Kinnaird Primary School Newsletter 20 October 2015: Learn To Live. Live To Learn

The newsletter from Kinnaird Primary School discusses security concerns about playground gates being left open and announces new security protocols. It also notes a temporary expansion of the playground space and updates on staffing changes and upcoming parent council and PTA events, including discos and a family quiz night. Key dates for the remainder of the term are provided.

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Kinnaird Primary School Newsletter 20 October 2015: Learn To Live. Live To Learn

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Kinnaird Primary School

NEWSLETTER
20th October 2015

Learn to Live. Live to Learn.

Security Concerns
You may have become aware of concerns raised by a parent through social media on the last
day of term. The concern was in relation to playground gates being left open. Although
procedures were in place for the gate from the rear footpath and the single gate at the
front of the building to be locked, they had been left open. To ensure that we have a failsafe
procedure in place the following enhanced protocol is being implemented with immediate
effect:

Two of our Support Assistants been provided with a key for both gates. Their first duty
on starting work at 9am will be to lock their designated gate (One will lock the rear
playground gate and the other, the one at the front.) Should either member of staff be
unable to do this e.g. due to absence, the other will lock both gates.
The janitor will double-check that gates are locked by 9.30 and a member of the
leadership team will also do a visual check prior to morning break.
The janitor will unlock the rear playground gate only during lunchtime as this is used by
pupils going home for lunch. It will be relocked at the end of lunch. There is a member of
staff on duty in the playground close to this gate throughout lunchtime to ensure pupil
safety. Please note that the double gates from the delivery area and into the infant
playground cannot be locked as they form a vital part of our emergency exit strategy.
These are pulled closed.
As part of our in-service training programme yesterday the headteacher briefed all staff
on the need for vigilance with regards to the closing of gates.
The support staff team have been instructed to ensure that they leave their assigned
classroom duties in sufficient time to collect their coats, walkie talkies etc. so that they
are able to receive the children into the playground rather than arriving with them.

Should you have any further concerns about this matter please contact the headteacher.
Temporary Extension to Playground
During the October break temporary fencing was
installed in the delivery area to the rear of the
school. This provides a fully enclosed area, accessed
from one of the double gates into the playground. It
will be used as an extension to our playground space
until the double gates and fencing are permanently
moved to enable us to utilise the whole of this area
in the future. Deliveries to the school will then be
1

restricted to times when this area is not in use by pupils. Our Pupil Learning Council is
meeting this afternoon to continue their discussions about zoning the rear playground. They
will now be able to incorporate this area into their planning. We also have two additional
staff in place over lunchtimes, enabling us to make use of the football pitch too.
Staffing Update
The remits of the new Senior Leadership Team have been revised slightly. Their main
department responsibilities are now as follows:
Mrs Julie Paterson
Mr Andrew Denholm
Mrs Trudie Ford
Mrs Gemma Douglas

Nursery and Primary 1

Primary 2, 3 and 4
Primary 5 and 6
Primary 7 (including primary/secondary transition)

Twitter news @kinnairdps

Are you one of our current 1,061 twitter followers? In an article in the Times Educational
Supplement (TESS) on 9th October the fact that just 600 out of 2,700
schools in Scotland are using twitter was challenged. In a survey of
schools who used twitter 7 of the top 10 primary users and 5 of the top
10 secondary users were Falkirk schools.
Four of the Larbert cluster primary schools featured within the top 10
(we were 7th!) and Larbert High has since taken the top spot.
We are making increasing use of twitter to share news and events.
Our class teachers have all just committed to posting at least one tweet a week to showcase
what is happening in their class. If you are not already following us why not join in now?
Parent Council
The Parent Council will meet on Wed 21st October at 6:30pm. Representatives from
education services will be attending to update on capacity issues raised at the previous
meeting. Your continued support through attendance at these important meetings and
through engagement with the parent council is much appreciated. An agenda will be posted
on the Parent Council facebook page (www.facebook.com/kinnairdparentcouncil), the parent
council part of school website and sent to all parents in advance of the meeting. If you wish
to contact the parent council then please email [email protected]
PTA

Family Quiz Night

Saturday 24th October
Stenhousemuir Cricket Club
6pm for 6.30pm start
Limited spaces - please register
your team
For more details and to
register, see Facebook
(Kinnaird PTA)

Fancy Dress Discos

P1 & P2: 28th Oct.
6.15pm 7.30pm
P3 & P4: 29th Oct.
6.15pm 7.30pm
th
P5 P7:
2 29 Oct.
7.45pm 9pm

Have there been any changes to your home or emergency contact details?
Have there been any changes to your childs medical needs?
If so, please let the school office know.

Dates for your diary

28 Oct.
29 Oct.
30 Oct.
30 Oct.
18 Nov.
19 Nov.
24 Nov.
25 Nov.
27 Nov.
27 Nov.
28 Nov.
2 Dec.
7 Dec.
7 Dec.
8 Dec.
15 Dec.
15 Dec.
16 Dec.
18 Dec.
18 Dec.
21 Dec.
21 Dec.
22 Dec.
22 Dec.
23 Dec.
7 Jan.

P1 & 2 Fancy dress disco

P3 & 4 fancy dress disco (6.15pm 7.30pm) then P4 P7 (7.45pm 9pm)
Foodbank Friday (donations of dry/tinned food please)
Thistle Wing caf 9.45am 10.30am
Dounans information evening for P6 parents 6pm 7pm
Parents evening 4.30pm 7pm
Parents evening 4.30pm 7pm
PTA meeting 7pm (All parents welcome)
Foodbank Friday (donations of dry/tinned food please)
Thistle Wing caf 9.45am 10.30am
PTA Christmas Fayre
HT drop-in surgery 5.3pm 6.30pm
Flu vaccinations for pupils
Induction meeting for nursery January intake 3.45pm
Nursery nativity performances for parents 10am and 2pm
Nursery January intake pupil induction visits
P6 & P7 party (pm)
P4 & 5 party (pm)
P2 & P3 party (am)
Thistle Wing party (with parents) (pm)
Nursery parties
P1 concert performance for parents 2pm
P1 party
Primary and Thistle Wing depts. close at 1.30pm. (Nursery afternoon session available)
HOLIDAY
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