Lochardil Primary School Football Club Fundraiser

The School Football club are holding a fundraising event on Saturday 13th June. 1 - 3pm, on the Lochardil School pitches. 

The club will also be holding a raffle and auction.  Can't make it on the day or like to be ahead of the game?  Use the QR code below to purchase your raffle tickets.  Don't miss out!  Please see the posters below for further details.  

The following prizes have also just been added:-

• MOT at Anderson Clark

• Dinner for 2 at Johnny Foxes a welcome drink and a bottle of wine

• 2 Night Stay at Knockfarrel Eco Lodges

• £100 off flooring form Abernethy Flooring

• Voucher for 2 to attend a Ness Academy Football summer camp

Please support our Football Club.  All ages are welcome and the coaches would be particularly delighted to see some current P1 children on the day so they get a chance to meet them before starting with the club in  P2.

Please be reminded that parents/carers should enter the school buildings by the reception door only and report to the school office.  All adults must be accompanied along the school corridors by a member of school staff.

Please also be reminded that dogs are not allowed in the school grounds and must be left secured at the entrance gates outside the playground small gates or the car park walk in gate.

Thank you for your co-operation.

REMINDER

A reminder that the school and ELC are closed on Monday 4th May for the May Bank Holiday and also again on Thursday 7th May due to the school being used as a Polling Station

Caley Thistle Celebration

It has been a wonderful weekend for Inverness, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle winning the Scottish League 1 title and promotion to the Championship.  Beyond football, it is a story of perseverance, resilience and overcoming barriers to succeed.  

Tomorrow (Tuesday 5th May), pupils can dress down or wear Caley Thistle colours to celebrate their fantastic achievement. 

REMINDER - Open Morning - Thursday 19th March 

P1 - P6 & P7B 09.30 - 10.15

P7A only 09.40 - 10.25

All parents/carers welcome

LOST PROPERTY

There is a large amount of lost property at the office. 

Do you recognise your child's glasses?  

Has your child lost a purse? watch? keys? jewellery? hair accessory? toys?

Please have a look at the photos and if you recognise anything that belongs to your child, please arrange to collect from the office.

Thank you.

(Any items not collected by Friday 20th February will be disposed of.)

ELC Enrolment Week : Monday 9th - Friday 12th February 2026

Session 2026-27

The eligibility for entitlement to funded early learning and childcare for 2026/27 for 3 and 4 year olds is as follows:

Eligibility for Funded             “Three Year Olds”                     “Four Year Olds” 

Early Learning and                 Eligible Birth Dates                   Eligible Birth Dates

Childcare

19th August 2026                   01/03/23 – 31/08/23              01/03/22 – 28/02/23

6th January 2027                    01/09/23 – 31/12/23

12th April 2027                       01/01/24 – 29/02/24

Three-year-olds for August intake cannot attend until after their 3rd birthday.

For children new to our setting a form should be completed on the Highland Council website

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/878/schools/11/enrol_your_child_for_early_learning_and_childcare/2

Once enrolment week is completed parents/carers of new enrolees will be sent a preference of hours form to complete.

If your child will continue to attend our ELC setting after summer break, for the August 2026-27 academic year, you do not need to re-enrol, but you should have already completed a preference of hours form for your child for the full year ahead. 

If you have moved outwith the catchment area and have no siblings attending the school a place cannot be guaranteed until all enrolments have been processed.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you require any help. 

Afterschool shinty - Every Tuesday 3pm - 4:15pm 

We are now opening up the shinty training to include P7's. If you would like to come along, please sign up via the Highlife Highland booking site. Due to equipment, spaces are limited so please be quick to avoid disappointment. Please bring shin guards. Helmets and sticks will be provided but if you have your own, you are welcome to bring it along!!

To book, please visit - https://booking.highlifehighland.com/ and use the code ACT003561 to search for the activity. 

For more info or issues getting signed up, please contact hazel.wilson@highlifehighland.com.

Many thanks,

Hazel Wilson - Inverness Royal ASG Active Schools Coordinator.

Lochardil Careers Week - Can You Help?  

Dear Parents, Carers and Members of our wider Lochardil community,

We are in the process of planning a Lochardil Careers Week to support our work on Developing the Young Workforce (DWY) and help to teach our young people about skills and qualities needed in the world of work. 

We are looking for members of the community to come in and talk to classes about their job. This would include sharing information about skills needed to do your job, the training required to carry out your role and the impact your job has. You may also wish to include a practical activity or presentation for the children to take part in to help them learn about your job. 

DYW builds on the foundations already in place through the Curriculum for Excellence and is relevant from our youngest learners in early years, through to the senior phase. The project aims to motivate and inspire young people by bringing the world of work into the classroom and result in a positive destination for young people. 

If you would be interested in supporting us with this,  please complete this Google Form by Friday 6th February 2026.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Francis,,Mr Garden, Miss McNeil & Mrs Beattie 

The  People at The Heart Staff Working Group

Charity donations

We would like share two letters of thanks from charities who have recently received donations from Lochardil Primary after fundraising efforts by the children.  Well done! Thank you to everyone for supporting their efforts.

Primary 1 enrolment - Monday 26th January to Friday 30th January 2026

If your child will be five years of age on or before 28 February 2027, they are eligible to enrol for Primary 1 commencing August 2026. Please use the link below to enrol your child during enrolment week (please note this link will not go live until enrolment week)

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/878/schools/887/enrol_your_child_for_school_and_early_learning_and_childcare

For children who currently attend our ELC, we do not need their birth certificate again, however proof of address IS still required.  This should be a current council tax bill detailing your current address.

If you reside outwith the Lochardil Primary catchment area and wish your child to attend Lochardil, you should enrol with the school that serves your catchment, and a placing request form must also be completed. Please use this link to submit a placing request.

 https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/878/schools/887/enrol_your_child_for_school/2

If you are completing a placing request form for your child to attend Lochardil, please let the school know so we know to look out for it coming in.

Paper copies of forms will be available from the school office, but where possible all applications should be completed online.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 01463 230250 if you require any assistance.

Thursday 8th January 2026

School is open today to all pupils and staff.  There are still weather warnings in place so please be careful enroute and within the school grounds.  Reminder for all pupils to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and ensure they have a spare change of clothes and indoor shoes.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back today.

Tuesday 6th January 2026

Message from the headteacher:

School will be open as planned tomorrow Wednesday 7th January 2026.  We are monitoring the weather and will update asap in the morning if there are any changes to this plan.

Please ensure all children are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions, and have a full change of clothes with them in their school bags and indoor shoes to change into in class

REMINDER - Open afternoon for Primary 3 - Primary 6 classes.  Tomorrow Wednesday 10th December 13.45 - 14.30.

P7 classes - slight changes to times

P7B (Mrs Francis) – 13:30 till 14:00

P7A (Mrs Scotson) – 14:15 till 14:45.

Shinty - Tuesday 9th December.

Unfortunately Shinty practice on Tuesday 9th December has been cancelled.

REMINDER

Parent Council Meeting tonight, Wednesday 26th November at 7pm.  Link to join meeting is on the google classrooms.  All parents/carers welcome.

Children in Need

A huge thank you to everyone who donated money, baking or prizes to our Children in Need fundraiser on Friday. We really appreciate all the help and support. 

We had a brilliant day. So far we have raised an incredible £685 for Children in Need! This money will help children in the UK access the support that they need to thrive. 

P5 and Mrs McQuigg

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13XOrlRTX47C3e9wJhEz3oxPjkZP5OMWv?usp=sharing 

Blythswood Shoebox Appeal

A huge thank you to everyone who donated to the Blythswood Showbox Appeal. Whether you donated a full box, or items that will fill shoeboxes, we are very grateful for all the donations.

An amazing total of 63 boxes were collected from Lochardil Primary. That is 63 people this Christmas who will feel cared for and receive essential items to help their health and wellbeing.

Thank you all so much.

From P5 and Mrs McQuigg

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hM3sO3FGd8sWNH6k98xqtk2WliGmwcAa?usp=drive_link 

As winter fast approaches and the weather conditions change, we would like to remind all parents/carers to ensure that children are dressed appropriately – a warm jacket, outdoor shoes/wellies for break and lunch.  A change of clothes to be kept in your child’s school bag would be appreciated (we don’t have enough clothes to change everyone when it is wet/muddy!)

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the link for the Highland Council adverse weather website which will be updated if the school has to close www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures .  Please DO NOT phone the school.  Updates are also communicated on the school blog, google classrooms, X (formerly twitter) and text messaging.

Thank you.

Parenting Across Scotland

The team from Parenting across Scotland have been in touch about two online workshops they are running which may be of interest to our parents/carers.

Please see details below with links on how to book.

Keeping children safe online - Wednesday 22 October, 5:30-6:30pm, online

This webinar is being delivered in partnership with Police Scotland's Cybercrime Harm Prevention Team to explore how you can help keep yourself and your loved ones safe whilst online - there will be a short presentation by Police Scotland, followed by the opportunity to ask questions.

For more details and to book a spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/keeping-children-safe-online-webinar-tickets-1656266009219?aff=oddtdtcreator

House of Hormones - Thursday 9 October, 5:30-7pm, online

Join Parenting Across Scotland and Cyrenians Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution as they delve into the issues households can face when generations within a family enter puberty and perimenopause at the same time. Joined by Lyndsay Harrison, General Nurse Practitioner and founder of Workplace Menopause Support, we’ll break down what’s going on in perimenopausal and teenage bodies and brains – and how to return the House of Hormones to peace.

For more details and to sign up, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/house-of-hormones-tickets-1658875905489?aff=oddtdtcreator

Parenting across Scotland Team

  18 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EP

  Website | Socials | Newsletter

Parent Council Meetings

Parent Council meetings are held on a termly basis.  All parents/carers are welcome to attend. All meetings are held online at 7pm and a link to join is posted on the google classrooms on the day of the meeting. 

Dates for session 2025/26 are :-

Wednesday 8th October 2025

Wednesday 26th November 2025

Wednesday 25th February 2026- AGM

Wednesday 27th May 2026

Tempest Photographs

Proofs of the photographs taken last week were sent home with children today - please check schoolbags!!

You can order on line and have them delivered to the school free of charge, if ordered within 10 days. Anything ordered after that will normally incur a delivery charge. 

Lost Property

We have lots of lost property within the school! Everything with a name has been put into classrooms to take home, but there are lots and lots with no names. 

We will have this all on display at the end of the day under the shelters today, tomorrow and Friday! If you find anything belonging to your child please take this home or if there is anything you want, again please help yourself! 

Everything left over on Friday, will be donated to charity. There are shoes, odd shoes, jackets, uniform....

LOCHARDIL OJ SPORTS ⚽️🏀🏑🥅

WE'RE BACK FOR YEAR 16!!!

We start back MONDAY 25th AUGUST

All classes run in Lochardil Primary School Gym Hall

🔵 P1-3 3:00 - 4:00

*Children picked up from class at 2:45 to get ready in gym hall

🔴 P4-7 4:00 - 5:00

We pick the P1-3 children up directly from class at the end of the school day (extra hour for working parents 🙌🏻🎉)

New members are welcome. Once you've registered on the form below your place is confirmed and your child will be added to my register.

https://forms.gle/3VKMa15U7D6t9C3LA

At OJ Sports we run a mixture of sporting and fitness activities including Unihoc, Handball, Football, Basketball, Dodgeball, Obstacle Course, Beep Test and much more.

Children are awarded points every week and every child gets an achievement award medal based on their score at the end of the school year with the class champion also getting a special top and trophy. 

PLEASE NOTE THE BELOW GUIDANCE:

🔴 P1-3 Children will now be collected from their class at the end of the school day

🔵 They'll be taken to the canteen to get ready but it makes things much faster if they have their sports kit under their uniform if possible

🔴 Children MUST be collected at the main gate near the school reception

🔵 Any child in the P1-3 class not attending for any reason MUST notify me before the session starts 

🔴 If your child misses a class, they are welcome to attend any other class at any other school to make up for it, just text 07841 636360 for info.

🟠 ALL existing members MUST register again, if they haven't done so already

🔴 Once registered, your place is CONFIRMED

🔴 All those that have registered already HAVE A PLACE

Please tell all your friends or tag, like, share etc

Thanks

OJ

📲 07841 636360 

💻 Info@ojsports.club

Welcome back for Session 2025-26!

Parking Reminder

The disabled bays in the staff car park should be only be used by persons who have a blue badge, have a temporary pass allocated by the school office or if picking up a sick child.  We have several parents/carers who really need to use these spaces, so please be courteous.

The Lochardil Hotel have very kindly offered parents/carers the use of their car park during drop off /pick up times, and again please be courteous when parking there - they are a business who are a trying to help us with the parking situation in the school vicinity.  If it is abused or causes disruption for their visitors they will withdraw this offer.

Please also remember that no cars should be left idling at any time.

PARENT COUNCIL UPDATE

After almost 12 years on Lochardil Parent Council, 2 as Chairperson, I have stepped down as my son moves on to secondary school after the Summer.

I'm delighted that our new Chair is Samantha Grant, our new Secretary is Lauren Sutherland and Joni McBride continues as Treasurer. Kath Kernaghan will lead fundraising initiatives.

We really need new parents and carers to join the Parent Council. If you would like to join or find out more, please email Samantha at lochardil.primary@highlandpc.co.uk or I am happy to have a chat before I officially leave!

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Parent Council and who has volunteered over the years.

Susan Considine

LOCHARDIL PARENT COUNCIL COMMUNITY AWARD 2025 

Do you know someone who is worthy of our Award?

Previous winners have included a neighbour who ran a gardening class, members of the local community who help run or support clubs and activities, members of the Parent Council who also volunteered for a host of activities, a parent who ran all manner of sports activities, and parents who were heavily involved over many years in Parent Council roles.

If you know anyone you feel is worthy of this award and would like to nominate them, please email Lochardil.Primary@HighlandPC.co.uk  by Wednesday, 18th June 2025.

We will be presenting the 'Lochardil Parent Council Community Award' at the P7 Leavers Assembly on Tuesday, 1st July 2025 

Message from Highland Council Catering

SCHOOL MEALS MENU UPDATE

The current school meals menus will continue until the end of May 2025 with a new menu starting on week commencing 2nd June 2025. This menu will continue to run until April 2026 and following this our menus will be changed on an annual basis after every Easter break. The extended dates are reflected in the online menus found here.

We intend to make some seasonal adjustments to menus during the year, these will be communicated to parents via schools and our online menus will be updated accordingly.

Early Learning & Childcare Enrolment. Monday 10th - Friday 14th February 2025.

Enrolment for ELC session 2025-26 takes place on Monday 10th until Friday 14th February 2025.

• All new 3yr & 4yr old children are required to enrol for their initial ELC place at their preferred ELC setting. Please complete the online form on the Highland Council website during enrolment week.  

If your child currently attends our ELC and you wish for them to remain with us as a four year old, then you should confirm this to ELC/office and complete a new hours of preference form (form can be found on the google classroom).  If you have moved outwith the catchment area for Lochardil Primary School please contact the school office with your new address.

• New 3yr & 4yr old enrolments only - A scanned copy or photo of the birth certificate should be attached at the time of enrolling.  Proof of address should also be attached (usually this will be your Council Tax bill).  Once your enrolment form is received at the school we will email you with a preference of hours form to complete

Who can have Funded Early Learning and Childcare?

The eligibility for entitlement to funded early learning and childcare (ELC) follows the same birth date bandings as school entry i.e. from 1 March to the end of February in any year. For 2025/2026 the eligibility dates for 3 and 4 year olds to have funded places are as follows:

Eligibility for Funded Early Learning and

Childcare “Three Year Olds” Eligible Birth Dates “Four Year Olds” Eligible Birth Dates

19th  August 2025 01/03/2022 – 31/08/2022 01/03/2021 – 28/02/2022

7th January 2026 01/09/2022 – 31/12/2022

20th April 2026 01/01/2023 – 28/02/2023

Where there is space, settings may be able to provide a place in ELC as soon as the child reaches their third birthday, the parent will however, have to pay until the child is eligible for their funded entitlement/place. Hourly charge for full hours is currently £5.05 in local authority settings but this may be subject to change.

The entitlement to hours for 2025-26 will run from 19th August 2025 to 2nd July 2026 for term time or 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2026 for full year provisions.

What is the funded entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds?

Early Learning and Childcare “Three Year Olds” Eligible Birth Dates “Four Year Olds” Eligible Birth Dates Entitlement of No of Hours 2025-26

19th August 2025 01/03/22 – 31/08/22 01/03/21 - 28/02/22 1140

7th January 2026 01/09/22 – 31/12/22 666

20th April 2026 01/01/23– 28/02/23 312

 • In any setting the maximum funded entitlement of hours that can be taken each week is 30 hours per week. Currently, the maximum number of funded hours in a session                  is 10 hours.  Additional hours (over entitlement) can be taken but are chargeable.

• If your child uses the maximum hours per week (30) in an ELC setting during term time, this will equate to the full entitlement leaving no funded hours available for holiday periods.

• As per the Enrolment Form, if you do wish to split your child’s entitlement between settings then this needs to be stated from the outset as we will not be able to fund the other setting if you have used your full entitlement at an ELC setting.

If you have any questions or need help with the catchment area please contact the school office on 01463 230250

Netball cancelled today 24/01/25. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Keyboard Club: Inshes Library and Fèis a’ Bhaile

From January to March 2025, Inshes Library in partnership with Fèis a’ Bhaile will be running a beginners' keyboard club for children in P4 to P7.

Experienced Fèis a’ Bhaile tutor, Liza Mulholland, will teach the children some keyboard basics. 

The sessions will be on a Thursday, fortnightly in the library from 3.30pm to 4.15pm, starting Thursday 16th January 2025 and are free. 

This is a pilot project and spaces are limited but we are determined to ensure every child who is interested will have a chance to get involved. 

To help us with our planning we would like to ask all children who would like to take part to register their interest before end of Friday 20th December. We will then be back in touch during the first week of the new term with further details. 

Please email Inshes Library on inshes.library@highlifehighland.com with your child’s name, class and school or phone us on 01463 725 928 to register your child's interest in taking part.

Many thanks, Inshes Library and Fèis a’ Bhaile.

Note: your data will be held securely and used only for the purpose of contacting you on matters related to this project. For more information on how HLH uses data please visit General Data Protection Regulation

School Closure/Adverse Weather 

The use of the Highland Council Adverse Weather telephone line has now been withdrawn.  All school closures can now only be accessed on the Highland Council website at https://www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures 

As a school we will also continue to update you through the school communication channels - google classroom, school blog, emails & texts.

There will be no netball on Friday 22nd November, due to the weather. Thank you - Mrs P 

Whole School Announcement

Just a reminder, please can all donations for the Blythswood Shoebox appeal please be handed into school by Friday 8th November.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated.

Filled shoeboxes or any loose donations of gifts are all greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

P5/4 and Mrs McQuigg 

Thank You 

We raised over £618 for our Enterprise fundraiser and money is still coming in. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed money, items from home, time and baking to help us.

As we said in our letter, we are donating a share of our fundraising to support of one of our former parents, Ros, who is fundraising for Maggie’s Highland this year by running the Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon. Today, we presented a cheque of £309 to her, along with our love and huge congratulations! Cancer affects so many of us and we are delighted to have been able to support this worthy cause.

The rest will be spend helping us to celebrate our 60th birthday.

A huge thank you to you all again!

Mrs McQuigg, Mrs MacIver, P4 and P4/5

Please see photos below.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1077uf-ZraonOQ-vjmr6M9YvE7goQ29e2?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WaCiyszDCvIC5YkYrOgM9AmnQ9nQKJJt/view?usp=sharing

ISSUE NOW RESOLVED - All phones and internet are now back to normal.  Contact with the school can now be made on the usual number.

SYSTEM ISSUES - Monday 7th October 2024

We are experiencing difficulties with our internet and phone systems this morning.  If you need to contact the school, please use the school mobile number which is published on all the Google Classrooms.  We will let you know when this is resolved.

CHANGE TO SCHOOL LUNCH - WEDNESDAY 2ND OCTOBER 2024

There is a change to the orange option on Wednesday 2nd October.  This will now be sausage roll.  This only affects the one option and is for this week only.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM CATERING

The Food Standards Agency is advising people who have a peanut allergy to avoid consuming foods that contain or may contain mustard, mustard powder or mustard flour because they may have been contaminated with peanuts. 

Catering services have consulted our suppliers, Brakes.  Although they are not supplied by the company at the centre of this issue, they are taking the extra precaution of checking the products they supply for possible contamination.

Catering services have alerted all our cooks to the products in question and they have been advised to ensure none of these products are used in any items provided to the pupils we have registered with a nut allergy until further notice.  Where possible alternative products have been advised.

Thank you. 

Regards,

Bríd  McKibben

Food & Nutrition Co-ordinator

School Photographer

The photographer will be in school for individual and family group photos on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th September. Please ensure your child(ren) are in full school uniform both these days.

Please find dates for your diary in the calendar below, please note that these are subject to change so please check regularly.

 Blood Donors Required

Calling Culduthel and surrounding Inverness communities

Could you be one of the 50 blood donors we need to welcome to the Green Drive Community Hall on Monday 2nd September?

We still have lots of appointments available that we must fill and whether you’re a new or returning donor we'd love to welcome you!

Book online at scotblood.co.uk or call 0345 90 90 999. Not all heroes wear capes!

Thank you.

Lochardil Primary School 

60th Anniversary Celebrations

Whole School Photograph

As part of our 60th Birthday celebrations we have the school photographer coming in on Friday 21st June for our whole school photo.

Our last whole school photo was for our 50th Birthday, so let’s make this another good one!! Could you please ensure that your child/children are wearing correct school uniform. (P7s – NO leavers hoodies!!)

Parent Council Meeting

The Parent Council Meeting has been cancelled on 5th June and rescheduled for Wednesday 12th June 2024 at 7pm.  The link for the meeting will be shared on google classrooms that day.

Scottish Opera performance 28/05/24

We are so excited to be performing with Scottish Opera on Tuesday.

We are really looking forward to warmly welcoming you to our performance of 'Vikings - The Quest for the Dragon's Treasure!' at the CCC at 2:15pm.

We are delighted to share that we have managed to arrange seating for all tickets requested. We will not be allocating physical tickets, we have asked just for an idea of numbers, so please do not worry about losing or forgetting them on the day itself. 

We can't wait to see you there!

REMINDER - SCHOOL CLOSURES

School and ELC closed to all pupils for Inservice  day, Thursday 2nd May 2024.

Also closed to pupils & staff on Monday 6th May for May Day public holiday.

Family HWB Engagment Event 

Thank you to everyone who attended our Health and Wellbeing Event on 21st March . It was a fantastic turn out with such a great buzz. There were many connections made and it proved to be a very successful evening all round. If you did attend, we would really appreciate if you could take a moment to leave us some feedback on the link attached. 

Parent/Carer Support and Holiday Clubs

Menu change - Tuesday 5th & Wednesday 6th March - ORANGE choice only

TUESDAY - now Pizza

WEDNESDAY - Mince & Potatoes