Over £200 was raised just before the October holidays through donations received from ‘wearing it pink’. Thank you to all who contributed, and to the Primary 7 class for co-ordinating this fundraising effort.
Halloween Party
We are all excited for this evening’s Halloween Parties. There will be two parties at the following times:
P1-3: 5.30-6.30pm
P4-7: 7.00-8.00pm
These events have been organised by the Parent Council. A suggested donation of £2 per child would be much appreciated.
Shinty
Please note that our usual Tuesday Shinty coaching session will not be on week (Tuesday 5th November).
Soccer 7s – 9th November
The next Soccer 7s event will take place in Portree on Saturday 9th November at 10.30am. Permissions slips went to interested pupils in P4-7 on Tuesday. The deadline for return of these is Tuesday 5th November. Permission slips can also be completed online at this link: https://forms.office.com/e/jcXap5P2dL
Blythswood Shoebox Appeal
A last call for full shoeboxes for the Blythswood appeal – be with us by Thursday 7th November.
Remembrance and Poppy Appeal
The school will be supporting the poppy appeal with the sale of poppies next week, led by our Primary 7s.
Asda Cashpots
The school is now signed up to Asda Cashpots. This is a reward scheme which means Asda will donate a percentage of any shopping you do with them to the school. To get involved you need to download the Asda rewards app and select the school. Information about how to do this can be found here: https://www.asda.com/cashpotforschools
Mountain Warehouse Discount Code
You may remember that in May this year Mountain Warehouse offered all in our school community 20% off across their range. They have kindly agreed to run this discount until June 2025.
Please remember to complete and return the data consent form for your child. It is important for us to have accurate information on whether or not you consent to your child being photographed, using google classroom, going on local walks, etc.
The forms were originally issued in August. If you have misplaced the form or are unsure about whether you have returned it or not, then please contact the school office.
Key Dates for Term 2
Date
Event
Friday 1st November
Halloween parties.
Wednesday 6th November
Parent Council meeting 6-7pm. All welcome.
Saturday 9th November
Soccer 7s in Portree at 10.30am.
Friday 15th November
Children in Need Fundraising.
Friday 29th November
Parent Open Morning (all parents welcome into school to view their child’s work).
As we round up the first term of this school session, I would like to wish all pupils and families a very happy October Holiday.
I have been delighted with all of the hard work and effort made by the children this term, and hope that they enjoy a well-earned break.
Wear It Pink
It was great to see so many children wearing pink today in aid of breast cancer awareness. Donations received will be put towards this worthwhile cause.
School Photos
Wednesday was a busy and exciting day as we had the school photographer in. All pupils went home with a form with details on how to view and order photos. It is expected that you will be able to view and order photos online from Monday or Tuesday next week using either the QR code on the form or by going to https://locheil.gotphoto.co.uk/kunden/login and entering your personal access code (this is also on your child’s form).
The photographer, Al, has been a friend of the school for many years, and has taken the photos of several generations of Portree families. It is always great to have these photos done, and I hope you enjoy them.
If you encounter any issues with ordering photos, please contact Al directly using the contact form on the weblink above.
Halloween Disco
The Parent Council are hoping to organise a Halloween disco due to take place on Friday 1st November. More detail to follow.
Soccer 7s
We fielded two teams at last Saturday’s Soccer 7s event in Portree. Both teams performed very well, and I was proud to see how well they demonstrated the values of our school. Well done everyone!
My thanks also to the parent volunteers who supported our teams by coaching on the day – we can’t field teams at events like this without parent help – so thank you!
Parents’ Evening
Advance notice that Parents’ Evening will take place w/c 2nd December. We will be using a new parent booking system which I hope will make the process of booking an appointment much easier for everyone. The system will send you a link by email which will allow you to see available appointment slots and to book one to suit you. More information on this will follow in November.
Blythswood Shoebox Appeal
A reminder that our P2/3 class are currently organising the Blythswood Shoebox Appeal. Please see full details in the letter and checklist below, but please note the following information:
Donations can begin to come in now but need to be in school at the latest for Friday 1st of November, and full shoeboxes must be with us by Thursday the 7th of November.
The Childsmile team were in the school this week applying fluoride varnishing on the children’s teeth. There is a letter from the team below with information about aftercare.
The school is now signed up to Asda Cashpots. This is a reward scheme which means Asda will donate a percentage of any shopping you do with them to the school. To get involved you need to download the Asda rewards app and select the school. Information about how to do this can be found here: https://www.asda.com/cashpotforschools
Mountain Warehouse Discount Code
You may remember that in May this year Mountain Warehouse offered all in our school community 20% off across their range. They have kindly agreed to run this discount until June 2025.
Please remember to complete and return the data consent form for your child. It is important for us to have accurate information on whether or not you consent to your child being photographed, using google classroom, going on local walks, etc.
The forms were originally issued in August. If you have misplaced the form or are unsure about whether you have returned it or not, then please contact the school office.
Key Dates for Term 2
Date
Event
Monday 28th October
School Open for start of term 2.
Friday 1st November
Halloween Disco (organised by Parent Council).
Wednesday 6th November
Parent Council meeting 6-7pm. All welcome.
Friday 29th November
Parent Open Morning (all parents welcome into school to view their child’s work).
I was sorry to have to close the school today due to the power cut.
Please see below the weekly update that was due to go out this morning, with a couple of amendments/additions:
We are rapidly approaching the end of Term 1 and many of our children are already on the countdown to the October holidays. The last week of term will be typically busy – please see below for our weekly update.
School Closure Procedures
Having had an unexpected closure today, it is worth reminding you of the procedures for the closing of the school.
School closures/late openings/etc. are communicated in the following ways:
School Information Line – call 0800 564 2272 and enter school PIN 042810
Shinty Tournament Kyleakin 04/10/24
The shinty tournament in Kyleakin today will be going ahead as planned. Sticks and helmets will be available for those who require them, please see Mr Murray for them when you get there.
Soccer 7s
We are looking forward to the Soccer 7s event taking place tomorrow (Saturday 5th October) in Portree. Information letters have gone home to players today. Information letter below. Please arrive by 10.15am for a 10.30am start. The event will take place on the Astroturf at the Fingal Centre. Pupils will be issued with their kits on the day (they will wear their own socks and shorts, but will be given a school top).
Unfortunately today’s Community Café has been cancelled. We will let you know if we manage to re-arrange this.
The Primary 5 class will be hosting a Community Café at the school today (Friday 4th October) at 11am. This will be fundraising to support the Skye & Lochalsh branch of British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
As always, everyone is welcome to come along for a tea/coffee and some lovely home baking. We look forward to seeing you there.
School Photos
The school photographer will be visiting on the morning of Wednesday 9th October. Family photos will take place first thing in the morning. If you would like a family photo taken involving children from other schools, then please make arrangements for them to visit PPS for the photo. Could you please let us know that you would like your children to have a family photo taken by filling in this form? https://forms.office.com/e/szW1pnNn7w
Individual photos will be taken afterwards, and all pupils will receive a slip with details on how to view proofs and purchase.
This is a good fundraising opportunity for the school as the photographer makes a generous donation to school funds based on photograph sales.
Parent Council AGM
The Parent Council will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 8th October at 6pm in the school. The Parent Council play an important role in the life of the school and would value input from a wide range of parents.
All welcome to attend.
Active Schools Parents Meeting Monday 7th October
Please see information below from Sarah Ross, Active Schools Co-ordinator. She will be holding a meeting/information session for parents this coming Monday (3pm) at the school:
My name is Sarah Ross and I am the Active Schools Co-ordinator for Skye, covering Portree High and the 11 cluster primary schools on the island. A major part of my job is to develop new ways to get children participating in regular, fun and safe physical activities at lunch times, after school and into the wider community. Being able to achieve this relies heavily on the goodwill of parents and community members. Looking to next term, Active schools is looking to recruit parent volunteers in the hope that we can set up some new extra -curricular activities for the pupils specifically from Portree Primary. You don’t have to possess knowledge of a specific sport or even hold a coaching qualification. All that is required from you is a couple hours of your time, your motivation and enthusiasm to work with local children as I can support you with training and basic lesson ideas to get you started.
I will be holding a meeting on Monday 7th of October at Portree primary from 3pm and it would be great if you can make it if you are keen to find out more about how you can help and to discuss some potential activities.
If you are able to join us, then please complete the google form below by Monday 7th by 9.30am. If you are interested but cannot attend, then please indicate an interest also.
Please remember to complete and return the data consent form for your child. It is important for us to have accurate information on whether or not you consent to your child being photographed, using google classroom, going on local walks, etc.
The forms were originally issued in August. If you have misplaced the form or are unsure about whether you have returned it or not, then please contact the school office.
Key Dates for this term
Date
Event
Friday 4th October
P5 Community Café 11am.
Saturday 5th October
Soccer 7s festival 2. Portree, 10.30am.
Monday 7th October
Parent Information Session from Sarah Ross (Active Schools Co-ordinator) about extra-curricular activities. 3pm.
Tuesday 8th October
Parent Council AGM 6pm, at the school.
Wednesday 9th October
School Photos. Family photos will take place beginning at 9.15am.
Friday 11th October
Last Day of Term 1. School closed from 14th October, re-opening Monday 28th October.
Please see our weekly update below as well as some documents attached to this email:
Soccer 7s Permission Slip
Blythswood Appeal Letter from P2/3 class
Blythswood Appeal Checklist
Soccer 7s
The next Soccer 7s event takes place in Portree on Saturday 5th October at 10.30am. Permission slips have gone home today to interested pupils (and also attached to this email) and these must be returned by Tuesday 1st October. Parents may complete this permission slip on paper in the traditional way, or online if they prefer through this link.
Please note that I must submit teams to the organiser by 5pm on Tuesday 1st, therefore any late permission slips will not be accepted.
Scholastic Bookfair
Bookfair orders arrived in the school this week and were passed on to pupils today. I hope everyone enjoys their new books!
Thank you everyone for your support with the bookfair. I was delighted with the interest it generated, and the high level of sales achieved. The school earned a high commission on sales which means we will be able to buy over £500 worth of books for our classrooms and library.
Community Café
The Primary 5 class will be hosting a Community Café at the school on Friday 4th October at 11am. This will be fundraising to support the Skye & Lochalsh branch of British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
As always, everyone is welcome to come along for a tea/coffee and some lovely home baking. We look forward to seeing you there.
Blythswood Shoebox Appeal
Our P2/3 class are currently organising the Blythswood Shoebox Appeal. Please see full details in the letter and checklist attached to this email, but please note the following information:
Donations can begin to come in now but need to be in school at the latest for Friday 1st of November, and full shoeboxes must be with us by Thursday the 7th of November.
Kids Clothing and Toy Swap – Broadford
Nut Allergy Alert
Please see information below from Highland Council Catering Service:
The Food Standards Agency is advising people who have a peanut allergy to avoid consuming foods that contain or may contain mustard, mustard powder or mustard flour because they may have been contaminated with peanuts.
Catering services have consulted our suppliers, Brakes. Although they are not supplied by the company at the centre of this issue, they are taking the extra precaution of checking the products they supply for possible contamination.
Catering services have alerted all our cooks to the products in question and they have been advised to ensure none of these products are used in any items provided to the pupils we have registered with a nut allergy until further notice. Where possible alternative products have been advised.
Key Dates for this term
Date
Event
Tuesday 1st October
Visit from Andy McKechnie ‘Readers are Leaders’ workshops.
Friday 5th October
P5 Community Café 11am.
Saturday 5th October
Soccer 7s festival 2. Portree, 10.30am.
Wednesday 9th October
School Photos
Friday 11th October
Last Day of Term 1. School closed from 14th October, re-opening Monday 28th October.
The School Nursing team will visit the school on Thursday 26th September to administer flu immunisations to our pupils. Prior to that visit a member of the nursing team will be visiting the school to collect any permission forms. If all outstanding permission forms could please be returned to the school by Friday 20th.
Changes to Swimming next weekDue to the swimming pool being short staffed next week, they are unable to open before noon on Thursday which means school swimming lessons will not take place that day.
Information about Head Lice
Head Lice are a common problem in school aged children. They can’t be prevented, but regular checking ensures early detection and treatment if necessary. Parents and carers should check their children’s head once a week during hair washing. You need your usual shampoo, conditioner, and a detection comb – ask your local pharmacist to recommend a suitable one. Remember that you are looking for living moving lice, the only evidence that your child is infected. If you find a living louse, ask your local pharmacist, school nurse, health visitor or GP for advice regarding treatment.
Just a reminder that we love to hear what pupils are getting up to outside of school! A WOW certificate template is attached above for parents to complete to let us know of accomplishments, achievements and great news from home. These are kept as part of pupils profiles and new certificates received will be recognised in class.
Key Dates for this term
Date
Event
Saturday 14th September
Soccer 7s festival 1. Venue, date and time all tbc.
Monday and Tuesday 16th and 17th September
School closed to pupils. Staff in-service.
Wednesday 18th-Friday 20th September
Bookfair.
Thursday 26th September
Flu immunisations will be administered to pupils in the morning
Tuesday 1st October
Visit from Andy McKechnie ‘Readers are Leaders’ workshops.
Saturday 5th October
Soccer 7s festival 2. Venue, date and time all tbc.
Wednesday 9th October Change of Date
School photographer
Friday 11th October
Last Day of Term 1. School closed from 14th October, re-opening Monday 28th October.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions or concerns you may have.
It’s been lovely to see the sun again this week – we’ve managed to get many of our pupils outside for a bit of extra outdoor learning and play. Making the most of the weather while we can!
Please find below a short update after a short school week.
Scholastic Bookfair
Pupils have enjoyed visiting the bookfair in school this week. The bookfair will be open until this afternoon. You are most welcome to attend and browse/buy with your child at 12.45pm today.
We have had some titles go out of stock. These have been ordered and are due to arrive next week – we will pass these on to pupils as soon as possible. If your child has paid and not received their book it is because it is on order.
Dyslexia Masterclass for Parents
Dyslexia Scotland will be running a Masterclass for parents/carers of children with dyslexia on Thursday 26th September 6 – 7.30pm at Portree High School. This is a free event, delivered by Sharon Hall of Dyslexia Scotland. It looks at what we know about dyslexia and what parents might see at home, also some of the barriers that can be experienced inside the classroom. Sharon discusses the processes to identify dyslexia in schools and looks at support at home, giving tips and ideas of things that can help.
Please see poster at the end of this update for more information.
School Photos
Please note an error in last week’s update which had school photos listed in the key dates section on the wrong date. School photos will take place on Wednesday 9th October.
Parking Around the School
Parents and carers are reminded that the pick-up/drop-off point for pupils is in the car park at the Community Centre/Portree Nursery, not directly outside the school. We have a crossing patroller in place on Home Farm Road to help children cross safely.
At the moment there is a large amount of traffic in the areas around the school at the start and end of the day, and this has safety implications for children crossing roads, etc.
I would ask also that you keep in mind neighbours of the school. The road surfaces at Glamaig and Marsco Place are maintained by residents, not Highland Council, so any wear and tear or damage must be dealt with by homeowners. As a school community we absolutely should not be contributing to extra wear on these roads. I know also that some residents have noticed school traffic using private driveways to turn their vehicles – again this is not acceptable.
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation with this.
Key Dates for this term
Date
Event
Thursday 26th September
Dyslexia Masterclass for parents at Portree High School. 6.30pm.
Tuesday 1st October
Visit from Andy McKechnie ‘Readers are Leaders’ workshops.
Saturday 5th October
Soccer 7s festival 2. Venue and time tbc.
Wednesday 9th October
School Photos
Friday 11th October
Last Day of Term 1. School closed from 14th October, re-opening Monday 28th October.
We are now roughly halfway through term 1, and things are getting into full swing. I’ve been delighted this week to see how well settled in to their ‘new’ classes pupils are and how much progress in learning is being made. Please see our weekly update below.
Soccer 7s – Postponed
Please note that the Soccer 7s event due to take place this Saturday has been postponed due to an unplayable pitch and forecast of very poor weather.
In-Service
Next week will be a shorter one for pupils as the school is closed to children on Monday (16th) and Tuesday (17th) for in-service. During this time school staff will be undertaking training and will be working towards our School Improvement Plan priorities.
School Improvement Plan and Standards & Qualities Report
Our new School Improvement Plan (SIP) can be found on our website. This plan sets out the school’s priorities for improvement during 2024-25 and was created taking account of the views of staff, pupils and families. Our three improvement priorities for this year are:
Literacy: Raising attainment through embedding writing training and ensuring consistent approach to phonics and spelling instruction. Also improving our approach to supporting learners with persistent literacy difficulties/dyslexia.
Assessment & Moderation: improving staff confidence and increasing consistency in judgements of CfE levels.
Health & Wellbeing and Learning for Sustainability: Implementation of new Relationships Sexual Health and Parenthood project, and continuing eco action.
We are excited to be running a bookfair in our school next week. Pupils will have the opportunity to browse and buy books during school time on Wednesday-Friday. Please see the following link for some of the ‘highlights’ of the available books: scholastic-primary-invitation-autumn-2024-2270926.pdf
If you would like to attend the Bookfair with your child, then you would be welcome to attend at the end of the school day on Friday (12.45pm). You can make payments by cash, or online via a QR code displayed at the bookfair.
You may also purchase vouchers for your child online so that they do not have to take cash to school. You can do this by following this link: Book Fair Gift Vouchers – Scholastic Book Fairs.
We have one £5 gift voucher to give away for each class, so all classes will be running a competition to determine the lucky winner.
Meet the Teacher
We would like to invite parents in for an informal ‘Meet the Teacher’ session on Wednesday 18th September between 3.30pm and 4.15pm. This is an opportunity for you to see your child’s new class and say hello to their new teacher.
Pupil Success
Well done to Alisha in P6 who undertook a sponsored walk during the summer holidays. Alisha’s efforts raised well over £2000, which has been very kindly donated to the school’s Parent Council. Fantastic effort Alisha.
Well done also to Freya in P7 who recently competed in the Staffin triathlon and finished first girl in her category and second overall – a great achievement!
Dyslexia Masterclass for Parents
Dyslexia Scotland will be running a Masterclass for parents/carers of children with dyslexia on Thursday 26th September 6 – 7.30pm at Portree High School. This is a free event, delivered by Sharon Hall of Dyslexia Scotland. It looks at what we know about dyslexia and what parents might see at home, also some of the barriers that can be experienced inside the classroom. Sharon discusses the processes to identify dyslexia in schools and looks at support at home, giving tips and ideas of things that can help.
Please see poster at the end of this update for more information.
Late Arrivals
I would like to remind parents of the importance of their child arriving on time to school. The school day starts at 9.06pm, with pupils lining up in the playground at this time. Those pupils who arrive late may miss out on important morning routines and learning. Thank you for your support with this matter.
Behavioural reminders
I have spoken to pupils this week in assembly about some minor behavioural issues which have cropped up and would ask that parents and families reinforce these where relevant:
Noise on bus – we have had complaints about the very high noise level on the bus.
Football kits in school – we ask that pupils do not wear club football kits for PE, though they may wear national team kits.
Key Dates for this term
Date
Event
Saturday 14th September
Soccer 7s festival 1. Broadford, 10.30am. Postponed due to weather.
Monday and Tuesday 16th and 17th September
School closed to pupils. Staff in-service.
Wednesday 18th September
Meet the Teacher 3.30-4.15pm.
Wednesday 18th-Friday 20th September
Bookfair.
Wednesday 25th September
School Photos.
Thursday 26th September
Dyslexia Masterclass for parents at Portree High School. 6.30pm.
Tuesday 1st October
Visit from Andy McKechnie ‘Readers are Leaders’ workshops.
Saturday 5th October
Soccer 7s festival 2. Venue and time tbc.
Friday 11th October
Last Day of Term 1. School closed from 14th October, re-opening Monday 28th October.
Please see some reminders and new pieces of information for your attention this week;
Clothing for wet weather
Having had a spell of really wet weather, it is essential that all children have appropriate jackets and footwear with them each day. It is helpful if the younger pupils have a change of clothes to change into should they get wet.
General clothing request
Could you please remember to label your child’s school jumpers and hoodies as our lost property has already accumulated a lot of these items
Attendance
Please remember to inform the school first thing each morning if your child is going to be absent. This can be done by email, either to class teachers directly or to portree.primary@highland.gov.uk
We are required to identify the reason for each absence and to follow up on unexplained absences.
Parent Correspondence
Permission forms for Flu Immunisations have been sent home this week as well as our annual data check. If you have not already, please check school bags and return these items to the school as soon as possible.
Cycling to School
Pupils who are cycling to school are reminded that once the enter the school car park, they must walk their bikes to the bike shelter at the back, rather than cycling through the school car park which can be busy with vehicles at that time.
Pupils on Bus
If your child uses bus transport could you please ensure that you let the school know if there are any changes to transport arrangements? We know that some pupils get the bus some days and not others – please let us know if there is a change to the usual routine. The best way to do this is to email both the class teacher and the school office (Portree.primary@highland.gov.uk). Emailing both office and teacher is important as class teachers may not always pick emails up on time – particularly if you are informing us on the day about a change.
Our bus pupils leave 5 minutes early at 3.25pm, so we have to know exactly who is meant to be travelling by bus so that they can be dismissed on time.
Key Dates for this term
Date
Event
Thursday 5th September
Visit from Blythswood Scotland and presentation for all pupils about Shoebox appeal.
Saturday 14th September
Soccer 7s festival 1. Venue, date and time all tbc.
Monday and Tuesday 16th and 17th September
School closed to pupils. Staff in-service.
Wednesday 18th-Friday 20th September
Bookfair.
Wednesday 25th September
School Photos.
Thursday 26th September
Flu immunisations
Tuesday 1st October
Visit from Andy McKechnie ‘Readers are Leaders’ workshops.
Saturday 5th October
Soccer 7s festival 2. Venue, date and time all tbc.
Friday 11th October
Last Day of Term 1. School closed from 14th October, re-opening Monday 28th October.
It was great to welcome everyone back to school this week. Our lovely new Primary 1 class have been fantastic and have very quickly settled into school routines, whilst our returning pupils seemed to have enjoyed getting stuck into their new classes.
Please see below our weekly update.
Staffing
This week we welcomed Mrs Jennifer Tyronney to our team at the school. Mrs Tyronney joins us from Kinmylies Primary in Inverness and will be our Additional Support Needs Teacher (ASNT) on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
We are also happy to welcome Ms Fiona Goss to our teaching team. Ms Goss will be with us on a Friday and will help to cover some of our classes when teachers have Class Contact Reduction (CCR) time.
We are delighted to have both Mrs Tyronney and Ms Goss onboard.
Head Teacher Management Time
This year the amount of Head Teacher management time in the school has been reduced from 5 days per week to 3.5 days per week. As a result, I will have a class teaching commitment on Thursday and Fridays. Please bear this in mind if you are trying to contact me on a Thursday or Friday, I will be teaching and will be unable to reply right away. If there are any issues that require my urgent attention at these times, then please contact the school office.
Management time is decided based on the number of pupils on the school roll and as the number of pupils we have has dipped slightly over the past few years, the school no longer has the entitlement it once did.
Head Teacher Absence
I will be absent from work for two weeks beginning next Monday 26th August until Friday 6th September due to Paternity Leave. During this time Mrs Templeman will be supporting the school with management. Please contact Mrs Templeman directly (jessie.templeman@highland.gov.uk) or contact the school office if you have any questions or issues during this time. Mrs Templeman will continue to teach the P1 class during this time, but we will be bringing in some extra days of supply teaching time to allow her time out of class if necessary.
Pupils on Bus
If your child uses bus transport could you please ensure that you let the school know if there are any changes to transport arrangements? We know that some pupils get the bus some days and not others – please let us know if there is a change to the usual routine. The best way to do this is to email both the class teacher and the school office (Portree.primary@highland.gov.uk). Emailing both office and teacher is important as class teachers may not always pick emails up on time – particularly if you are informing us on the day about a change.
Our bus pupils leave 5 minutes early at 3.25pm, so we have to know exactly who is meant to be travelling by bus so that they can be dismissed on time.
Classes and Teachers 2024-25
Please see below for this year’s teaching arrangements:
Miss Claire Deplano (Mon-Wed) & Mr David MacLean (Thur-Fri)
Primary 7
Miss Neilian MacKenzie
ASN
Mrs Jennifer Tyronney (Mon-Wed)
CCR (Art)
Mrs Alice MacVicar (Mon)
CCR
Ms Fiona Goss (Fri)
Music Workshops this Week
Pupils across the school were treated to a fantastic music workshop yesterday by classical pianist Stephen Baron.
P1-4 took part in ‘The Snow Queen & Other Stories’ based on compositions by Claude Debussy. They had great fun acting out the stories to the music.
P5-7 were involved in a workshop all about the life and times of Mozart. Lots of opportunities to dress up and enjoy some great music.
Thank you Stephen for the fun and music you brought to the school.
Shinty Coaching
Our popular shinty coaching sessions will continue this term. These sessions are open to pupils in P3-7 and take place at the Fingal Centre on Tuesday evenings from 6pm-7pm. The first session of the term will take place next Tuesday 27th August. A permission slip has gone home to pupils who have expressed an interest, please return as soon as possible. A copy of this is attached to this email.
A big thank you to the parent volunteers who run these sessions.
Music Lessons
Nan Cleghorn will once again be offering music lessons to pupils in the school on Tuesday afternoons. See information below and contact Nan directly to book a place.
Lesson 3.30.- 4.30 pm. £3.00 per lesson.
Recorder, Whistle, printed music sheets with folder will be provided.
Portree FC will this Friday (23rd) be starting up a primary 1 to Primary 3 football session which will be at high school astro pitch. It will run from 5pm to 6pm. Any children going into p4 are welcome to join our p4 to p6 session which runs at the same time.
School Meal Costs and Payments Information
Please see information below regarding school meals:
Scottish Government legislation provides universal free school meals for all children from Nursery up to the end of Primary Five. Universal Free School meals have not yet been rolled out to Primary Six and Seven.
Any meals taken by primary 6 and 7 pupils not entitled to income based free school meals are required to be paid for. The cost of a primary school meal is £2.40 per meal.
• You will need your child’s Scottish candidate number. Please contact your school if you need a reminder of your child’s Scottish candidate number
• Allow 24 hours for the payment to reach the pupil’s account. Payments made between 4.30pm Friday and 9am Monday will not appear in the pupil’s account until the Tuesday
We are now at the end of a very busy and dynamic school year. I would like to thank you all for the support that you have shown to the school this year, and wish you a happy summer holiday!
Staffing
We are saying goodbye to several members of our staff today. Mrs Lucy Salter, our current P5 teacher, will be leaving the school to take up a new post at Macdiarmid Primary School in August. Mrs Salter has worked with us for the past two years, and has been a real asset to the school. We wish her all the very best in her new post.
We will also bid farewell to Mrs Amy MacNab, who is leaving to embark on her teaching career, undertaking the PGDE and becoming a student teacher.
Both Mrs Salter and Mrs MacNab have been valued colleagues, who have made a great contribution to our school and to the lives of many young people. We are very sorry to see them go but wish them both all the very best in their future endeavours.
We will also say goodbye to another two of our PSAs, Mr Kris Allan, and Mrs Lesley MacDonald. Mr Allan and Mrs MacDonald have only been with us for a few months, but they have become an important part of our team and will be very much missed as they move on to work in Portree High School.
Finally, Mr Boyd Dickson, who has worked with us over the past two months as a supply teacher, will be leaving to take up his new post teaching in Moscow. So instead of a farewell it is a “До свидания (dasvidaniya)”. Thank you Mr Dickson for all of your efforts.
Confirmation of classes for 2024-25
I am now able to confirm that the classes and teachers indicated previously will go ahead (see below). You will notice there is still an outstanding gap to fill in P6. This is currently being worked on and will be resolved by start of term.
Class
Teacher (s)
Primary 1
Mrs Jessie Templeman
Primary 2/3
Mrs Katie Martin & Mrs Morag Murray
Primary 3/4
Mrs Marion MacAskill
Primary 5
Mr Iain Murray
Primary 6
Miss Claire Deplano & tbc
Primary 7
Miss Neilian MacKenzie
Prizegiving
Our prizegiving and leaver’s assembly took place yesterday. It was fantastic to be able to celebrate the amazing successes of our pupils. My sincerest thanks to all those who attended and also to Reverend Donnie G MacDonald for presenting the trophies, and to Ms Nan Cleghorn for leading a musical performance.
Congratulations to our trophy winners:
Trophy Name
Awarded to
Ewen MacRae Infant Sports Trophy
P1/2 Class (collected by Heather Nicolson)
Karen MacLeod Sports Trophies (P7)
Ally MacLeod and Khadijah Iqbal
Caberfeidh Shinty Trophy
Rhys MacLeod
MacDonald Brothers Football Trophy (P7)
Ally MacLeod
Marion MacPherson Badminton Trophy
Caitlin Riley
The Gaelnet ICT Trophy
P6 Class (collected by Angus Grant and Roidh Coull)
The Clydesdale Enterprise Trophy
P4 class (collected by Zander MacKay and Rudy Cormack)
Pringle Primary 7 Project Trophy
Anna Langlands
PTA Citizenship Trophy Infant (P3)
Tamsin Taua
School Board Citizenship Trophy (P4/5)
Tarran MacLeod
Sheena MacLeod Citizenship Trophy
Logan MacKay
MacDonald R.M.E Trophy (P7)
Charlie Campbell
Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trophy (P7)
Leah Murphy
Bright Spark Tophies – Music
Ethan Gillies
PPS Musician of the Year
Ailsa Coull
Tom MacKenzie Art Award
Leah Murphy
Bright Spark Trophy – Creative Writing
Brooke Cardiff
Murray Health and ECO Trophy
Caitlin Riley
Donnie G MacDonald Science Trophy P1-P3
Angus Mundy
Donnie G MacDonald Science Trophy P4-7
Ben Swinnerton
Stuart MacDonald Trophy
Amy MacNab (staff)
Murdo Maclean Caring Trophy-
Max Hill
The Finlayson Ethos Trophy
Luka McKillop
PPS Girls Cross Country
Iga Rudak
PPS Boys Cross Country
Grant Campbell
PPS Senior Sports Champion Boys
Daniel Cazacu and Luka McKillop
PPS Senior Girls Sports Champion
Iga Rudak
Primary 7
It’s a sad farewell to our Primary 7 class today. It has been wonderful having this group in PPS, and we are all so very proud of their achievements. We wish them all the very best for their time in Portree High School and beyond.
Parent Council
Our school Parent Council is on the lookout for new members. Parent Council plays a key role in representing the views of parents, supporting the school, fundraising, and much more. However, as a voluntary body it is reliant on members of the parent community offering their support. To find out more about the Parent Council, please see the information on the school website: https://portreeprimary.wordpress.com/parents/parent-council/what-does-the-parent-council-do/ .
I would ask all parents to please consider supporting the vital work of the Parent Council.
Skye Bible Church – Holiday Club
Schools Out Programme – Active Schools
Please see message from Sarah Ross at Active Schools, with poster at the end of this email:
Please find attached a copy of our planned activities across the summer for pupils age 3- 15 if you haven’t had the chance to book already. We have activities running in Portree, Broadford and Dunvegan so we hope there will be something for everyone.
We hope to have some additional activities, but will update schools and our Portree Active Schools page as soon as they are confirmed, so make sure to keep a look out.
portreeprimaryschool.com 
