1. Or check Aberdeenshire School Closures website
TERM 3 NEWSLETTER
MAD Time cont…
Making A Difference (MAD) groups are pupil leadership groups, where children set targets to improve the life of their school. Our groups for this session are:
Garden Gang
Eco Group
Digital Leaders
Pupil Council
This term we are running MAD Time on a Friday afternoon from 2pm – 3pm.
MAD Time – Parents required
We have noticed a big drop in the number of parents coming along to support MAD Time. This has meant that we have been unable to form quality action plans for this session as we are restricted in how we run the groups and, therefore, what they can achieve.
The Rights Respecting Schools group will not run this term as Mrs Johnstone awaits a training date for working towards Gold status. This group will resume next term and, in the meantime, will choose another group to join.
Entertaining the Young At Hearts Club along with the Ceilidhmakers.
Happy New Year!!
A very warm welcome to term three, we hope you all had a joyous holiday and wish everyone success and happiness in 2018.
Quality Improvement Visit
Our visit from Kay MacDonald was very successful with excellent observations of the teaching and learning in both classes. Kay was delighted to share that she has recommended our school as an example of excellent practice to Aberdeenshire Council and will be recommending colleagues to come and observe as required. High praise indeed so we must continue to maintain the high expectations set.
Curriculum Development
Rights Respecting School Award
Another success as we reached the Silver Stage of being recognised as a Rights Respecting School. The journey towards Gold will be a longer one and we are still at the planning stages with this target. We hope to share our plans at a forthcoming Parent Council meeting.   
Adverse Weather Information:
Do not call school.
Tel:
Pin number:
Or check Aberdeenshire School Closures website

2. Burns Events
On Friday 11th January we will be visited by the Stonehaven (Fatherlands) Burns Club. Our visitors will be demonstrating entertaining recitals of Burns/Scots poetry for the children to analyse and identify success criteria for reciting a poem.
Meanwhile, we are currently reading through poetry with the children to allow them to chose one to learn at home, using the strategies they come up with on Friday.
The ladies will return on Thursday 24th to hear the recitals (those who wish to take part) and judge them. The winning child will be presented with the Johnshaven School Scots Poetry Recital Cup at our Burns Celebration Café on 25th January at 2pm.
STONEHAVEN (FATHERLAND) BURNS CLUB – MINI BURNS SUPPER
Taking place on the afternoon of Wednesday 13th February 2019, the Mini Burns Supper is a great event held to celebrate the learning of children in the Stonehaven Cluster (all schools from Stonehaven down to Johnshaven).
The idea behind the mini Burns’ supper is that youngsters, with guidance from members of the SFBC Committee and the support of their school and their parents/carers/grandparents, take on the main roles of a traditional Burns’ supper, building on the experiences and skills developed at school.
As this takes place during school hours on an in- service day staff cannot attend so we will liaise with the families of those selected to attend closer to the time. I am assured this is a super event and a lot of fun for the children who attend.
Dinky Doctors will be coming to school on Wednesday 9th January. Dinky Doctors are an award winning provider of first aid training for children. But, they aren't the run of the mill training – their sessions are fun interactive shows where children will meet Dr Potty whilst learning a life saving skill.
Living on a rural area of Aberdeenshire we feel it is important that the children learn some first aid skills. To do it in a way that is funny and engaging is a real treat!
In-Service Dates
This term school will be closed on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th February as these are local occasional days. We are then closed on Monday 11th as this is the mid term holiday, and Tuesday 12th / Wednesday 13th February for In-service. In service days are days when staff work on developing the school improvement plan.
Staffing
This term we welcome Miss Dunn back to P4/7. Miss Dunn is in her 4th Year of BA Primary Teaching at Aberdeen University. She will be with us throughout January.
As Mrs Sasaki is now on maternity leave we welcome Mrs Laura Obernay to the Additional Support for Learning Team. Mrs Obernay will attend school on a Wednesday and Thursday and will follow on with the programmes left by Mrs Sasaki.
Ragbag
We approaching another collection and so we have sent home bags to be filled and returned at your convenience.
We typically raise between £ from the collection of fabric from the ragbag bin.
We hope to see a new second bin situated outside the village hall very soon

3. Scottish National Standardised Assessment
P7 will shortly sit their SNSA assessment.
School children in P1, P4, P7 and S3 complete online standardised assessments in literacy and numeracy as part of everyday learning and teaching.
The assessments help to identify children’s progress, providing diagnostic information to support teachers' professional judgement.  
The assessments, which are completed digitally, are as inclusive as possible to accommodate the needs of children and young people who require additional support.
There is no pass or fail and children and young people do not have to revise or prepare for these assessments.
P4-7 will be taking part in Forest School sessions every Wednesday starting from 30th January and running for 8 weeks.
The sessions will run from 12pm until 3pm and will take place in Railway Walk.
Over the coming week we will begin to issue information and permission slips when all details will be shared.
Donations
We were delighted to receive funding from The Fish Festival to purchase outdoor/waterproof clothing for our pupils to wear when learning outdoors.
However, we would gratefully receive any donations of old wellies or outdoor coats/trousers that children have grown out of, to supplement our collection.
Communicating Absences
Attendance
Lateness. If you are running late for the start of school, in the morning or after lunch, pupils must report to the school office. If a pattern of late coming is identified, parents will meet with the head teacher to discuss this further.
Permission for absence from school. If at all possible appointments with doctor/dentist should be organised out with the school day. However when this is not possible:
Parents or carers should contact the school on the day of absence either by telephone or to inform the school of the absence. Unexplained absences will be referred to the Head Teacher.
If you are aware your child will be absent from school parents must request this time in writing. Examples would include holidays or family events.
Curriculum Development Clubs
Monday Chess Club 3.15pm-4.15pm for P3-7
Wednesday – Knitting Club pm
A £10 deposit is required at the start of this term.
Friday - Good news Club 12.30pm - 1pm
Technology Club – 3.15pm – 4.15pm
Mrs Johnstone will be running Technology Club this term excluding dates when she attends a Head Teacher Meeting, which is held once per month.
No Tech Club – Friday 22nd February