Archive for September 10th, 2004

10th September 2004

Friday, September 10th, 2004

Welcome Back



We have had a wonderful start to the new school year. It has been so calm and the staff have all commented on what a lovely week they have had with their classes.

We are pleased to welcome some new children and families to our school, and some new members of staff.

Here are some details of new staffing this year.

Miss Jess Mepham is an Education Assistant in reception class. Miss Katie Whiting is our Year 2 teacher, and has management responsibility for the Arts throughout the school. Miss Joanne Rollason is a new Education Assistant, also in Year 2. Miss Ruth Stewart is our Year 4 teacher and Miss Fran Perry is an Education Assistant in Year 5.

Mr Mick Brazil will be here on Thursdays and Fridays, teaching throughout the school to give teachers non-contact time, including teaching music to each class.

Julie Aldous has taken over responsibility for Special Needs throughout the school.

I have been appointed by the Education Authority as a Primary Strategy Consultant Leader, and will be supporting the Leadership Teams in four other Primary schools.

New Lunch Arrangements



We have been very pleased with a new system that we are trialling at lunchtimes for the Junior children. We have managed to arrange it so that the children do not all go to lunch at the same time. This has meant that it is far quieter and calmer in the hall when the children eat their lunch, and they have so much more space to play on the playground. So far, so good!

Congratulations to:

Lauren in Year 6, who has won a superb trophy for becoming Junior Champion in the Plumpton Bowmen Archery Club.

Curtis, in Year 1, who has received the ASA Rainbow Award for swimming 5 metres, and his sister Daisy, in Year 6, for achieving Level 9 of the ASA National Swimming Awards.

Little Canada



Year 6 children are off on their residential visit to the Isle of Wight on Monday 20th September. Mrs Hadgkiss is holding a meeting for parents next Wednesday 15th after school in the Year 6 classroom.



Meet The Teachers Year 1 to Year 6



On Monday morning between 9.10 and 9.30, you are invited in to meet your child’s new teacher in the classrooms to find out about routines and ask any questions you may have.

New PE Kit



The children look so smart in their new kit, ready to settle down to their PE lessons. Mrs Brill has some more navy blue shorts for sale now, but not many in the smaller sizes. Any plain white tee shirt and navy sports shorts are acceptable, if you don’t want to buy from school. Please remember to name each item, as they do all look the same.

We have in stock:School logo Tee shirts – £4

Navy shorts – £4

School logo PE bags – £3.50

Water bottles – £1.50

and,

School logo book bags – £3.50

School Uniform



Some parents have been so pleased with the new school PE kit, that they have asked about the possibility of introducing a voluntary school uniform, perhaps a school logo sweatshirt and white polo shirt. They feel that it would make their lives much easier, especially in the mornings if the children didn’t have a choice of what to wear.

I know that some of you prefer your children not to wear a uniform, so I would

like to canvass your views.

Would you be in favour of:

A voluntary school uniform, if so what?

A compulsory uniform, again, if so, what?

No uniform at all

I will put this issue to the new School Council, and will take it to discuss with school governors. I would like to hear from as many of you as possible, please drop me a line via the school office by the end of next week.

Swimming



This term (Autumn) Year 6 children will be swimming.

Next term (Spring) it is the turn of Year 5 children.

In the Summer, Year 4 will swim for the first half term, and Year 3 for the second half term.



Healthy Snacks



The children are really enjoying their playtime fruit and veg snacks, and drinking plenty of water. Thank you for supporting us so magnificently in this, especially at such short notice! We sell a selection of fruit such as apples, bananas, satsumas and nectarines, and bottles of water at the snack shop, if you run out at home.

Lost Property is now kept in a large basket in the corridor near the hall door, and will be disposed of weekly.

Can You Help?



The teachers in Years 3 – 6 are requesting donations of any unwanted shirts or large

tee shirts to be used as art shirts.

Nursery would appreciate any unwanted bricks, guttering, crates etc for construction play.

Children’s Hair



Please remember that long hair must be tied back.

Also, please ensure that hair is combed each day, checked regularly for head lice and treated immediately if you do find any.

Helping in school



Any volunteers must have a certificate of disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau before being able to help in class or on trips. If you do not have one and would like to help out, please ask at the office for a form. If you have a CRB certificate, please make sure that the office has a copy of it for our records. Thank you.



Times of the Day



The doors open at 8.45 each morning (except for breakfast club which is from 8.00 a.m.), register for all children is at 9.00 a.m. If a child is late after close of register, they must report to the office.

Children in Reception (full time), and Years 1 and 2 finish at 3.00 p.m. and should be collected from the classroom door to the playground. The Years 3 to 6 classes finish at 3.05 p.m. Please allow children a few minutes to come down from the upstairs classrooms on to the playground at the end of the day. Please wait for children in Years 3 to 6 on the main playground, not inside the school, as it gets very congested. Thank you.

Anti Bullying Workshop



Mosaic, the Black and Mixed Parentage Family Group is running workshops for black and minority ethnic children between the ages of 8 –12 years on Sunday 19th September from 1.45 – 3.30 p.m. at Fiveways Playgroup in Florence Road. There is a parents’ workshop after that at 3.30 – 4.00 p.m. Phone 234017 for further details.

School Council



The children from Year 1 to Year 6 have been invited to put themselves forward for elections to become class representatives on the School Council. This is a very important role, and previous School Councils have done a magnificent job in helping the school to improve for all of the children. Elections will take place next week. To be fair, only children who have not been reps before (except last year’s Reception) will be eligible to stand.

Parent Governors



A letter is coming home today about vacancies for two parent governors.

Clubs

A letter will come home next week about after school clubs, which should start the following week.