Pencaitland Parent Update

1. Pencaitland Parent Update Issue 11 Sept 2014 facebook.com/pencaitlandparents @pencaitlandpc Welcome Parent Council Membership Welcome to the first Parent Council update for the school year. The Parent Council is keen to make you aware of how we will be supporting the school and children this year. And of course, we’d like to hear from parents and listen to your suggestions. I hope that this Newsletter gives you a flavour of how what we as a parent group are doing to help support the children, the parents and the school. Colin Henderson Chair, Parent Council Rhona Budgen, Murdo McPherson and Carol Cook stepped down from the Parent Council at the end of last term. We would like to thank them for their valued contributions over the past few years. If you are interested in joining the Parent Council, please speak to any of the PC Members, or feel free to email us at: parentcouncil@pencaitland.elcschool.org.ukWe’ve created a leaflet to explain the role of the Parent Council, which is available from http://www.edubuzz.org/pencaitland/parents/ Walking Bus Launch Lunchtime Literacy Following the success of a Walking Bus trial last year, the Parent Council are planning to launch a permanent Walking Bus, initially for morning journeys to school. We met with the Pupil Council to explain the idea of the Walking Bus and they were all very enthusiastic. There is a host of information being made available via our Facebook page, such as a video explaining the role of a Walking Bus, a Registration Form and a map of the proposed routes. Children who register to join, will be issued with a Hi-Viz vest and there will be clear pavement markings for “Bus Stops” The more people that sign up, the more successful it will be, so we really need as many volunteers as possible. If you walk to school anyway, why not use it or help out. If you have to drive, why not consider dropping your child at one of the Bus Stops on the outskirts of the village to save congestion and pollution and of course, to join in the fun! As part of the Ross Rocks Reading initiative that is being led by our very own Mrs Barley, the Parent Council will be organising Lunchtime Reading Groups at intervals throughout the year. The idea is that parents, grandparents and community members come into the School during lunchtimes to reads to the children and share the joy of reading. More to follow. School Handbook The School Handbook was revised again for this year and can be viewed at: edubuzz.org/pencaitland/parent/info-for-parents The Parent Council is keen to ensure that the Handbook is a useful source of information for parents. Therefore, if you have any suggestions, please contact: parentcouncil@pencaitland.elcschool.org.uk National Parent Forum As a Parent Council, we try to keep up to date by attending meetings and conferences are local and national level. You can also visit the National Parent Forum website at: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/NPF