DECEMBER
2015
Issue No 94
Dear Parent/Carer,
The Halloween Party was fabulous fun on Friday 30 October. Below is a
list of the winners for best costumes:
P7
P6
P5
P4
P3
P2
P1
-
Abby Law
Logan Aikman
Louise McKenzie/Kate Wylie (joint)
Ava Milligan
Harry Manley
Amelia Peden
Shreya Manju
Overall Winner - Nikki Reid P6
On Wednesday 4 November Chris Anderson, Rebecca Conway, Rachael
Grant and Abby Law took part in the Inter School Rotary Quiz at St
Palladius Primary School where they were placed 4th but did a sterling job
as only 2 points separated 1st to 4th place.
On Friday 6 November, P7 took part in a Design & Technology Challenge
at Garnock Academy as part of their transition project getting familiar
with the layout of the Academy.
On Monday 9 November P5-7 netball children took part in a (friendly
with Dalry Primary). They then took part in the Netball Cluster
Tournament at Dalry Primary on Thursday 12 November and are
currently at the top of the league.
On Wednesday 11 November some P5-7 pupils took part in the North
Ayrhsire Indoor Athletics Competition at the Magnum.
There have been lots of exciting activities going on around the school
this term – already we have had the Young Musician of the Year, the
Day of Dance, our St Andrew’s Day celebrations and much practice for
the Nativity.
But let us begin by congratulating all the children who took part in the
Young Musician of the Year Competition that took place on Wednesday
18 November at Garnock Academy, they all did very well. The places
were as follows:
P5-6-7
P5-6-7
P5-6-7
P5-6-7
P5-6-7
Woodwind
Voice
Voice
Brass
Recorder
1st Abby Law
2nd Logan Aikman
3rd Nikki Reid
1st Chris Anderson
1st Isha Manju
Saxophone
Voice
Voice
Trombone
Recorder
The children were able to buy poppies from the Scottish Poppy Appeal
and
raised £22.60 towards the appeal.
Global Citizenship Week 17-20 November
This week focused on Fair Trade, Rights Respecting and anti-bullying.
On Tuesday 24 November Primary 1 pupils visited the Beith Library
where they each received a ‘Book Bug Bag’ containing 3 books
nominated for the Scottish Children’s Book Award.
The pupils celebrated St Andrew’s Day by sharing Scottish songs,
dancing and traditions. The children led the celebration by telling the
whole school all about Saint Andrew and shared their personal
research. Those placed in the the Young Musician of the Year
performed to entertain the children and share their talents. Abby
presented a Scottish Quiz with an Oor Wullie theme and Fleur showed
us her sword dancing skills. Mrs Logan read ‘Room on the Broom’ in
Scots. This was a most enjoyable afternoon for all concerned. The
children then enjoyed tasty Scottish snacks back in class.
The choir performed at the Gateside Yuletide Fair on Sunday 29
November in the village hall where they all sang beautifully, also at
Princes Square on 2 December raising funds for Hansel Village, 3
December Garnock Ac Concert, 4 December at Ayr Race Course for Cash
for Kids. Monday 7 December, Dalry Trinity Church for their OAP Club.
Tuesday 8 December fundraising for Hansel Village at the Rivergate
Centre, Irvine . 21 December at Thistleknowe Care Home. We would like
to thank all the parents for their support in transporting the children
to all the choir events and it was lovely to see so many of you
supporting the children at their concerts.
Can I take this opportunity to remind all families about travelling,
parking and turning safely around the school. We rely on the goodwill
of local residents in supporting the school and would ask that cars do
not turn in driveways (causing unnecessary damage) and be mindful of
their privacy.
Miss Dunlop
Beith Lights & Laughter poster competition winners are as follows:
P1-3 Category
3rd
2nd
1st
Jane Addies
Max Mackie
Aaron Blair
P4-7 Category
3rd
2nd
1st
E.Y. Class
2nd Lili Szincsak
1st Phoebe Richford
P3
P3
P2
Liam Muirhead P6
Logan Aikman P6
Ava Jo Milligan P4
Aaron Blair and Ava Jo Milligan were invited to the Beith Lights &
Laughter evening by Beith Community Council to turn on the Christmas
lights on Friday 4 December.
We have just been awarded our Silver Award from the Green Tree Schools run by the
Woodland Trust. We have also been selling keyrings and wristbands for Chloe’s
Chemo Cows Charity and raised £148.50. A special thanks to Rachel/ Louise
McKenzie and Kate Wylie who ran a baking stall and had a raffle at Gateside
Village Pub and raised £140.00 for our charity. We also raised £70 for the charity
for our ‘High Visibility Day’.
The Eco Committee will be making some bird feeders to put in the playground during
the winter months. We will also be planting more insect friendly plants in the
playground to encourage wildlife into the playground once the weather improves.
Angus Coull from Bala Sports came in to talk to the school to speak to the children
at Assembly on Wednesday 18 November about the Fairtrade Footballs his Company
makes and sells. We learned how the footballs were made in Pakistan and how the
workers benefit from working for a Fairtrade Company.
Emily, our i-cycle officer, came in to school on our ‘High Visibility Day’ and led an
Assembly raising awareness of wearing bright, reflective clothing to keep safe on the
dark mornings and evenings. She also had a discussion with P4-7 about being a
member of the ‘Bike Crew’. P4-7 elected the following pupils to represent them P4
Ava Jo Milligan, P5 Louise McKenzie, P6 Tommy Muirhead and P7 Abby Law. Emily
will be working alongside the ‘Bike Crew’ in the New Year. Prizes were presented to
the following for their effort in dressing in bright clothing: P1/2 Maddoch McMillan
P3/4/5 Ava Jo Milligan P5/6/7 Nikki Reid.
Primary 1-2
Jane Addies/April Muirhead/Maddoch McMillan/Antony
Jaconelli/Theo Barker
Primary 3-4-5
Aaron Blair/Rosie Lockett/Freya Bailey/ Max Mackie/Harry Manley
Primary 5-6-7
Manju
Cara Connelly/Rachael Grant/Kate Wylie/Rebecca Conway/Isha
Once again the Parent Council are supporting the school by providing the tea
after the Nativity and running the raffle. Please send donations of prizes or
home baking on the day. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Remember if you have any ideas to share for us to continue to support the
school – please let us know.
James Robson, Chairperson
All classes have been involved in creating posters to explain the Convention on the
Right of the Child Article Numbers. Article 12 be listened to and have our opinions
heard, Article 8 I have the right to a name, Article 31 I have the right to relax and
play Article 24 the right to have nutrious food Article 13 the right to share
information Article 28 the right to an education Article 29 the right to develop
talents fully. Once these are complete they will be displayed around the school. Mrs
Logan attended a Rights Respecting course and will be applying for the Level 1 Award
very soon. She also got a lot of great ideas to help us start our Level 2 Award.
We want to extend a special thank you to Mrs Bailey, Mrs Manley, Mrs Addies and
Mrs Simmonds for running the Christmas Decoration Club. Mrs Addies and Mrs
Bailey did a great job at the Gateside Yuletide Fair selling the decorations. We will
hope to have the remaining items on sale at the Christmas Nativity.
The Netball Teams would like to thank Mrs Wylie for helping take the Netball Club
and look forward to her continued support in the New Year. If anyone would like to
run or help with any after school club please do not hesitate to contact the school
your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
MONDAY 7 DECEMBER
School choir performing at Dalry Trinity Church, Monday at 2 Club.
TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER
School choir will be performing at the Rivergate Centre, Irvine, from 11.30am to
12.30pmhelp raise funds for Hansel Village. (come and support us at the
escalators!) Packed lunches required on this day.
TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER
Garnock Academy have invited the whole school to a performance of their panto
‘Mother Goose’. Packed lunches required on this day.
WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER
The School Nativity ‘Christmas with the Aliens ‘will take place in the village hall at
9.30am. Tea and coffee will be served by the Parent Council at the end. The Parent
Council will be selling the Christmas Gifts the children have been making. We
would be obliged if you could assist the Parent Council by kindly donating a raffle
prize or supplying some home baking please. We look forward to seeing everyone
and we are sure this will be most entertaining.
THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER
The whole school will travel to the Paisley Arts Centre for a performance of
‘Sleeping Beauty.’ The cost will be £10. If you have not yet paid for the pantomime
please do so as soon as possible. We would like to thank The Parent Council for
paying for half the price of the bus keeping the cost down.
THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER
Christmas lunch. Any children who haven’t ordered a Christmas lunch should bring
a packed lunch with them on the day.
The P4-P7 Christmas Party in the hall at 1.15pm.
Children can either go home at lunchtime or bring in their party clothes and get
changed after lunch. Please let us know if your child is going home on this day.
MONDAY 21DECEMBER
Early Years pupils Christmas party in the morning. Santa will visit at 10.45am
and parents are cordially invited to see their child with Santa.
MONDAY 21DECEMBER
The P1 - P3 Christmas Party in the hall at 1.15pm. Santa will visit at 2.30pm and
parents are cordially invited to see their child with Santa.
Arrangement for party clothes:
 Pupils can be collected at 12.15pm to go home for lunch and be changed.
 Parents can come in at 1.00pm to help change their child into
their party clothes.

Send your child in with their party clothes in a bag.
TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER
The P4-P7 Christmas Party in the hall at 1.15pm.
Children can either go home at lunchtime or bring in their party clothes and get
changed after lunch. Please let us know if your child is going home on this day.
HOLIDAYS
SCHOOL CLOSES AT 2.30PM ON THURSDAY 23 DECEMBER
RE-OPENS AGAIN AT 9AM ON THURSDAY 7 JANUARY 2016
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at
Gateside Primary!
Remember to use www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ when doing your online Christmas Shopping.