BANCHORY PRIMARY

SCHOOL BULLETIN

FEBRUARY 2014

Dear Parents/Carers

FAMILIES

We welcome Peter Richardson (P7S) who returns to Banchory primary School from the USA.Cara Agyei-Gyan has started in the Nursery. We hope theyare both settling in well.

We say “Good bye” to Jamie Holroyde, Olivia, Grace and Eva Watt who are moving to their new school after the February break and we wish them well.

STAFFING

As this is my final Bulletin, I would like to thank those parents, pupils and members of staff, past and present who have supported me throughout the 16years that I have been a part of BanchoryPrimary School. In my roles as Assistant Head Teacher (Early Stages1994-2001) and Head Teacher (2005-14) I have experienced the rewards and faced the challenges that leading learning and teaching in a large organisation brings. It is now time to move on and working as a Development Officer for Assessment and Moderation across Aberdeenshire is an exciting opportunity.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my pupils, staff and my successor well for the future. I have always maintained that our best asset at BanchoryPrimary School is our pupils and wish them all the very best in which ever direction life takes them.

PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS

Scots Verse Competition

Our external judges Mrs Rowena Brand and Mr Ian Hendry commended all finalists for their hard work in preparing for the competition. They were impressed with the continuing very high standards of performance. The winners from each class are as follows:

P1/2 / Rory Trythall / P1D / Molly O’Flynn
P1S / Sophia Thomas / P2D / Kirsty Middleton
P2/3 / Kirsty Duncan / P3D / Charlie Thomas
P3S / Megan Holtom / P4D / Grace Watt
P4S / Orla Murray / P5D / Peter Hale
P5S / Patrick Duncan / P5/6 / Neil Pritchett
P6D / Anna Fletcher / P6S / Rafal Wilowski
P7D / Kyle Scott / P7K / Ben Singer
P7S / Jarvis Bull

The winners performed for their parents at a coffee morning on Friday 24th January

PARENT INFORMATION

Box Top Book Vouchers

So far we have only collected 70. Keep eating your Nestle cereals and sending in the Box tops vouchers to the school office.

Book Fair – Travelling Book Company 26-27 February

The Book Fair will be in school over these two days and pupils will be able to select books from the extensive range. Further information will be sent home with the children. Mrs Tracey Lumsden, a member of our PTA Committee will be contacting the Class Parent representatives to seek help for this event.

Reading Bus 3-5th March

The Reading Bus is coming to enhance our Literacy curriculum and also links to our School Improvement Plan for Reading.Every class in the school will have the opportunity to visit and we thank the PTA for supporting the cost of this exciting resource to enhance our pupils learning.

For more information please have a look at the following links, they are worth a visit.

and

World Book Day – Thursday 6th March 2014

This year each class will chose a book to share together during the week. The pupils will choose how to celebrate creative/personal/functional writing – watch out for further information after we return from our half-term holiday.

Sport Relief

Sport Relief wristbands will be on sale for £1 at playtime in the P3/4 area on Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th and Friday 21st March. While stocks last! Only 1 band per pupil initially

Homework Guidance

Next week you will receive via Parent mail our new guidelines for Homework from Nursery to P7.

This has been developed in consultation with parents, staff and pupil representation. Your feedback is welcome.

PTA

PTA update

Many thanks to those of you that attended our fun packed family ceilidh night, we managed to raise £250.

Dates for your diary

  • Our next family film night is Puss in Boots, screening onFriday 7th February in the School Hall - doors open at 6pm with the film starting at 6.30pm. Donations on the door and the tuck shop will open at 6pm.
  • Our next PTA meeting will be on Friday 7thFebruary 2014, 9am – Banchory Primary School Canteen, all welcome as we need to start thinking about the 2014 Summer Extravaganza.

The most recent meeting of the Parent Council was held on Monday 27th January, minutes will be made available shortly on the website; on the noticeboard (near the Janitors office). In the meantime the PC is organising the skiing and running club events that are commencing this term and will join the PTA and teaching staff for an informal coffee on Friday 31st January. Should you have any queries please contact us;

SCHOOL POLICY REMINDERS

Staff Car Park – New Signs

Please note that there are new signs indicating the car park is for staff cars and contract school transport only.

There is no “drop & run” zone. If bringing your child by car please park away from the school and encourage your child/ren to walk to the designated “lollipop” crossings. Parking away from the school also includes not parking in School Lane which runs down the side of our playground to the Academy, as we have been warned that this causes a safety risk for emergency access. Please do not park on the zig-zags or yellow lines or across residents’ driveways or garages.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Banchory Boys Club Fundraising disco for all primary school age children on Friday 28th February2014 in the Banchory Scout Hut. P1 - P3 disco from 6.00pm until 7.15pm and P4 - P7 from 7.30pm until 9pm. Entry £4.00 to be paid at the door on the night. Tuck Shop available. Any queries contact Wendy Milne on 01330 850506 or Yvonne Thomson on 01330 825434.

In-Service Days – Tuesday 18thFebruary and Wednesday 19thFebruary 2014

During our In-Service days, staff will be working on the Curriculum for Excellence – Writing on Tuesday 18th February and onAssessment on Wednesday 19thFebruary.

School will be closed for half term from Thursday 13thFebruary – Wednesday 19thFebruary inclusive and will re-open at the normal time of 9am on Thursday 20thFebruary.

Reminder of Special Assemblies

Friday 7thFebruary at 9.10amP7S

Friday 28th Februaryat 9.10amP7K

Friday 14thMarch at 9.10amP6S

Friday 21 March at 9.10amP7D

Friday 4th April at 10amEaster Service in school

Joyning the Learning Open afternoon

Friday 21st Marchat 2pmP1- P7

Yours faithfully

Rosée Elliott

Head Teacher

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Banchory Primary Comments Slip February 2014The February Bulletin is also available on the school blog website:

Please use this slip to make any comments that you would like to share on the contents of our Bulletin. We value and consider your feedback, but we regret that individual acknowledgement is not normally possible.

Signed: ………………………………….. Children……………………………………..………….

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