What a speed last week went at! We had the most fantastic week of learning and activities.
Learning across the school.
On Monday, staff were busy working away on planning, moderation and preparing the progress reports that will be coming out to you later this month. They also had a chance to familiarise themselves with the new interactive panels (smartboards) that were installed in both classrooms over the February break.
The pupils were delighted to see these when they returned on Tuesday, along with a new laptop/i-pad charging cabinet and several space-saving arrangements that will allow everyone to make best use of the learning spaces we have. We have also taken delivery of 15 new ipads which will be available to pupils so that they can access Seesaw, Nessy and Sumdog, along with other educational software. Although there is a fine balance to be had between allowing and limiting access to screens amongst children, there is much evidence that shows the benefits of these programmes in developing numeracy, literacy and general learning skills. On March 8th, members of our authority digital learning team with be visiting us and working with the pupils to show them some of the exciting digital learning that is available.
The staff and pupils were also really pleased to come back to school this week and see the amazing tidying and clearing that our janitor Mr Walker had done in the small playground outside the P1 to 3 class over the break. The playground will soon be available again for the P1 to 3 pupils to play in as part of their learning. We hope that we will also be able to make that area and the garden above the school an even more pleasant environment for the children when we have our Parent Council gardening morning on Saturday 11th March. More information about that will follow soon but we hope that as many of you as possible can come along to help.
Active Schools
On Wednesday, our P6 and 7 pupils also impressed our Active Schools Co-ordinators David and Erin as they started their Young Leaders training and reflected on the skills and qualities that they will need as they begin to lead play activities at break and lunchtimes this term. You can see some picture of the training here: Active Schools workshop with David and Erin. | Glassary Primary School. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Erin and David back soon.
Staffing
Following interviews held earlier in the term for the role of Principal Teacher/Class Teacher, I am absolutely delighted to tell you that we have appointed Mrs Megan McClymont to the post. Megan’s teaching experience in a range of roles and settings, as well as her commitment to promoting the highest standards of education for children in Glassary Primary School make her ideally suited to this position in the Glassary Senior Leadership Team. She will teach the Primary 4 to 7 class until she takes up her post and will then continue to take that class as her teaching commitment for the rest of the session. The two days of the job-share with Ms Kennedy that she has been covering in the Primary 1 to 3 class will be covered until we appoint another permanent member of teaching staff to our team.
As you will know from my email last week, Mr Bolwell will be retiring from his role at Glassary on Friday 24th February and moving on to his next adventures, after 15 years working as a teacher in Argyll and Bute. I know that that you will all take the opportunity to say your fond farewells to Mr Bolwell over the coming days and will join me in wishing him all the best for a long and happy retirement.
Coming up
As well as the P7 residential which is being planned for June (more information to follow soon) and the digital skills workshop mentioned above, we have a few other exciting learning opportunities coming up for our pupils. On Wednesday March 15th, our P7s will be attending a drama performance called “Smoke Free Me” at Lochgilphead Joint Campus as part of their health and wellbeing education. This will also be an excellent opportunity for them to visit the Campus and meet some of the pupils who will be joining them in S1 as part of their transition programme.
We are also very excited that Street Drumming tuition is returning to Glassary after the break caused by COVID-19 and the P4 to 7 class will have workshops in school with the local tutors on Friday 24th March, Friday 31st March, Friday 21st April, Friday 28th April , Friday 5th May, Friday 12th May.
Relationships Education
As you know, teaching our children about their developing bodies, relationships and emotions is a key part of the shared work that we do together as the adults in their lives, both in and out of school. It can be very hard as a parent/carer to know when to broach certain issues and to know how these fit with what is covered in school; some of you have been in touch to ask about this. We are very lucky in Scotland to have excellent national guidance that helps us all with this and you can access it here: https://rshp.scot/
As a school that is committed to promoting and respecting Children’s Rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is our job to make sure that pupils have access to balanced information about issues relating to their physical and emotional development (Article 13). However, we also need to respect that you as parents and carer provide guidance in terms of the development of your child’s beliefs. (Article 14).
Parenting Support
Being a parent or carer is both the most rewarding and potentially challenging role that we can play as an adult and the COVID-19 pandemic made many of us all the more aware of this. I sometimes look back and realise how little information about being a parent I had before I became one and I am really glad that our schools today in Scotland talk about the importance of family and parenting to our pupils from an early age. However if, like me, you sometimes feel that you would benefit from some extra information around how to be a good (enough!) parent, I would really recommend that you look at this resource: https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/news-and-events/solihull-online-free-resources-for-parents-and-carers/
The Solihull parenting course is just brilliant and will give you ideas and resources that are tried, tested and based on years of research and expertise. The course normally costs to sign up to but you can access it for free by using the access code TARTAN. There are sections for parents and carers of children of all ages from pre-birth to 19.
Let me know if you try it and tell me what you think of it!
Strike Action
As you will know, the following information went to families from our Heads of Service on 16th February:
You will be aware from our letter of 17th January that strike action is planned for Tuesday 28th February and Wednesday 1st of March in relation to ongoing teacher pay negotiations. If no pay deal has been reached and the strike goes ahead, ALL schools within Argyll and Bute will be closed on that day although we expect nursery provision will be unaffected. Should the position change and a settlement is found then we will update you. We apologise that you will have to make arrangements for childcare once again due to this situation and we thank you for your understanding of this difficult situation.
Have a lovely week and don’t forget to get in touch if you need to.
Lena
