NEWSLETTER NO 10 / Litir 10

SCHOOL SUCCESSES

Tesco Bank Art Competition 2014

Over 7000 pupils from across Scotland took part in this competition and 3 Portree Primary School pupils, were among the prize winners.

• Katie Bruce was awarded 1^st place in the P1-P3 category.
• Eva Fletcher was awarded 1^st place in the P4-P7 category.
• Andrea Gunn was a special, Scottish Ballet winner also in the P1-P3 category.

Katie and Eva attended a special prize giving ceremony at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, on 18^th June and Andrea has been awarded tickets to see The Nutcracker Ballet, at His Majesty’s Theatre, in Aberdeen in January 2015.

 

P6/7 Swimming Gala

All the pupils who took part in this event competed enthusiastically and did their best.  We congratulate this year’s  swimming champions, Charlotte Gordon and Joe Jones.

 

Skye Schools’ Cross Country Championships

The Portree girls’ A Team and the Portree boys’ A Team won the team trophies in their individual sections at the Skye Cross Country Championships.  The best placed Portree runners were: Leon Miles Shinnie who was placed 2^nd in the boys’ race and Skye Jordan who was placed 4^th in the girls’ race.

 

Cuach na Cloinne  2014

The Portree Primary B Team won the Skye and Lochalsh qualifier of this Gaelic tournament and represented the area along with North End, at the national final in Inverness.  The national event was won by, Glasgow Gaelic School.

 

P7 South of Scotland Trip

All the pupils involved enjoyed an action packed week.  The behaviour of our pupils was again very good  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.

 

Sports Day

A very successful and well attended Sports Day was enjoyed on 27 May.  The sun shone, the pupils took part enthusiastically in all the events and the ice-lollies were cool and very welcome.  Thanks are extended to Mr MacKenzie our PE teacher and all other staff members, for their hard work on the day.

 

Cycling Proficiency – Bikeability Scotland

Most of the pupils in P7 took part in this year’s cycling training and all who took part passed their final assessment. The support of our volunteer tutors and additional parent helpers, is greatly appreciated.

 

Skye Provincial Mod – 5,6,7 June

Once again many pupils from the school took part in a wide range of events across the 3 days and everyone performed really well.  Many pupils of all ages received prizes and badges which were listed in a recent copy of the WHFP. The support of teachers and parents was much appreciated.  Well done, to all who took part.

 

Shinty Successes

The school shinty teams have been involved in many matches and tournaments of late and have notched up a number of successes.  The main successes to date include:

• Skye Talisker League- winners
• MacKay Cup- winners (premier national shinty tournament) Ross Gordon also won the man of the match trophy.
• Fraser MacPhee Cup- winners

The team are also in the final of the second national primary competition this Saturday, The Tulloch Cup in Inverness, and we wish them every success in this final.

The team has travelled far and wide over the last few months and this has only been possible because of the support and dedication of coaches and parents.

Thanks are extended once again to all the teachers, coaches and parents who give up their time all year round to support all our after school clubs. Their contributions and support provide our pupils with many valuable opportunities and experiences.

Parent Council Soup and Pudding Lunch + Cook Book

The Parent Council held a successful Soup and Pudding Lunch recently and at this event they were also selling specially printed PPS Cook Books. A total of £548.00 was raised at this event. Cookbooks are still available from the school office at a cost £6.00 each, or two for £10.00.

 

Cheer Leading Success

A number of pupils from the school recently took part in the Cheer Festival 2014 in Inverness, as part of a group made up of pupils from different primary schools on Skye. The group were placed 3^rd in their competition. Congratulations to all involved.

 

Rotary Quiz Final- Aberdeen.

The Portree Primary Quiz Team was one of 16 finalists out of a total of 500 schools, who took part in the recent final in Aberdeen, where they were placed in the top 10. Well done to Elsa Galbraith, Jennifer Shaw, Cameron Macpherson and Iain Cormack for doing so well.

 

P7 INDUCTION DAYS AT PORTREE HIGH SCHOOL

The dates for the P7 induction days this year are 25, 26, 27 June.  All P7 pupils will report directly to Portree High School on the Wednesday morning and should wear their Portree Primary school sweatshirts.

 

NEW PI INDUCTION AFTERNOONS – PORTREE PRIMARY SCHOOL

The P1 induction afternoons will take place on 25, 26, 27 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.

 

SGOIL ARAICH 3 INDUCTION DAYS

Information about the induction of new 3 year olds into nursery has already been sent home and parents should contact the nursery directly if they are unsure of anything.

 

SGOIL ARAICH TIMES FOR SESSION 2014/ 2015

To comply with the Government’s policy on providing all 3 and 4 year olds with 600 hours nursery provision from August 2014, the nursery times for Sgoil Araich will change next session. In keeping with the discussions already had with parents, the Sgoil Araich times for next session will be:

Morning Session- 4 year olds- 8.50- 12.00

Afternoon Session- 3 year olds- 12.20- 3.30

 

STAFFING UPDATE

The final staffing compliment for next session has still to be finalised as are class splits for next session.  Hopefully final information will be available next week and certainly before the last week of session.

 

The school roll in both English Medium and Gaelic Medium will rise next session, so all the classes in the Gaelic Medium Department, apart from P1 will be composite classes. The only class that will need to be split however is the GM6 class. We will also have at least one composite class in English Medium Department and this will involve the P6 class being split.  Information about class splits will accompany the staffing update which will be sent out as soon as the school can confirm plans.

 

As previously indicated Mrs Stormont, Mrs Alston and Mrs Moir will all retire this summer and Mrs Janet MacVicar, our Crossing Patroller and PSA is moving onto pastures new. Miss Chloe Bruce will start a new job in Aberdeen after the summer and Dawn Daughtrey one of our nursery auxillaries, has also decided to change jobs.  The Head Teacher is also looking at retirement options over the next couple of years and early next session, hopes to start a winding down programme that will see him working just 4 days a week.  Mrs MacDougall, the current Depute Head Teacher, will assume Head Teacher responsibilities when Mr Finlayson is not at work.

 

CROSSING PATROLLER UPDATE

Due to the advertising and appointment procedures that need to be followed which are regulated by Highland Council, it is possible that at the start of next session, we will not have a crossing patroller in place. Every effort will however be made to secure an appointment ASAP. Because of this situation, parents are urged to reinforce the importance of road safety to all children.

 

RETURN OF SCHOOL TROPHIES

It would be appreciated if all the pupils who received trophies at last year’s prize-giving could return these by Tuesday 24 June.  All trophies should be engraved and polished before they are returned.

 

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.

 

END OF SESSION PRIZE-GIVING AND CELEBRATION

The end of session ceremony will take place on Wednesday 1 July starting at 9.45 a.m. sharp. Parents and friends of the school are invited to the ceremony and Mrs Alston and Mrs Stormont 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 Friday 27 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. Any items left in the school, will be added to the lost property bag and donated to charity.

 

SCHOOL UNIFORM PURCHASES

Aros will once again continue as the supplier of PPS school sweatshirts and polo-shirts. The Parent Council have worked hard this year to negotiate discounts through the early order scheme and have also had ongoing discussions about the availability of different sizes of uniform.

All pupils are expected to wear the school sweatshirt and if parents decide to opt for an alternative supplier we would ask that the school logo is also visible on sweatshirts. A small number of sew on logo badges, are available from the school office, at a cost of £1.50.

 

PORTREE HIGH SCHOOL APPEAL – PLEASE REMEMBER

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. 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 Friday 27^th June.

 

SLUGGANS BUS – FARE PRICE INCREASE

From 19 August the fare on the Sluggan’s bus will be 50p per day.  This rise has been implemented by Stagecoach.

 

ROSS COUNTY SUMMER PROGRAMME

Information about this has already been emailed to parents and for those who require paper copies of the information, sheets can be collected from outside the school office.

 

SKYE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 21^ST JUNE- CANCELLED

The scheduled Skye tournament for 21^st June in Kyleakin has been postponed until September. The next tournament will be held in Portree on Saturday 28^th June.

 

END OF SESSION

The school will close at 3.15 p.m. on Thursday 3^rd July and re-open for pupils on Tuesday 19^th August at 9.15 a.m.

 

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FINISH LAST WEEK OF TERM

There will be no extra- curricular activities the last week of term unless individual coaches make alternative arrangements.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

HOLIDAY DATES – SESSION 2014 -2015

 

	CLOSE	OPEN
Session Begins Staff Session Begins Pupils	Monday 18 August 2014                                              Tuesday 19 August 2014
October Holiday	Friday 10 October 2014	Monday 27 October 2014
Christmas Holiday	Friday 19 December 2014	Monday 5 January 2015
Mid-term	Friday 13 February 2015	Wed 18 Feb 2015 (Staff) Thu 19 Feb 2015 (Pupils)
Easter Holiday	Thursday 2 April 2015	Monday 20 April 2015
May Holiday	Monday 4 May 2015
Session Ends	Thursday 2 July 2015