It was amazing to see so many families come to our now regular Bring Our Adults To School session (BOATS) last Friday morning. We love being able to involve families in their children’s learning experiences in school.

Our helpful P6s were  also on hand to capture family views on our ‘newish’ chrome tablets, and so far we have an amazing 24 responses.

There is still time to complete the survey if you wish, using the link below:

BOATS Survey 21.9.23

Responses were overwhelmingly positive with many adults enjoying being able to be hands on in the classroom spaces with their children.

Suggested improvements so far include:

• Scheduling on a different day to a Friday would be helpful for parents not available on a Friday morning.
• Other areas of interest shared – e.g. The Romans – more to come in future sessions on Inter Disciplinary learning.
• More outdoor activities – again more to come on this#.

This year we have three main areas for school improvement for 2023-24

1. Improving how we teach and learn in numeracy and maths.

We have started working with our Associated Schools Group colleagues on planning, teaching, assessing and moderating high quality numeracy lessons.

2. Meeting the needs of all learners through an inclusive and exciting curriculum and teaching methods.

We are developing the use of play, outdoor learning and digital learning across the setting,

3. Developing community at all levels across our school and nursery.

We are making more links across the school and with our community which will enrich our children’s learning experiences.

Pupil ScIP 2023-24

 

Our New Production Kitchen at West Barns

We are delighted to be able to share that our new in-house kitchen goes live on Monday 28th August! You will now be able to order our children freshly cooked meals.

Our fabulous catering team Mrs Lyons, Mrs Brown and Mrs Thorburn are really looking forwards to being able to tantalise our learners’ taste buds!

Please remember to log into ParentPay to order your child’s meals in advance, as this saves any confusion at the service hatch!

Please click the link below to take you to this session’s menu

Bon Appetit!

Primary School Menu 2023 2024

 

 

Living our Values

Our children voted to raise funds for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.  We are holding a Whole School Sponsored Walk on Friday 25th August 10.45 – 12 noon.

We will leave school around 10.45 and complete a walk based on a route in Go Jauntly, which was created by Mrs Nicolson and her class last session.

This event also ties in with the East Lothian Walking Festival @WalkFest2023.

Our fabulous Parent Council will be on hand with refreshments, smiles and encouragement as our children complete the route!

We would also love as many parents and carers to join us on the route, and a sign up google form was shared in the Friday Weekly Email Update.

If you would like to donate, please visit the just giving page here!

Just-giving west barns nursery and primary sponsored walk 2023

 

 

 

 

 

We are delighted to share our Curriculum Rationale

This is the result of a year long process of engaging with children, families and staff to create a very unique picture of who we are, what we do and our curriculum here at West Barns.

This is a dynamic process and no doubt will continue to evolve as we develop as a school and nursery working with our families, parent council and wider community partners.

Please click below for a link to the larger version

WB Infographic Visual v3

We are delighted to announce that we launched the new West Barns Young Volunteer Awards this Friday at assembly.  Our children are very excited about taking part next year.

At West Barns Primary School we want to ensure we recognise and provide opportunities for all our children and young people to achieve in lots of different ways.  We also want to protect our environment and make sure we pass our school and grounds on well-kept and better than when we found it to the next generation.

Our vision is based our first school value of kindness and on the Greta Thunberg quote …

Please do have a look at the document below to find out more!

West Barns Young Volunteers Award

 

We are delighted to be welcoming our wonderful new Primary Ones and their families in the coming weeks.  Transition passports have been sent out by hand or by post – watch out for yours in the next few days!

On Tuesday 13th June at 1.45pm-2.30pm we have our whole school transition session where all the classes meet their new teacher in their new classroom. We look forwards to seeing our new P1s too!

On Monday 19th June at 3.30-4.30  we will be hosting a meet the teacher session for new P1s and their parents/carers.  Mrs Rednall and Mrs Paton will be there to give a flavour of P1 and its a also a chance to see the P1/2 classroom.

We have an active and committed Parent Council and we encourage everyone to get involved when they join our school.

We are really looking forwards to getting to know you more!

Mrs Rednall, Mrs Paton and Team West Barns

 

 

RELAX KIDS AT WEST BARNS
We are delighted to be welcoming Emma Vance from Relax Kids over the next few weeks to enrich our Health and Wellbeing curriculum.  Emma uses a variety of approaches to lead the children through a structured session which ultimately helps them to be mindful and relax.  These are very helpful skills in our busy lives.

P1/2, P2/3 and P6/7 are embarking upon their 6 week block of sessions this term, and we intend that our other classes will take part in sessions next term.

If you wish to look at this further at home please feel free to access the free calm pack which  available on the Relax Kids website Home – Relax Kids – Official Website

We are really looking forwards to Sports Day next Wednesday morning, 24th May.

Subject to the changing Scottish weather, our rough morning plan is as follows:

09.15am – Potted sports stations  in sports field

10.20am – All pupils go in for break – Nursery, P1/2 & P2s from P2/3 will have finished sports

10.25 – Breaktime

10.45 – Comfort break for children, P3s, P3/4; P5/6 and P6/7 return to sports field

11.00 – Competitive races in year groups

11.50 – Parents/staff race

12.00 – Results announced (if possible), finish and back to class

Summer Term 2023 newsletters can now be viewed on the website – located under the Information For Parents tab .

We are looking forwards to our third BOATS session this Friday, 19th May, 11.00-11.45am this time with the curriculum theme of Health and Wellbeing.

The children can’t wait to share their learning!