Children in Need
Each week during the Friday afternoon assembly, we spend a few minutes highlighting the ISA Values. We do this because we strive to be global citizens who are: Balanced, Reflective, Open minded, Communicators, Knowledgeable, Caring, Thinkers, Risk takers, Inquirers and Principled. According to our Statement of Citizenship, we stand for the idea that “we grow through our understanding of ourselves, others and our mutual interdependence. Together we strengthen our voice and agency, developing our values. Thus we make positive changes both here and in our diverse local and global communities.” Additionally, as enshrined in our mission, we aim to positively contribute to each of our communities. ISA has a strong tradition of encouraging children to embrace a sense of responsibility for supporting others in need, both locally and in the wider world. In the Preschool and Elementary School, different grades take on the leadership for various initiatives.
This week, the Grade 4 students, in tandem with the children in the Preschool, took the lead in organising activities to support BBC’s Children in Need. These young students have been at the centre of planning the entire week, including: agreeing upon a spirit and fundraising day for Friday; working collaboratively to create and deliver presentations to explain Children in Need to students in each of the grade levels; baking and packaging over 250 cookies for a bake sale; and delivering a culminating presentation at the Friday assembly for students and their families. Through their efforts, the Grade 4 and Preschool students are helping others, while also developing their own leadership skills, including planning, public speaking and following through on commitments. Well done to the Grade 4 students and their teachers, Mrs. McMahon and Mrs. Cooper, as well as the Preschool children and their key workers, for all they have done to bring the value of caring to life across the school in support of Children in Need. By the end of lunch on Friday, the Grade 4 children estimate that they have raised over £496! In the coming weeks, the children in Grade 3 will continue the theme of service and caring as they organise a food drive for those less fortunate than us in and around Aberdeen.
Staying healthy
As we approach winter, I’d like to ask families to emphasise the importance of hygiene during this period. This includes handwashing and taking care to cough or sneeze into one’s elbow (rather than into one’s hands). More importantly, I’d like to ask all families to err on the side of caution when it comes to deciding when to send a child into school. There are a number of nasty viruses and bacterial infections going around and it’s far better to keep an unwell child home for one extra day than to send them in to school while they are still unwell, which might mean spreading germs to other members of our community or even a relapse (resulting in even more days off school). I have been telling members of our staff the exact same thing: make sure you are fully recovered before returning to work. Please help us to keep everyone safe and healthy by adhering to our policies and procedures around illness: if a student or member of staff has a fever (for us, that means any temperature over 37.5℃), they are sent home. We follow the guidelines set out by Public Health Scotland which state that a child can return to school after a fever when well. There is no need to wait a full 24 hours after a fever has passed. However, it is important that the fever has indeed passed. If you have given your child medicine (such as Calpol) to suppress a fever, it is important that your child remains at home until they no longer require medication to keep their temperature below 37.5℃. If a child has been sick (i.e., if they have thrown up), then we will send the child or staff member home for 48 hours. These rules and procedures are in place to ensure that our students and staff are well enough to teach and learn and to prevent the spread of illnesses.
Important Dates - next two weeks
(Please remember to routinely check the Daily Notices in the Community Hub and the Events Calendar)
Monday, November 18 - Training Day - no students in school
Wednesday, November 20 - Grade 1 trip to Duthie Park
Thursday, November 21 - Flu immunisations
Monday, November 25 - Lunchtime concert (12:30pm, Black Box Theatre); parents/carers/family members are all welcome.
Wednesday, November 27 - Preschool/Elementary School Ceilidh (1:15pm, Gym/Hovde Hall); parents/carers/family members are all welcome.
Thursday, November 28 - Thanksgiving lunches (no cost to families: Preschool; Kindergarten-Grade 2; Grade 3-Grade 5)
Comments
Post a Comment