LPS Newsletter

Pupils have had a jam-packed start to 2024 with ceilidh dancing, science experiments, Burns poetry recitals, oral health awareness and new lunch and after school clubs.

We were delighted that Mr Stuart was successful this month in being appointed as the permanent Depute Headteacher after an extremely lengthy Acting Up period. We wished Mrs Young farewell and good luck on the birth of her first child. And we also welcomed Mr Edmond and Mrs Hafeez to Leith Primary as our new P3/4 and P7 class teachers.

Outcome of School Supported Self Evaluation

The results of the Supported Self Evaluation (SSE) visit in November were shared with school staff this week. The SSE, which is an internal inspection process, was carried out over two days and involved a team of Quality Improvement Education Officers, an associate Head Teacher, staff from the Additional Support for Learning Team, the Early Years team and a Learning & Teaching Development Officer. The inspection began with a presentation delivered by Ms Craig providing overview of the school including the current strengths and areas for further development. The team then undertook observations of teaching and learning in classrooms and spoke to children about their learning experiences. The team also examined current school policies and procedures. The team met with representatives from the parent council, a variety of pupil groups and partners who work regularly with the school. Teachers, support staff and the nursery team all had opportunities to meet with the inspection team to give their views. Further meetings about various aspects of strategic school improvement were held with the school senior leadership team. Since the visit in November, further data and evidence has been scrutinised and validated against the school’s own self evaluation procedures.

We are delighted that the inspection report highlighted all the amazing work that goes on at Leith Primary. The children impressed inspectors with their confidence in talking about their learning and in sharing the many opportunities they have to contribute to the life and development of the school and the Leith community. Staff were highlighted as having positive, calm, nurturing relationships with pupils and a strong sense of teamwork with each other. Teachers provide a wide variety of meaningful learning opportunities that support children’s learning well. Suggested next steps were in line with already identified aspects for further development.

The report will be presented to the Council’s Education Committee at their next meeting in April.

A summary of the report can be read here.

Dates for Your Diary

As we look forward to a well deserved half term break at the end of next week, here is a reminder of some important dates for your diary for the remainder of the school session:

• Friday 9th February – February Half Term Holiday Starts
• Monday 19th February – All Start Back at School
• 19th – 23rd February – Digital Week
• Wednesday 21st February – International Mother Language Day
• Monday 26th February – P4 swimming starts (letters to be sent out)
• 28th – 1st March – P5-P7 Lagganlia Skiing Trip to Cairngorm/The Lecht
• Thursday 7th March – World Book Day
• Monday 11th March – Ramadan begins (?)
• 11th – 15th March – Better Sleep Week
• Wednesday 13th March – LPPC Meeting at 6.15pm
• Thursday 14th March – Parent Consultations 4pm – 6.30pm (booking details tbc)
• Friday 15th March – Parent Consultations 1pm – 3.30pm (booking details tbc)
• Friday 22nd March – Comic Relief Day
• 25th – 28th March – Health Week
• Thursday 28th March – Term Ends for Easter Break

Summer Term Dates

• Monday 15th April – All Start Back at School
• Monday 6th May – Public Holiday
• Tuesday 7th May – Staff In Service Day (pupils off)
• 7th – 10th May – P7 Trip to Benmore Outdoor Residential Centre
• 13th – 17th May – Diversity Week
• 13th May – P3/4 start swimming sessions (letters to be sent out)
• Monday 20th May – Victoria Day
• Wednesday 22nd May – LPPC AGM
• Wednesday 29th May – Sports Day (5th June alternative if wet weather)
• Thursday 6th June – New P1 Induction Day (details to follow)
• 10th – 14th – Proud Week
• 18th – 20th June – P7 Transition Days at Secondary School
• Wednesday 19th June – P5 and P6 Scottish Opera Performance (times tbc)
• Thursday 27th June – P7 Leavers’ Assembly (time tbc)
• Friday 28th June – Session Ends for Summer Break
• Wednesday 14th August – Session 2024/2025 Starts

Children’s Mental Health Week

Place2Be provides one-to-one counselling with children, as well as other wider therapeutic support with children and families and work to promote a whole school approach towards improving the mental health and wellbeing of children, families and school-based staff within your school

Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week, which is taking place from the 5^th-9^th February this year, and ways in which you can get involved at home. The theme for this year is ‘Your Voice Matters’. Please feel free to have a look at the handout below, which provides parents and carers some top tips on ways in which you can promote your child’s mental health and wellbeing at home, and make sure your child knows that their voice matters to you, as well as to the wider world! Doing things to show that you can, and want to listen to your child helps them by boosting their self-esteem and supports them with developing a positive sense of identity. This helps them with becoming confident and resilient adults when they get older.

The handout also encourages you to explore the Place2Be Parenting Smart Website at: www.parentingsmart.org.uk. The Parenting Smart site is also full of lots of expert advice on ways in which you can support your child, manage their behaviours and act on their views.

We hope this is helpful and please do not hesitate to contact Amelia Burns, our school Mental Health Practitioner, if you have any further questions about any of the above information and support.

Heathly Eating Messages

As a primary school, we have a duty of care to promote and educate pupils on the importance of health habits. Health eating is something we encourage and promote to minimise the development of health conditions in adolescence and adult life, many of which are on the rise in Scotland. We also promote eating and drinking habits that prevent painful tooth decay in childhood.

A reminder to our families that children should be provided with one small healthy snack for break time and a healthy packed lunch if your child does not take school lunches. Children should not bring in fizzy juice, sweets or chocolate to school. If a large amount of food, such as family-sized packets of crisps or biscuits or multipack, is brought in it will be taken in by the teacher for safe-keeping and given to your child at the end of the day. Children are permitted to drink plain water in class and should bring in a filled water bottle each day if this is something you would like them to have.

Further information about healthy eating at home can be found here: https://eatthemtodefeatthem.com/families/

and here: https://www.edinburghcommunityfood.org.uk/fizz-free-february-2024

Support for Children With Sensory Needs

The booking link for this event can be found here: https://hanna-munro.mykajabi.com/top-tips-sensory-training

Winter Celebration Assembly

Has your child achieved a new medal, certificate or award outside of school? Have they accomplished something they have been working hard on? Send us a picture and let us know so we can tell them how proud we all are of them. Please send your photos and a brief explanation before Wednesday next week (7th) to the school admin email account: admin@leith-pri.edin.sch.uk

Our Leithers of the Week

We have a few weeks of hard working Leithers to celebrate here. Well done to everyone of them. We are so proud of you all.

Name	Class	Reason
Emily	Primary 1/2	Emily has tried so hard this week in class with learning her Scots poem. She has worked so well with a friend learning her lines and practising the actions. Well done!
Shafeeah	Primary 1/2	For working so hard on her Scots poem! You have done a great job. Well done Shafeeah.
Leo	Primary 1a	Leo has a fantastic attitude towards his learning and has persevered in phonics. He has made super progress thanks to his own hard work. Well done, Leo!
Lucia	Primary 1a	Lucia has been ready to learn in maths. She was very sensible and stayed on task when we went outside to do some measuring. She also completed a fantastic piece of writing. Well done, Lucia!
Zite	Primary 1b	Having a fantastic first week at Leith Primary school.
Hazimah	Primary 1b	Hazimah has fully embraced all of the school values and shown she is a hard working and fantastic pupil to have in the class!
Lawe	Primary 1b	Lawe has been sharing toys with his classmates.
Lena	Primary 2	Lena has persevered and put a massive effort into reading over the past few weeks.  She is joining sounds together to read whole words and did an amazing job reading the whole book to her reading group!  Brilliant Lena, all that hard work is paying off!
Naira	Primary 2	Naira has been consistently kind and helpful towards her classmates!  She regularly thinks of others and is always ready to help others when they need a hand!  Well done Naira, you’re an amazing example to your classmates!  Ms Harris
Bhodi	Primary 3	Bhodi has been trying particularly hard in handwriting this week and really impressed Mrs Young with his neat work. Well done Bhodi!
Prosper	Primary 3	Prosper has settled in very well and is a kind and helpful member of the class, often helping without being asked to. Thank you, Prosper!
Ada	Primary 3/4	For being a successful learner for writing a story using great connectives and speech marks without any help. Ada also did her grade 1 ballet exam this week. Well done for achieving both in and out of school.
Sharan	Primary 4	Sharan has shown great confidence and enthusiasm in Ukulele.  Well done!
Ella	Primary 4	For working so hard in Writing, she has made huge progress.  Well done!
Pneuma	Primary 4	For excellent work in Science this week.  Well done!
Mira M	Primary 4	Mira has been supporting others in Maths and sharing some great multiplication strategies with the class.  Well done!
Kieran	Primary 5a	Kieran showed excellent focus and great ideas when completing his cold writing. He was determined to challenge himself and improve his writing.
Aarush	Primary 5a	Aarush ahs been sharing his answers with the class. He remembers to be respectful and follow the rules by putting his hand up and listens to others.
Harry	Primary 5b	Harry was very helpful and supportive towards another pupil, leading by showing a good example during literacy work with a partner. Well done Harry!
Amelia	Primary 5b	Amelia is a responsible and respectful member of our class team working well independently and with her co-operative learning group. Well done and thank you Amelia!
Hadley	Primary 6	For his excellent summary of his reading book chapters. He did this independently and made sure to include the main points! Well done!
Keira	Primary 6	For always following the schools rules and giving 100% in every activity. What a great example you set for the rest of the class! Well done!
Leland	Primary 6/7	Leland has had a very positive and productive start to the term. In particularly, Leland impressed with his cold piece writing by independently creating a really interesting plot line. Well Done Leland!
Amos	Primary 6/7	Amos was asked to work alongside P3/4 and their teacher Mr Edmond passed on that Amos was a fantastic support to all, showing patience and compassion towards the younger children.
Akrm	Primary 7	Akrm has demonstrated impressive critical thinking skills during reading. He is vocal with his thoughts and is able to ask and answer meaningful questions about his text. Well done!
Rosa	Primary 7	Rosa is always demonstrating the school values. She is responsible, hardworking and respectful towards her teachers and peers. Well done!