NEWSLETTER March 2013
Dear Parent/Guardian
First Reconciliation
Congratulations to the children of Primary 3 who, last week, made their First Reconciliation. It was a beautiful service, many thanks to you for your support, the children, Mrs Carr and the Primary 3 teachers for all their hard work.
The Primary 3 children including those who did not participate in the sacrament will have a party to celebrate the occasion.
On Friday 22 March the children of Primary 3 can come to school out of uniform for a class party.
The children of Primaries 4-7 will have the opportunity of Reconciliation (Confession) on Monday & Tuesday of Holy Week.
Can I remind you that Mass continues during Lent at 8.15 until 8.35, after which the children have their breakfast at the Breakfast Club. I would ask you to encourage your child to attend Mass in the morning during the remaining days of Lent.
Lenten Campaign
As you are aware we are not raising funds for Lent this year but “Giving Back”. On the last day of term, Thursday 28 March, the children have invited almost 100 elderly people of the community into the school for a ‘Daffodil Tea’ and a short concert. As they leave they will be given a jute bag with our Lenten logo ‘St. Benedict’s Gives Back’ filled with small gifts donated by you. We are extremely grateful to the many of you who have donated and would ask those of you who have not contributed to please make an extra special effort over this week as we have 100 bags to fill! We are looking for books, DVDs, CDs, gifts, scarves, gloves and household items, any items will be gratefully received.
Literacy Weeks
This week and next the children and staff of the school will participate in “Literacy Week” with a theme of ‘Our Glasgow’. The children will study some Glasgow/
Scottish Literature including Novels, Poetry and Songs. They will also study some aspects of Glasgow dialect in Literature and conversation. This will link in with the concert for the senior citizens on the last day when the children will sing Glasgow & Scottish songs. The children will also have a showcase of their work at the Daffodil Tea and then for you in the afternoon. You are invited along to the school at 1.30 to see the work of your child.
Dismissal on Thursday 28 is at 2.30pm. I would ask that after you have enjoyed the showcase you take your child/children home.
As part of celebrating “The Dear Green Place” (Glasgow) the children are asked to wear something green this Friday (no Celtic garments) and contribute £1 towards the Lenten campaign which will help towards getting gifts for the elderly. We will also have several important visitors reading to the children over this period; last week we had Joyce Falconer from RiverCity and next week Margaret Curran (MP) and Graham Patterson (CityBuilding) will visit to read to the Primary 5-7 children.
All classes will also do ‘Peered Reading’ during the ‘Literacy Weeks’. For the first 15 minutes each morning the children will work with their peers on reading and record their successes. Research has shown this to be a very successful way of improving reading standards in children. Again, this is something you could support at home. You will be able to download the booklet and record sheet from our website
Thank you to the staff Literacy Group for organising events.
Curriculum for Excellence
As you know the children of Primaries 3-7 keep a Learning Log of what they have learned in school, they also have their PLPs. We recently introduced an evaluation sheet where the children evaluate their learning after they have been on an educational or social excursion. In this they identify something they have learned and keep this with their Learning Log as evidence of their Learning in school. But we are keen to also celebrate the children’s wider achievements, a crucial part of Curriculum for Excellence. To this end the PSAs have designed a ‘Wall of Fame’.
On this wall the children’s achievements outside of school will be noted. If your child has achieved a medal for a sporting event, dancing or a good deed we are keen to know about it and their name will be added to the wall. We will verify with you that the achievement is the child’s by sending a letter home to you to be signed. This will be a celebration and acknowledgement of their work outwith school.
Budget
As you may be aware from Press coverage Education Services has to make substantial savings and this will have an impact next year. Aspects of the school budget have been cut and the staffing formula has been amended which will also have an impact on staffing. One of the changes is the cost of the Breakfast Club; this will increase from 50p to £1 a day on Monday 15 April. The children who get free meals will continue to get their breakfast free. If you feel you may be entitled to free meals or clothing grants I would ask you to complete the forms and send them to Glasgow City Council. The Free Meal Entitlement in schools is very important it can change the staffing allocation, so it is important that all those who are entitled to free meals make a claim. Forms are available from the school office.
EasterSchool Meal
On the last day of term there will be an Easter themed lunch to link in with the ‘Daffodil Tea’. The children will select their favourite meals for lunch.
Congratulations
Many congratulations to the
‘Students of the Month’
January
Gold
Kai Copland (P1a)
Ciara Dawson (P1b)
Jay Lister (P2a)
Natalia Piwowarczyk (P2b)
Amylee Foy (P3/2)
Michael Timoney (P3)
Sara Walker (P4)
Allan Campbell (P5/4)
Noah Jackson (P5)
Alfie Hughes (P6)
Faith Sindick (P7/6)
Maela Faleu (P7)
Silver
Deacon Wilmott (P1a)
Keatin McCarthy (P1b)
Neve Warnock (P2a)
Suzi Eadie (P2b)
Alexander Currie (P3/2)
Ahron Halpin (P3)
Mianda Casey (P4)
Lisa Avery (P5/4)
Caitlyn McLeod (P5)
Dylan McNamee (P6)
Chloe Burnett (P7/6)
Shelby Lappin (P7)
Bronze
Lucy May Smith (P1a)
Farrah McIvor (P1b)
Lewis Hastings (P2a)
Joshua McGuigan (P2b)
Amber Duncan (P3/2)
Hollie Hendry (P3/2)
Erin Fleming (P3)
Aaron Wright (P4)
Cameron Currie (P5/4)
Meegin Horner (P5)
Paige Kelly (P6)
Naddy Adedamola (P7/6)
Kyle Simeon (P7)
February
Gold
Sean Hughes (P1a)
Caleigh Boyle (P1b)
Shaun McAllister (P2a)
Suzi Eadie (P2b)
Alexander Currie (P3/2)
Liam Foyer (P3)
Colin McLaren (P4)
Lauren Flynn (P5/4)
Rhys Sweeney (P5)
Paul Baker (P6)
Naddy Adedamola (P7/6)
Wiktoria Kulczynska (P7)
Silver
Erin Duffy (P1a)
Abby Gillan (P1b)
Shaun Phinn (P2a)
Mya McCready (P2b)
Amylee Foy (P3/2)
Scott McKernan (P3)
Chloe Fitzpatrick (P4)
Zuzanna Sobula (P5/4)
Wiktoria Jasinska (P5)
Morgan Murray (P6)
Erin Patterson (P7/6)
Jack Agnew (P7)
Bronze
Jakub Czajkowski (P1a)
Monica Gordon (P1b)
Robbie McArthur (P2a)
Mia Collins (P2b)
Kimberly Anderson (P3/2)
Michael Timoney (P3)
Daniel Aje (P4)
Jenna Scott (P5/4)
PJ Avery (P5)
Jack McCann (P6)
Ross Slaven (P7/6)
Niamh Diamond (P7)
Dates for the diary
Wednesday 20 March
8.15 Mass
Primaries 4 & 5/4 to Science Centre
Thursday 21 March
8.15 Mass
Primary 5 & 6 to the Fort for National Literacy Trust Visit
Captain & Vice Captain to the Fort for visit to Asda Living
Friday 22 March
8.15 Prayer Service
Primaries 7 & &/6 to Science Centre
Monday 25 March
8.15 Mass
Reconciliation (Confession) for Primaries 6 & 7
Forest Ranger to visit Primary 7
Tuesday 26 March
8.15 Mass
Reconciliation for P4 & 5
Wednesday 27 March
8.15 Mass
Children involved in the Celtic Partnership Music Programme to St. Andrew’s (all day)
Graham Paterson to visit
Concert in St. Andrew’s (7.30pm) involving above musicians
Thursday 28 March
No Mass
‘St. Benedict’s Gives Back’
Senior Citizens to visit St. Benedict’s for Daffodil Tea & Concert
Margaret Curran to visit
1.30 Literacy Showcase for parents
Thank You
I would like to thank you for your continued support this term and your positive feedback on the school. I would also like to extend a thank you to the children for their hard work. It is clear from the ‘Learning Conversations’ Mrs Carr, Mr Byatt and I have with the children that they feel they are making progress in their learning, are motivated, challenged and supported when appropriate. I would also like to thank the staff for their work in supporting your children. We are very fortunate in St. Benedict’s to have a very hard working staff who support your children most generously with their efforts and time
Easter
May I wish you a very happy & holy Spring break and remind you dismissal on
Thursday is2.30pm.
Details of services over the Easter weekend in St. Benedict’s & St. Clare’s are on the parish websites, the link to these websites is available on St. Benedict’s school website.