Week beginning 6th March

In spite of two days with pupils at home because of teacher strike action, we had an excellent week of learning and activity last week.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Mrs Lynas and Mr Grundy went “back to school” themselves and spent three days learning and qualifying to be first aiders which is fantastic for them and the school.

On Wednesday, Mr Voinot and Mrs Mehaffey were able to travel to Skipness school, which has closed permanently to pupils, and get some “new to us” furniture and resources, including tables for the Primary 4 to 7 class. It is amazing to see the difference that they make in the classroom as they are a better size and height than the ones we had.

The way that children sit on chairs and at desks is very important to their learning and particularly their writing and pen/pencil control.  Maisie Kennedy, our link Occupational Therapist, has been working with us around this. You can see a really helpful poster that she shared with us on our Supporting All of Our Children Page (more about that below) and via this link. This is worth looking at when you are setting up a place for your children to do learning at home.

Thursday saw us welcoming the children back and celebrating World Book Day and all things Michael Rosen – from Bear-hunting to Chocolate Cake to reflecting on “Don’t”. The children read and created their own fantastic written pieces. We definitely have some future poets and writers in our school. We even had a surprise guest visit from Pirate Rowe who read the P1 to 3s a special story after lunch.

Check out the pictures here.

Staffing

Due to recent staffing changes, we now have a vacancy for a permanent 0.7 class teacher. The advert is here and as always, it would be helpful if you could share it with any fantastic teachers you know who would like to join our team: https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/argyll-bute-council/jobs/teacher-320474

In the meantime, the teaching timetable looks like this:

P1 to 3:

P4 to 7

For the time being, all elements of the curriculum, including PE, are being covered by class teachers within these slots. Pupils are no longer required to wear PE kit on specific days for PE as most activity can be done in normal school uniform, which should allow pupil to move comfortably. However, pupils should ensure that they have trainers/PE shoes in a bag in school on their peg every day.

Clerical

Mrs Bolwell has reduced her clerical hours by 2 hours each week and until we can find a permanent replacement for this, we are delighted that Mr Grundy has agreed to cover them on a temporary basis. He will specifically take on the administration of lunch choices and menus, Can we therefore ask that you mark envelopes with your four weekly lunch choices “For the Attention of Mr Grundy” until further notice.

Visitors

You may have noticed a new sign on the school entrance about how we welcome visitors to the school. This is to ensure the health and safety of all in the school at all times. As you know, we do not have staff on our reception at all times and it can be very disruptive to teaching and learning, as well as potentially unsafe, if visitors try to enter the building at other times. You can see a copy of the notice here.

Please be re-assured that this does NOT mean that we do not want to see you, our parents and carers in school – we love seeing you and are delighted that we have been able to welcome you back into the building more regularly after the difficult COVID-19 period. As you know, if you email me or call me for an appointment, I will always do my best to make it happen the same day. This may be more tricky now that I am class committed as I have less time but this is only temporary.

Please remember that if you are in need of urgent help relating to your child and no-one is available in school, you must contact the emergency services, or duty social work on 01546 605517
During working hours (Mon – Fri 9am to 5pm)
01631 566491 or
01631 569712
Emergency Standby out of hours service

 Website

I have been very pleased with the feedback on our new website and am delighted to have added another section this week which you can check out here: Supporting Our Children – Glassary Primary School

Coming up

On Wednesday 8^th March, we are very much looking forward to working with Simon and Finlay from the Digital Skills Team who will be running a workshop on the Internet and Digital Security with our P4 to 7 class.

On Thursday 9^th, pupils in P6 and 7 will also have their final workshop with Emily from the PATCH project.

Reports will be posted out this week as promised.

We are very much looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our Glassary Garden Tidy Up on Sunday 12^th March from 10-3. Please note the change of day, as per Julie Brown’s email last Tuesday.

We have a number of items of excess/surplus worn or slightly broken furniture in school which will be going into the skip on 13^th March unless we can find good homes for them. These will be in the playground on the 12^th for you to look and claim if you would like. There will be no cost for the items but any donations made will go towards reducing the cost of the P7 residential. There may be something there that you could upcycle and give new life to.

Traditional music lessons with Fèis an Tairbeirt

Following on from the fantastic school workshop we had last term, Fèis an Tairbeirt has been in touch with an offer of individual music tuition for pupils aged 8 and over in Whistles/ Fìdeag, Fiddle/ Fidheall Keyboard/ Meur-chlàr, Gaelic singing/ Seinn sa Ghàidhlig, Guitar/ Giotar, Accordion/ Bogsa-ciull, Percussion/ Druma.

Parents/carers need to apply for this – more information can be found here FnG Treòir – Information for parents and caregivers Feb 2023 and the application form can be found here Treòir Application Form for Students Feb 2023.

Further away.

On Wednesday 15^th March, P7 pupils will be attending the drama production “Smoke Free Me” at the Joint Campus. Information and permission slips will be issued this week.

We will be arranging an information session about the P7 residential at Lochranza before the Easter break and you more information about payment will be issued very soon. Don’t forget that more information about Lochranza Centre can be found at – www.lochranzacentre.co.uk look under school groups and activities.

Mid-Argyll Music Festival

As you may have heard the Mid Argyll Music Festival is back and will be taking place as a one day event for this year on Saturday 17th June 2023 with the hope that it will return in March 2024 with a week long event. Closing date for entries is 31st March 2023.

Further information can be found on the Festival’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/MAMF14/  and website https://midargyllmusicfestival.webador.co.uk/

We would love it if our pupils could take part and will do everything possible to work with staff to make it happen, although we are at slightly reduced capacity just now. If you are able to help in any way, please let me know.

Have a lovely week and don’t forget to get in touch if you need to.

Lena