WelcometoPrimary5

http://www.hermitageprimaryschool.org/

Twitter-@HermitagePrimenquiries-hermitageprimary@argyll-bute.gov.uk

01436672949

DearParent/CarerAverywarmwelcometoyouandyourchildtoP5inHermitagePrimarySchool.Wehopetheinformationcontainedwithinthisbookletwillbehelpfulastheyearprogresses.Itoutlinessomeoftheclassroutines,curriculumdetails,homeworkguidelinesandhowweuseourPupilPlannertogethertobuildaLearningProfilewithyourchild,youasparentsandourselves;reportingandkeepingyouuptodatewithyourchild’slearningandprogress,attainmentandachievements.ParentNewsletterswillbeissuedatthebeginningofeachmonth,outlininggeneralinformationforthemonthaheadandreportingonrecenteventsandachievements.Ourschoolwebsiteprovidesadditionalnewsandinformation;andtheschoolcalendarisalsolocatedonthewebsite.Regularlylookingatitwillkeepyouuptodatewithdetailsofevents.(YoucanusetheQRcodeonthefrontofthisbooklettotakeyoustraightthere).Weareallverystronglycommittedtoworkinginpartnershipwithyouandencourageyoutodoallyoucantokeepsharinginyourchild’seducationwithus.Withbestwishesforagreatyearahead, Elspeth M Davis ElspethMDavisHeadTeacher OurAimsWeaimto:

• Enablechildrentodevelopassuccessfullearners,whoareconfident,exerciseresponsibility,contributetothelifeoftheschoolandwidercommunityandwhomakeverygoodprogressintheirlearning;providinganethoswithintheschoolwhichcelebratesachievementandencouragescreativityandinnovation.

• Provideteacherswhoknowtheirpupilswellandofferavarietyofexcitingandinterestinglearningexperiencesandopportunities,offeringchoice,digitalexperiences,supportandgroupworktohelppupilslearnbothindoorsandoutdoors;buildingonpupilstrengthsandprovidingnewchallengesusinghighqualityresources.

• ProvidechildrenwithacaringplacetolearnwhichencouragesthemtotreateachotherkindlyandwithrespectandberesponsibleEcofriendlycitizensintheirlocalenvironmentandinthewiderworld.

• Teachchildren,inpartnershipwithparents,tokeepthemselvessafeintheschoolandwiderenvironment,includingon-linebymakingpositivechoicesnowandinthefuture.

• Provideopportunitiesforalltotakepartinleadershipactivitieswhichpromoteinitiative,resilienceandconfidence.

• Continuetodevelopstrongandpositivelinkswithparents,ourcommunity,educationalestablishments,agenciesandotherstoensurethattheiruniquecontributionsprovideenrichingexperiencestosupportandenhancelearningforall.

Oneofthekeyaimsistoensurethatyourchildwillenjoyahappytimeatschoolwherethereisawarm,safeandcaringenvironment.

StaffinginP5

TheclassteachersareMrsScottwhoteachesP5afulltime,MondaytoFridayandMrsPaulandMrsCarmichaelinP5b.TheysharetheclassonaMon-Wed/Wed-Fribasis.TheClassroomAssistantalsoworkingwithP5isMrsMacFarlane.ChildrenhaveadditionalteachingthroughtheweekinPE,EcoandMusicfromMrMulvenna,Mrs.McMurdo,MrHenryandMrs.Ridland.(Thesespecialistlessonsallowtheclassteacherstheirapportionednon-classcontacttime)MrPaulMulvennaistheDeputeHeadTeacherwithpastoralresponsibilityforP5.GeneralInformation

• Playtimesandplaygroundsupervision:P5pupilssharetheplaygroundwithallotherclasses.EachdaytheyareallocatedaspecificplayspacewithinthegroundsmakinguseofourextensivelydevelopedplayspacesintheImaginativeArea,FitnessArea,Amphitheatre,BasketballandOutdoorGym.OurteamofClassroomAssistantssupervisetheplaygroundintervals.

• Snack:Mostparentsliketosendasnackforplaytime.Oneitemissufficient,asthe

intervalisshort.Asahealthpromotingschool,weencouragefruit,anddiscouragefizzydrinksandfoodswithhighsugarorfatcontents.Ourschoolcateringteamalsoprovideadailyhealthytuckshop,openatthe‘hatch’eachmorninginterval.

• WaterBottle:Childrenareencouragedtodrinkplentyduringtheday.Pleaseprovideabottleforwater(notjuice)withanon-spilltopwhichcanbere-filled,asnecessary.

Pleasekeepallfoodanddrinkinaseparatecompartmentinschoolbags,orinacarrierbagtoavoidleaksandspillsonschoolmaterials.

ClassroomRoutines

• ChildreninP5lineupatthedoorsoutsidetheP4classroomsandusethesedoorstoenterandexitthebuilding.

• Athometimetheyarebroughttomaingatestepsbytheirteacheranddismissedtotheirwaitingnominatedadult.

• PupilsusingschooltransportorgoingtoAfterSchoolcaremaketheirwaytotheschoolhallat3pmtobemetandescortedbytransportstaffandthosefromBASICandMulberryBush.

• TheP5cloakroomisintheircorridorandpupilsareencouragedtohangtheircoatsandschoolbagstheretidily.Anythingrequiredforthedayahead–pencilcases,workwalletsetcaretakenfrombagsandbroughtintotheclassroom.

• Packedlunchesareplacedonatrolleyforeasyaccesstosnacksandlunchtime.

ClassAdmin

• SchoolbagMail:Pleasecheckinyourchild'splannerdailytoseeifthereareanynotesetc.AllschoolinformationisnowsentviaourXpressionsAppandwillalsobepostedonourwebsite.Pleaseensurethatyouremailaddressandmobiletelephonenumbersareupdatedifchanged.Weaskthatany‘returns’aresentbacktimeously.PupilsshouldhandtheseintotheclassteacherfirstthinginthemorningtoallowprocessinginthemainAdminOffice.

• SchoolLunches:The‘rolling’schoollunchmenuispostedonourwebsiteenablingyouandyourchildtomakelunchtimechoices.Aschoollunchcosts£2.20fortwocourses.(Pupilsshouldalsobringanadditional10piftheywouldlikemilktodrink)Paymentscanbepaidbycashorchequeto‘HermitagePrimarySchool.’Orderingofschoollunchestakesplacefirstthingeachmorningandiscoordinatedbyeachclassroomassistant.

• Monies:Sometimes,othermoneyrequirestobesentin–fortrips,theatregroups,charitiesetc.Pleasetrytoensurethiscomesinapurse/envelopewithanameonitandthatyourchildknowswhatitisfor.

• Outdoorkit:Weenjoyusingourwonderfuloutdoorenvironmentforlearningasmuchaswecan,buttheScottishweathercanmeanwetgrassandsomemud!Apairofwelliestokeepinschoolisusefultosaveschoolshoesandolderclothesthatyoudon’tmindgettingabitwet/muddy.

• PEDays:AllourpupilsundertakeatleasttwohoursofqualityPEeachweek.BothP5classes’PEdaysareMondaysandWednesdays.Pleaseensureappropriategymkitandindoorsportsshoesareinschoolforthesepurposes.

• PencilCases:Pencilcasesareneededinschooleveryday.Itemsshouldinclude–sharpwritingpencils,aruler,aneraser,asharpener,agluestickandcolouringpencils.

A‘TypicalDay’

Itisdifficulttodescribeatypicaldaywithinaprimaryschoolclassroomassomuchgoeson!But,generally,pupilswillhavecorelessonsinliteracy,numeracyandhealthandwellbeingeachday.OthersubjectswillbetaughtthroughouttheweektoensurewefulfilthecurriculumrequirementssetdownbytheScottishGovernmentwithinCurriculumforExcellence.Theapproachtolessonsisabalanceofactiveandseat-basedtasks.Creativityaboundsandpupilsareencouragedtoparticipateinlearning.Eachdaya‘timetable’ofthedayaheadispostedontheclassroomwallandgoneoverfirstthinginthemorningataTogetherTime.Thisenableschildrentoseethedayaheadandtobepreparedforwhatwillhappen.

TheCurriculum TheScottishCurriculumforExcellenceinformswhatandhowweteach.Thecurriculumisdefinedasthe“Totalityofallthatisplannedforchildrenandyoungpeoplethroughouttheireducation.”(BuildingtheCurriculum3:AFrameworkforLearningandTeaching,2008)CurriculumforExcellenceisbasedaroundfourdistinctcontextsforlearning:EthosandLifeoftheSchool,Curriculumandsubjects,Inter-disciplinarylearningandOpportunitiesforPersonalachievement.UltimatelyweareworkingtowardssupportingourpupilstobeSuccessfulLearners,ConfidentIndividuals,ResponsibleCitizensandEffectiveContributorsastheyprogressthroughtheirlearning.Itisabroadandgeneraleducationwithawidevarietyofsubjectstaught.Stafforganiselearningunderdifferingcurricularareasandlinklearningacrosstheseareas,wherepossible–oftenthroughInterdisciplinaryLearningcontexts,combiningsubjectswithinagiventheme.Thisapproachoffersabreadthoflearningandthedepthtoexploreandspecialise.Knowledgeandunderstandingaretaughtalongsidethedevelopmentofskillswithinprogressiveframeworksaspupilsmovethroughattainmentwithinbroadlevels.InPrimary5mostchildrenwillhavebegunworkingontheoutcomesandexperiencesrequiredattheearlystagesofLevel2–theygenerallycontinuelearningwithinLevel2untiltheendofP7.CurricularAreas:*Languages(includingLiteracyandFrench)*Maths(andNumeracy)*HealthandWellbeing(includingPE)ExpressiveArts(Art,Drama,Music)SciencesSocialStudiesTechnologiesReligiousandMoralEducation *coresubjectsInschoolwehaveguidelinesfromtheScottishGovernmentforeachsubjectareaandlevelandweplanourworkforthechildrenbasedonthese.BenchmarkFrameworkswithinallcurricularareasarepublishedbytheScottishGovernmenttoenableustoassesschildrenappropriatelyateachleveloflearning.Forthoseparentswhowouldliketoseethedetailofthecurriculumframeworks,followthislinkandselecttheappropriateLeveldocumentfortheBenchmarkFrameworks:http://www.hermitageprimaryschool.org/useful-documents/home-support/

IDLIDLsareoftenreferredtobythechildrenastheir‘topic’.Learningisbasedaroundacontextrelevantandengagingforthechildrenandteacherscombineoutcomesandexperiencesfromrelevantcurricularareastoplanforrichanddeeplearningaroundthechosentheme.Pupilsareinvolvedinplanning–decidingwhattheywanttolearnandfindoutaboutandstaffusetheseresponsesandtheirownjudgementtoplantheInterdisciplinaryLearning.ThisfirsttermP5willbeusingthecontext,“NaturalDisasters”.KeepcheckingthePlannerpagestoseewhatelseishappeningandhowchildrenareprogressingintheseareas.AssessmentWeassesspupilswithineachlevelagainsttheBenchmarkFramework–thesecanbeviewedacrossthesubjectareasonourwebsite,usingthefollowinglink:http://www.hermitageprimaryschool.org/useful-documents/home-support/AssessmentwithinHermitagePrimaryisrigorousandallpupilsarecarefullytrackedinthecoresubjectsofLiteracy,NumeracyandHealthandWellbeingtoensuretheyaremakingappropriateprogressagainstthenationalbenchmarks.Assessmentcomesinavarietyofforms;it’snotjusttests!Examplesoftheassessmentevidenceweuseislistedbelow:

• Jotter/Writtenwork• Oralwork• Presentations/Videos/Photographs• Pupilengagementinlearning• SelfandPeerevaluation• Teacherjudgementandmoderationactivitiesacrosslevelswithinschoolandwithother

schools• Homework• LearningProfileswithinPupilPlanners• Standardisedandendofunitassessments

Since2016DataisgatheredannuallybytheScottishGovernmentonattainmentinourschoolattheendofeachexpectedlevel.AteachLevelandwithineachaspectofcoresubjects,pupilsatHermitagePrimarycontinuetoattainwellabovenationalbenchmarkslaiddownbytheScottishGovernment.

PupilSupportAllchildrenaredifferentandprogressatdifferentrates.Ourplanningandteachingreflectstheindividualresponseswemaketopupilsintheirlearning.Fromtimetotime,pupilswillfacechallengesintheirlearningandwhenthisarisesweoffersupporttopupilstoassistintheirprogressanddevelopment.

• Workisdifferentiatedbytheteachertosuittheneedsofthechild–thismaybeincontentorinquantityexpected.

• ClassroomandAdditionalSupportNeedsAssistantsworkwithsmallgroupsandindividualstokeepataskfocussedortohelpexplain.

• And,attimes,ourNetworkSupportTeacher–MrsLafferty-McGawwillworkwiththeclassteacherinplanningmorespecifictargetsandoutcomestoenableyourchildtomakeprogress.Thiscanofteninvolveusingspecificresourcesspeciallydesignedforthesubject,skillorconceptinhand.

ThroughourreportingproceduresbelowyouwillbekeptinformedwhenthishappensandtheAdditionalNotespageswithinthePlannerwillkeepyouupdated.ReportingOurPupilPlannersformanexceptionallyimportantpartofthewayinwhichwereportinformationonyourchild’slearning.WedividetheworkwedoeachyearintofourTermsandeachtermhasaspecificcolouredsectionwithinourPlanner.Thesesectionsdetailtherangeoftargetsyourchildwillbeworkingonandtheclassteacherandyourchildwillrecordtheirprogresswithinthesepages.Theygivemoredetailonwhatishappeninginclassandhowyourchildisachieving.WithineachTermpupilsreflectontheirprogress,thinkingthroughtheskillstheyaredevelopingthroughtheirlearning.Termsectionsalsocontainspaceforstafftomakeasummarycommentatregularintervalsonhowyourchildisgettingonwiththislearning.Thisreportingpagegivesyouthespace,asaparentorcarer,tocommentregularlytoo.Pupilsandparents/carersarealsoencouragedtonotedownpersonalachievementsontheappropriatepages.Thesecanbeachievementsmadewithinandout-withschool.Welovetosharesuccessand,duringourweeklyassemblies,ifpupilswish,wecancelebratetheirachievementswiththewholeschool.TheBluesectioncanoftenbeoverlookedas“justthediarypage”,butitprovidesawealthofinformation,fromhomeworktocommunicationfortheweek,topupilself-reflectionsinlearning.Weaskthatyouspendsometimewithyourchildtowardstheendofeachweekassistingintheirreflectionsatthe‘MeTime’section,sharingtogetherandnotingthisdownintheHomeCommentportionofeachweeklypage.

Inadditiontothisstoreofinformation,whichbuildsupwithyourchildasaprofileoflearningandachievementthroughtheyear,wealsohaveotheropportunitiestocomeandmeetwiththeclassteachertodiscussprogressandnextsteps.Theseface-to-facesessionsarereallyvaluableandallowteacherstosharemoreinformationandforyoutoaskanyquestionsyoumayhave.Wesendhomesamplesofclassworkpriortothesesessionstogiveyoufurtherunderstandingofwhatyourchildisworkingonandhowtheyaredoingwithit.ThisyearthesessionswillbeheldinOctoberandMarch.Shouldyouwishhowever,todiscussanyparticularconcerns,pleasecalltheschoolofficetoarrangefortheclassteachertophoneyouormakeanappointmentwiththeschool’sclericalassistant,andwecangetameetingwiththeteacherarrangedforyou.ParentalInvolvementWearestronglycommittedtoworkinginpartnershipwithyou–you,afterall,arethechiefeducatorforyourchild;andwehavemanyopportunitiesforyoutogetasinvolved.HomeLearningWeandmanyparentsandcarersvaluetheroleofhomeworkwithinHermitagePrimarySchool.Itgivesyouanopportunitytoengagewithyourchildinthe“nutsandbolts”oflearning;givingyouthechancetoseeatfirsthand,whattheyareworkingonincoresubjects,howtheyaregettingonwithconceptsandskills,theirstrengthsandtheirareasofchallenge.Staffsetthishomeworkaccordingtoworkbeingundertakeninclasstogiveopportunityforadditionalpracticeanddevelopment.Weacknowledgethatopinionsdifferonhomeworkandanyfamilyisfreetoengageinanyothertypeofhomelearningiftheyprefer.WorkisbeingundertakenthisyeartoreviewandrefreshourHomeworkpolicyandapproaches.Weexpecttoseechangesastheyearprogresses.HereareguidelinesforhomeworkinP5• Reading–thiswillbeheardeachweekinschoolduringReadinglessons.Childrenshould

trytopractisesomereadingeverynightathome.• Maths–mathsactivities/worksheetswillbeissuedthroughouttheyearonaweeklybasis.

TheyshouldbereturnedcompletedtotheclassteachereachThursday.Childrencanalsopractisespecifiedmultiplicationtablesroutinely.

• Spelling–Spellingwordsissuedeachweek.Thesecanbecopiedouttwofurthertimes

andlearnedforThursday’sweeklytest.PupilswillalsobeofferedachoiceoftaskfromtheirSpellingMenuusingtheirwordsonaweeklybasis.

• Language–throughouttheyeartherewillbetimeswhenadditionallanguagetaskswillbe

offered.Thismaytaketheformofsomecomprehensionworkaroundtheirreadingbook,someextendedwritingorresearchwork.

• PLPReflections–ChildrenareaskedtoreflectonthelearningfortheweekwithintheirPlannersonthedailybluepages.ThisshouldbecompletedonaThursdayevening.

• HomeworkChallenges–thesewillbeofferedatvariousstagesthroughouttheyear.A

separateletterisissuedwitheachchallengedetailingspecificinstructionsandtimeframeforcompletion.

Ø Pleasenotethatteachersmayvaryamountsofhomeworkdependentoncircumstances.Ø Parents/Carersshouldalsobeawarethatitisnotschoolpolicytoissuehomeworktochildrenduringholidayperiods.Thisincludesadditionalunauthorisedholidaystakenbyfamiliesduringthecourseoftheyear.

Pleasegetintouchwiththeclassteacherif,foranyreason,youexperienceproblemswiththehomework.Thisgivesadditionalandusefulinformationtotheteacherontheirlearningwithinaverydifferentcontexttotheclassroom.Furthersupportandguidanceonsupportingyourchild(ren)inLiteracyandNumeracycanbefoundinourParentalGuides.Thesecanbeaccessedviaourwebsiteorusingthefollowinglink:http://www.hermitageprimaryschool.org/useful-documents/home-support/In-SchoolWewanttoactivelyencourageparentstoworkwithus;sometimesinclass,assistingwithgames,readingstories,helpingwithcraftgroupsandatthecomputer;andsometimesoutofdoors.PleasegetintouchwiththeSchoolOfficeifthisissomethingyouwouldliketodo.* Wealsoinviteyouintoashared‘OpenLearning’sessionforyourchild.ThisisafurtheropportunitytoseewhathasbeenhappeninginclassinaparticulartopicasthechildrensharetheirlearningincreativewaysatAssembly,followedbyaninvitationintoclass.ThissessionP5‘OpenLearning’willbeheldonFriday27thSepat9.15amWedohopeyoucanjoinus!OurPlannersprovideaveryusefulwaytocommunicatewiththeclassteacher.Pleaseusethisastheyearprogressestoshareanyrelevantinformationwithus,toaskanyquestionsortoshareyourprideinsuccess!Weextendthisinvitationtoyouall,andlookforwardtoworkingwithyou*AllvolunteerswithinschoolrequiretobemembersofthePVGScheme(ProtectingVulnerableGroups)Pleasecontacttheschoolofficeformoreinformation.

Thankyoufortakingtimetoreadallofthisinformation.

Ifyourequirefurtherinformationwewillbehappytohelp.

APPENDIX1

SCHOOLHOLIDAYSANDINSERVICEDAYS2019/2020

HELENSBURGHANDLOMOND

TERM1 13, 14 August 2019 Staff In-service days* 15 August 2019 Pupils return 4 October 2019 October Holiday: School closes 07, 08 October 2019 Staff In-service days* 21 October 2019 School re-opens 20 December 2019 Christmas Holidays: School closes TERM2 06 January 2020 School re-opens 07 February 2020 February Holiday: School closes 17 February 2020 School re-opens 03 April 2020 Spring Holiday: School closes TERM3 20 April 2020 School re-opens 21 May 2020 May Weekend: School closes 22 May 2020 Staff In-service day* 26 May 2020 School re-opens 26 June 2020 Summer Holidays: School closes *Staff Development days – school closed to pupils

APPENDIX2

Hermitage Primary School GOLDEN RULES

At Hermitage Primary we have four very simple rules, drawn up with the children themselves, which encompass all we expect. ü Treat other people with care, kindness and respect. ü Keep hands, feet and unkind words to yourself. ü Give yourself and other the best chance to learn. ü Take care of your own, others and school property ü These sit alongside the school’s shared values… è

… and together they all form the basis of our whole school relationships programme. Within the first few weeks you'll receive more detailed information on this programme and the way it works.