Mrs J Sheldon

Head Teacher

St Madoes Primary School

Sidlaw Terrace, St Madoes, Glencarse
PH2 7NH

Education & Tel 01738 860332 Fax 01738 860644

Children's Services E-mail – headteacher@st-madoes.pkc.sch.uk
Website: www.st-madoes.pkc.sch.uk/

NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2009

Dear Parent/Carers,

Here we are heading for the end of the first school term. There are some events
before the end of term and some at the beginning of next term that will be of interest.

CELEBRATION OF CHINA
This two week whole school topic on China proved to be very popular with both
pupils and staff. As part of International Education and Global Citizenship, much has
been learned about the language, culture, traditions and politics of China. We have
had excellent feed back from the 90 parents/friends who attended the open
afternoon.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND STANDARDS AND QUALITY REPORTS

The School Report has been issued to every parent and we welcome your
comments. The School Improvement Plan is available to any parent who would like
to read it. Please ask at the office for a hard copy or go to the website to read them
on line. If you have any queries about the content or do not understand any terms,
please get in touch.

PARENT COUNCIL AGM

This will be on Monday 28th September at 7pm in the school hall. The new Parent
Council has had two successful years and been invaluable support to the school.
Please come and support this group and find out more about your childlren’s school.
There will be a discussion about what you would like the Council to do, so please
come and tell us.

SCHOOL DINNERS AND PACKED LUNCHES

The new Autumn Menu will start after the holidays. There will now be 3 choices of
meal daily. The third choice will always be a vegetarian meal.
We would like to remind everyone that dinner money must be paid on a Monday for
the whole week. Many children forget to hand in their dinner money to the office so
please remind them to do so.
Some younger pupils have very large packed lunch boxes and are finding them
difficult to carry and open. They are also not sure what their morning snack is and
what is their lunch. It might be an idea to have their snack in a separate place so they
do not have to open the packed lunch box until lunch time.

PRIMARY ONES
We are encouraging P1s to be more independent in the mornings and would
appreciate if parents would just bring them to the school gate and leave them to line
up on their own. At home time they could also be met at the gate rather than outside
the school door.
The re arranged P1 Curriculum Evening will now be on Tuesday 27th October at
6.30pm.
PARENTS’ EVENINGS
This opportunity to speak to the teacher about your child’s progress will be on
Monday 16th and Wednesday 18th November.

SCHOOL GATE PARKING

In order to avoid dangerous congestion outside the school, we ask you not to park in
Sidlaw Terrace or on the corners of any of the nearby streets. The Community
Centre is now available for Park and Stride. Park there, see your child across the
road and let them walk the last bit to school.

HARVEST ASSEMBLY
On Friday 2nd October we have asked the Rev. Bircham to take our Harvest
Assembly in the morning in school. Please could you send an item of dry food
(packets, tins, etc) that can be distributed to the Senior Citizens of the village. We
will also be giving them a bag of school grown potatoes from our potato patch.

SCHOOL ORCHARD
We are planning to plant a school orchard in the near future. We could grow 24 local
fruit trees. However we would really appreciate some offers of help to dig the 24
holes for the trees. Please contact Mrs Sheldon if you can lend a hand for this
worthwhile project.

JEANS FOR GENES

On the last day of term we will be supporting the above charity which raises money
for genetic research. If children bring £1 they will be allowed to wear denim that day.
They can also wear their own tops but no football tops allowed.

P7 RESIDENTIAL OUTDOOR ACTIVITY STAY AT GLENSHEE

Seventeen P7s and two teachers had an excellent time at Glenshee. The weather
was glorious and all members took part in teambuilding and challenging activities
which included: Kayaking, Archery, Raft Building, Zip Wire, Climbing Wall Room,
Ropes Course and the Glenshee Challenge. Fun was had singing round the bonfire
too.

ECO SCHOOL
We are currently finishing off our Wildflower Meadow – but it is hard work! We are
having a Digging Event on Monday 28th September between 3.15pm and 4.15pm.
Any parent volunteers would be more than welcome – spades provided!

END OF TERM
The term finishes at the normal time of 3.15pm on Friday 2nd October and re
commences on Monday 19th October at 9.15 am.

We hope you all have a very pleasant and sunny break.

Jane Sheldon
Head Teacher