-
St. John’s Primary School Head Teacher: Mrs Yvonne McCart
Heathfield Drive, Blackwood, ML11 9SR
Tel: 01555 892491 E-mail:
[email protected] School Website:
www.st-johns-blackwood-pri.s-lanark.sch.uk
Follow us on Twitter @StJohnsBwd
Download our school App FREE from Apple or Google Store
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:[email protected]://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.
Comment Slip – What do you think?
Please make any comments that could help further improve St.
John’s Primary.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I suggest…
Please return this slip to school office. Thank you
-
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.