Merrylee Primary School
Newsletter 5
January 2009
Dear Parent / Carer
New school
Taken end Aug 08
Nearly there! Hopefully we will hear of ‘handover’ in
the very near future. Mr Jim Wilson, Head of
Performance and Asset Management for the
Education Department has called an information
meeting on Thursday 12th February at 7pm where
he will address members of staff, Parent Council,
Parents’ Association and Pupil Council about the delay in the opening of our new school.
Proposed closure of our Nursery Class
(Next phase in Glasgow's school modernisation strategy unveiled- item on Glasgow Council website)
Having been called to a meeting earlier this term, I was shocked to learn of the proposed closure of
Merrylee Nursery Class and its planned merger with Limetree Nursery (formally Holmlea Day
Nursery). If the proposal is accepted, our nursery class will move with the school and Limetree
Nursery into our new school site in February. It will continue to operate in its current form until it
closes at the end of June. The pre 5 establishments will then become one establishment called
Limetree Day Nursery which will offer provision from 0-5years.
The consultation period for this proposal ends on the 13th of March. As you can imagine we are all a
bit shocked at the moment and are currently taking time to seek advice and discuss the proposal.
The Nursery Parents are holding a meeting in the main building on Monday 9 th February at 6.30pm
to allow them the opportunity for discussion before the official meeting. There will be a public
meeting held by officials from the council in the main building on Wednesday 4 th March at 7pm to
allow all interested parties to express their views.
You should all receive a copy of the proposal with this newsletter (hence the delay in the
newsletter). Please take the time to read it and make a response to the council. Those not receiving
today should do so when we receive further delivery tomorrow.
Natural Play Site
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7813894.stm
Please use the above link to view an article on the BBC website about out natural play site. Plans
for this unique play development are progressing well. It is hoped that the contractor will begin work
on site by mid February.
Staff news
Super Janny!
Mr McAulay has been awarded the title of Employee of the Year
Award for Glasgow City Council Direct and Care staff. I nominated
Ian some months ago as I am sure you will agree he is a very special
person within our school community. He knows our children inside
out, never forgets their birthdays, is always fair and full of fun and is
equally supportive of staff and parents. We are delighted for him and
all very proud that his unique contribution to our school has been
recognised.
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I am delighted to report that Mrs Hilary Thomson has been working on a part time basis in school
since the beginning of January. She has felt well enough to work 2 days each week. This is great
news and we are so pleased to have her back working with us again. Miss Leiper will continue to
teach P2.
Parent Council
The Parent Council has been very proactive in seeking advice in the delay to the opening of the
new school and also with the development of the Natural Play site. The chair of the Parent Council,
Ruth Doherty, has been advised on your behalf that Mr Jim Wilson, Head of Performance and Asset
Management, fully expects that the new Merrylee will be handed over to the Education Department
very soon. It is hoped that the heating problems will be resolved and the nursery alterations will be
complete.
Parents Association
The Parents’ Association is eagerly awaiting confirmation of our move to the new building as they
had the Scots coffee morning all organised and planned. Many had put so much work into the
planning for this event. I look forward to the new date as it will be a super event and also a first
opportunity for many to see around our new school building.
Pupil Council Update
The Pupil Council is working towards supporting the development of our new school grounds. The
pupils plan to contact local DIY/Gardening retail outlets to try request donations of plants etc to
ensure our school looks as good outside as it does inside.
Health Committee Update
The Health Committee is working towards encouraging all members of the school community to eat
more healthily. Members addressed a teachers’ meeting to request support to encourage all pupils
to eat fruit daily and to take time in the class to enjoy the healthy snack together. Please support
the committee by giving your children healthy snacks and drinks.
Water. Please ensure your child has fresh water daily. Your child should take home their water
bottle daily for cleaning and refilling. It can be topped up in the course of the day from our water
chillers in school.
The School Choir
The choir performed Christmas carols and songs at several venues in December where they raised
a substantial sum of money for various charities. The choir also entertained the residents in
Cartvale Nursing Home. Well done to Mrs Fishwick and all choir members.
Thurs 8th Jan
P7
To Anne Frank Exhibition
The visit to this exhibition certainly enhanced pupil understanding of living through persecution and
through war.
Wed 28th Jan
P7
Hillpark Potted Sports
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Two teams of P7 pupils participated in the Hillpark Potted Sports. They had great fun and competed
very well with a sense of fun and fairness.
Chess club
The chess team won its first match against St Fillan’s Primary School last Friday. Well done to Max
MacFarlane, Jack Sloan, Andrew Purvis and Morgan Wood who represented Merrylee very well.
Langside College Sports coaches
I have been pleased to receive some coaching sessions from students from the physical education
department of Langside College again this year. P6/7 and P5/6 are receiving coaching in Gaelic
football and P7 coaching in hurling. All pupils involved will attend a festival of sport and the end of
coaching sessions.
Breakfast club
Can I please remind you that the breakfast club is open only to those who are having breakfast and
who arrive in the hall before 8.40am? It is not a service to supervise pupils before school starts. We
are very fortunate that our catering staff have agreed to supervise our youngest pupils who attend
the breakfast club in the hall until the bell rings. This is a unique arrangement and a service they are
not required to offer.
They have been slightly unhappy recently as several children repeatedly arrive after 8.40am for
breakfast which then puts staff under pressure to be cleared up by 9am. Also some children have
been left by parents who say they must go to work so leave them to be supervised. This is not the
responsibility of breakfast club staff.
Pupils not attending breakfast club should remain in the playground until the bell rings. If morning
supervision is a problem for you, can I suggest you bring your child for breakfast before 8.40am and
hopefully this is a solution which pleases all parties.
Charity Bottle
Many thanks to everyone who drops their spare pennies in our lunch time charity bottle. When
counted this time we raised £70 which was very gratefully received by The Royal National Lifeboat
Institution.
Entry to school
Could I also request that any parent/ carer should report to the school office on entry to school? At
no time should anyone go along to their child’s classroom without first speaking to a member of
staff. (This is especially important either early morning or after school.) I am sure you will appreciate
that this is essential to ensure that we know who is in the building at all times. If your child is late in
the morning, please report to the school office and a member of staff will ensure that your child is
safely sent to class. Thank you for your co-operation in this.
Latecoming and attendance
It is essential that all pupils attend school every day unless they are ill or have a very important
reason for being absent. We cannot educate your child if he or she is not in class. I have observed
that there has been an increasing number of pupils arriving late for school in the morning. Please
ensure your child is in school before 9 o’clock each day. When a child is late for school they are
often embarrassed when going into class and have often missed the first lesson or instructions for
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the day. This is also very disruptive for the rest of the class. I am sure you will agree that good time
keeping is a vital life skill we all wish to promote.
Mobile telephones
In line with council policy, if your child has a mobile telephone it must be switched off on entering
the school campus. Please ensure your child is aware of this. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Please remember that we have a recycling box in school for your old mobile telephones!
Dates for your diary
Fri 30th Jan
P6/7
To Pollok House ‘Upstairs Downstairs’
rd
Feb 3 Feb
Glasgow Pupil Council meeting
Tues 10th Feb
McDonald’s Football Tournament
th
th
Mon 16 , Tues 17 Feb Holiday
Wed 18th Feb
In service day
Tues 24th Feb
P5 with P5 from OLA
PACE Theatre company to work with pupils
th
Thurs 26 Feb
P5 to Science Centre
Tues 3rd Mar
Mobile Adventure Course
Mon 9th Mar
Hands on medicine day at Royal College of Surgeons (Group of pupils)
Mon 9th Mar
P5/6 to Aye Write festival. Author John Fardell
th
Mon 9 Mar
P1b to Aye Write festival. Author Emily Gravett
Tues 10th Mar
P2 to Aye Write festival. Author Shoo Rayner
th
Tues 10 Mar
P4 to Aye Write festival. Author Roy Apps
Tues 10th Mar
P2/3 to Aye Write festival. Author Shoo Rayner
Tues 10th Mar
McDonald’s Football Tournament
th
Tues 10 Mar
6.30-9.30pm Parents evening
Thurs 12th Mar
P1a,P1b,P2,P2/3, P3/4 to Aye Write festival. Theatre performance
th
Thurs 12 Mar
3.30-5.30pm Parents evening
Wed 18th Mar
P3/4 Life and times of Ancient Egypt workshop in Art Galleries
rd
Mon 23 Mar
Glasgow Pupil Council meeting in City Chambers
Wed 25th Mar
Scottish Youth Theatre to work with P5/6 & P6/7
st
Wed 1 April
Potted sports
Thurs 2nd April
P6
Fire in home workshop
rd
Fri 3 April
Easter Service
Mon 6th –Fri 17th April Spring Break
Mon 27th April
P7
To Blairvadach
th
Mon 4 May
Holiday
Tues 5th May
In service day
th
Mon 11 May
P6
To Nethybridge
Fri 22nd- Mon 25th May
Holiday
st
Week beg 1 June Whole school Health week
Tues 23rd & Wed 24th June
School show
th
Thurs 25 June
10am
Leavers assembly
Thurs 25th June
P6 & P7
Ceilidh
Fri 26th June
1pm
School closes for the summer holiday
Yours faithfully
Mrs Liz Mahindru
Head Teacher
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