Caithness CWS - Community - Education - Mount Pleasant Primary School - Newsletter

19 AUGUST 2005

WELCOME BACK
Welcome back to a new school year.

Children now seem to be in the way of wearing our school uniform and looked so smart coming back on the first day. If anyone requires items of uniform we hold a small stock in school or items can be ordered fairly quickly. We also have school and house team badges available at tuck time at a cost of �1 for the enamel house team badge and 50p for the school badge.

Accompanying this newsletter are:

� Emergency contact details we hold for your child(ren). Please check the details and return by Friday 26 August.
� The new six week school menu which should be kept for reference.

ABSENCES
Just to remind you that it is Highland Council Policy, if a pupil is off school for more than 3 days without explanation I am required to contact parents. I would ask that parents do not take any offence when contacted, this is something all schools are now required to do. Please telephone the school or send in a note to advise of the reason for your child�s absence before the 3 day deadline. Your help in this matter is much appreciated.

JEWELLERY
Just a reminder that all jewellery should be removed before participating in ay PE activities, including swimming. If children wear jewellery to school they should be able to remove it themselves.

If children cannot participate in PE/swimming lessons for any reason, a letter of explanation should be sent to the class teacher.

The school will not be held responsible for injury caused by the wearing of jewellery.

WATER BOTTLES
Children are allows drinks in class as the classes do get very warm but should only have water in their bottles, not juice. Sports caps are preferred to avoid any spillages spoiling school books. Bottles of water are available from the school tuck shop (35p).

CELEBRATING SUCCESS
We have a �Celebrating Success� board in the Main Hall where we display photographs of children�s achievements, eg football, dancing trophies, etc. Please encourage your child to let us know of any achievements out of school to let us display them on our Celebrating Success Board.

SCHOOL MEALS/CLOTHING GRANTS
Free School Meals/Clothing Grant forms are available from the office. Entitlements are as follows:

Free School Meals entitlement:
� Income Support OR
� Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance OR
� Child Tax Credit BUT NO Award of Working Tax Credit and an annual income which does not exceed �13,910
� Support under Part VI of the Immigration Asylum Act 1999.

Clothing Grant entitlement:
� Income Support OR
� Income-based Job Seekers Allowance OR
� Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit � with NHS Exemption OR
� Widowed Person�s Allowance

This assistance is not available for Nursery pupils.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
The activities we have are mainly sporting orientated and for the older children. Some of these activities will not be continuing over the winter months so if any parents have any ideas or are interested in taking an after school club, please contact the school office to make the necessary arrangements. I am particularly interested in establishing a craft club where over the course of the year children will be able to learn about different crafts. If you would be able to help out for even a few weeks, this would be greatly appreciated.

CHARITIES FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR
As you will know we regularly support local and national charities throughout the school year. This year we have decided to support:

Term 1 � CLIC Sargent/The Roald Dahl Foundation
Term 2 � The Big Sing � The African Childrens� Choir Charity/CLIC Sargent
- Children in Need
Term 3 � Individual classes will choose which local charities to give donations to from the profits from their Enterprise projects
Term 4 � Action Research

SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN/PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE
A full copy of the School Development Plan is available on request to borrow from the school office. Although I have not completed collating the information from the parent questionnaire issued from before the summer break it is clear that this is an area where many parents feel they need more information. I will issue a separate note to parents specifically about the school development plan for 2005/6.

Thank you to all parents who returned the questionnaires last term, I realised it was very short notice. As I have not yet collated the information there is still an opportunity for parents to complete questionnaires. If you require a fresh copy please contact the school office. All returns are required by Friday, 26 August.

HEAD LICE
In accordance with guidelines in dealing with head lice in schools if head lice are found or suspected then parents will be informed by means of a confidential telephone call/letter. Children will not be excluded from school but parents should take prompt action in dealing with them.

ACTION RESEARCH TEDDY BEAR�S PICNIC/HIGHLAND HEALTH WEEK
Thank you for supporting the school by encouraging your children to participate in the Teddy Bear�s Picnic last term. Agnes put on a tremendous spread for us and the picnic was a great success.

We raised �222 for Action Research by having the lucky dip and selling the badges. The winner of the Paddington Bear was Alexander Gunn. Well done to everyone.

CYCLING PROFICIENCY
We are looking for volunteers to train to be cycling proficiency trainers for P6 pupils. There will be a 2 hour training session at 1.00 pm on Tuesday, 27 September in Mount Pleasant School Parents� Room. If you would like to participate in the cycling proficiency training for Mount Pleasant School, please complete the cycling proficiency tear-off slip at the end of the newsletter.

MISSING JACKET
Ceira Sutherland, P2, lost her Mount Pleasant rain jacket at the end of last term, her name is on it. Please check your child�s jacket to ensure they haven�t inadvertently taken Ceira�s home.

DROPPING OFF CHILDREN
Can I remind parents that no pupils should be dropped off on Castletown Road. Parents should use the Castle Terrace car park as a drop off point which then allows children to cross with the crossing patroller.

SCOTTISH IN-CAR SAFETY CAMPAIGN 2005
Lisa Graham, Highland Council Road Safety Officer, has asked me to pass on the following information:

�Highland Council in partnership with Northern Constabulary and Halfords Ltd are running a Child Car Seat Checking Day at Somerfield, Millbank Road, Thurso on Thursday, 1 September between 10.30 am and 3.00 pm.�

MUSIC FESTIVAL CONCERT
Thank you to the parents who came along to our Festival Concert afternoon. The children put on a great performance and enjoyed having you as their audience.

BULB MAN
We will shortly be issuing Bulb Man catalogues for autumn bulbs. Any money raised from this fundraising activity will go towards additional resources for the School Nature Garden.

PTA NEWS
The PTA disco last term raised �456. Thank you to all the staff and parents who helped with the supervision of the disco. We have not yet decided what this money will be spent on but this will be discussed at the first PTA meeting of the year. New parents should feel free to join us at this meeting and find out more about the function of the PTA.

Copies of PTA minutes are available on the school website and also on the notice board outside the office. The next PTA meeting will be held at 3.15pm on Thursday, 25 August.

SCHOOL BOARD
The winner of June�s prize draw was Sharon Begg (Liam, P6). Copies of School Board minutes are available on the school website and also on the notice board outside the office. The school board prize draw will restart next week. Look out for it coming home in your child�s school bag. The next meeting will be held at 7.00 pm on Monday, 12 September.

Members are: Mr S Duncan, Chairman Mrs S MacKrell, Treasurer
Mr E Falconer Mrs D Peddie
Mrs A Robertson-Carswell Mr J Miller
Mrs K Farmer Mr T Jackson, Councillor
Mrs H Geddes, Clerk

COLLECTION ITEMS
We continue to collect:
� Items for Blue Peter Appeal � clean clothes in good condition, no shoes
� Empty ink cartridges.
� Stamps
� Persil Stars
� Nestle Box Tops
� Aluminium Cans (cleaned, crushed and in a carrier bag)

HOLIDAY/IN-SERVICE DATES
School Closes (at the end of the school day on) School Opens (9.00 am on)
Friday, 7 October 2005 Monday, 24 October 2005
Friday, 4 November 2005 Wednesday, 9 November 2005
Thursday, 22 December 2005 Monday, 9 January 2006
Wednesday, 8 February 2006 Tuesday, 14 February 2006
Friday, 31 March 2006 Wednesday, 19 April 2006
Friday, 30 June 2006

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
WEEK 1	Sausage & Mashed Potato Chicken Chow Mein Broccoli and Sweetcorn Museli Slice & Chocolate Milk	Macaroni and Cheese Fishcakes & Ketchup Boiled Potatoes, Peas, Carrots Ice Cream & Fruit Sauce	Roast Beef, Potatoes, Gravy Pork & Potato Bake Green Beans & Cauliflower Banana Cake & Custard	Carrot Soup Fish & Chips Cheese & Pineapple Salad & Chips Coleslaw & Mixed Veg	Spaghetti Bolognaise Egg or Tuna Sandwiches Grated Carrot & Cucumber Sticks Rice Pudding & Fruit
WEEK 2	Savoury Minced Beef Fishy Bites Mashed Potato Green Beans & Mixed Veg Angel Whip	Chicken Fajitas (Wraps) Sweet & Sour Pork & Noodles Sweetcorn & Mixed Salad Chocolate Semolina & Fruit	Beefburgers in a Bun Pizza Baked Beans & Grated Carrot Fresh Fruit Salad & Cream	Ham Risotto Fish Fingers & Chips Peas & Broccoli Fruit Loaf & Custard	Chicken Curry & Rice Baked Potato with Cheese or Tuna Cucumber Sticks & Green Salad Toffee Muffins & Custard
WEEK 3	Hot Dogs in a Roll Macaroni & Cheese Peas & Braised Onions Fruit Sponge & Custard	Vegetable Soup Sweet & Sour Pork with Rice Turkey/Ham Salad, Potato Croquettes Beetroot & Sweetcorn	Fish Fingers Roast Beef & Gravy Roast Potatoes, Green Beans and Broccoli Carrot Cake	Chicken Curry Salmon Kebabs Rice & Roasted Vegetable Couscous Cucumber & Carrot Sticks Jelly Whip	Beef Casserole & Mashed Potato Pitta Pocket with Tuna or Cheese Salad Shredded Cabbage & Grated Carrot Meringues & Fruit
WEEK 4	Venison Burger in a Bun Pizza Salad Selection & Coleslaw Semolina & Fruit	BBQ Chicken & Rice/Couscous Jacket Potato with Chilli Broccoli & Cucumber Fruit Crumble & Custard	Fish in Breadcrumbs Pork Sausages Mashed Potatoes, Baked Beans & Peas Ice Cream & Sliced Banana	Roast Pork & Gravy Salmon Kebabs Roast Potatoes Green Beans & Carrots Banana Cake	Mince & Tatties Macaroni & Cheese Sweetcorn & Turnip Meringue Nests filled with Fruit
WEEK 5	Chicken Stir Fry & Noodles Tuna and Red Pepper Risotto Sweetcorn & Peas Fruit Crumble & Custard	Shepherds Pie Fishcakes & Ketchup Boiled Potatoes, Diced Carrots & Cabbage Trifle	Macaroni & Cheese Roast Pork & Gravy Roast Potatoes Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets Choc Chip Banana Muffins	Scotch Broth Sausage Casserole & Mashed Potatoes Turnip & Green Beans Ham or Egg Sandwiches & Salad	Chicken Curry & Rice/Couscous Jacket Potatoes with cheese or tuna Carrots & Cucumber Flapjack & Glass of Milkshake
WEEK 6	Bangers & Mash Vegetable Lasagne Sweetcorn & Broccoli Florets Cookies & Banana Milk	Spaghetti Bolognaise Tuna or Chicken Wrap Green Beans & Carrots Toffee Muffins	Fish & Chips Chicken Burger & Chips Mixed Veg & Coleslaw Semolina & Fruit	Roast Turkey & Gravy Fishermans Pie Boiled Potatoes Peas & Broccoli Jelly & Cream	Beef Curry & Rice Baked Potato with Cheese or Tuna Cauliflower Florets & Tomato Wedges Pears & Chocolate Custard