NEWSLETTER 5/LITIR 5
SCHOOL SUCCESSES
Poppy Scotland Appeal and Armistice Sunday
Portree Primary School raised over £200.00 for the Poppy Scotland Appeal this year and several older pupils were exemplary ambassadors for the school, during the Armistice Sunday Parade. Well done to all.
Children in Need
The magnificent sum of £800.00 was raised for Children in Need. Special thanks are extended to the P7 & GM7 pupils, for organising the different events held on Children in Need Day.
Skye & Lochalsh Rotary Club Youth Speaks Tournament
Two teams from the school took part in this annual event and both did really well. The B Team comprising – Daniel Macdonald, Cameron MacPherson and Freya King were the winners of the Primary competition and the A Team made up of – Kieran MacLean, Iain Cormack and Ella MacFarlane were the runners-up in the Primary section. Cameron Macpherson also received the prize for the best speaker from all participating teams, both Primary and Secondary.
Light Up A Life Highland Hospice Event
Pupils, parents and members of the community took part in this event which was held in Portree Square on Monday 2 December. Both the school’s Gaelic Choir and the English Choir performed at the event. After the performances the Christmas lights in Somerled Square were switched on.
SSE Scottish Hydro Raffle
On the night of the Light up a Life event, the local Hydro Shop organised a charity raffle as part of their late night opening. £125.00 was donated to PPS from this raffle and thanks are extended to Elizabeth Walker and her staff, for this generous donation.
Portree Primary School Christmas Fayre
There was a great turnout at the school Christmas Fayre held recently and the grand total of £1570.00 was raised for school funds, from selling crafts made by school pupils and from other stalls they organised. Particular congratulations go to the P6 class who raised over one third of this magnificent sum. The money raised will help to fund the purchase and installation of flood lighting that it is hoped will be added to the new school MUGA (multi-use games area).
Support from Ward Discretionary Fund
Thanks are extended to the local members of the Eilean a’ Cheo ward for supporting a recent application for funds to assist with the installation of flood lighting at the school MUGA. The total cost of this project is £21,000.00 and already over £10,000.00 has been secured from this fund and other fundraising activities. Income from the Christmas Concert and the Bonanza Draw will further support this fundraising drive which will hopefully enable school and community groups to use the MUGA all year round.
Blythswood Boxes
15 shoeboxes were this year, collected for Blythswood, by Sgoil Araich and thanks are sent to all those families who supported this appeal.
Winners of the Christmas Concert Design a Programme Competition
The winners of this year’s programme design competition are: Breagha Mackay, Calum Mackenzie, Ross Evans, Rose Mackinnon, Cameron MacQueen, Finlay Miller, Rebecca Jones, Kayleigh MacPherson, Daniel Miles, Erin Baker, Magdelana Solarczyk, Eilidh MacDonald, Eva Fletcher, Iona Macaskill, Murdo Maclean, Kyle Maclennan. All the winning pupils will receive a book token from the school.
UPDATED CHRISTMAS NEWS
Christmas Concert
The annual Christmas concert will take place on Thursday 12 December at 6.45pm in the Community Centre. The doors will be open at 6.00p.m. and the cost of admission will be £6.00 for those paying at the door. To help limit long queues on the night, discounted tickets can also be purchased beforehand at a cost of £5.00 from the school office – tickets are now available for purchase. Those people who have purchased tickets will be fast tracked to their seats and will not have to wait in the queue.
Parents, relatives and friends of the school who attend the concert are asked not to take pre-school children who are likely to become tired, noisy or unsettled to the concert.
In terms of where pupils need to be on the night of the concert, an information sheet is attached to this newsletter.
Christmas Bonanza Draw
Please remember to sell your tickets and send in all Bonanza Draw ticket stubs and money to the school before 12 December. The winners of the draw will be chosen during the break at the Christmas Concert. Remember, every ticket sold will help us reach our fundraising target to install lights on our MUGA
Christmas Parties
Children will have their Christmas parties on the following days. Pupils may bring party clothes for their party and get changed in school if they wish.
Monday 16 December (pm) GM1/2/3
Tuesday 17 December (pm) EM1/2/3
Thursday 19 December (pm) P4/5+GM4/5
Thursday 19 December (pm) EM6/7 + GM6/7 (Community Centre – TBC)
Friday 20 December (am) Sgoil Araich
Christmas Dance Festival
The Dance Festival for pupils in EM6/7 & GM6/7 takes place on Wednesday 18 December between: 10.00 – 12.00 in the Community Centre. Again pupils may choose to wear party clothes or other smart attire if they so wish.
Christmas Lunch
The canteen will be serving Christmas Lunch on Thursday 19 December. At this time of year, I would again like to thank canteen staff for the great service they provide all year to ensure the children have access to tasty, nutritious meals.
Church Service
The end of session service will be held in the Church of Scotland in Portree on Friday 20 December at 10.00am. All parents, family members and friends of the school are invited to attend.
SCHOOL CALENDARS FOR 2014
School calendars are now available from the school office at a cost of just £5.00. A large number of calendars were sold at the Christmas Fayre and the feedback from parents about them has been very positive. The calendars would be an ideal gift for all family members and as there are only a limited number available parents are advised to secure their copies ASAP. The calendar includes pictures of all pupils and all classes including the two Sgoil Araich classes.
EXTRA CURRICULAR TIMES – UPDATE
There will be no extra-curricular activities during the last week of term – w/b 16/12/13. Next term’s extra-curricular timetable will start during the w/b 13/1/14 and an updated timetable will be sent home during the first week of the spring term.
NURSERY TIMES – UPDATE
Following many discussions with parents over the last few weeks, it has been decided not to change the timing of the Sgoil Araich afternoon session, meantime.
Because there are many changes happening to nursery times anyway, in time for the start of session 2014/2015 when children will be entitled to 600 hours of provision, it has been decided to postpone any other changes for now.
ARRIVAL OF PARENTS AT THE SCHOOL FOR SGOIL ARAICH – MORNING SESSIONS
A number of parents arrive at the school very early each morning in preparation for the start of Sgoil Araich at 9.30. While it is understandable that parents will enter the school building early when the weather is bad, it would also be appreciated if parents could make sure that when they are in the building they encourage children to be quiet and well-behaved as some classes and meetings take place in rooms close to the waiting area from 9.15. In good weather parents should consider not arriving until at least 9.25.
LOST PROPERTY – PORTREE PRIMARY SCHOOL AND PORTREE HIGH SCHOOL
Portree Primary – There will be a display of lost property in the school gym on Friday 20 December at 2.30pm. Any unclaimed clothing will, as usual, be donated to Blythswood Care.
Portree High School – A large number of primary sized clothing items are currently included in the PHS lost property store. If parents want to view this property they can do so during the last week of term at PHS. At the end of the week the High School are also going to donate any unclaimed property to local charities.
School Messaging Service- Reminder
Information relating to school closures or bad weather affecting Portree Primary School will be available through the schools telephone messaging service and on the Highland Council weather website.
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HIGHLAND COUNCIL NUMBER TO PHONE INITIALLY 08700 546 999 PORTREE PRIMARY PIN NUMBER TO BE ENTERED WHEN PROMPTED 042810 |
End of Term
The school term comes to a close at 3.15 p.m. on Friday 20th December and the new term starts at 9.15 a.m. on Monday 6th January 2014.
And Finally
As another calendar years draws to a close, I would like to thank all parents and staff for the support you have given the school over the last year and so far this session. We have been involved in many varied, interesting and relevant educational and social experiences. As school life at all levels, becomes increasingly more challenging and busy it is important that we all continue to work as a united team, to support and meet the needs of all our pupils.
On behalf of everyone at the school I wish all pupils, staff, parents and community members a restful and happy festive season.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Tha sinn an dòchas gum, bi Nollaig Chrìdheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr agaibh uile!
