https://www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods/
Many of you will have taken advantage of this when it first came out last school session and you will see that for primary aged children, the support date has passed however, if you put ‘due to coronavirus in the application, it will be considered.
Also if you have younger children you will see the deadlines for those applications are still live.
Trust you are having quality time together.
Aileen Mackay, HT
InSpires are running a scheme to provide winter coats – many of them brand new for families that need a helping hand. This scheme is running over both weeks of the October holidays. Between 11am and 1pm families can go to the church hall on Kenneth Street Inverness near the Cathedral to take part. Jackets, school uniform, food bags and activity packs are available. On a Monday, Wednesday and Friday packed lunches are available for children up to the age of 18.
If you want a packed lunch it is best to book. You can also use this link to put in age and whether for a boy or girl to request jackets and collect.
Some Smithton families benefitted from this today – do not be shy in coming forward, particularly those of you who have never faced hardship like you have done since COVID-19. We’re all in this together – please don’t hesitate to pass this on or to click on the link below:
https://invernesscathedral.org/inspire/#whatwedo
Aileen Mackay, HT
‘Jimmy The Janny’ (Mr Johnstone to you and me) has been borrowed from Duncan Forbes for a wee while as Mr Aitchison is away for a few weeks. If you see him around the school please give him a warm welcome.
Letter from Highland Council to Parents
See the gallery below of Star Award Winners (two brothers both won this week – touching moment when they congratulated each other in the corridor!), problem solving outside, Outdoor Explorers T shirt winner, Robyn, bee houses(!) and many more learning occasions.
It’s been a tough term as we all know and there’s no end in sight for this pandemic however, working together, looking out for each other and listening to each other has never been more needed. While I aim to take days off in the holidays (yay – no construction work getting done – for the first holiday in 12 years here!) please don’t hesitate to email me should you need anything and I will be in touch.
Stay safe and keep looking out for each other.
Aileen Mackay, HT
At Smithton ELC we recognise the importance of mealtimes and this is a large part of learning that takes place. Children enjoy the independence from pouring their own drinks to spreading their own toast. We also enjoy opportunities to try new food, recently some of the children became very interested in the story; The Hungry Caterpillar. Along with trying different fruits the children also tried salami and pickles just like The Hungry Caterpillar.
After the October break all nursery children will be going to the lunch hall for lunch. Their key worker will take them and sit with them during lunch. All nursery children can now receive a free school lunch. Please find the 4-week menu here. file:///C:/Users/STUARTL3/Downloads/Aug_2020_Temporary_Early_Years__hot_and_ccold_lunch_options_dates_to_Dec%20(1).pdf
Your child’s key worker will ask your child on a daily basis if they would like the hot option or the sandwich option or if they have brought a packed lunch. We will no longer be requesting the information from parents. The children will have a pictorial menu to help them to choose.
Apologies for second post this morning – I clicked send too quickly! See below. If you are interested but not sure don’t hesitate to call or email Lauren. Parent who have been through this programme have really valued it, hence why we are running it again so soon.
Aileen Mackay, HT
Please note that only 5 families can take up this opportunity so please get in there quickly! We are the only school to have this opportunity so hopefully it will be a success. Note that it’s the last Friday of the holidays and should have adult family members as well as the young people.
As you know, there is no school and nursery walk in the woods this year as the COVID-19 restrictions will make it too difficult. However as a staff we have come up with a family walk in the woods/on the beach activity grid – click here. Feel free to use this and if you can complete many or all of the tasks do let your child’s teacher know via Dojo first day back after the holidays and I will issue certificates to all families that have managed to do the activities.
We have a number of unclaimed school jumpers at the moment. I will be getting them washed and ready for our second hand sale rail after the October holidays unless they find homes….The Community Room will have a ‘sale rail’ of jumpers after October and we will be looking for donations for school funds. Reuse, recycle! Thanks to all those who have given school clothes that your wee ones have grown out of. Remember, too, that when it gets a bit colder we will still have to have full ventilation in the rooms so your children should come to school with layers on and a scarf, if they want to.
As the weather changes with the seasons we may need to review our no indoor shoes protocol. Can I urge you to check, particularly with the younger ones, that they can take off their shoes and put on their indoors by themselves? It would be helpful if you could make a game of it over the holidays to see how quickly they can do this! This will mean staff don’t need to be fixing shoes and being too close regularly with the children.
Star Awards from Friday – it’s such a privilege to see the children doing so well – with or without star awards! Have a good week,
Aileen Mackay, HT
It certainly has been wet today, but in nursery they go out in all weathers! You can read about/ see some of the learning that has been taking place in the rain and puddles here.
