Braidwood Primary School
March / April 2016
Newsletter
Let’s hope SPRING is on it’s way.
Braidwood Primary continues to be a buzz with excitement and activities.
Burns Assembly...
Our Burns Assembly took take place on Monday 25th January.
Each class performed a Burns/Scottish poem and the whole school
learned and performed a couple of Scottish Songs.
We dressed in tartan for the occasion.
We were delighted with the skills of some of our Highland Dancers and were treated to information
relating to Robert Burns from some of our P7.
As anticipated, the highlight of the afternoon was Mr Johnston’s performance of
“Address to the Haggis”. The children were offered a taste of haggis after the assembly and the
take up was surprisingly high.
Our thanks to Ramsay’s of Carluke for supplying the Haggis, to Mrs Napier for cooking the haggis, to
Mr Desport for his musical skills on both guitar and accordion and to our Parent Council for serving
tea and coffee beforehand.
Over 100 parents/carers joined us for the celebration. Thank you.
Health Week...
What a great week. So many activities covering many aspects of
Health and Wellbeing for all.
The nurses from the University of the West of Scotland were
extremely impressed with our children - their behaviour,
attitude and their knowledge.
P1-3 thoroughly enjoyed learning about how to thoroughly
wash their hands to remove all germs.
P4 and 5 learned about digestion
and how this can impact on health.
P6 and 7 engaged well with the lesson on anti-smoking.
All classes had a great time at the Sponsored Obstacle Course on Tuesday. We were very impressed
with their stamina – able to keep going for the full 30mins.
On Wednesday all classes chose 2 or 3 pupils to read out their
Sense or Emotions poems they had been working on at assembly.
What brilliant results.
The assembly highlighted the fact that Health is not just eating healthily and keeping fit – social,
emotional and mental health are important too.
All of the children in the school are now very familiar with the
Health and Wellbeing indicators – SHANARRI and what they mean for them.
Also, on Wednesday afternoon, Dr Innes from St Luke’s medical practice
worked with P7 on Heart Start – a programme to teach CPR.
P7 were great and learned so much – so if you do happen to collapse and are not breathing,
make sure you have one of our P7 pupils with you!!!
Mrs Gray and P3 worked with P1, 2 and 4 at Massage in Schools
and Mrs Stewart worked with P5, 6 and 7.
The children and adults reported feeling very relaxed after their massage.
Mr Desport and 3 of our P7 pupils visited our P4 – 7 pupils to highlight and raise their awareness of
dyslexia. All of the pupils were amazed at how many successful celebrities are dyslexic and what
dyslexia looks like for pupils.
Friday rounded off health week –
Mrs Wood and Mrs Allan led First Aid lessons for P5 and 6 and P1 and 2.
Don’t blame us if you are asked to be a patient for bandages, slings or plasters!!
An assembly at 2pm brought together all that had gone on over the week.
Sponsored Obstacle Course...
GREAT NEWS – Thanks to everyone who filled in a sponsor form and returned the money to school –
the grand total is just over £900.
This means we are able to purchase 4 more i-pads with covers.
Just 1 more to go to reach our target of 10.
WELL DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE.
Tubs4Tablets...
We are now the proud owners of 2 Samsung Galaxy Tablets
courtesy of the FLORA TUBS4TABLETS promotion.
Photographer...
We were delighted to receive a commission cheque from John Wilson photographer for £290. This
money will be used to purchase our GL reading assessments for our Annual Summative Assessments
to be carried out in May.
ONCE AGAIN – THANK YOU.
50/50 club...
Winners of our 50/50 club for November and January were...
November 2015
1st Prize
Corey Whiteford (P6)
2nd Prize
Maisie Morrison (P1)
January 2016
1st Prize
Callum McCreaddie (P1)
2nd Prize
Jess Tyrie (P2)
Postponements/Cancellations...
Unfortunately the Law and District Cross Country Event for P5, 6 and 7, due to take place on
Saturday 30th January had to be postponed due to the severe stormy weather. This will take place
later in the year. As soon as I have details I will let the pupils and you know.
All schools cancelled the Netball Fun 5z on Wednesday 17th February due to the weather.
Due to a change in personnel for our Active School Co-ordinator the dates for our
P7 Sports Transition Visits to Carluke High School have changed.
The visits are now... Friday 11th March and Friday 29th April.
Primary 5 Assembly...
This took place on Tuesday 23rd February. The theme was centred round their Social Subjects Topic
on Scotland.
Primary 5 took us on a tour of Scotland, highlighting famous places to visit and famous and talented
Scots.
It was a fantastic performance by all. Our very own “talented Scots”.
P7 Residential Trip...
Monday 29th February, P7 along with Miss Rogan and me head to Ardeonaig (Near Killin)
for their Residential Week.
The centre is situated on the banks of Loch Tay with spectacular views.
The week will be filled with outdoor activities such as low ropes,
treasure quest, archery, orienteering, high ropes
and adventure day (Hill Walking).
As well as this, the children will do some environmental work
for the John Muir Award.
Evening activities consist of time out, diaries games and supper.
Throughout the week the children have to do
wash up after meals and
set up for the next meal –
probably the activity they like the least.
We return to school at 1.00pm on Friday 4th March –
exhausted but happy, having had a wonderful experience.
Let’s hope the weather is kind to us, but no matter what – we’ll be out and about.
VSE...
Validated Self Evaluation will be carried out by 3 representatives from South Lanarkshire Council.
Mr Ronnie Boyd – Quality Manager, Mrs Jan McLaren - Head Teacher of Maxwellton Primary School
and Margaret Tracey – Education Development Officer.
Mr Desport and I will meet with the representatives for planning purposes on the afternoon of
Monday 7th March. The audit itself will take place on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th March.
The team will visit classes and speak to staff and pupils regarding Learning Conversations and
Target Setting.
They may also wish to speak to some parent/carer representatives. If this is the case, we will be in
touch during week beginning 7/3/16.
Cosmic Classroom...
An absolutely fantastic experience for everyone on Tuesday 2nd February.
Despite a few technical difficulties to start with –
thanks to Mr French finding the download on a different server,
we managed to see and hear the live link up with Tim Peake.
He was amazing at answering the questions and demonstrated lots of things that can be done in space
– like drinking bubbles of water and playing table tennis with bubbles of water – it was absolutely
fascinating. Everyone was amazed and learned so much.
Primary 7 Transition to Carluke High School...
As well as sports transitions throughout the session on a Friday afternoon, Carluke High School
English Department have created a Language project based on Lego. The work done in P7 over the
next few months will form the basis of work carried forward during their 2 day visit in June.
A modern languages teacher will also spend 6 1hr sessions with P7 teaching Spanish in preparation for
Carluke High School. Miss Rogan is now qualified in Spanish and will continue work on Spanish until the
end of the session.
There are also 4 weeks of Science transition scheduled throughout March.
Primary 5 and 6 Spanish...
The CHS teacher will also spend a few sessions introducing P5 and P6 to Spanish.
After which, Mrs Foulis (also trained in Spanish) will then spend a 30 min
session per week with our P6 pupils teaching basic Spanish.
New Website...
This is looking really great – even if it has taken a little longer than hoped to get up and running.
A huge thanks to Mr Desport who has been overseeing all of the work and populating the website
ready for launch.
The new website can now be viewed at www.braidwood-primary.org.uk
Each class has a page which will keep you updated about ongoing work both in and out of class.
Visitors to the site will be able to access lots of information about our school ranging from...
handbook, newsletters, lunch menu, school groups, useful websites, Parent Zone (with useful
information) and a gallery of photos of school events.
Important reminders of dates etc will be visible on our home page.
We have an Ardeonaig 2016 tab where you will be able to view photos of what P7 are doing on their
residential week.
Children will be able to design and have input to their class page, the Pupil Council and Eco Committe
will have input to their pages, but these will not go live until either Mr Desport or I authorise them.
Our thanks go to Halliday’s Buses, Scott’s Meadowside Plants, The Station Inn and Ramsay’s of
Carluke for their financial contributions towards the set up of our website.
Pupil Council...
The Pupil Council are in the process of asking all classes for their ideas on what PE equipment and
outdoor/playground equipment they would like to purchase with the money raised so far from
Dress Down Days. They will also purchase relevant and appropriate apps for our i-pads.
Improvement Plan...
Next term we will be evaluating the Standards and Quality Report and our School Improvement Plan
for Session 2015 – 2016 and setting new targets for Session 2016 – 2017. While we as a staff will
have SLC and Learning Community Targets to take into account and will have targets we see as
important to move the school forward, we would also like to invite you as parents/carers to give us an
idea of what you think is important to work on.
Next session I will send out a note asking for your ideas and feedback. This information will assist us
in setting overall targets for session 2016 – 2017.
Looking ahead...
Primaries 1, 2 and 3 are planning a small enterprise project
based around “Guide Dogs”. They will have a visit from some guide dogs
and learn all about their training and what they can do.
They will then look for a way to raise some money to support the work
of the “Guide Dogs” Watch out for further information from P1, 2 and 3.
Primary 1 assembly will take place on Friday 18th March. This is always much anticipated and never
fails to deliver.
POP UK...
POP UK is a music based, educational charity that has been connecting schools to their local
communities since 2006. They are a team of teaching and music experts who in one fun filled week
prepare the children to perform an inspiring music concert.
The song lyrics deal with a vast range of themes from tolerance and respect to self awareness and
friendship. The songs are based around teaching social, moral, spiritual and cultural learning. Issues
which are paramount in a child’s development and lead to an enriched life experience for them.
The POP UK team will be with us week beginning Monday 9th May. The Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday will be spent teaching the children the songs etc. On the Thursday, the children will
record a CD which will be available for sale. The following week, on Wednesday 18th May, the children
will perform 2 concerts – 1.15pm and 7.00pm.
Lesley Ewing and Amie Aitken (Child and Family workers from Kirkton Church and Carluke Baptist
Church) work closely with the school through SU and assemblies, will be heavily involved throughout
the project.
The project costs a whopping £1800. I have already secured £1100 in donations from both Kirkton
Church and Carluke Baptist Church. The rest of the money will come from CD sales and ticket sales.
This is an exciting project which will incorporate music, song, social, moral, spiritual and cultural
learning as well as performance.
More details will be given nearer the time.
Book Club...
Mrs Fachie and Mrs W have started a lunchtime Book Club. This is extremely well attended and have
great plans for our library. They have already organised activities for week beginning 29th February
which will culminate in a FREE dress down day on Friday 4th March when pupils are invited to bring in
their favourite book to read on the day.
Future Dates...
Thursday 25th February..............................................Choir participating in a “Scottish Night”
at St Andrew’s Church
th
Monday 29 February..................................................P7 Ardeonaig Week
World Book Day Activities throughout the week
Book Club
Friday 4th March...........................................................World Book Day – FREE Dress Down Day
Monday 7th March.........................................................VSE Planning –
Mrs Scott and Mr Desport + team
th
Friday 11 March...........................................................P7 - CHS Sports Transition
Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th March.......................VSE visits
Friday 18th March..........................................................Primary 1 Assembly 2.00pm
Tuesday 22nd March.....................................................Parents’ Appointments
*Information to follow
th
th
Friday 25 and Monday 29 March.........................HOLIDAY
Friday 1st April
DRESS DOWN for Chocolate (Parent Council)
Easter Service – Rev. Iain Cunningham
School Closes at 2.30pm EASTER BREAK
th
Monday 18 April.........................................................School re-opens
9.00am
Friday 22nd April...........................................................CHOCOLATE TOMBOLA (Parent Council)
Friday 29th April ..........................................................Primary 2 Assembly
P7 – CHS Sports Transition
nd
Monday 2 May............................................................HOLIDAY
Colette Scott
Head Teacher