1. Or check Aberdeenshire School Closures website
JANUARY NEWSLETTER
2018
Dates To Remember:
January
Forest Schools – Every Wednesday 10am – 2pm
Visit from SPCA: Monday 22nd January
Burns Day Café (P4-7): Friday 26th January @2pm.
February
Holiday: Thursday 8th February
Holiday: Friday 9th February
Holiday: Monday 12th February
In-Service: Tuesday 13th February
In-Service Wednesday 14th February
Burns Mini Supper – Tuesday 13th February 2-4pm.
Tempest Photography – Monday 19th February
Good News Club
Good News Club will now run during lunchtime on a Friday afternoon.
Gentle Reminder
Each year we ask all parents and carers to sign a photo consent form, indicating whether they give permission for their child’s photo to be used publically, on our website or social media page. Some families chose not to give permission.
I would like to issue a gentle reminder to all about posting photographs, taken during school hours, on personal social media pages particularly if the photos contain the faces of other pupils.
In the event of a complaint I would be obliged to call and ask such photos to be removed.  
Dear Parents/Carers,
A very warm welcome to term three, we hope you all had a joyous holiday and wish everyone success and happiness in 2018.
Now that the festivities are over, the school timetable will return to normal so I would like to remind families of the opportunities to be involved in school life.
Making A Difference (MAD Time)
Our pupils are given the chance to make improvements and learn across the stages in a variety of groups including Rights Respecting Schools, Digital Leaders, Pupil Council and Eco Group. MAD time is open to parents each week this term and will run on a Friday from 11am.
Welcome In Wednesday
An opportunity to come into class and share the learning experiences that your children take part in. This runs from 9am – 9.30am.
Find Out Friday
Would you like to hear more about school developments, catch up with improvement planning or ask questions about any aspect of school life? This is a perfect time to chat over a cuppa. Sometimes run by the pupils and sometimes by staff, we are always happy to see you in school.
We look forward to welcoming all of our families in to school. The children very much enjoy having you there too.
Adverse Weather Information:
Do not call school.
Tel:
Pin number:
Or check Aberdeenshire School Closures website

2. Curriculum Development
Forest Schools
This term P4-7 will be taking part in a Forest Schools programme every Thursday from 10-2pm.
The children will be using the space on the grounds of Lathallan to learn personal, social and technical skills.
Jill Birch, a grade three Forest Schools instructor will lead the learning experiences and is working closely with school and staff at Lathallan to ensure the programme is exciting, safe and challenging.
More information will be issued in the coming days.
Reading Accelerator
At the end of last term we purchased Reading Accelerator Software.
Accelerated Reader is a powerful tool for monitoring and managing independent reading practice, motivating our pupils to read for pleasure.
Staff are currently taking training in the use of the software over the next three weeks and we will have it running by the in-service days. All children will be assessed to establish a baseline and we will then be able to monitor their progress at a level which is accurate for them as individuals.
STEM
This term, in partnership with our STEM ambassadors, P1-3 we will be hatching chickens. There are so many learning opportunities for children including reading and recording temperature and humidity, life cycles, being responsible and recording observations.
Fundraising
Thanks to the support of our families and community members we raised £145 from our Christmas Fair and £ for Book Fair, which earned the school £75 in rewards. This money will be spent updating our reading resources and library.
We also raised £185 from the sale of raffles at the show.
Some of this money was spent on the panto trip to HMT Aberdeen, which was an absolute treat. The rest will go into school funds.
The hire of the bus that took us to Aberdeen was generously paid for by Friends of Johnshaven. Many thanks to all who support our Parent Council.
Friends of Johnshaven School
The next Friends of Johnshaven meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 23rd January at 3.30pm.
All parents are welcome to contribute to this meeting. If there is anything you would like raised please do contact:
or talk to the committee members directly.