This group runs twice a week at Gorgie Memorial Hall (next to Sainsbury’s in Gorgie). The group provides a safe non-judgemental space for anyone affected by addiction. There is an afternoon and evening group available. The group is free, and children are welcome at the Wednesday afternoon session. For further information or any questions, you may have, please email Lynsey & Carole on hello.rainbowrecovery@gmail.com
Connect have issued a survey for parents and carers asking their views on sustainability and the environment. The survey will close on 30th October 2023. Link to survey – Connect’s Parent/Carer Survey on Learning for Sustainability
Once again, we are running technology clubs for young people throughout the school year, and, as always, they are all completely free.
The club information can be found at linktr.ee/HeartsInnovate.
Once again we are hosting a Children’s Come and Sing Carols on Saturday 9th of December for children in P3-P7. Last year, children from all over Edinburgh came to sing with us. The afternoon will start at 2pm with an informal performance for parents at 4:00pm. I’ve attached the poster for the event and the link to the form for parents to sign up. I would be grateful if you could share this with any parents you think might be interested.
https://www.cathedral.net/event-details-registration/childrens-come-and-sing-2023-2
Lots of children really enjoyed our Hallowe’en party which was brilliantly run by Miss Low. Thanks to Mrs Smith, our amazing Janitor, for the wonderfully decorated hall and prizes and to all of the staff who generously gave up their time to run the event.
P5 have been using their imagination to come up with some creative writing ideas, taking inspiration from a selection of images. We have also made pop art words to stick up on our ‘wow’ words display board.
The pupils have been learning how to create presentations on the iPads and showcase their knowledge of volcanoes which we have been learning about in our natural disasters topic. The class continues to take part in their swimming lessons and have been working hard in all other areas of the curriculum.
This year P2b Miss Ellis class are experiencing a very special programme called Roots of Empathy. The programme is delivered by trained Instructor Mrs Harris-Toner.
The programme aims to build caring, peaceful and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults. The long term focus of Roots of Empathy is to build the capacity of the next generation for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting. And in the short term, Roots of Empathy focuses on raising levels of empathy, resulting in more respectful and caring relationships and reduced levels of bullying and aggression.
At the heart of the programme are a neighbourhood infant and parent who visit the classroom regularly over the school year. Our Roots of Empathy family is Zeinab and her son Ammar. Our Instructor Mrs Harris-Toner coaches the children to observe the baby’s development and to label the baby’s feelings and intentions. In this experiential learning, the baby is the “Teacher” and a lever that the Instructor uses to help children to identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others. The children especially enjoyed meeting Baby Ammar and asking his mum Zeinab lots of interesting questions.
The emotional literacy taught in the programme lays the foundation for more safe and caring classrooms, where children are the “Changers.” They are more competent in understanding their own feelings and the feelings of others (empathy), and are therefore less likely to physically, psychologically and emotionally hurt each other. The cognitive aspect of empathy is perspective-taking and the effective aspect is emotion. Roots of Empathy educates both the mind and heart. Research on the Roots of Empathy program has shown that children who participate in the program know more about emotions and feelings, are kinder to their friends, are less aggressive and bully other children less than those who do not have Roots of Empathy. The programme covers many topics including crying, caring for a baby, emotions, sleep, safety and communication.
In the Pre Family Visit: we focus on infant development and preparation for Family Visit. This offers the children the opportunity to predict what changes they may see in the baby’s development at the Family Visit.
The Family Visit: Mrs Harris-Toner guides children’s observations of the baby’s feelings, intentions, and the attachment relationship. Also demonstrating the baby’s physical and emotional development and temperament, and interacts with the baby through music (eg. singing songs) and early learning games (e.g. peek-a-boo) and the children ask the parents questions about the baby.
Post Family Visit: Where the children reflect on their own feelings and focus on understanding the feelings of others (empathy). Also the programme utilises children’s literature and art/writing are used to foster perspective taking, the cognitive aspect of empathy.
For more information please ask Mrs Harris-Toner and Miss Ellis. Also please check out www.rootsofempathy.org.
The Wee Pantry is a local grocery shop that has just opened on Gorgie Road. They offer budget friendly loose fruit and vegetables, plastic free refillable products like laundry and washing up liquid, shampoo and conditioner as well as your everyday basics.
Dalry Primary Edinburgh 
