Please Keep This Booklet for Reference Throughout the Session

MeldrumAcademy

Parents’ Information Booklet

2009/10

Please keep this booklet for reference throughout the session

MeldrumAcademy
Colpy Road
Oldmeldrum
Aberdeenshire
AB51 0NT
Tel: 01651-871300
Fax: 01651-871313
Head Teacher: Andrew Travis www.meldrumacademy.co.uk
Email:
Blog:

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August 2009

Dear Parent/Carer

ESSENTIAL CHARGES FOR COURSE CONSUMABLES

Please find attached a Parental Information Booklet which includes details of the essential charges that pupils incur while undertaking some practical subjects such as Home Economics, Art & Design and Design & Technology.

At the academy we try to minimise all costs and only request money where absolutely necessary to maintain the quality of the course on offer. The booklet gives full details of the costs to be applied and describes what your daughter/son receives for the additional cost.

We recognise that it is inconvenient for parents to pay a number of cheques for individual subjects and have therefore set up a system for S1 & S2, which will allow you to pay one cheque per child.

All cheques should be made payable to ‘Aberdeenshire Council’. Please note that if your daughter/son is entitled to free school meals this also covers the cost of the practical courses and no payment is required.

Please note collection of monies from S3-S6 will take place within individual departments prior to the October break.

If you have any queries about the booklet or this letter please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Travis

Head Teacher

INTRODUCTION

This booklet contains 4 sections of key information for parents.

1.School Calendar dates for the school session

This summarises all of the key dates in the school year including holidays, in-service days, parents’ evenings and dates when reports are issued.

Information about the system for obtaining appointments with staff on each Parents’ Evening will be distributed in advance of the evening.

Should it be necessary to amend the pattern of events in the School Calendar we will keep you informed

2.Charges for course consumables

This section summarises information on all of the essential charges that are made for consumable materials within certain departments.

3.Snowstorm Arrangements

Full documentation will follow in due course but included in the reference booklet is some key information.

4.School Contact details

Contact details for the school.

Should you have any queries about the details contained in this booklet then please get in touch with the school and we will be pleased to help.

SESSION 2009/10

AUGUST 2009

Monday 17 / In-Service
Tuesday 18 / School opens for pupils
Wednesday 19 / School Photographs Tempest – Assembly Hall
Tuesday 25 / Book Buddies Training P5 & P6

SEPTEMBER

Thursday 3 / Collection of Essential Course Charges from S2 Pupils
Friday 4 / Offshore Europe S5/6 participants
Collection of Essential Course Charges from S1 Pupils
Monday 7 / HPV Immunisations (S2 & S4/5 Girls only) provisional
Tuesday 8 / HPV Immunisations (S2 & S4/5 Girls only) provisional
Thursday 10 / S1 Welcome Disco – Assembly Hall 7.30 – 9.00pm
Monday 14 / S6 Work Experience Week
Tuesday 15 / S1 Induction at Haddo Estate (Slessor, Telford & Wallace)
Wednesday 16 / S3 CITB Presentation in Assembly Hall
S1 Induction at Haddo Estate (Bruce, Glennie)
Thursday 17 / S4 Enterprise Event
S6 English Workshop
Thursday 24 / Collection of Essential Course Charges for Home Economics Int1/Int2 & Standard Grade
S1-S3 Inter House Outdoor Games during day
Friday 25 / European Languages Day
Monday 28 / S4 Work Experience - Year Group Out
Tuesday 29 / Parent Training Session on Study Skills Evening (S3-S6) – Cafeteria/ Assembly Hall 7.30-9.30pm
OCTOBER
Monday 5 / S4 Parents Evening 5.00 -7.30pm
HPV Immunisations (S2 & S4/5 Girls only) provisional
Tuesday 6 / S3/S4 Business Management Marketing Talk
Caledonian Residential Trip to Edinburgh
HPV Immunisations (S2 & S4/5 Girls only) provisional
Thursday 8 / National Poetry Day
OCTOBER HOLIDAY : Monday 12 – Friday 23 October 2009
Thursday 29 / Careers Convention
NOVEMBER
Monday 2 / Collection of Essential Course Charges for Home Economics Int1/Int2
Road Safety (Senior pupil)
Tuesday 3 / S3 Parents Evening 5.00 – 7.30pm
Thursday 12 / Children in Need Disco – Assembly hall 7.30-10.00pm
HPV Immunisations (S2 & S4/5 Girls only) provisional
Monday 16 / In-Service
S4 study leave 18 November until 3 December
Tuesday 17 / In-Service
S4 Prelims Begin – Assembly Hall (Games hall English and Maths)
Wednesday 18 / S5 & S6 Parents Evening 5.00 -7.30pm
S4 Study Leave
Friday 20 / S1 Interim Report to Parents
Mon 30 / S1 Parents Evening – 5.00 – 7.30pm
DECEMBER
Wednesday 2 / S4 Prelims End
Thursday 3 / S4 Pupils return from study leave
Monday 7 / Technical Rehearsal for School Show
Tuesday 8 / Dress Rehearsal for School Show
Wednesday 9 / School Show (7.30 – 9.30pm)
Thursday 10 / School Show (7.30 – 9.30pm)
Friday 11 / School Show (7.30 – 9.30pm)
Monday 14 / Pupils Christmas Dance – Junior (S1-S3) – Assembly Hall 7.30-10.00pm
Tuesday 15 / Pupils Christmas Dance – Senior (S4-S6) – Assembly Hall 7.30-10.00pm
Wednesday 16 / Senior Citizens Concert (afternoon) – Cafeteria & Assembly Hall
Christmas Concert (evening) – Assembly hall 7.30-9.30pm
Friday 18 / Last day of term
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY : Monday 21 December 2009 – Monday 4 January 2010
JANUARY
Tuesday 5 / Term Starts
Monday 11 / Final Collection of Essential Course Charges for Home Economics Int1/Int2 & Standard Grade
Tuesday 12 / P7 Open Evening – Assembly Hall, tour of school 7.00 -9.00pm
Thursday 21 / Burns Supper – Assembly Hall 7.00-10.00pm
Monday 25 / S5/6 study leave (begins 25 January until 6 February inclusive) provisional
S5/S6 Prelims Begin
Friday 29 / S4 Reports to Parents
FEBRUARY
Friday 5 / S5/S6 Prelims End
Monday 8 / S2 Reports to parents/ Options booklet (Assembly)
S5/6 return to timetable
S5/6 Reports due to PT’s 25/02/10
Tuesday 9 / Valentines Disco – Assembly Hall 7.30-10.00pm
Wednesday 10 / S2 Options Evening
Friday 12 / Occasional Holiday
Monday 15 / Mid-Term Holiday
Tuesday 16 / In-Service
Wednesday 17 / In-Service
Thursday 18 / Pupils return to school after mid-term break
MARCH
Monday 1 / FairtradeWeekS5/6 Options Booklet distributed at assembly
Higher Business Management Trip (provisional)
HPV Immunisations (S2 & S4/5 Girls only) provisional
Tuesday 2 / HPV Immunisations (S2 & S4/5 Girls only) provisional
Wednesday 3 / World Maths Day
Thursday 4 / Tempest Group Photographs – Assembly Hall
S2 Parents Evening 5.00 – 7.30pm
Monday 8 / S5/6 options forms completed
S2 option forms due in
Wednesday 10 / DTP Immunisations (S3 only) – provisional
S4/S5 Options Evening 7.00 – 9.00pm
Thursday 11 / DTP Immunisations (S3 only) – provisional
Monday 15 / S5/S6 Reports to Parents
Monday 22 / S5/S6 Options forms in
Wednesday 24 / Spring Concert – Assembly Hall 7.30-9.30pm
Friday 26 / HPV Immunisations (S2 & S4/5 Girls only) provisional
EASTER HOLIDAY: Monday 29 March – Friday 09 April 2010
APRIL
Monday 12 / All pupils return to school after Easter holiday
S3 Exams begin (provisional)
Thursday 29 / S3 Exams End
S4-S6 Sports Day PM only
S4 Leavers Afternoon Tea - Cafeteria
MAY
Monday 3 / May Day Holiday
Tuesday 4 / In-Service Day
S4 Study Leave/Exams Start (provisional)
Monday 10 / S5/6 Study Leave/Exams Start (provisional)
Tuesday 11 / Sports Heats S1-3
Wednesday 12 / S5/6 Leavers Afternoon Tea - Cafeteria
Tuesday 25 / Activities Day
Wednesday 26 / Activities Day
Art Exhibition 6.30 – 9.00pm Foyer
Thursday 27 / Thematic Day/Sports Day
Friday 28 / Issue of New Timetable to Pupils for checking
Monday 31 / S2/S3/S4/S5/S6 New Timetable
S5 Induction (provisional)
JUNE
Thursday 3 / S6 Induction (provisional)
Monday 7 / LOCAL HOLIDAY
Tuesday 8 / P7 Induction
S3 Reports to Parents
Wednesday 9 / P7 Induction
P7 Information Evening –Assembly Hall & whole school 7.00-9.00pm
Thursday 10 / P7 Induction
Friday 18 / House Captains, Head Boy/Girl & Prefects appointed
Monday 21 /

Awards Assembly Week

S1 Reports to Parents
Tuesday 22 / Battle of the Bands – Assembly Hall 7.00pm–10.00pm
Thursday 24 / Awards Ceremony (Evening) – Assembly Hall & Staff room – 6.30 pm, start for 7.00-9.30pm
JULY
SUMMER HOLIDAY : Monday 5 July – Monday 16 August 2010
AUGUST 2010
Tuesday 17 August / School opens for pupils

CHARGES FOR COURSE CONSUMABLES

In line with other schools across Aberdeenshire, MeldrumAcademy requires to levy some charge towards items described as consumables within particular subject areas. This usually refers to items which pupils can take home e.g. Art and Design and Design and Technology projects, dishes made in Home Economics etc. We believe it may be helpful for you to know how much money you are likely to be asked for throughout the session. It would be helpful if you could alert your child’s Pastoral Care teacher to individual circumstances which, at any time, may cause any particular difficulties with payment.

Class teachers will remind pupils when a payment is due, according to the guideline calendar below. Please note that all cheques should be made payable to ‘Aberdeenshire Council’. In line with council policy, all payments will be issued with an Aberdeenshire Council receipt for your records.

ESSENTIAL CHARGES

DEPARTMENT / FACULTY / CHARGE / PAYMENT TIME / INFORMATION
Art and Design / £5.00 / September / Craft materials for project work.
Home Economics / £25 / September / Owing to food safety issues, pupils will be provided with all ingredients along with a container to take food home in.
Fabric will be provided for design and make tasks.
Design and Technology / £4.00 / September / Materials for project work.
Social Subjects / £4.00 / May / Covers a curricular fieldtrip to Archaeolink visitor centre

DEPARTMENT / FACULTY / CHARGE / PAYMENT TIME / INFORMATION
Craft and Design / £10
(Covers S3/4) / October / This payment is used to provide materials for the final items that the pupils take home. Practice materials are provided.
Chemistry / £3 / June / Chemistry at Work -
AberdeenUniversity. Charge to cover travel costs.
Design & Technology
Graphic Communication
(Standard Grade) / Optional / These kits are optional it is not compulsory to purchase any of them.

Kit 1 – Pens and Pencils £6.50
Kit 2 A3 drawing board and drawing instruments £32.07
Graphic Communication text book - £15.99

Practical Craft Skills / £15
(Covers S3/4) / October / As this course is taught over 2 years the cost of the materials can be spread over the 2 years. This covers the cost of all the material the pupils use to manufacture the project they create throughout the 2 years. This charge is for the material the pupils take home. The pupils are not expected to pay for material used for practice pieces.
Short Course: Engineering Craft Skills / £7 / October / This charge covers the cost of all the material the pupils use to manufacture the projects they create throughout the year. This charge is for the material the pupils take home. The pupils are not expected to pay for material used for practice pieces.
Home Economics / £30 / Pupils may pay instalments of £15
24 September
2 November / This all food costs. The department will provide all ingredients & containers.
Hospitality / £60 / September/January
Pupils may pay instalments of £20
24 September
2 November
11 January / The units within this course involve a considerable amount of practical. The department will provide all ingredients & containers.
Modern Languages
(French) / £1.50 deposit / August / This is a deposit for a booklet of Vocabulary and Grammar essential for Standard Grade and Intermediate 1. Deposit will be refunded if booklets are returned in useable condition after the Standard Grade and Intermediate 1 exams at the end of S4.
Performing Arts
Drama / Cost Unknown / To attend at least one performance as part of the course. Price to include ticket and transport.

DEPARTMENT / FACULTY / CHARGE / PAYMENT TIME / INFORMATION
Craft and Design / Variable / October / Cost for final project, the nature of which is decided upon by the pupil, differs and is not included in this cost. Pupils may buy materials for their final projects from the school or provide their own.
Chemistry & Physics / £3 / February / Field Trip to St Fergus Power Station. Charge to cover travel costs.
Home Economics / £30 / Pupils may pay instalments of £15
24 September
2 November / This all food costs. The department will provide all ingredients & containers.
Hospitality / £60 / September/January
Pupils may pay instalments of £20
24 September
2 November
11 January £20 / The units within this course involve a considerable amount of practical. The department will provide all ingredients & containers.
Performing Arts
Drama / Cost Unknown / To attend at least one performance as part of the course. Price to include ticket and transport.

DEPARTMENT / FACULTY / CHARGE / PAYMENT TIME / INFORMATION

Art & Design

/ £10 / October / This charge covers costs of paints, papers and varied craft materials.
Design & Technology
Course: Practical Craft Skills / £15
(Covers S5/6) / October / This covers the cost of all the material the pupils use to manufacture the projects they create throughout the year. This charge is for the material the pupils take home, the pupils are not expected to pay for material used for practice pieces.
Design & Technology
Graphic Communication
(Higher) / Optional / These kits are optional it is not compulsory to purchase any of them.

Kit 1 – Pens and Pencils £6.50
Kit 2 A3 drawing board and drawing instruments £32.07
Graphic Communication text book - £15.99

Higher Biology & Higher Human Biology / £3 / June & December / 1 field trip and 1 lecture each in June and December respectively. Charge to cover travel costs.
Home Economics
Course: Int 2 Hospitality / £90 / Pupils may pay instalments of £30
24 September
2 November
11 January / The 3 units within this course involve a considerable amount of practical. All ingredients and containers for transporting items home will be included.
The final practical assignment involves pupils cooking a 3-course meal for 4 people. This will be cooked at least 3 times, including prelim.
English / £3-£4
£7-£10 / Variable
Variable / Not compulsory but would greatly benefit the student:
A4 Lever-arch ringbinder to organise notes/handouts.
Chosen Text for Personal Study.
Maths / £5 / September / Deposit payable for printed notes.
£3 refunded if notes are returned in good condition.
Strongly recommended to own a calculator
Performing Arts
Drama / Unknown / Variable / Cost as yet unknown to attend 2 performances as part of the course. Price to include ticket & transport.
Performing Arts
Music / Unknown / September / Cost for transport to attend a performance of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in the Music Hall Aberdeen.
Social Subjects / £3
50p per item / September
Variable / Deposit payable for printed notes - refunded if notes are returned in useable condition.
Ringbinders to organise notes/handouts. Not compulsory but would greatly benefit the student.

Art & Design

/ £10 /

Advanced Higher and folio course. This charge covers costs of paints, papers and varied craft materials.

English

/ Unknown / Variable /

Chosen texts for Dissertation
Lever-arch file for organising resources
Occasional extras – bus contribution writing courses etc.

Home Economics
Course: Int 2 Hospitality / £90 / Pupils may pay instalments of £30
24 September
2 November
11 January / The 3 units within this course involve a considerable amount of practical. All ingredients and containers for transporting items home will be included.
The final practical assignment involves pupils cooking a 3-course meal for 4 people. This will be cooked at least 3 times, including prelim.
Social Subjects / £3
50p per item / September
Variable / Deposit payable for printed notes - refunded if notes are returned in useable condition.
Ringbinders to organise notes/handouts. Not compulsory but would greatly benefit the student.

Opportunity To Purchase Other Curricular Items

Some departments/faculties may be able to provide the opportunity to purchase some items at cost price, which could offer a saving if you were intending to purchase any of these items at some point. Materials for Art and Design, Graphic Communication, Graphic calculators in Maths, CDs and floppy discs in Computing are examples of such items. In S3 Art & Design, pupils will be able to buy a pack of art materials for use at home and a folder to enable safe transportation of work to and from school. The cost of these is £8 and is collected from pupils at the start of the course in June. We will keep you informed of such opportunities, and again provide a receipt for any payments made.

Excursion/Trip Opportunities

As the school’s curriculum develops, it is likely that there will be the opportunity for pupils to take part in a variety of fieldwork trips/ excursions. These form a valuable part of the learning experience. However, as you know, transport costs for such activities is high and often beyond what can be sustained by normal school budgets. Your child may have the opportunity to take part in such trips and it is likely that we will have to ask you for a contribution to the cost of transport in these cases. We will inform you as far in advance as possible of any such excursions.

SNOWSTORM ARRANGEMENTS

As you know, the weather during winter can become severe quite suddenly. There are three ways of obtaining information in the event of bad weather:

1.RADIO

Details of buses being cancelled and school closure will be broadcast on NECR (102.1 FM), Northsound 1 (96.9FM) and BBC Radio Scotland (92.7-94.5 FM)

2.ADVERSE WEATHER TELEPHONE INFORMATION SERVICE

This allows parents to listen to a recorded message from the school. When severe weather warnings are received the school will endeavour to keep the telephone information service updated.

HOW TO USE THE SERVICE:

Dial Aberdeenshire Council’s access number : 0870 054 4999

Now enter MeldrumAcademy’s pin number: 02 2820

You will now hear our school’s name. Ensure that this is correct before going on.

You will now be taken to the MAIN MENU where you will be given several options.

PRESS 1 : to hear our school’s message about the adverse weather

(for example whether or not the school is to close or if transport arrangements have been affected).

PRESS 4 : enter the pin number for another school within the authority.

(Parents may have children who attend different schools. This option allows you to move from one school’s messaging service without having to dial in again)

3.ABERDEENSHIRE WEBSITE

Information about the school closures can be obtained on and clicking on the Learning Tab/ Schools/ School Closures.

SCHOOL CONTACT DETAILS

Address:MeldrumAcademy

Colpy Road

Oldmeldrum

Aberdeenshire

AB51 0NT

TelephoneNumber:01651 – 871300

Fax Number:01651 – 871313

Email:

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