Archive for September, 2006

29th September 2006

Friday, September 29th, 2006

Black History Month

The opening event for Black History month takes place at the Jubilee Library on Sunday October 1st from 2.00 – 7.00pm. There will be live performances, workshops, exhibitions, delicious food, stalls and children’s activities. If you want to know more you can visit the website at http://www.sankofajourneys.com/

Fire Safety and the Albion

Brighton and Hove Albion have linked up with the Fire Service to help promote Fire Safety. A representative from each addressed our assembly on Tuesday and reminded the children about fire safety but it was all cleverly linked to football. Later in the morning Years 3 and 6 had an opportunity to work on their football skills whilst learning more about fire safety. The footballs carried safety slogans, which were incorporated into the morning’s activities. The children were also told that if you do not have a smoke alarm in your home you can obtain one free from the Community Safety Team. For more information on smoke alarms and other advice on fire safety please pick up a leaflet from the parents notice board in school.

School Council

Our new school council met for the first time on Tuesday. Already they have a mission and that is to help us with the development of the main playground.

Mobile Phones for Guide Dogs

If you have any unwanted mobile phones please could you pass them on to Mrs Walker in the office and she will pass them on to the Guide Dogs Association. For every mobile donated £3.50 is put towards training guide dogs.

PE Kits

There are still some children who are forgetting to bring their PE kits to school. Please could you ensure your child has a kit in school on the days they have PE. Please ask the class teacher if you are unsure of the class PE days.

Bignor Roman Villas

Year 3 are visiting Bignor Roman villas on Monday as part of the topic studying the Romans.

Governors Meeting

The first full governors meeting will take place next week on the 5th October. We now have a Governors notice board where you can find a copy of the minutes of the various meetings if you wish to read them. We hope to also have photos of governing body members which will I hope you will find helpful.

6 a Side Football Tournament

The school will be taking part in a 6 a side football tournament after school on Friday 29th September. Ms Busby will be taking our team along to East Brighton Park.

Late Picking Up

We are finding that a few children are not being collected on time after school. This is putting the school in a very difficult position. Some children are being left sometimes as late as 4.30, one or two are being left this late on a regular basis.
Some children are being left because they have a brother or sister in an after school club. None of this is acceptable and very unfair on the children concerned. We do not have the facilities to offer after school care, we are also not insured to do so. After 3.30 there is no guarantee of an adult being available to care for children who are left waiting. Obviously we fully understand when a parent is unavoidably late and has rung to explain. But if you know you can not regularly pick your child up on time please make other arrangements. If your are having problems then let us know and we can put something in the Friday News for you.

Half Term

We finish for the autumn half term on Friday 20th October and school re-opens on Monday 30th October.

22nd September 2006

Friday, September 22nd, 2006

Hooray!

The Ofsted inspectors enjoyed their visit to our school and meeting the children on Tuesday and Wednesday. Every thing went well and now they have gone away to write their report about our school. The report should be published in about 3 weeks time. I’ll let you know when it is available. Thank you to all those parents and carers who returned the questionnaires the inspectors found your comments very helpful.

School Council Elections

Two School Council representatives from each class have been elected:
Year 1: Meg Ward and Max Jarvis.
Year 2: Katla Homer Wrestling and James Sturmey.
Year 3: Hannah Hucko until February half term and Kristy Bryant to take over after February half term and Sam Pearce.
Year 4: Grace Owers and Ariel Matsui Leroy.
Year 5: Lucy McGeachin and Danny Knight.
Year 6: Sasha Greenwood and Nathan Davis Winstanley.
Congratulations to all those children and Mr Collins and I look forward to working with you over the coming year.

Ideas for School Grounds

Entries for the design ideas for developing the school grounds should be submitted by 6th October. We would like your ideas on how we can encourage wildlife in to the school grounds for example by adding plants, bird boxes and insect houses or even a roof garden! Entry forms can be picked up from the Eco Board situated outside the Year 6 classroom or from the office.

Welcome New Reception Parents Meeting

Mrs Noble will be holding a meeting to discuss the curriculum and routines in the Reception class and will also provide new reception parents with the opportunity to ask questions about the coming year. The meeting will take place on Wednesday 27th September at 2.30pm in the school library.

6 a Side Football Tournament

The school will be taking part in a 6 a side football tournament after school on Friday 29th September. Once again many thanks to Ms Busby who ensures the school is involved in these events and for escorting the children.

Gardening Club

This is the time of year when you may be thinning out plants and shrubs in your garden. The Gardening Club would love any cuttings of plants, herbs etc that you are able to offer. Please drop off any offerings at the office.

Breakfast at Audrey’s Theatre Show

Clyde Unity Theatre and Bandbazi are showing their exciting aerial drama based on the life of Audrey Hepburn. If you are interested in finding out more please check out the parent’s notice board in school and pick up a leaflet.

15th September 2006

Friday, September 15th, 2006

OFSTED Visit

As you have probably already gathered we are expecting some very special visitors next week. We have three OFSTED inspectors joining us next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. They will spend time with Mr Collins and I. The inspectors will also spend time in classrooms with teachers and talking with children and around the school generally.
You should have received a questionnaire yesterday on which you can contribute your views about the school. The questionnaires form part of the inspection so please if you have time fill them in and return to the office.
We will do our very best to show the inspectors what a great school this is and how proud we are of all the children at Middle Street (past and present). They are a real credit to you as parents/Carers and to our school and they are what make it such a special place to be.

School Council Elections

School council elections take place next week. Two representatives from each class will be elected and will attend at least one meeting per half term. We have a lot to discuss in our first meeting about school developments so I look forward to hearing the children’s views and suggestions.

After School Clubs

You should have received a letter home this week listing the after school clubs on offer this half term. We are beginning a new club this year, which is the Gardening Club. Mrs Purdy will be running the club and is already planning a small greenhouse and vegetable patches. If you have any seeds, bulbs or gardening tools to contribute please let the office know and Mrs Purdy will get back to you.

Meet the New Teacher

The class teachers enjoyed meeting you all this week. As is always the case, in these situations if you had difficulty making the meeting your class teacher is more than happy to meet you at another more convenient time. Please let your child’s teacher know if you wish to take up this offer.

Parent Consultation Evening Dates

The dates for Parent evenings are as follows: Tuesday 17th October and Thursday 19th October between 3.20 and 6.00. The focus of the meeting will be to discuss how your child has settled into their new class and their learning targets in Literacy and Numeracy.

Other Dates to Remember

We are having a Book Fair and Book Week in the week beginning 6th November.
Christmas Performances are taking place in the afternoon of 7th December and the morning of 8th December.

HELP!

A parent of a child in Year 3 needs help on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. She is wondering if there is a parent who could deliver her child, at the end of the school day to St Pauls Primary School in St Nicholas Road where the child will then be collected by an after school club at about 3.20. The parent is willing to pay £5 per day for this favour. If you are able to help please let the office know and we will pass you on to the parent.

Congratulations t0..

Roman Waters- Stewart in Year 3 and his sister Mimi in Nursery for their fabulous Flamenco dancing and African drumming. Take a look at the Mosaic newsletter where you will see a wonderful photo of them.

Finally thank you to the group of parents who kindly pumped up our sports balls today. Ms Busby is particular is grateful to you all.

8th September 2006

Friday, September 8th, 2006

Welcome Back

We have had a very enjoyable start to our new term. It has been a real pleasure to walk round the school and see so many happy faces and such excitement at being all together again.
A warm welcome to all the new families joining the school this term. We are really pleased you chose Middle Street and hope you enjoy your time with us. I would also like to welcome a new member of staff, Ms Amelie Doig who is working as a Teaching Assistant in Year 1 on Thursdays and Fridays.

Curriculum Letters

Look out for your child’s year group curriculum letter from the class teacher. The letter outline the topics your child will be studying this term.

Meet the Teacher

We would like to invite you in to a meeting with your child’s new class teacher. During the meeting you will hear about the curriculum, routines, expectations and more for the coming year. It is also an opportunity for you to ask questions etc. The meetings are taking place on the following days:

Monday 11th September 9.10 – 9.30: Year 1 and Year 2
Tuesday 12th September 9.10 –9.30: Year 5 and Year 6
Thursday 14th September 9.10 – 9.30: Year 3 and Year 4
Wednesday 27th September 2.30 – 3.00: Reception.
The meetings will take place in the year group classroom.

Building Work

Building work in the school, which was due to be completed before the end of the holidays, has run into one or two problems. We still have scaffolding up on the front of the building and workmen working in the boiler room. We hope the work will reach completion within the next couple of weeks. So far the situation has not inconvenienced staff or children in any way.

Phone Trouble

We have had problems with our phone lines since returning to school. Sometimes it is possible to get through and at other times it is not. Our phones only seem to ring when they feel like it! Sorry if you have tried ringing and not got through. The problem is being dealt with.

Bike It

You may remember from last term I wrote about our involvement with the ‘Bike It’ project. The aim of the project is to encourage us all to use our bicycles more often as a means of transport. The project is providing the school with cycle racks, cycle proficiency training and is also able to offer adults and children discount prices for bicycles. Gary Shipp who is leading the project in our area will be meeting with me again very soon to plan out this term’s activities and events. There will be competitions, assemblies, class talks and curriculum work all linked to this project. I’m sure it will be great fun as well as encouraging us all to get on bikes!

After School Clubs

Information on clubs will follow shortly.

Congratulations to..

Jack Fancy in Year 6 who was chosen to take part in Brighton and Hove’s volleyball presentation to the Olympic committee during the summer holidays. Jack was the youngest player to be chosen and clearly shows great potential. Jack has also been chosen to represent the South East Yellow Wave under 14’s team at the UK championships. Very well done Jack