Summer 2010 Newsletter

Dear Parent

This is a very busy time for everyone and therefore I want to ensure that you all get the necessary information for the last week of this session and for the start of the new session in August.

Additional inservice day

There is an additional Curriculum for Excellence inservice day on Tuesday 17 August for teachers at the start of next session. Therefore Primary 2 - 7 children start the new session on Wednesday 18 August.  The first day for our new Primary 1 children is Friday 20 August at 9.15am.

Race Night

Thank you very much to our Parent Council members and those in the community and further afield who helped to organise the Race Night at the end of May.  It was a very enjoyable night and everyone seemed to have lots of fun.  A huge sum was raised to support the school which will help to bring our school up to the 21^st century in many different ways. Through this support the school is able to purchase an information board to enable us to have better communication with our community and interested people.

P.E.

All our children need to bring their P.E. kit with them on Tuesday 29 June.  This is not our usual day for gym but this will be Mrs Munro’s last time with us as she returns to working full time with the Aboyne cluster next session.  She stepped in when we had no P.E. specialist back in August and we very much appreciate her commitment to our school.

Cost of school meals

Beginning next session the cost of a school meal will be £1.80 for a meal, £18 for a book of 10 tickets.  Our ticket system is working well and we will continue with the children bringing their ticket with them each day.  Thank you to everyone who is ensuring their child’s name is written on the ticket.  It is very helpful to us.

End of term service

As the Primary 7 link week comes to an end I hope that they have found it enjoyable and informative.  Our end of session service will be on Thursday 1 July at 1.30pm in Strachan Village Hall.  We have a very full programme by our talented youngsters and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there. At the end of the service the children can go home with you.  If anyone requires travelling home by school transport please let the school know by Tuesday.

I hope the good weather continues and you and your families all have a restful and enjoyable summer holiday.  I look forward seeing you refreshed in August.

Kind regards

Jill Dunn

Head Teacher

June Newsletter
 

Dear Parent

What a disappointment it was for everyone to have to cancel our Sport’s Day this morning, however the children took part in a very active Fairtrade Assembly with Mrs Henley, learning about fair and unfair practices in farming.  Our Sport’s Day will now be on Wednesday 16 June starting at 10 am till 12 noon.  Hopefully we will have better luck with the weather then!

Curriculum for Excellence Information Evening

Thank you very much to all those who attended our recent open evening.  I hope that you found the meeting informative and the opportunity to discuss questions was helpful to you.  The meeting was very well attended and I appreciate that this is a busy time of year.

Congratulations!

Firstly, well done to our football team who won the league this year.  A fantastic achievement.  I would like to thank Mr MacFarlane and all those who have supported our footballers throughout this year.  Good luck to the team as they enter the Burnett Cup at Crathes on Monday 14 June starting at 6.30 pm.  I am sure your support would be appreciated if you are able to go along to the match.

Congratulations also to Charlotte Clarke for receiving the award for “Best Girl” at our recent Touch Rugby tournament.  The team have done extremely well and have really enjoyed learning the sport.

River Dee Puppet Project

Rehearsals are well under way for the performance at Woodend Barn on Friday 11 June.  Our two puppeteers, Alison Monaghan and Francisca Morton, have worked with both classes over several sessions.  The children have worked conscientiously and look forward to performing their work for you.  You are invited to our dress rehearsal in Strachan School on Thursday 10 June at 1.45 pm.  As the children will be sitting on the floor at the performance on Friday, we need each child to bring a cushion in a plastic bag to school on Thursday so that they have a more comfortable seat!  There are still some seats available for the performance at Woodend Barn at 10.20 am (P1-4), 10.40 am (P5-7) and 12.10 pm (P5-7).  These are new times.  If you would like a place or a second place on Friday please contact Strachan School.

Authors Live!

The Scottish Booktrust have organised a series of programmes on BBC TV where children can watch famous authors.  P1-4 recently watched a live presentation by the author Julia Donaldson.  She talked about the famous characters in her books and how she wrote the stories.  I hope that on Thursday 17 June P5-7 will enjoy listening to Michael Morpurgo talking about his favourite characters.

Fire Safety

The children will have two visits from Fire Education Officer Ali Michie.  On Tuesday 22 June they will be learning about fire safety in the home, and on the following Tuesday 29 June they will be learning about fire safety plans and hoax phone calls.

Primary 7 Link Days

Primary 7 have been completing activities in French as part of their transition to starting secondary school.  The girls starting at Banchory Academy in August will be attending 3 link days of activities there on 23, 24 and 25 June.

Wireless Networking

We now have 2 new laptops in school (one purchased by the school) to provide opportunities for personal research and independent working.  During the summer holidays the school will be set up with a wireless network, which will allow us to use our ICT resources more effectively to support pupils’ learning.

Primary 1 Induction

Aaron, Katy and Olivia have completed their 3 induction days and are settling in well.  We look forward to seeing them again at our rescheduled Sport’s Day.  Primary 1 children starting school in August 2010 will start school on Friday 20 August at 9.15 am.

New School Hours for Session 2010-2011

Aberdeenshire Council have asked me to inform you of this statement about the changes to the school hours for our younger pupils: 

“Aberdeenshire Education, Learning & Leisure Service has reviewed its policy relating to the length of the P1-3 day, in line with Scottish Government legislation.  These changes will take effect from the start of the session 2010/2011, with all pupils receiving their entitlement to 25 hours of education per week.”

Strachan School hours for all pupils next session will be as follows:

May I remind all parents of the additional In-Service Day on Tuesday 17 August 2010.

Summer Holiday Programme

Aberdeenshire Council will be running their programme of outdoor activities and trips for P7s to S4s during this summer on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  The activities include skiing, snowboarding, surfing, sailing, mountain biking, horse riding and many more.  For further details contact Fiona Lamb (Holiday Activities Coordinator) at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk or call 01467 628283 during office hours.

End of Year Celebration!

This is a very important time for our Primary 7s, some of whom have been at Strachan School since Primary 2.  I wish to make the occasion a memorable one for them.  However, this year Mr Holt is on holiday and Strachan Village Hall is not available to us on the last day of term.  Therefore the service this year will be in Strachan Village Hall on Tuesday 29 June, 1.30 pm – 2.30 pm.  Children should be collected from the Hall at the end of the service.  The Parent Council is kindly providing refreshments.  I hope as many of you as possible will join us for this celebration.

Thank You

As Heather moves on to Banchory Academy, Mrs Clark who has supported us with our library and worked with P1-4 children on reading for information activities also wishes to move on.  We have greatly appreciated her help to re-organise the library and will miss her Wednesday visits.

Our library is an important part of our school.  If anyone would be interested in helping with the school library in any way I would be delighted to discuss with you the different aspects of the role. 

Reminder Box

• ·          It is very helpful if your child’s name is written on their lunch tickets. ·          Please remember that P.E kits are needed every Friday. ·          Could you also make sure you send in the lunch orders      on Thursday.

   
• It is very helpful if your child’s name is written on their lunch tickets.
• Please remember that P.E kits are needed every Friday.
• Could you also make sure you send in the lunch orders

Dates for your diary

10^th    June   Puppet Show rehearsal in Strachan School at 1.45 pm

11^th    June   Puppet performances at Woodend Barn at 10.20 am, 10.40 am and 12.10 pm

14^th    June   Whole school visit to Archaeolink  - remember to bring a packed lunch

14^th    June   Burnett Cup at Crathes at 6.30 pm

16^th    June   Sports Day in the morning finishing around 12 noon

21^st    June   “Rookies” joining lunchtime Scripture Union meeting

22^nd   June    Fire Safety talk about fire safety in the home

23^rd, 24^th, 25^th June link days at Banchory Academy for P7s

29^th   June    Fire safety talk about fire safety plans and hoax calls

29^th   June    End of term celebration in Strachan Village Hall at 1.30 pm

2^nd    July      End of term

18^th   August Start of new session

Thank you very much for your support over the past year.

I hope that you and your families have a very enjoyable summer holiday.

Kindest regards,

Mrs Jill Dunn

Head Teacher