Newsletter 6
24/02/10
Dear Parent / Carer It is great to be sitting in my new office writing to you. Thank you for your support and good wishes on Monday and as the week has progressed. We are delighted with our new building. The children have been amazing in how they have settled in – it feels like we have always been here. As with all new buildings there are several “snagging” issues and the management team isdeveloping very good troubleshooting and problem solving skills relating to the building trade. We do have good back up support from Scottish Borders Council and Graham Construction. I do want to reassure parents that amidst the euphoria of everything being new and wonderful we, as a staff, are very much aware that it is a huge change for everyone and there are lots of worries that children and parents may have. The staff are working hard to keep reassuring the children. Toilet and corridor doors are a bit heavy and stiff and we are already looking to change some handles on doors to help some of the younger children. Remember I am always happy to answer your questions and will keep you updated with letters as best I can. One thing parents could help with is leaving the playground particularly in the morning. You have all seen how safe our playground is. The children need space to run around and keep warm – they do this at break and lunch times. It is great if parents want to walk round to the appropriate playgrounds but please do not stand around in the play areas. All parents should be out of the playground by five to nine to allow the children to line up and for staff to collect their class. Thank you for your help and cooperation. Please find attached a letter from Philippa Gilhooly re parking and safe routes to school. Congratulations and Well Done to – - Two Primary Seven teams who took part in the Round Table Quiz Night.
- The Netball team going forward to the Borders finals in Galashiels on Thursday.
- The Tennis team from Primary Three who are competing on Friday 5 March in Galashiels.
Heading Upstream As part of the celebration of moving to our new school we have been working with the Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre. Mandy Durkin has led a creative arts project called Heading Upstream. The Primary Six children have worked with Puppet Lab and Nomad Beat. They have a promenade performance to share with us. These performances take place on Thursday 4 March at 2.00pm and 7.00pm and Friday 5 March at 2.00pm. Tickets are free, donations at the performance. This is not a concert where the audience sits and is entertained but involves movement and participation and celebrates our move. Please return the tear off slip if you would like a ticket. Primary Six parents please note typo in your letter – this invite has now been opened up to the rest of the school today Wednesday 24 February and not Wednesday 3 March. A huge thank you to Mandy Durkin and the Eastgate Theatre for all their help. We now have our own phone number (01720 720025) but only have one line at present. Please accept our apologies if you cannot get through right away. Jacqueline Wilson Headteacher "------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HEADING UPSTREAM Whole School Request Child’s name ………………………………….. Class …………………… Please reserve me ……. tickets for Thursday 4 March at 2.00pm ……. tickets for Thursday 4 March at 7.00pm ……. tickets for Friday 5 March at 2.00pm Signed …………………………….. Parent / Carer Letter from Philippa Gilhooly Dear Parents Many thanks to all the parents and carers who braved the cold to walk round to the new school on Monday morning. As you know we are looking to encourage as much walking to school as possible and are keen to get into some good habits early on. Where possible please allow your children to walk to school, it’s great exercise for them and they will arrive at school much more refreshed and ready for the day ahead. If you drive your children to school please park in the large Haylodge car park on the A72, within the marked bays so that buses can turn. You’ll notice there are not any pavements on either side of the small access road to the school, this is intentional. There is no reason why any pedestrians should be walking up or down the access road. All pedestrians using Haylodge Park should walk along to the Puffin crossing and use it to cross. To maintain the safety and welfare of all children drivers are not permitted to use the access road to the school for drop off or collection, use the main Haylodge car park. There are no spare spaces in the staff car park for parents to use and it is not a suitable waiting area. There are pavements within the Haylodge car park so we’d ask you to park near them so that children are not walking across the car park in between reversing vehicles. Some parents are bumping up on to the pavement at the west side of the car park to let their children out, we’d ask them to park in a space to let their children out. It’s really not far to walk and it keeps the traffic in the car park flowing. Please don’t park or turn in the golf course car park, this is not SBC ground it belongs to Peebles Golf Club. Within Haylodge Park the ramps on to Fotheringham Bridge are closed due to erosion of the river bank. This erosion will be dealt with and the ramps will be open for use again. We thank you for your patience. We realise it’s been a very cold few days, but it has been really super to see the number of children walking to school. Many thanks for your co-operation in keeping the pupils of Kingsland Primary School safe and well. Philippa Gilhooly Engineer Scottish Borders Council.
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