the school office before 9.15 am if their child is going to be absent from school for any reason. It is important that we are informed as, if we are unable to contact a parent; we are then required to contact the School Attendance and Welfare Officer who may visit the child’s home.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Our Christmas Concert will be held in Knox Academy this year. There will only be one performance; on Thursday 15 December starting at 7pm. Tickets will be £3 per person, under 5’s free, payable at the door on the night. Doors will open at 6.15pm.
SCHOOL WEBSITE
Please visit our new look school website.
Our pupils and staff have been updating the site with lots of new photos and details of school activities.
The new address is:
https://www.edubuzz.org/st-marys
CHILDREN IN NEED FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER
We are supporting Children In Need this year. If your child wishes to take part, they can bring in 50p to wear something ‘spotty’. The pupils will also be selling home-baking at break time, so any donations would be very welcome.
STRIKE 30 NOVEMBER 2011
The local authority will be given final details about the proposed strike after 23 November. Please look out for information on or around this date.
RETIREMENT
As you may have heard, I have decided that it is in the best interests of our school that I retire. This has been a very difficult decision but I believe it is the right one. I do not have a date at the moment but I will keep you informed.
Anne Bisset
Head Teacher