Merrylee Primary School
Handbook
2013
Contents
1. Front cover
2. Contents
3. Welcome by Head Teacher
4. School information
5. Current school staff
6. School’s shared values
7. School ethos Celebrating attainment & achievement
8. Children’s rights Behaviour Glasgow Educational Partnership Award
9. Why send your child to Merrylee?
10. Enrolling your child in school Placing request
11. Our community’s view of Merrylee Primary School
12. Continued
13. Attendance at school Attendance Policy Communication
14. Reporting to parents Learning logs
15. Assessment Pupil profiles/passports Home Learning
16. Parents and Home Learning Home & School Partnership
17. Parental support Merrylee and the community
18. Merrylee Parent Forum and Parent Council
19. continued
20. Merrylee Parents’ Association
21. Saturday morning football club Pupil voice Pupil Council
22. Comments and Complaints
23. A Curriculum for Excellence
24. Enterprising Education
25. Numeracy and mathematics
26. Literacy and English French
27. Health and well being School meals
28. HWB continued Physical education activity and dance
29. Expressive arts Social studies
30. Science Technologies
31. Outdoor learning Continuous school improvement
32. Additional Support Needs
33. Continued
34. Continued Extracurricular activities
35. Playground Supervision Spiritual, social, moral and cultural values
36. Clothing and Uniform
37. Medical and Health Care Information Information in Emergencies
38. Transport
39. Child Protection Data protection Act 1998
40. Dealing with racial harassment Bullying
41. Holiday list for session 2013-2013
Welcome To Merrylee Primary School
Dear Parent/ Carer
On behalf of all staff, pupils and parents, may I extend a warm welcome to Merrylee Primary and to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share our learning journey with you. We believe that in Merrylee we have created a caring and concerned community for our children, parents and staff. One in which we all thrive, work hard together and have fun! This is a learning environment we have respect for each other and in which we encourage each other to be the best we can be in all we do.
We offer an educational experience which aims to address each child as an individual with special gifts and needs. We aim to educate the whole child and to nurture children who are confident in their own abilities, successful learners, take a pride and responsibility for their own community and beyond and children who are able to make an effective contribution to society. We set high standards for each individual in both academic & aesthetic attainment and achievement whilst concentrating on developing children who have a love of learning which will stay with them for life.
To achieve these aims and to deliver the most effective education for our pupils, we believe that it is essential to build a strong home - school partnership where we all work together to achieve this common goal. Such a partnership is a strength of our school. In our last local authority quality assurance visit we were rated ‘excellent’ for our partnership working. There are many ways in which you can contribute to the life of the school or participate in the many activities and events which take place throughout the session. I look forward to sharing these with you.
We feel privileged to be working within our fabulous new building which is of exceptional design and has all the features necessary for a 21st century education. Our classrooms are large, bright and airy; we have a fabulous media suite furnished with the latest technology; our gym hall is fabulous; we have a main hall with a stage and wonderful outside play areas. Merrylee is the only school in the United Kingdom with a natural play site within its grounds; we have a wind turbine which provides 12% of the school’s electricity and a full size football pitch with 3rd generation turf which is the envy of many.
Merrylee is now your school. Please do not hesitate to share any concerns or suggestions at any time. Please feel free to contact us by telephone, letter or e-mail. You will find that all of us are most willing to share time to ensure the best service for all.
I look forward to the future when, together, we can help our pupils develop into young adults with a high level of attainment and self belief ready to transfer into secondary school with happy memories of Merrylee Primary School.
Mrs Liz Mahindru
Head Teacher
School Information
Address Merrylee Primary School
50 Friarton Road
Glasgow G43 2PR
Telephone number 0141 637 6798
FAX number 0141 633 3497
e-mail contact
School website www.merrylee-pri.glasgow.sch.uk
Parent Council website www.merryleeprimarypc.org
Glasgow City Council Education website
www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/yourcouncil/servicedepartments/educationservices/
Glasgow City Council ‘Going to School’ website www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/resident/goingtoschool
Stages covered Primary 1 to primary 7.
We share the campus with Lime Tree Nursery which caters
For children from 0-5 years of age. We enjoy strong relations and excellent working practices.
Status Non denominational Co-educational
Current role 377 pupils Capacity of the school 390 pupils
Current classification
P1a / P1b / P2/1 / P2a / P2b / P3/2 / P3a / P3b / P4a / P4b / P5 / P6/5 / P6 / P724 / 24 / 22 / 30 / 30 / 25 / 27 / 25 / 31 / 27 / 28 / 25 / 29 / 30
Learning Community Hillpark
We have strong links with all pre 5, primary and the high school within our learning community. We share expertise for the benefit of all pupils within our area.
Breakfast club Operates each morning in the school hall from 8am until 8.40am The cost of this is 50p per day or free if your child is entitled to free school meals
After school care The Merrylee After School Care Club runs each day in the school hall from 3-6pm. It is a service offered only to Merrylee pupils, is non profit making and is managed by a committee of parents.
School lets The school is widely let both in the evening and at weekends to various community groups
School opening hours 9-3pm daily. Interval 10.30-10.45am Lunch 12.15-1pm
(P1 pupils from 9am-12.15pm until 1st full week of September)
Our current school staff
The school is very fortunate to have a team of dedicated and enthusiastic staff who work together for the benefit of all. Like the children each is a valued individual who believe in promoting the positive team spirit which makes this school special.
Head Teacher Mrs Liz Mahindru
Formal Depute Head Teacher Mrs Caroline Deans
Remit General management/ P4-7/meeting pupil needs/ literacy
Depute Head Teacher Mrs Colette Haddock
Remit General management /P1-3, Health & wellbeing, Technologies
Principal Teacher Mrs Irene Sutherland P7
Remit Mathematics/ new staff support
Teachers Mrs Lynne Crichton P1a Miss Amanda Brown P1b
Mrs Anne Fishwick P2/1
Mrs Helen Pattie P2a
Miss Fiona Shearer P2b
Mrs Janet Stephen & P3/2
Mrs Myra Young
Miss Deborah Clark P3a
Mrs Hilary Thomson P3b
Mrs Julie Allinson P4a
Miss Jill Prentice P4b
Miss Debra Reid P5
Mrs Caroline Campbell P6/5
Mrs Lisa Beattie P6
Mrs Stephanie McKillop French/ McCrone
Mrs Sharon Lupton Support for EAL
Office Manager Mrs Fiona Provan
Clerical Officer Mrs Carine Murray
Pupil Support Assistant Mrs Lynne Cunningham Mrs Anne Daniels
Mrs Helen Downie Mrs Maureen Kidd
Mrs Shona Macrae Mrs Palmela McGrory
Mrs June Thompson Mrs Margaret Knox
Facility Officer Mr Tommy Miller
Facility Officer Mr Alex Hosie
Catering Manager Vacancy
Dining hall attendant Mrs Aileen Carbery
Crossing patrollers Mr Stuart McNicoll (Friarton Road)
Mr Alex Mc Gonnigal
School Chaplains Rev David Hood Merrylea Parish Church Rev Wilma Pearson Cathcart Trinity Church
At Merrylee
Together we are here to LEARN
At Merrylee
We care
About our HEALTH and the WELL BEING and HAPPINESS of everyone around us
At Merrylee
We RESPECT
Ourselves and everyone in our community and in the world we share with our neighbours
At Merrylee
We have FUN
We learn and tumble on the pitch and jungle. We laugh and play as the turbine spins all day.
We AIM HIGH
And rise to the challenge to reach for the top and to be the best we can be.
Our shared values have been devised by representatives of our whole community.
School ethos
Our Aims
1. We aim to create the climate and offer a range of experiences to encourage each of our pupils and staff members to be successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
2. We endeavour to provide a broad, balanced cohesive and progressive curriculum which is flexible and dynamic and responsive to the needs of all of our pupils.
3. We aspire to assimilate local and national advice and guidance on teaching for effective learning strategies to engage our pupils in their own learning, overcome barriers to learning and raise achievement and attainment.
4. We aim to build and nurture strong home-school partnership and partnership with the wider school community where we all work together to achieve a common goal. Success for all of our pupils in realising their potential.
We design to provide staff with opportunities for personal and professional development, ensuring their training needs are met through self evaluation and progressive staff development
The principles and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence have influenced our crystallisation of our vision, values and aims. As a school community we wished to embody challenge and enjoyment, breadth, progression, personalisation and choice in our curriculum design to promote successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. A working group with representation from all stakeholder groups established our vision, values & aims which still hold dear to the heart of our stakeholders. This has been confirmed following consultation with the Pupils and Parent Council, staff groups and partners. Pupils illustrated our statement which is proudly displayed on posters, tee-shirts and bags. This statement is reinforced during weekly assemblies and teachers establish class rules and mottos based on them.
Our vision, values and aims were acclaimed by HMIe who commented on the learners’ achievements and attainment being excellent. Our partnership with parents ’exceptional’. Therefore we continue with and build on our vision, values & aims as they stand
Celebrating attainment and achievement
We value the achievements of all in our community and record the highlights in the school newsletters. Merrylee Marvel certificates are issued during our weekly assemblies in recognition of attainment and achievement. Children and families are encouraged to record highlights in the learning logs as a lasting record of their learning journey throughout the year.
At the final assembly of the year we recognised the outstanding citizenship award of a boy and girl in P7 in recognition of the contribution they have made to the life of the school. This is a highly valued award with all staff and senior pupils involved in the choice of recipients.
Last session’s awards were received by
Andy Moses and Jodie Brechin
Children’s Rights www.glasgow.gov.uk/childrensrights
This like will take you to the leaflet which outlines the rights of our children which we hold dear. We have very high expectations of ourselves and of every child in Merrylee Primary School.
Expectations of behaviour
We have the highest expectations of all our children and staff. We operate on the basis of mutual trust and respect. This has always been very successful for us. We promote that we must treat others the way we wish to be treated ourselves. This results in a calm but vibrant climate. We rarely have issues which escalate in to challenging behaviours. This is credited to the time taken by all to be involved in each others’ lives, likes and aspirations. We value each other and therefore strive to ensure that we are a very effective team which pulls in the same direction for the benefit of all. If children do make wrong choices we involve them in the discussion and how they can correct and make amends. We encourage a climate of openness and respect at all times.
We are proud that visitors regularly comment on the instant warm welcome, positive and exciting feeling they receive when visiting our school.
A visit for the High Commissioner of Namibia.
His Excellency said, “The warmth of the welcome was overwhelming. The children and staff were so friendly and kind. I was humbled but how much they had all learned about my country. Thank you so much.”
“I want to send my daughter to this school. I just felt it was right the minute I walked through the door.” Recent new parent
Glasgow Educational Partnership Award 2012
The award
Glasgow is clear about its expectations that the quality of the services delivered by its employees to all stakeholders is exemplary. This award is designed to recognise, share and celebrate the good practice schools provide for all stakeholders including children. The assessors looked for examples of activities and innovative ideas that make our school special. They interviewed groups of stakeholders and were overwhelmed by the collegiality and sense of belonging amongst all.
We are very proud to be amongst the few to be first to receive this award.
Parents, partners and staff receiving the award at the City Chambers
Why send your child to Merrylee?
We are of course very biased but when asked this question parents are always directed to the wider community. We suggest that they go and ask people in the community; other parents, neighbours, shopkeepers, local activists etc. We are confident that they will hear very positive stories and opinions about Merrylee Primary School. We work and learn within an amazing modern building which is well fit for purpose for a 21st century education. However the building contributes to but is not solely responsible for our success.
This is a very active school community. Despite a recent excellent HMIe report (information on Education Scotland website, Glasgow Education Department website, Merrylee primary School website) we are always seeking ways to continually improve and to offer our children the best possible learning experience. We have a committed and dedicated team of staff who work tirelessly over long hours to ensure that the needs of all our children are met. The staff are superbly supported and encouraged by hardworking, caring and interested parents, carers and friends. We have the privilege of working with outstanding children who clearly love being in school. They are respectful, well behaved and conscientious.