Mrs Jane Sheldon

Head Teacher

St Madoes Primary School

Sidlaw Terrace, St Madoes, Glencarse
PH2 7NH

Tel 01738 860332 Fax 01738 860644

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

NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2010

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to our first newsletter of the new school session. We hope you all had a good
summer holiday and managed to avoid the frequent wet days. We look forward to another
busy and interesting year in school.

UNIFORM & KIT

All the children are looking very smart with their new uniforms and sweatshirts. Please
remember to make sure your child has a rain jacket/cagoule every day. The weather is
unpredictable and changeable and children need these even in August. Please also make
sure they have old joggers for playing on the grass and suitable shoes. PE kit should consist
of a plain white t -shirt and navy or black shorts. Many items of clothing have already
appeared in the lost property box as they have no names on them. Please name every
garment and all shoes.

SCHOOL GROUNDS & ORCHARD

The flowers and vegetables were well looked after this summer. Thanks to all families who
helped with this. We now also have a wild flower meadow growing around our orchard which
we planted in June.
Unfortunately we were very sad to find on our return to school that the School Orchard,
which had been laden with apples ready for picking and eating, cooking and juicing, was
vandalised by youngsters who picked them and threw and smashed them around the
playground. The police have been informed and we are even more dismayed to find out that
it was most likely former pupils who have caused the damage. Several benches were also
dismantled and used as skateboard ramps. If you have older children, please ask them not to
play in the school playground during the evenings or holidays. In spite of this, the Orchard
Group are determined to carry on and are maintaining and looking after the trees and hoping
for better luck next year.

ECO SCHOOL
We expect to be assessed for our second Eco School Green Flag award in October.
Elections will take place for our new representatives and we are looking forward to
highlighting all our good work in this area.

MEET THE TEACHER “DROP IN”

This year we have arranged a late afternoon event where parents can meet their child’s new
teacher and hear about the class routine and what is planned for that class for the year
ahead. This will be on Wednesday 8th September at 4.30-5.30pm.

PERTH 800
To celebrate this event, all classes will be undertaking a history project connected with
Perthshire over the last 800 years. This will culminate with an Open Afternoon on Friday 5th
November for parents to see the children’s work. As you will be aware, there are many
events also going on in Perth such as the Children’s Carnival on Saturday18th September
and the Light Night weekend on 26th November. Our school tapestry and other items will be
on show in the Concert Hall.
PRIMARY 1 CURRICULUM EVENING
Parents of P1 are invited to an evening meeting on 21st September at 6.30pm, to hear about
the curriculum for their child just starting school.

SCHOOL DINNERS
Please remember to send in dinner money on a Monday. School dinners are £1.75 per day
and £8.75 per week. Money should be sent in a named envelope with the days the meal is
required. P1s and their parents are invited to their first school dinner on Friday 27th August
at 12.00.

SUNSAFE COMPETITION
We are delighted to announce that Stephanie Wann has won a Sun Shadesail worth £3000
for the school in this competition. She has won a bag of sun protection goodies for herself
too. Well done Stephanie.

GLENSHEE RESIDENTIAL
Once again the P7s will spend a few days at the Compass Christian Centre in Glenshee
pursuing outdoor activities and challenges. Miss Green will accompany them while Mrs
Sheldon takes the rest of the P6/7 class.

SCHOOL WEBSITE
This has been updated so please have a look. The school Web Club are working hard to put
on new information about this sessions classes. All newsletters and other important school
documents are always on the website.

PARENT COUNCIL AGM

This will be held on Monday 27th September in the school hall at 7pm. Please put this date in
your diary and aim to come along and support this well worth group of interested parents.
The Child’s Progress sub Group has worked with school to improve the Learning Trees and
Personal Learning Targets which will soon be sent home. We are grateful for their input.

FRENCH PROJECT
Our international education project with Brittany continues for one more year. Mrs Harris and
Mrs Sheldon will be visiting France again to work in 2 French Primary schools and make
connections that will result in our children communicating with French pupils. By the end of
the year we will also have created CD Rom animated books in French and English for the
pupils of both schools.

STANDARDS AND QUALITY REPORT & SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The Report will be sent out to all parents this week. The School Improvement plan is on the
School website and a copy is available on request from the office. Please feel free to
comment on these.

STAFFING
We welcome this year’s probationer Miss Smyth into P4/5. Mrs Martin has returned from
maternity leave to be our Additional Support Needs Teacher. Mr Willing, visiting Expressive
Arts teacher, will be teaching Art for the next two blocks. Mrs McKenzie will be the Early
Childhood Practitioner on Thursdays and Fridays in the Nursery until further notice.

INSET AND PARENT CONTACT EVENING DATES

We have just been informed that there will be an additional INSET day on Wednesday 17th
November. School will be closed for pupils that day while staff attend further training on
Curriculum for Excellence. Parents’ Evenings will now be on Monday 15th and Tuesday 15th
November.

SCHOOL CAR PARK

The car park is for use by school Staff only. It is dangerous for parents to use it as a turning
area. Please remember to “park and stride” keeping all children walking near the school safe.

Jane Sheldon – Head Teacher