Dear Parents and Carers, Community Support for Ukraine:

• Ukraine: This information has been shared with us from the British Psychological Society. You may find it helpful too.   
• Supporting children to manage anxiety over war, conflict and crises: British Psychological Society Professor Vivian Hill, of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology, says: “Our children are constantly absorbing things they read, see and hear and it’s completely natural for them to be picking up on the situation in Ukraine and feeling anxious and also asking questions about what is going on.”(www.bps.org.uk) This helpful website has been shared and may be of help if you wish to have discussions with your children https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/supporting-children-manage-anxiety-over-war-conflict-and-crises 

• Aid to Ukraine: A parent who is working closely with ‘The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB)’ has been in touch to ask if Bruntsfield Primary community can help the people of Ukraine. If you would like to make a donation to their appeal, they are looking for the following items which may be brought to school by your child and then collected from class to be transported to Ukraine. If you wish to donate, please send any of the items below by 11^th March: 

• First aid boxes, bandages, plasters, sleeping mats, baby food, nappies (all size), personal hygiene items, blankets, wipes, soap, thermos flasks, hot water bottles, hand warmers, candles and batteries (AA and AAA). 
• Alternatively, the AUGB has a ‘Go Fund Me’ website.  The money will go directly to pay for food, supplies and much-needed bullet proof vests and helmets. The address is https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpukraine?qid=546c25e9bfc9c469b7f7a57691d3d7c4. 

School Updates:

• Badminton players who participated in the Scottish Schools Quaich Championship over the weekend were placed 3rd. There are also 6 entries for the Primary Badminton Championships taking place on Sunday the 6th March. Good luck to our Bruntsfield Badminton Team! 

• Outdoor Learning Staff Training: There was lots of enthusiasm, energy and good ideas shared at our last staff training session. I know many of you are keen to support your classes at the Links or other outdoor venues. If you are able to help, please let your class teacher know. Please also add if you are able to help other classes. As Spring is approaching, we are looking forward to more outdoor learning in and beyond the playground.  

• Outdoor Learning: Gardening: As part of the first phase in developing our playground space we are planning to create areas to provide all our pupils with gardening opportunities. Please let us know if you can spare some time to support our garden project or can support the enterprise in any other way. If you are able to help, please either contact Ms Lamond at admin@bruntsfield.edin.sch.uk or the parent group at bruntsfieldplayground@gmail.com.   

•  Active Schools: are starting extra-curricular Volleyball and Cricket Clubs for P5 to P7 pupils.  Fliers which give more details about the clubs and how to book have been emailed to all P5, P6 and P7 families in the school. 

• Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSO): Our local Police Officers met with our JRSO last Thursday. The children got lots of ideas out of the meeting. The Officers will come back to work with classes and/or groups. Sessions will be around 30-40 minutes long and will start with the P5-P7 classes.

• School Website: We cannot add a link to the website to translate into different languages, but translations can be done. The simplest solution for parents and carers to access the website in other languages is through Google Translate. Type in ‘Google Translate’ in your browser, a box will appear. Please add our website address, www.bruntsfield.edin.sch.uk  Google Translate will detect the ‘source’ language. Select the language you want to translate into from the dropdown menu and then it will appear in your chosen language. This is a great tool which can be used to translate anything you wish.  

General Information:

• International Women’s Day on 8 March: The City of Edinburgh Council are holding a live panel event to discuss how to inspire women to become leaders in local government. Teachers will discuss themes linked to International Woman’s Day with their class. Some of the great books we have to share with the children are: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison plus the series of books by Kate Pankhurst: Great Women who Changed the World; Great Women who Saved the Planet; Great Women who Worked Wonders; Great Women who Made History and Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky. If there are any you recommend, please share. 

• Right of the Month: March’s Right of the Month is Article 24: Children have the right to clean water, healthy food, a clean environment and good healthcare.  The Rights Respecters have been launching each Right of the Month during the virtual assemblies.  Article 24 will be launched this Friday.

• Council Elections on 5 May 2022: We are very pleased to have been told no schools will be used for the forthcoming elections in May.  

• Supply Teacher Adverts: the City of Edinburgh Council are advertising for supply staff. If you are interested, please see the links below 
• Primary: https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/city-edinburgh-council/jobs/supply-teachers-primary-schools-261142 
• Secondaryhttps://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/city-edinburgh-council/jobs/supply-teachers-secondary-schools-261140 
• Special: https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/city-edinburgh-council/jobs/supply-teachers-special-schools-261137 

The closing date is midnight on 7^th

 March for all 3 adverts.  

Diary Date:

• Individual classes will plan activities to support Children in Need (Red Nose Day) on 18 March, information will be emailed to you.  
• Tempest will take individual and family group photos on Wednesday 16 March. Details will be emailed to you. 

As always, if there is anything we can do to help, please let us know via admin@bruntsfield.edin.sch.uk 

Kind regards,  

Carol Kyle