Newsletter No 9 /Litir 9

School Successes

Rotary Swimarathon

The school team who took part in this event raised the splendid sum of £454.00 which was donated to “End Polio Now” and Portree Junior Sports Club.  Well done to Jennifer Shaw, Charlotte Gordon, Joe Jones, Kayleigh McPherson, Kristin McPherson and Erin Baker.

 

Sports Relief 2014

The final total raised by the school for Sport Relief this year was £400.00.  Well done to everyone who supported all the school activities.

 

Skye and Lochalsh Football – Cup Competition -  Saturday 26^th April

4 teams from the school took part in this event and all performed really well.  The school’s B team made it through to the semi-final and the A team were the eventual winners of the tournament.  Ali Gillies was also named Player of the Tournament.  Thanks again to all the coaches who supported the teams on the day.

 

RSNO Strings Workshops

A number of pupils took part in RSNO outreach workshops recently and all enjoyed and benefited from this experience.

 

Boots Anti-Smoking – Poster Competition

The school had several prize winners in this competition organise d by the local Boots Store:

P2 – runner up – Abi Clancy

P5 – runner up – Anna MacPherson

P5 – winner – Ryan Grundy

P6/7 – winner – Freya King

 

Royal Rockstars School Week and Concert

All the pupils at the school enjoyed their week with the Royal Rockstars and they further developed their skills relating to personal and social development, resilience, tolerance and other moral issues. The final night’s concert was also a great success with pupils and parents rocking the night away.  Copies of the CD created during the week are expected soon and will be sent home to those parents who ordered a copy.

 

Commonwealth Games + 2014 Year of Celebration School Logo Competition

All the pupils in the school were involved in a competition to design a PPS logo for 2014 the year of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and many fantastic and creative designs were produced. The winning design was created by Jamie Budge from P6 and his logo will appear on school posters, banners and hats which will be available later this month.

 

Lochalsh and Skye Triathlon

A number of pupils from the school took part in both the 3x3 team event and also the Pal’s Team event at the Lochalsh and Skye Triathlon on Saturday 3^rd May and it was great to see many pupils participating. All the pupils involved achieved personal success and the school teams also did very well. While every pupil who took part was a winner the best placed pupils in terms of the result’s board were: Leon Miles Shinnie 3^rd, Archie Macdonald 7^th and Charlotte Gordon 9^th. The Portree Primary team made up of Leon, Archie and Joe Jones were also runners up behind North End in the 3x3 team event.

 

REMEMBER- School Meals – Price Increase

The latest school meals price increase came into effect at the start of this term.  The cost of a school meal is now £1.95.

 

Progress Reports and Parents’ Night

Progress reports will be sent home on Friday 13^th June.  Parent night will take place on 16^th and 17^th 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 Monday 19^th May.  Parent/teacher interviews will start at 3.30pm each day and while there are no guarantees that specific times can be allocated, parents can request approximate time for their interviews which if possible, the school will try and support. All pupils will be given paper copies of the appointment’s return sheet including parents who receive newsletters by email.

 

South of Scotland P7 Trip – Meeting for Parents – Thursday 8^th May

A short meeting for the parents of pupils involved will take place on Thursday 8^th May at 6.30pm at the school.  The trip itself is on Monday 12^th May.  Most information about the trip has already gone home and any new updates about the trip will be sent home as they arrive from the trip organiser.

 

P5-P7 Parents Meeting with Class Teacher about the Relationships and Sexual Health Curriculum

This meeting will take place on 22nd May at 6.30pm in the upstairs classrooms.

The meeting will allow parents the opportunity to view resources and discuss aspects of the programme with teachers.

 

P7 Transition Days to Portree High School (PHS) 25^th, 26^th and 27^th June +P1 Induction Days

P7 Pupils will attend PHS for three days on 25th, 26^th and 27^th 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 have already been sent home to parents about this.

 

School Uniform Order Forms

As previously indicated Aros would urge parents to order their school uniforms in advance to make sure that parents get what they require for the start of the new session. They will also continue to keep a stock in the shop but, if parents, use the attached order form this will help everyone plan ahead. All orders and payment should be arranged with The Aros Centre.

 

Staffing Updates and Class Splits Next Session

The final staff compliment for next session has still to be confirmed, but parents will be updated once the school is aware of what is happening.  Until the staffing make up for next year is confirmed the school cannot make decisions about which teachers will be taking which classes.

In terms of class splits there will be no composite class grouping again in the English Medium Department.  But it is likely that four of the five classes in the Gaelic Medium Department will be composite groupings.  An information sheet outlining the criteria used to decide class splits is attached and parents will be updated of decisions as soon as they have been made.  The decisions taken will be final and will not be subject to any change.

 

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:

1. All pupils cycling to school to wear a helmet
2. No cycling of bikes in the school car park area- bicycles to be pushed from the gate to the bike-stands.
3. Pupils should push their bikes round to the bike stands and also push them to the school gate at the end of the day
4. Pupils on bicycles should focus on what they are doing at all times.

 

Sports Day 2014- Tuesday 27^th May

It is hoped to hold the school sports this year on 27^th May at the KGV Park starting at 1.30 p.m. More information will be sent home by class teachers nearer the time.

 

Commonwealth Games Activities

All classes are studying the British Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Games this term and there will also be a variety of whole school events taking place. Individual teachers and school newsletters will keep you up to date with planned events.

 

Bus Pupils Walking to the High School and not Using the Bus

Concern has been expressed by parents and staff about children choosing to not take the school bus to the High School at the end of the day. Pupils should use the transport provided and not walk to the High School unless parents send in a letter to class teachers, indicating that they would like their children to walk.

 

 

Parent Council Information/ Update

The Parent Council will be holding a Soup and Pudding Lunch  and Table Top Sale from 12noon – 2pm on Saturday 24^th May at the Primary School.  Please come and support this event and enjoy a social lunch out. Anyone wanting to book a table for the table Top Sale should contact Angela Smith 01478611061 to book a place beforehand. There are limited spaces available and the cost per space is £5.00.

• We now have access to fundraising for online purchases via Easyfundraising. This is a great scheme whereby a percentage of online sales money is donated to the school.  This covers online shops including Argos, Amazon, Boots, Next, EBay and many more.  It also covers some holiday and hotel bookings, filling in free questionnaires and surveys, recycling mobile phones and others.  Try it out at home, it is easy to use, you just have to register with Easyfundraising once then every time you buy online or fill in a survey you can make a donation. Posters and fliers to follow.

Logon and register at www.easyfundraising.org.uk and when prompted for a ‘cause’ select the Portree Primary School Parent Council.   We hope to have a demo at the next school parent’s evening.

• Following the recent new Gaelic school and existing school meeting with Norma Young the Area Education Manager, the Parent Council are looking to address questions and issues raised by parents that were not answered satisfactorily at this meeting.  If you have any related concerns please send them to the school for the attention of the Parent Council so we can make representation to the authority  to make sure we work together for all our children and their futures, as this project develops.

 

Known Important Dates Summer Term

 

Tuesday 6th May                                         Parent Council Meeting 6.30pm

Wednesday 7^th May                                   Skye Cross Country Championships

Thursday 8^th May                                         Parents P7 Trip Meeting 6.30pm

Friday 9^th May                                               Meeting between nursery parents and Head Teacher

                                                                            Cuaich na Clionne - Portree

Saturday 10^th May                                       Skye Football Tournament – Kyleakin

W/B Monday 12^th May                              P7 South of Scotland Trip

Thursday 13^th May                                       Gaelic School Stakeholders meeting

Friday 16th May                                           Village Spring Clean

                                                                            Commonwealth Games Big Dance 1.00pm

W/B Monday 19^th May                              Walk to School Week

Thursday 22^nd May                                      Relationships and Sexual Health P5-P7 parents meeting teachers

Friday 23^rd May                                             PPS Commonwealth Games – Opening Ceremony             

Saturday 24^th May                                       Parent Council Soup and Pudding Lunch

Monday 26^th May                                        Snorkelling P7 Group

Tuesday 27^th May                                        Sports Day KGV

Wednesday 28^th May                                 Snorkelling P7 Group

Friday 30^th May                                             Bank of Scotland Shinty Competition

Monday 2^nd June                                         Snorkelling GM7 Group   

Tuesday 3^rd June                                          Snorkelling GM7 Group

Thursday 5^th June                                        Mod – 1^st evening

Friday 6^th June                                               Mod – 2^nd evening

Friday 13^th June                                            Reports out

Saturday 14^th June                                       Rotary Quiz Final - Aberdeen

                                                                            Niall MacPhee Shinty Tournament – Fort William

Monday 16^th June                                        Parents Night

Tuesday 17^th June                                        Parents Night

Wednesday 18^th June                                Safe Highlander – P7 pupils

Friday 20^th June                                            Commonwealth Games Finale

Saturday 21^st June                                       Skye Football Tournament – Kyleakin

Wednesday 25^th June                                Induction Day 1 – P1 and P7

Thursday 26^th June                                      Induction Day 2 – P1 and P7

Friday 27^th June                                            Induction Day 3 – P1 and P7

                                                                            Round Table Shinty Sixes Tournament

Saturday 28^th June                                       Skye Football Tournament – Portree

Wednesday 2^nd July                                    End of session Ceremony and Prize Giving

Thursday 3^rd July                                          School Closes for Summer Break

Tuesday 19^th August                                   School Opens for pupils – NEW SESSION

 

 

Criteria Used to Establish Class Splits & Composite Class Groupings:

 

Composite class groupings are in place at Portree Primary School and most other Highland schools because

• The high number of small schools and the fluctuations in the roll from year to year.
• National agreements on class sizes.

 

Composite class groupings exist in 90% of all Highland schools and in every single school in Skye & Lochalsh.

 

When deciding on class splits the following people are consulted:

 

All class teachers and support staff at the school.

Members of the school’s Senior Management Team.

Area Education Manager & Area Education Officer if required.

 

When deciding on class splits the following are  considered:

 

• The overall roll of the school at any given time.

 

• The previous experiences of pupils and any relevant information from staff members relating to this.

 

• The ability of pupils to integrate with their peers and any issues which relate to this.

 

• The influence of the immersion phase within Gaelic Medium.

 

• The ability groupings and social groupings that have previously existed and been successful/ unsuccessful.

 

• The needs of- individuals, groups, classes and the whole school.

 

• The experience and expertise of teachers and their relationship with individual pupils, groups of pupils and classes.

 

• The need to consider gender issues.

 

• The age and stage of the pupils involved.

 

• The influence class splits may have on the school meeting its development priorities and the development of a Curriculum for Excellence.

 

• The influence class splits may have on the ongoing national agenda for improving achievement and attainment in all schools.

 

The approach taken is very much a holistic approach, where the overall needs of the school are considered alongside those of individual children and groups of children.

 

All of this must happen within the national restrictions placed on class size and pupil/ staff ratios.

 

 

 

PARENTS EVENING APPOINTMENT

Monday 16^th June

Tuesday 17^th June 

 

I would like to see the following teachers:

 

Pupil Name _________________________________ Teacher ___________________ Class ______

 

 

Pupil Name ________________________________ _Teacher ___________________ Class ______

 

 

Pupil Name _________________________________ Teacher ___________________Class _______

 

 

Pupil Name _________________________________Teacher ____________________Class_______

 

 

Pupil Name________________________________    Teacher ____________________Class_______ 

 

 

If possible my preferred time is between _______________ and ________________ on __________

 

There is no guarantee that all parents preferred times can be arranged.

 

 

 

Parents Update/ Info Sheet W/B 12^th May

Group Photo Returns

All group/ class photo returns + money should be with staff in the school office by Tuesday 20^th May. Any orders after this date  require be sent directly by parents, to the photographer.

 

Village Spring Clean Friday 16^th May

All the pupils at the school will be involved in the Village Spring Clean this Friday. It will take place between 9.30- 11.30. Parents and volunteers can also take part and any volunteers should contact class teachers to confirm their involvement. All volunteers should meet in the school playground outside the MUGA, at 9.30 on Friday morning.

 

The Big Dance- Friday 16^th May

As part of the school’s Commonwealth Game’s celebrations all pupils will be taking part in the Big Dance on Friday. This event is a nationwide event and parents are urged to practice the Big Dance with their children in advance of Friday. This can be done by logging onto the Big Dance website, where you can hear the music and see the moves.

 

Skye Mod 5^th,6^th,7^th June

A large number of school pupils have been entered in all the Mod competitions; individual events, group/class and choir events. Pupils will be taking part in instrumental, drama, recitation, singing and group activities and the school has paid the admission fee for each pupil - £2.00 for each competition. The total amount paid by the school is nearly £300.00 and all the pupils entered are expected to turn up for their events on the different days. More information about venues etc. will be sent home in advance. If pupils do not turn up for their events the school will not have the entry fee reimbursed and as such it has been agreed to ask the parents of children who do not appear to reimburse the school personally or else withdraw pupils immediately from the events they are registered for. A summary of the competitions and who has been registered to take part is attached to this email. It will also be placed on the school website.

 

Walk to School Week- W/B 19.5.14

National Walk to School Week  starts on Monday 19^th May and Portree Primary School would like to encourage where possible, all pupils to walk to school next week and for the rest of term.

Walking to school it has been proven helps pupils focus better on their learning and all exercise as we know can be beneficial.

Groups of parents in particular parts of the village, might also consider walking as a group and the walk to and from school can then also be a social event.

 

Parent Council Soup + Pudding Lunch + Table Sale- Saturday 24^th May

Please remember this event both as an attendee, and a supporter and a provider of soup and pudding. If you want to help with soup or pudding please contact a member of the Parent Council to indicate what you will provide. Also, please remember that the great work the Parent Council does is for the benefit all pupils and all parents should support their efforts.

 

Sports Day 2014- Tuesday 27^th May 1.30 p.m. KGV Park ( weather permitting)

As usual parents are welcome to come along and spectate and be involved in the annual Sports Day. The Sports will begin at 1.30 and all the pupils in the school are expected to have their P.E. kit on Sports Day. Special House, Commonwealth Games hats in house colours, will also be given to each pupil before the sports and these will also be worn at different events during the month of June. The hats will have the school celebration logo, designed by Jamie Budge, embroidered onto them.

 

Portree High School Appeal

A group from Portree High School along with a charity- the Vine Trust, are going to Peru towards the end of June where they will be working with 3 street children projects. To support the projects they are looking to take out old football shirts/shorts to give to the boys they will be working with. Ideally they need about 140 strips for children aged 4 – 18. To support these projects any parents/staff/pupils who have any football strips that their children have grown out of, or no longer wear, should send these items to the school so they can be taken to Peru. All items need to be sent to the school by the middle of June.