School Yearbook 2009/2010

WELCOME TO BURDIEHOUSE PRIMARY SCHOOL

BURDIEHOUSE PRIMARY SCHOOL

SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

SCHOOL AND NURSERY HOURS

HOLIDAY DATES FOR 2009 - 2010

STAFFING 2009/2010

ATTENDANCE

SCHOOL DRESS CODE

ASSISTANCE WITH PROVISION OF CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR AND DISCIPLINE

WELCOME TO BURDIEHOUSE PRIMARY SCHOOL

This website is designed to give you information which will help you get to know your child's school and enable you to play a full part in his/her education.

I hope your child will be happy at Burdiehouse and that we will be able to work in partnership to help your child achieve his/her full potential.

You are welcome to come in to school at any time either to enquire about your child's progress or to help out in the classrooms or on educational visits.


If after reading this website you have any concerns or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Back to top

BURDIEHOUSE PRIMARY SCHOOL

The School is co-educational and non-demoninational and caters for the educational needs of children between the ages of three and twelve.

The present school building was opened in 1956. It is pleasantly situated and has spacious play facilities. The building itself is large so there is more than adequate space to house the six classes.

The school is well equipped and furnished and over the years we have built up a wide range of materials to assist in the teaching of all areas of the curriculum.

Each classroom has at least one computer with access to e-mail and internet facilities. We also have appropriate software for use at all stages and a good range of audio/visual equipment. We have a computer suite equipped to a very high standard, containing 14 computers and a Smart Board for interactive teaching.

In addition to the classrooms, we have a large gymnasium, a well-stocked library, a Music and Drama room, a well-resourced Learning Support Base and an ICT suite.

Our Nursery occupies two rooms within the school which have recently been refurbished to a high standard and are equipped to cater for children with special needs.

We are able to provide places for 10 children on a part-time basis and 16 full time places. The nursery is well resourced with a wide range of materials and equipment which provide opportunities for constructive and creative play.

It also has outdoor play facilities which are used when the weather permits.

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SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

We aim to provide a safe and stimulating environment in which well planned and carefully monitored quality learning experiences will motivate each child to achieve his/her potential.



SCHOOL AIMS

1. To provide a caring and supportive atmosphere which will encourage each child to view him/herself in a positive manner and be caring and considerate towards others.

2. To encourage a positive attitude to learning and to ensure that each child is motivated to achieve his/her potential by providing a broad, coherent and balanced curriculum based on the recommendations of the 5-14 National Guidelines.

3. To develop effective planning, monitoring, recording and reporting procedures to ensure that education from nursery to primary to secondary school is a continuous process.

4. To keep parents informed of their child's progress and to encourage a feeling of partnership between parents and the school.

5. To be involved in the life of the local community and to make the children aware of the importance of caring for both the local and global environment.

6. To further our own professional development and to continually monitor the quality of learning and teaching we provide. Back to top

SCHOOL AND NURSERY HOURS

NURSERY

AM Class Monday - Friday 9.00 - 11.30 am

PM Class Monday - Friday 12.30 - 3.00 pm

FT Class Monday - Friday 9.00 - 2.15pm



SCHOOL

P1 and P2 Monday - Thursday 8.45 - 12.30 pm
1.05 - 2.30 pm

Friday 8.45 - 12.15 pm



P3 - P7 Monday - Thursday 8.45 - 12.50 pm

1.25 - 3.05 pm

Friday 8.45 - 12.25 pm Back to top

HOLIDAY DATES FOR 2009 - 2010

Check out the term dates for 2009/2010 using the Calendar link at the side








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STAFFING 2009/2010

Headteacher

M Appolinari
Principal Teacher

N Mackenzie

Class Teachers
A Newall (P1 and P5)

L Stout (P5)

H Harper (P1)

R Donald (P34/)

B Holland (P3/3)

Y Gordon (P7)

I Smith (P6)

S Duncan (P2/3)

 

Learning Support Teachers:

J Lucas

A Newall

Visiting Specialist Teachers:
N Mackenzie (PE)

M MacGregor (Art) 

Instrument instruction

Business Manager: P McQuade

School Administrator: A Combe

Learning Assistants:
L Hunter
J McIntyre
I Mutch
B Fyffe
S Conway

W Caird

 

Nursery Teacher: C Toolin

Nursery Nurses
K Armstrong
J Grubb

Janitor

R Nicholson

Playground Supervisor

E Telfer

School Chaplain

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ATTENDANCE

School begins at 8.45 am

It is important both for administrative purposes and to the organisation of classroom work that the children arrive on time.

If your child is ill and unable to attend school, it is important that you notify the school either by telephone or by sending a note with the child when he/she returns.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child attends school regularly. When a child's attendance is unsatisfactory, the Headteacher will ask an Education Welfare Officer to visit the home and discuss the problem with the parents. If the child's unsatisfactory attendance continues, the Headteacher, having discussed this with the Education Welfare Officer, will decide whether the case should be referred to the local Area Attendance Advisory Panel. This Panel is able to carry out the statutory responsibilities of the Authority with regard to defaulting parents. Back to top

SCHOOL DRESS CODE

The school has an attractive uniform consisting of -

Black blazer
White shirt/blouse
Black or grey trousers/skirt
Red and white striped tie

or

Red sweatshirt
Red or white polo shirt
Black or grey trousers/skirt
Black fleece
Black rain jacket

I would like to see all the children in the school following the School Dress Code since it promotes a sense of belonging to the school and cuts down on the competition, particularly amongst the older pupils, as to who has the most expensive jeans, sweatshirt, sportswear, etc.

The following items should not be worn to school:

* shell suits/tracksuits/leisure wear
* football scarves or strips/tops
* baseball caps
* crop tops, blue denim and other casual clothing
* clothing with words or pictures on them which could give offence to others
* clothing which is so short, tight or revealing that it could give offence to others

GYM KIT

All children should have shorts, a tee shirt and gym shorts (which
are only worn indoors).

ART

An old shirt or apron is useful for protecting clothing during art and craft activities. Back to top

ASSISTANCE WITH PROVISION OF CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR

The Authority operates a scheme of provision to ensure that pupils are sufficiently and suitably clad to take full advantage of the education provided. Families in receipt of Family Credit will automatically qualify for such a scheme. Other cases will be determined according to the personal circumstances of the family. Parents who wish to apply for the scheme should complete and application form which is available from this school or the Education Department, 10 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EG. Back to top

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR AND DISCIPLINE

Discipline Policy

At Burdiehouse, we aim to provide an environment which:

* Fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect between everyone involved with the school - children, staff and parents.

* Creates a happy and secure setting where effective learning and teaching can take place.

* Encourages everyone, children and adults, to care for school property and the property of others.

To achieve these aims, it is necessary to have a clear policy which is understood and accepted by everyone and is consistently followed.

At the centre of our Positive Behaviour Policy is our Gold Silver and Bronze reward system. All children in the school are working towards these awards. children are rewarded for very good behaviour by a merit, which can be given by any member of staff. On achieving 25 the student receives a Bronze award, 50 for a silver and 100 for a gold.

Awards are presented at 'Happy Assembly' and parents are invited to attend.

Happy Assemblies take place on Friday mornings at 11am, when the Class of the Week shield is given out, and special certificates from each teacher.

Golden Time, each child starts the week with thirty minutes golden time, if they misbehave they loose golden time usually a minute or two. They can earn it back but if the misdemeanour is serious they cannot.

Options

P4-7 operate 'Options' every Thursday morning where the children are able to choose from a range of curricular activities. Class teachers negotiate with their children how Options are earned and therefore this varies from class to class.
If children miss out on Options due to unacceptable behaviour, then a letter is sent home to inform parents.

Strategies include -

* Drawing up a set of RULES, REWARDS and CONSEQUENCES which are displayed in every classroom. The RULES and CONSEQUENCES are the same throughout the school but the REWARDS are negotiated and agreed by individual teachers and classes.

*Teaching the Rules, Rewards and Consequences to ensure they are understood by everyone.

* Using positive recognition to motivate the children and encourage them to keep the Rules.

* Gold, Silver & Bronze rewards

The responsibility for ensuring a positive environment is fostered in school needs to be shared by staff, children and parents - it does not rest solely with the school. A partnership approach - with school and parents supporting each other - has a very positive effect on children.

Anti-Bullying and Anti Racist Policy

What is bullying?

One definition is that -

'Bullying is wilful, conscious desire to hurt, threaten or frighten someone else'
(School Action Against Bullying, Pamela Munn 1993)

To be classed as 'bullying', the behaviour is usually either REPEATED or PERSISTENT.

Bullying can take many forms

PHYSICAL NON-PHYSICAL

Hitting Threatening
Kicking Ganging up on
Pushing Name calling
Spitting at Spreading rumours about
Taking things from Isolating

for many different reasons - size, skin colour, religion, interests, jealously - although often there is no apparent reason.

But whatever form it takes and for whatever reason, it is not acceptable in the school community. All children have the right to feel safe and secure in school so that they are ready to learn in a relaxed and happy atmosphere.

The school has very clear and explicit Discipline and Anti-Bullying Policies which set out responsibility for the school, the children and the parents - copies of these policies are sent out to parents at the start of each session or can be obtained from the school at any time. Back to top