Dear Parents and Carers,

• My thanks to all who came and supported the Winter Fair – a great night in every way!
• Karen Galloway, Vice Chair of the Parent Council and I attended a Conference on Parental Engagement last Friday. They talked about  parental engagement as not only interactions with school, but includes all the help and support families give their children every day. One tip was to ask “What two things do you know today, you didn’t know yesterday?” to encourage your child to talk about their learning. They also stressed the importance of learning nursery rhymes to help develop literacy skills. We continue learning rhymes and poetry in school with a celebration of Scots poems for all year groups each January.
• Katie Heron (P5A) achieved a bronze medal at the recent Scottish National Judo Championship competition held at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow. Well done Katie.
• Georgina (P7A) has been selected to play for the Scotland Regional Football Squad, under 14 Team, which means she  may selected to represent Scotland in future matches. Well done Georgina.

Sharing the Learning:

• P6A finished a gorgeous art display: everyone completed an illustration in the style of L.S. Lowry. They really do look good when you see them all together. P6B linked art and maths to design plans for their classroom for Christmas: lots of measuring and angles in action. P6C have written stories on life as a child in the industrial revolution: lots of informative discussion comparing life then and today. Well done P6.
• Thirty P7 pupils are joining Boroughmuir High School pupils and staff at their Christmas Concert on Monday 17 December at 7pm at the Central Hall.  All the P7’s will go to Boroughmuir High School on Tuesday 11 December for the much loved Winter Science Lectures.
• Design & Technology PGDE students are hosting a public engagement weekend of interactive family fun activities in Inverleith House  at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December (12 – 3pm). Activities are based around sustainability, citizenship, forestry and outdoor learning and are suitable for all ages.
• The Scottish National Portrait Gallery have organised autism-friendly events for children aged up to 12 years and their families on Saturday 8 and Saturday 15 December from 9-10am. They have: handling materials; a visit to our Planes, Trains and Automobiles photography exhibition and sensory creative activities. Children must be accompanied by adult. If you would like to join in, please email: amurray@nationalgalleries.org Telephone: 0131 624 6428

Please remember, if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please talk to the class teacher, one of the Depute Head Teachers or myself. We are all here to help.

Kind regards,

Carol Kyle, Head Teacher