14 Mar 2008 - St John's Newsletter

    Dear Parents,

Holy Week - Pupils will attend a special service in school on Wednesday next week. This will be an opportunity for us all to reflect on how well we have met the challenges we set ourselves on Ash Wednesday.

Staff  News……………………

Mrs Jill Brown leaves us today to take up post in St Mary’s RC Primary School in Leith . Mrs Brown has been teaching in Primary 6b, alongside Miss Emily Low , and she has carried out sterling work with the class.

We wish her all the very best in her new full-time post, and will miss her on our St John’s team.

Miss Susan Christopher, a former member of staff, will take over from Mrs Brown.

Raquel who was running our Spanish class on a Thursday is also off to pastures new. A big thank you from all the boys and girls who attend this extra curricular opportunity.

School Watch

St John’s has become a member of the School Watch Scheme. The pupil council will be delivering leaflets to local residents to alert them to the ways in which they can help reduce the opportunity for crime and deter criminals.

    Educational Evening

A big thank you to Mr Mark Burgess for hosting our educational evening on the ‘Smartboard’. Parents who attended had fun and learned about its use in P5’s classroom. Mr Burgess gave us a birds eye view of how the Smartboard enhances the teaching and learning in his class. We are hoping to obtain more Smartboards over the course of the next session, thanks to the generosity of the Parent Council matching half the cost.

Stations of the Cross – St Mary Magdalene’s

There will be a children's Stations of the Cross service at St Mary Magdalene's Church (

    P4 Bake Sale  

P4 will be hosting a Bake Sale in aid of Water Aid next Wednesday. Each class will have an allocated time to purchase something lovely to eat or take home as a treat!

Parent Council

Please see attached info.

    Pyjama Day

A little reminder that the Pupil Councillors are organising a ‘Pyjama Day’ on Thursday 20^th March. Funds will be raised for our Partner Primary in Legho Village in Tanzania . Pupils should come to school in pyjamas/dressing gowns and bring a donation.

    Milk 

Apologies for giving wrong dates re milk money in the last newsletter, it should have read: 

Milk for Term 3 will commence on 14^th April. Milk money for Term 3 will be collected between 7^th April – 11^th April. If you have not already paid for the whole session and you wish your child to have milk, please send £5.00 in a sealed envelope with your child’s name, class and MILK MONEY clearly written on the front to his/her class teacher. Cheques should be made payable to City of Edinburgh Council . Payments received by 10.30am on 11^th April will ensure your child is in receipt of milk from Monday 14^th April.

Playground Markings

    We are looking to improve the playground play area by painting some games, shapes and lines for the children to incorporate into their play. Anyone with any ideas or willing to help with the painting, please contact the office or Alison Holligan on 657 4666.

Cross Country Champion…

Patrick Ryan from P6b will be in a team representing Edinburgh Athletic Club in the ‘Welcome the World’ junior Cross Country relay race. This takes place on Saturday 29^th March in Holyrood Park . This is a major international event and will be televised. He may get to meet world champion form Ethiopia , Bakele! Good luck Ryan, we know you will do well.

May I wish you and your families a Happy & Holy Easter. School resumes on Monday 7^th April at 8.50am.

Many thanks for your continued support and

 co-operation.   

  Ms Barbara A Service, Head Teacher