LPS Newsletter

P7 Lion King Spectacular!

Last Friday, our wonderful Primary 7s performed a spectacular version of the Lion King to a gathered audience of family and friends. The pupils had co-written the script, co-created the dance routines, produced the costumes, backdrops, props, scenery and sung the songs from the well known stage musical and Disney film. They were word and note perfect and demonstrated wonderful team work, confidence and talent in abundance during the successful 80-minute performance. Highlights included some wonderful solos from Andrew as Simba and Matilda as Nala along with brilliant supporting roles from Charlie as Mufasa, Ashaz as Scar and charming performances from Timon – Ella, Zazu – Steven and Rafiki – Ellia. The hyenas, the dancers and the acrobatics did not disappoint and nor did the wonderful singing from everyone. A huge thank you to Ms Scott Dickins, Daisy Douglas and Mrs Gatton who prepared the young people for this highlight of the year.

Good luck to all our P7s in August when they start S1 and thank you to them for brilliantly representing the school over the last seven years.

NB: The Primary 7 Leavers’ Assembly is on Tuesday at 2.30pm in the main hall. All P7 parents/carers and families are welcome to attend.

We Are Silver Award Winners!

Enormous congratulations to Our Rights Respecting Schools Champions whose brilliant discussion with the assessors highlighting all the rights-based work of the school earned them the Silver Award this week. Ms Craig and other members of staff were interviewed to verify the impressive body of evidence Ms Wilson submitted a few weeks before the assessors arrival. The panel have yet to send us their official feedback but were impressed enough to ask us to become an Ambassador School to support other primary schools on their Rights Respecting journey. A huge thank you again to the young people and to Ms Wilson for all their hard work and commitment to achieving this important award.

We are delighted that Ms Kirkwood will lead the Rights Champions next session towards their main aim of going for gold!

Here are a selection of the slides from the presentation for assessors that demonstrates the terrific rights-based work going on in classes:

End of Term Staff Changes

It’s that time of year when we must say farewell to some of our wonderful staff but welcome some new and familiar faces too.

Farewell to Mrs Wells, who is taking early retirement. We wish her all the best for the future and thank her for her support to Leith Primary pupils over the years.

Congratulations and farewell to Mrs Richards who will be taking up a position with East Lothian Social Work Department. We thank her for all the support she has given our pupils who have attended sessions with her at The Loft and wish her luck in her new job.

Goodbye too to Mrs Cook who has been with us for the last two years and to Ms Birnie who will be starting teacher training in August. Thank you to both for being a big part of the team.

An official and final farewell to Mrs Hughes, who has been on an extended career break for the last few years. She has decided to resign her substantive position as Depute Headteacher of Leith Primary. I know many of you will remember Mrs Hughes fondly and will also want to wish her well.

Happy news too, Ms Bruce will return to us in August as Mrs Buchan. We all wish her a very happy wedding day.

Ms Wilson will be leaving at the end of term to have her baby. And a few weeks ago Mrs Dunn left to have her first baby too – who will be first?! We wish them both well for a safe delivery and look forward to meeting the little ones at some point in the future.

We welcomed back Mrs Ciechanowicz this week. Mrs Ciechanowicz will resume her Support for Learning role after the summer.

And a very warm welcome to Ms Downie, Ms Richardson and Ms Swinson who will be working with us from August.

World of Work Week 2023

Thank you to everyone who came in to speak to our young people about their jobs earlier on this month. We had a wide variety of jobs represented from an architect to a musician, police officer, baker, investment manager and football coach. It really gave our learner’s something to think about and we hope will have inspired many to think about the skills needed to get a job in an area they love. Thank you to everyone who took part and to Ms Harris who coordinated the visits.

P6 Junior Tour Guide Success

A massive well done to our P6 and P5/6 pupils for successfully achieving status as Junior Tour Guides. This year, pupils gave tours around the historic South Leith Parish Church, which is adjacent to Trinity House Maritime Museum, where the tour guide project normally takes place. Pupils, dressed in period costume, described Leith’s maritime past, the church’s links to Mary of Guise, historic links to the African Slave trade and Leith’s position as a major whaling port many, many years ago. The pupils spoke confidently and knowledgably about the subject matter and impressed their various audiences, not least their families.

End of Session Assemblies

Thank you to all our families who were able to attend their young person’s end of session sharing assembly. We had a packed hall for every class and year group. Classes enjoyed sharing highlights from their learning experiences this year and gain in confidence at speaking in front of a gathered audience. Well done to everyone for learning their lines, sharing their writing and artwork and for delighting us with their singing and dancing. We look forward to more of these events next session.

Proud to Be Me – LPS Proud Week

Our pupils celebrated identity last week during our annual Proud Week. Pupils were given the opportunity to celebrate whatever they are proud to be, whether that is their ethnic origin, local community, religion, football team they support, talent they have, first language they speak, cause they support, family they come from or any other aspect that is important to their sense of identity. We learned that many of us have similar identities and many of us are proud of our very different and diverse identities. What we all share is that we are proud to be Leithers! Thank you to our wonderful Equalities Group for helping to arrange this fun week.

Be A Buddy Not A Bully

Well done to Rahim in P2/3 who created this fabulous canvas with his mum as part of his home learning this term. We love the catchy phrase and think it will really take off next session – look out for the posters around school. Well done Rahim!

School Clothing Grant/ Free School Meal/ Milk Allowance

Summer holiday payment

The summer holiday payment will be paid into bank accounts by 23 June. This is £85 per child and will be paid to parents of all children currently in receipt of an income-based eligibility to Free School Meals.

Applications for 2023-24

As in previous years we have automatically awarded free school meals to most children of parents who have a current benefit claim. Parents were notified by letter on 6 June. If we already hold their bank account details, we will pay their clothing grant using these details by 21 July.

We include P1-P5 children in the automatic awards – although they receive ‘universal’ entitlement to free school meals, this does not include free milk, holiday payments or the clothing grant. The automatic award will ensure the parents receive the clothing grant and holiday payments for these children.

Families who did not receive an automatic award letter can apply for 2023-24 and applications are now open. This year we include an option for families who do not receive one of the eligible benefits but who are suffering financial hardship.

What’s on This Summer

As the holidays approach, here is some information you might find helpful.

Summer Reading Challenge

Dear Leith Primary Parent/Carer

Your child is invited to sign up for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Sign up at your local library!

What is the Summer Reading Challenge?

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to keep reading during the school summer holidays – and to enjoy anything they like to read! Children aged 4-11 are invited to set a reading goal, and collect rewards for their reading.

It’s FREE to take part, and last year 75% of children taking part improved their reading skills over the holidays.¹

Why should my child sign up?

• They will be better prepared to return to school in the autumn.
• The Challenge supports the move into a new year group.
• Becoming more independent in their reading boosts children’s confidence and self-esteem.
• The library provides free access to books and fun family activities all through the summer.
• Library staff are on hand to offer support and book recommendations.

Your child will be part of a UK-wide programme developed by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with the public library network.

How can my child take part? (Library OR online)

In the library. Visit your local library and sign up. Your child will:

• Set a reading goal for the summer and borrow and read books, eBooks and audiobooks. Your child can choose anything they like to read!
• Receive a Challenge folder and collect special stickers and rewards for reading.

OR
Online. Take part online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

• Sign up on the official Challenge website.
• Set a reading goal and get tips for accessing books for free at home.
• Unlock digital badges and online rewards, including a printable certificate.

When?

Throughout the summer holidays. Check with your local library to find out start & finish dates near you. Unsure where your closest library is? Use the Library Finder to check.

Head to your local library this summer and sign up! If you have any questions, please contact Mel Hollingshead- Library Development Leader

Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH6 4AE
0131 529 5517
melissa.hollingshead@edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours faithfully,
Mel Hollingshead

[1] The Reading Agency (2022) Summer Reading Challenge 2022: Annual Report

Want to know more?

• Find out more about the importance of reading and its impact on children’s success here.
• Visit the official Summer Reading Challenge website for free activities, competitions and videos.
• Keep up-to-date! Follow @SummerReadingChallengeUK on Facebook.

What do families think?
“I never liked reading before because of this challenge I got the courage to read more books and I have more interest in books. This has been the greatest experience ever in my life to read more books than before thanks.”

Girl, aged 12+

“The challenge encouraged my child to read more often, and in turn encouraged myself as well.”

Parent/carer of 6-7 year-old boy

“Enabled us to have some fun cheap days out and reading together has brought us closer than before.”

Parent/carer of 8-9 year-old girl

“We’ve joined the reading challenge for the past 4 years and every year it has inspired and encouraged a deeper joy for reading. For a young dyslexic boy the challenge helps make reading fun.”

Parent/carer of 6-7 year-old boy

“My child lacks confidence. Going to the library and meeting the friendly staff has definitely made him more confident in himself and encouraged him to read more being able to pick his own books to read from their huge collection.”

Parent/carer of 10-11 year-old boy

Parents Mind Well Sessions

Parents Mind Well Sessions

Mind Well sessions provide an opportunity for parents who are caring for a young person with emotional or mental health issues to gain information, support and meet other parents. Information on the upcoming Mind Well sessions are below-

Parents Mind Well -Self Harm

Date: Tuesday the 4^th July 2023, 5.30-7.30pm 

Venue: VOCAL Edinburgh Carer’s Hub, 60 Leith Walk, EH6 5HB

Delivered by Penumbra Edinburgh Self Harm Service

This session aims to increase parent’s understanding about Self Harm and offer some practical ways to help young people who may consider or display self-harming behaviour. Please book at

Parents Mindwell – Self-harm (July)

Parents Mind Well- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in children and young people

Date: Friday the 1^st of September 2023, 9.30-11.30am

Venue: Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre, 5 Moredunvale Place, EH177LB

Delivered by Lisa Esingle (Clinical Associate Psychologist, NHS Lothian) and Clinical Fellow in Psychological Therapies (University of Edinburgh)

This session will focus on how OCD can affect children and young people and consider how parents and other family members can support young people experiencing these difficulties. Please book at https://www.carerstraining.co.uk/event/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-in-children-and-young-people-sept/

Parents Mind Well- Low Mood and Depression in Teenagers

Date: Thursday the 28^th of September 2023, 6.30-8.30pm 

Venue: Southside Community Centre, 117 Nicolson Street, EH8 9ER

Delivered by Dr Aliénor Lemieux-Cumberlege, Clinical Psychologist (NHS Lothian) and Career Development Fellow (University of Edinburgh)

This session will focus on how low mood and depression can affect children and young people and consider how parents and other family members can support young people experiencing these difficulties. Please book at https://www.carerstraining.co.uk/event/low-mood-and-depression-in-teenagers-sept/

Hi all,

Thanks to all who made it along to our Linking Leith workshops and for all the feedback! Just a wee reminder that we still have our live consultation which can be accessed in the link below if you want to give further feedback.

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/linking-leiths-parks/consult_view

Many thanks,

 Alex Hunter

 Greenspace Development Officer (Ecology)

School Colours

Happy Holidays from the Heidie!

I would like to wish all our pupils a restful and fun summer break. They have worked really hard this year and most have made great progress in their learning and development. We could not be more proud of the achievements they have all made.

Thank you to all the Leith Primary School staff. They work tirelessly to support the young people in their care and invest a huge amount of professional skill and knowledge and emotional care to help them achieve their best. They are a terrific group of people and our wee Leithers are very lucky to have them.

Finally, thank you to you, our wonderful parents/carers for your ongoing support of your young people and of the school. 85% or more of each child’s year is spent at home and only 15% at school. We recognise the important and powerful influence parents and carers have as their child’s main teachers. I hope we can continue to support each other to achieve the best outcomes for your amazing children next session.

I look forward to seeing you all again on August 16th at 8.50am 🙂

Fiona Craig – Head Teacher