Starting school can sometimes be a time when there's so much that is new that sometimes little things get forgotten or overlooked, so we have written down a few notes taken from the School Handbook to help make those first couple of weeks that little bit easier.

Following a consultaton exercise, the Council has decided that P1 entrants will begin full time classes from Monday 7th September 2009.

From Monday 17th August until Friday 4th September P1 children will attend school in mornings only.

On Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th August children should attend 9.30am to 11.30 am

From Wednesday 19th August to Friday 4th September children should attend from 9.00am to 12.15pm.

Parents should call into the school to collect their Kidzcard, as it needs to be signed for.

Some useful points to remember:

• Please name all items of clothing, shoes and belongings such as school bags and lunch boxes. School bags and lunch boxes should be named on the outside.

• Indoor/gym shoes for wearing inside the school building. (Slip-on black gym shoes are inexpensive and easy for the children to manage.) Marking the shoes with matching dots helps your child put them on the correct feet. No laces please, unless your child can tie them.

• Gym clothes - the children change for gym into joggers/shorts and a t-shirt. Please send gym clothes in your child's school bag on Mondays and school will send them home for washing on Fridays. Please note, no jewellery of any kind can be worn to gym for health and safety reasons.

• As we are encouraging the children to drink water during the school day, it is helpful if you can supply a named water bottle. It will be filled daily in school and sent home on Friday for washing.

• Breakfast Club - runs from 8.15 - 8.40am every school morning. It is free of charge and is open to every child.

• School dinners cost £1.15 daily, with halal and vegetarian options available. Please send dinner money to school in a named purse or money bag, but not loose - in little hands it sometimes gets lost.

• Please inform the school of any medical conditions e.g. allergies or medicines your child takes, e.g. astma inhalers. Please ensure we have up to date medicines in school and detailled, written instructions for their administration.

• Glendale Primary is working towards 'Health Promoting School' status and we would would be grateful if you would send healthy snacks to school with your child and keep sweets, chocolate and crisps to a minimum.

We are really looking forward to welcoming your child and all the children to Glendale. We are also looking forward to welcoming all Parents and Carers. If you have any questions that you would like an answer to please feel free to 'phone the school on 429 6973 or come in to the office.


Joan Dominy
Depute Head Teacher