Dear Parent/Carer

Industrial Action by Local Government Trade Unions

I am writing to inform you that a number of trade unions for local government employees have notified the Council that their members will be taking part in a strike.  This action is likely to include the withdrawal of labour by janitors, staff in cleaning, catering, early years and school support staff. 

The planned strike days are Tuesday 6 September, Wednesday 7 September and Thursday 8 September 2022.

The industrial action is likely to impact significantly on schools, nurseries and education services.  At this stage it is difficult to predict the precise effect the strike will have but it is likely to mean that some schools/establishments will have to close at short notice.

We are asking parents and carers to note the following:-

• At this stage we do not know those schools/establishments that will be affected.  However, given the anticipated disruption you may wish to consider making precautionary childcare arrangements should we have to close due to the impact of the industrial action.

• Even if schools remain open some services may not be provided as normal, for example, the provision of school meals.  Due to the uncertainty over catering availability, children may have to bring their own packed lunch to school on the day of the targeted strike and for those families entitled to a free school meal an arrangement will be made to reimburse the cost of a school meal.

• For children with additional support needs who normally receive transport from buses provided by Fleet Services or via taxis, there is a risk that this service may not be available at short notice.

• School breakfast clubs will be withdrawn if our establishment is affected by the industrial action.

• School crossing patrols may be affected and, in this context, parents should be aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that their child(ren) get to school safely.

I hope that by providing you with this information just now will make you aware of what could arise given that the trade unions have this week indicated their intention to take industrial action which will impact on schools and nurseries. 

I will let you know of the position for our establishment when further details are known and we will continue to follow the advice from the council on this matter.

Yours sincerely

Head Teacher

The following link is for families who may wish to know about support such as Free School Meal Payments over the summer break.

Financial support – South Lanarkshire Council 

Please read the message below from Hamilton Town House Library

Hello,

My name is Elaine, and I am the new Children’s Assistant for Hamilton Town House Library. I am getting in touch today to introduce myself, and to share a link to our Summer Reading Challenge advert. Please do share this with your mailing list, if you are able, and hopefully this will encourage children and their carers to sign up.

Ordinarily, I would arrange to visit schools to promote the Summer Reading Challenge, but unfortunately time restraints have not allowed me to do so this year.
However, I would love to have the opportunity to visit in the new term to promote the library, and to meet you all in person. Moreover, it will be lovely to be able to welcome your staff and pupils into Hamilton Town House Library in the new term, please feel free to contact me should you wish to arrange a visit to the library for the coming academic year.

I wish you all a wonderful summer break and I look forward to hearing from you!

Elaine

https://youtu.be/j6KEbe9wy6M
[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j6KEbe9wy6M/hqdefault.jpg]<https://youtu.be/j6KEbe9wy6M>
Summer Reading Challenge 2022 – Gadgeteers! with South Lanarkshire Libraries<https://youtu.be/j6KEbe9wy6M>
We’re so excited to reveal the theme for the Summer Reading Challenge 2022!Get ready for Gadgeteers, arriving online and in your local library this summer.Sc…
youtu.be

Elaine Ferguson

Children’s Assistant

We have been asked to share the following leaflet about a summer holiday football opportunity..

Please take time to read the message we received regarding free bus travel for young people.

Morning All

Please may I ask for your support by encouraging young people and families to apply for the Young Person’s Free Bus Travel Scheme.

It would be greatly appreciated if the details of the website below could be highlighted on the school’s communication channels. Also, please feel free to share with the Parent Council.

The campaign website for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme, freebus.scot is now live. Please apply.

Further information for schools

The website contains lots of helpful information for families and young people about free bus travel, how it works, how to apply, the benefits and some tips for travelling safely too. It also features the decision tool feature, to help make it easier for people to understand the different ways they can apply. 

There is also a dedicated page with digital resources for stakeholders. You are welcome to look over these and make use of any relevant materials.

The resources available include: 

• The updated customer service toolkit 
• Digital marketing materials such as posters and leaflets

These materials will be updated as required but will always be hosted on the resources for stakeholders’ section of freebus.scot. If you require any more information, or if there are any further digital assets that you feel would be beneficial, please feel free to get in touch.

Louise.Jenkins@improvementservice.org.uk>

Kind regards

Louise

 New website for Young Person’s Free Bus Travel Scheme Louise Jenkins | Senior Communications Officer 

Thank you to all who supported the School Fayre on Saturday and to those who bought tickets for our Raffle Draw.

Here are our winners:

Raffle Prize Winners

Flowers– Mrs Robb

Cake– Miss Bannatyne

Hampers/ Gift Bags–

Cayden room 5

Holly K room 14

Logan room 12

Callum W room 9

Miss Cooper room 10

Oliver room 2

Merryn room 15

Evie room 7

Mrs Wylie- office

Mrs Milligan room 5

Cooper room 6

Lewis room 12

Aston room 14

Kara room 2

Macy room 14

Kai room 9

Mrs Gaffney room 13

Lucky winners can collect the prizes from the school office. Please be prepared for the fact that some prizes and heavy to carry.

Please take some time to open and read the latest guidance for school aged children.

St John’s Primary Parent Council

 PLANT SALE AND SPRING FAYRE

Saturday 14^th May 2022 – 10am till 12pm

Dear Parents/Carers – The Parent Council are delighted that the Spring Fayre and plant sale will return this May after a 2 year absence due to lockdowns and restrictions.  The fayre will be held in the playground and will feature:

• Excellent quality bedding plants from a Lanarkshire plant nursery
• Stall selling Home Baking
• Raffle tickets on sale to win gift hampers – raffle tickets can be bought on the day of the fayre plus Parent pay will be open to buy raffle tickets from 9^th May.
• Fun and games for children in the school playground organised by St John’s senior pupils

To make the day a success and raise funds for the school we’re asking for your support and help with the following;

• Donations of items to make up the gift hampers should be handed in to the school by 3pm Friday 6^th May. Suggested items – wine, craft beers, spirits, boxes of chocolates and sweets, candles, toiletries and gift sets etc.
• Home baking packaged or wrapped to sell should be handed in to the school on Friday the 13^th or dropped off just before the fayre starts on the Saturday morning. If you hand your items in in a box or tin that you would like returned to you please label it.
• We need a few volunteers to help set up and run the plant and baking stalls on the Saturday morning and to sell raffle tickets – contact us through the parent council Facebook page or email stjohnspriparentgroup@gmail.com if you can help, many thanks.

Thank you for your continued support, see you on the 14^th!!

St John’s Parent Council.

Please follow the link below to read our latest newsletter.

Revised Covid-19 Guidelines

Please take some time to open and read a letter form the National Clinical Director, Jason Leitch. The letter outlines the next stage of schools dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.