School Newsletter February 2014
Issue 7 A very busy term!
I wanted to start by saying a huge thank you for all the gifts and cards we as staff
received
before
the
holidays
we are all very grateful. still
working
our
way
through
We are
some
rather
lovely choccies (everything in moderation!).
I
trust everyone had a lovely festive time, I have certainly heard lots of fun stories and look
forward
to
hearing
experiences next week.
about
shared
I can hardly believe
tradition
received
I
hope
poems
that with
week
–
I
know
I
say
this
in
almost every newsletter but we really have been incredibly busy in school. Starting
off
the
year
persevering feedback
you
all
classes
with
what
task!
when
Mr
we
the Saltire.
proud
begin
to
find
influential Murray
was
I
so
was
out
Scots,
about
someone
incredibly
(and
families
how
much
prominent
although
sprung
in why
school
of
Eco
Schools
This was another great
when
again should
them
from our
showed feel
and
so
their
collective achievements.
Having spoken to
and
Mr Davidson myself at the end of the day, he was very keen to pass on how impressed
mind!
he
children
was
children
by
the
and
knowledge
not
just
our
of
all
Eco
of
our
Committee.
learning task this really is!) and the effort
who approached him (swamped him!) in the
they put in to learning their Scots Poems.
playground
For me one personal highlight of this term
share what we are trying to achieve.
had
award of a third green flag is reward indeed
be to
our P7
shared
Burns all
family
Assembly.
children
occasion The
and
in
various
From
rose
shone!
Gruffalo
Craws,
from
Davidson
to classes and by the number of children
to
know
out
He was particularly pleased with his visits
a
I
to
our
coming
the
feedback
of
as
of
poems
farily
for
homework
Nursery
-
who
a
Andy
naturally
proud
to
the
Scotland visited us. once
history
be you
for
their highlight was, they would rightly say it
us
local
can
these
you
Green Flag
children
and
thank
I think if we were to ask our children what
proud of with their village as the home of We have looked further beyond
the
that this helped with preparation.
the knowledge our children have and are so
community
learning
and
Thank
regarding
day
own
from
before Christamas and we are glad to hear
focussing on a Scots topic highlighted for us
our
(milk!)
enjoyed child
challenging
was
with
drink
your
we are now only a few days away from the Feburuary
a
nursery when he performed for them!
to
the
We
had
Scots,
poems
by
Three J
K
Annan and finally some Burns poetry
from
our
P5/6/7
class
with Address To A Haggis and My Luve is like a Red, Red Rose.
Our
resident piper, Mackenzie, who now has his own
pipes,
provided
us
with
our
although
to
the
offer
real
their
reward
opinion
comes
and
in
to The the
knowledge that this work is making a real difference
to
our
children
and
community
and hopefully will impact positively on their futures.
A huge big thank you must go to
our resident Eco Warrior, Mrs Gray for her on-going
commitment
to
this
and
for
supporting our Eco Committee so well in this endeavour!
musical
soundtrack to this event and true to
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Assemblies
Maths Library
We have now established a link with a
I
school in St Kitts (No there will be no
tested all of our games with pupils
teacher
trips!)
and subject to a few final tweaks
and will be sending our Baton off to them
being made this week and next we
next week.
are
exchange
visits
or
class
The Head Teacher of Beach
am
delighted
to
start
Allen Primary School is very keen to link
games home.
You
up
with
a
Scottish
that
sending will
we
have
now
these
remember
that the
the
reson for developing this library is to support parents with maths home learning tasks and
all
to
the
Saltire
and
say
children are looking forward to finding out about
School
ready
to
and
life
in
Athelstaneford We
were
also
very
pleased
to
have
Ms
Muir back with us for Work Experience a couple of weeks ago. Sam
has
fond
was
keen
to
As a former pupil
memories
find
primary teacher.
out
of
school
about
life
and as
a
She very much enjoyed
her week with us and we were all pleased to
read
her
very
kind
letter
to
us
at
assembly. P3/4 Swimming It was wonderful to hear today from Mrs Lord that when P3/4 were out swimming she
was
approached
by
two
ask
from.
what
school
they
of
activities
we
with
the
it what the Learing Intentions are
would
– what
the children should be learning as a result of playing the game as you can see in one example below: Learning Intention
I
can
count
the
requested
number
of
items.
I can recognise the numerals 1 to 10.
I am learning number bonds to 10.
There
will
and
finally
also
be
resources,
suggestions
instructions
for
extension
activities to take the learning even further will
be
Tuesday
hosting
25
a
launch
February
when
of we
this
on
will
be
inviting you into school to hear more about
was because they were so very
these games and to try some out with your
wonderful
behaviour of our children and wanted us to know.
types
Each card that will come home will have on
We
were
The reason for the query
impressed
the
and provide additional challenge.
separate members of the public to
share
engage with in school.
Those of you who have been in
children.
We hope you are able to keep this
date free!
school helping with a trip will know that this
is
a
children school
message
that they
we
whenever are
reinforce they
go
ambassadors
with
out for
of our
Motor Skills Our
Motor
Skills
school and their behaviour should reflect the standards we expect in school. surprised
to
hear
this
glowing
feedback!
now
officially
thanks
Fallowfield time
for
sessions each week.
for
this
to
Niki
giving
her
over
a
few
The children involved
are already starting to benefit and it has got
Winter Weather As the cold an wet weather looks set to continue I would be grateful if you could reinforce the importance of coming
to
appropriately and
school for
certainly
the
dressed conditions
encourage
child to wear a warm jacket.
your
I would be
grateful if all children could bring indoor shoes
is
school
Well
done P3/4, we are very proud of you and not
Group
back within the life of the
with
them
which
will
continue
us
all
importance breaks
over
awaken
our
thinking of
regular
the
course
brains
ready for learning. of
brain
breaks
again
and
about
the
opportunities
for
of
the
ensure
day we
to are
Every class makes use
and
physical
activity
of
different types to create natural blocks of time for learning over the course of the day.
to
help keep the school a bit less muddy and slip free. S:\Admin\Newsletters\1314\Newsletter 7.doc
Commonwealth Interdisciplinaries As
a
staff
we
embarking
are
very
upon
excited
our
Interdisciplinaries
be
Commonwealth
from
February.
to
We
Tuesday
18
finalised
our
plans last Friday afternoon and are
looking
forward
opportunities children
for
from
to
the
groups
Nursery
working together.
of
to
P7
Much of the
work we will do will build on the legacy of the learning about the Olympic Games.
Each class will have
their own areas of learning they will be looking
at
depending
that
particular
come
together
challenges three
upon
class for
and
the
needs
although
some
whole
assemblies.
assemblies
this
we
term
of will
school
Following our
children
will work in ‘Vertical Group’s made up of
Finally
we
shall
parents
on
the
be
inviting
afternoon
of
in
P3-P7
Monday
24
March to see us perform a play linked to our Commonwealth Studies. As
our
recent
provide
highlights
much
Commonwealth
sheets
detail
did
not
about
Studies
a
our
short
whole
school highlights sheet will come out on Wednesday
19
February
th
to
let
you
know
about the particular focus for each class. We
are
always
grateful
to
hear
your
feedback and suggestions for how you can also get involved.
Perhaps you would be
free to come in and help with some art activities?
Please do let us know, even if
only for an hour or so, we would love to see you and there really is no better way to get a sense of what is happening in school!
children from Nursery to P7 and work on a task
collectively
before
presenting
their
work at the assembly the following week. This
is
one
of
the
many
advantages
of
learning in a small school environment!
assembly
closing Look
on
19
Ceremony
out
for
February
th
on
your
Friday
tickets
to
and
th
Incidentally, for those that are interested to know what we get up to on an
We shall be having our Opening Ceremony at
Roll on Monday 17 February.
our
28
March.
the
Closing
Ceremony – perhaps just as competitive as the hotline for Glasgow 2014 (no I never managed to get tickets!)
In-Service
Monday 17 be
learning
teachers
that
across
in
which
afternoon standards
looking
to
have
which all
registered
Scotland
we
sign
continue
professionally.
be
the
off
every
five years to demonstrate the various ways
planned,
shall
On
about
Update
something
Amongst the many great things we have we
all
Professional is
Day.
February we will
th
to
Following
will
be
and
spent
at some
moderation
sessions
as
recent visits to Gullane and Law Primaries
using Cybercoach (our Sports Coach who
where a team of teachers have met with
appears
our
children
the
early, first and second level.
classes
a
on to
whole
our
keep
school
as
whiteboards!) us
active.
well in
Out
in
and
playground The Play Team, Mrs Darrie and
process
Mrs
expecting
Gray
will
be
trying
to
create
opportunities for us to try Commonwealth
across
Sports during breaktime and lunchtime.
that
You
too
can
get
involved
on
Monday
10
March and join us for Sport Your Trainers. We will all be wearing our trainers all day and
taking
part
in
physical
mark Commonwealth Day. many
parents
Trainers also!
and
carers
activity
is
talked
to of
each
when
of
our
that
children
our
follow
about
ensure our
a
out
regular Monday morning Wake and Shake as
as
our
looking
carrying
activities
develop
that,
cluster
children
up
learning
to
at
Part of this what is
we
the
schools
move
onto
are
same and High
School they have had similar experiences and
are
working
with
similar
levels
of
expectation.
to
We hope to see Sporting
Their
Sports Relief will of course
follow hot on the heels of this on Friday 21 March –more details to follow on this. S:\Admin\Newsletters\1314\Newsletter 7.doc
Childline and NSPCC Today
at
assembly
we
heard
Playground about
the
Improvements,
Skatepark
Project, and Fundraising Ideas.
work of the NSPCC and Childline from one
meeting
of their advisors to schools.
March
This forms an important part
proposals for improving our school grounds
of
–we hope to see you there!
the
curriculum
Health
and
Childline
aims
within
to
answer
need someone to turn to and the NSPCC helpline also provides advice and support to adults who think that a child may be in danger or distress. The content of each was
the
when
and
appropriate
for
assemblies home
to
P4-7.
some
tomorrow
Buddy’s
the
age
Following
activities (Buddy’s
Spelling
through
will
Art
Sprint)
be
sent
Party
and
which
are
sponsorship.
Please
note
make donations and have only agreed to this
decision.
home
for
I
appreciate
do
you
to
make
that
the
in
the
current economic climate, there are many pressures
on
every
household
budget,
however if you do wish to support the work of the NSPCC, which includes the special helpline
service
through
a
for
donation
children
–
then
will
we
ChildLine
and
Mary
Learning
and sponsor money to us by Wednesday 4
th
March 2014.
on
10 the
meet every six weeks or so one evening in school
to
discuss
issues
and
to
a
variety
hear
an
update from myself regarding what is happening in school. Attendance meetings
at
varies
these
although
it
is always great to see new people coming along and we would like to encourage you to attend if possible.
You
do not need to be a member of the Parent attend
and
there
will
be
Community
Development.
We
possible
opportunities
that
came
out
this
questionnaire.
discussed of
As a result we
have started to plan for some activities that could run either on Saturday mornings or weekday evenings for parents, carers, friends, grannies etc. to attend.
There will be more information
coming out the week we return from our February break with an idea of what will be offered interest.
and
the chance to note your
These would be activities that
you could access directly from the village without having to drive to Haddington or North Berwick.
We are excited about being
able
this
to
offer
opportunity
and
look
forward to hearing what your thoughts are. Website The website continues to be a great source of been
As you may be aware our Parent Council
to
from
information
on
what
happening in our school. Parent Council
Council
Drysdale
collate
this if you could please return the form
of
is
discussing
a year ago I met with Alistair McDonald
the
that we are not expecting our parents to send
be
Opportunities for Adult Learning
of
designed by the NSPCC to raise additional funds
Council
will
Following a questionnaire carried out over
the children with separate assemblies for P1-3
Parent
we
Wellbeing.
over half a million calls from children who
assembly
of
The next
many
great
recently
parents
It has
to
and
is
see
so
children
starting to leave more comments.
If
you do visit the website it really is very easy to leave a very short comment which helps our children to see the purpose in sharing this information.
I would like to
encourage more of the school community to leave comments for the children on what they
have
been
learning
and
achieving.
This gives them real encouragement that their
efforts
are
being
recognised
and
supported by all of us.
no
requirement to join or take on additional responsibility if you do! items
have
included
Recent agenda
Update
from
HT,
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Class News Here is an update from the children of the learning in their classrooms since coming back after the holidays. Nursery
P1/2
Nursery have had a busy start to the year.
It’s has been NEAT WEEK in class, every
We
have
past
been
learning
through
objects
museum
and
through
about
the
time
in
our
writing
speaking
we
do we
a
neat
can
piece
colour
of
in
a
to
square
towards
our
silver
our grandparents. Thank you to all
award.
We
been
working
the grandparents who came in to
hard
sounds
on
have
and
keywords
spellings
talk to us and we were delighted so many
and we have been thinking about what we
of you came to our Daffodil Tea.
need to know to be a super speller. We
We're
now
Year.
We
learning have
about
been
Chinese
tidying
our
New house
have been using the computers in class to type
up
our
opinions
about
books
and
corner and going to the 'hairdressers' to
reading and printing them out to go in the
prepare for the New Year, just like Chinese
reading corner.
people
dancing
In maths we have been testing the games
Chinese
for
and
do.
We've
look
been
forward
to
dragon
eating
a
our
new
maths
library.
We
had
to
banquet together.
colour in a face to show if we liked game
We have installed our outdoor sound wall.
or not to help Miss Hutchison make the
Thank you for the donations from home for
games fun.
this.
Lastly for now we have been working hard
We've also been making bird pine
cone
feeders
'Little
highlight visit
and
Schools
however
Ritchie's
will
be
carrying
Birdwatch'. has
farm.
to
We
Our
be
our
enjoyed
out
on
entries
outdoor
Competition,
trip
pictures
to
feeding
for
the
we
Commonwealth
are
chosen
to
hoping
to
be
an
in
Art
have
our
athlete’s
bedroom during the Commonwealth Games.
the sheep, walking up to the cabin and playing
in
the
woods.
Thank
you
to
P3/4
Ritchie's family for inviting us, we had a
P3/4
wonderful morning.
fractions in number and have made their own
P5/6/7 We are reading a classic novel ‘The Secret Garden’.
This can be quite a hard book
to understand, but we are all rising to the challenge. We
have
also
looked
at
where
have
travelled
around
the
world.
been
fraction
exploring
games
homework task.
patterns
as
and
a
These will
be
added to our maths library. We have been writing notes from texts
and
someone
India is and how Victorian people would
have
from
and
interviewing
have
been
writing
non-
chronological reports. All the children are doing
really
well
at
swimming
and
are
becoming more confident in the water.
DATES FOR DIARY: March 3rd
P7 at Cluster Rotary Quiz (Gullane)
6th
World Book Day International School Meals Day
February
11
4th
P7 Enterprise Transition (NBHS)
12th
7th
School Breaks for Mid Term
18th
Pupils Return
13th
P6 Rugby Festival (NBHS)
P3/4 Athletics (Meadowmill)
19th
P5/6/7
26th
th
P3/4 Class Assembly P5/6/7
Highland
Clearances
Drama
Workshop
P5/6/7 Class Assembly
Highland
Clearances
Drama
Workshop 24th
Commonwealth Play in a Day
31
P7’s leave for Ford Castle
st
S:\Admin\Newsletters\1314\Newsletter 7.doc
Looking for Activities for the February Break: Please note we have not checked any of these options ourselves recently and have simply looked on-line for some fun, family options!
Why not visit The National Museum of Flight at East Fortune where they offer reduced ticket prices if you arrive by bicycle.
This means an adult can enter the
Museum for £6.75 and a child for £3.60. Standard ticket prices are £9.50 for an adult and £4.00 for a child.
Cycle parking is also provided for your convenience.
For those of you looking for value for money, there are lots to do for FREE in East Lothian.
Both
John
Muir
Birthplace
in
Dunbar
and
Prestongrange
Museum
outside
Musselburgh are free, as is a trip to the ruins of Hailes Castle near East Linton and at the beach at Yellowcraig, Dirleton where there is an adventure play area with woodland walks leading to the beach.
Can you find the mythical creatures the Glingblobs and Tootflits hiding in the trees at Pressmennan Wood?
Located just 1.5km south of the village of Stenton.
Pressmennan Wood is home to the Glingblobs and Tootflits.
Start at the yellow
stone and follow the circular route through the wood along the lake and then on higher ground for the return to the carpark. Look out for their homes and meeting places hidden in the trees. A trail leaflet can be downloaded from the Visit East Lothian Website
The walk takes approx one hour, those with small children either
use a baby carrier or all terrain buggy. Car park at west entrance for approx 6 cars.
If you are thinking about jumping on a train to Edinburgh how about the Museum of Childhood on The Royal Mile or The National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street? Both are free to get in and with plenty to see to spend a whole day there!
Whatever you get up to in the February break I will look forward to hearing all about it when we return on 18 February. th
Please
remember
to
keep
an
eye
on
the
school
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/athelstaneford/ for the most up to date information.
blog
As ever if
you have any concerns or queries please do not hesitate to contact me. Catriona McKinnon Head Teacher
Shop and raise school funds! If you buy online there is now an easy way to earn vital school funds. By visiting eduPayment.co.uk and locating a participating retailer our school will earn commission from your purchases. Leading online brands are participating in the service including, Amazon.co.uk & New Look. You pay no more, there are even special offers to help you pay less. Please visit www.edupayment.co.uk for more information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Achievements Tear-Off Slip
_____________________________ of Class _________ has successfully participated in __________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Signed:
...................................................................................
Date:
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