10th January 2025

Dear Parent/Carer,

We were delighted to welcome pupils back to school after the festive break. We hope you all had a wonderful time, and extend a warm 'Bliadhna mhath ùr' to everyone in our school community.

Weather has been our greatest January challenge so far, but with perseverance and flexibility from bus drivers, janitors and school staff school has remained open and accessible to everyone. 

Please note, due to adverse weather before the festive break, a delivery of gas was not made which meant that the FES staff have had to conserve energy in the building this week whilst awaiting the delivery. This has meant that pupils may have reported the building being colder than usual throughout the week - this was monitored closely to ensure minimum temperatures were adhered to - gas has been delivered and we are all warm and cosy once again.

This week has seen new pupils join the SES school community, starting their journey in Sgoil Araich - it has been lovely to see them settling into new routines and become familiar with the setting. 

In the week ahead in Primary, our pupils can look forward to a trip to the Pantomime in Stornoway to see Cinderella. Please note, as they will not return to school until approximately 16:30, parents must arrange collection from school. 

In the coming fortnight, we have our National 5 and Higher pupils sitting their prelim exams - a reminder of the exam timetable can be found below.  We wish our pupils all the very best as they sit their prelims.

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Andy Murray

Headteacher

Staffing

We will be saying farewell to two members of staff on 24th January and 13th February respectively. 

On 24th January Mr David Murray will be leaving his post as Principal Teacher of Gaelic Development, as well as teacher of Gaelic (and RME, and English at times!) in Sir E Scott as he embarks on the next stage of his career by taking up a position at Aberdeen University. Mr Murray will be very much missed by staff and pupils having been a part of school life for more than a decade. We wish him all the best. We are currently working with the Education department to ensure we have long-term supply in place to cover Mr Murray's teaching commitment until recruitment is complete.

Ms Jenny Macaulay will be moving on from her Key Worker position in the Sgoil Araich, returning to Leverburgh to take up post there. Though Jenny has been with us for a short time she has made an invaluable contribution to the team, and we wish her well as she takes up her new post after the February weekend.

Mr Mulhern is currently absent from work as most Secondary parents will be aware, and we have had some queries from parents about how the absence will be covered. We have been working very hard to ensure that pupils are supported, especially those Senior Phase pupils preparing for prelims and final exams at National 5 and Higher levels. This has included:

• covering the position with a supply teacher with a background in Social Studies due to there being no English supply available on a full time basis

• seeking extra resources and study materials from our colleagues in The Nicolson Institute, Lionacleit and Castlebay Schools

• seeking specialist teaching input from e-sgoil to support exam preparation for our Higher and National 5 students - we are awaiting confirmation of the details of this

Dè tha dol an t-seachdain seo?   What's on this week?

Monday:

Action for Children

18:30 - Parent Council - Rooms 1 + 2

Tuesday

YMI - Piping

Wednesday

10:45 - 12:15 - Youth Philanthropy Initiative - Charities Fair

12:15 - 16:30 - Primary Panto Trip

YMI - Strings

Thursday

School Counselling Service

YMI - Brass and Woodwind

Friday

Prelim Timetable

Cinn-latha airson an leabhar-latha / Dates for the Diary

Thursday 30th January Primary 6/7 Rowing Festival 17:30 - 20:30

Tuesday 4th February Girls P6/7 Football Festival, Back 10:30 - 12:30

Tuesday 11th February Primary Crossroads Tournament 16:00 - 18:00

Friday 14th - Monday 17th February Mid-term holiday

Wider Achievement and Extra-Curricular Opportunities

We have continued to run a programme of extra-curricular acitvities, primarily at lunchtimes, to provide pupils with as many wider achievement opportunities as possible. Our current clubs are as follows:

Monday:

Sec. Lunchtime – Mindful Monday – Grace Mooney - Rm 3

Sec. Lunchtime - Maths Puzzle Club – Ms Plant - Room 1

Sec. Lunchtime – Sports - Secondary – Gym Hall

Choir will re-start after February mid-term break

Tuesday

Sec. Lunchtime - SES Podcast Club – Mr Morrison – Rm 8

Sec, Lunchtime - Tech Club - Mr Rudd - Woodwork Room

Sec. Lunchtime – Sports - Secondary – Gym Hall

15:40 - 17:00 - Sradagan - GM Primary pupils (details will be communicated in due course)

Wednesday

Sec. Lunchtime - Scripture Union - Mr Morrison & Cammy Morrison – Rm 8

Sec. Lunchtime - D of E Club - Mr Miller – Rm 4

Sec. Lunchtime – Sport– Secondary – Gym Hall

13:15 – 13:45 – Football – Primary Girls – Gym Hall

Thursday

Lunchtime - Homework Club, Sec. Pupils – Ms Plant -  Rm 2

Sec. Lunchtime - Sports – Secondary – Gym Hall

13:15 – 13:45 – Tchoukball – Primary Pupils – Gym Hall

15:40 - 16:45 - Shinty - Primary Pupils - Gym Hall/Pitch (from 23rd January, details in due course)

Friday

14:00 – 15:00 - Film Making Club – Primary 5-7 pupils