ST. JOHN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL and EARLY YEARS’ CLASS
Morrison Avenue
Stevenston
North Ayrshire
KA20 4HH
NEWSLETTER November 2016
Welcome to our latest newsletter. Please read on to find out about our recent events
and what will be happening in this very busy term.
SPANISH FOCUS WEEK
To support our work and take forward our 1+2 languages initiative we had a Spanish
Focus Week where the children continued to experience Spanish throughout the
curriculum. Thank you to the parents/carers who came along to work with the children
and learn some Spanish.
READ, WRITE, COUNT
Read, Write, Count is a National literacy and numeracy campaign aimed at children in P1,
P2 and P3.
Children will be receiving their free Read, Write, Count packs during November to help
with learning at home. You can find out more about this exciting campaign by visiting
http://www.readwritecount.scot/.
FIRST MINISTERS READING CHALLENGE
The First Minister’s Reading Challenge is a chance for our children to go on a reading
journey, read whatever interests them and discover new books and authors along the
way.
Every child in P4-P7 has received their own Reading Passport in which they can record
what they have read. The children are setting reading goals to achieve by May 2017.
We have organised visits to the local library to support the children with this challenge.
There is more information on https://www.readingchallenge.scot/.
NUMERACY
As part of our School Improvement Plan we are continuing to help the children to
develop their numeracy skills across the curriculum.
The whole teaching staff have attended courses in Numeracy to increase their
knowledge and skills.
The children are once again taking part in the North Ayrshire Sumdog competition
which is a great fun way to learn.
Other useful websites that the children can use at home or at the local library are:
http://www.coolmath4kids.com
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4-11/site/numeracy.shtml
http://www.familymathstoolkit.org.uk
PARENT COUNCIL
Our Parent Council continue to work very hard for the children and families in our
school.
They recently ran a very successful Hallowe’en Family Movie Night. They would like to
thank Tesco who donated all of the hotdogs and ice cream for the evening.
The children looked fabulous in their costumes and enjoyed dressing up. Hopefully
everyone had a super time.
Their next venture will be the Christmas Fair. More details will follow in the near
future.
If you would like to join the Parent Council or help at any of their events please speak
to any of the members or contact the school office.
PANTO
Thank you to everyone who has paid for the panto tickets. If you have not yet paid
please forward the money to the school immediately. We have already had to pay for
the tickets out of school funds and need the money to be paid so that we can pay for
upcoming events.
EXTRA CURRICULAR CLUBS
Monday
P2 - P7
Homework club
P4 - P7
Choir
Tuesday
P6 and P7
Football
Wednesday
P5 - P7
Hockey
P2 and P3
Arts and Crafts
P7
Transition group
Thursday
P6 and P7
Netball
Friday
P4 and P5
Football
LUNCHTIME CLUBS
The lunchtime clubs will be run by our Junior Sports Leaders who have now completed
their training. The clubs will run on the following days.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
P5
P4
P3
P2
P1
MORNING
Healthy Start Club P1-P7 starts at 8.00 am until 8.45 am. It is free for pupils in P1-P3
and 50p per session for pupils in P4-P7.
Come along, have a healthy breakfast and join in the fun.
ONCE A WEEK TAKE A PEEK!
Head lice can be a persistent problem for children. Remember to check all heads in the
family on a weekly basis – it is the only way to keep head lice under control.
If you find eggs or live lice please speak to your local pharmacist about the best
products to use.
STAFFING
It is with some sadness that I have to tell you that Mrs Brooke our Support for
Learning teacher has left St. John’s and moved on to pastures new. I would like to
thank her for her had work and dedication to the children in our school and I wish her
luck in her new ventures. Mrs Thornton will provide support for learning in the
meantime until we are able to recruit a replacement for Mrs Brooke.
FINALLY
Please do not hesitate to contact me at the school if you wish to discuss any aspect of
school life.
Kind regards
Karen McAllister
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
01.11.16
02.11.16
03.11.16
08.11.16
08.11.16
09.11.46
09.11.16
09.11.16
10.11.16
10.11.16
11.11.16
14.11.16
15.11.16
15.11.16
16.11.16
16.11.16
16.11.16
16.11.16
17.11.16
18.11.16
19.11.16
20.11.16
21.11.16
23.11.16
23.11.16
24.11.16
25.11.16
29.11.16
30.11.16
All Saints Mass at 11.00 am St. John’s Church 11.00 am
P2/3 football coaching at 9.45 am
Families Connect at 2.00 pm
P7 STEM event at St. Matthew’s at 9.30 am
Pupil Committees at 1.15 pm
P2/3 Football coaching at 9.45 am
P4/5 and P6/5 at Maritime Museum, Irvine at 9.00 am
Parent Council Meeting at 1.30 pm
Families Connect at 2.00 pm
Non Uniform Day donations of chocolate and bottles for Christmas Fayre
HOLIDAY
HOLIDAY
Maths Focus Week
P6/7 Library visit at 10.00 am
Artist Lynne McInally working with P6/7 at 9.00 am
P2/3 Football coaching at 9.45 am
Celebration of Learning 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm (details will follow)
Pope Francis Enrolment Service for P6 (details to follow)
Families Connect at 2.00 pm
Flu Immunisations
P4 pupils preparing for Sacraments – Saturday Club at 9.45 am – 12.00 pm
Choir singing at Saltcoats Christmas lights switch on (details to follow)
P1 visiting Stevenston Library at 10.00 am
P2/3 football coaching at 9.45 am
Artist Lynne McInally working with P6/7 at 9.00 am
Bring and Buy Sale 1.30 pm
P4/5 and P5/6 at the Day of Dance Magnum at 12.00 pm (details to
follow)
Pupil Committees at 1.15 pm
St. Andrew’s Day Assembly led by P5/4 at 2.00 pm (details to follow)
07.12.16
11.12.16
12.12.16
19.12.16
20.12.16
21.12.16
22.12.16
23.12.16
23.12.16
Reconciliation Service for pupils in school 11.15 am
Choir singing at St. Peters (details to follow)
P6 and P7 Singing out for Hansel, Irvine Mall at 10.00 am – 11.00 am
(details to follow)
P6 and P7 Signing at Morrisons 1.30 pm – 2.30 pm
Whole school Pantomime at Gaiety Theatre, Ayr for “Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs”
Artastic for Early Years Class 1.30 pm
Early Years Class Christmas Party 9.00 am
P6 and P7 Singing at Morrisons 9.30 am – 11.30 am
Nativity in St. John’s Church at 10.00 am
School Christmas Concert 1.30 pm
Nursery Sing-a-Long for morning children at 8.45 am
Nursery Sing-a-Long for afternoon children at 12.45 pm
P5, P6 and P7 Christmas Party 1.30 pm
P1 and P2 Christmas Party 1.30 pm
P3 and P4 Christmas Party 1.30 pm
Clean Sheet Award 1.30 pm
Walk to Church (time to be confirmed)
School closes at 2.30 pm
09.01.17
Pupils return to school 9.00 am
13.12.16
14.12.16
14.12.16
15.12.16
15.12.16
16.12.16
16.12.16
19.12.16
Further dates will be added and shared with you when arrangements have been
finalised.