LPS Newsletter

As ever, it has been a very busy winter term for our Leithers with numerous trips and activities undertaken by all classes. We celebrated Scottish Book Week with each class walking along to Leith Library to join the Edinburgh Library Service and borrow a book. Primary 3 – Primary 7 celebrated Into Film Week, a British Film Institute and National Lottery funded organisation that promotes the cinema and the film industry to schools. It was also a great opportunity for children to celebrate their successes this year for being accredited as a Gold Level Rights Respecting School and for contributing to a successful school inspection in October. Well done Leithers!

Hello and Goodbye!

Farewell and thank you to our Citadel Family Support Worker Kristy Johnson, who is returning to her home country of Australia. Kristy has been a great support to a number of our parents and will be greatly missed by the Leith team. We look forward to welcoming Valma Walmann next week who will be taking up her position as our new Citadel Family Support Worker.

We also welcome Ms Kirsty Ferguson as our new Principal Teacher. You may remember that Mrs Dawn Moloney retired at the summer, having been the school’s Principal Teacher for a number of years. Ms Ferguson’s role will be primarily focussed on our school nursery although she will spend short periods of time in almost all classes across the school each term. We are delighted to have her onboard.

Leith Primary School – Christmas Activities

Here is a round up of the main Christmas activities we have planned this year.

Wednesday 11th December – Christmas Open Classrooms: P1 & P2 2.30pm: P3-P7 2.40pm

Fri 13^th December – LPPC Christmas Event (12.00pm – more detail to follow from them)

Mon 16^th December – Christmas Parties (afternoon)

Tue 17^th December – Christmas Movie Day (in classes)

Wed 18^th December – P4 – P7 (Including 4s from 3/4) trip @ Lyceum – Treasure Island – Mini televised Panto for P1-P3 in hall – Santa Visit to Nursery, P1 & P2 – After lunch

Thu 19^th December – Christmas Lunch for pupils & Christmas Jumper Day (optional donations to charity)

Fri 20^th December* – Christmas Sing Song for pupils only (9.30am in gym hall)

*Break up times as normal for Friday.

Classes will take part in the annual Christmas Doors design competition, judged by the pupil council. Everyone will also make a Christmas card for an elderly person in one of our local sheltered or care homes. As ever, we discourage the gifting of presents to staff and encourage a small donation to our chosen charity, UNICEF.

Please see our Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/leith-primary-1733308784426?utm_term=vMaadPn8P

We are very sad that this year we will not be able to have our usual school community Singalong at St Andrew’s Parish Church, as the parishes of Pilrig, St Paul’s, St. Margaret’s and St Andrew’s prepare to amalgamate as LARCH Leith Walk, based at the Pilrig church from February. This year, we will have a Singalong with staff and children together in our own gym hall. Parents are welcome to come along on the 11th to enjoy some Christmas activities during our Christmas Open Classroom session starting at 2.30pm.

New Advocacy Service Supporting Parents to Challenge Racism in Scottish Schools

Advocacy for Race Equality in Schools Scotland (AdRESS) is a new organisation for parents and carers whose child has been affected by racist incidents or racially motivated bullying in school.

There AdRESS website has a very clear explanation of what we mean when we use the term racism.

This week, our Equalities group are speaking at assembly about how we can become an Anti-Racist school.

Embracing Difference

Primary 7 Poem

Made by Megan and Zaynb P7B

Salveson Mindroom

Extra Swimming Lessons for P4 Pupils

Stepping Stones in partnership with Edinburgh Active Schools are offering free swimming lessons to P4+ pupils who for any reason have struggled to meet their proficiency school swimming levels.

Please register your interest with the below link, after registering once a space becomes available stepping stones will reach out to you. https://www.steppingstonesswimming.com/communitylessons ‘

P5-P7 Optional Skiing Trip

There are still a few places left on our optional P5 – P7 Skiing Trip to Lagganlia in the Scottish Highlands. The trip takes place on the 19th – 21st February 2025. Tiered funding is available to suit all budgets. If you think your child would enjoy trying out skiing or snowboarding please fill out this short form: https://forms.office.com/e/8BKT45SdxX

Well Done to Our Recent Leithers of the Week

Tamara	Primary 2b	Tamara has been engaging brilliantly with our lessons on the carpet, including great listening, sharing her ideas and remembering and recalling details from our prior learning.
Juniper	Primary 3	You always show huge amount of responsibility in class, helping to keep the classroom organised and tidy. You have also been working so hard towards challenging yourself in writing and achieving your target and I always enjoy reading what you have written.
Raegan	Primary 3/4	Raegan, you have made more wonderful choices this week and we were all very proud of how well you represented our class and school during our cinema trip on Tuesday- well done and keep it up!
Yumna	Primary 3/4	For being confident and working incredibly hard on writing her sentences independently this week. We are all very proud of you Yumna- well done!
Anthony	Primary 4	Anthony showed perseverance and determination in our Outdoor Learning session.  He managed to start the fire so we could all toast our marshmallows!
Brooke	Primary 4	Brooke showed kindness and responsibility when supporting our P1 buddies with a recycling project.  Well done!
Taylor	Primary 5	Taylor is always respectful, kind and has been trying hard to answer comprehension questions in reading. Well done Taylor!
Sharan	Primary 5	For being helpful, tidying up and working hard in maths. Well done Sharan!
Ritaj	Primary 5/6	For working hard during our lessons, and making lots of progress in Maths especially!
Jana	Primary 5/6	For making a big effort during our literacy lessons (with clear improvements as a result!).
Juliet	Primary 6	For exemplifying the school’s values, especially in demonstrating responsibility and a growth mindset.
Shaniah	Primary 6	She is always ready to share her kindness with a smile and sense of humour.
Julia	Primary 7a	Julia for always working hard and being focused in all areas of her learning.
Kade	Primary 7b	Kade has shown a good level of understanding for how to stay safe – both at school and when out and about on trips.
Zaynb	Primary 7b	Zaynb has been engaging very well in her learning. She challenges herself and aims to achieve her best. She recently wrote an amazing poem with an other child.