306 MARCH 20 – Gryffe Advertizer

e: info@advertizer.co.uk | t: 01505 613340 March 2020
Gryffe Manor Nursery & Out of School Club
We are currently hosting an Usborne Books Sponsored Listen,
where we have enjoyed guest storytellers within the nursery, and
have encouraged some quality listening time for families, with prizes
for the most “Sponsored Listener”. By encouraging literacy within
the nursery and at home we can offer the children an array of new
books (of their choosing) to be added to our library. The books
are for sale in the foyer of the nursery also, for families to purchase
should they wish to continue the literacy journey at home!
Our wonderful outdoor area has been fabulous in the stormy
weather, offering a warm shelter from the sleet and snow. The
children enjoyed getting all wrapped up in their waterproofs and
chasing the falling snowflakes. Having gained our Gold award
from the Woodland Trust by encouraging the children to respect
their outdoor environment, we are well on the way to gaining our
Platinum award by introducing the story “The Man Who Planted
Trees” to our activities, encouraging growth as we head towards
Spring….just watch this space!
Our Out of School Club has reinstated our Pupil Council and are
busy recruiting Parents to help them discuss any ideas or concerns
within the Club. The children enjoy making their voices heard and
gain a sense of ownership over the daily decisions made for their
Out of School Club environment.
In the coming months the whole of Gryffe Manor will be looking
forward to Spring time and all of the lovely events to look forward
to, such as, our Daffodil Tea and Easter celebrations.
Village School Consultation Opens
A statutory consultation has been launched to get views on
proposals to change the admissions and pupil placement policy for
Inverclyde’s village schools.
The consultation, which runs until Wednesday 25th March,
proposes two changes that would affect the three village schools
– Inverkip, Kilmacolm and Wemyss Bay.
Inverclyde Council’s education convener, Councillor Jim Clocherty,
said: “The consultation proposes two changes to the policy on
admissions affecting our village schools. It is important that we
hear the views of anyone with an interest in this including parents
and carers, pupils and anyone connected with the schools affected.
I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in this
important consultation.”
The council is consulting on changes to the ‘policy on admission
and pupil placement in mainstream schools’ for the transition from
village primary schools to secondary schools.
The statutory consultation document is available at all early years
establishments in Inverclyde (including those working in partnership
with the council), all primary schools associated with Inverclyde
Academy, St. Columba’s High School, Port Glasgow High School
and St. Stephen’s High School, the council’s education services
office in Wallace Place, Greenock and customer service centre in
Clyde Square, Greenock and in all council libraries.
The detailed proposal is available online at the council’s consultation
hub where people can also complete the survey and have their
say online at: https://inverclyde.citizenspace.com/schools/villageschools
There will be three public meetings held at:
25th February (6pm) - Inverclyde Academy
26th February (6pm) - St. Columba’s High School
27th February (6pm) – Port Glasgow Community Campus
Kilbarchan Primary News
Already this year our school has been very busy with our different
topics. Primary 3a are focusing on their topic about Ancient Egypt.
Aimee in Primary 3a said that “We went around the classroom
learning about pharaohs, it was a lot of fun.”
Meanwhile Primary 3b are learning about Arctic animals and how
they survive in the cold temperatures. P1 and P2/1 are learning
about different types of dinosaurs. They created Venn diagrams
and charts to group the different dinosaurs.
The Primary 7 pupils are working alongside the Primary 1 pupils
to create play based learning stations based on books that the
younger pupils are enjoying.
Thanks to Golphin, Primary 3 to 7 are learning golf skills while also
improving their numeracy and literacy skills during these sessions.
We definitely have some great golfers in our school.
Primary 7 visited Pizza Express to learn how to make pizza and we
even made our own pizzas. In class, we also created some healthy
snacks for other class members e.g. watermelon fries with a spicy
dip, mango and raspberry smoothies, watermelon salsa and fruit
kebabs.
The whole school loved the Baldy Bane performance in January
called ‘Wyliecoat the Wizard’.
By Sofia and James P7
St Columba’s Appoints a New Rector
Mrs Reilly is appointed Rector of St Columba’s School
St Columba’s School in Kilmacolm has
appointed Mrs Victoria Reilly as its new
Rector. Mrs Reilly, who has been Senior
Depute Rector at St Columba’s since 2016,
becomes only the tenth Rector in the
School’s 123-year history.
Mrs Reilly was brought up in Yorkshire and
graduated from the University of Edinburgh
with an MA (Hons) in French and Spanish.
After working in business, she studied for
her postgraduate certificate in education
at the University of Sheffield. Mrs Reilly
first joined St Columba’s in 1992. She was
appointed Depute Rector in 2012 and
Senior Depute Rector in 2016. Mrs Reilly
has been an Associate Assessor with Her
Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools since 2015.
Mrs Reilly said: “It is an honour and privilege to have been asked to
lead St Columba’s School. We will continue to focus on academic
rigour and extracurricular excellence, and on providing an inclusive,
safe and vibrant learning environment in which all our pupils are
encouraged to fulfil their potential.”
Mr Calum Paterson, Chairman of the Board of Governors, said: “We
are delighted that Vicky Reilly is to be our new Rector. Mrs Reilly
has served St Columba’s with great distinction over many years and
her values are at one with the School’s. She will be leading a high
calibre and dedicated team of teaching and non-teaching staff and
we look forward to continued success under her headship.”
St Columba’s School is a non-denominational, independent day
school, based in Kilmacolm, Inverclyde. It is one of Scotland’s
highest achieving schools nationally.
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