St. John’s Primary School Head Teacher: Mrs Yvonne McCart

Heathfield Drive, Blackwood, ML11 9SR

Tel: 01555 892491 E-mail: headteacher@st-johns-blackwood-pri.s-lanark.sch.uk School Website: www.st-johns-blackwood-pri.s-lanark.sch.uk

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November 2018 Dear Parents and Carers, We are now in our second term back at school and we look forward to the prospect of an exciting and busy term ahead. Included in this newsletter are important school updates and festive dates for your diary. Our Primary 6 and 7 pupils returned safely from Lockerbie Manor and had a fabulous time! My thanks to Miss McEwan and Mr Hall for accompanying the children and to Mr Cairney for his assistance during the trip. There are lots of photos on our Twitter feed and the Headteacher’s Blog, the link to which can be found on our website. Emily and Olivia, our Junior Road Safety Officers, will speak to the pupils at assembly and will organise a competition to make children aware of the importance of dressing brightly and staying safe when out and about in the dark nights. Also I wish to say a huge congratulations to Niamh Donnellan who was the winner of the P5/6 category in South Lanarkshire Council’s Road Safety calendar competition. Niamh wins £50 and will receive a certificate to celebrate her achievement. Well done Niamh!

Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you require any further information on items contained within this newsletter or any other matters.

Kindest regards,

Mrs Yvonne McCart Head Teacher

What’s going on ... This term we have: Monday P4-P7 Netball Club – Mrs.Quadrelli Tuesday P4-P7 Football – Mr. Hall and Mr. Cairney(parent helper) Wednesday Dance Club- 7/11 - final session Thursday P5-P7 Film Club- Miss McEwan In addition, at lunchtime … Wednesday Homework Club P1-7

with Miss Mackle

PANTOMIME VISIT

We are looking forward to our whole school outing to the pantomime, ‘Snow White and the Seven Wee Muppets’, in Lanark Memorial Hall on Friday the 7th of December. The bus will leave at 9.15 a.m. sharp.

mailto:headteacher@st-johns-blackwood-pri.s-lanark.sch.ukhttp://www.st-johns-blackwood-pri.s-lanark.sch.uk/

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

Nativity Performances:

The nativity will take place on the 12th and 13th of December at 10 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. respectively. The pupils of Primary 1 and 2 will perform Angel Express.

Christmas Cafe: Our Christmas Café will take place on Friday the 14th of December at 10.00 a.m. in Our Lady & St. John’s Church hall.

Christmas Parties:

Our Christmas parties will take place in the last week of term. It’s guaranteed to be lots of fun and the children will enjoy party games, dancing and perhaps we might even have a special visitor!

Christmas Carol Service: Our Christmas Carol service will take place in the school hall on Friday 21st of December at 11.00 a.m. We will be joined by Father Rooney and parents and carers are also invited to join us.

HALLOWE’EN CELEBRATIONS 2018

St. John’s was a very spooky place to be on Hallowe’en as zombie brides, Ghostbusters, Harry Potter and Hermione, witches, skeletons, pirates, Iron Man, clowns and ninjas paraded around our gym hall! The Partnership Group organised a super disco for all our children on Friday 26th October. Thank you to everyone involved for organising a super afternoon. The children were outstanding, with excellent behaviour as always. The majority of our pupils attended in fabulous costumes and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

STAFFING Mrs Horne has asked me to pass on her thanks for all the kind wishes and gifts she received. She has settled in to her retirement and is enjoying it although she assures me she is missing everyone at St. John’s. We are delighted to welcome Ms Charlene Reid who has taken over from Mrs Horne.

PARTNERSHIP GROUP

Our Partnership Group meet monthly to discuss important school issues and ways of raising funds to benefit all of the children in our school. All parents and carers are invited to the meetings. Please note the dates and new time of 7.00 pm for future meetings:

Thursday 22.11.18 Tuesday 15.01.19

Wednesday 20.02.19 Thursday 21.03.19 Tuesday 30.04.19 Thursday 30.05.19

ST. ANDREW’S DAY

Children are invited to wear tartan on Friday the 30th of November to celebrate St. Andrew’s Feast Day. Monies donated will be given to our business partner St. Andrew’s Hospice. The children will also take part in Scottish themed activities throughout the day. Please note we will attend Mass on Thursday 29th of November.

HOMEWORK/AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS

Please note the week beginning the 26th of November will be the final week of homework for this term, with all tasks being submitted to class teachers on Tuesday the 4th of December 2018. The final week for afterschool clubs will be the week beginning the 26th of November 2018.

UNIFORM

Grateful thanks to all our parents and carers for your continued support for school uniform. I hope the high standard set at the beginning of the year will continue throughout the session. I am delighted that a number of pupils are wearing the full school uniform on a daily basis and some children are wearing the school blazer – it is a very smart uniform, which our pupils and staff are rightly proud of. Could you also ensure that on P.E. days, your child has their P.E. kit to change in to? This is pale blue polo shirt and navy shorts/cycling shorts or skorts. I would ask that all pupils wear school shirt / blouse and school tie every day and change into their P.E. kit. Children should also have a pair of black plimsolls to change into from their outdoor shoes. With the inclement weather, it ensures the carpets in the classrooms remain clean, especially as the children sometimes sit on the carpet during teaching times or group work.

Partnership with Our Lady and St. John’s Church Mini Vinnies ‘Mini Vinnies’ is a St Vincent de Paul Group set in the primary school. It is a group of young people aged 7-11 who get together, organise and talk about helping others in need within their school community and beyond. The pupils of P5, 6 and 7 have the opportunity to become Mini Vinnies. Mrs Corrigan and Mrs Dunn from the parish will visit the children to tell them all about this. The Mini Vinnies will run fortnightly as an afterschool club and will be overseen by Mrs Corrigan, Mrs Dunn and 2 other members of the parish community. If your child is interested in becoming a member, they will receive a permission letter home detailing dates and times of the meetings.

Catholic Education Week 2018 Catholic Education Week has an added bonus this year! Instead of just one week in the school calendar it will appear twice during 2018. As this is an important and historic year for the Catholic school community, we will also have an additional time to come together and reflect on the positive contribution Catholic Education makes to Scotland. It is fitting that this additional time should fall between the 16th and 30th November, the feasts of our Patrons St. Margaret and St. Andrew. We will celebrate in the week between the 23rd and 30th of November. The children are invited to come along to Mass on Sunday the 25th of November at 12 noon, when we will begin our celebrations. Children who are attending Mass should wear their full school uniform. To mark the end of Catholic Education Week, we will attend Mass at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday the 29th of November to mark St. Andrew’s Feast Day. We would be delighted if as many families as possible could join with us to observe the celebration of 100 years of Catholic Education. #catholicschoolsgoodforscotland.

Important dates for your diary:

19th November 2018 In Service Day 3- school closed to pupils

25th November 2018 Mass for Education Sunday at 12 noon in Our Lady & St. John’s Church

29th November 2018 Mass for St. Andrew’s Feast day at 9.30 am in Our Lady & St. John’s Church

30th November 2018 Wear Tartan Day to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day-pay £1

6th December 2018 Mass for First Friday at 9.30 a.m. in Our Lady & St. John’s Church

7th December 2018 Pantomime Visit to Lanark memorial hall

12th December 2018 Nativity performance at 10.00 a.m.

13th December 2018 Nativity performance at 2.00 p.m.

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I am attaching our adverse weather map. The path from the church car park up the side of the Muga will be cleared of snow first. On days when there is snow on the ground we strongly advise that all children enter the playground following this route.