Good evening,

Message from Lynn Brand headteacher and NHS Lothian

As you may already know, we are aware of a person in the school who has tested positive for COVID-19. We have been working closely with NHS Lothian Health Protection Team and following all national guidance.

A number of people have now been contacted because they have been in close and sustained contact with the case and the tracking process is now complete.

These contacts will need to self isolate and appropriate guidance and advice has been given.

If you have not been contacted directly to tell you your child is a close contact, then your child should attend school as normal.

Enhanced cleaning and infection control measures are in place in line with national guidance. The school is safe and remains open.

If you have any concerns in the meantime, or if you need to book a COVID-19 test because your child has developed symptoms (high temperature, a new continuous cough and/or a loss or change in sense of smell or taste) please visit the NHS Inform website www.nhsinform.scot  or for non-clinical advice call 0800 028 2816.

Please note that a test should only be booked if you or your child has these specifics symptoms.

Remember to stay at home if anyone in the household has symptoms of COVID-19.

For further information you may find this Frequently Asked Questions document useful :

https://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Parents/Schools/Pages/default.aspx

Best wishes,

Lynn Brand

Message from Lynn Brand  headteacher and NHS Lothian

We are aware of a person in the school who has tested positive for COVID-19. We understand that this is a worrying time but would like to reassure you that we are working closely with NHS Lothian Health Protection Team and following all national guidance.

A number of people are currently being contacted because they may have been in close and sustained contact with the case and will need to self isolate.They will be given appropriate guidance and advice.

An update via Parent Call will be sent to you as soon as the tracking and tracing process is complete.

If you are not contacted directly to tell you your child is a close contact, then your child should attend school as normal.

Enhanced cleaning and infection control measures are in place in line with national guidance. The school is safe and remains open.

If you have any concerns in the meantime, or if you need to book a COVID-19 test because your child has developed symptoms (high temperature, a new continuous cough and/or a loss or change in sense of smell or taste) please visit the NHS Inform website www.nhsinform.scot or for non-clinical advice call 0800 028 2816.

Please note that a test should only be booked if you or your child has these specifics symptoms.

Remember to stay at home if anyone in the household has symptoms of COVID-19.

For further information you may find this FAQs usefulhttps://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Parents/Schools/Pages/default.aspx

Best wishes,

Lynn Brand

We have worked in partnership with our families to develop and improve our remote learning approaches. We welcomed the opportunity to share our journey so far and discuss the strategies we have used to support pupil engagement , participation and motivation during remote learning.

Click on the link below to read the report from Education Scotland including a case study of our school 🏫

https://education.gov.scot/media/wpyhakng/national-overview-of-practice-in-remote-learning-8-supporting-pupil-engagement-participation-and-motivation.pdf

This week Ms McNiven is here with a story about a cat who decides to cook but doesn’t quite read the whole recipe! Find out what happens in The Witch’s Cat and the Cooking Catastrophe!

We love to read at Tollcross! For book week, we asked the adults at school to share their favourite books with you. The video is quite long as once we get started talking about books it is hard to stop us! 📚 We would love to hear about your favourite books too.

Ms Richardson has put together a special virtual library for book week. It has lots of different books that you can listen to at home.

Young climate activists from across Scotland have joined together to host a youth climate hustings in advance of the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2021.

‘The Climate Hot Seat’ has been organised by young people aged 13-32 representing seven youth organisations in Scotland. The event is specifically for young people to hold Scotland’s party leaders accountable for their climate action and to give other young people valuable information in advance of casting their vote. In the invitation to party leaders, the group said:

“Addressing climate change has never been more important than now. We only have a few years to keep warming below catastrophic levels and if elected to government, this will be something you will have to face during your term in office.”

The Climate Hot Seat event will take place on Friday 9^th April via video conferencing. It is open to young people aged 11 – 25.

Young people can sign up to attend here.

As well as attending the event, young people aged 11 – 25 across Scotland have the opportunity to put their climate and environmental questions to party leaders through an open call for questions that isOPEN NOW!

All questions submitted will be reviewed by the organising group of young people before the event and young people whose questions are chosen to be asked at the event will be contacted in advance.  If young people are under 16, they will need parental/carer permission to submit a question.

The deadline for submitting questions is 9am on Friday 26th March 2021.

Young people can submit their climate change questions through this form.

There will also be an opportunity for young people to join young climate activists and expert speakers to learn more about five key environmental areas with experts on Friday March 12^th, at our The Climate Hot Seat – The Warm-Up event.

Transport, wildlife and biodiversity, fossil fuels and energy, climate targets, and agriculture are some of the most important issues Scotland faces in the fight against climate change. What do Scotland’s elected decision-makers have to do to keep warming below catastrophic levels? Young People can ask the experts and have their say in this interactive session. We will also be supporting you to register to vote in the upcoming Scottish Parliamentary elections in May 2021.

This event will be hosted on Zoom and is open to young people aged 11-25.

Young people can sign up here – https://the-climate-hot-seat-the-warm-up.eventbrite.co.uk

Thank you to all of our families for helping to keep our school community safe – face coverings, one adult in the playground, 2m physical distancing, avoid car sharing and self isolate if you have symptoms.

This week our story is a dramatic tale of vegetables read by Ms Callachan. We hope you enjoy… Supertato! What Veggie Villan will you create? 🥔🍅🥕

Thank you to Mrs Dripps and Miss Richardson for creating lots of exciting activities for Word Book Day.