Kippen Primary School
Newsletter
April 2016
Dear Parent/Carer,
Welcome back to school for what is always a busy Summer Term. We hope that you all had a restful Easter Holiday. We will be keeping our fingers crossed for a drier period of weather ahead. If the weather does become sunnier, please remember to apply or supply your child with suncream and a hat. Please note that staff are not permitted to supply or apply suncream to pupils.
Open Afternoon and Daffodil Tea
Thank you to all our visitors who came to share in the work of the pupils on our Open Afternoon and Daffodil Tea on 30th March. Visitors left such positive comments in classes and the pupils and staff enjoyed showcasing our work. Many thanks to all the bakers and donators who provided delicious cakes, biscuits and daffodils. Pupils also got the chance to go round the school on Friday 1st April to share in the work of other classes.
Maths Parent Information Workshops
As part of developing and sharing the development work that staff are undertaking in numeracy, we will be running parent information sessions at 6pm and 6:45pm on Wednesday 4th May. The sessions will be split in to Early/First Level and First/Second level and each session will be run twice, enabling parents to attend both sessions if they wish. Sign up slips will be issued nearer the time. Active Stirling will run a pupil activity session in the hall for Primary pupils to attend if you wish.
Bearnardo’s Teddy Sale
A group of enterprising P5s have organised a Teddy Bear Sale and Raffle on Friday 22nd April to raise money for Barnardo’s. They’ve already had a lot of teddies donated but would still like some more. You can donate a teddy up till Thursday 21st April – bring your donation to P5/6 along with the Teddy Tag that was given out with the note. If you need more Teddy Tags you can ask P5/6 for some.
All pupils will attend the sale in the School Hall during Golden Time on Friday and can buy a teddy (prices from 50p to £3) and buy a raffle ticket to win one of the Special Teddies (50p a ticket). The Special Teddy draw will be made on Tuesday 26th April at an Assembly. Younger siblings are welcome to attend the sale with parents/carers from 2:30-3pm.
We all learned about the work of Dr Barnardo thanks to an assembly by Mrs Hadley-Stove. She told us lots of interesting facts about Dr Barnardo and we asked lots of questions. As one of the leading children’s charities, Barnardo’s works directly with over 200,000 children, young people and their families every year.
Well done to Beth, Cailtin D, Freya, Zara, Christy and Evie in P5 for their work so far in organising this event to support other children and their families.
Skills Golden Time
Our 3 weeks of Skills Golden Time was a great success. All pupils signed up to participate in the same activity for the period of 3 weeks, with a great range of activities on offer thanks to the volunteers and school staff. Thank you for all of the offers to share a skill – this enabled us to run a wide variety of clubs and have small numbers within each club.
Science
After a successful Science Focus week last year, we have listened to feedback and are having a less intense Science focus week this week, with Science covering parts of each day. Please ask your child about the Science work that they are doing in class.
Sainsburys Active Kids
Don’t forget that we are collecting Active Kids Vouchers again this year. There is a box by the pupil entrance which pupils can put vouchers in or vouchers can be handed in to the office.
Sports Round Up
Moveathon
As well as the moveathon at the sports field for Sports Relief, classes have been out and about in the playground on a regular basis, with very positive feedback from pupils and staff.
We have made it to Lands’ End and have started our way back to John O Groats. We will keep you up to date with our progress and new challenges which we may set.
Skiing
After an enjoyable day at the dry ski slope, P6 and P7 had a day’s skiing at Glencoe on Tuesday 8th March. Although it was rather windy at the start of the day, all skiers had a great experience and progressed their skills. Thank you to Mrs Robb, Mr Brownlie and Mrs Leask who accompanied myself and the pupils. I think a few people have caught the skiing bug!
Cross Country
A group of P6s and P7s participated in the Stirling Schools 1 mile Cross Country at Queen Victoria School, which finally went ahead after being postponed twice due to the weather. All pupils challenged themselves and completed the course. We had several top 20 finishes with Charlotte Schmautz achieving 7th in the P7 girls race, Gregor Goodwin achieving 13th in the P6 boys race and Thomas Reilly winning the P6 boys race. All 3 of these athletes are competing in the SSAA Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Kirkcaldy High on 23rd April. We wish them all the best for their races. Thank you to Miss Alexander and Mrs Simpson for accompanying and supporting the athletes.
Lacrosse
We had 2 teams representing Kippen at the Scottish Central region Pop Lacrosse Championships at Balfron High School. Both teams put in superb performances thanks to the assistance and coaching from Mrs Reilly, Mrs Stone, Miss Alexander, Mrs Middlemass and Miss Mackie.
The Under 11s Team came runners up in their competition, with Thomas Reilly being awarded the most valuable player award for the Under 11 category. The Open Team came in 3rd place after winning the bronze playoff. Well done to all our players.
Rugby Festival
After a series of taster sessions, P3 attended a Rugby Festival at Strathendrick Rugby Club accompanied by Mrs Mier and Mrs Cattigan.
Club Golf Festival
Following Club Golf sessions with a golf professional, P5 attended the Club Golf Festival at Buchanan Castle Golf Club, accompanied by Mrs Stone and Mrs Shuttleworth.
After School Football Matches
On 29th March we hosted 2 matches at Kippen Sports Field. The girl’s team played against Aberfoyle Primary and the boy’s team played against Fintry Primary, with a draw for the girls and a win for the boys. Thank you to Active Stirling for supporting this event and thank you to our players and spectators for braving the weather. The rain stopped just as play stopped! Thank you also to Mr Goodwin for supporting football training sessions and preparing the pitches and goals.
Once again I’d like to thank our parents and families for the support given to the school. We benefit from a wide range of assistance, from helping with school trips, after school clubs, skills clubs, sports training, the library, special events, classroom visits, DIY jobs, baking, resources and lots of other things.
Kind regards
Carole Logan
Head Teacher
Diary Dates April – June 2016
Monday 18th April / School reopens for the Summer Term at 9amScience focus sessions throughout the week
Thursday 21st April / P6 Sports Leaders Training 11-12 weekly till 16th June (not 19th May)
Friday 22nd April / Bearnardo’s Teddy Bear Sale and Raffle at Golden Time
Younger sibling welcome to attend with parent/carer 2:30-3pm
Wednesday 27th April &
Thursday 28th April / P5 swimming lessons at Balfron High School 11-11:45am
Lessons weekly thereafter on Wed and Thurs till the end of term
Thursday 28th April / Parent Council Meeting 6pm
Friday 29th April / Visit from Wild About Scotland Bus P4-7
Monday 2nd May / May holiday – school closed
Tuesday 3rd May / P4 tennis 9:15-10am
P3 tennis 10-10:45am
On tennis days P3 and P4 pupils may come to school in appropriate clothing and footwear for tennis and bring school clothes to change into afterwards.
Wednesday 4th May / Maths Parent Information Workshops 6pm & 6:45pm – sign up slip to follow. During the workshops there will be an Active Stirling session in the hall for Kippen Primary School pupils
Tuesday 10th May / P4 tennis 9:15-10am
P3 tennis 10-10:45am
Tuesday 17th May / P4 tennis 9:15-10am
P3 tennis 10-10:45am
Tuesday 24th May / Tennis Team practice for selected pupils from P3 & P4
Wednesday 25th May / Stirling Schools Track and Field Championships at Stirling Uni
Selected team of 10 pupils from P6 & P7
Friday 27th May / RHET Estates day at Lerrocks Farm, Doune, P6 & P7
Friday 27th May / Stirling Schools Chess Tournament 10 - 2:30pm venue tbc
Tuesday 7th June / Tennis Team practice for selected pupils from P3 & P4
Tuesday 7th June (sport)
Wednesday 8th June
Thursday 9th June / P7 pupils to Balfron High School for Transition Programme
Tuesday 7th June &
Wednesday 8th June / Nursery to P1 Transition afternoons at Kippen Primary
Tuesday 7th June / P7 Parent information evening at Balfron High 7-8pm
Wednesday 8th June / Parent Consultations with class teachers 4-7pm
Wednesday 8th June / Travelling Book Fair – open during parent consultation evening. All classes will visit the book fair within the week it is here.
Monday 13th June / Stirling Schools Tennis Competition
Selected pupils from P3 & P4
Friday17th June / P7 Leavers Ceremony at 1:45pm for P7 Parents
(2 guests per P7 pupil) and invited guests
Monday 20th June / Health Week at Kippen Primary School
Non uniform week – sports clothes
Friday 24th June / Sports Day 1:30pm Kippen Sports Field. All spectators welcome
Early lunch 12-1pm.
Monday 27th June / Reserve Sports Day if weather unsuitable on 24th June
Tuesday 28th June / End of Term Service Church Service – to be confirmed
Tuesday 28th June / End of Summer Term.
School closes at lunchtime
Wednesday 29th June –
Monday 22nd August / Summer Holiday
SCHOOL CLOSED TO PUPILS
Tuesday 23rd August 2016 / Start of Term 1 2016/17
Pupils return at 9am (9:15am for P1)