Saltoun Primary School

Football Club

Lindy Lynn — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:11:34 +0000

Progressive Football – Football club @ Saltoun Primary every Wednesday
The following club is available:
THE PROGRESSIVE ACADEMY – P3 – P7 – Every Wednesday
3:30-4:30pm
“A structured program of training and competition. PROGRESSIVE Academy creates an ideal environment for footballer guided by our experienced and high quality coaches. They ensure continual progression and development for all players enabling them to reach their full potential.”
Each session costs £3 each. This can be paid weekly or in full until the end of term at a cost of £21.00. If you are interested in your child taking part, please contact Progressive Football Development ‎[progressivefootballdevelopment@gmail.com]‎-

Head Teacher’s Blog

Lindy Lynn — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:47:35 +0000

20th May 2013
Well, we all survived Innerwick-round 1 and are looking forward to round 2 with P5-7. The P4’s had a great time and I was proud of the way they overcame the difficulties met along the way. One or two knew that they were a little anxious about being away from home but they talked it through and coped really well. Having planned the menu together I didn’t anticipate any problems about eating and they certainly enjoyed their food! Thanks to those who sent goodies to share- it was much appreciated. A chocolate brownie is a great comforter when you are flagging a little.
I was impressed by the ability the children showed in making up their beds and in keeping their dorms in order. They also managed, more or less, to pack their bags for the way home- some sleeping bags and duvets had to be wrestled into submission with the help of a friend or two.
Some children were absolute stars about helping in the kitchen or laying tables or in tidying the garden- all credit to you as parents for that.
We had a few house rules- one was to smile when it got tough and I can say that everybody managed that one- even the staff! We also had a rule of one request whereby we expected children to do as they were asked without us having to repeat the request. This cuts out the need to nag- good for those of us who do it and for those who have to listen to it.
In thinking about these basic house rules I realised that we have a need in both schools to remind ourselves of rules for in class too. This rule of one request worked very well in general and it is something we will use in both schools to cut down on unnecessary repetition and waste of teaching time. The children saw the sense in this rule and there is a universal acceptance that what they are asked to do is sensible, reasonable, has a point and is above all fair.
One area we have to work on is listening when required and not talking when instructions are being given. This leads to a considerable waste of teaching time in repeating instructions or answering unnecessary questions. There are times when children will need repetition or clarification of teaching points and that is absolutely fine. It is not fine if this is done because children were talking at the wrong time or not listening. I will be talking to all the children about this in the next couple of weeks.
I am sorry if this is a bit of a rant but I have noticed in the last few weeks how much time is lost in teachers having to repeat themselves unnecessarily or in asking children not to talk over them. Our children are well-mannered and polite on the whole and this is just a bad habit they have slipped into. Perhaps if both home and school are giving the same message in the next few weeks, we can improve on performance in this. Ultimately it will help teaching and learning in every class.
If you wildly disagree with this, please let me know- you know I love a spirited debate! If you have ideas of your own for raising the levels of polite behaviour, we would be interested to hear them.
This is a short week for children, resuming on Wednesday. Staff meet tomorrow to audit our performance this year, plan the calendar for next and to agree on a school improvement plan for 2013/14. If you have any thoughts on these matters, let me know and I can share them with staff- I am sure they will listen politely and not interrupt!

Have a great week,
Lindy Lynn

P4 at Innerwick

Lindy Lynn — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:17:27 +0000

P4 at Innerwick 2013 on PhotoPeach

Head Teacher’s Blog

Lindy Lynn — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:19:44 +0000

The excitement is rising-P4 off to Innerwick next week and P5-7 in two weeks time. Last year we went on a managed activity holiday with a commercial company. This year these trips are “homemade”- we organise everything ourselves- food, activities, resources and staffing. Apart from keeping the cost down, trips such as Innerwick offer a different experience for the children. The focus is not primarily on the activities on offer but more on being together and looking after ourselves and each other. I believe that this is an equally valuable experience for children. They learn to be away from home, to live and co-operate with others- sometimes people they might not choose to work with-to be a part of a group and responsible for the work of that group- if you don’t pull your weight in the kitchen, nobody eats!
If I didn’t have a firm belief in this, I would not have spent so much time (as a Guide leader I should add) sleeping in tents in fields around East Lothian, digging latrine pits and trying to wash myself in water heated in an old metal dustbin- Innerwick is the Ritz in comparison! I have taken hundreds of girls to camp and could tell a myriad of stories about it. We always prepared lots of activities- crafts and treasure hunts and orienteering and pioneering and…… The thing the girls enjoyed most, after they had become used to being a bit unwashed (there was general horror initially over lack of sockets for the hair-straighteners) was cooking for themselves over an open-fire which they had dug out and built and which would only burn if they had gathered enough wood and covered it the night before to keep it dry. The best bit for me was seeing youngsters struggle with the issues of friendship groups or homesickness or fitting into a role in a group- generally they got there- they coped, handled the situation (usually with help from their friends) and learned something about themselves in the process. Many parents told us about children who went home and were tearful about leaving friends (new and old) behind. It is an odd experience to live so closely with others in that setting and then suddenly to go back to “normal” life.
I hope your children will enjoy Innerwick, I hope the experience will be valuable and I hope that they will take something away that they will use in the future- (if it is someone else’s socks, please return).
I have managed to resurrect the Twitter account we used last time and will attempt to tweet. The username is saltounprimary and the password is saltoun. I will also get uploads onto the blog if possible to keep you informed about our adventures.
A note for next year: we have booked a stay at Lockerbie Manor- see the website- for P4-7. We go on 9th May 2014 and return on 12th May. This is a weekend stay- this halves the cost (around £120). We didn’t think you would mind your children being away over a weekend!
Treacle and I have our sleeping bags looked out.
Lindy Lynn

3/4 Art Gallery

Primary 7 — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:02:07 +0000

Primary 3/4 are having an Art Exihibition on Wednesday 22nd May from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. Entry will be free but you will get the chance to purchase original paintings as well as prints and cards.Tour guides will take you round the amazing art work of primary 3/4. Nibbles and drinks will be available for a small donation.The childern will also be organising games and activites on the night.

Writen by Dylan and Charlie

Daffodill cafe

Primary 7 — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:10:53 +0000

P1/2 are having a Daffodill Cafe this afternoon to help raise money for the Mary’s Meal
campaign .Entry costs £2.00 this includes juice, a fruit kebab or a veg kebab. It starts at 2.15pm and ends at 2.45pm.find more info at http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/ http://vimeo.com/23360863

May Newsletter 2013

Saltoun Office — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:51:47 +0000

click here to read May 2013 newsletter

Head Teacher’s Blog

Lindy Lynn — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:28:28 +0000

28th April 2013
I think I have said before that it would be great to be able to look 20 or 30 years into the future to see what has become of the children we are teaching. Not only would this help us to better prepare them for what is to come but it would also satisfy a burning curiosity.
Since I have been teaching in East Lothian for 35 years now, I often meet former pupils in a variety of circumstances. Some are easily recognised, some I struggle to put names to and there are a few I will never forget!
The reaction of these people is interesting- few scurry by- they generally want to be recognised and it is great to catch up and hear how they are doing. In getting into conversation, they will often talk about something they remember from the time we spent as teacher/pupil. I have to be truthful about this and admit that few say they remember how good I was at teaching them to read or learn tables- mostly it is small and often unremarkable things. One boy remembered that I had taught him to whistle- I’m sure his parents blessed me for that one; one had fond memories of making and eating soup- 30 years ago it was not so common to cook in class. A few have mentioned the singing we did together-at that age they patently don‘t recognise bad guitar-playing! I was accosted one night in a restaurant in Dunbar by a grown man, who was obviously enjoying his Friday night in the time-honoured fashion, and who got down on his knees in front of me and insisted on singing “The Wheels on The Bus Go Round and Round” which he said I had taught him in primary two. Obviously I had taught him well- he could sing ALL the verses!
I have had the privilege of working with two former pupils as colleagues- one of them is Kirsten Pearson, currently at Saltoun. She was talking recently about a trip to Tyninghame beach we had in P4- some 30 odd years ago. She didn’t mention what the learning intention was for the outing but had clear memories of my dog being there- some things don’t change!
The point of this rambling is that it is often the small, seemingly insignificant experiences which make the longest lasting impressions. In thinking about my own childhood, my best memories are of fairly ordinary things which become special because you share them with people close to you-holding fenceposts for my dad to knock them in, scuffing through Autumn leaves on a walk with my mum and grandmother, getting the first go on my brother’s home-made raft- it was many years before I realised he was using me as a test-pilot!
We don’t always have to spend lots of money or make elaborate preparations to make an impression in children’s lives- it would seem that just being there for them is often enough.
What do you remember most fondly about school or childhood? Have you considered that in relation to your children’s memories?
Have a great week,
Lindy Lynn

Mary’s Meals 2013

Saltoun Office — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:05:06 +0000

Last week p5/6/7 watched a video called Child 31, the class took this very seriously and they now want to sponsor a school in Malawi. It is going to cost us £6000 and we already have £5 only £5995 to go.

Head Teacher’s Blog

Lindy Lynn — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:58:34 +0000

April 20th 2013
It is hard to believe we have only been back for two weeks- it has already been a busy and productive term. Friday saw the departure of our backpacks- first to Tranent (someone’s garage), then Glasgow to the Mary’s Meals warehouse where they are sorted and I think designated for a boy or girl, then off in a container to wherever they are needed. Claire, who did the collection, left with a car stuffed full of bags and was delighted by the response from our two small schools.
There is a short film on the Mary’s Meals website that shows the journey of a particular pink backpack to its eventual and delighted owner. We showed it to the children at assembly- it is worth looking at. The older children at Saltoun also watched a film called Child 31, which some of you may be have seen. They were so affected by what they saw that they have determined, come what may, to raise £6000 to provide a kitchen and meals for a school for a year.
This happened on Wednesday. By Friday, they had set up a committee and are working on a plan of campaign. They have asked H2H for support and have an agreement that half the profits from the Summer Fair will go to towards the appeal- they understand and accept that there will be less money for us to spend on playground equipment or “extras” for school. They would like to organise a cycle/walk/scoot event on the West Saltoun to Ormiston railway walk. This is pencilled in for Saturday 22nd June and will involve families in a sponsored event or simply paying a fee to take part. They are planning an event every month between now and December. Their friends at Humbie will be asked to play a part too- perhaps the next community Café? I know they will rise to the occasion.
Their committee consists of co-ordinators, press-officers, letter-writers, treasurers and more- everyone is playing a part.
I have no doubt that you will have heard them talking about it. I was impressed and moved by the commitment and compassion of these children. This is their own idea- as a staff we will back them in any way we can- it will involve all of us in more work and Mrs Birrell already has plans to tie in some of the activities to curricular topics- persuasive letter-writing, graphs, money, collaborative working etc.
It will no doubt involve parents in more work- in helping to organise, taking children to events and in giving. However- I hope, like us, you are proud of your children -their understanding of the plight of those in need and their determination to do something about it.
Look out for the first press release.
I am equally proud of Humbie children this week. In Mrs Prudence’s absence, they have coped admirably. They have welcomed each new teacher, shown them the ropes and behaved as we would expect them to. They have had four different teachers this week- not ideal but at least they only had to put up with me for one afternoon! I visited Mrs Prudence on Wednesday and delivered the many cards and buns that had been made for her. If good wishes and carbohydrates count as therapy, she will soon be up and running about!
There is sometimes bad press about the “younger generation”. It is a pleasure to celebrate their many good qualities at times.
Have a good week,
Lindy Lynn