Tinto Times
November 2015
Inside this issue:
Head Teacher’s Report
1-3
Parent Council
Fundraisers
After School Club
4
Head Teacher’s Report
Breaking news! Congratulations to the P7 Rotary Quiz team for winning the Biggar Learning Community Rotary Quiz this week. The team were: Victoria Lyon, Sean Leslie, Scott Boyd
and Rory Hill. There were categories in Literacy & Language, Maths & Numeracy, Expressive
Arts, Social Subjects & RME, Science, Technology and Pot Luck. Tinto tied with Carnwath but
then won the tie break round. The team will now go onto represent the L.C at the South Lanarkshire round of the Rotary Quiz.
New Build: It was wonderful to hear that we are going to have a new build rather than a
refurbishment. Please do try to come along to the information event on the 3.12.15 in the main
hall at Tinto. The event will run from 3.00-6.30 p.m and members of the School Modernisation
Team will be on hand to explain the plans and answer any questions. There will also be a
slideshow of photos taken of Ridgepark so you will be able to see the lovely outdoor areas and
the spacious interiors. Members of the Parent Council will have visited Ridgepark on the 3.12.15
and will also be able to answer questions about the decant building.
Tintonians news: It's always lovely to hear of the achievements of Tinto pupils who are
now at Biggar High. The English Department entered a number of pupils into a writing competition which asked for scary versions of Grimm Fairy Tales. Successful entries from across Scotland were published in a book entitled “Grim Tales”. Congratulations to Julia Morris, Kaspar
Laughtland, Rachel Carrick, Lauren Thorburn and Matthew Gilbert.
Assemblies: Our Minister, George Shand, delivered two more assemblies this month. P4-7
assembly theme was linked to anti bullying week and the P1-3 pupils had an assembly linked to
National Hello week. Having the community link between the local church and school provides an
opportunity for the pupils to listen to other speakers at assembly.
Top Table: Well done to the following pupils who were nominated by support and catering
staff for their lovely manners. The children awarded Top Table sit at a table with a tablecloth and
set with cutlery and cups. Their meals are then served by Mrs Semple! Thanks to Toni and
Tamara for organising the lists with the staff. This months’ pupils were: Daniel Ronaldson, Olivia
Tweedie, Neve Miller, Connor Brown, Eve Storie, Ella Lamond, Erin Shanks, Joseph Robertson,
Molly Mitchell, Rory Hill, Ben Shannon and Hannah Thorburn.
Nursery Consultations: These took place during the week of 23rd November. Staff shared
the information entered on the electronic pupil profiles with parents and set next steps together.
Nursery newsletter: This is written by Mrs Miller (even when on maternity leave!) and is on
the website. Please do read it as it contains information and updates that are important for the
nursery children.
Nursery Parent Group: Representatives from the Parent Group met with Ms Stark and began the process of completing the Care Inspectorate Self Evaluation return. The role of the Parent Group in this exercise is very important and emphasises the partnership working that makes
our nursery such a good place for the children and their families. We are hoping to meet again
before the holidays to complete the return, so if you would like to join us please put your name on
the notice board. Thank you.
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Children in Need: Congratulations to the Making Rights Real Committee for organising a
fantastic Children in Need day. The committee advertised the event and organised various activities during the afternoon. Most of the pupils came dressed "half and half" and there were some
very interesting outfits! Thanks to the staff for supporting the event, especially Mrs McKillop who co
-ordinated the event and had the unenviable task of counting the coppers! The children raised the
fantastic amount of £294.35
Open Afternoon/ Christmas Crafts: As usual there was a splendid turnout for our open afternoon. It's always a lovely sight to see the school full of families being given a grand tour! The children also sold their Christmas crafts and the money raised will pay towards prizes for the Christmas parties and Christmas craft activities during December. Thank you to the Tinto Fund Raisers
for selling teas, coffees and home bakes during the afternoon.
Bag packing: Some of our P5 and P7 pupils will be bag packing in the Co-Op on Saturday
29.11.15. Money raised will go towards the cost of the residentials. If you can support them, that
would be appreciated. Thank you
Residentials: This Session we are offering residential experiences to P4, P5 and P7 pupils.
P6 pupils have not been offered this experience this session as a result of parental feedback last
year and because, now that we have only four classes, it is very challenging to staff the residentials
and teach the pupils who remain in school. We will be offering the P6 parents the opportunity to
begin saving for the P7 residential from January 2016 if they wish to do so. This would spread the
payments over 15 months, rather than 8.
Support Staff Day: Friday 27.11.15 is National Support Staff Day and each class made a
Thank You card for our support staff and presented them with a small gift. Mrs Gilbert, Mrs
McCammon, Mrs Boyd, Mrs Summerville and Mrs Stewart play a very important role in the care
and welfare of our pupils and provide support for the teaching staff too. Support staff are often taken for granted and it's important to thank them for their contribution to the life of the school.
Panto: This year we are trying a new approach to the panto by having a visiting theatre
group presenting a show to the school. Gus McKay has kindly let us use the football club hall for
the event and costs will be shared with Libberton Primary. All pupils will have a drink and a sweet
during the show. I am sure that the children will enjoy the experience (oh yes they will!)
Decant update: Libberton Primary will be vacating the decant on the 12.12.15 after 18
months of sharing our school site. We have enjoyed working with Libberton during this time and
wish them all the best in their lovely new school.
Upcoming events and dates for the diary:
P1-3 Nativity-this will take place on the afternoon of the 8th Dec and the morning of the 9th
Dec. Invites have been issued and tickets will be sent home with pupils shortly. We are also
hoping to raffle a hamper this year and contributions will be very much appreciated.
Christmas lunch - this will take place on the 10.12.15. Please make sure orders have been
returned to the school
Christmas Choir- the ASC Choir will be performing in the Gillespie Centre on the 5.12.15; in
the church on the 13.12.15 and in the Thankerton Inn on the 18.12.25. If you can support
these events, please feel welcome to come along.
Skipping Festival - P1/2 will be taking part in the Biggar L.C skipping festival on the 11.12.15
Parties - the class parties will take place on the following dates: P6/7 on 17.12.15 / P4/5/6 on
18.12.15 / P3/4 on 21.12.15 / nursery on 22.12.15 am and P1/2 p.m. Children can bring
their party clothes to school and change after lunch whilst the hall is cleaned. Staff will be
on hand to help with zips and buttons!
School closes 23.12.15 at 2.30 p.m. and reopens 5.1.15
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Parent Council News
It’s been very exciting month finding out the plans for the school redevelopment, they look excellent
and, yes, there are proper classrooms with walls and doors! The Parent Council had a chance to
look over the plans and ask questions at the last PC meeting when 2 members of the school modernisation team attended. The upcoming roadshow for all parents, carers and the local community
is on Thursday 3rd December from 3.00-6.30pm in the school. Everyone will get to see the proposed plans and ask any questions they may have to the school modernisation team. I am visiting
Ridgepark on Thursday afternoon along with Ms Stark and another member of the parent council
so we should be able to answer any questions you may have about the decant and there should be
some photos on display at the roadshow too.
In the run up to Christmas a little reminder to use the ‘easy fundraising’ website for any online
shopping that you may be doing. It is a fabulous way to raise money for the school without it costing you anything, click on the quicklink for the ‘PTA Webshop’ on the school website and follow the
steps to register.
The Parent Council is still looking for a new clerk; this position involves taking minutes at our six
meetings per year and carries a payment of £7.20 per hour. Meetings are usually no more than 2.5
hours long. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in this position.
The Google calendar on the website is regularly updated and is a valuable tool for parents to check
what’s happening in school.
Previous minutes are available to view on the school website and on the notice board at the school
entrance.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions that you wish to raise, please contact me on
[email protected].
The next meeting of the parent council is Tuesday 19th January 2016 at 7pm in the P6/7 classroom, everyone is welcome.
Kind regards,
Lisa Shanks.
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Tinto After School Club
We’ve had a really busy term and will continue with a few more activities in December before
we finish off for this term. I’ve started to prepare for next term and hope to have Netball,
Badminton, Sports Fundamentals, T-shirt design and even Curling all booked soon. Hopefully
there will be something for everybody. If you have any other ideas please get in touch. We’ll
start up again the second week of term but I’ll send out emails to everyone in advance so that
you don’t miss anything. If your child is not registered in the ASC yet simply drop me an email
and I’ll send you the form, membership can start at any time.
A few words from Gordon Dougall about the football club:
“This last few months have proved to be an exciting time for all our football players and now,
without doubt, we have the best primary school team in our area. Last term we took part in
the Lanark Tournament with both our teams reaching the quarter final stage. Then one of our
teams went on to win 2-0 in the final to lift the trophy. In June the team went on to win the
pupils v parents/teachers match 5-3 and on the 18th of Sept this term we retained our title
as champions after winning the Lanark tournament unbeaten in all our games. Of course, it is
not all about winning, it's about taking part and playing exciting football in good spirit with
excellent sportsmanship. Together we have developed a very positive, collective attitude and
are now undertaking training maneuvers that are actually designed for professional football
players. Well done to all the coaches, teachers, pupils!”
This is excellent news from Gordon and demonstrates that this and other ASC activities have
a positive influence on the pupils. Gordon is a great example of a parent with skills to share, it
would be great if more parents can get involved so please get in contact if you would like to
share a skill or simply do the juice and register at one of the sessions, the ASC Committee
will support you fully with your participation.
At our last Committee Meeting on 26 November 2015 the Committee agreed it would be too
difficult to continue with the ASC when the school is based in Lanark. We are disappointed
about this but the co-ordination of activities, helpers and pupil transport is going to be too
difficult. We have every intention of starting up again as soon as the pupils and teachers are
settled in the new building. All the more reason to get involved in the next 2 terms!
Have a wonderful Christmas holiday and I’ll be in touch in the New Year.
Best wishes
Alexa Minnie
ASC Coordinator
[email protected]
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Page 5
Tinto After School Club
Activity/Club
Members
Classes
Dates
Netball
19
P 4-7
Mondays 3-4pm
Football
14
P4-7
Tuesdays 3-4.15pm
Improvers 11
Beginners 8
P 4-7
Thursdays 3-4pm
Badminton
Sep: 7, 14, 21
Oct: 5, 19, 26
Nov: 9, 16, 23, 30
Sept: 8, 15, 22, 29
Oct: 6
Sept: 3, 1 0, 1 7- Improvers, 24 - Beginners
Oct: 1 - Improvers, 8 - Beginners
Street Dance
17
All Classes
Tuesdays 3-4pm
Sport Fundamentals
7
P1-3
Fridays
Christmas Choir
31
All Classes
Wednesdays
Christmas Decopatch
17
All Classes
Mon 7 Dec or Tues 8 Dec
Nov: 3, 10, 24
Dec: 1
Oct – 2, 9, 23, 30
Nov – 6, 13
Nov - 11, 18, 25
Dec - 2, 9