Parents
News
Tuesday Notice no 8 Spring 2010
2 March 2010 in Tuesday Notice
OLIVER! Performances are on Thursday 4th & Friday 5th March at 7pm in the School Hall.
There are no tickets for this event, but we are needing generous donations at the door.
Friday night is likely to be very full, so if you are not sure when to come, Thursday maybe the sensible option. Bring your 50p for an Ice cream during the interval!
Parents of children under 9 should be aware that there are some scenes in Act 2 which are quite dark and sinister and may be disturbing to young children. There will be a “preview” for the school of some scenes from Act 1, which are entirely suitable for young children to see. Parents are welcome to attend this 45 minutes show at 2.30pm on Thursday afternoon.
HMIe report. The school was recently visited by a small team of inspectors from HMIe. The purpose of their visit was to follow up recommendations made after the more comprehensive inspection in 2008. We were delighted with the contents of the draft report, which described significant improvement in leadership, management, ICT provision, P.E. and pupil involvement. The inspectors were particularly impressed by the class 8 projects, our atmosphere of caring and community, and the consistent strength of Upper School exam results.
The full report will be published on 20th April.
Many congratulations to pupils in Class 9 who have become the second Class to receive an accredited qualification for main lesson work. Dr Burgess’s ‘Narratives’ main lesson, which was taught last term, is accredited by the Open College Network (OCN). Sixteen pupils were awarded OCN Levels 1 and 2, equivalent to a good pass at GCSE (grades A-C). Of those 16, the majority (twelve) received a Level 2, equivalent to an A Grade pass at GCSE. The external examiner was once again extremely impressed with the standard of work and presentation that our pupils achieve. The school is extremely proud of them. The English department, and other Upper School departments, are exploring the feasibility of accrediting other main lessons. The accredited Narratives main lesson will be available annually to Class 9.
Community Garden, Steiner at the Fringe and PTA meeting Tues 2nd Mar, 8pm.
As mentioned in our newsletter we have the opportunity to start a community garden. We are kicking this off with a short presentation by Liz Murray and a discussion of what is needed. We also have Michael Ritchie and Jacqueline Whymark coming to open a discussion about a creative enterprise opportunity and Steiner at the Fringe. After all that excitement the boring old PTA meeting will follow. All in the Eurythmy Room from 8pm. Look forward to seeing you there. If you have any issues, thoughts or comments come along or email the PTA on edinburgh-steiner-pta@googlegroups.com.
Skills and holiday club questionnaire. Well, I goofed, the link given out for the PTA questionnaire may have had some of you scratching your heads. Entirely my fault. Correct URL is http://tinyurl.com/ptaquestions. Please take a moment to fill this in. Thanks Kevin@ThePTA
“WHAT CAN WALDORF/ STEINER EDUCATION OFFER YOUR CHILD IN THE 21ST CENTURY?”
Talk for Kindy and Parent & Child parents on Wednesday 17th March at 8pm in the Eurythmy Room. See you there.
ECO-SCHOOLS UPDATE - By now you may have noticed the recycling bins around school. We can recycle cardboard, tin and aluminium cans, tetra packs, glass, paper and some plastics. All the bins are marked with details about what goes in them. Please try and make sure the right things go in the right bin!
And please try not to bring in things that can't be recycled, as we want to keep our landfill waste to a minimum. As well as helping the environment, our new recycling scheme should save the school about £500 per year.
BIKE SALE - date for your diary - 27th March. Now in its fourth year, we'll be holding our annual bike sale on Saturday 27th March 9.30 - 12 in the school hall. Please bring along bikes and cycling equipment to sell from 8.30am on the day. Cycling equipment (bike seats, tag-alongs etc) and bigger kids bikes are always in big demand so please dig out anything you don't use and bring it along to sell. We always get plenty of buyers from outside the school and usually sell pretty much everything. You get to keep 80% of the price that your item sells for, and the remaining 20% goes to the school.
SAINSBURY Active Kids Voucher scheme - Please collect Sainsbury’s Vouchers and hand them into the office or staff room. The promotion will enable us to get some shiny new P.E equipment. Also
TESCO vouchers for schools can be handed into the office collection box.
Does anyone have an OIL FILLED ELECTRIC HEATER? We need one for the costume department. Please let the office know. Thank you, Leonie le Maistre
Please note: The School does not necessarily endorse or warrant the following information relating to activities or articles for sale. All notices for inclusion should be signed and dated and handed into the office, with appropriate payment, before 10.30am the preceding Friday. £2.00 for school ads, £3.00 out with.
“The Music of Life”: A talk by Neil Mackay, teacher and composer, on the significance of music in the Waldorf School and the wider community. Friday 12th March at 7.30pm in the School Hall.
‘PELLE’S NEW SUIT’ puppet show. Performance dates 19, 20 and 21 March. Show times 11am and 2pm.
Join the Free Range puppeteers (a group of kindy mums) for a trip on the Red Bus to celebrate Spring with Elsa Beskow’s classic tale, with songs and refreshments. Suitable for 0 – 7 years. All trips start outside the school gates on Spylaw Road. Ticket £8 per seat (children on parent’s knees are free). Concessions (£6.50) available for the unwaged and those on low income. More info from Clunie (class 1 & 7 parent) 07599912687 or www.theredbus@co.uk
WANTED: A musician/student with skills in the computer music-writing programme SIBELIUS. I am preparing a manual for Bamboo Pipes and would like to get the music examples neatly printed. They are short and simple. Fee to be discussed. If you are interested please contact: Gabrielle Hess on 0131 668 3278 or e-mail ghess@bowsart.org
THE NEW COMPACT CIRCE HELIOS TANDEM - Now there's a bike you can share... with your partner or friends.... with your children... with your shopping or longer/bigger loads. Unlike towing a trailer or using a traditional tandem the Helios is neat, light and manoeuvrable. Weighing 16kg and 210cm long, the Helios can easily be carried up stairs. Test rides from Laid Back Bikes at The Bicycle Works, Argyle Place, Edinburgh EH9 1JJ www.laid-back-bikes.co.uk . Phone or text David Gardiner on 07981 430159
Compassionate Communication Core Course – 6th -7th March, Salisbury Centre, Edinburgh
Learn 4 simple language tools to support greater understanding and less conflict in your everyday life.
Explorations in Empathy, Gillis Centre, Edinburgh 16-18 Apr, Holy Isle
Learn how mindfulness & Compassionate Communication can dramatically increase your capacity to deal with stressful situations. Contact Claralynn, rose@compassion.org.uk, 01383 853 508.
JOB VACANCY - Part Time Organic Gardener PostUp to 3 days a week. April-Dec. General gardening, vegetable & fruit growing@ Garvald Glenesk & Glenesk Day ServicesNr Dalkeith. Biodynamic experience desirable.
Contact garvaldgleneskrecruitment@live.co.uk or Maggie Brink 0131 454 9199
GLASGOW & EDINBURGH ASSEMBLY 2010 (Country Dancing). Weekend Workshop on Country Dancing at Columcille Centre, Morningside, Edinburgh Sat/Sun 10-11th April with Simone Verheyen & Assembly Players.
27th Annual Ball, New Lanark, South Lanarkshire on Sat 3rd July with Nicolas Broadbridge, Aiden Broadbridge and Brian Prentice. (see www.nicolasbroadbridge.com for full programme).
Parent and Child Shiatsu Classes - Monday 4-5pm; Baby Shiatsu course, Friday 10.45-12pm; PLUS Shiatsu acupressure massage seated and on a futon, all fully clothed; homeopathy treatments; chi gung classes; Kata Karate for core strength; yoga; aromatherapy; counselling and Shiatsu training courses. www.theshiatsucentre.com 35 – 37 Bread Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9AL 0131 229 0724 or 07821264 882.