St Cuthbert's RC Primary School

      St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

                           Newsletter 26– Friday 5^th March 2021

        St Cuthbert’s CARES We are: Creative Active Respectful Equal Supported

Good afternoon,

Thanks for reading this week’s update. As always, your questions and feedback are welcomed. We can be contacted on (0131 443 2621) or via our admin mailbox (admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk). Our nursery can now be contacted separately at: stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk

Parents Consultations This Term via MS Teams

Thank you to all Parents/carers who indicated their preferred dates to us. We are processing these returns currently and our teachers will send you a Teams invite (via your child’s account) next week. Please let us know if you haven’t heard by 12^th March. As, we would always have done in pre-Covid times, in cases where we have not had a response, we have allocated you a time that we hope will suit.

Return to School Update P4-7

The latest information from the Scottish Government this week is that all going well, they expect pupils in P4-7 to return to school on Monday 15^th March 2021. When this is confirmed, we will share with you the practical information relating to the return to school, in the same way we did with P1-3 and the nursery. This will be shared as a separate communication via the app, Learning Journals and website next week and repeated again in next week’s newsletter. Please also see accompanying letter (below) from Andy Gray, Chief Education Officer, which was sent out to parents and carers today.

Booking School Lunches – P1 – P7

Please note the deadline for P4-P7 returning on 15^th March will be Wednesday 10^th March.  Please also remember that bookings must be made on a Wednesday night for the following Monday.  If you have not booked a school lunch for your child, please send them with a packed lunch from home. 

Please note the new menu and allergen information is already live on the council’s website and can be accessed – https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/12852/primary-school-lunch-menus-with-nutrition-and-allergen-information

World Book Day – Thursday 4^th March 2021

World Book Day took place on Thursday 4th March. It was great to see how well pupils engaged with this: there were lots of amazing costumes on display and it was brilliant to see how many children brought in their favourite books to share. Our staff also supported the process with interactive video stories provided in P4-7 and in person by all teachers and Head Teacher in the P1-3 classes.

We made World Book Day vouchers available for collection to parents and carers of pupils in P4-7 on Wednesday. If you still need to collect these, please feel free to do so on Monday from the trolley in the foyer outside our main door.

Nursery Update

Full time hours in the provision began this week (8.30am-3pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am-12.30pm on Friday). Faye and the team thank you again for your support this week. Please note that there is no need to bring food for your child, as this will be provided throughout the day. If there is a medical dietary issue that requires you to supply food from home, please discuss with our staff team. Please also continue to enter and exit via the top gate nearest the nursery and continue to ensure that social distancing is in place and face-masks are worn. Thank you.

We would also encourage you to keep following our nursery twitter account @stcnurseryclass and call us on 0131 443 2621 or e-mail stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk if you have any questions.

Absence Reporting

If your child is unwell and unable to attend school or take part in digital learning on any given day, please contact our school office to ensure that the absence is recorded. If your child has not logged in to Teams, we may call to offer support with engagement.

Resumption of After School Club – Monday 15^th March 2021

Gingerbread, the company who run our after-school club, have contacted us to say that they will be resuming as normal from 15^th March.  They are in the process of contacting existing parents/carers of children who have attended the club in the past. If you have not accessed this service before but would like to do so now, please contact Gingerbread on 0131 478 1391.

We will share an update about our breakfast club in next week’s newsletter.

Collection of Sacramental Workbooks- First Holy Communions P4 and Confirmation P7

If your child is a baptised Catholic, who is expecting to make the sacrament of First Holy Communion (P4) or Confirmation (P7) by this end of this school year, please collect a copy of the appropriate preparation workbook from the trolley located in our school foyer at the main entrance. Times for collection are between 9.15-10.15am and 1.30-2.30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Teachers will commence this learning w/c 8^th March 2021. At present, we are awaiting further advice re the actual celebration of these sacraments. I will share this as soon as it becomes available.

The Family Zone – Play Resources for Families of Nursery and P1 Pupils

This resource developed by an experienced, Edinburgh based, early years teaching practitioner and researcher, has been designed to help families with children in Nursery and P1 introduce more play into family life. The resource also shares research findings on the benefits of play at home and in school. Please feel very welcome to click on the link below and explore what it has to offer.

The Family Zone

Promoting Equality at St Cuthbert’s Primary School   ‘Our curriculum is grounded in our commitment to securing children’s rights and wellbeing.’   In our diverse school community, our aim is that all of our children and young people will experience a curriculum that: – positively reflects their identities, languages, cultures and histories – is delivered with cultural awareness and sensitivity, using high quality resources and develops critical literacy   As you saw, when we shared our school renewal plan with you last term, Equality is one of our key areas of focus this year. To this end, as well as progressing our Rights Respecting Schools work, marking cultural and religious events such as Diwali and Black History Month, we also set up a Pupil Equalities Group in Term 1.   We will be sharing an ‘Equalities Survey’ with parents/carers and pupils shortly. Our Equalities group will then use the findings of these surveys as a basis for their work to further promote Equality in our school.

Retirements

Our School Crossing Patrol Person (Lollipop Lady), Pat and our Janitor, John, will be retiring in the coming weeks. John on the 26^th March and Pat on the 31^st  of March.  Both are valued and well-liked members of staff who will be missed. To mark their departures, the staff will be holding a collection for them. Some parents and carers have also indicated that they would be interested in contributing. If you are amongst their number, please hand in your contribution in an envelope marked with the name of the appropriate person either via your child, if they are in school or in person at our office, if they aren’t. Please remember that this is purely optional.

City of Edinburgh Council – School Holiday Timings Survey

City of Edinburgh Council have prepared a survey about the timing of school holidays over the next three years.  Parents and staff groups have contributed to the wording of the questions. The survey should only take a few minutes to complete.

The link to the survey is:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/schsd2022

St Cuthbert’s, Slateford and Our Lady’s, Currie

Fr Duffy sends his best wishes to all. Please continue to check the Parish website for details and updates. See below:

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Finally

We wish you all a relaxing and restful weekend.

Mr P Brack, Head Teacher and all at St Cuthbert’s School

     St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

                           Newsletter 25– Friday 26^th February 2021

           St Cuthbert’s CARES We are: Creative Active Respectful Equal Supported

Good afternoon,

This was an historic week for St Cuthbert’s school, with the opening of our new nursery. It was also great to see the return of our P1-3 pupils. We hope it’s not too long until our other classes return. Thanks for reading this week’s update. As always, your questions and feedback are welcomed. We can be contacted on (0131 443 2621) or via our admin mailbox (admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk). Our nursery can now be contacted separately at: stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk

Parents Consultations This Term via MS Teams

Parents/carers of pupils in P1-3 will receive a paper letter in reference to these consultations early next week, whilst letters for parents/carers of pupils in P4-7 classes will be shared via Learning Journals. Please follow the instructions on this letter to make us aware of the days and times that suit you best. Once you have indicated your preference, our teachers will then contact you via your child’s Teams account to invite you to the meeting.

P4-7 Daily Live Meetings

Please note that all classes will now be invited to take part in a daily video call. The purpose of these is to support pupil Health and Wellbeing and also to give pupils the chance to ask questions about that day’s work. Timings are as follows:

P4- 10.15am, P5 – 10am, P6 – 9.30am and P7 9.15am.

Return to School Update

The official advice in relation to P4-7 remains that a return to school for these classes is under review by the Scottish Government but that this will take place no earlier than 15^th March. We will update you as soon as we have any further information to share.

It has been a really positive return for our P1-3 classes, all of whom have settled in really well again to school.

Timings for the P1-3 school day will continue as follows:

• P1 – start time 8.45am, day ends at 2.50pm (12.10pm on a Friday)
• P2 – start time 9am, day ends at 3.05pm (12.25pm on a Friday)
• P3 – start time 8.55am, day ends at 3.20pm (12.30pm on a Friday)

Please continue to maintain social distancing and wear face masks at all times in and around the environs of the school.

BOOKING SCHOOL LUNCHES – P1 – P3

Please remember that bookings must be made on a Wednesday night for the following Monday from now on.  If you have not booked a school lunch for your child, please send them with a packed lunch from home.

Please note the new menu and allergen information is already live on the council’s website and can be accessed – https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/12852/primary-school-lunch-menus-with-nutrition-and-allergen-information

Please also remember that if you child is in the school hub you can either order lunch online or send your child with a packed lunch from home.

World Book Day – Thursday 4^th March 2021

World Book Day takes place on Thursday 4th March.

P1-3

• Can dress up as a character from a favourite book on this day.
• They can also bring in their favourite book to show and tell their teacher and class mates.
• They will be given a World Book Day book token
• Their teacher and Mr Brack will both read stories to each class.

P4-7

• Can dress up as a character from a favourite book on this day and (only if they wish) post their photos on class team or school twitter with parent’s permission.
• World Book Day Tokens will either be given out via siblings who are in P1-3 or will be made available for collection from the school on Thursday 4^th March between 9.15-10.15am and 1.30-2.30pm.

Nursery Update

It has been brilliant to meet our new nursery pupils and their families this week. The children, aided by our excellent staff team, have settled in to the nursery superbly. Next week sees the start of full time hours in the provision        (8.30am-3pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am-12.30pm on Friday). Thanks for your support this week. Please continue to enter and exit via the top gate nearest the nursery and continue to ensure that social distancing is in place and face-masks are worn. Thank you.

We would also encourage you to keep following our nursery twitter account @stcnurseryclass and call us on 0131 443 2621 or e-mail stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk if you have any questions.

Absence Reporting

If your child is unwell and unable to attend school or take part in digital learning on any given day, please contact our school office to ensure that the absence is recorded.

Sacramental Preparation – Reconciliation P3

Miss Pusker has started in class preparation work for the sacrament this week. At present, we are awaiting further advice re the actual celebration of these sacrament. I will share this as soon as it becomes available.

Sacramental Preparation – First Holy Communions P4 and Confirmation P7

If your child is a baptised Catholic, who is expecting to make the sacrament of First Holy Communion (P4) or Confirmation (P7) by this end of this school year, please collect a copy of the appropriate preparation workbook from the trolley located in our school foyer at the main entrance. Times for collection are between 9.15-10.15am and 1.30-2.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Teachers will commence this learning w/c 8^th March 2021. At present, we are awaiting further advice re the actual celebration of these sacraments. I will share this as soon as it becomes available.

Promoting Equality at St Cuthbert’s Primary School

‘Our curriculum is grounded in our commitment to securing children’s rights and wellbeing.’

In our diverse school community, our aim is that all of our children and young people will experience a curriculum that:

· positively reflects their identities, languages, cultures and histories

· is delivered with cultural awareness and sensitivity, using high quality resources and develops critical literacy

As you saw, when we shared our school renewal plan with you last term, Equality is one of our key areas of focus this year. To this end, as well as progressing our Rights Respecting Schools work, marking cultural and religious events such as Diwali and Black History Month, we also set up a Pupil Equalities Group in Term 1.

We will be sharing an ‘Equalities Survey’ with parents/carers and pupils shortly.

Our Equalities group will then use the findings of these surveys as a basis for their work to further promote Equality in our school.

St Cuthbert’s, Slateford and Our Lady’s, Currie

Fr Duffy sends his best wishes to all. Please continue to check the Parish website for details and updates. See below:

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Finally

We wish you all a relaxing and restful weekend.

Mr P Brack, Head Teacher and all at St Cuthbert’s School

St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

Newsletter 24 – Friday 19th February 2021

St Cuthbert’s CARES We are: Creative Active Respectful Equal Supported

Good afternoon,

Welcome back to a new term and another set of changed circumstances. Thanks for reading the information below, which we hope will be helpful. As always, your questions and feedback are welcomed. We can be contacted on (0131 443 2621) or via our admin mailbox (admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk). Our nursery can now be contacted separately at: stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk

Week Commencing 22nd February 2021

As per the First Minister’s announcement on Tuesday. The following information has now been confirmed.

· Pupils in Nursery, P1, P2 and P3 classes will return to school full time on week commencing Monday 22nd February 2021. This will include P1-3 pupils from LCC.

· P4-7 will continue with digital learning until further notice. This will be reviewed by the First Minister during week of 8th -15th March 2021.

Please note that independent tasks for P1-3 pupils will be posted on their class Teams on Friday 19th February but that there will be no interaction with teaching staff on that day, as they will be in school preparing for their class’ return on Monday.

Timings for the P1-3 school day will be as follows:

· P1 – start time 8.45am, day ends at 2.50pm (12.10pm on a Friday)

· P2 – start time 9am, day ends at 3.05pm (12.25pm on a Friday)

· P3 – start time 8.55am, day ends at 3.20pm (12.30pm on a Friday)

Nursery Parents have been notified individually of their initial ‘settling in’ times for next week. Their regular attendance patterns going forward will then be confirmed by nursery staff during the course of week commencing 22nd February.

P1-2 parents and pupils should continue to enter and exit via the usual gates. P3 parents and pupils should enter via the top gate of the main playground and use the upper school entrance door. Hub pupils and parents should continue to enter and exit via the main doors, with parents and carers continuing to sign pupils in and out.

Please continue to maintain social distancing and wear face masks at all times in and around the environs of the school. Please also see accompanying letter from National Clinical Director Jason Leitch.

We look forward to seeing you all on Monday!

SCHOOL LUNCHES – P1 – P3 w/c 22nd February 2021 Onwards

Please note that Parent Pay went live, as previously advised, with the new menu for this term on the 16th of February in order to accept bookings for dates from the 22nd February onwards. Please remember that bookings must be made on a Wednesday night for the following Monday from now on. If you have not booked a school lunch for your child, please send them with a packed lunch from home.

Please note the new menu and allergen information is already live on the council’s website and can be accessed – https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/12852/primary-school-lunch-menus-with-nutrition-and-allergen-information

Please also remember that if you child is in the school hub you can either order lunch online or send your child with a packed lunch from home.

World Book Day – Thursday 4th March 2021

World Book Day takes place on Thursday 4th March. We are currently in the process of planning some fun activities to mark the day, in school for P1-3 and digitally for P4-7. We will share more details next week.

Nursery Update

Timings for initial ‘settling in’ visits have been shared with parents and carers, as mentioned above. Laura, Faye, the staff and myself are really looking forward to welcoming both children and families to the nursery for the first time. Please remember to bring your child’s ‘All About Me’ task with you, when you arrive.

Please enter and exit by the top gate of the main playground, ensuring that social distancing is in place and face-masks are worn. Unfortunately, you will not be able to physically enter the building but staff will be on hand to support your child. Parents and carers are welcome to remain in the nursery

garden until their child is settled and feels able to enter the building with a staff member.

We would also encourage you to keep following our nursery twitter account @stcnurseryclass and call us on 0131 443 2621 or e-mail stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk if you have any questions.

Sacramental Preparation

The interim advice from the archdiocese is that schools should prepare for the celebrations of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation in class, where possible or via digital learning with their teachers. With churches remaining closed there has been no guidance re the actual celebration of the sacraments. We will share this as soon as it is received.

St Cuthbert’s, Slateford and Our Lady’s, Currie

Fr Duffy sends his best wishes to all. Please continue to check the Parish website for details and updates. See below:

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Finally

We wish you all a relaxing and restful weekend and look forward to seeing those of you who are returning to school on Monday!

Mr P Brack, Head Teacher and all at St Cuthbert’s School

Dear Parents/Carers.

As per the First Minister’s announcement yesterday:

• Pupils in Nursery, P1, P2 and P3 classes will return to school full time on week commencing Monday 22^nd February 2021.
• P4-7 will continue with digital learning until further notice. This will be reviewed by the First Minister during week of 8^th -15^th March 2021.

Please note that independent tasks for P1-3 pupils will be posted on their class Teams on Friday 19^th February but that there will be no interaction with teaching staff on that day, as they will be in school preparing for their class’ return on the following Monday.

Timings for the P1-3 school day will be as follows:

• P1 – start time 8.45am, day ends at 2.50pm (12.10pm on a Friday)
• P2 – start time 9am, day ends at 3.05pm (12.25pm on a Friday)
• P3 – start time 8.55am, day ends at 3.20pm (12.30pm on a Friday)

Nursery Parents will be notified individually of their initial ‘settling in’ times for next week, over the course of this week. Their regular attendance patterns going forward will then be confirmed by nursery staff during the course of week commencing 22^nd February.

Please note that parents/carers should enter and exit via usual gates when dropping off and collecting children. Please ensure that face-masks are worn and social distance maintained.

As always, please contact us, if you have any questions about the information above.

Kind Regards

Pat Brack

Head Teacher

     St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

                           Newsletter 23– Friday 5^th February 2021

               St Cuthbert’s CARES We are: Creative Active Respectful Equal Supported

Good afternoon,

Please see this week’s newsletter below which is the final publication of this half term. As always, please let us know if you have any questions about the contents or any other school related matter. Please never hesitate to do this, we, like you, appreciate the huge importance of communication, especially in the current circumstances. We can be contacted on (0131 443 2621) or via our admin mailbox (admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk). Our nursery can now be contacted separately at: stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk

February School Holiday – Monday 8^th February to Monday 15^th February

Please note the above, as well as the term start date of Tuesday 16^th February. Thanks for your support of our pupils throughout another gruelling term of digital learning, I really hope that you and your families enjoy a well-deserved and restful break.

Scottish Government Announcement – Tuesday 2^nd February 2021

As you will no doubt be aware, the First Minister updated the country on the Scottish Government’s plans for schools this week. At the moment, the summary of these plans is as follows:

• All pupils will return to digital learning on Tuesday 16^th February
• Pupils in Nursery, P1, P2 and P3 classes will, if Covid figures continue to improve, return to school full time on week commencing Monday 22^nd February.
• P4-7 will continue with digital learning until further notice.

Please note that independent tasks for P1-3 pupils will be posted on their class Teams on Friday 19^th February but that there will be no interaction with teaching staff on that day, as they will be in school preparing for their class’ return on the following Monday.

Timings for the P1-3 school day will be as follows:

• P1 – start time 8.45am, day ends at 2.50pm (12.10pm on a Friday)
• P2 – start time 9am, day ends at 3pm (12.15pm on a Friday)
• P3 – start time 8.55am, day ends at 3.20pm (12.30pm on a Friday)

Please see update re nursery plans below.

SCHOOL LUNCHES – P1 – P3 w/c 22^nd February 2021

Please note that Parent Pay will be live with the new menu on the 16^th of February to accept bookings for dates of the 22^nd February onwards.  Booking Deadline for w/c 22^nd February will be Wednesday 17^th February.

Please note the new menu and allergen information is already live on the council’s website and can be accessed – https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/12852/primary-school-lunch-menus-with-nutrition-and-allergen-information

Please also remember that if you child is in the school hub you can either order lunch online or send your child with a packed lunch from home.

Digital Learning – Your Questions and Views – Survey to Follow

Thank you for the responses we received to our survey. The teaching staff were grateful for the positive comments and praise they received.

We were also grateful for the suggestions forimprovement you made. The two main points made by our parent body were related to the amount of printing required and the appreciation of but desire for more video meetings.

We will address the latter point upon our return from holidays. In terms of the printing issue, please see advice below:

As a teaching staff, we have agreed to make all word documents and power points editable, this means that pupils can edit within Teams and then return via the turn-in function of the Assignment tab. Please see some links below that may help with understanding how this works:

(For link 2, please view from 9 minutes 50 second it will show how to edit and turn in a file on teams)

Pupils can also create their own word documents on Microsoft 365 using the online version of word available within the 365 menu and uploading this via Teams.

In terms of editing PDF documents, some devices will allow you to click on the edit/fill in option to the side of the document, this enables the pupil to ‘write’ on to the pdf.

Finally, pupils can also write answers/do tasks on paper, photograph it and upload their work to Teams.

I hope that is of some help.

Nursery Update

You should all have received a call this week from one of our Senior Early Years Officers, confirming our plans going forward. Please see a summary below:

The plan is that on Tuesday 16^th February, we will send out a list of home learning tasks for the week ahead. We will also post the regular Monday and Wednesday online learning content on Learning Journals that week. At some point over that week, you will also receive a communication confirming your child’s nursery start date for week commencing 22^nd February 2021.

Please keep following our nursery twitter account @stcnurseryclass and call us on 0131 443 2621 or e-mail stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk if you have any questions.

Absence from Digital Learning and School

Please note that the expectation from City of Edinburgh Council, is that pupils should take part in daily digital learning from home (or within the school hub, if they have been allocated a place). If your child is unwell and cannot engage with digital learning at home or within the school hub, please contact us, as we have been asked to record such absences by City of Edinburgh Council, just as we would do if someone is absent in normal circumstances.

Safer Internet Day – 9^th February 2021

This day falls within the holiday week, but will be addressed as part of our Rights Respecting School work when we return to school after the holiday.

We are also aware that with the advent of Coronavirus and the increased amount of time that your children are spending at home on-line that this is also an important issue for parents and carers to understand. Please see some helpful information and advice below from the NSPCC.

www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-

St Cuthbert’s, Slateford and Our Lady’s, Currie

Fr Duffy sends his best wishes to all. Please continue to check the Parish website for details and updates. See below:

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Finally

Thank you once again for your support encouragement, communication and cooperation this half term. We wish you all a relaxing and restful break!

Mr P Brack, Head Teacher and all at St Cuthbert’s School

     St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

                           Newsletter 22– Friday 29^th January 2021

                                   St Cuthbert’s CARES We are: Creative Active Respectful Equal Supported

Good afternoon,

Please see this week’s newsletter below which seeks to update you on all matters related to the life of our school and to share as much information as we can with you on a weekly basis. As always, please let us know if you have any questions about the contents or any other school related matter. Please never hesitate to do this, we, like you, appreciate the huge importance of communication, especially in the current circumstances. We can be contacted on (0131 443 2621) or via our admin mailbox (admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk). Our nursery can now be contacted separately at: stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk

Microsoft 365/Teams Issues Across Edinburgh

We apologise for any difficulties accessing Teams on Thursday and Friday. This was an Edinburgh wide issue, which has now been resolved.

Scottish Government Update – Tuesday 2^nd February 2021

After a meeting on Tuesday, the First Minister will update the country on the Scottish Government’s plans for schools going forward. Both City of Edinburgh Council and ourselves will keep parents and carers informed of any changes.

February Holiday – Monday 8^th February – Monday 15^th February Inclusive

Please note that there will be no digital learning or hub provision for the duration of the February mid-term holiday. Online learning (and the school hub for those entitled to places) will resume on Tuesday 16^th February 2021.

Locating Lessons and Handing in Work on Teams – Class by Class Explanation

Each week, we are trying to share helpful tips and information re digital learning. This week, please see guidance below re how learning is organised within each class Team:

• P1 –Visual overview of the day is located on posts, Mrs M talks about the plan for the day at the 9.00 meeting. Explanatory materials are located in the virtual classroom PDF in Assignments tab along with additional supporting resources.
• P2 – Video introduction to the day’s plan is placed on posts. Work and resources can all be found under Assignments tab.
• P3 – Overview of the day is located in the General channel under posts as an audio file. Explanations of the daily tasks and links are located under the Assignments tab. Tasks for completion and hand in can be found within the resources section within each Assignment. The “Ask the Teacher” channel is available for any questions or comments.
• P4 – The overview of the day is in Assignments. Here also are tasks for completion with all the reference materials. One of these is a planner doc. which provides more detailed plans for the day including links to apps and websites. There are audio messages and some links to apps under Posts tab.
• P5 –Everything needed for the day’s work is in a folder in Class Materials within the Files tab. This folder has the day’s day/date. Sub folders within each day’s work organised for the 3 curricular areas. Daily audio explanation of work is in there too. Maths worksheet, literacy docs for writing etc, can also be found on the assignments tab.
• P6 -In P6, the overview of the day and audio explanations can be found in Assignments and posted into the general channel by 9pm on the evening before it is due. Explanatory materials and resources are in Files> Class Materials> January/February Home Learning folders>Individual day for example ‘Thursday 28th January’.  Evidence of work can be handed into Assignments to receive feedback. 
• P7 – A meeting is held every Monday, during the course of which the plan for the day is shared. P7 overview of work is attached to the assignment each day and is also located in the file section. Learning resources and materials are located in Files, in a folder named Monday-Friday.
• LCC1 – On the LCC1 page, links to the visuals and songs we use for Morning Circle, maths and numeracy are included in our class note book. Separate folders are also set up in the ‘files’ tab for morning routines, numeracy and literacy.
• LCC2 – Work posted in both files and assignments. Additional work also provided under files tab.  Some videos and video ppts from the Clickview platform are also shared via posts.

Digital Learning – Your Questions and Views – Survey to Follow

Please continue to ask questions, raise any concerns or make suggestions to help us improve our digital learning offer. We will be sharing our Digital Learning Provision survey via Learning Journals today. We look forward to hearing your views.

Scottish Poetry, Song and Dance

Thanks to all those pupils and families who shared Scots themed performances on their class team or school twitter account.

Nursery Update

Nearly all families have now collected their home learning packs. Thank you! The response to our weekly structured pattern of activities also seems to be very positive (we will send out a nursery parent survey next week in order to get a more detailed response). Please keep following our nursery twitter account @stcnurseryclass and call us on 0131 443 2621 or e-mail stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk if you have any questions.

Absence from Digital Learning and School

Please note that the expectation from City of Edinburgh Council, is that pupils should take part in daily digital learning from home (or within the school hub, if they have been allocated a place). If your child is unwell and cannot engage with digital learning at home or within the school hub, please contact us, as we have been asked to record such absences by City of Edinburgh Council, just as we would do if someone is absent in normal circumstances.

Stationery Resources

We had a very enthusiastic uptake of our resources on Tuesday. Thank you! We hope you found them useful. We will announce the next date for the sharing of these resources after the February holiday.

Families Edinburgh – Online Magazine.

Please see message and link below from this publication:

Our latest issue is just out and has lots of free downloadable content for families to use – crafts, audio books, ideas for getting outside as well as support for mental health.

You can read the magazine here and the long link is https://issuu.com/familiesonline/docs/famjan-feb_digital__2_?fr=sM2VkNjI4NDA2MDI

St Cuthbert’s, Slateford and Our Lady’s, Currie

Please continue to check the Parish website for details and updates. See below:

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Finally

Have a restful weekend!

Mr P Brack, Head Teacher and all at St Cuthbert’s School

St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

                           Newsletter 21– Friday 22^nd January 2021

                                   St Cuthbert’s CARES We are: Creative Active Respectful Equal Supported

Good afternoon,

Please see this week’s newsletter below which seeks to update you on all matters related to the life of our school and to share as much information as we can with you on a weekly basis. As always, please let us know if you have any questions about the contents or any other school related matter. Please never hesitate to do this, we, like you, appreciate the huge importance of communication, especially in the current circumstances. We can be contacted on (0131 443 2621) or via our admin mailbox (admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk). Our nursery can now be contacted separately at: stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk

Scottish Government Update

After a meeting on Tuesday, the Scottish Government confirmed that school closures will remain in place until at least mid-February. This will be reviewed in early February, with a phased return to schools most likely to happen when restrictions begin to be lifted.

Both City of Edinburgh Council and ourselves will keep parents and carers informed of any changes.

Requesting School Digital Devices

The school has a limited stock of iPads that support MS Teams. We have lent out a small number of these already and are working on making more available. We will be in touch with those parents, who have requested a device, but haven’t yet received one, early next week. If you require a device but haven’t let us know yet, please contact us. We can’t guarantee that we will be able to help, given the finite number of devices available, but will do our very best to do so.

Returning/Handing in Work on Teams

In terms of the technical aspect of Teams, some parents have asked us for advice re how to submit work on Assignments. Please see a link to a short video instruction below:

we also attach with this newsletter, a word document with similar advice for those who would prefer to read rather than watch this guidance/support.

We know that some parents are taking photos of children’s work on their phone or iPad and using the photo to upload as evidence. If you have found this challenging, please see video linked below:

We have also added these links to our twitter account.

Digital Learning – Your Questions and Views – Survey to Follow

Please continue to ask questions, raise any concerns or make suggestions to help us improve our digital learning offer. We will send out a formal MS Forms survey next week via Learning Journals to get your feedback on how things are going.

Scottish Poetry, Song and Dance

Usually at this time of year, we would be preparing for our Scottish Performance Concert in the school. I know from my experience last year, just how much the whole school community appreciated this event. Unfortunately, such an event is not possible this year. We would however like to extend an invitation to parents and carers to tweet @StCuthbertsRCP with their children’s performance of any Scots themed poem, song or dance.

Please note that this is totally optional. We would also ask that no pupil names are supplied, although a single initial is permissible.

School Twitter Account: @StCuthbertsRCP & Nursery Twitter Account : @StCNurseryClass

Please note that our twitter feeds will continue to be active during the current lockdown period. You may also wish to follow our new nursery feed, listed above. Both will aim to share relevant information and news.

Absence from Digital Learning and School

Please note that the expectation from City of Edinburgh Council, is that pupils should take part in daily digital learning from home (or within the school hub, if they have been allocated a place). If your child is unwell and cannot engage with digital learning at home or within the school hub, please contact us, as we have been asked to record such absences by City of Edinburgh Council, just as we would do if someone is absent in normal circumstances.

Nursery Update

Thanks to those parents who have collected their home learning packs this week. If you have not done so, but would still like to receive a pack, please contact our nursery mailbox. A detailed e-mail was sent out on Thursday explaining the structure of the week’s activities for our nursery pupils going forward. Please let us know, if you have any questions about this.

Stationery Resources – Available at School Gate on Tuesday 26^th January

We had an enthusiastic uptake of our small resource packs on Tuesday. Thank you! We hope you found them useful. We will make similar resources available on a fortnightly basis for the duration of the current closure period. See next date above. Please ensure that social distancing is maintained when these are collected and that if you have already collected a pack, please do not collect a new one until your existing resources have been used.

St Cuthbert’s, Slateford and Our Lady’s, Currie

Please continue to check the Parish website for details and updates. See below:

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Fr Duffy published a newsletter/bulletin on the website last Sunday that is well worth reading. We also remember in our prayers Archbishop Tartaglia, whose funeral took place this week and Bishop Logan who also passed away last week. RIP.

Finally

Throughout the many challenges of this pandemic I have been grateful for the positive and understanding attitude shown by our parents and carers. Our school, nursery and LCC teams all very much appreciate your support. Please continue to get in touch, if you have any questions. Have a great weekend!

Mr P Brack, Head Teacher and all at St Cuthbert’s School

St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

Newsletter 20 – Friday 15th January 2021

St Cuthbert’s CARES We are: Creative Active Respectful Equal Supported

Good afternoon,

Please see this week’s newsletter below which seeks to share as much information as we can with you on a weekly basis. As always, please let us know if you have any questions about the contents or any other school related matter. Please never hesitate to do this, we, like you, appreciate the huge importance of communication, especially in the current circumstances. We can be contacted on (0131 443 2621) or via our admin mailbox (admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk). Our nursery can now be contacted separately at: stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk

Important Dates This Term – Re Digital Learning, Return to School etc

There has been such a welter of ever changing information over the last few weeks, that I thought it worth clarifying the basic information:

· School buildings are closed to all but those children who meet the Scottish Government definitions of Key Workers’ children or pupils deemed to be vulnerable until 1st February. Learning is to be provided digitally for the majority of pupils who are not attending schools in person during this time.

· This decision and the date of possible re-opening will be reviewed by the Scottish Government on 18th January.

Digital Learning – Your Views and Update

The establishment of our digital learning provision appears to have gone comparatively smoothly (apart from the Scotland wide glitch on Monday). As with all our endeavours, we will continually seek to improve as the days and weeks proceed.

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions re our Digital Learning, please do not hesitate to contact us via phone or e-mail. If school closures continue into February, we will send a formal survey to parents.

City of Edinburgh Council have informed us that our probationer teachers require non-teaching time over the course of each week during lockdown. Please note therefore, that Mr Vilanova will (in consultation with Mr Silver and Miss Delaney) provide learning on

Teams for P2 on a Tuesday and P6 on a Friday. Both teachers will make pupils aware of this change.

Please note that in addition to the daily video team meetings in P1 and P7 advertised last week, that other classes will now be introducing these calls. P6 will meet daily at 9.30am and P3 weekly on a Friday at 11am. Other teachers will provide audio welcomes to their class. All of our teaching staff are working extremely hard to make learning as interactive as possible.

LCC Opening During Lockdown

Please note that our Language and Communication class, will remain open to pupils on a limited basis, in accordance with City of Edinburgh Council advice during lockdown. The reason for this is that LCC is a specialist provision and operates under separate rules and guidance to mainstream schools.

School Twitter Account @StCuthbertsRCP

Please note that our twitter feed will continue to be active during the current lockdown period. One of the things we will be able to use it for is to share technical advice. Today, for example we have shared an excellent interactive guide to using Teams. Please continue to follow us or sign up to do so, if you haven’t already!

Absence from Digital Learning and School

Please note that the expectation from City of Edinburgh Council, is that pupils should take part in daily digital learning from home or within the school hub, if they have been allocated a place. If your child is unwell and cannot engage with digital learning at home or within the school hub, please contact us, as we have been asked to record such absences by City of Edinburgh Council, just as we would do if someone is absent in normal circumstances.

Support for Learning Teacher Consultation Calls – Tuesday 19th January

Mrs McLeish began to work through her consultation calls that were postponed last term on Wednesday. Feedback on these conversations was very positive. She will continue with the remaining consultation calls she was unable to make last term starting on the morning of Tuesday 19th January 2021.

Stationery Resources – Available at School Gate on Tuesday 26th January

We had an enthusiastic uptake of our small resource packs on Tuesday. Thank you! We hope you find them useful. We will make similar resources available on a fortnightly basis. See next date above. Please ensure that social distance is maintained when these are collected and that if you have already collected a pack, please do not collect a new one until your existing resources have been used.

Nursery Update

Home learning packs will be shared with families next week as will our plans for digital learning within nursery. Please continue to contact us via school telephone number or dedicated nursery e-mail address (see above), if you have any questions.

SCIAF Fundraising

Congratulations to P5 and Mrs Banks for their great fundraising in aid of the SCIAF Christmas Water Appeal. Despite the challenges of the last term, P5 still managed to think of others less fortunate and take time to raise some money to help break the cycle of poverty. SCIAF acknowledged receipt of the £37 raised by letter this week.

Dog Fouling on Street Outside Infant Entrance

The text below is from the response we received from one of local councillors re the above concern raised by the school at request of parents.

“…The department have advised this area is regularly patrolled by Street Enforcement Officers and any person found failing to pick up after their dog is issued a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80, raised to £100 if unpaid within 28 days. We intend to continue with our patrols in the area to effectively deal with any offenders. It would be helpful should anyone wishing to complain about dog fouling can provide any additional information of when offences are taking place so that the Street Enforcement Officers can target their resources appropriately.’’

Mass During Lockdown – St Cuthbert’s, Slateford and Our Lady’s, Currie

Please continue to check the Parish website for details. See below:

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

We also note and mourn the passing of Archbishop Tartaglia, Bishop President for Catholic Education in Scotland. He was an active supporter and friend of Catholic schools – Requiescat in Pace.

Thanks once again for your support through the beginning of another period of online learning. The newsletter will continue to be issued on a weekly basis. Please continue to contact us, if you have any questions.

Mr P Brack, Head Teacher and all at St Cuthbert’s School

St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

Newsletter 19 – Friday 8th January 2021

St Cuthbert’s CARES We are: Creative Active Respectful Equal Supported

Good afternoon and Happy New Year to all,

Welcome to the first newsletter of the year and to yet more change for the school community! I know how difficult these changes are for parents and carers and commend you on your continued support of your children and the school. Please see a short newsletter below which aims to give as much information as we can at this stage. As always let us know if you have any questions about the contents. We can be contacted on (0131 443 2621) or via our admin mailbox (admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk). Our nursery can now be contacted separately at: stcu-nurmail@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk

Digital Learning – Week Commencing 11th January 2021

Each class within the mainstream school (LCC have communicated their own arrangements to families) will be provided with a daily allocation of digital learning via Microsoft Teams. This learning will be introduced by a daily audio welcome from the class teacher. The daily learning will consist of

· 1 item of Literacy based learning

· 1 item of Numeracy/Maths learning

· 1 learning experience from another curricular area.

We will aim to provide 3-5 hours learning for pupils per day. Feedback will be provided to pupils within normal school hours via Teams.

Two classes: P1 and P7 will also be trialling short daily video calls to pupils (no more than 30 minutes). These will take place at 9am and 9.15am respectively. Please note that no pupils are obligated to take part in the video call and that parents/carers may exempt their child from these meetings should they choose to do so. The responsible use policy was shared with parents/carers in association with the newsletter prior to Christmas but I will share again with today’s newsletter.

User names and passwords will be the same as pupils have used for Teams Homework this year. I attach a guide to logging in to Teams with this newsletter. Please contact us, if you have forgotten your child’s password. Please also remember to use the e-mail ending @ea.edin.sch.uk when entering the user name.

Teams Login Advice and Access to Teams on X-Box, PlayStation Consoles

Please find attached with this newsletter a guide to accessing Teams, included with this is advice about how to access teams via the popular games consoles mentioned above. Please continue to contact us with any questions you have about accessing Teams.

Absence from Digital Learning and School

Please note that the expectation from City of Edinburgh Council, is that pupils should take part in daily digital learning from home or within the school hub, if they have been allocated a place. If your child is unwell and cannot engage with digital learning at home or within the school hub, please contact us, as we have been asked to record such absences by City of Edinburgh Council, just as we would do if someone is absent in normal circumstances.

Stationery Resources – Available at School Gate on Tuesday 12th January 11-12am

As above, small resource packs will be made available on this date. We hope you find them useful. Please ensure that social distance is maintained when these are collected.

School Hub Places

Please accept my apologies for the number of calls I have had to make to parents/carers this week, informing them that there is no place for their child at our school hub. The guidelines are very strict, in line with the Scottish Government’s desire for as many people as possible to remain at home. I do however appreciate the scale of the challenge facing so many families at this time: balancing childcare, work commitments and from Monday online learning. I appreciate your understanding.

Support for Learning Teacher Consultation Calls

Mrs McLeish will be making some of the consultation calls she was unable to make last term starting on the morning of Wednesday 13th January 2021.

Mass During Lockdown – St Cuthbert’s, Slateford and Our Lady’s, Currie

Please continue to check the Parish website for details. See below:

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Thanks once again for your support through another period of unforeseen changes. The newsletter will be continue to be issued on a weekly basis. Please continue to contact us, if you have any questions.

Mr P Brack, Head Teacher and all at St Cuthbert’s School

Dear Parent/Carer.

Please see attached a letter from Andy Gray, Chief Education Officer giving more detail about plans for schools in January.

In the communication below, I will share how this affects our school and also explain what to do if your child tests positive for Covid over the holiday period:

Working Week Commencing 6^th January 2021: Key Worker Hub at St Cuthbert’s

Only children of Key Workers (as defined by City of Edinburgh Council see flow chart below)  will attend the school building on week days during the period from Wednesday 6^th January to Friday 15^th January 2021. Please click on the link below to make an application for a place in school on these days:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=af6sSGo3tUKfacnke7-5xDvSTjv5zlRKp7FBY3WQ-VBUQktOSzU4Tzc4VVhVVTFRUllPQ1FDQjdINC4u

Parents/carers of pupils whose children are identified as eligible for this support  will be informed on Wednesday 5^th January 2021.  To help you understand the eligibility criteria, please see flow chart below defining it. School will be open on these days during normal school hours only. If your child/children are eligible you will receive a call from the school on Tuesday 5^th January 2021. We will also be contacting families on this same date to offer spaces to vulnerable children too.

Online Learning from Monday 11^th January 2021

For pupils who don’t meet key worker eligibility criteria, term now starts on Monday 11^th January with online learning via Teams. This will comprise, as it did during lockdown of:

1. One item of literacy based learning
2. One item of numeracy based learning
3. One provision of learning from another curricular area.

Our hope is that come the 18^th January, we will be able to open as normal for in-school learning.  We will keep you in the loop with any updates on this situation.

Reporting Positive Pupil Covid Cases During Holidays

In order to ensure we are able to support families who may test positive over Christmas and New Year, we have put in place arrangements that will allow us to work with Health Protection Lothian to identify potential close contacts in schools. In order for this to be most effective, we are asking you to support us.

During the school holidays, if your child has had a positive test result for Covid-19 please call 0131 200 2000 to let us know. 

As your child(ren) is in the same class or bubble the school will share attendance information with the Health Protection Team so they can identify and notify close contacts.  Your child(ren) does not need to do anything further.

Please contact our admin mailbox from 5^th January, if you have any questions.

Thank you for your continued support, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year 2021!

Pat Brack

Head Teacher