1. education
2. school

DEAN PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL
31 MARCHBANK GARDENS
BALERNO EH14 7ET
Telephone: 0131 449 4529
deanparkschool.org.uk
Mrs Rehana Shanks
M.A., M.Ed. Headteacher
Our Ref: RS/EWD
Date: December 2014
Dear Parents,
HEADTEACHER – COMMUNICATION 2
Merry Christmas everyone. School breaks on Friday 19 December 2014 at 12pm and resumes for
pupils on Tuesday 6 January 2015.
Staffing:
• Mrs Almond has been appointed to the English as an Additional Language Service and takes
up her new post on Monday 26 January. We thank Kim for her solid service and wish her
well on her next teaching adventure.
• Miss Manderson has been appointed as class teacher to James Gillespie’s Primary School
and commences her post on Monday 2 February. We thank Varrie for her service too, and
for the years of dedication to the PTA.
• Both jobs are currently advertised on My Job Scotland with a closing date of the 31
December. If you know someone who would like to come and work at our school please
encourage them to apply.
Updates:
Reminder of the School Improvement Plan Priorities 2014 -2015
1. Teaching and learning: Specifically literacy, numeracy and teaching styles.
2. Assessment and moderation
3. Rights Respecting School and Pastoral Care
4. Ongoing Curriculum refresh
5. Cluster Development Plan: Literacy and Numeracy moderation, 1 plus 2 languages and
Enhanced Transition.
Next Steps:
• Our new website will go live in January. On the website you will find position papers related
to the developments we have made with regard to the school improvement plan.
• We are also holding regular parent discussion evenings in advance of The Parent Council
meetings. These discussion evenings are on themes relevant to the school improvement
City of Edinburgh Council Children and Families Department
DEAN PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL
31 MARCHBANK GARDENS
BALERNO EH14 7ET
Telephone: 0131 449 4529
deanparkschool.org.uk
Mrs Rehana Shanks
M.A., M.Ed. Headteacher
•
plan and self-evaluation. Information can be found on the school website as well as the
information shared with parents at the events.
Focus groups. In January I will be sending a communication to parents inviting you to
participate in our annual self-evaluation focus groups on the themes of the school
improvement plan and other areas of school development. This normally has four morning
sessions and one evening community session. All will be welcome to attend and a further
and specific communication will follow to parents before the groups commence in February
– March 2015. These discussions help me focus the work of the school for the next
improvement plans and allow me to produce my annual Head Teacher Position Paper.
Teaching:
• We continue to make good progress with teaching and learning at Dean Park.
• Reporting and Personal Learning Planning has been in place for a full year
• Newsletters continue to be developed and act as a good home school link in keeping
parents informed of the work of the class each term.
• The first Homework survey has been completed and the results have been collated. We are
making a parent friendly version of the results for the school website which will be available
in January 2015. Homework will be one of the focus groups topics as we continue to work to
develop this area of our practise.
• Work continues on transitions with Balerno High School. Specifically in literacy, numeracy,
Science and creative technologies.
School Environment:
• The Gardens continue to flourish and we are delighted with the ongoing success and
support they receive from our school community.
• Our school field works are projected to commence on the 15 June 2015. Thank you to all
parents and pupils for helping make this happen. I regret that I was unable to get this in
place sooner for many of my pupils who had requested this on my appointment as HT.
Procurement systems made this a challenge to fulfil. I had this in mind when I committed to
help with the fundraising for the 2G pitch at Balerno High School. Our children deserve the
very best as they are hardworking, diligent, wonderful individuals who give the school 100%.
Next Steps:
• Round 2 of the bike sheds
• Work commencing on our field on the 15 June 2015.
Achievements:
• We have had many wonderful sporting achievements and a separate communication has
been placed on the school website on the 18 December. We are very much looking forward
to more of the same next session.
City of Edinburgh Council Children and Families Department
DEAN PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL
31 MARCHBANK GARDENS
BALERNO EH14 7ET
Telephone: 0131 449 4529
deanparkschool.org.uk
Mrs Rehana Shanks
M.A., M.Ed. Headteacher
•
•
Burns competitions will be commencing in January and our Young People have been asked
to participate in many events.
We look forward to some of our choir participating in Les Mis at Balerno High School.
We have had ongoing issues with cyber bullying and I would like for parents to be as informed as
possible about how damaging this can be. We will be running a digital safety evening with the
community police in the New Year. This is a very informative evening. Please make yourself as aware
as possible.
Headteachers Wishes for 2015:
It is my wish that all children are able to access their education to the best of their ability in a
challenging, stimulating and caring environment. We, like all schools have had many transitions. I
have now had almost two complete years in post and I am looking forward to my third. I am proud
of the clear achievements of this school which the whole school community should take pride in. We
are an amazing school and I am going to do my best to highlight our successes more than I have in
previous years. Self-evaluation during the last two sessions has focussed on what we need to do
better rather than a balance of acknowledging our strengths and our clear successes. I will make
sure as part of the enhancement of school evaluation in 2015 we are highlighting the strengths of
the school and the evidence behind them. In a time of budget cuts we are being more and more
creative and I thank you for your help and support.
In terms of parents, my wish for session 2015 would be to bring more of you into the school. If I was
allowed a wish for my pupils it would be to open up access to the opportunity to play a musical
instrument to all children . I have some ideas so watch this space …
Finally may I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I look forward to welcoming the pupils back on Tuesday 6 January 2015.
Good health to you all,
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Rehana Shanks
Headteacher.
City of Edinburgh Council Children and Families Department