Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
WORKING FOR YOU School events were a class act
As readers of this column will be aware, I always enjoy attending events where our young people are involved, no matter if it is in the Civic Centre, Royal Concert Hall, or at our local schools; and I am always disappointed when, because of other commitments, I cannot attend.
Recently however, I was delighted to attend two local events.
The first was the Tollbrae Primary School summer show where, for an hour, we were treated to talented youngsters showing off their dance moves accompanied by popular songs from the past.
It was done class by class and I can’t possibly say who the best was as my granddaughter attends the school.
I would like to pass on my thanks to the staff and pupils for putting on a great show.
Later on in the week, I accepted a kind invitation to attend the St Edward’s Primary leavers’ Mass.
It was a beautiful service with lovely music and the children were excellent.
Sadly I couldn’t attend the presentation back at the school, as I had to head back to the Civic Centre for a council meeting.
I would like to wish pupils and staff at all of our schools a great summer holiday, and all of our departing Primary Seven youngsters all the best as they move on to pastures new.
During the council meeting, there was a motion moved by Labour welcoming the year of progress by the council since the local elections last year.
The progress referred to initiatives such as Club 365, breakfast clubs in every primary school, free sanitary products in every secondary school and the ambitious homes plus Schools and Centres 21 programmes.
A great number of these are well funded by the Scottish Government and fully supported by the SNP group.
In the case of Club 365, if it hadn’t been for the SNP group it may not be in existence as the Tories voted against.
There’s also been £8 million of pupil equity funding been made available, and £7.4 million to the Scottish Attainment fund.
The funding streams I have mentioned, and others from the Scottish Government, have gone to North Lanarkshire Council.
Why do I mention this? Because when I look at the Labour council motion there is no mention of this financial support.
All they want to do is attack the Scottish Government for cuts, even after a real-term increase in the revenue budget this year.
We will, as a group, continue to support the good initiatives from the council, such as the ones I mentioned earlier in this column.
But we will also oppose when mistakes are made by the local authority, as they were with the bins fiasco.
I would like to wish all of our departing Primary Seven youngsters all the best as they move on to pastures new