NEWS ~ NAIDHEACHDAN

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.

The team reached the last four of the National First Shinty Tournament and were beaten 1-0 by eventual winners - Dingwall. Well done!

The two Rotary Teams together. The winning team was Dougal, Emily, Iona and Jonathan who were also on the winning team last year! Well done to both teams!

P1-3 Skye First Shinty Winners

Our 2nd Green Flag!

Our new strips that have been kindly sponsored by Robert and Mary MacQueen of RK Joinery.

Community Education Awards 2012

Newsletter 7

School Successes

School’s 2^nd Eco Green Flag

The school has recently been awarded its second Eco Green Flag and while all staff members and children have contributed to this school success, the Eco-committee, Mrs MacDougall and Miss MacKenzie in particular, have undertaken sterling work over the last 2 years in relation to the Eco agenda.  The overview section in the post-assessment report says:

“I sensed a warm, welcoming and inclusive atmosphere in Portree Primary and was delighted to see that you had maintained steady progress from your previous award, as well as having sound ideas for the future.  In so doing, you have involved families, your community, business partners and environmental agencies.  These links have allowed your children to grow in confidence and expertise.  In addition, you have integrated  the Eco-schools’ Programme most thoroughly with all the super curricular work going on in class and with the school calendar via events such as your Day for Change, UNICEF Climate Change Day and your Olympic celebrations. Out of doors, I was pleased to see that your grounds were litter free and well-maintained and that you were working hard to develop your outside space as a resource for recreation and outdoor learning.  Well done everyone and keep up this fantastic effort!”

Tesco/ Ross County  Football and Fitness Coaching P2/3/4

Coaches, teachers and pupils all report that these sessions are going well.  The final sessions will be held on 27^th February and 6^th March and the pupils involved are asked to make sure they bring their PE kit on these dates.

SQA Show Racism the Red Card Competition

Portree Primary School has been selected as a finalist in this national competition.  The pupils of P5-P7 wrote and recorded a song about this topic and a group of pupils and staff members will attend the Awards Ceremony, at Hampden Park, on the 21^st of March.  Well done to all those involved. The song will be posted on the school web-site once the ceremony has taken place.

Skye and Lochalsh Rotary Quiz – Monday 4^th March- 7.00 p.m.

The school will be entering two teams in this event.  Following in-house selection quizzes, the team members will be as follows:

Portree A – Emily MacDonald, Dougal McKiggan, Jonathan Smith, Iona MacAskill

Portree B – Chloe Urquhart, Aidan Ruddy, Iain Cormack, Calum Grundy. 

The quiz will take place at Portree High School and parents are welcome to attend.

Police Club of Great Britain Out of School Award

Local councillor John Gordon recently visited the school to present this latest award to staff and pupils. The award recognises the commitment of pupils, parents, staff and community members to providing regular, extra-curricular activities to children of all ages.  Well done to all!

Collie and MacKenzie Project-  Exhibition of Children’s’ Work

This exhibition, featuring the work of primary schools from across Skye, including Portree Primary School, takes place from Friday 1^st March – Sunday 3^rd March, in the foyer at Portree High School. Entry to this exhibition is free.

Portree Primary School Olympics – DVD

Before Christmas a limited number of DVDs were made available and sold to parents.  The response and feedback from parents and others who received DVD’s was so positive, that it was decided to make copies for all families free of charge.  Those families who have already purchased a DVD will also get a free copy.  Thanks are extended to Ian Smith for taking the pictures for the DVD and for creating the final DVD.

Football and First Shinty Tournaments 

The school has recently taken part in a number of football and shinty events and has done well in these - results to date: SSFA Highland Soccer 7’s – runners up.                                                                                                                                                     Skye Schools’ P4/5 First Shinty Tournament – runners up.                                                                                                                   

Skye Schools’ Girls’ First Shinty Tournament – runners up.

Extra- Curricular Activities – Reminders

• As extra- curricular activities are run as part of the schools’ extra -curricular timetable, the same standards of behaviour that are expected in school, must be adhered to at these activities.  Coaches will pass onto the school any serious issues that arise and these may at times, lead to the suspension of pupils from activities.
• Pupils who leave home to attend extra- curricular activities are expected to turn up on time to the activity they are attending.  Some pupils can be very late in appearing or not appearing at all which is of concern to coaches and parents who assume, that pupils are at a coaching session or activity when in fact, they may be elsewhere.
• The coaches/volunteers who give up their time to take football, shinty and other sporting sessions are the people who use their knowledge and expertise to select the teams for tournaments the school is involved in. It is hoped that parents will respect any decisions they make.  Parents should also encourage their children to accept any and all decisions that coaches take.  The ethos for providing extra-curricular activities is to encourage participation, but when the school takes part in competitive events, coaches in discussion with the H.T. will pick the teams that they believe can do well and be competitive.

School Meals Update From- Highland Council

Meal prices

You may be aware that the council’s decision for savings in 13/14 and 14/15 would apply to school meals with an inflationary uplift of 4%.

The new prices for a school meal from 1^st April will be:

Primary -      £1.87

Secondary - £2.08

Adult -          £3.38

Provenance of food

I’m sure I don’t have to mention all the controversy of the food standards issues in the media related to horse meat.

Rightly consumers are worried and apprehensive of the Provenance of foodstuffs, with parents and teachers consequently concerned about school meals.

I feel that it is imperative to reassure H.T’s, pupils, staff and families of the quality and safe consumption of school meals in Highland.

All our fresh beef, lamb and pork is sourced, slaughtered and prepared in the Highlands. The council as a whole is contracted with Munro the butcher (Dingwall ) with individual  specifications and traceability  included in the  conditions of contract .   Norma Murray- Catering and Cleaning Manager H.C.

Payment of School Meals

Please find attached a letter from the ECS catering Service about the payment and non-payment of school meals. Portree Primary School has been identified as a school that has a poor record in terms of paying promptly for school meals.

Highland Highlife Survey 4^th- 8^th March – P7 Pupils

The Highland Council and NHS Highland have jointly developed a confidential and anonymous Highland Lifestyle Survey for all P7, S2 and S4 pupils in Highland.  It asks questions about such things as leisure interests, exercise and diet.

The survey was carried out in 2009 and 2011.  The information gained was used to improve health and wellbeing programmes and provision for all learners in our school communities.  The 2011 and this survey are helping us to demonstrate our progress.  No individual child will be identified.  Completed surveys will be processes centrally and special measures will be taken in small schools to ensure confidentiality.  The survey will be completed on a specially setup confidential online survey.

Promoting Positive Behaviour and Good Manners at Portree Primary School

Portree Primary School has always promoted the need for all pupils to be well behaved and show respect for all adults in the school and the wider community.  Of late and since more Pupil Support Assistants have started working in the playground and in more classes, concerns have been raised about how some children relate to and interact with their peers and school staff.  To help consolidate the school’s expectations in relation to behaviour, manners and respect we are asking all pupils, staff members and parents to indicate what they think is important in terms of positive behaviour, respect and manners.  If you want to make any responses to this review, please complete the attached slip and return it to your child’s class teacher by Friday 1^st March.

School Photographer – Class Groups

The school photographer will be in school on Monday 18^th March to take class photos.  Proofs will be sent home soon after and parents can then decide if they wish to purchase photos.

H20 Warriors Enterprise

As indicated in their own recent newsletter the H20 warriors are raising money to support Blythewood’s efforts to provide clean water for under privileged children and families in India.

The group have worked very hard to develop activities and projects to support their fundraising efforts and it would be appreciated if staff, parents, pupils and community members could help them to raise as much money as possible.

The main events/activities taking place are:

• Sale of H20 bottled water – daily – cost 50p
• Sale of unique H20 bottles for drinking water, juice etc.  These have the H20 logo and are available in house colours – price £3.00
• Hosting of Non-Uniform Day – 1^st March – theme- Wear Something Blue/Water.  Pupils and staff members are encouraged to dress up and are asked to make a minimum £1.00 donation.
• Baking Sale – on Non-Uniform Day – donations o0f baking gratefully received.
• Sale of Jewellery – more information to follow.
• Poetry/Painting Competitions on the theme of, Water for Life - £1.00 to take part and prizes to be won.  Closing date 25^th March.

Choir Showcase – Tuesday 26^th March

The school choir will host this years “Showcase” on, Tuesday 26^th March in the Venue, at Portree High School.  At this event the Parent Council hope to hold a raffle and parents are asked to make donations for the raffle.  As always the “Showcase” promises to be another entertaining night and all parents are welcome to attend..

Sports Relief – Red Nose Day 

This annual event will take place in 15^th March.  P7 and GM7 pupils who will co-ordinate the schools’ activities will send out more information nearer the time.

Playground Improvements and Next Steps 

The latest works to improve the muddy ground around the outdoor classroom were completed over the February long weekend and the playground now looks fantastic. The next development we hope to move forward is the creation of a MUGA (multi use games area) with a soft safe surface.  The school is currently investigating the cost for such an area and hopefully we can start fundraising for this soon.

Director of ECS Hugh Fraser

Direct Dial:      (01463) 663340

Email:   ecs.catering@highland.gov.uk

Dear Parent / Guardian                                                                                                                                                                                                     We would like to remind you that school meals must be paid for in advance, preferably on a Monday for that week. You can pay in a variety of ways – as follows:

1. Pay online at www.highland.gov.uk

You will need your child’s SCN number in order to carry this out - if this has not yet been issued to you, you should receive it within the next few weeks.

2. Pay by cheque or cash

It is still possible to pay by cash or cheque - cheques must be made payable to ‘The Highland Council’, and the pupil’s name and class written on the reverse.

3. Free Meals

If you think you might be entitled to free school meals, details of entitling benefits and application forms, can be found on the Highland Council website www.highland.gov.uk/learninghere/schools/schoolmeals

4. Forgotten Payment

Please note that – except where a pupil is entitled to free school meals – meals must be paid for in advance. Any non-payment of meals is recorded, will be vigorously chased up, and will initiate the debt recovery procedure through Highland Council ECS and Finance Services.

 If you have lost the details of your child’s SCN, or if you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Catering Team on 01463 663340 or by email ecscatering@highland.gov.uk.

Kind regards

ECS Catering Service

On-going Development of Appropriate Manners, Respect, Attitudes and Relationships at Portree Primary School

To consider:

It was agreed to draw up an expectations list for discussion with all stakeholders before a revised document is produced.

The responsibility for pupil behaviour and the development of acceptable manners and how ALL people in a school interact is the responsibility of ALL & not the responsibility of any one group or any one individual. Pupils, parents, teachers, all other staff need to have a say in what is developed.

What should all staff members expect from pupils in terms of behaviour/ respect/ manners?

What should pupils expect from staff in terms of behaviour/respect/ manners?

What should pupils expect of each other in terms of behaviour/ respect/ manners?