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OCTOBER 2006
Dear Parent,
Already the first term draws to an end. This
seems to have been a very busy time at school.
ENTERPRISE ACTIVITIES
Primary 4 and Primary 6 have both produced items for sale. Primary 4 are
making tablemats which show views of Wick on one side and self portraits
of each class on the other. These can be ordered in any combination of
photographs of Wick and classes to make up a total of six. The cost is �3
per set of six. Individual tablemats can also be purchased for �1 each.
Please advise Primary 4 if you wish to place an order.
Primary 6 produced some envelopes from old
calendars and glossy magazines. These were very colourful and make quite a
green statement for your mail. Primary 7 would still be interested in
receiving any old mobile phones this week or the first week of next term.
PUPIL POSITIONS
Pupil Council members have also been elected in elections held from
Primary 3 to 7. The following members have been elected. Ryan Paul, Jade
Plowman (Primary 3), Caitlin Carter, Jack Hamilton (Primary 4) Calum
Cormack, Katie Cunningham (Primary 5) Matthew Sinclair, Kara Plowman
(Primary 6), Cameron Duffy, Michael Budge, and Zoe Sutherland (Primary 7).
The group have met twice already and a charity fundraising day will be
planned for next term. Further details will be issued early next term.
PARENT OPEN AFTERNOON
The parent open afternoon on Monday 2nd October was particularly well
attended � indeed it broke all previous attendances with 89% of pupils
having a family visitor to look at their work. Many thanks to all the
parents who responded to questions concerning the pupil folios and the
Highland Year of Culture. Thanks also to those who wrote down suggestions
for books for the library. We are still happy to receive more ideas about
any of these matters.
DEVELOPING READING
The school is keen to encourage children to read for pleasure during this
school year. There are five separate initiatives which we hope will help
us achieve this.
1.Bring Writers To The School
The writer Simon Puttock visited school last week to speak to pupils from
the nursery to primary 5. This was possible through a successful
application for funding to Live Literature Scotland. The school hopes to
make another application to this scheme to fund the visit of at least one
other writer in the spring/summer term.
2. An Exchange Of Bookmarks With India And
China.
All pupils in Hillhead will exchange a bookmark with pupils from schools
in Ahmedabad in India and Tianjin in China.
3. Community Link
Research has shown that children are more likely to read if they see
adults around them reading. The school, has written to 40 people from the
community asking them to come in and read a story to the pupils. This
initiative will take place in November.
4. Join The Triple �B� Gang
The school will launch a reading at home scheme early in November. It will
concentrate its efforts on encouraging children to read at bedtime � �The
Triple B Gang� stands for Brilliant Books at Bedtime. Parents will be
asked to encourage their child to either share reading a book at bedtime
or for the child to read a book at bedtime. A record will be kept of the
child�s reading at bedtime. This scheme will run through until March �
full details will be sent out early next term. Please do encourage your
child to take part in this scheme. It is the major focus of our drive to
develop reading in the school. The scheme will be launched through a whole
school day focus on a cowboy theme on Friday November 3rd.
5. Developing The Library Stock
Please let us know of any books which you would recommend for the school
library.
CELTIC FC TRAINING
Celtic Football Club have organised two days of training for boys and
girls It will take place at the Naver all weather pitch in Thurso on
Saturday Oct 7th and 8th The course for the 9 to 12 year olds runs from
9am � 12noon and for the 5 to 8 year olds it runs from 1pm � 3pm. The
course costs �10 and can be booked by telephone on 0845 671 1888 or over
the internet at:
http://www.celticfc.net/development/coaching/courses.aspx#SummerHoliday
CORRIDOR COMPETITION
The recent corridor competition asked pupils to draw pictures which
illustrated one of the four disciplines of A Curriculum for Excellence:
successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens or
effective contributors. The final pictures which were chosen as winners
are now framed in the school�s entrance corridor. They are by Jordan Oag
(Primary 7), Kyle Gunn (Primary 6), Erin MacDonald (Primary 5), Caitlin
Carter (Primary 4), Stephanie Leith (Primary 3), Ben Hervo (Primary 2) and
Sophie Campbell, Rhea Booth, Kaitlin Gunn and Alannah Hay (all of Primary
1).
SPORTING SUCCESS
The school had a very successful time at the East of Caithness mini rugby
tournament held in Wick North School on August 28th and 29th. Teams from
Primary 4, 5, 6 and 7 all won through to the final of their competitions
with Primary 4 coming out as overall winners. Well done to the Primary 4
team of Ryan Cormack, Jack Fraser, Connor Harcus, Scott Gunn, Scott
Macadie, Lucy Aitken and Morgan Robertson.
Thank you also to Mr Frame who had taken all
the senior classes for some touch rugby training in the weeks before the
tournament.
The school also acquitted themselves well in
the Wick Junior Triathlon which was held on September 10th. Three teams
were entered for each category. In the Primary 4/5 division, the Hillhead
teams were placed 4th, 5th and 8th from 12 teams. In the Primary 6/7
category, the Hillhead teams obtained 2nd, 5th and 10th place from 14
entries. The organisers have provided all competitors with a rather
attractive Wick Triathlon 2006 tee shirt to mark their efforts.
HIGHLAND CHALLENGE
As you will know 2007 is the year of Highland Culture. Pupils will be
involved in a variety of activities to do with the Highlands. One of the
things which we are asking pupils to do is complete a small Highland based
challenge each month until the end of this session. These challenges
always appear in the monthly parent Tip sheet. To date the number of
pupils who have participated in these activities is very disappointing. A
new challenge is issued for October in this month�s tip sheet. Please
encourage and support your child to achieve this. Many thanks.
STAFF CHANGES
Mr Green the school chef has now left his position in the kitchen. During
his 21 months here, he has provided the pupils with some great special
meals and visual presentations of healthy eating. We are grateful for all
his efforts and enthusiasm. We wish him well in his new position with
Tescos.
PTA AGM
There will be an AGM of the Parent Teachers Association on the evening of
Wednesday 25th October at 7.00pm. All parents are invited to attend. The
PTA has done a fine job in recent years in organising two activities per
year for pupils. Parents and staff to attend. We would be very grateful to
have some new parent support in these ventures this year.
SCHOOL MENUS
The school lunch menu will be on WEEK 3 for the first week after the
October holidays.
CALENDAR
Friday 6th October; School breaks up for October holidays.
Monday 23rd October: School resumes after October holidays
Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st November School will be closed to pupils for
In Service Days
I hope that you and your family will have a
happy time during the October holidays.
Yours faithfully
A.Budge
Headteacher
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