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MAY 2006
Dear Parent,
Already two weeks have
passed of this final term of session 2005 � 2006 and as ever it will be a
very busy term for the school. This term not only involves our school
reports to you but also parent meetings, sports days, school trips and the
production of the school development plan for next session. Some of the
important dates of the term are shown below.
DATES for THIS TERM
Week beginning June 5th
Music Festival Week.
Week beginning June
12th Report cards are given out
Monday 12th June:
School entertains ladies of the Salvation Army
Tuesday 13th June
1.30pm Senior Sports Primary 4 to 7. (on Wednesday 14th if weather is poor
on Tuesday)
Thursday 15th June
1.30pm: Infant Sports Primary 1 to 3 (on Friday 16th if weather is poor on
Thursday)
Wednesday 21st June:
Parents night 6.00pm � 9.00pm.
Thursday 22nd June
Parents night 3.30 � 6.00pm
Friday 30th June:
School will close just after midday.
PTA MEETING
There will be a PTA meeting held
in the school at 7.00pm on Tuesday May 8th to discuss a PTA event for this
term. All parents are welcome and are encouraged to attend. .
A CURRICULUM for
EXCELLENCE
Some of you may be aware that
there are soon to be some significant developments in Scottish education.
These changes have been considered since the national consultation which
the Scottish Executive had about Scottish education in 2002. The changes
will have a profound effect on the curriculum within all Scottish schools.
The major aims of the new curriculum are: reducing overcrowding in the
curriculum, make learning enjoyable, equipping young people with skills
they need now and in the future and making better links between different
curriculum areas. There has been a special emphasis on the outcomes of
education and four features have been identified as being of particular
importance for pupils who come through the Scottish education system.
These are successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens
and effective contributors.. At Hillhead the report cards this session
will now identify areas of strength and possible areas of development
which every pupil has with regard to these four capacities. Please do fill
in the questionnaire about the school and the Curriculum for Excellence
which accompanies this newsletter.
I think that Hillhead is
well placed to accept the challenges of these developments. I am sure that
over the next few years you will hear much of these developments and I
will certainly keep you informed of changes in school which result from
them. .
MATHS DAY
 One of the features of last years
development plan was to hold a Maths day � a day in which pupils would be
involved in Maths activities. This has now been set for Monday 22nd May
PRIMARY 7 TRIP TO YORK
The Primary 7 pupils will be taking
their annual trip to York in the week beginning May 15th. They return on
Friday May 19th. The week's activities will involve visits to attractions
in York, The Deep Aquarium in Hull and Flamingoland Theme Park.
E.T. PHONE HOME BOARD
This term the school will trial a new
�ET Phone home� board. The board will be displayed in the library. On this
board, each class from nursery to Primary 7 will identify a pupil whose
efforts in the classroom deserve to be recognised. The pupil may have been
very hard working, had some learning success or helped the class in some
way. This pupil will receive a note or phone call home to pass on the good
news to his parent/s and also have his name displayed on the ET Phone Home
board for the next fortnight. The board has just started up but already we
have a few names on it. The infant classes have nominated the following
pupils: Primary 1- Declan Gunn (good listening), Primary 2
Robbie Davis (lovely painting) Primary 3 Lianna Fraser (hard
worker and polite) Primary 4 Emma Duncan (bringing in items for
class topics) Primary 5 Rachel Graham (good concentration on her
work) and Primary 6 Tanya Howden (general application to her work).
The next newsletter will contain names from pupils of each class who have
had word home about their success in school.
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TANGRAM CHALLENGE
Many pupils entered the Tangram
challenge which was set over the Easter holidays. Table 1 shows the return
from each class with Primary 7 easily topping the list.
|
Class |
% of entries returned |
Class |
% of entries returned |
|
Nursery |
25% |
Primary 4 |
48% |
|
Primary 1 |
56% |
Primary 5 |
38% |
|
Primary 2 |
48% |
Primary 6 |
29% |
|
Primary 3 |
38% |
Primary 7 |
87% |
Mrs Joan Cormack (Learning Support
Auxiliary in school) very kindly negotiated with the Easter bunny and took
4 large eggs and a soft toy to school for the pupils. The four eggs have
been shared by the four classes with the highest returns for the tangram
competition Each class has a winner. They are:
|
Class |
Winner |
Picture |
|
Nursery |
Alannah Hay |
Mermaid |
|
Primary 1 |
Calum Paterson
|
Diplidocus |
|
Primary 2 |
Greg Morgan |
Windmill |
|
Primary 3 |
Morgan Robertson
|
Rocket |
|
Primary 4 |
Katie Cunningham
|
Robin Hood |
|
Primary 5 |
Tommy Burns |
Chicken |
|
Primary 6 |
Heather Mackay |
Robot |
|
Primary 7 |
Paul Cameron |
Running Dog |
RAG RUGS
You will recall that last term the
pupils in Primary 4 to 7 were all involved in the traditional craft of rag
rug making with the artist Sally Orr. The children produced small squares
and Ms Orr has now sewn together a number of the squares to create a wall
hanging. In line with the school aim of contributing to the community in a
positive way, these wall hangings will be gifted to some public buildings
in the town. In the past artwork from pupils at Hillhead has been donated
to the local Health Centre, Caithness General Hospital, Wick library, old
folk�s homes plus a number of offices and shops in the town. If you are
aware of any public premises in Wick which might benefit from a rag rug
hanging, then please get in touch with the school.
AMERICAN AUTHOR VISITS
On Monday 24th April, the American
author Berwyn Butler visited school to speak to the pupils in Primary 6
and 7 about her latest book. �Dinky Doorknob� is a story set in a house in
Thurso road, Wick. The pupils enjoyed her visits and two copies of her
novel were left with the school. Copies are also available to purchase in
D.R. Simpson�s newsagents.
PARENT TIP SHEET
The May Parent Tip sheets accompany
this newsletter. I hope you will find the ideas useful to have some
educational fun with your child.
NURSERY POST
At interview last Monday, Mrs Wilma
MacGregor was the successful candidate for the post of Early Years Worker
in the nursery. Her official start date is May 18th when she will work
Thursday and Fridays in the nursery. She will replace Mrs Banks who will
now be working from Monday to Wednesday. Mrs MacGregor will be visiting a
day each week over the next two weeks to familiarise herself with the
nursery routine. Miss Fry who was a very late placement in the nursery
from Aberdeen University has now finished her four week placement in the
nursery. Miss Lynsey Falconer is currently on placement in Primary 2 from
the North Highland College from Monday to Thursdays each week.
BIRTHS BIRTHS BIRTHS
HAGAN, JAMIE. A little brother for Max
from the nursery. Young Jamie was born on April 15th and weighed in at a
very healthy 9lbs 12oz. Big brother Max says � He cries a bit and looks a
bit like me.�
Ryan Gow in Primary 3 has a new
baby sister called Mari. Mari was delivered on April 15th and weighed in
at 7lbs 12oz. Big brother Ryan says that his new sister is �nice and
quiet.�
Yours faithfully
A Budge
Headteacher |
