The spring term offers the opportunity to ski and many children in Form IV have been involved either at Glenshee or on the dry ski slope at school. Class-work involves new challenges in Maths including area, perimeter, fractions and averages while in language the main focus for this term is the use of direct speech and the apostrophe. The projects of “Europe” and “Life in Tudor Times” give the children the opportunity for independent learning and research skills. Group activities in science include colour, light and sound. During the latter part of the term, the children will gain confidence from taking part in class presentations or from “Perform in Perth”.

If any problems arise during the course of the term please do not hesitate to contact the class teacher.

Dear Parent,

The first few days of the term can be anxious times as everyone settles into the new routine of Form IV.
In order to answer some of your questions, the following information may be helpful.

Every day your child should bring a pencil, rubber, ruler, sharpener, crayons and felt pens. A Pritt Stick, named is very useful as is a folder for Prep sheets.
By providing these your child is independent and ready for the day’s work.

Activities - Equipment
Monday and Thursday: Boys’ Games Kit: tracksuit, clean rugby boots, / trainers.
Girls’ Games Kit, tracksuit, outdoor trainers for netball.
Thursday Late Games: Late games pick up time, 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: Gymnastics. Games Kit and indoor trainers or gym shoes.
Tuesday and Wednesday: French Folder, red, blue or black pen and crayons.
Friday: Art Painting Overall or old shirt.
Please name all clothing and equipment.
(No Saturday games for Form 1V)

Instrumental Music times will be allocated during the course of the week.
Please do not hesitate to make contact if you wish your child to begin an instrument.
The Middle Choir practise at lunchtime and Art Club meet after school on Wednesday.
Skiing is arranged for the Winter Term by the Headmaster.
A swimming block will be arranged for the Summer Term. The children will be given information closer to the time.
The school website gives details of extra-curricular activities for each stage.

Prep.
In Form IV, Prep, about 40 minutes, is set each night. This will be written in the prep diary and will include reading and spelling each night with maths and language as appropriate. Spelling is tested every morning with a weekly test on Friday. At the weekend, a prepared report, finding-out activity or project revision may be set with library reading. French Prep is set on Tuesday for a test on Wednesday. Prep is also set on Wednesday. Initially it is beneficial if reading is heard and vocabulary explained. It is also important that written preps are monitored for neatness and spelling errors, corrected. It is also helpful for me if you would indicate the time taken or if there are any significant difficulties. For the most part, preps should be a routine reinforcement of the work covered in class. Please let me know if there are any problems.

Mark Sheet
A Mark Sheet will be sent home during the term. This gives some indication of the effort and progress shown for the preceding month.

If you have any queries or worries during the course of the year, please do not hesitate to contact me. It is always easier to tackle children’s difficulties, in whatever form they present themselves, sooner rather than later.

I look forward to meeting you at some point during the course of the year.
Yours sincerely,

Mary Radcliffe

Dear Parent,

The first few days of term can be anxious times as everyone settles into the new routine of Form IV.
In order to answer some of your questions, the following information may be helpful.

Every day, if possible, your child should bring a pencil, rubber, ruler, sharpener, coloured pencils or felt pens.
A glue stick, named, is very useful, as is a small folder for Prep sheets.
An old shirt or art overall is needed for some art lessons.

Activities – Equipment
Monday and Thursday (Games) - See separate note.
Please note that on Thursdays pick up will be at 4.45 p.m. due to Late Games.
Monday and Wednesday ( French ) - folder, red pen, blue or black pen.
Music Instrumental Music lesson times are still to be allocated, if appropriate.

Prep
In Form IV, Prep, about 40 minutes, is set each night. This will include reading and spelling, with maths and language work as appropriate. At the weekend, prep may be in the form of a finding-out activity, project work, library reading and so on. There are weekly tests on Friday to assess progress. Initially, it is beneficial if reading is heard, and written preps are monitored for neatness. It is also helpful for me, if you would write a brief note in the prep jotter of any difficulties that have arisen. For the most part, preps should be a routine reinforcement of the work covered in class.

Mark Sheet
In Form IV, a Mark Sheet will be sent home twice per term. This gives some indication of the effort and progress shown during the preceding month.

If you have any queries or worries during the course of the year, please do not hesitate to contact me. It is always easier to tackle the children’s difficulties, in whatever form they present themselves, sooner rather than later.

I look forward to meeting you at some point during the course of the year.
Yours sincerely,

Veronica Elder

After last term’s newsletter, relating to games in the winter term, we thought it would be a good idea to send this letter out to parents of children in this year’s Form 4 in order to try to keep you in touch with games routines and expectations for the coming term. We hope you find it both interesting and helpful, and that see it as a guide to how you can help us well as us helping you. Your commitment is important to the success of the school. Games lessons will continue on Mondays and Thursdays.

• Monday
  Girls: 2:30 - 3:30 (Hockey)
  Boys: 2:30 - 3:30 (Hockey)
  

• Thursday
  Girls: 2:30 - 3:30 + 3:30 - 4.45 (Hockey / Netball)
  Boys: 2:30 - 3:30 + 3:30 - 4.45 (Hockey / Rugby)
  

• Please Note: Gum Shields are now compulsory for both Rugby and Hockey
  
  

Form 4:

• On Mondays and Thursdays Form 4 Girls and Boys will receive coaching in hockey. They should wear their standard summer games kit. There is no need to purchase specific clothing although gum shields are compulsory and shin guards are also wise. Boys should have both shirts with them. They will need rugby boots for late games.
  

• At Late Games time, games coaching will be determined by the weather. All members of Form 4 are expected to attend Late Games. The children will need their outdoor and indoor trainers on both days as they might train indoors in horrible weather. They should change back into uniform after both sessions and leave the school dressed that way.
  
  

Fixtures:

In April each year the Prep Schools in our circuit get together to arrange their fixtures for the coming year. Every year we attempt to create as many fixtures as we can while trying to find various balances. Fixtures at different age levels have developed over the years and are available only with a small number of willing schools.
We need to monitor fixtures and be careful to consider things like transport, travel distances, competition balance, missed lessons, exams and child / teacher overload.

In the spring term we have fixtures in a number of sports as well as ski races and Exams.

The children playing in teams should receive letters informing you of fixture details. Staff will try their best to get these to you in good time. (albeit there are often complicating issues which slow up this process.) Children in teams can often know a fair bit about upcoming fixtures and also need to listen carefully to their coaches to absorb, not only coaching and tactical advice, but also changes of arrangement or timings.

Parents are always welcome to come and support the children playing in teams. We are very lucky at Craigclowan that so many of you attend fixtures. The more experienced of you have a job to do in helping the less experienced watchers. All of you can help us out at home fixtures by making visiting parents feel welcome when staff are busily looking after visiting staff and children. Spring Term teas can be quite different to Summer or Winter catering and again we appreciate any help you can volunteer.

The issue of team selection can be emotive but all of you should understand that there cannot be enough teams for everyone to play. The school’s policy is to pick its best teams for most fixtures and the coaches’ choices need to be respected. We try to create competitive situations in games sessions for everyone in order to satisfy the need to compete which hopefully exists in most of us. We hope to make our spring sports experiences enjoyable for everyone, in some way, as well as preparing the children for the sports they will be expected to play at senior school, and possibly into adulthood.

Other Opportunities:

As well as our regular games programme the school hopes to provide children with other sporting experiences.

• We will be participating in three Cross-Country events this term led by Madame Thompson and Miss Stamp.
  

• The Dry Ski Slope will be in action with training sessions for our team members, development squad and some younger childen in lower forms. If there is a lack of snow at Glenshee the instructors may come to us on Saturdays.
  

• There are some sessions for cricketers on Tuesday evenings and tennis players on Fridays after school.
  

• Swimming for team members and improvers will keep children in the swim as previous terms at Strathallan School.