GLASSFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Happy New Year!  Welcome to the first newsletter of 2010 and my first newsletter as Head Teacher.

Parents’ Charter 2009.  Please note that information for P7 parents is now available on the South Lanarkshire website.  This will give comparative information on secondary schools within South Lanarkshire such as SQA examination results, leaver destinations, budgeted school running costs and attendance and absence data.

UNICEF Day for Change.  We will celebrate the UNICEF Day for Change on Friday 5 February.  This will be a non-uniform day with the children bringing a donation of £1 (can donate more if they wish).  All monies raised will go to UNICEF to support the children and families of Haiti.

Cash Cafeteria.  Over the next few weeks a cash cafeteria system will be introduced.  Instead of paying for lunch in the classroom the children will pay for lunch when they arrive at the dining hall.  Those pupils who pay weekly can continue to do so.  Children will select their lunch as they do at present and will be given a coloured band which they will hand to the catering staff at lunchtime.

Milk.  Your child is able to buy milk from school on a daily basis for 11p.  It would be helpful if they could bring the correct money.

Mobile Phones.  A small number of children have been bringing mobile phones to school.  If you consider this to be appropriate and your son/daughter brings a phone to school, please ensure that phones are switched off and securely stored in school bags, etc.  Mobile phones are very valuable and the school cannot be responsible if any phone is lost or broken.  They should only be brought to school if absolutely necessary.

iPods and MP3 Players, etc.  Pupils should not bring any valuable items to school as the school cannot be responsible if they are lost or broken.

Personal Items.  Just a reminder; please make sure all personal items are clearly marked with your child’s name and class.

Head Lice.  From time to time we have had some outbreaks of head lice.  If you become aware of any problem or would like treatment advice, please contact the School Nurse, Elizabeth Guy on 01357 529911.  It would be of benefit to every child if parents/carers regularly checked their child’s hair.

Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA).  The PTA are looking for a new secretary to replace Mrs Scott.  Anyone interested should email  glassfordpta@googlemail.com.

Home School Partnership.  Two courses for parents and carers are available through the Home School Partnership Co-ordinator, Caroline Stewart.

Alcohol Awareness Workshop – an alcohol and drugs awareness evening on Tuesday 9 February 2010 at 7pm at Strathaven
 Academy.

Healthy Lifestyle Programme – this course will look at different aspects of health and wellbeing, including alternative therapies.  It will start on Tuesday 23 February from 12.30 – 2.30pm and run for 6 weeks.

If you are interested in either course, please contact Caroline Stewart on Tuesday or Friday on 01357 524040 or Monday to Friday on 07795 090926 for more information or to book a place.
As part of our newsletter the children will write articles to update everyone on the different events and activities that the school have been involved in.

Hand Hygiene.  Nurse Guy came to talk to our class, P1/2/3, about hand hygiene.  Nurse Guy gave us some rules on washing your hands.  1 After going to the toilet.
2 Before eating food. 3 After playing with pets.  4 After blowing your nose and 1 Use soap and warm water.  2 Rub soap on both sides of your hands.  3 Rub between every finger.  4 Rinse with clean water.   Jacob McCormack, P3.

Touch Rugby.  Every Tuesday from the 19th of January to the 9th of  February the primary 6/7 class will be getting taught touch rugby by Calum Aitken.  Calum has a lot of experience since he has played for East Kilbride Rugby Club for several years.  Calum plays lots of different games with us and teaches us different skills.  The skills help us with our passing, handling and how to score points.  Our teamwork skills seem to be improving as well.  We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  
Ryan Macleay, P7.

ECO Update.  The ECO Committee continue to take their duties seriously.  They have a rota for emptying fruit bins into the compost bin in the garden.  They also regularly check that the bird feeders are kept topped up.  Thank you to all who sent in Morrison’s vouchers before Christmas.  We have ordered a new tomato greenhouse, some seed potatoes and some seed trays.  This week the whole school will take part in the RSPB’s Big Bird Watch where each class will get an opportunity to conduct a survey of the number and type of birds using the feeders in the garden.
Morag Arthur, Class Teacher

Women’s Guild.  On Tuesday 12th of January we went to the Church Hall in Glassford to entertain the Women’s Guild.  We played our Christmas play, Hosanna rock.  We sang, danced and spoke.  We couldn’t all get on the stage because there were toys on it.  I think the Women’s Guild enjoyed it and they appreciated it.   Mitchell Young, P5.

We need your help!  As part of the Enterprise Curriculum we would like to hold a mini “Careers Fair” for our P6/7 pupils sometime after the Easter holidays.  This would give them a flavour of the world of work and the great variety of opportunities they will have in the future.  We are looking for parent/carers to volunteer to come in and talk to the children about their job and answer questions.  This would only require about an hour or so of your time.  If you would be able to spare some time, please let me know either by telephone or email.

Dates for Your Diary

4 February	P7 Challenge Day at Strathaven Academy
5 February	UNICEF Day for Change – Non-Uniform Day
15/16 February	February Break, school closed
17 February	In-service Day, school closed
18 February	School reopens
22 February	Parent Council Meeting, 7pm at Glassford Primary
26 February	School Bulb Competition at the Barrie Shelter
27 February	PTA Nearly New Sale at the Village Hall, 10am – 12 noon
5 March	Bags to school – drop bags in to school at 9am

Pupil Achievements.  We are trying to encourage all pupils to share their achievements through the school achievements board – ‘Boaster Board’.  Children should bring in their awards, achievements, certificates, etc for their out of school activities, eg swimming, dancing, football, etc.  These will be copied and displayed on our Boaster Board.

School Website.  Glassford Primary (Google).  Please continue to check the website for news and information.

If you have any ideas or comments that you would like to make about the newsletter or any of the information, please contact the school office on 01357 521124 or email office@glassford-pri.s-lanark.sch.uk


AUDREY DONNELLY
HEAD TEACHER

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December 09

Dear Parent/Guardian
The new Head Teacher for Glassford Primary, Ms Audrey Donnelly, has been appointed and will take up post on Tuesday 5 January 2010.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support over the years and for making my last Assembly a memorable one.  Thank you also for your good wishes, cards and generous gifts.
Glassford Primary Infant Registration will take place on Monday 11 January and Wednesday 13
January 2010 between 1.30pm and 3pm.  Please bring two proofs of residence plus your child’s birth certificate.  
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and my best wishes to you for the future.
 
Yours sincerely   
ELIZABETH CAMPBELL
Head Teacher