HOLY FAMILY RC PRIMARY SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2016
Dear Parents/Carers
On talking to some parents I believe there is some confusion over the Easter Holiday
dates this year and I would just like to clarify the situation.
We are off school this Friday 25 March as it is Good Friday. However, we are back
to school on Monday 28 March to Friday 1 April when we finally go on holiday. We
return to school after the holiday on Monday 18 April at 9am.
Please note Run, Jump & Throw Club will be running as usual on Monday 28 March.
March has been another very busy month for us in school with lots of exciting
learning experiences going on.

One of our main achievements is that our new website has now gone live.
A huge thank you to all the staff and pupils but an extra big thank you must go
to Miss Gall who did the bulk of the work to set it all up. I’m sure you will
agree with me it is a great way to keep up with the life of the school.
We will be continually updating the site so please have a look at it –
www.holyfamilyrc.aberdeen.sch.uk
You’ll even be able to read our newsletters online too so there will be no
excuses about not getting a newsletter! If there is anything that you would
like to see that is not on the website please let me know and we’ll see what
we can do.

This year Science is a high priority in our School Improvement Plan. Several
years ago we achieved a Bronze Award for PSQM and this year we are going
for Silver.
Because of this Ms Maley, our Science Co-ordinator, has been working with
P3/4 and P6 and team teaching with Miss Hickey and Mrs Stephen to make
model cars. The children have learned a lot during these lessons and can’t
wait to get the cars finished to take home.
Ms Maley has also been working with our Science Champions P7 on the topic
‘Forces’ and they in turn have been delivering lessons to the P1 class.
As you can imagine they are learning a number of skills to enable them to do
this which will benefit them greatly in later life.

Thank you to P6 who ran another successful World Book Day and Fairtrade
Coffee Morning. Everyone had a wonderful time and they managed to raise
£377.94, which will go towards this year’s Health Week in June.
Parents welcomed the opportunity to visit the classes and see all the displays
and work the children have been doing and I had some super comments from
parents regarding the teaching and learning that was going on in the
classrooms.
I am sure we will continue to incorporate an Open Morning into future World
Book Day events and other events throughout the year.

As part of their topic on ‘Fairtrade’ P6 enjoyed a visit to Cocoa Ooze where
they made lollipops from chocolate and learned all about production.
They then visited the Apple Store where they used IMovie and Garageboard
to make a Fairtrade advert.

Congratulations to our School Choir who took part in Around the World in
Song and Dance on Sunday 13 March.

Congratulations also to Cameron, Bennet, Kiera, Kieran and Marria from P7
who took part in the Rotary Quiz at Hazlehead Primary. Our team were stars
and came in second out of 9 other schools, so well done to them.

Children from P6 & P7 took part in Cross Country Championships at
Balgownie Playing Fields last Friday. They did very well and showed obvious
enjoyment for taking part.

P7 have just finished taking part in Junior Enterprise with Mr Cassells and
have enjoyed the experience of setting up a fictitious business. They have
worked together collaboratively making financial decisions to prepare them for
the world of work.

P3/4 have been involved with a ‘Viewfinder Project’ where Artists have come
into school to work with the children on looking at buildings. They then went
down to Union Street where they sketched patterns from buildings before
returning to school to finish their work.
Their pictures will be displayed at a special event in town. More details to
follow.

P1 – 4 children enjoyed taking part in K’Nex workshops in school recently.
This is always a popular activity with the children and they made some
amazing models. I’m sure photos of the activities will be going on the website
soon so keep a lookout for them.
As you can see this has been yet again a very busy term and will continue to be
so right up to the very end on 1 April.
Remember we will be doing a sponsored event for Archie in Africa next Thursday, 31
March and I’d like to remind children to bring their sponsor forms and money to
school that day, or even before if possible. They are also encouraged to wear red,
yellow and black that day to show support for the charity.
Please see below a list of upcoming important dates for your diary.
Easter Holidays
Monday 4 – Friday 15 April
Back to school
Monday 18 April
May Day Holiday
Monday 2 May
In-Service Day
Tuesday 3 May – school closed to pupils
Reconciliation
Saturday 14 May
P7 Dalguise Trip
Tuesday 17 – Friday 20 May
Confirmation
Sunday 22 May
School Photographer
Monday 23 May
First Communion
Sunday 29 May
Health Week
Monday 6 – Friday 10 June
Term ends
Friday 1 July
Session 2016/17
Term starts
Tuesday 16 August
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Easter this weekend
and a happy holiday when it comes.
Maureen Maher