Schools and staff get time off for Pope visit
CATHOLIC staff and pupils in schools across East Dunbartonshire will be able to take time off to see the Pope when he visits Glasgow later this month.
East Dunbartonshire Council is offering authorised absences for staff and pupils to attend the Pope's evening mass at Bellahouston Park later this month.
The open air mass, which will take place on Thursday, September 16, is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of worshippers from all over Scotland and beyond.
It is part of Pope Benedict XVI's first official Papal visit to Scotland.
A spokesperson for East Dunbartonshire Council said: "We have been pro-active in offering support to schools to allow staff to attend the Papal mass.
"Head teachers have been asked to inform the head of education of the number of staff who request permission to attend. The authority will deploy central resources to support staff requests if these requests cannot be met within the schools resources.
"An authorised absence is given to pupils with pre-notification to the school on the grounds of religious observance purposes.
"This must be at the request of a parent and can be granted on three occasions in any one school session."
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Weather for Kirkintilloch
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
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