February 2019 newsletter

Blacklands
Primary

Newsletter

February 2019/No9

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newsletter.

Head Teacher’s Message

Dear Parents/Carers,

It is a pleasure to be writing my first Head Teacher message,
though it was definitely mixed emotions saying 'see you later’
to Mrs McNeil last week. Mrs McNeil thanks you for all your
support, good wishes and generous gifts as she moves on to
Glebe Primary.

I am delighted to appoint Mrs Lynne Gibson as Acting
Depute Head. Mrs Gibson is coming from Dykesmains
Primary and she brings with her a wealth of knowledge, new
skills and enthusiasm! She will start on Monday 18th
February and I know you will look forward to meeting her.

I am hoping that you will not see any real changes here at
Blacklands, as our staff share a vision in continuing to move
our school forward.

Term 3 is well underway and there is lots happening as ever!
Please continue to check your child’s Pupil Planner for
information as well as our School App.

In partnership,

Susan Lauder
Head Teacher

Message from the Office

Dear Parent/Carers

Welcome back to term 3. Could I please ask that you phone
the school no later than 9am if your child is going to be
absent from school. We spend a lot of time phoning to see
where children are - and this becomes a child protection
issue if we cannot make contact with you.

Can we also take the opportunity to remind you of the
importance of returning parent/carer consent forms. We are
constantly chasing children for these and this takes up a lot
of time… and could result in your child not being able to
take part in trips or activities.

As you know, we have our school app up and running -
which sends you updates and reminders of what is
happening. We would really urge you to download the app
to keep up to date with everything that is happening here at
Blacklands! This is a way of keeping our costs down and a
way of keeping you informed of school activity.

Kind regards
Mrs Smith

SCHOOL CLUBS

This term’s Clubs include:
Daily - Breakfast Bounce (P1-7)
Monday - Construction club (P2 & 3)

- Cross Country club (P5-7)
Tuesday - Confident Girls (P6) then Confident Boys (P6 & 7)
Wednesday - Netball (P5-7)

- Football (P5-7)
Thursday - Family Challenge Club (P1-7)

- Hockey (P3-5)
Also at break and lunchtime:
Library club, Art club, Lego club, Film club and lots more coming
soon!

Zero Heroes

Primary 5/6 are proud to be working with Mr Graham,
embracing their role of ‘Zero Heroes’ in our school.
The children are anti-bullying ambassadors and are each
responsible for a class in our school. Their newly
purchased caps make them very visible in the playground
and we think they are doing a great job!
We are looking forward to hearing more about their journey
at assembly over the next few weeks!

SPORT SCOTLAND GOLD AWARD

We were over the moon to be presented our Sport Scotland
Gold Award by Jane Leary from Sport Scotland. We also
welcomed a variety of visitors at our celebration on Friday
18th January.
Vanessa, from KA leisure rounded off the event with a dance
routine for us all to join in with. Lots of fun!

LEARNING CONVERSATIONS

Thank you to all our parent/carers who came to our
Learning Conversations last week. Look out for your
child’s targets which will be stuck into the back of their
Pupil Planners.

We had a great response to the parent/carer survey
which our Captains and Vice Captains took
responsibility for.

• 98.4% agree or strongly agree that your child enjoys school
• 98.4% agree or strongly agree that your child finds school

activities interesting or challenging

• 100% agree or strongly agree that teaching is good and

teachers set high standards

• 100% agree or strongly agree that learning conversations

are helpful and informative

• 91% agree or strongly agree that they feel comfortable

approaching the school about a query or problem

• 100% agree or strongly agree that the school seeks parents

views and takes account of their suggestions

• 98.4% agree or strongly agree that staff explain how to help

their child at home and provide appropriate homework

• 98.4% agree or strongly agree that there are a good range of

clubs for their child to attend.

VALENTINE’S DISCO

Our fabulous Parent Council is once again
organising a Valentine’s Disco. This will be held on
Wednesday 13th February in our school gym hall.

EYC - P3 5.30-6.30pm

P4 - 7 6.45-8.00pm

(All nursery children must be accompanied by an adult.)

Parent Council members will be selling tickets
from Monday 4th February. Tickets cost £1.50
and include a drink and a snack.

Please ensure that contact details are written on
the back of all tickets.

‘See you later’, Mrs McNeil!

Mrs McNeil had her
last day as Head
Teacher at
Blacklands on Friday
25th January.

All classes took a
turn at presenting
Mrs McNeil with
something they had
made… or
entertained her with
their performances.
What a laugh!

WASTE AWARENESS!

We had a visit at
assembly from NAC’s
Waste Awareness
team who told us
where our waste
goes and gave us top
tips for being even
more Eco friendly!

We learned more about the new purple bin which is
coming to all our houses and how the collection
frequencies are changing for the other bins.
We even did a quiz - which we were great at!

PRIMARY 7 TRANSITION

Primary 7 enjoyed their first visit to the academy
last week… the first of many visits!


Dates coming home in schoolbags soon once
confirmed by Kilwinning Academy. So many
exciting opportunities for our oldest children in the
school… all leading up to their residential trip to
Dalguise in June.







Positive Parenting Programme

Mrs McCandless, from our Early Years Class,
has recently been on Training for a new
programme called Positive Parenting.
For her to get her qualification she has to
deliver a group, so we hope lots of you will
help her out. Meet her in Kilwinning Library
at 9.10am or 12.40pm on Friday 1st February
to find out more about this fabulous
opportunity.

FAMILY LEARNING!

Dates for Diary!

Fri 8th FEBRUARY
Mon 11th School Holiday
Tue 12th School Holiday
Wed 14th Inservice Staff only
Mon 25th Parent Council Valentine Disco
Thu 28th Fairtrade Fortnight
Discussion Dinner 6.15-7.30pm
Mon 4th
Thu 7th MARCH
Mon 11th Attendance Focus Month
Thu 28th World Book Day- Dress up optional
Fri 29th British Science Week
Learning Conversation 3 3.30-5.30 & 6.30-8.30pm
Mon 15th School stops 2.30pm
Thu 18th
APRIL
Fri 19th Pupils Return EYC-P7
Mon 22nd Easter Service Abbey Church 9.30am
Daffodil Tea Fundraiser in school (PM)
Thu 2nd School Holiday
Mon 6th School Holiday

MAY
New P1 Parent Induction (AM)
School Holiday

Tue 7th iCycle starts

Mon 13th-Fri 17th Health Week- Daily Mile launch at KSC
Digital Learning Week

Thu 16th Day Outdoors at Eglinton Park

Thu 23rd New P1 Transition Activity 1 (AM)

Mon 27th Inservice Staff only

Thu 30th New P1 Transition Activity 2- Teddy Bears
Picnic (PM)

JUNE

Tue 4th Sports Day (PM)

Thu 6th New P1 Transition Activity 3 (PM)

Fri 7th Sports day (RESERVE)

Tue 11th New P1 Transition Activity 4 (AM)

Thu 13th P7 at Leavers’ Trip Colour-splash TBC
Discussion Dinner 6.15-7.30pm

Fri 14th-Sun 16th P7s at Dalguise Residential

Tue 18th EYC-P7 Summer Trip TBC

Thu 20th P7/S1 Induction 1 at Kilwinning Ac.
New P1 Taster Lunch

Fri 21st P7/S1 Induction 2 at Kilwinning Ac.
Class Bump Up (PM)
Reports Out

Mon 24th Prize giving rehearsal (AM)
Summer Concert rehearsal (PM)

Tue 25th P1-7 Prize Giving (AM)
Blacklands Got Talent- Pupils (PM)
Wed 26th
Thu 27th EYC Celebrations AM & PM
Fri 28th
P1-7 Summer Concert 10.30am & 6.30pm

Summer Service at Abbey Church 9.30am
School closes 1pm

Safer Internet Day photos

Focus on Fairtrade

Meet the Councils - find
out a bit more about the
Pupil Councils we have in
school

Valentine’s Disco photos