Dear Parent/Carer
We look forward to seeing you at the shared learning tomorrow. Please see the App for arrangements for your child’s class.
The new developments on the school playground are nearing completion. It has been exciting to watch the progress and we are hoping that our community enjoys and looks after this new resource. It is a wonderful way to celebrate ten years of Burnbrae Primary.
The bike pop up tent was a great success. They fixed 22 bikes and 2 scooters.
Primary 7 pupils have completed their Bikeability Level 2.
Children in P5 enjoyed their visit to the local building site learning about the job opportunities for the future as well as health and safety.
P4 children are learning about the environment when they visit the Water of Leith Visitor Centre this week.
Whole School Picnic
On Monday 26th June, we will have our whole school picnic. All children, including Nursery, the CN and SCN provision will take part. Nursery and CN children will have their picnic in their own garden areas.
Children from P1 – 7 and CN are encouraged to bring a blanket and a teddy from home to these events. Nursery children do not need to bring anything.
The school kitchen will only serve cold lunches on this day. Letters will be sent home in advance to indicate whether you would like your child/ren to bring a packed lunch from home or to receive a lunch from school.
Sports Days
All sports days within the mainstream school will take place on the fields behind the school, and will start at 13:30. Families are welcome to attend to watch each event.
- P5, P6 & P7 – Monday 5th June
- P3 & P4 (including P2/3) – Tuesday 6th June
- P1 & P2 – Thursday 8th June
The CN Provision Sports Day will take place on Friday 23rd June. Families are invited to join us on the sports field at 9:30am. Any children who usually attend their mainstream schools on a Friday are also welcome to join us.
The SCN Provision will have a Sports Focused Day on the 7th June and then share videos and photos with parents and carers.
Communication Survey Responses
Thank you for your communication survey responses, we are in the process of collating all the information from families and staff to review our procedures for August 2023. Until this is completed we will continue to use the School App as our main source of communication for all Burnbrae Parents/Carers.
For families using Seesaw in P1 – 3, some individual learners from P4 – 7 and the ELC, Seesaw will only be used to share learning posts. CN provision will continue to have news and events shared on Seesaw along with learning posts. Staff can post to Seesaw between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday – Friday. We encourage families to comment positively on learning experiences shared and know children appreciate reading your comments.
Communication for appointments should be made through the office as is the normal procedure. Please continue to send direct messages to staff through email to Burnbrae.PS@midlothian.gov.uk
Social Enterprise
Children taking part in Organic Planet have been invited to a special event in Glasgow on the 30 th May 1-3pm. The Big Issue magazine runs a special edition which features schools that are running social enterprises. Organic Planet is being featured in the edition and consequently have been invited to the launch event.
Some children from Organic Planet will be invited to attend the 2023 Social Enterprise Academy Awards Ceremony at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on Thursday 15th June 20221.30pm to celebrate the wonderful school based social enterprises created and led by young people from all across Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth MSP is the VIP guest at the event this year.
Learning with and through Digital Technology
Children were invited to take part in interactive live lessons throughout the week beginning the 15th May. Staff also had the opportunity to sign up for webinars to enhance their own knowledge of digital technology.
Further digital support for families can be found here – https://equipped.midlothian.education/devices/
http://burnbrae.mgfl.net/digital-technology/
Poltonhall Gala Day
This year our local Poltonhall Gala Day will take place on Sunday 4th June. We have two children representing our Primary school –
- Alexander Sim
- Sophie Turnbull
And two representing our ELC –
- Jonathan MacDonald – Oak Room
- Lyla Logan – Chestnut Room
As an ELC we would like to support by taking part in a walking float. Children are invited to walk in the parade with their grown-ups and wear a colour from the rainbow. We will meet at the bus terminus at Poltonhall at 11.30, the parade will leave at 12 noon and is likely to last around 30 minutes. We will walk as part of the parade down to the Rugby Field where you are then free to enjoy the gala day with your family. It would be lovely to see our ELC families coming to support our nursery.
Danceathon
Thank you to all the parents/carers who donated and came along to support the P1-P4 Danceathon last Wednesday. Your very kind donations have raised over £5,000 for our school and we are still counting! We cannot thank you enough for your generosity.
Transition
Children in Burnbrae ELC have enjoyed walking to the main building to take part in weekly assemblies with P1 – 3 and visiting the P1 classroom. ELC children were delighted last week when all P1 children visited for a play together at the ELC climbing frame and outdoor spaces. Miss Johnstone has been visiting the ELC weekly to teach new songs and the children really enjoy her visits. Miss Mitchell visits the ELC regularly and is also visiting all our partnership settings to make sure we know all children starting P1 at Burnbrae in August.
CN/SCN
The CN Provision is looking forward to announcing its new name before the summer holidays. All parents, children and staff have been involved in the decision making process. We thank families for completing our questionnaire. We really appreciate your input and feedback.
Our classes are continuing to enjoy learning experiences out with the classrooms. Our learners regularly visit local facilities in our community, visiting Lasswade Library, Bright Sparks and Tesco regularly.
Some of our older learners had the opportunity to visit The Money Museum on the Mound. This was a very interesting experience which captured the interest of our learners. The staff at the Money Museum were full of praise for our learners.
We have been really busy at the SCN Provision getting ready for our transition to Hawthornden Primary School. We have visited our new school a few times now and we met some of our future classmates.
Meanwhile, we are working with High schools to deliver an enhanced transition for all our P7 learners moving into this new chapter of their lives. To celebrate all the successes of our P7s this year we are going to have a P7 adventure week 19th -23rd June!
Our weekly visits to Loanhead Library have been very successful and the SCN P5 learners have had the opportunity to go swimming on a Thursday, becoming more and more confident in water. We will organise an end of the year cafe soon, where parents and carers will be invited to celebrate this whole academic year!
Just a gentle reminder to all parents and carers to provide children with a healthy snack and juice. We discourage children from consuming sweeties, chocolate or fizzy juice during school hours.
Parent Council
There will be a Summer Fair run by our Parent Council on Saturday 24 June from 1-3pm
Parking
Please can drivers park in the official car park opposite the school and refrain from using the staff car park. It is very congested at the beginning and end of the school day and children and adults using this area are at risk. Our priority is the safety of our children in the school community.
At Burnbrae Early all official school transport (taxis and minibuses) drop pupils off in our delivery drop-off zone at the main Burnbrae Early door. As school transport use the delivery area, it is imperative that parents do not use this area for drop-off/parking. Please park out of the school grounds if it is absolutely necessary to travel by car. When parking, always do so with consideration for our neighbours and for pedestrians, thank you.
Thank you for your continued support of the school.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Clarkson
Head Teacher
Important Dates – more dates to follow
| Date | Event | Who is involved |
| Tuesday 23rd May | Water of Leith Visitor Centre Trip | P4a |
| Wednesday 24th May | Water of Leith Visitor Centre Trip | P4b |
| Wednesday 24th May | Shared Learning 2:30-3:15 | Whole school |
| Thursday 25th May | Water of Leith Visitor Centre Trip | P4c |
| Thursday 25th May | Shared Learning 2:30-3:15 (P4b only) | P4b |
| Thursday 1st June | 6pm Presentation to new P1 families | ELC |
| Sunday 4th June | Gala Day | Whole School |
| Monday 5th June | Sports Day from 13:30 | P5 – P7 |
| Tuesday 6th June | Sports Day from 13:30 | P3 – P4 (including P2/3) |
| Wednesday 7th June | Vogrie trip | P1 |
| Thursday 8th June | Sports Day from 13:30 | P1 – P2 |
| Friday 16th June | Meet the Teacher – induction to new class | Whole School |
| Monday 19th June | SCN P7 adventure week | SCN |
| Tuesday 20th June | Rowan Celebration Afternoon | Rowan ELC |
| Tuesday 20 June | Football Tournament | Football Teams |
| Wednesday 21st June | Chestnut Celebration Afternoon | Chestnut ELC |
| Thursday 22nd June | Oak Celebration Afternoon | Oak ELC |
| Thursday 22 June | P7 End of Year Show 09:15 and 18:00-19:30 | P7 and parents – detail to follow |
| Friday 23rd June | CN Sports Day | CN |
| Monday 26th June | Whole School Picnic Day | Whole School |
| Tuesday 27 June | P7 Day Out | P7 |
| Wednesday 28th June | Last day of term -15:15 finish |