HT Blog 15
Dear Parents and Carers 25 May 2018
I hope you enjoyed the long weekend, what another wonderful week of summer sunshine. This week the children have enjoyed ‘loose parts play’, football in the Multi Sports Pitch, planting in pots with Farmer Tom, and of course the shorter week. I look forward to seeing you all at Parent Consultations. Please note Mr Hutcheson will be available to support anyone who has not yet accessed our e-journals.
Hermie Stars
Congratulations to our Hermitage Park Stars of the Week, Martin, Austin, Yasmin, Elle, Finlay, Maurice, Lewis, Lucas, Scarlett, Alix, Marcus, Sophie, John and Bethany who demonstrated they were successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
Resources
We are delighted with, and excited by, our new screen and sound system in the hall-thank you again to the HPSA for their support and contributions. This has made a huge difference to our assemblies already.
We continue to work on improving our learning environments. In all classrooms we have replaced the black boards with white roller boards, purchased visualisers, maths text books, more ipads for each class and earphones. Look out for them at Parent Consultations. Our new picnic tables and benches will be installed the playground very soon.
Assembly
P2/1 enjoyed sharing their learning with their families at their assembly on Friday. They displayed confidence and very good presentation skills; even when faced with some technical issues. Well done P2/1. Our whole school assembly focused on name calling and bullying behaviour. We discussed how hurtful name calling is, and how this impacts our confidence and how we feel about ourselves. Our target next week is to use kind words and kind actions.
Golden Time
Our ‘Golden Time’ Clubs have proved to be very successful for P4-P7 classes. I am delighted with the children’s effort. There are more children now aiming for or on ‘above and beyond’ the ‘Green’ traffic light. An improvement too – less Golden Time has been lost. Keep up the good effort.
Dress Down Friday
For Dress Down Friday we requested donations for Hermie Fun Friday instead of our usual £1. Thank you for your donations- what an amazing collection of items. If you still have something to hand in please do this on Monday.
Rag Bag collection
Please bring in your Rag Bag to school for collection by 31 May 2018.
Lunches
We continue to promote healthy eating at school and I ask for your support with this. The children eat their school dinner lunch and packed lunch at the tables in the lunch hall. P4-7 classes have an identified day for eating lunch at the picnic benches. One small snack from home or an item from their packed lunch may be taken outside. The ECO Team are considering different ways to keep our playground litter free and are making posters to remind the children.
Nuts
We have several children in school who have nut allergies and we have requested the children to support this by not bringing in food products containing nuts to school. Thank you.
Dates for your diary:
Tuesday 29 May: Parent Consultations
Friday 1 June: Hermie’s Fun Friday
Wednesday 6 June: P4-7 Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
Wednesday 13 June: P1-3 Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
Wednesday 20th June 1.30-3pm Nursery Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
I look forward to seeing you all at Hermie’s Fun Day on Friday 1 June.
As always, if you have a concern, suggestion or question, please let me know,
Kind regards,
Natalie Borrowman
Acting Head Teacher
HT Blog 14
Dear Parents and Carers 18 May 2018
What a wonderful week of sunshine it makes such a difference. I hope it lasts for the Monday May holiday.
Appointment of Head Teacher
I am pleased to inform you that Ms Faye Calder-Kelly has been appointed as Head Teacher at Hermitage Park Primary School. Faye is currently Head Teacher at Stockbridge Primary School. I would like to take this opportunity to wish her all the very best.
It has been confirmed today I will remain at Hermitage Park until the new Head Teacher at Stockbridge Primary is in post. It has been my pleasure to lead learning at Hermitage Park. I have thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful opportunity and I will miss it very much when I leave.
Hermie Stars
Congratulations to our Hermitage Park Stars of the Week; Arthav, Lexi, Logan, Joseph, Florence, Steven, Celeste, Jenna, Scarlett, Kyle, Nicole, Calum, Edward, Ella who demonstrated they were successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
Talking Space and Playbase
We are delighted with the refurbishment and renaming of our new rooms. The Playbase is resourced with a wonderful selection of play equipment including a very interesting wooden washing machine and glow in the dark sensory lights. Our Talking Space has new furniture to create a nurturing environment –a home from home space. Huge thanks to the Schools Association for their financial support and Tesco. We are still waiting on the much talked about fish wallpaper. Our new Literacy Base is being refitted with Howden’s units and we appreciate the time and effort this and their time and effort to fit it. Thank you.
Play Leaders
Our P6 Play Leaders have been applying their skills this week with P2. They all enjoyed the warm sunshine.
Gold Card Holders
Well done to our P7 who achieved their Gold Cards. The Gold Card Holders were able to enjoy the P7 garden area this week. The P7s have also worked on Rights Respecting Schools designs with some ex Hermitage Park pupils in 3rd year at Leith Academy. The Leith Academy students are going to use their designs to create wall murals in the P7 Garden area.
Hermie’s Fun Friday
Hermie’s Fun Friday is on Friday 1 June from 12.30 to 2.30pm. Thank you for the donations for Hermie Fun Friday. All items are very welcome! If you would like to help with any of the stalls, just let the Schools Association know.
Absences
If your child is absent from school please inform the school office it is also important to update the school with reasons for any unexplained absence queries.
Dates for your diary:
Monday 21 May: May Holiday
Friday 25 May: Parent Consultations
Tuesday 29 May: Parent Consultations
Friday 1 June: P1 Showcase of Learning from 9.45am-10.15am approx.
Friday 1 June: Hermie’s Fun Friday
Wednesday 6 June: P4-7 Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
Wednesday 13 June: P1-3 Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
Wednesday 20th June 1.30-3pm Nursery Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
As always, if you have a concern, suggestion or question, please let me know,
Kind regards,
Natalie Borrowman
Acting Head Teacher
HT Blog 13
Dear Parents and Carers 11 May 2018
I hope you all had some time over the long weekend to enjoy the wonderful sunshine. It feels like summer is almost here. We have had a busy few days back, and it is lovely to see the children in their shorts and summer dresses.
Play Rangers
P6 have been working with The Smart Play Network, training to be Hermitage Park’s Play Rangers. They have been learning how to lead the younger children to play imaginatively by providing resources and ideas to encourage exciting, active and socially bonding play. This was their fourth session today and they led P2/1 in a range of traditional games, loose parts play and ball games. Next week they will explore den building and more challenging play like obstacles courses, balancing and juggling. Throughout the learning, the P6 students are asked to self-evaluate their leadership and suggest improvements.
Golden Time
‘Golden Time’ Clubs start again on Friday for P4-P7 classes. The children will sign up on a Monday, for a Friday ‘Golden Time’ Club. Please note P1-3 will continue with their own class ‘Golden Time’. We are working on being ‘above and beyond’ the ‘Green’ traffic light. We are currently creating sample role play scripts to illustrate Restorative Discussions, we plan to video the scenarios and share them.
Hermie Stars
Congratulations to our Hermitage Park Stars of the Week; Carmella, Millie, Faye, Emilia, Robyn, Brandon, Sam, Ruairi, Ruben, Ava, Sam, Logan, Juliet and Lewis who demonstrated they were successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
Hermie’s Fun Friday
Hermie’s Fun Friday is on Friday 1 June from 12.30 to 2.30pm. We are now accepting donations for Hermie Fun Friday:
Tombola – bubble bath, gift sets, candles, stationery etc
Card Game – sweets/chocolate
Bottle stall – bottles of wine, beer, spirits, juice
2nd hand toys
All help is very welcome! Please, come along and join in the fun! If you would like to help with any of the stalls, just let the Schools Association know.
Rag Bag collection
Hermitage Park Primary School have been invited to participate in a Rag Bag collection scheduled for 31 May 2018 between 9 am and 3 pm. Please hand in any Rag Bags to the school office. Thank you.
Lost Property
Please check the lost property at the front door for any missing items. Any remaining items left after Friday 18 May will be collected by the Schools Association for the Ragbag collection.
National Assessments
We have started our online national assessments in maths and reading for P1, P4 and P7. Next week we will complete the writing assessments. P2, P3, P5 and P6 will complete their assessments on paper.
Weather
Although we are experiencing warmer weather please do ensure your child brings a coat to school in the event of our usual changeable Scottish weather.
Water bottles
The children have been reminded water bottles in the classroom are to contain water and be stored in the appropriate place in their classroom. We ask for your support with this.
Dates for your diary:
Friday 25 May: Parent Consultations
Tuesday 29 May: Parent Consultations
Friday 1 June: P1 Showcase of Learning from 9.45am-10.15am approx.
Friday 1 June: Hermie’s Fun Friday
Wednesday 6 June: P4-7 Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
Wednesday 13 June: P1-3 Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
Wednesday 20th June 1.30-3pm Nursery Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
As always, if you have a concern, suggestion or question, please let me know,
Kind regards,
Natalie Borrowman
Acting Head Teacher
HT Blog 27.4.18
Dear Parents and Carers 27 April 2018
It was great to see some sunshine this week, I hope it stays for our Health Week.
We invite all children and staff to come to school in their sports clothes for Health Week as part of our focus on ‘Get Active’. The children will be participating in a variety of activities- keeping their minds and bodies active. Come along to school and join us for Clubercise on Monday from 4.15pm-5pm.
Sharing Learning Assembly
Well done to P3b who shared their learning with their families today at assembly. They sang songs about the body in French and Scots. Some of us were able to answer their quiz questions well.
Conflict and Resolution Assembly
At our whole school assembly we discussed the ways to a resolve a conflict.
- Ignore: Ignoring (denial) happens when someone is angry but will not admit they are angry
- Fight: Fighting happens when you’re angry or upset with someone and are hurtful in return.
- Talk it over: when you tell the person what is bothering you, talk in a way that does not hurt or blame the other person, LISTEN to each other and find a solution.
We discussed the consequences of each. We aim to ‘TALK IT OVER’ to resolve conflicts as part of our restorative practice. We value your continued support with this.
Hermitage Park Health Week
Positive Health and Wellbeing is at the centre of all our decision making at Hermitage Park and it permeates across all learning. We will celebrate this by dedicating next week as our Health week. Healthy food choices, challenging gender stereotypes in sport and exciting sport tasters will be explored. To find out more details, come to our health information ‘market stall’, where pupil representatives will share their learning and answer any questions you have. Tea and coffee will be served too.
Health Information Market Stall
Friday 11/5/18 09.15-10.15
Hermie Stars
Congratulations to our Hermitage Park Stars of the Week who demonstrated they were successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
| am nursery | P1a
Maya |
P2/1
Jack |
P3a
Georgia |
P4a
Annabel |
P5a
Alfred |
P6a
Kieran |
P7a
Louise |
| pm nursery | P1b
Leon |
P2
Layla |
P3b
Daisy |
P4b
Fletcher |
P5b
Abi |
P6b
Rhianyn |
P7b
Harry |
Our Primary One Induction morning for pupils starting school in August 2018 will be on Tuesday 19th of June 2018 at 9:30 am – 10:30am. Letters will be sent out to parents with information soon.
Nursery placing letters for August 2018 will be sent out next week.
Hermie’s Fun Friday is on Friday 1 June from 12.30 to 2.30pm. Please, come along and join in the fun! If you would like to help with any of the stalls, please let the Schools Association know. All help is very welcome!
For our next ‘Dress Down Friday’ we are requesting a donation of tombola for our Tombola stall for Hermie’s Fun Friday; for example, shower gel, chocolates or candles. Please hand in the donations to the class teacher during the week beginning 28 May 2018. Thank you.
Dates for your diary:
Monday 30 April: Health Week
Monday 23 April- Monday 28 May: Transition Art Events
Friday 25 May: Parent Consultations
Tuesday 29 May: Parent Consultations
Friday 1 June: Hermie’s Fun Friday
Wednesday 6 June: P4-7 Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
Wednesday 13 June: P1-3 Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
Wednesday 20th June 1.30-3pm Nursery Sports Day at Leith Academy Playing Fields
As always, if you have a concern, suggestion or question, please let me know,
Kind regards,
Natalie Borrowman
Acting Head Teacher
HT Blog 20.4.18
Welcome back everyone and the sun, we have a busy term ahead and it is great to see the children playing in the sunshine, long may this last!
This Term our focus for Building Resilience is ‘Get Active’. The children will be learning about the importance of being active- for both your mind and body. They will engage in activities in class and at House Meetings. This links in very well with our Health Week, where we will also focus on healthy eating.
Hermie Stars
Congratulations to our Hermitage Park Stars of the Week who demonstrated they were successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
P1a: Christopher P1b: Felix P2: Sean P2/1: Logan P3a: Emily P3b: Josie P4a: Paige
P4b: Emma P5a: Miler P5b: Colm P6a: Arnold P6b: Alice P7a: Michael P7b: Amy
Standardised Assessments The Scottish Government is introducing a new system of standardised assessments, called the Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA). Please see their website, https://standardisedassessment.gov.scot for further information. As with all assessments, teachers use them to help plan learning and teaching to meet each individual learner’s needs.
Hermie pupils contribute to a happy, healthy, leafy Leith A small group of budding eco-warriors, is working with Mrs Black and Leith Community Crops in Pots in a ‘Seed to plate’ sustainable farming project. Over the eight sessions, the group will gain hands-on experience of food systems and sustainable farming both at the Leith Community Croft and at sessions led by the croft farmer at school. The children visited the croft where they chose their seeds and planted them in the organic soil they mixed themselves. We’re especially looking forward to our cooking celebration using our edible gardening, at the end of the programme.
Early Years Posts If you are interested in working in a City of Edinburgh Nursery, ninety early years trainee/MA posts are advertised on MyJobScotland until May 6th. If you would like to know what this involves, there is a free public early years careers information event on Friday 20th April at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Bookable via Survey Monkey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EYCAREERCHANGER
Junior Play Rangers at Hermitage Park Primary School Our P6 children are taking part in a Play Ranger project. The children will experience and be trained in a range of exciting play opportunities in their own outdoor environments.
Calm Club Some children can find the social dynamics of the playground challenging. In a bid to help with this, Mrs Black offers a lunch time calm club. Here, an invited group of children can engage in peaceful activities such as mindful colouring, jewellery making, marble runs, reading and sculpture. While the children are playing, Mrs Black engages in ‘side-by-side’ talking with them about emotions, empathy and problem solving. We very much appreciate the Parent Association contributing the calm club games and activities.
NYCoS P3 classes are participating in the weekly NYCoS programme. NYCoS’ education principles are based on the teachings of Hungarian Composer and Educator Zoltán Kodály. Research has shown that good music education involving active singing participation will not only help develop musical skills but will also enhance numerical, social and linguistic skills.
Dates for your diary:
Monday 30 April: Health Week Monday 23 April- Monday 28 May: Transition Art Events Friday 25 May and Tuesday 29 May: Parent Consultations Wednesday 6 June: P4-P7 Sports Day Wednesday 13 June: P1-P3 Sports Day
As always, if you have a concern, suggestion or question, please let me know, Kind regards,
Natalie Borrowman
Acting Head Teacher
HT Blog 29.03.18
Dear Parents and Carers
Easter Service
We had a lovely walk down to St Andrew’s Leith church on Thursday morning for our school Easter Service. Thank you to our volunteers for accompanying us. Our school choirs performed their ‘Studio to Stage’ songs , P7 pupils read some readings and Reverend Rob Mackenzie shared the Easter Story. We thoroughly enjoyed singing ‘I’m a Spring Chicken’ at the end of the service.
Visit to Prospect Bank
Our Pupil Council were invited along to Prospect Bank Primary School to watch their Easter Assembly. The children were delighted their ‘Buddy’ school’s pupil could attend their assembly and we hope to invite some Prospect Bank children to our next class sharing learning assembly.
Swimming Gala
Thank you to our P6 team; Cameron, Aiden, Ruby, Jonny, Taba, Ellie, Alasdair, James, Calum, Megan, Sam and Matthew who took part in the swimming Gala at The Royal Commonwealth Pool. They demonstrated good team spirit and enjoyed the competition.
Hermie’s Got Talent
On Thursday afternoon, just before the Easter Holidays, Louise (P7) organised a fantastic Hermie’s Got Talent for the whole school and what a great job she did! This involved a lot of planning and organisation…and some help from her classmates. We have some very talented children, and what a great audience they were too! There were many compliments afterwards, from teachers and children alike. Well done! Congratulations to our winner Hamish with his ‘Rap’.
Crossing Guides
The Council are reviewing school the City’s crossing guides. If you would like to contribute to the review, please do so before Tuesday 24 April 2018 at https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/school-crossing-patrol-review-parents-and-carers. Councillors will use our feedback when deciding if any changes should be made to the service. If you have any questions, please contact roadsafety@edinburgh.gov.uk
Have a great Easter Holiday and I look forward to working with you when School opens on Tuesday 17 April.
Dates For Your Diary
Tuesday 17 April: Term starts for staff and children Thursday 26 April: Fordel Firs Transition event for P7 Monday 30 April: Health Week Friday 25 May and Tuesday 29 May: Parent Consultations Wednesday 6 June: P4-P7 Sports Day Wednesday 13 June: P1-P3 Sports Day
If you any concerns, please do let me know.
Kind regards,
Natalie Borrowman
Acting Head Teacher
