CHS Virtual Awards Ceremony
Well done to all of the pupils hard work during these strange times and congratulations to all those who received an award.
A special thank you to Ms Houston and Miss Donnachie for organising and creating this fantastic video.
A special thank you to Ms Houston and Miss Donnachie for organising and creating this fantastic video.
Remembrance Day
Poppy Appeal (Click Here)
Head Teacher Bulletin
Phased Return to CHS
Dear Parent/Carer,
We are excited and look forward to pupils returning to CHS. The phased return to school begins on Monday 15thMarch and will continue until Thursday 1stApril. After out Easter holidays we look forward to welcoming all our pupils back on a full-time basis from Monday 19thApril.
The Scottish Government set out a plan for the return, which gives us opportunity to reintroduce more face to face learning for all pupils. To allow this to happen safely there are several protocols that we will all have to follow.
Please find below some details of the phased return for all year groups, which has taken into account Education Scotland and Renfrewshire guidance.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
These measures are for the safety of everyone and do allow us to start re-opening in line with government guidance.
We will contact you if there are any issues around health and safety.
PUPIL BLOCKING
TIMETABLE
BREAKS AND LUNCHES
SCHOOL TRANSPORT
UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT
REMOTE LEARNING
Kind Regards,
Martin Macdonald
Head Teacher
We are excited and look forward to pupils returning to CHS. The phased return to school begins on Monday 15thMarch and will continue until Thursday 1stApril. After out Easter holidays we look forward to welcoming all our pupils back on a full-time basis from Monday 19thApril.
The Scottish Government set out a plan for the return, which gives us opportunity to reintroduce more face to face learning for all pupils. To allow this to happen safely there are several protocols that we will all have to follow.
Please find below some details of the phased return for all year groups, which has taken into account Education Scotland and Renfrewshire guidance.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
- 2m distancing for all pupils, S1 – 6 in classes and corridors, social spaces. This includes distancing from staff. Some classes will require to be taught in larger rooms to allow 2 metre distancing to take place
- Face coverings to be worn by pupils in all areas of the school (unless exempt).
- Hand sanitising on entry to the building and classes as well as exit.
- Desks and seats to be cleaned on entry to and exit from classes/learning spaces.
- LFD testing for pupils in the Senior Phase and staff. This is optional and consent forms for those wanting to take part will be available from Monday. Kits for those who have already signed up will be also be available from Monday.
- 1m distancing on school transport.
- Pupils should enter school via either Oakshaw door or Camphill door.
- Pupils should time their arrival as close as possible to the start of their learning block, as there are no spaces to wait indoors.
These measures are for the safety of everyone and do allow us to start re-opening in line with government guidance.
We will contact you if there are any issues around health and safety.
PUPIL BLOCKING
- Each year group has been split into two and pupils allocated to a blue group or a green group
- On any individual day that a pupil attends it will be for a morning session or an afternoon session.
- Because of the challenge in constructing this new timetable and taking into account room capacities we will be unable to make any changes to the groupings as set out.
- E mails are being sent out with individual timetables.
TIMETABLE
- Morning sessions run from 9.00 am -11.30 am every day.
- Afternoon sessions run from 12.30 pm - 3.00pm every day.
- Fourth, fifth- and sixth-year pupils will attend daily, either morning or afternoon (as per rota) and will therefore attend 14 sessions
- Third year pupils will attend 8 sessions across the 14 days
- First and second year pupils will attend 6 sessions across the 14 days.
BREAKS AND LUNCHES
- Water and cereal bars will be provided.
- There is no access to the social area or canteens during this time.
- Free meal entitlement continues to be paid directly to parents/carers until the holidays.
- Pupils are encouraged to leave the building quickly at the end of their learning block.
SCHOOL TRANSPORT
- Additional transport has been organised to take pupils home after a morning session or bring them to school for an afternoon session. Please note the school day finishes at 3pm every day, except for 1stApril when school closes at 2.30pm for the holidays.
UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT
- Full school uniform is required every day. If a pupil has PE, they may wear their kit for that full learning block to avoid any use of changing rooms.
- Subject equipment should be brought, as required, for the classes that day. Pupils should check their timetables in advance, so they know exactly where they are going.
REMOTE LEARNING
- While remote learning will continue, please recognise that the offer will be reduced/adapted as staff cannot facilitate in-class learning and remote learning at the same time.
Kind Regards,
Martin Macdonald
Head Teacher
March 2022 Update
5th March 2021
Dear Parent/Carer,
On Tuesday of this week, the First Minister announced that the next phase of reopening schools will take place on Monday 15 March, subject to continued suppression of the virus.
Schools received guidance from Education Scotland yesterday (Thursday 4 March) and are waiting on further updated guidance from Scottish Government, which is due to be issued shortly. In the meantime, our schools are working on their plans and once the guidance is published, we will finalise our plans and update you as soon as we can.
At the moment, here is what I can confirm for the second phase of reopening schools.
Primary
Pupils in P4 to P7 will return to school on Monday 15 March, joining P1 to P3 pupils who are already back at school. Arrangements for vulnerable children and the children of keyworkers will end, and these children will re-join their normal classes.
After school clubs based in school premises will be able to restart from that date. Please contact your after-school club provider for further details.
Schools will contact you by Friday 12 March to confirm any further details to support the safe return of all children.
Secondary
From Monday 15 March, all secondary pupils will receive some remote learning and some in-school teaching.
While there will be a broadly consistent approach across all Renfrewshire secondary schools, each school will decide how to safely balance remote and in-school learning based on local circumstances and needs.
Senior phase students in S4 to S6 who are taking national qualifications will have priority for face-to-face lessons in school.
Arrangements for pupils learning remotely at home will have to change to support staff as they balance this with face-to-face teaching in schools. Schools will contact you directly to let you know what is changing.
The Scottish Government have advised that, subject to continued suppression of the virus, all secondary school pupils will be back in school full time after the Easter holidays.
Director of Children’s Services: Steven Quinn
Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley PA1 1TZ
Website: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk
Schools will contact you by Friday 12 March with further details of when your child should attend school.
Young people are expected to maintain two metre physical distancing and wear a face covering while in school, including classrooms and communal areas. Those exempt from wearing face coverings will not be asked to wear one.
ASN Schools and Units
Headteachers of ASN Schools have been discussing arrangements for individual children and young people for return to school from 11 January and these arrangements will continue, in discussion with parents and carers.
Transport
Home to school transport will be available for all pupils who are entitled to receive this service. If it is necessary to alter any arrangements, our schools will inform you by Friday 12 March.
We will also inform you of any changes to arrangements for minimising risk, for example face coverings and physical distancing, when further Scottish Government guidance is published.
School Meals
School meals will be available for all primary pupils. Secondary pupils will be able to get a school meal if they are in school at lunchtime. Pupils entitled to receive a free school meal will be able to receive one.
Direct payments to parents and carers of secondary pupils entitled to free school meals will continue until they return to school full time.
Secondary Schools - Children of Keyworkers, and Vulnerable Children
We will inform parents and carers who have a key worker or vulnerable child place at our schools of any changes to these arrangements when further Scottish Government guidance is published.
Clinically Vulnerable Children and Young People
We will inform parents and carers who have a clinically vulnerable child of any changes to the arrangements for their child when further Scottish Government guidance is published.
Once again, I would like to thank you for all you have done, and continue to do, to support your child’s learning. Your patience and support are greatly appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Quinn
Director of Children’s Services
Dear Parent/Carer,
On Tuesday of this week, the First Minister announced that the next phase of reopening schools will take place on Monday 15 March, subject to continued suppression of the virus.
Schools received guidance from Education Scotland yesterday (Thursday 4 March) and are waiting on further updated guidance from Scottish Government, which is due to be issued shortly. In the meantime, our schools are working on their plans and once the guidance is published, we will finalise our plans and update you as soon as we can.
At the moment, here is what I can confirm for the second phase of reopening schools.
Primary
Pupils in P4 to P7 will return to school on Monday 15 March, joining P1 to P3 pupils who are already back at school. Arrangements for vulnerable children and the children of keyworkers will end, and these children will re-join their normal classes.
After school clubs based in school premises will be able to restart from that date. Please contact your after-school club provider for further details.
Schools will contact you by Friday 12 March to confirm any further details to support the safe return of all children.
Secondary
From Monday 15 March, all secondary pupils will receive some remote learning and some in-school teaching.
While there will be a broadly consistent approach across all Renfrewshire secondary schools, each school will decide how to safely balance remote and in-school learning based on local circumstances and needs.
Senior phase students in S4 to S6 who are taking national qualifications will have priority for face-to-face lessons in school.
Arrangements for pupils learning remotely at home will have to change to support staff as they balance this with face-to-face teaching in schools. Schools will contact you directly to let you know what is changing.
The Scottish Government have advised that, subject to continued suppression of the virus, all secondary school pupils will be back in school full time after the Easter holidays.
Director of Children’s Services: Steven Quinn
Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley PA1 1TZ
Website: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk
Schools will contact you by Friday 12 March with further details of when your child should attend school.
Young people are expected to maintain two metre physical distancing and wear a face covering while in school, including classrooms and communal areas. Those exempt from wearing face coverings will not be asked to wear one.
ASN Schools and Units
Headteachers of ASN Schools have been discussing arrangements for individual children and young people for return to school from 11 January and these arrangements will continue, in discussion with parents and carers.
Transport
Home to school transport will be available for all pupils who are entitled to receive this service. If it is necessary to alter any arrangements, our schools will inform you by Friday 12 March.
We will also inform you of any changes to arrangements for minimising risk, for example face coverings and physical distancing, when further Scottish Government guidance is published.
School Meals
School meals will be available for all primary pupils. Secondary pupils will be able to get a school meal if they are in school at lunchtime. Pupils entitled to receive a free school meal will be able to receive one.
Direct payments to parents and carers of secondary pupils entitled to free school meals will continue until they return to school full time.
Secondary Schools - Children of Keyworkers, and Vulnerable Children
We will inform parents and carers who have a key worker or vulnerable child place at our schools of any changes to these arrangements when further Scottish Government guidance is published.
Clinically Vulnerable Children and Young People
We will inform parents and carers who have a clinically vulnerable child of any changes to the arrangements for their child when further Scottish Government guidance is published.
Once again, I would like to thank you for all you have done, and continue to do, to support your child’s learning. Your patience and support are greatly appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Quinn
Director of Children’s Services
Seniors Returning to School Information
18 February 2021
Dear Parent / Carer
The good news is that some senior pupils will be returning to CHS next week. The focus will be on practical subjects and we will invite pupils to come into school for 3-hour blocks of time.
On a Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday there will be 2 blocks – 9.00 to 12.00 and 12.30 to 3.30 and on a Wednesday and Friday there will be one block of time from 11.30 to 2.30.
The purpose of attending these sessions is to undertake learning and coursework that cannot be done at home.
Pupils will receive invitations to attend and should look out on Show my Homework for a note of when they are to come in. We will also send out information notifying individual pupils when they must attend.
When senior pupils begin returning on Monday, they should
Pupils who use the school bus will be able to travel at least one way on the bus and for the other journey will be issued with a bus ticket.
As a result of the 2-metre rule we have had to split classes and again individual pupils will be advised of the exact time they should attend.
Our senior pupils will also be given the opportunity to have a home testing kit. Home testing kits and consent letters will be distributed from Monday as pupils come into school.
I would encourage all pupils who are coming into school to sign up and use the kits twice a week. Pupils will be given full instructions on how to use the kits.
This phase of return will last 3 weeks until 15thMarch and an announcement will be made in two weeks’ time about phase 2 of the return. Hopefully more good news.
We look forward to welcoming pupils back next week and hopefully this is just the start of getting all pupils back into school.
Kind Regards,
M.Macdonald
Dear Parent / Carer
The good news is that some senior pupils will be returning to CHS next week. The focus will be on practical subjects and we will invite pupils to come into school for 3-hour blocks of time.
On a Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday there will be 2 blocks – 9.00 to 12.00 and 12.30 to 3.30 and on a Wednesday and Friday there will be one block of time from 11.30 to 2.30.
The purpose of attending these sessions is to undertake learning and coursework that cannot be done at home.
Pupils will receive invitations to attend and should look out on Show my Homework for a note of when they are to come in. We will also send out information notifying individual pupils when they must attend.
When senior pupils begin returning on Monday, they should
- Always remain 2 metres apart from each other
- Wear a face covering
- Should go directly to their class using either the music entrance or Tannahill or Maxwellton entrances, as appropriate. The Oakshaw entrance is used by pupils who are currently attending the school hub. In this way we can keep the two groups of pupils separate.
- Wear their school uniform
Pupils who use the school bus will be able to travel at least one way on the bus and for the other journey will be issued with a bus ticket.
As a result of the 2-metre rule we have had to split classes and again individual pupils will be advised of the exact time they should attend.
Our senior pupils will also be given the opportunity to have a home testing kit. Home testing kits and consent letters will be distributed from Monday as pupils come into school.
I would encourage all pupils who are coming into school to sign up and use the kits twice a week. Pupils will be given full instructions on how to use the kits.
This phase of return will last 3 weeks until 15thMarch and an announcement will be made in two weeks’ time about phase 2 of the return. Hopefully more good news.
We look forward to welcoming pupils back next week and hopefully this is just the start of getting all pupils back into school.
Kind Regards,
M.Macdonald
February News Flash
Good News
A small number of S4 to 6 pupils will be attending school from next week for some of their practical subjects. Those pupils who have to attend will be contacted and advised when they should come into school.
A small number of S4 to 6 pupils will be attending school from next week for some of their practical subjects. Those pupils who have to attend will be contacted and advised when they should come into school.
January 2022 Update
Dear All,
Can I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy new year. It is not quite the start of the new term that we envisaged when we finished school on the 18th December. During the Christmas break the decision was taken that schools would be closed until the 1st of February and that this would be reviewed on the 18thof January.
Our priorities for the weeks ahead will be to help support the health and wellbeing of our pupils, ensure that they continue to learn, that we continue to press ahead with courses and that we provide all the necessary feedback on work completed when learning is taking place at home.
Remote learning for pupils will begin on Monday 11thJanuary. Work will be posted onto Microsoft teams and Show my Homework/Satchel One (SMHW). Parents will be notified of their child’s submission through SMHW.
As a guide work will be published on a weekly basis and will be proportionate to the number of periods a pupil would attend a subject for. The delivery of lessons,drop-in sessions, feedback sessions etc will take place when a pupil would normally be timetabled for that subject. Teachers will signpost these sessions for pupils through SMHW/Teams.
If a pupil feels they are falling behind or not completing the work on time they should contact their class teacher to discuss the difficulty.
Pupils should aim to be ready at the start of the school day to access the remote learning activities and try to follow their school timetable as far as is practical or possible, but we understand that not everyone will be able to do this.
If there are difficulties in accessing learningfrom home, there is a form on the website to be completed and we will aim to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
http://bit.ly/CHSDIGITALACCESS
We have also provided a second form if you want to contact the school for any other issue and we will get back to you.
http://bit.ly/CHSPARENTALCONTACT
This is a challenging time and we do not underestimate the challenge of learning from home and we will do everything we can to support over the coming weeks.
Kind Regards
Martin Macdonald
Can I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy new year. It is not quite the start of the new term that we envisaged when we finished school on the 18th December. During the Christmas break the decision was taken that schools would be closed until the 1st of February and that this would be reviewed on the 18thof January.
Our priorities for the weeks ahead will be to help support the health and wellbeing of our pupils, ensure that they continue to learn, that we continue to press ahead with courses and that we provide all the necessary feedback on work completed when learning is taking place at home.
Remote learning for pupils will begin on Monday 11thJanuary. Work will be posted onto Microsoft teams and Show my Homework/Satchel One (SMHW). Parents will be notified of their child’s submission through SMHW.
As a guide work will be published on a weekly basis and will be proportionate to the number of periods a pupil would attend a subject for. The delivery of lessons,drop-in sessions, feedback sessions etc will take place when a pupil would normally be timetabled for that subject. Teachers will signpost these sessions for pupils through SMHW/Teams.
If a pupil feels they are falling behind or not completing the work on time they should contact their class teacher to discuss the difficulty.
Pupils should aim to be ready at the start of the school day to access the remote learning activities and try to follow their school timetable as far as is practical or possible, but we understand that not everyone will be able to do this.
If there are difficulties in accessing learningfrom home, there is a form on the website to be completed and we will aim to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
http://bit.ly/CHSDIGITALACCESS
We have also provided a second form if you want to contact the school for any other issue and we will get back to you.
http://bit.ly/CHSPARENTALCONTACT
This is a challenging time and we do not underestimate the challenge of learning from home and we will do everything we can to support over the coming weeks.
Kind Regards
Martin Macdonald
Christmas Message
Dear Parent / Carer
As we come to the end of the year this has been a year of many challenges. Who would have thought last Christmas that a pandemic would sweep the world and have such an impact on our lives and the lives of Castlehead pupils. Who could have imagined social distancing, face masks, sanitising, isolation, test and trace, lockdown, non-essential shops, travel bans and all the rest.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our pupils who have played their part in trying to keep CHS as safe as possible. Pupils have been wearing their masks, following our new one- way system and sanitising their hands.
It has been tough for pupils, but they have shown great resilience and have adapted very well to all the changes that we have had to make.
Can I also thank you, all the parents and carers for the support that you have given your children and for the support that you have given to the school. We have had a few positive cases identified in the school. They have been handled in the most professional way and the response from parents and carers, when told their child must isolate, has been superb.
In August, our senior pupils received their final exam grades. Before the pandemic struck in March, we had been very optimistic that our pupils were heading for a very strong performance in their exams. As it turned out there were no exams and our pupils did achieve a very strong performance that was based on their classwork, their assessments and the prelim exams that they had completed. Before the exams were cancelled, we expected our pupils to achieve record results and on that they delivered.
Our pupils have shown a great positive attitude in dealing with the lockdown and the changes that we have had to put in place. Pupils have also engaged with digital learning and this has become a more and more important way of learning.
This session we reduced our school rules to just three that will allow us to learn together in a safe and nurturing environment.
As we come to the end of the year this has been a year of many challenges. Who would have thought last Christmas that a pandemic would sweep the world and have such an impact on our lives and the lives of Castlehead pupils. Who could have imagined social distancing, face masks, sanitising, isolation, test and trace, lockdown, non-essential shops, travel bans and all the rest.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our pupils who have played their part in trying to keep CHS as safe as possible. Pupils have been wearing their masks, following our new one- way system and sanitising their hands.
It has been tough for pupils, but they have shown great resilience and have adapted very well to all the changes that we have had to make.
Can I also thank you, all the parents and carers for the support that you have given your children and for the support that you have given to the school. We have had a few positive cases identified in the school. They have been handled in the most professional way and the response from parents and carers, when told their child must isolate, has been superb.
In August, our senior pupils received their final exam grades. Before the pandemic struck in March, we had been very optimistic that our pupils were heading for a very strong performance in their exams. As it turned out there were no exams and our pupils did achieve a very strong performance that was based on their classwork, their assessments and the prelim exams that they had completed. Before the exams were cancelled, we expected our pupils to achieve record results and on that they delivered.
Our pupils have shown a great positive attitude in dealing with the lockdown and the changes that we have had to put in place. Pupils have also engaged with digital learning and this has become a more and more important way of learning.
This session we reduced our school rules to just three that will allow us to learn together in a safe and nurturing environment.
Following the move to our new website we will be using this space to provide monthly Head Teacher bulletins.
Our first term was a busy one and we can’t commend our pupils enough for the level of hard work they have demonstrated in class, and for adapting to and following the new health and safety regulations and routines. As a school, we have had to adapt to new and different ways of learning and teaching, particularly in using our 2 agreed digital platforms of Microsoft Teams (Glow) and Show My Homework (SMHW). Staff have been working hard to adapt to using these 2 platforms, thus ensuring that pupils who are absent for a variety of reasons, including self-isolation, can access learning materials from home.
All parents/carers will have received a full report or interim report by the end of November for pupils in S1-6. A calendar for this session can be found on the school website and parents/carers should check this regularly for updates as we respond to the everchanging Covid guidelines/restrictions. The calendar currently details holidays and parental reporting dates. However, we hope to be adding to this in the future.
Our first term was a busy one and we can’t commend our pupils enough for the level of hard work they have demonstrated in class, and for adapting to and following the new health and safety regulations and routines. As a school, we have had to adapt to new and different ways of learning and teaching, particularly in using our 2 agreed digital platforms of Microsoft Teams (Glow) and Show My Homework (SMHW). Staff have been working hard to adapt to using these 2 platforms, thus ensuring that pupils who are absent for a variety of reasons, including self-isolation, can access learning materials from home.
All parents/carers will have received a full report or interim report by the end of November for pupils in S1-6. A calendar for this session can be found on the school website and parents/carers should check this regularly for updates as we respond to the everchanging Covid guidelines/restrictions. The calendar currently details holidays and parental reporting dates. However, we hope to be adding to this in the future.
Covid Reminder
Your child should not report to school if they or any member of your household, or someone they have been in direct contact with have any of these symptoms.
Further guidance can be found on the NHS website https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-general-advice
Your child should not report to school if they or any member of your household, or someone they have been in direct contact with have any of these symptoms.
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
Further guidance can be found on the NHS website https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-general-advice
Evaluation of Health and Safety Guideline
The one-way system is working well, with staff and pupil daily step count increasing significantly!! Pupils (who are not exempt) are adapting to wearing a mask in school corridors and social spaces. However, could parents/carers whose child use the school contract bus please reinforce that masks should be worn for the entire duration of the bus journey.
We are committed to supporting pupils wear masks and have been distributing disposable face masks to pupils who attend school without one. Over the next few weeks, we will be contacting parent/carers to offer support in purchasing a reusable face mask that can be laundered at home. We do understand that there will be occasions when pupils forget their mask and we are happy to provide one on these occasions.
Parents/carers are kindly reminded that they should not visit the school without an appointment being made prior to attending. Any parent/carer collecting their child from school should wait at the downstairs office reception area. Additionally, parents/carers should follow new signage and ensure that they do not drive into, or park in the staff car park.
The first point of contact regarding your child should be their Pupil Support Teacher.
The one-way system is working well, with staff and pupil daily step count increasing significantly!! Pupils (who are not exempt) are adapting to wearing a mask in school corridors and social spaces. However, could parents/carers whose child use the school contract bus please reinforce that masks should be worn for the entire duration of the bus journey.
We are committed to supporting pupils wear masks and have been distributing disposable face masks to pupils who attend school without one. Over the next few weeks, we will be contacting parent/carers to offer support in purchasing a reusable face mask that can be laundered at home. We do understand that there will be occasions when pupils forget their mask and we are happy to provide one on these occasions.
Parents/carers are kindly reminded that they should not visit the school without an appointment being made prior to attending. Any parent/carer collecting their child from school should wait at the downstairs office reception area. Additionally, parents/carers should follow new signage and ensure that they do not drive into, or park in the staff car park.
The first point of contact regarding your child should be their Pupil Support Teacher.
- Camphill House – Mrs Duggan/Miss Campbell
- Maxwellton House – Mrs Abercrombie
- Oakshaw House – Miss Mochan
- Harris – Ms McFarlane
We look forward to sharing news and updates with our school community on this page.
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