Dear Parents and Carers,
There are several pieces of information that I wish to bring to your attention this week. We have a very busy few weeks coming up between now and Easter and will endeavour to keep you updated with further information about upcoming events.
Coding Club
We are delighted to be working with Dr Craig Stewart from Portree High School to start a new lunchtime coding club. This club will be open for P6 pupils over the first block and will take place on Tuesdays from 1-1.30pm. Spaces will be limited and P6 pupils will be given further information about how to sign up for this. Pupils taking part, will require to take a packed lunch on the dates the club is offered; 7th, 21st and 28th March
Instrumental Music Club
We are delighted that Nan Cleghorn is going to be starting up after school group music sessions on Tuesday afternoons, here at PPS. The session will start at 3.30 on Tuesdays in the music room. In the first instance, pupils will be offered the choice of tin whistle or recorder and may then progress onto guitar. If they have their own instrument, they should take this along, however, Nan also has a supply of instruments which can be used by pupils.
The sessions will start on Tuesday 7th March and any interested pupils should contact Nan directly by email nancleghorn2@gmail.com
Nan has run these music sessions, with great success, over many years, and we are delighted that these will be on offer again.
Breakfast Club
Due to a very generous community donation, we will be offering breakfast snacks each morning from 6th March. These snacks will be available from the Cookery room and any pupil wishing to use have these will be able to come in before the bell and take a snack outside with them.
Fun, Exciting Maths Sessions for P4 parents
Primary 4 are inviting their families to their “Fun, Exciting maths session” during the afternoon of Thursday 9th March. This is a family learning event for pupils to show their parents some of the problem solving maths activities they have been working on in class. Invitations and further information will follow and some pictures of pupils working with the materials are attached above.
Growth Mindset Workshops
These have begun this week for P6 pupils and all P6 pupils will be involved in a 5 week block between now and May. These sessions are led by Maggie Cowie and Julie Maclean from the Childrens Service Worker service.
After School Shinty
Shinty will begin again next week, Wednesday 8th March, at the new times and locations. Again, any parents able to be an extra pair of hands at these sessions should get in touch with the school.
All shinty sessions will now be held at Portree High School on Wednesday evenings
Primary 1,2 Small Gym 5-6pm
Primary 3,4 Small Gym 6-7pm
Primary 5-7 Games Hall 6-7pm
Family Reading Sessions
These sessions continue today with Primary 1 families invited to join us at 12.15 and Primary 2 families invited next week.
Gardening Week
In order to prepare our allotment and Polytunnel for Spring, the school will be holding a Gardening Week from 27th March where all classes will be involved in visiting the allotment and taking part in gardening activities. Further information to follow.
Bikeability
Primary 7 pupils are asked to take their bikes to school on Monday 6th March. In preparation for upcoming Bikeability sessions, Andrew Shaw, will talk with pupils on Monday afternoon and check over bikes to ensure they are safe to take part.
WOW Certificates
Just a reminder of our WOW certificate system. In order to recognise wider achievements by pupils and to share successes outside of school, parents are encouraged to complete a WOW certificate and send these into school. Each certificate is shared with the class, 5 house points are awarded and these are then added to pupil profiles. A template of certificates is attached above but please also feel free to email class teachers with these good news stories!
Soccer 7’s
Permission slips have been given to P5-7 pupils who are interested in taking part in the Soccer 7’s event coming up on 11th March. Once we know the number of pupils interested, we can make further arrangements. The number of pupils able to take part will depend on sufficient adult volunteer to coach the teams on the day. Supervision of pupils at the event will be parental responsibility to enable coaches to just organise and encourage the teams. Any parents who are able to help out with coaching are asked to contact the school as soon as possible.
Saturday 11th March – Portree (Astro) 11-1pm
Saturday 13th May – Kyleakin/Kyle
Saturday 27th May – Portree (KGV)
Saturday 24th June – Broadford
Makaton Signs
This weeks Makaton signs are tidy up, time, me and when. Graphics are attached to support the use of these.
Basketball Festivals
Basketball Festival for all P6 and 7 pupils, arranged by Active Schools, will take place in March at Portree High School. Our P6 class will attend on Tuesday 14th March and our Primary 7 class on Tuesday 21st March. Pupils will require PE kits, water and packed lunches for this event.
World Book Day
Each child has been gifted with one of the World Book Day titles to take home. We are aware that exchanging the book tokens has not always been easy given our location and we are very grateful to the Highland Book Shop in Fort William who have been able to supply the books this year.
Changes of Dates
Further Industrial Action is scheduled for Wednesday 15th and Thursday 17th March. As a result the following changes to dates have been made. These new dates will remain, regardless of strike actions continuing or being cancelled;
P1 & P3 Community Café will now take place on Friday 24h March from 11am – noon with all proceeds to Marie Curie
The Parent Information Session on composite classes will now take place on Monday 13th March at 2.45 in the school gym
Our dress down day to raise awareness and funds for Young Carers will now take place on Tuesday 14th March
Red Nose Day
Friday 17th March is Red Nose Day in support of Comic Relief and while we appreciate there are a lot of fancy dress days upcoming, pupils are encouraged to wear read and to take in a donation if they wish. The traditional red noses are not available this year.
Composite Class Information Session
While we are still a long way off from knowing our class arrangements for next year, I would like to invite anyone with questions or concerns about composite classes to an open information session on Monday 13th March at 2.45. This will be held by Mrs Templeman and myself in the gym and will be a very informal chance to hear a bit more about composite classes and to ask any questions you might have.
Flouride Varnishing
There has been a change of dates to this and P5-6 Flouride Varnishing will now take place on Tuesday 21st March with P7 being completed on Tuesday 27th March.
Highland Council Holiday for the Coronation
The Council have now approved Monday 8th of May as a public holiday. Schools will be closed in respect of the Coronation.
Parking around the school
Parents are reminded, please, to be aware when collecting pupils to be mindful that local driveways are not blocked on either side of the road. Wherever possible the drop off zone at Portree Community Centre should be used for dropping off and collecting pupils.
The School Car Park is solely for staff use and should not be used for dropping pupils off
We thank you for your cooperation in this.
Known dates for this term (further dates TBC)
Friday 3rd March World Book Day
Friday 3rd March P1 Family Reading session 12.15pm
Thursday 9th March P4 Fun Exciting Maths family learning session
Thursday 9th March Feis Visits to P4-7 classes
Friday 10th March P2 Family Reading session 12.15pm
Monday 13th March Composite class information session 2.45pm
Tuesday 14th March Basketball Festival P6
Friday 17th March P1 & P3 Community Cafe
Comic Relief
Monday 20th March P3 & P5 Open Afternoon
Tuesday 21st March P1 & P4 Open Afternoon
Flouride Varnishing P5-6
World Down Syndrome Day
Basketball Festival P7
Thursday 23rd March P2 & P7 Open Afternoon
Friday 24th March P6 Open Morning
P3 Family Reading session 12.15pm
Tuesday 28th March P7 Flouride Varnishing
Tuesday 28 & 29th March Parents Evening Appointments
Current After School Activities
In addition to the After School activities run by Highlife Highland, Skyedance etc. the following activities are taking place for PPS pupils. Please contact the school for further information.
Anyone wishing to help out with offering further activities is also asked to get in touch. These could be activities that just run for 3-4 weeks at a time. We would love to be able to extend these opportunities further.
Monday Running Club 3.30-4.30 Portree Primary School Gym
Tuesday Instrumental Music Club with Nan 3.30 Portree Primary Music Room
Wednesday P1/2 Shinty 5-6pm Portree High School Gym
P3/4 Shinty 6-7pm Portree High School Gym
P5-7 Shinty 6-7pm Portree High School Games Hall
Thursday P4-7 Singing Club 3.30-4.15 Portree Primary Music Room
Please be in touch with any queries you may have.
Regards,
Sara
portreeprimaryschool.com 