Gowanbank Primary School Newsletter
December 2016
Dear Parent / Carer,
Thank you to all the parents/carers who attended our recent Parents Evening. If you did not manage to make the appointment please contact the school office to arrange another suitable time to meet with your child’s teacher as parental partnership is very important to us. Thanks also for the important feedback on reading that parents/carers provided during the session. The information will be collated and added to our Gowanbank’s Improvement Challenge board which sits at the front entrance of our school and help to inform the development of reading within our school. December is always a very busy time in Gowanbank as the festive season approaches and we look forward to welcoming you into school for a variety of exciting activities.
Scottish STEM Open Afternoon – Thursday 1st December at 2pm
We look forward to welcoming all our parents/carers into school to participate in sharing our learning. All classes have been working on STEM based activities within their classrooms and the children are very excited about sharing what they have been learning with you. We look forward to a successful turnout with as many parents as possible coming along.
Chocolate Tuesday
On Tuesday 6th December we are inviting all children to come to school with chocolate for use in our Children’s Tombola. This could be a multipack of chocolate, a box of chocolates, a large chocolate bar or any type of Christmas themed chocolate. This will be used for the children’s tombola this year which was a new addition to our Christmas Fayre last year and was very successful.We are sure the children will enjoy spending their money at this stall. Your help and support is very much appreciated. As a thank you, we will allow all children to come to school without their Christmas jumpers on if they wish.
Christmas Fayre – Friday 9th December at 1.15pm
Please send in donations of old toys, book and games (in good condition) for the school Christmas Fayre. This is your time to do a clear out before the new toys arrive from Santa. Please send in donations of tins and packets (non-perishable) goods for the tombola. If you have any donations for the adult prize draw (vouchers, bottles of wine or spirits) please send these in to school as soon as possible please.
Cordia Christmas Lunch
This year’s school Christmas lunch will be on Thursday 15th December.
Christmas Panto –Puss in Boots
This year’s panto will take place on the afternoon of Friday 16th December. As we received a cheque from Tempest Photography this will fund part of the cost of the panto. The school fund will pay the rest as a special Christmas treat for all the children.
Choir
Miss Drain and Mrs Crawford have been training our upper school choir this year and have dates for when they will visit Tesco at Silverburn. In previous years we have had wonderful support from parents, carers and friends of the school as well as the parent council to come along on the dates below and support us. Many thanks to Margaret Ambler our Tesco Champion who always supports the school. We look forward to seeing you all there on Monday 5th, Thursday 8th, Thursday 15th and Monday 19th December. We will be singing from 1.30pm-2.30pm.
Nativity Play and Christmas Concert – Monday 19th December & Tuesday 20th December
Mrs Rigmand is overseeing our Nativity rehearsals and assures me these are going well. The children will perform their Nativity Play for parents and family on Monday 19th December 2016. There will be a morning performance that day.An order form for tickets will follow shortly. There will be a further performance on Tuesday 20th December 2016 in the afternoon, again times will follow(Please note that
at the Tuesday performance there will be no early dismissal of children after the concert – children will be dismissed at 3.00pm as usual). Another letter with details regarding tickets will follow shortly.
If your child is not at school please phone the Absence Reporting Line Service 287 – 0039 before 9.30am.
Children arriving at school late must check in at the office for registration purposes. Parents who
wish to speak to a member of staff please make an appointment at the office. If a parent requires
to speak to their child during an intervalcan I please ask that you firstly introduce yourself to a member of staff on playground duty or report to the office.Parents who wish to pick up their children early or for an appointment should report to the office.Parents may not go directly to any classroom/school area without the head teacher’s permission. Parents please inform the office staff if a family member/friend is picking up your child instead of you.
Appropriate Clothing
As you will be aware the weather has changed recently and we are experiencing a recent cold spell. Please ensure that children are dressed appropriately for the cold weather.
NHS Norovirus Awareness Campaign:
Advice from NHS Scotland re the Norovirus can be found at If any member of your family develops this virus they should remain at home for 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. Further information can also be found on posters displayed in the school and nursery class.
P.E.
In some of the classes there has been a decline in children bringing in appropriate gym kit to school on the correct days. Can I please ask you all to ensure that you support the school in providing your child with gym kit in order they can participate in all activities. All children must participate in PE, an important area of the curriculum encouraging and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Children will be informed by their class teacher which days they have PE this session andthey must bring their PE kit to school on those days. (No football colours/strips to be worn during PE) In line with GCC policy no jewellery at all can be worn during PE lessons, therefore, please ensure that your child wears no jewellery on their PE days. If children are wearing earrings to school on days other than their PE days can I please ask you to ensure that they are small gold or silver studs and not diamonte.
Lost Property – We have many children failing to claim their own possessionsplease ensure that your child’s name is written on all of their clothing and items.We already have lost property with no names attached which we therefore cannot return to children.
Important Dates:
1st December – Scottish STEM Open Afternoon
6th December – Chocolate Tuesday in Gowanbank
7th December – P1 Panto outing (details to follow)
7th December – P4/3 Visit to Whitelee Wind Farm (details to follow)
9th December - Christmas Fayre
15th December – Cordia Christmas Lunch in Gowanbank
16th December –Christmas RESPECT Treat am. Whole School Pantomime for all children: Puss in Boots
19th December- Christmas Nativity & Concert Morning Show 10.45am
20th December - Christmas Nativity & Concert afternoon show
21st December - Children’s Christmas parties in classes
Holidays 2016-17
Wed 21 Dec 2016School Closes at 2.30pm for Christmas Holiday
Thurs 5 Jan 2017School Opens at 9.00 am
Fri 10 Feb 2017 – Tue 14 Feb 2017School Closed for Feb Weekend
Wed 15 Feb 2017School Closed For Staff In-service Day
Thurs 16 Feb 2017School Opens at 9.00 am
Fri 31 March 2017School Closes at 2.30pm for Spring Holiday
Mon 17 April 2017School Closed Easter Monday
Tue 18 April 2017School Opens at 9.00 am
Mon 1 May 2017School Closed May Holiday
Thursday 4th MayElection Day
Fri 26 May 2017 – Mon 29 May 2017School Closed May Weekend
Tue 27 June 2017School Closes for Summer Holiday at 1pm
May I take this opportunity to wish you and all your family and friends a very Happy Christmas and every best wish for 2017, from all at Gowanbank Primary.
Working in Partnership with Parents
At Gowanbank Primary School we are committed to working in partnership with parents/carers and value their views on the work of the school which we use to support our self-evaluation and planning for improvement. At the end of each monthly newsletter there will be a Parental Consultation Slip which will allow you to comment on the work of the school. Please return this to your child’s class teacher who will pass it on to me. Your views are important to us!
Parents are important partners in their child’s education and further advice on how you can support your child’s learning can be found at:
Advice and support for parents on safe use of the internet for children can be found at:
PARENTAL CONSULTATION December 2016
Please add any comments / views about the work of the school below and return to your child’s class teacher.
Signed: ______Date: ______
Child’s Name: ______Class: ______
Yours sincerely,
Amanda Clubley
Acting Head Teacher