NEWS ~ NAIDHEACHDAN

NEWSLETTER NO 10 /LITIR 10

SCHOOL SUCCESSES
Skye Talisker Shinty League
The two Portree Primary School teams who took part in this league both did well with the A team winning the league and the B team competing well in every game.

P7 Swimming Gala
All the pupils who took part in this event competed enthusiastically and did their best.  We congratulate this year’s school swimming champions, Hallie Miles-Shinnie and Ross Gordon for their performances on the day.

New Climbing Wall
To further add to the activities on offer to improve children’s health and wellbeing, the school recently had the old climbing wall upgraded with new, bigger, better holds.  Pupils from nursery to P7 will now be able to make use of the wall.

New MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) for Portree Primary School
Over the summer holiday a new MUGA will be developed at the school on the existing football pitch area.  This MUGA will include a specially fenced off area with an artificial surface.  This development will be another resource that can be used for PE activities and extra-curricular activities by all pupils.  The funding to support this development has come from the school’s budget, the School Fund, the money donated to the school by the local Coop and from a loan from Highland Council.  Additional fund-raising activities will be held next session to pay back the loan received. It is hoped to open the new MUGA at the end of August.

CYCLING PROFICIENCY – BIKEABILITY SCOTLAND
Most P7 pupils have been involved in cycling proficiency training.  Sincere thanks to our parent volunteer tutors for their efforts and support: Donnie G MacDonald, Debbie MacDonald, Vicky MacLean and Maureen MacLean.

STAFFING UPDATE
The final staffing compliment for next session has still not been decided due to the current vacancies at the school not having been advertised by the authority.  However, a rough outline of what our staffing may look like is included below, although, this may be subject to change before the start of next session.

The Support for Learning staff for next session will once again be – Mrs Stormont, Mrs Alston and Mrs Martin.  The school’s PSA (Pupil Support Auxiliary) allocation has also not yet been decided by the authority but we hope that it will be similar to what we had last year.
The nursery staff again next session will include, Tini Daughtrey, Mary MacDougall, Elizabeth MacDonald and Dawn Daughtrey.

In terms of class splits next session and the composite make-up of classes, the following classes will be composite classes – GM1/2, GM2/3, GM4/5 & GM5/6.  The parents of pupils in these classes will receive a slip indicating which class their child will be in next session. The criteria used for, splitting classes has already been sent home and the decisions taken regarding class splits which were taken after lengthy discussions with all staff, are final. 

Despite all the GM classes being composite classes next year the only classes that will need to be split are GM2 and GM5. 
The school roll next session will be slightly up in the English Medium Department and slightly down in the GM department.  The projected English Medium roll is 165 and the projected Gaelic Medium roll is 101.  The Sgoil Araich roll is also on the rise.

P7 INDUCTION DAYS AT PORTREE HIGH SCHOOL
The dates for the induction days this year are 20 and 21 June.  All P7 pupils will report directly to Portree High School on Thursday morning and should wear their Portree Primary School sweatshirts.  A summary of information has already been sent home.

P1 INDUCTION AFTERNOONS – PORTREE PRIMARY SCHOOLThe P1 induction afternoons will take place on 20 and 21 June between 1.45 – 2.45pm.  Parents should bring their children to the school for these times.  Letters summarising these arrangements have already gone out to parents.

PIPING/STRINGS TUITION – P4 to P7
There may be some additional places available in both instruments after the summer break.  Tutors will send out forms in August to those who may be interested.

PORTREE PRIMARY SCHOOL STANDARDS AND QUALITY REPORT 2012/2013
A copy of the S&QR is now available on the school website.  Paper copies can also be requested from the school office.

RETURN OF SCHOOL STRIPS AND EQUIPMENT- ALL PUPILS BUT, PARTICULARLY P7 PUPILS
Could all pupils who have school strips make sure these are all returned by the end of the session.  P7 pupils who are leaving the school should also return all books, shinty sticks, shinty helmets and other equipment before the last day of term so this equipment can be used by other pupils next session.  School bagpipes in the possession of P7 pupils should also be returned to Mr I R Finlayson.

PUPILS IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING AFTER 3.15PM
A number of pupils who play in the school grounds after hours are currently using the school building as both a play area and a toilet stop.  After school hours, the cleaners are in the school and as such pupils should not be running in and out of the school after 3.15pm.  Also, any pupils playing in the playground should respect the playground equipment and also try not to drop litter.

PARENT PARKING OUTSIDE/AROUND THE SCHOOL
Despite the new signage and the frequent requests from the school and the Police about considerate and responsible parking around the school, some parents still insist on parking on the zig-zag yellow lines or in the bus lane.  It would be appreciated if parents could cease from doing this and also encourage children to walk to school.  Also no parents should drive into the school car park to drop off pupils at any time.

PUPILS CYCLING TO SCHOOL
It is good to see so many pupils taking their bicycles to school these days.  To ensure pupils’ health and safety it would be appreciated if the following could be observed:
• All pupils cycling to school to wear a helmet.
• No cycling of bikes in the school car park area.
• Pupils should push their bikes round to the bike stands and also push them to the school gate at the end of the day.
• Pupils on bicycles should focus on what they are doing at all times.

END OF SESSION PRIZE-GIVING AND CELEBRATION
The end of session ceremony will take place on Thursday 27 June starting at 9.45 a.m. sharp. Parents and friends of the school are invited to the ceremony and Mrs Wilma MacDonald will present the prizes.

LOST PROPERTY AND TAKING HOME OF CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Once again this June, the school has a large collection of items that are classified as lost property.  There will be a display of lost property in the school gym hall on the afternoon of Wednesday 26 June.  Pupils and parents are invited to view this lost property from 2.30-3.30pm and take away any items of clothing that belong to them.  Pupils are also reminded to take home all clothing, PE gear etc. at the end of session as any items left in the school, will be added to the lost property bag and donated to charity.

USE OF EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS AND SEND OUT NEWSLETTERS NEXT SESSION
A number of parents have indicated that email is their preferred option for receiving newsletters and this will start for those who have requested it, next session. As all newsletters are also placed on the school web-site, we will hopefully be moving to a paper free means of communication very soon.

PARENTS’ NIGHTS TO DISCUSS PUPILS’ PROGRESS- 17th & 18th JUNE- REMINDER
Appointment slips for those parents requesting appointments were sent home with progress reports on Friday 7th June. Parents are asked to ensure that they make the appointment time given and teachers will also try to keep to their schedule by giving each set of parents a 10 minute appointment slot.

CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE   (CfE ) - 3-18 CURRICULUM
Please find attached an information sheet of what CfE is all about. Currently, with all the debates in the press, we tend to forget what the core expectations and aspirations are.

ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR ENDS
As we reach the end of another busy and successful school year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents, staff and community members for the support they have given the school and our pupils over the last school session.  I would also like to wish all our P7 pupils the best for next year, their first year of secondary school, and also wish everyone, young and old, an enjoyable summer holiday.

TERM DATES – 2013/2014

Session Begins Staff      Monday 19 August 2013
Session Begins Pupils    Tuesday 20 August 2013                                              
                                            
October Holiday Friday 4 October 2013

Mon 21 Oct 2013 (Staff)
Tue 22 Oct 2013 (Pupils)
Christmas Holiday Friday 20 December 2013

Monday 6 January 2014
Mid-term Friday 14 February 2014

Wed 19 Feb 2014 (Staff)
Mon 24 Feb 2014 (Pupils)

Easter Holiday Friday 4 April 2014

Tuesday 22 April 2014

May Holiday Monday 5 May 2014

Session Ends Thursday 3 July 2014

INSERVICE DAYS
Monday 19 August 2013
Monday 21 October 2013
Wednesday 19 February 2014
Thursday 20 February 2014
Friday 21 February 2014

Newsletter No 9 / Litir 9

School Successes

Skye Schools’ Cross Country Championships

The Portree girls’ A team and the Portree boys’ A team won the team trophies in their individual sections. The best placed Portree runners were:  Hallie Miles Shinnie who was 1^st in the girls’ race and Charlotte Gordon who was 3^rd. In the boys’ race, Leon Miles Shinnie was placed second and Bailey Hallas was 5^th.

Lochalsh and Skye Triathlon

Congratulations to all our pupils who took part in this event on a wet cold Saturday at the start of May.  The Portree team of Elaine Deas, Leon Miles Shinnie and Martin Pringle were the winners of the team event. Elaine was the first girl home and the second competitor overall while Martin and Leon were placed 4^th and 6^th overall.

Highland Rotary Quiz Final

Portree Primary School was the winner of this heat and the school will now represent the area in the National final in Perth on 15^th June.  Congratulations to Dougal McKiggan, Iona MacAskill, Emily MacDonald and Jonathan Smith for this great achievement.  We wish the team well on the 15^th in Perth.

P7 South of Scotland Trip

All the pupils involved enjoyed an action packed week. The behaviour of our pupils was exemplary this year and they all represented the school and their families in a positive manner.  Once again we would like to pass on our thanks to all the staff members who accompanied the pupils on this annual trip. Special thanks are extended to Mrs Grant and Miss Macleod from Portree Primary School who supported our pupils.

National Galleries of Scotland Art Competition

This year Rachel Colven was awarded a certificate of merit in the P4-P7 and under section for her picture about “Scary Creatures and Creepy Things.”

Blythswood Enterprise Challenge H2O Warriors

The school’s H2O Warriors were chosen as finalists in this national competition and on Thursday 24^th May attended the final in Inverness. At the final they were awarded a prize for being the most enterprising school and for doing so well in raising £772.27 to help dig water wells for underprivileged families in India.

Kits for Kids Collection

Thanks are extended to everyone who helped the school collect the 5000 tokens needed to enable the school to receive a strip for our junior sports teams.  It is hoped the new kit will arrive before the end of session.

South West Ross  Piping Competition

Ryan Macaskill won the novice march, piping competition at this annual event and Taylor Matheson came 5^th in the beginners, chanter event.

P4 Adopt a Penguin Project

P4 managed to raise £246.45 from their recent baking sale which was well supported by parents and community members. Because of this grand total, the class have now been able to adopt a penguin and the name of their penguin is, Mr. Flipper.

Sports Day

Sports day will take place on Tuesday 28^th May starting at 1.00pm at Portree High School. The sports are being held at the High School this year because the KGV Park is out of commission while drainage improvements are being carried out.

The P1 – P3 sports will be held on the grassed Braedownie area and the P4 – P7 sports will take place on the astro-pitch. 

In terms of the astro- pitch the High School have indicated the following restrictions apply:

• No high heels can be worn
• No buggies or prams can be taken onto the area
• No food can be eaten in the area
• No smoking allowed in the area

If the weather is poor on Tuesday the sports will be postponed until the Thursday of next week. A message will be posted on the school messaging service by 11.00 a. m. on Tuesday, if the sports are postponed.

Parents’ Evenings

Appointment slips for parents’ night will be going out on 7^th June.  All slips from parents who would like an appointment, should now have been handed in.

Relationships and Sexual Health Programme P5-P7

Following the recent open evening for parents the programme will start for pupils during the week beginning 27^th May.

Staffing Update for Next Session

The authority has still not confirmed staffing arrangements for next session. 

The school and Parent Council have asked that confirmation regarding staffing is indicted to the school ASAP.  Once this happens, parents will then be will be updated about class splits and which teachers will be working at the school, in which classes at the start of next session.

In terms of the current staffing compliment we are delighted to welcome Dawn Daughtrey to the school as a Nursery Auxiliary.

P7 Induction Days at Portree High School

The dates for the induction days this year are 20^th and 21^st June.  All P7 pupils will report directly to Portree High School on Thursday morning and should wear their Portree Primary school sweatshirt.  A summary of transition information will be sent home beforehand and once the High School pass it on.

P1 Induction Afternoons - Portree Primary School

The P1 induction afternoons will take place n 20^th and 21^st June between 1.45 and 2.45pm.  Parents should bring their children to the school for these times. Letters summarising these arrangements have already gone out to parents.

Return of School Trophies

Pupils who received school trophies last year are asked to make sure these are returned by Friday 21st June.  All trophies should be engraved and cleaned before they are returned to the school.

Skye Provincial Mod

This year’s mod takes place on 13^th, 14^th and 15^th June with the majority of competitions taking place on Saturday 15^th June.

The cost of entry to competitions this year is £2.00 per pupil, per competition. The school will pay for this but in doing so, it is expected that all pupils who indicate they are taking part turn up on the day.

 Much of the preparation for the mod, especially for individual competitions, takes place at home and it is hoped that parents will encourage their children to practice and be ready their competitions.

Any parents who are willing to help out on the day of the Mod are asked to contact Shona MacDonald at the school.

Rachel Colven , GM7, has won a special merit (top 10) in the P4-7 section of the Tesco bank (National Galleries) competition this year.
Her picture is attached. Theme: Scary Creatures and Creepy Things.
 

Portree Primary School recently won the North West Highland, Primary Rotary Quiz Trophy  when they won the four school area final on Saturday 27th April, in Dingwall.  The event on Saturday was hotly contested with PPS beating runners up Avoch by just 4 points. The other teams in the Area Final were Brora and Craighill.

Portree and Avoch now go forward to the District Final in Perth in June where the top 6 schools from the 420 who started the competition, will compete for the first prize of £500, with the next two runners up being awarded £300 and £200 respectively.

The Portree winning team are pictured LtR-  Jonathan Smith, Dougal McKiggan, Emily Macdonald and front Iona Macaskill.
 

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2013/April/2013-04-30-04.htm

NEWSLETTER/LITIR NO 8

SCHOOL SUCCESSES
Show Racism the Red Card Creative Competition
Portree Primary School won the P5-P7 section of this competition and staff and pupils from the school went to an awards ceremony at Hampden Park to receive the school’s award.

North of Scotland Cross Country Championships
The boys’ team were placed 3rd in the bigger schools’ section of this event.  The best placed runners from the school were Hallie and Leon Miles-Shinnie who were placed 10th and 9th in their respective races. Over 130 boys and girls took part in each of the two races.

Choir Showcase Concert
The well attended and very entertaining showcase event was a huge success and between them the school and the Parent Council made over £500.00 from entrance fees and hosting a raffle.  Thanks are again extended to Mrs Matheson for all her hard work and to those parents who helped on the night.

Comic Relief
£300.00 was raised by the school for Comic Relief.

Skye and Lochalsh Rotary Quiz
Portree Primary School’s A Team were the winners of this year’s event and will take part in the Highland Final on Saturday 27 April.  The B Team were placed third, just one point behind runners up, Elgol Primary School.

First Shinty and Football Tournaments
Portree Primary School won both the P1-P3 and the P7 and Under Skye First Shinty Tournaments recently and the older team were beaten semi- finalists in the National Tournament that was held in March.  The P1-P3 football team were runners up in the recent Skye and Lochalsh Junior Football Tournament.

H2O Warriors Enterprise
Portree primary School’s H2O Warriors made a final profit of £772.00 from all their fundraising activities.  The money raised has been donated to Blythswood Care to help them provide clean drinking water for children and families in India.

PROMOTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR, REVISED SCHOOL POLICY
Following consultation with pupils, parents and staff members a revised policy has been drawn up.  This will be shared with parents at the forthcoming Open Afternoon and also placed on the school website.  Parents are urged to support the school to implement the policy and encourage children to be aware of the importance of good behaviour, good manners and respect for others at all times.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING – PARENTS’ OPEN AFTERNOON – WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 2.00 p.m.
Parents are invited to visit the school from 1.50pm on Wednesday 1 May to see some of the activities pupils have been involved in as part of the HI5 Health Promotion Project for all pupils.  Parents will initially meet in the gym hall for a presentation from pupils at 2.00pm and then visit classrooms to see what pupils have been doing.  Parents can also take their children home at the end of their visit if they so wish.  It is hoped that a number of other professionals from different agencies are also on hand to discuss their work and the HT will give a brief overview of the school’s new Promoting Positive Behaviour Policy.

PROGRESS REPORTS AND PARENT’S NIGHTS
Progress reports will be sent home on Friday 7 June and will be in the same format as last year.  Parents’ Night will take place on Monday 17 June with some class teachers also conducting parent consultations on Tuesday 18th June. Parents wishing appointments with class teachers are asked to complete the attached slip and return it to the school ASAP and no later than Friday 3 May.  If slips are sent in early, appointment times can be allocated quickly and this will allow parents and teachers to plan for Parents’ Night and co-ordinate any other commitments that may influence being available on the dates and times given out. As Mrs Templeman is going off on maternity leave on 17 May, she will hold her Parents’ Night on Tuesday 14 May.  Teacher/parent interviews will start at 3.30pm each day and, while there are no guarantees that specific times can be allocated, parents can request approximate times for their interviews which, if possible, the school will try and support.

SKYE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The school will be entering two boys’ teams and two girls’ teams in this event on Wednesday 8 May. The pupils involved will receive individual notes about the championships.  The event starts at 11.30am at Pairc-nan-Laoch.

LOCHALSH LEISURE CENTRE TRIATHLON
This event takes place on Saturday 4 May and the pupils involved have received information about this.  Parents are asked to check carefully the information sent home, especially the parts relating to transport and the involvement of all the pupils who have made a commitment to take part.  Pupils should be at Kyle Leisure Centre no later than 8.50am on the 4th as the triathlon starts at 9.30am and registration begins at 9.00am.

STAFFING UPDATES AND CLASS SPLITS FOR NEXT SESSION
The most recent staffing updates are:
• Mrs Lorraine Munro and Mrs Jenny Wychrij have both recently had baby boys.  Parents and babies are doing well.  Our congratulations go to both families.
• Mrs Jessie Templeman goes off on maternity leave on 17 May and initially Mrs Morag Murray will take over the P2 class. 
• Mrs Katie Martin returns from maternity leave on 18 June and will then take over the P2 class for the last two weeks of session. Mrs Templeman hopes to return to work at the beginning of next session.
• Miss Laura Lockyer has recently started as our strings tutor and is covering for Jenny Wychrij.
• Mrs Marion Macpherson, Mrs. Kathleen Maclean and Mrs. Yvonne Bowditch have all recently started as temporary Pupil Support Assistants at the school.
• Mrs Hayley MacLennan has recently started as our temporary Playground Superviser.
• Mrs Lynsey Finlayson goes off on maternity leave at the end of session and it is hoped that the authority will advertise her maternity leave soon to enable us to confirm an appointment before the end of session.
Other staffing changes may also be in the offing and these will be communicated to parents once they have been confirmed.  It is also hoped that the authority will move a bit more quickly this year in finalising staffing changes to allow the school to plan strategically, for next session.
Until final staffing decisions have been made, class splits cannot be confirmed.  However, a number of classes, particularly those in the Gaelic Medium Department will be made up of composite groupings next session and staff are already beginning to discuss how class splits will work.  An information sheet outlining the criteria used to decide class splits is attached and parents will be told of decisions as soon as they have been made.  The decisions taken will be final and will not be subject to any change.

SKYE MOD
The Skye Mod will take place on 13, 14, and 15 June this year.

CYCLING PROFICIENCY/BIKEABILITY SCOTLAND – P7 PUPILS
It is hoped to offer training to P7 pupils again this year with our volunteer trainers, once again, supporting us.  Any pupils taking part must have a safe roadworthy bicycle of their own a cycling helmet.  Any other parents who would like to help the volunteer tutors or any parents who would like to undergo the tutor training should contact the school ASAP.
SOUTH OF SCOTLAND P7 TRIP – MEETING FOR PARENTS- THURSDAY 9TH MAY.
A short meeting for the parents of pupils involved will take place on Thursday 9 May at 6.30pm in the school.  The trip itself starts on Monday 13 May.  On-going updates about the trip will be sent home as they arrive from the trip organiser.

P5-P7 PARENTS MEETING WITH CLASS TEACHERS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUAL HEALTH CURRICULUM- 23RD MAY
A meeting with class teachers will take place on Thursday 23 May at 6.30pm.  This will allow parents the opportunity to view resources and discuss aspects of the programme with teachers.

P7 TRANSITION DAYS TO PORTREE HIGH SCHOOL (PHS) – 20 and 21 JUNE
P7 pupils will attend PHS for two days on 20 and 21 June.  Additional information from PHS about these days will be sent out in advance. The new pupils starting in P1 next session will also be involved in transition afternoons and letters will be sent home to the parents beforehand.

PLEASE REMEMBER KITS FOR KIDS TOKENS
Please remember to keep collecting the Daily Record and Sunday Mail Kits for Kids tokens until the end of the promotion.  Every token counts and will help us to reach our target.  Please also encourage neighbours and relatives far and near to do the same. An information poster is attached to this newsletter.

SCHOOL LUNCHES – PRICE INCREASE
Please remember that school lunches now cost £1.87.

P7 SNORKELLING DAYS – MAY 29, 30 and 31
The final arrangements for the P7 snorkelling days have still to be confirmed with Sarah Ross, the Active Schools Co-ordinator and additional information will be sent home when it is available.

SENDING NEWSLETTERS AND SCHOOL INFORMATION BY E-MAIL
It is hoped that next session we will begin to send school information and newsletters home by e-mail, as many parents have requested this.  If this is an option you would like to take up please complete the attached slip. Please remember to indicate which class your child/ children will be in NEXT session.

HEALTH ALERT – Note from Abhayadevi Tissington, Nurse Consultant, Health Protection
There has been a significant increase in the number of confirmed cases of Parvovirus B19 infections, or “slapped cheek” as it is often called.  This increase is across the whole of Scotland.
Slapped cheek is usually a mild illness that starts with a fever, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the cheeks.  The infectious period is prior to the appearance of the rash, so once the rash has appeared, if children are feeling well, they can come to school.
It is very infectious and 50to 60% of adults will have been infected earlier in life and become immune. 
It may cause complications in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, so it is important to ensure that anyone who is pregnant and has had close contact with an infected child should be advised to make an appointment with their GP. Others at more risk are people who are immunocompriomised, and those with what are called haemoglobinopathies – for example sickle cell disease.
Please will schools contact the Health Protection Team on 01463 704886 if you want further information.

SCHOOL CLOSURES THIS TERM
The school will be closed on Monday 6 May for the May Day Bank Holiday.

END OF SESSION CEREMONY/PRIZE GIVING
This will take place on Thursday 27 June in the Community Centre, starting at 10.00am.