Hello, Everyone.

February is generally a month of variable weather and this has been true for this year, as well as previous ones. Please do check the THUS line if there is any possibility of disruption to the usual school routine.

Staffing

Considering the huge difficulties which have been documented in the press regarding staffing, we have been extremely lucky in being able to keep classes fully covered. This has been in no small part due to the flexibility of our Learning Support staff, who have stepped into the void. We are indebted to them.

Recently, we have welcomed back Mrs Beaton, from Maternity Leave. She will take over from Mrs Whitecross who has left to take her own period of Maternity Leave. We wish her all good wishes and wait to hear whether she has a little girl or a boy !

Mrs Ewen will leave us soon, also on Maternity Leave. After interview, Mr Matt Harrison has secured the Maternity Leave post and will be with us until Mrs Ewen’s return. We hope that another teacher will be recruited to fill the gap, soon.

We are currently advertising for Education Auxiliary staff. This is to en-sure that we have support for new pupils, at early stages . We are hope-ful of success as we have had a number of enquires from people inter-ested in the post.

A Selection of Learning Experiences:

P.4-5D are continuing to visit Keith Grammar School. They are

benefitting from the P.E. leadership skills of KGS pupils.

P.6-7 pupils have been accessing the ICT facilities of KGS dur-ing the Bikeability training. Thanks go to Keith Grammar School for al-

lowing us to use their facilities.

P.7 pupils took part in a performance and workshop based on Road Safety. The focus was on recognising dangerous situations in the street and as road users and finding the right solutions in order to keep themselves and others safe. Very useful skills!

P.6D pupils led our Assembly on 30th January, when they shared all the work they had done on WW1 and Conflict Resolution. It was wonderful to be able to welcome the senior citizens from the “Fly and Friendship” group to the dress rehearsal. Everyone enjoyed the tea and fine pieces which were served afterwards and our visitors enjoyed their tour of the school, as many had not been in the building, before.

P.5S treated us to a fantastic performance when they led our Assembly on 6th February. They had different themes, songs, characters and costumes for every single times table from zero up to 12! They have no excuses now for having problems with multiplication and division—we know that they have their tables off by heart!

Netball Club has started up, again, for P.5,6,7 girls. This takes place after school on Thursdays. Thanks go to Mrs Virdi.

Nursery pupils are regularly visiting the local woods to make the most of the area for their outdoor learning experiences.

This year’s Rotary General Knowledge Quiz took place on the evening of 24th February. There

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was a good mixture of questions—some trickier than others! Our team did us proud, coming in a very respectable third, to Botriphnie in second place and winners, Newmill. Well done, everyone.

Audit

As a follow-on from our HMIe Inspection, Officers from the Moray Council’s Continuous Improvement Team and Head Teachers, will visit the school on 10th and 11th March. They will be visiting clas-ses as well as speaking to pupils, parents and staff. This will inform a report which will be sent to Inspectors.

PTA

Our PTA is a vital arm of our school fund-raising machine. Without it, our pupils would not have nearly so many interesting learning experiences or fun events such as our Christmas parties, visits from San-ta, up-to-date equipment, etc. The events they organise are great fun for families and parents, as well as fund-raisers. Please join in and be part of this fun and worthwhile group. The next meeting is on 2nd March, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room, when arrangements for our annual Tombola will be finalised. All are welcome.

Parent Council

The Parent Council met on 23rd February and the Minutes of the meet-ing will be available, soon. Progress on the new website and our audit by Moray Council was shared, as well as information on how we would like to involve parents in formulating our Curriculum Rationale.

Eco Group

The Eco Group’s Waste-free Lunch will take place on 25th Febru-ary. The object is not to reduce school waste, but to make pupils more aware of the amount of waste generated by uneaten food and it’s packaging. I’m sure this will be something of an eye-opener and

really make pupils understand the amount of waste which would usually be taken home and dis-posed of by parents and therefore be unnoticed, by the majority

Red Nose Day

P.6-7H will lead our Assembly on Red Nose Day. They will also be organising some fund-raising events, for the day itself. Please ask children to look out for posters around the school!

Bikeability

Many, many thanks to the parents and other adults who have given up their time to facilitate this train-ing. This extremely important training could not have taken place without them. More sessions have been arranged for the group who needed it, in order to pass the test. Again, thanks to all who have given up their time.

Gardening Club

Gardening Club is hoping to start up again after the Easter holidays . The garden needs top soil to fill the new raised bed. If any one knows where we can get some please get in touch . We will also need help transporting any top soil we manage to source so please let us know if you can help with that.

Basketball Club

Students from Keith Grammar School have organised basketball sessions at lunchtimes on certain days, this term, as part of their leadership development. Thanks go to them and also to the teachers and pupils who have given up their lunchtimes to facili-tate this.

Reports

Teachers are currently working on the Annual Reports for this year. As always, we are trying to improve on what we have

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shared with parents in previous years.

Transitions

A great deal of effort has gone in to making smooth transitions between other pre-school providers and Keith Primary School and Nursery. Mrs Connelly has visited local providers and has gained valuable information about the children who will be joining us, ensuring that any necessary support will be in place. Similarly, at the other end of the school, liaison is taking place between P.7 teachers and Keith Grammar School. Our Support for Learning team are also working very hard to ensure that the needs of all are met, from one year to the next.

Medicines in School

Could parents please note that we have strict protocols around the administration of medi-cines, in school. Staff cannot administer any medicines without the appropriate medical forms having been completed. Nor should children bring these to school to self-administer, without our knowledge.

This includes things such as a sachet of Calpol, an aspirin, cream for a rash, or a spoonful of anti-biotic mixture. If your child requires any medication in school, please phone us for advise on how to proceed. We’re sure you’ll appreciate that this is for the safety of all concerned.

Old Junior Primary Building

Quite understandably, this building is generally known around Keith by the name “Junior Primary” and the pathway through it is referred to as the “playground” - which of course it was, for many years. However, this has led to some confusion when parents and members of the community hear stories from children about

events which have taken place in this area; some assume that school is responsible for staff-ing the area and supervising children, at the beginning and end of the day or, alter-natively, assume that children are referring to our present playground. For clarification, please note that “Old Junior Primary and playground” are no longer part of Keith Primary School.

Nativity Figures

Just before Christmas, a box containing some beautifully knitted Nativity figures appeared at our front reception area. No-one we’ve spoken to seems to know where these came from. We wish to offer our sincere thanks to whoever donat-ed them, so we’d love to hear from anyone with any information. In the mean-time, we will enjoy our own little Christmas miracle!

P.1 Book Bug Packs

Scottish Book Trust is looking for some feedback from teachers and parents on the Bookbug P.1 Packs which were distributed in November. They would be very grateful for responses:

For Teachers - https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WZTXZDW For Parents - https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S8Q99ZL Just for clarification: the responses to the surveys will go directly to Scottish Book Trust.

Craft Items Required

Nursery are going to be very busy, over the next few weeks, mak-ing craft items. They would really welcome donations of cups and saucers which you no longer require. If you have any lurking at the back of a kitchen cupboard and would like to make a space, please hand them in at reception.

Looking Ahead...

Moray Council are providing a number of sporting activities,

over the next few months. Please find details, at http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file86573.pdf

Pamela Ralph, Active Schools Coordinator, will be returning from Maternity leave, soon.

School Contact Details:

Address: Keith Primary School School Road Keith AB55 5GS Phone: 01542 882802 THUS: 08700549999 PIN 031290 Email: admin.keithp@moray-edunet.gov.uk Web: www.keithprimary.co.uk

Something to think about:

“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” ~ Duke Ellington

Dates for your Diary (Please note that these may be amended and others may be added)

More details to follow, by letter, for some events. (TBC = to be confirmed)

26th February Poetry Finalists to entertain at “Fly and Friendship” group

27th February Assembly: Scottish Poetry Competition Final, 1:30 p.m.—All welcome

2nd March PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.—All welcome

4th March Nursery visits to Tesco for “Farm to Fork” initiative

6th March Assembly: P.3MR, 9:30 a.m.—All welcome

10th & 11th March Moray Council Audit

11th March REAP working with Nursery pupils

13th March Comic Relief Day

Assembly: P.6-7H, 1:30 p.m.—All welcome

18th March PTA Tombola—Longmore Halls—All welcome

20th March Assembly: Dr Kay Gauld, 9:30 a.m.—All welcome

23rd—27th March P.7 Residential trip to Nethybridge

26th March Easter Service: North Church, 10 a.m.—All welcome

27th March Assembly: Heather Stanning Award, 1:30 p.m.—All welcome

30th March—10th April

Spring Holiday

Looking ahead...

13th April First Day of Term 4

Regards,

Head Teacher

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