To all current P6 pupils (P7 in 2020-21):

We are planning on making a change to the buddy system in the future.

Instead of just having buddies for one year, in future pupils will get to be buddies for three years. The model will look like this:

Since this is a big change, we cannot introduce it all at once.

We have decided that next year, P4 and P7 pupils will both act as buddies to the new P1s. (The other year groups will not be involved next year – this will be introduced over the following two years.)

This will ensure that we can begin to move over to the new system, while at the same time ensuring you don’t miss out on the chance to be a buddy.

Please remember that next session, physical distancing rules are likely to be in place for some time, and you will be in a ‘learning bubble’ with other children of your own age group. The things which you normally associate with being a buddy, such as helping with coats, visiting the P1 classroom, playing in the playground and giving your buddy a hug, will not be possible for the foreseeable future.

For this reason, you will have to be ‘virtual buddies’ for at least the start of the year.

We don’t know exactly what this will look like yet, and we’d like to hear suggestions for how this can work – please let us know via Teams.

Some ideas might be:

• Recording yourself reading a story for the P1s;
• Younger pupils sharing their learning with you via a conference call;
• Giving feedback on the children’s stories or artwork;
• Communicating with your buddies via letters, artwork etc.

These are just some ideas and we’re keen to hear your own suggestions. We will, of course, aim to introduce face to face activities when it is safe to do so, but this is not likely to take place until later in the year.

Helping Hands

So that our new P1s know that you will be helping them to settle in, we are asking both you and the new P4s to create a special ‘helping hand’ for our new P1 pupils, to welcome them to Preston Street.  This is a great way of helping them feel like they are already part of our school community, even before the school year begins.

Every new P1 pupil will be given one of your ‘helping hands’ in their special welcome pack, which they will receive before the summer holidays.

To create your hand, simply:

• Draw around your hand on a piece of paper and cut it out;
• Create a design on one side – it can be anything you like;
• Write a message on the other side to welcome them to Preston Street, and your name.

You can either make one hand, or two. (If you make two, this will ensure we have enough for all the P1s).

Some previous creations are here:

When you have finished, please either post or just drop it through the letterbox of Becky Colegrave, co-chair of our Parent Council by Friday 5^th June. Becky’s address has been sent via email to all P6 parents / carers. If you don’t have it, please get in touch with the school.

Becky will then pass all your helping hands to the school and we will ensure they reach the new P1s before the summer holidays.

Your help with this is greatly appreciated – please contact me on Teams if you have any questions or suggestions.