Dear Parents,

 

A BOOK FAIR will be held in the YELLOW UNIT resource area from Thursday 27^th November to Monday 1^st December 2008.

 

The Book Fair will provide an opportunity for you and your child to select books from a wide range on show. You are invited to visit the book fair over the three days between 9.30 and 12.00 and 1.45 and 3.15. 

 

Your child will be timetabled to view the books with their own class and you may wish to visit at this time.  A timetable is in preparation.

 

The Book Fair will also be open from 10.30 a.m. until 11.30 a.m. on Saturday 29^th November during the school Christmas Fayre.

 

At these events there is always a need for parent helper support.  If you can spare some time to help, please complete and return the form below by Friday 9^th November.

 

As always your support is greatly appreciated.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

T. PERT

 

Depute Head Teacher

 

“………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

Name ___________________________________________would like to help at the Book Fair

 

 

Telephone No._______________Name & Class of Eldest Child__________________________________

 

PLEASE TICK AS APPROPRIATE

 

I am available

 

 

Thursday 27^th Nov.                              9.30-10.30_____                  11.00-12.00_____ 1.45-3.15_____

 

 

Friday 28^th Nov.                                   9.30-10.30_____                   11.00-12.00_____ 1.45-3.15_____

 

 

Monday 1^st Dec.                                   9.30-10.30_____                   11.00-12.00_____ 1.45-3.15_____

 

 

Dear Parents,

 

The Breast Cancer Campaign

 

Thank you so much to all those who contributed towards our “Pink Day”.  We raised £630.29 for The Breast Cancer Campaign which is just fantastic.  One of the best aspects of the day was seeing the children dressed in bright colours rather than their usual grey.

 

Christmas Cards

 

We would like to try something a little bit different this year.  Staff have raised a couple of concerns about the “Post Box”.  The distribution of cards takes up a lot of learning and teaching time and some children miss out on getting cards.  Our suggestion is for one card to the whole class with a donation to a charity identified by the school. This would help give the pupils an understanding of the true meaning of Christmas.  The children can of course still give cards to their chosen friends outwith school.

 

We will be in touch later in the term to let you know of the arrangements.

 

Head Teacher Appointment

 

I have been advised by Aberdeen City Council that the Head Teacher post at Loirston is being readvertised.  The new closing date is 17^th November 2008.

 

Patrol Officers

 

As you know, Mrs Walker, our school crossing patrol officer is off sick following an accident.  Unfortunately Mr Stewart the crossing patrol officer who assists the children crossing on Earns Heugh Avenue is also unwell and will be off for a period of time.

 

Please talk to your children about taking care when crossing and we will reinforce the message in school.  We wish them both a speedy recovery.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

L. McIntosh

 

Head Teacher

29^th October 2008

 

 

To the Parents/Carers of Pupils in P7

 

We have been given the opportunity of giving the pupils in P7 a Science experience at Kincorth Academy.  The proposal would be for each P7 class to spend a block of time each week for a period of four weeks in the Science Department at the Academy being taught by subject teacher.  The details are as follows.

 

            P7B                                                                P7A

Thursday 1.25 – 2.20 p.m.                        Thursday 1.25 – 2.20 p.m.

 

6^th November                                     15^th January

 

13^th November                                              22^nd January

 

20^th November                                              29^th January

 

27^th November                                              5^th February

 

The timetable for each class will be –

 

12.50 p.m.

First group picked up from Loirston.  13 children + 1 member of staff will be transported by minibus driven by a member of Kincorth staff.  Three pupils will be escorted by Grahame Whyte, Head Teacher at Kincorth, in his car.

 

1.15 p.m.

Second group will be taken to Kincorth, arrangements as above except that this group will have the opportunity to see round the school after the Science sessions.

 

1.25 – 2.20 p.m.

Science lesson with Academy staff (G. Owen, H. Celnick).

 

2.20 p.m.

First group return to Loirston.

 

2.30 p.m. (approximately)

Second group return to Loirston.

 

This opportunity is for all P7 pupils.  Please remind your child that this will be an opportunity to make a good first impression and also that they are representing Loirston School.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Louise McIntosh

Head Teacher

Click here to download the Winter Dinner menu.

LOIRSTON PARENT COUNCIL

MINUTES OF FIRST MEETING 7^th OCTOBER 2008

 

Present: Karen Paterson, Cath McLeish, Angie Balloch, Michelle Monks, Hazel Scott, Hazel Rose, Pam Chapla, Lesley Hill, Elaine Webster, Tracy Leach, Lorraine Young, Alison Bartlett, Val Burnett, Shona Greig, Sharon Toseland, Shonagh  Neave, Sarah Boyne, Alistair Gilmore, Yvonne Porteous, Tracy Robinson. Teachers: Mrs McIntosh, Mrs McPhee, Mrs Pert

 

Apologies: Michaela Towler, Fiona Watt, Karyn Webster, Irene Weir, Scott Shearer, Lynn Meldrum

 

Welcome & Thanks

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the 1^st meeting of Loirston Parent Council. It was a great turnout!

A big thanks to our out going committee members for all your hard work; Karen, Cath, Elaine & especially Yvonne who gave 10 years to keeping us financially up to date! And welcome in our new committee;

                        Chair:   Karen Paterson

                        Vice Chair: Val Burnett

                        Secretary: Cath McLeish

                        Treasurer: Scott Shearer

 

The Parent Council Constitution

 

In the present constitution, the maximum number of parents of children attending the school being members of the Council is 20. Due to the large numbers attending our first meeting it is therefore proposed to increase this number to 30. Any member of the Parent Forum who has any objection to this, is welcome to put forward these objections to any Council member by the next meeting. The rest of the constitution was approved by the Council.

 

Future Events

 

The next school disco is on Tuesday 28^th October. Volunteers are still need to help at both discos. If you haven’t put your name forward and would like to help, please contact Karen.

 

The Christmas Fayre is approaching fast, and a working group was set up (you know who you are!), but nearer the time as many volunteers as possible are needed, so leave Saturday 29^th November (& 28^th for setting up) free in your diary.

 

Training Dates

 

Anyone interested in going on a training course to help the Parent Council run smoothly? It is on Thursday 30^th October, 7.30 – 9.30 pm at Summerhill house and it’s free! Anyone interested let Karen know.

 

Date of Next Meeting 

 

Tuesday 11^th November, 7 pm.

 

Dear Parent/Carer,

 

I can’t believe that we have reached the October break already.  I hope you all have a good holiday and take joy in the company of your children.

 

Vandalism

Thankfully, we have not been so bothered with vandalism over the last few months.  A bit thank you to the Parent Association for paying the bill of £700 to repair the Playdale surface and to Aberdeen City Council for replacing the broken windows.  Please have a chat with your children about keeping themselves safe over the holidays.

 

Support for Learning

Our allocation of Support for Learning this year is 0.7 fte.  This means we have our SfL teacher, Ms. Matthew, for 3½ days a week.  Last year our provision was 1.2 fte.  Because of this reduction we have had to give careful consideration to where we can give additional support.  Mrs McPhee, Mrs Pert and myself meet regularly to discuss pupil progress and decide how best to meet the needs of all of the pupils.  Ms. Matthew meets regularly with staff.  She gives them invaluable advice and shares her expertise with them.

 

Diary Dates

Please see attached.  Hopefully you will be able to manage along to the various activities planned for next term.

 

Loirston Pupil Council

 

The first meeting of the pupil council in session 2008-2009 took place on Tuesday 7^th October in the Meeting Room

 

Classes from Primary 3 to Primary 7 are required to send a representative.  They are:-

 

                        Name                                                 Class

                        Erin                                                     P2/3

                        Christian                                             P3

                        Georgia                                              P4A

                        Matthew                                              P4B

                        Josh                                                    P5

                        Erin                                                     P5/6

                        Megan                                                P6

                        Aimee                                                 P7A   

                        Jack                                                    P7B

 

There is also a representative from the teaching staff, the non-teaching staff and the management team.

 

The representatives elected their office bearers for the current sitting of the pupil council.  Aimee – Chairperson, Megan – Vice-chairperson, Jack – Secretary and Georgia – Treasurer.

 

The pupil council has its own blog which can be accessed through loirstonconnect.edublogs.org and the intention is to publish any meeting minutes or information from the Loirston Pupil Council on that site.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday 5^th November.

                       

LOIRSTON SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL

 

The new Loirston Parent Council was formed on Tuesday 7^th October.  The Office Bearers are as follows:-

Chairperson               -                       Karen Paterson

Secretary                   -                       Cath McLeish

Treasurer                   -                       Scott Shearer

 

The Christmas Fayre will be on Saturday 29^th November.  Any help will be appreciated and a letter will follow after the October holiday with more information.

 

Message from Aberdeen City Council

 

09 October 2008

 

Aberdeen City Council keeps close watch on Icelandic financial situation

 

Aberdeen City Council is monitoring very closely the steps which the Icelandic government and the UK government are taking in relation to Landsbanki.

 

The city council has no money invested in any Icelandic bank but there is Landsbanki involvement in the £120 million 3Rs project to rebuild and refurbish several of its schools.

 

Landsbanki is lending money to NYOP – the city council’s private sector partner for the 3Rs project. NYOP has signed a contract with the council to design, build, finance and operate nine new schools and refurbish one other.

 

The city council does not begin to pay for the schools until they are operational.  The building phase is under way and is scheduled for completion by September 2010. The project is currently ahead of schedule.

 

Aberdeen City Council resources management convener Councillor Kevin Stewart said: “The Landsbanki situation is an unfortunate example of how the current global banking crisis can affect us all. We see in the news what governments around the world are doing to bring stability back to the financial sector – but at a local level the council is doing everything it can to minimise the impact.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

 

 

 

October

Friday 10^th                 -           School closes at 3.15 p.m. for October break

Monday 27^th               -           School reopens at 9 a.m.

 

 

 

November

Thursday 6^th               -           6.30-8.30 p.m. – Parent/Teacher Consultation

Thursday 13^th -           3.30-5.30 p.m. – Parent/Teacher Consultation

Friday 14^th                 -           In-Service Day

Thursday 27^th             -           Book Fair

Saturday 29^th             -           School Christmas Fayre

 

 

 

December

Tuesday 2^nd               -           Book Fair finishes today

Monday 8^th                 -           p.m. – Nativity Performance

Tuesday 9^th                -           a.m. – Nativity Performance

Thursday 11^th             -           School Christmas Lunch

Monday 15^th               -           a.m. & p.m. – Nursery parties

Tuesday 16^th -           p.m. – P1-3 Party

Wednesday 17^th        -           p.m. – P4-5 Party

Thursday 18^th             -           a.m. – Christmas Assembly

Thursday 18^th             -           p.m. – P 6 & P7 Disco

Friday 19^th                 -           School closes at 3.15 p.m. for Christmas break

 

 

 

January 2009

Monday 5^th                 -           School reopens at 9 a.m.

The first Loirston Radio Podcast is now available over on the Radio Blog.

Look at the fun we had. We raised £630.29 for Breast Cancer Research.

Friends of Doonies Ceilidh at Altens Community Centre on 8 November 2008 – 7.30 p.m. – 12 midnight

Dancing to Eddie Edmunds Band

Stovies, Tea, Coffee, Shortbread, Raffles – Bring your own bottle.

Tickets £15 each

tel 01224891755 or Fiona Watt x4805.  Proceeds to Doonies Farm, Scottish Charity No SC341685

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Parents of P2/3 and P3,

 

As you know we have been monitoring the P2/3 and P3 classes entering and exiting from the Red Unit first thing in the morning, at lunchtime and at the end of the day.

 

The children enter and exit from the Blue Unit at break time.

 

It has been decided that after the October break the P2/3 and P3 children will enter and exit from the Blue Unit at all times.

 

A number of factors have been taken into consideration when making this decision:-

 

• The large number of parents waiting in the Red Unit which makes it difficult for the new P1 children to find who is picking them up.
• The area is very congested.
• The children are losing valuable teaching time while they are walking from the Red Unit to the Blue Unit.
• The P2/3 and P3 children have coped very well when entering and exiting from the Blue Unit at break time.

 

Obviously the P2/3 and P3 children will be allowed to socialise with their peers during break and lunchtimes.

 

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

 

THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM