St Cuthbert's RC Primary School

     St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

                           Newsletter 30– Thursday 1^st April 2021

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

Good afternoon,

Thanks for reading this term’s final update.  Thank you for your support and understanding throughout another unprecedented term of change. We hope to see you and your children all back safe and rested on Tuesday 20^th April after the Easter Holidays. If you have any questions about the information contained in this newsletter please contact us 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

Easter Holidays – Friday 2^nd April to Monday 19^th April

Please note that our last day of this term will be today, Thursday 1^st April. We will be in school for the full day on this day and will finish at our usual Thursday finishing times. We return to school on Tuesday 20^th April 2021, again at our normal staggered starting times.

Reporting Positive Pupil Covid Cases During Holidays

In order to ensure we are able to support families who may test positive over the Easter Holidays, 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 with this process by following these instructions:

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

The school has shared 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.

Learning Conversations

This week, I visited P6, as with P7 last week the conversation was both enjoyable and informative. The class shared positives from across the curriculum. They also shared some of the strategies that had helped them be successful, namely: motivation, good teaching, listening and teamwork. Some of the strategies suggested by P6 to support their learning and help them improve further were practice, revision, reading over work to check it and learning from mistakes (remembering what they were and not repeating them).

Sharing our Learning via Twitter @StCuthbertsRCP

Now that we are all back at school again, this popular feature will resume from next week. The days for each class are as below:

Monday – P1/P2
Tuesday – P7/LCC1/2
Wednesday – P4/P6
Thursday – P3/P5
Friday – Star Learners/Pupil of the Week.

Booking School Lunches – P1 – P7 for week commencing 20^th April 2021

Please remember that the deadline for booking school meals for the first week of term was midnight on Wednesday 31^st March.  If you have not booked a school lunch for your child, please send them with a packed lunch from home on the first week back after the holidays.  The deadline for ordering meals for the second week of term will be midnight on Wednesday 21^st April.

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

Resumption of School Breakfast Club – Booking Places for Week Commencing 20^th April 2021

As advised via the school app and Learning Journals, Breakfast Club will be in operation from 8 am until pupils’ respective start times each school day after the Easter Holidays.  Thanks to those who have responded and booked for the first week back after the holidays. Please contact our admin mailbox upon our return, if you wish to book for the second week of term: week commencing 26^th April 2021.

Cost will be £1.50 per day for the first child and £1 per day for any additional children. If your child has free school meal entitlement, there is no charge.

Once your child’s place is confirmed, money should be handed into the office on the first day of your child’s attendance each week in a sealed envelope marked with pupil names and correct amount of money enclosed. Thank you.

Retirement – Pat  – Crossing Patrol Officer (Lollipop Lady)

Pat retired yesterday after 6 years of service to the school. Pat has been a hard-working and very well-liked member of our wider staff team. We wish her a restful and enjoyable retirement. Thank you to all of you who contributed generously to her retirement collection.

Nursery Update

Faye, Laura and the team would like to say a huge thank you to all the families who have been so welcoming and supportive over this first nursery term. The feedback from parents and carers has been overwhelmingly positive, and staff are delighted that the children have settled so happily in the new setting. The whole team hope you all have a wonderful Easter holiday and look forward to welcoming the children back on Tuesday 20^th April 2021.

The Scottish Government has committed to increasing the entitlement to funded Early Learning and Childcare from the current 600 hours to 1140 hours per academic year. In August 2021 St Cuthbert’s nursery will be expanding to a 50 week service offering a choice of attendance patterns, giving families the option of term-time places or 50 week places. Letters regarding the new patterns of attendance for session 2021 – 2022 will be sent out week over the course of week beginning Monday 19^th April 2021.  

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.

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

Fr Duffy sends his best Easter wishes to all. He has, as I am sure many of you now know been unwell for a period of time and is currently unable to work. Please direct all queries to Fr Martens at Our Lady’s Currie in the short term. Fr Martins can be contacted via the contact details provided on the home page of the parish website.

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Ramadan

The month of Ramadan will be starting on Monday 12^th April. This is a very holy month for all Muslims and will end after 30 days of fasting with a big celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday 13^th May (the date could change depending on the sighting of the moon). We wish all our Muslim pupils and families a holy Ramadan.

Finally

We wish you and your families a happy and holy Easter!

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

St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

Newsletter 29 – Friday 26th March 2021

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

Good afternoon,

Thanks for reading this week’s update, it is hard to believe that we have almost reached the Easter holidays already. It has certainly been a term to remember. Thanks as always for your patience and support. 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

Easter Holidays – Friday 2nd April to Monday 19th April

Please note that our last day of this term will be Thursday 1st April. We will be in school for the full day on this day and will finish at our usual Thursday finishing times. We return to school on Tuesday 20th April 2021, again at our normal starting times.

Learning Conversations

This week, I visited P7, we talked about what pupils felt their strengths in learning had been that day, what and who had helped them learn and how. We also talked about their next steps in learning and what they and staff could do differently to help them improve. The conversation was both enjoyable and informative. The class shared positives in both Literacy and Maths. They shared some of the strategies that had helped them be successful, namely: concentration, perseverance, teamwork, following success criteria, practice, proof reading and double checking. Some of the strategies suggested by P7 to support their learning and help them improve further were revision of key facts, learning from mistakes (remembering what they were and not repeating them) as well as taking their time and trying not to rush. Next week I will visit P6 and share that learning with you.

Sharing our Learning via Twitter @StCuthbertsRCP

Now that we are all back at school again, this popular feature will resume from next week. The days for each class are as below:

Monday – P1/P2 Tuesday – P7/LCC1/2 Wednesday – P4/P6 Thursday – P3/P5 Friday – Star Learners/Pupil of the Week.

Learning Journal Observations – This Term

Our plan to share this term’s observations of learning in Literacy, Numeracy/Maths and Health and Wellbeing before Easter has been affected by some technical challenges with the Learning Journals platform over the last week or so. Therefore, observations from term 2 will now be published at the end of the first week back after the Easter holidays: Friday 23rd April 2021. I apologise for the delay and thank you for your patience. If you are not able to access Learning Journals please notify us and Mrs Holden, our Depute, will respond to you as soon as she possibly can. Please note that the web version is currently the best means of accessing this platform, as there are some temporary issues with the app. Passwords and user names remain the same for both platforms.

Booking School Lunches – P1 – P7 for week commencing 20th April 2021

Please remember that bookings for school meals must be made by no later than midnight on Wednesday night (31st March) for our return after Easter. 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

Resumption of School Breakfast Club – Booking Places for Week Commencing 20th April 2021

As advised via the school app and Learning Journals, Breakfast Club will be in operation from 8 am until pupils’ respective start times each school day next week. Thanks to those who have responded and booked for next week.

I would appreciate it if you could email admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk if you wish to use this service for week beginning 20th April – the first week back after Easter. Cost will be £1.50 per day for the first child and £1 per day for any additional children. If your child has free school meal entitlement, there is no charge. You still need to reserve a place via the admin mailbox (please note that you will also be asked to complete an annual registration form if you haven’t done so already). Please let us know by 12pm on Thursday 1st April if you wish to reserve a place.

Once your child’s place is confirmed, money should be handed into the office on the first day of your child’s attendance each week in a sealed envelope marked with pupil names and correct amount of money enclosed. Thank you.

Retirement – John Davidson – Facilities Management Technician (Janitor)

John retired today after 4 decades of services to Lothian Region and City of Edinburgh Council. John has been a hard-working and very well-liked member of our team. We wish him a restful and enjoyable retirement.

ECO Schools

We have used school funds to buy litter picking equipment. This equipment will be used by all classes on a rotational basis and will add to our continuing work to improve the school’s approach to sustainability.

Sacramental Update

Fr Duffy has been unwell for a period of time and is currently recuperating at home (please see further information below). Our P3, P4 and P7 teachers are moving forwards with sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation but we await further advice from the arch-diocese re how these sacraments are to be celebrated. We will let you know as soon as we are aware. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Equalities Update

Miss Munro surveyed our pupils on our approach to equalities this week. We are also awaiting the responses to the City of Edinburgh Council Pupil Wellbeing survey undertaken by our pupils recently. Both of these surveys will be used to help us further promote equality in the school going forward.

We will also survey parents next term in relation to this topic.

City of Edinburgh Council also advise that we share their policy on bullying on an annual basis. Please see this policy at link below:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/bullying

Nursery Update

Faye, Laura and the team thank all for adapting so well to the new entry and exit system. The children are continuing to settle in really well to their new environment. Letters will be sent out week commencing 19th April confirming attendance patterns for August 2021.

Please also note that our new nursery noticeboard is now displaying our lunch menu for your information.

Thank you for continuing to follow social distancing and face mask advice.

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.

Message from CEC re Free School Meals payments and the Spring Hardship Payment

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/schoolgrants

Other payments If you meet the conditions for free school meals you may be entitled to other payments to help with meals during school holidays, closures or if your child has to self isolate.

You don’t need to apply separately. We will pay these to the bank account we hold for your clothing grant.

Holiday payments

A payment of £2.25 was made for every day during school holidays, closures or where remote or learning is in place up to 29 January 2021.

From 01 February 2021, the payment increased to £2.50 per day.

Free School Meals payments have been made for all pupils up to 12 March 2021.

On 15 March 2021, a Free School Meals payment of £35.00 per child will be made for secondary pupils only as they are returning to school on blended learning. This payment is for the period 15 March 2021 to 01 April 2021.

Free School Meals payments will be made to all pupils for the Easter holidays.

Spring Hardship Payment

The Scottish Government’s Spring Hardship Payment (https://www.gov.scot/news/funding-to-tackle-poverty-and-inequality/) includes a one-off payment of £100 per child for all children in receipt of Free School Meals before the Easter holiday.

This payment will be included with the Easter holiday Free School Meal payment.

The date for the Spring Hardship Payment and the Easter holidays Free School Meal payment has not yet been confirmed but the payment will be made in advance of the Easter holiday. Once the date is confirmed we will update our web page.

Parents of children already in receipt of Free School Meals DO NOT need to complete an application in order to receive the Spring Hardship Payment, it will be paid automatically using the bank/payment details we already hold.

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

Fr Duffy sends his best wishes to all. He has, as I am sure many of you now know been unwell for a period of time and is currently unable to work. Please direct all queries to Fr Martens at Our Lady’s Currie in the short term. Fr Martins can be

contacted via the contact details provided on the home page of the parish website.

https://www.stcuthbertschurch.com

Finally

We will issue a short newsletter next Thursday which will be the final newsletter of the term. We hope that you and your families have a relaxing and restful weekend!

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

      St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

                            Newsletter 28– Friday 19^th March 2021

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

Good afternoon,

Thanks for reading this week’s update, it has been great to welcome everyone back this week, the weather has been kind to us too! 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

As always, our aim is to communicate as clearly as possible with our parents and carers. To this end, as well as the letters and Teams invites we have sent, we have been making and will continue to make reminder phone calls to parents and carers on the day of their scheduled appointments.  We hope you have found these meetings helpful. As always, please feel very welcome to feedback your thoughts on this process or any questions you have.

Return to School – Uniform, P.E and Social Distancing

Thank you for sending the pupils back to school in their school uniforms. Uniform is important to us, as a sign of our corporate identity and also in terms of equality. The only exception to the requirement for uniform is on P.E days, as indoor P.E is still not permitted, this subject will be held outside for the time being and pupils may come to school in hoodies, tracksuits or other sports clothing suitable to the weather on those days. On all other days uniform should be worn. We realise that shops have been shut for a long time and that your children may have grown out of some items of uniform. We have a limited stock of good condition uniform items that parents/carers are very welcome to take and use. Please contact our office, if you would like to arrange a time to look at our stock. Equally, if you have any uniform you would like to donate, please also feel very welcome to contact us.

Thank you for ensuring that social distancing is maintained and that masks are worn at all times within the vicinity of the school. No parents of P4-7 pupils should enter the playground at the start or end of each day. Pupils should also continue to remain out-with the playground until their class is called in.

Learning Journal Observations – This Term

Our plan to share this term’s observations of learning in Literacy, Numeracy/Maths and Health and Wellbeing before Easter has been affected by some technical challenges with the Learning Journals platform over the last week or so. Therefore, observations from term 2 will now be published at the end of the first week back after the Easter holidays: Friday 23^rd April 2021. I apologise for the delay and thank you for your patience. If you are not able to access Learning Journals please notify us and Mrs Holden, our Depute, will respond to you as soon as she possibly can. Please note that the web version is currently the best means of accessing this platform, as there are some temporary issues with the app. Passwords and user names remain the same for both platforms.

Booking School Lunches – P1 – P7

Please remember that bookings must be made by no later than midnight 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

Message from CEC re Free School Meals payments and the Spring Hardship Payment

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/schoolgrants

Other payments

If you meet the conditions for free school meals you may be entitled to other payments to help with meals during school holidays, closures or if your child has to self isolate.

You don’t need to apply separately. We will pay these to the bank account we hold for your clothing grant.

Holiday payments

A payment of £2.25 was made for every day during school holidays, closures or where remote or learning is in place up to 29 January 2021.

From 01 February 2021, the payment increased to £2.50 per day.

Free School Meals payments have been made for all pupils up to 12 March 2021.

On 15 March 2021, a Free School Meals payment of £35.00 per child will be made for secondary pupils only as they are returning to school on blended learning. This payment is for the period 15 March 2021 to 01 April 2021.

Free School Meals payments will be made to all pupils for the Easter holidays.

Spring Hardship Payment

The Scottish Government’s Spring Hardship Payment (https://www.gov.scot/news/funding-to-tackle-poverty-and-inequality/) includes a one-off payment of £100 per child for all children in receipt of Free School Meals before the Easter holiday.

This payment will be included with the Easter holiday Free School Meal payment.

The date for the Spring Hardship Payment and the Easter holidays Free School Meal payment has not yet been confirmed but the payment will be made in advance of the Easter holiday. Once the date is confirmed we will update our web page.

Parents of children already in receipt of Free School Meals DO NOT need to complete an application in order to receive the Spring Hardship Payment, it will be paid automatically using the bank/payment details we already hold.

Nursery Update

Faye, Laura and the team are really pleased with the way that the children are settling in. Letters will be sent out week commencing 19^th April confirming attendance patterns for August 2021.

Please also note that our new nursery noticeboard is now displaying our lunch menu for your information.

Thank you for continuing to follow social distancing and face mask advice.

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.

Resumption of School Breakfast Club – Booking Places for Week Commencing 29.03.21

As advised via the school app and Learning Journals, Breakfast Club will be in operation from 8 am until pupils’ respective start times each school day next week.  Thanks to those who have responded and booked for next week.

I would appreciate it if you could email admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk if you wish to use this service for week beginning 29^th March. Cost will be £1.50 per day for the first child and £1 per day for any additional children. If your child has free school meal entitlement, there is no charge. You still need to reserve a place via the admin mailbox (please note that you will also be asked to complete an annual registration form if you haven’t done so already). Please let us know by 12pm on Friday 26^th March if you wish to reserve a place.  

Once your child’s place is confirmed, money should be handed into the office on the first day of your child’s attendance each week in a sealed envelope marked with pupil names and correct amount of money enclosed. Thank you.

Learning Conversations/Newsletter

As of next week, I will visit a different class every week to discuss their learning. This will then be shared via the newsletter. We will start this with P7 next week.

Sharing our Learning via Twitter @StCuthbertsRCP

Now that we are all back at school again, this popular feature will resume from next week. The days for each class are as below:

Monday – P1/P2
Tuesday – P7/LCC1/2
Wednesday – P4/P6
Thursday – P3/P5
Friday – Star Learners/Pupil of the Week.

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 of 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.

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 are sure your children will be tired after our first full week back as a whole school (and nursery). We therefore hope that you and your families will be able to have a relaxing and restful weekend and look forward to your return on Monday!

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

      St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary School

                            Newsletter 27– Friday 12^th March 2021

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

Good afternoon,

Thanks for reading this week’s update, hopefully the last ever lock-down/digital learning era newsletter! 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

A letter providing further guidance was sent this week via Learning Journals and the school app. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this process. Thanks to those who have done so already. We will make reminder calls to you on the day of your meeting. Please remember to accept the invite in your child’s outlook e-mail account and within the Teams calendar click on the meeting then the join button to take part in the consultation.

Return to School Update P4-7

Information was sent out via the school app and Learning Journals on Tuesday. Please see a recap of key information below:  

Class	Playground Access for Parents/Carers	Enter and Exit School By:	Start Time	End of Day Wed/Thurs	End of Day Friday
P1	Yes, via side entrance gate only	P1 class door	8.45am	2.50pm	12.10pm
P2	Yes, via side entrance gate only	P2 Infant Entrance	9am	3.05pm	12.25pm
P3	Yes, via main entrance gate	Main Door	8.55am	3.20pm	12.30pm
P4	No	Main Door	9.05am	3.30pm	12.40pm
P5	No	Upper School Entrance	8.55am	3.20pm	12.30pm
P6	No	Upper School Entrance	9am	3.25pm	12.35pm
P7	No	Upper School Entrance	9.05am	3.30pm	12.40pm
LCC1	Yes, via side entrance gate.	LCC Door	8.55am	3.20pm	12.20pm
LCC2	Yes, via side entrance gate.	LCC Door	8.55am	3.20pm	12.20pm

Please note that indoor P.E is still not permitted so this subject will be held outside for the time being. Teachers will advise pupils upon their return as to which days they plan to teach P.E on. Pupils may come to school in hoodies, tracksuits or other sports clothing suitable to the weather on those days. On all other days uniform should be worn.

Please ensure that social distancing is maintained and masks worn at all times within the vicinity of the school. No parents of P4-7 pupils should enter the playground at the start or end of each day. Pupils should also remain out-with the playground until their class is called in.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday. If you have any questions relating to this information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Finally, we know that the return to school may be a matter of some anxiety for both pupils and parents/carers. NHS Grampian have developed interesting and helpful resources for parents to support their children in the lead up to the return to school.  I have listed the links to these resources and hope that these will be useful:

• It’s ok to worry about going back to school : resource pack for parents
  
• It’s ok to worry about going back to school : resource pack for parents of neurodiverse children
• Coming out of lockdown – managing worries : a guide for parents/carers of children and young people with long-term health conditions

Return to School, English as an Additional Language Communications

Please click on the link below and choose the language you require.

COVID communications 2020-21

Booking School Lunches – P1 – P7

Please note the deadline for P4-P7 returning on 15^th March was Wednesday 10^th March.  Please also remember that bookings must be made by no later than midnight 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

Nursery Update

Faye, Laura and the team thank you again for your support this week. Please note that there is no need to bring food for your child to the nursery, 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 continue to enter and exit via the top gate nearest the nursery. Please also note that from Monday pupils will continue to enter by back entrance to nursery but will now exit via the front entrance.  It would be much appreciated if you could 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.

Resumption of After School Club and Breakfast Club

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 plan to open our school Breakfast Club from week commencing 22^nd March 2021 and will explain how to book this next week via the school app and Learning Journals.

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 of 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.

Families Edinburgh Virtual Magazine

Have just brought out their March/April issue and asked us to share it. Again, the magazine is full of lots of free content aimed directly at parents and their children.

You can read the magazine here but if it is easier then the long link is: https://issuu.com/familiesonline/docs/families_edinburgh_mar-apr_digital__4_?fr=sNzBjZDMyNjY4ODU

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

Dear parents and carers, 

Please see details below of arrangements for our return to school on Monday 15^th March. Please refer to last week’s school newsletter re details relating to school lunches that week. Parents and carers of pupils in P5, P6 & P7 should note that independent tasks will be put on Teams on Friday 12^th March but that there will be no teacher interaction that day, as teaching staff will  be in school preparing for our return (P4 arrangements were communicated separately).

Please note that indoor P.E is still not permitted so this subject will be held outside for the time being. Teachers will advise pupils upon their return as to which days they plan to teach P.E on. Pupils may come to school in hoodies, tracksuits or other sports clothing suitable to the weather on those days. On all other days uniform should be worn.

Please ensure that social distancing is maintained and masks worn at all times within the vicinity of the school.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday. If you have any questions relating to this information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Class	PlaygroundAccess for Parents/Carers	Enter and Exit School By:	Start Time	End of Day Wed/Thurs	End of DayFriday
P1	Yes, via side entrance gate only	P1 class door	8.45am	2.50pm	12.10pm
P2	Yes, via side entrance gate only	P2 Infant Entrance	9am	3.05pm	12.25pm
P3	Yes, via main entrance gate	Main Door	8.55am	3.20pm	12.30pm
P4	No	Main Door	9.05am	3.30pm	12.40pm
P5	No	Upper School Entrance	8.55am	3.20pm	12.30pm
P6	No	Upper School Entrance	9am	3.25pm	12.35pm
P7	No	Upper School Entrance	9.05am	3.30pm	12.40pm
LCC1	Yes, via side entrance gate.	LCC Door	8.55am	3.20pm	12.20pm
LCC2	Yes, via side entrance gate.	LCC Door	8.55am	3.20pm	12.20pm

      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