School Newsletter May 2012
Issue 5
What’s Happening ? I can hardly believe we are already three weeks into our new term. Many thanks to all parents and carers who came in on the last Friday to share our learning about the Olympics. It was a great event and the children appreciated the comments you left in the visitor book. In the nursery, the children have been learning about frogs and tadpoles and have their own tadpoles that they are looking after. They have also been finding out more about themselves and how they have grown up from being babies. Look out for the baby pictures in the nursery and see if you can tell who is who. Primary 1/2 have already started on their topic around the theme of the Teddy Bears Picnic. They have been learning more about money and have set up their own café. They have been measuring clothes for the teddy bears to wear. They have also been making housesfor the teddy bears to live in. Our morning nursery children have also been working alongside Mrs Lord’s class on some of the tasks as part of our transition into P1. In Primary 3/4, the topic this term in about Ancient Egypt. There is a great deal of enthusiasm already in the class. The children have decided they want to find out about: • Where Egypt is in the world
• The River Nile, which they told me was the longest river in the world.
• The Pyramids and why they were built?
In Primary 5/6 the children are working on aspects of the John Muir Award and their learning is focused on developing an understandng of different eco systems. From this knowledge, the children will be designing their own wildlife area in our playground to encourage different living things into our environment.
Staffing We welcome Miss Humphries to our school as our new Music Specialist. Miss Humphries is covering for Mrs Broadley whilst she is on maternity leave. She is with us on a Friday morning and has already made a good start in getting to know the children.
Play in a Day The children in Primary 3-6 had the opportunity to work with Amy from Konflux Theatre in Education to create an Olympic Play in one day – ‘Going for Goals!’. She helped the children to learn their lines and actions, building up the story line ready for a performance to the rest of the school, parents and carers at the end of the day. I was particularly impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and determination to put on a show that was outstanding. The team work and support was fantastic. Many thanks to our Parent Council who funded this fantastic experience for our young people. Mrs Cameron is currently working with David Gilmour from East Lothian Council to look at how we get the performance on the website.
• What was farming like in Ancient Egypt? • How did the Egyptians write?
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Archery
Soft Start
Primary 3-6 got the opportunity to take part in Archery sessions run by Martyn Pegg from our Outdoor Education Service. A great experience was had by all and more information and photographs can be found on the school blog.
This idea has been spoken about at coffee and chat meetings. Our first official Soft Start will be on Thursday 7 June from 9am to 9.30am. We look forward to welcoming as many parents and carers along and you are free to go to all classes you have children attending.
Coffee and Chat
After School Clubs
A reminder that the next date for Coffee and Chat will be Friday 18 May at 9am. The focus for this meeting will be on school improvement and involving you in this process. As a staff, we have identified four key areas for improvement which we will be addressing:
Many thanks for all the feedback in terms of After School Clubs this term. Following this I can now say that the Sports Club will run on a Tuesday and Bikeability training will run on a Wednesday. More information about both these clubs will be sent to you as soon as possible.
• • • •
Literacy Numeracy Health and Wellbeing Curricular Design
Underpinning all these areas is assessment and how this is used to identify next steps and show progress. This is your opportunity to be involved in shaping the way in which we move our school forward in order to best meet the needs of our children and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on this day.
Olympic Torch Event All North Berwick cluster schools have agreed an event to mark the Olympics during the last week of term where an Olympic torch will be travelling around the cluster. We will be receiving the torch on Thursday 28 June and I feel it would be a good opportunity to organise some sort of community event. We had discussed the idea of the theme around flags as we are the home of the Scottish Flag. I am looking for any volunteers to attend a meeting in school on Friday 11 May at 9am to discuss this further.
Transition Plans are already in place for the transition of our nursery children into Primary 1. Visits have been arranged for the children throughout this term. We will also be holding a transition morning on Thursday 21 June from 9.30am until 11.30am where all children will be with their new class and teacher and finding out more about what they will be learning next session. Further details about this will be sent in due course.
Dates for your diary 7th May 8th May 17th May 18th May 24th May 4th June 14th June 21st June 22nd June 28th June 29th June
Holiday In-Service day Olympic Legacy Day – Tennis focus Coffee and Chat Spring Clean Day Holiday Sports Day Transition day – am Reports due to parents Olympic Torch Event End of Term – Church Service 9.30am
Pleaseremember to keep an eye on the school blog http://edubuzz.org/blogs/athelstaneford/ for the most up to date information. As ever if you have any concerns or queries pleasedo not hesitate to contact me.
Scott Lavery Acting Head Teacher
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