Archive for November, 2004

19th November 2004

Friday, November 19th, 2004

Industrial Action



Further to my note in last week’s Friday News, I am sorry to tell you that negotiations between the GMB and Unison unions and the City Council appear to have broken down. It, therefore, seems very likely that Education Assistants at this school will be taking strike action on Thursday and Friday of next week, 25th and 26th November.

I have carried out a risk assessment and discussed this matter with our chair of governors. We have decided that for Health and Safety reasons it will be necessary to close the school on those days. I will send a letter home next week informing parents of the final outcome of this dispute; however, it would be sensible to assume that the school will be closed unless you hear otherwise.

Places in Nursery



Due to a new system of transferring to Reception class, there are, unexpectedly, a few places available in the Nursery from January 2005. If you know of anyone who would like their child to come to the Nursery, please let Polly Dyer or Angie Gaughran know. Children from the age of three are eligible for a place, and the location restrictions do not necessarily apply.

Absence and Lateness Letters



Some parents have received letters regarding lateness and attendance. I would remind you that I am required by law to monitor children’s attendance and punctuality, and to inform parents if there is poor attendance or lateness. If you disagree with the records sent home with the letter, please see a member of office staff to have them checked.



Christmas Fayre Update

Thank you all so much for the donations of bottles toys books and games. You have been very generous so far. The School Association would now like to request donations of chocolates, toiletries groceries etc for the tombola stall. Please keep the bottles, toys etc. coming in too.

Can anyone help out on the day of 4th December running a stall for an hour or so? Please let us know in the office if you are available. Thank you.

There will be tables for hire on the day, if you would like to set up a stall and sell your own wares for £5. Let the office staff know if you are interested in booking a stall.

T Shirt Competition



Keep sending in your children’s entries for the Design a T- Shirt Competition – there will be prizes for the best design for each class. Entries cost £1 each.

There will be no Cabinets and Pods next Monday

Well Done Jessica

I am very pleased to report that Jessica Atter in Year 1 has gained her 10 metres swimming certificate.

Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre



There will be a free Christmas party for children of the unemployed / unwaged on Saturday 18th December 1.45 – 5.00 p.m. at the Centre in The Crestway, Hollingdean. They are also hoping to take children to the pantomime – look out for the posters on the notice board.

In School This Week



Year 4 children had a very interesting visit to the Booth Museum today, sketching all the wonderful skeletons.

Peter Walker from the Music Service came in to school today to work with the children in Years 5 and 6 who are singing in the Brighton Schools Christmas Concert.

12th November 2004

Friday, November 12th, 2004

Congratulations



Harry Mellowship in Year 5 has been awarded the Jenni Thornley trophy for most improved junior swimmer at Brighton Dolphins swimming club. He has also won the Gill/Dennis Marchant Cup in the under 10yrs points cup trophy.

Mia Ebdon in Year 3 has achieved her 15 metres swimming award and her sister Inez in Year 1 has achieved her 10metres award

Well done to you all.

Christmas Fayre



Next week could you please provide donations of soft toys, videos, CD’s books and games, in good condition, for the Christmas Fayre. Also more bottles for the bottle stall are needed.



Christmas Dinner



Please return your form to the school office by Friday 19th November.

Music Orchestra



Children in Years 3 – 6 were treated to a music recital given by The Brighton & Hove Music Service Orchestra.They played a variety of music and the children thoroughly enjoyed it.

Attendance and Punctuality



Mark Flemming our Education Welfare Officer has been in school to talk to the children about the importance of being in school and arriving on time.

If your child arrives in school after the close of register at 9.30 a.m. this is classed as an unauthorised absence unless they have been for a medical appointment. There has been a high level of lateness recently. Please make sure that your children are in school on time each day. It is a legal requirement for parents to ensure that children not only attend school, but are punctual.

Start of the Day



At the start of the school day some parents have been going upstairs into the shared areas with their children and also walking through the quiet room. This can be very disruptive and delays registration. Unless you need to come to the school office, could you please say good bye to your children in Years 3 to 6 in the playground. Also, please wait in the playground at the end of the day.

Industrial Action



You may have heard through the local news that Education Support Staff in schools in Brighton and Hove are planning strike action next week. There has been a ballot of members of the GMB and Unison unions, which did vote for industrial action as part of their dispute with the City Council over re-grading, and pay and conditions. The information that I have is that there will not be a strike next Wednesday 17th November, as had been anticipated. However, the possibility of industrial action still exists for the week commencing 22nd November. I will keep you fully informed of how this situation develops and how it will effect this school.

Lost property



Please check the lost property each week. You will find it in a large wire container in the corridor by the hall.



Rememberance Day



At 11.00am on Thursday 11th November the children and staff observed two minutes silence.

Healthy Eating



If your child brings an orange in for their snack or lunch could you please either peel it and put it into a plastic container or cut it into quarters. They seem hard for the children to peel at the moment.

Booth Museum

Next Friday Year 4 will be visiting the Booth Museum in Dyke Road. They will by looking at the collection of bones and skeletons to help with their science work.

5th November 2004

Friday, November 5th, 2004

SCHOOL ASSOCIATION:



There is still a great deal of enthusiasm for the School Association. It’s not too late to join in, any help is welcome. The next meeting is on Thursday 11th November at 2.00 p.m. in the Family Room.

Christmas Fayre Update



Some parents are busy organising stalls and events for the Fayre, including asking for donations on a weekly basis. If you can’t help on the day, then why not send in something to sell at the Fayre? Next week, we are asking for you to send in a bottle for the Bottle Stall. It can be wine, spirits, beer or anything non-alcoholic that comes in a bottle! Please make sure that it is handed over to a member of staff in the office, and not left in the lobby or given to a child to hand in – we have to be very careful with alcohol and glass in a school. Thanks.

Halloween Discos



The discos were a real success. Thanks must go to the willing parents and staff who give up their time voluntarily to organise and run these events for all of the children at the school. It is much appreciated.

Christmas Dinner Forms



We have already had a lot of these forms returned, thank you for this. If you have not already returned your form, please send it to the office as soon as possible, as it helps our busy kitchen staff to plan for the special Christmas lunch. If your child normally has packed lunch, they may opt for the Christmas lunch on that day.

Well Done Sophie



I am very pleased to announce that Sophie Walters in Year 2 has passed her National Swimming Award at Level 4. That’s very impressive Sophie, well done.

The Big Bake



The Harvest Bake was a real success. We raised over £100 to be sent to St Patrick’s Night Shelter.

Violins



There will be no violin lessons next Tuesday, 9th November. The children have already been told about this.

Contact Forms



Please make sure that all contact forms are returned to the office as soon as possible. Thank you.

Attendance



The Education Welfare Officer attached to our school has been in looking at out registers. He has requested that we send out letters to parents and carers of children with less than 90% attendance so far this year. If you receive a letter, please be aware that these are sent out automatically, even if we have been informed that your child has been off for medical or other authorised reasons, and are for your information.

The Sealife Centre



We were invited to take our Year 2 children to the Sealife Centre, free of charge, this afternoon. I’m sure that they have enjoyed their visit.



Remembrance Day



We will be having two minutes silence at 11.00 a.m. on Thursday 11th November. We have poppies on sale at the office, if you would like to purchase one.

Year 1 Toy Museum

The children in Year 1 thoroughly enjoyed showing parents and carers around their special museum, with lots of old and new toys.

Vanessa Denyer

As you may remember, Vanessa Denyer was asked by the Monsoon Trust to take part in the opening ceremony of a new Mother and Child Clinic, to be named after her daughter Lizzie who tragically died last November. We are all thinking of Vanessa as she makes this very special trip.