Friday 28 March 2008

Dear Parent/Carer,

Student Support Centre

Packs will be sent home early next week from the ‘Student Support Service’. This is a private company who provide home learning support at a financial cost. Whilst we are happy to send this information home we are not recommending any particular product.

However, for every reply slip that is returned into school the ‘Student Support Service’ will make a contribution into school funds. They will make a contribution even if the reply slip says you are not interested! So please return the slips so we can raise some additional funds.

Postponed School Trips



KS1 Multi Skills Club

After an initial funded period we are now able to offer this club to children already involved, for a small fee. The cost will be £15 for 15 sessions between now and the end of the summer term. If you would like your child to continue in these sessions, please send a cheque for the amount into the school office, payable to ‘St. Joseph’s School’.

PTFA Events

The PTFA held a very successful meeting this week. They are now able to announce the dates of several events:-

Infant Party Friday 25th April – 7.00-9.00pm
Tickets £3.00 each – Family Ticket £10.00

Friday 4th April – Cake Sale

Summer Fayre - Saturday June 21st.

More information will be coming from the PTFA next week.

Spring Holiday

The school will close for the Spring Hoilday on Friday 4th April. School re-opens
On Tuesday 22nd April, as Monday 21st April is an Inservice Day

St George’s Day

Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Scouts and Guides can were their uniform to
school on Wednesday, 23rd April, to celebrate St George’s Day.

Celebration of Achievements

Owen Ridler, Sandra Paslawska,

All parents are welcome to Monday’s Celebration Assembl

Assistant Headteachers

Last week the school Governors appointed two permanent Assistant Headteachers: Mrs. Rollings was appointed to lead the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 (Infants) and Mrs. Joseph was appointed to lead Key Stage 2 (Juniors). These permanent posts will begin this September.

Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Joseph are currently acting Assistant Headteachers and will
be able to assist you if I am unavailable.

Dates for Diaries

Friday 4th April PTFA Cake Sale
Friday 4th April End of Term 4 – School closes for holiday
Monday 21st April INSERVICE DAY
Tuesday 22nd April Start of Term 5 – School re-opens
Friday 25th April Infant Party
Monday 12th May Start of KS2 SATS week
Friday 23rd May End of Term 5 – School closes
Monday 2nd June Start of Term 6 – School re-opens
Saturday 21st June Summer Fayre
Friday 25th July End of Term 6 – Summer Holidays.

Wednesday 12 March 2008

13th March, 2008

Dear Parents/Carers,

Mrs. Rollings Class Assembly

As many of you are aware, Mrs Rollings has not been into school the last couple of
days due to ill health. This means her class’s assembly will now take place next Wednesday at 9.15am. All parents, carers and friends are welcome.

St. Joseph’s Day Celebrations - Tomorrow

Due to the cancelation of Receptions assembly we have organised a special St. Joseph’s Day Liturgical service in school. This service will begin at 9.15am. All parents, carers and friends
are welcome.

Also as part of St. Joseph’s Day celebrations we will be having a special non-uniform day tomorrow. Each child needs to contribute 50p which will be donated to Cafod to help others around the world.

Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat performance – Video

We are recording these performances on video. The PTFA plan to edit and sell the performances on DVD to raise funds. If however, your child is in the performance, but you would not like them to be included in the video, please put your request in writing and pass it
to the school office.

Holy Week Celebration

We would like to invite all parents, carers and friends to a special Holy week celebration on Maundy Thursday (20th March). This service will take place in the school hall and will begin at 9.15am

Best wishes

Matt Condon
Headteacher

Friday 7 March 2008

7th March, 2008

Dear Parent/Carer,

Parent’s Suggestion Box

Thanks for the parent who asked about which secondary schools our children move on
to. We will aim to publish a list in the next newsletter.

Invitation Book

Invitation Books are available on request at £19.99. Please complete the slip if you require one.

School Uniform

There is a school uniform, and it is the wish of the Governors and the school
that the pupils wear it. The co-operation of parents is asked for in this matter.

Uniform for Boys: White shirt or polo shirt
Navy blue jumper or school sweatshirt
Grey or black trousers
Grey or black socks
Black shoes or black trainers

Uniform for Girls: Navy blue or grey pinafore or skirt
Navy blue or grey trousers
White blouse or polo shirt
Navy blue or gray cardigan or school sweatshirt
White or blue socks

Summer Blue and white, or pink and white check gingham
dress.
Sensible flat shoes

In future we will be sending individual letters home if children do not have the
correct uniform.

Health and Safety

May I remind parent/carers for health and safety reasons, that if you child has
pierced ears they are only allowed to wear studs. No other jewelry is allowed.

Parent Helpers

We are still looking for any parents who would like to volunteer to support older
children with their reading. Please see Mr. Condon if you are able to help in this way.

Absence Policy

If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, we ask you to please inform us
by telephone or by letter by 9.30am. If a message has not been received we will
need to contact the home address to confirm the whereabouts of your child.

I understand that several parents are still passing on verbal messages to staff in the playground. It is often difficult for staff to pass these messages on (as they are
dealing with their class) so messages by phone or letter only please.

PTFA Meeting

Thank you to those parents who attended the PTFA Meeting last night. A newsletter
will be sent out by the PTFA shortly, sharing some plans and giving the date of the next meeting (in a couple of weeks).

Book Fair

Just a reminder that the Book Fair starts on Monday 10th March. If you able to help
out please contact members of the PTFA or contact the school office.

PTFA Easter Egg Competition

This year the PTFA are organising another Easter Egg Competition. This year each
class will chose a theme and children will decorate their own eggs around that theme.
There will be a prize for the best design in each class and a class prize for the best class in Foundation/Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Eggs need to be brought into school
on Wednesday 19th March. The winners will be judged on Thursday 20th March. Children need to pay 50p to enter the competition. All funds raised go to the PTFA.

Website and Blog

If you visit the website you and blog you can now find links to a new weekly newsletter blog, links to our new ‘Big Number Crunch’ website, (where you can find materials to support your child in their calculation skills) and pictures and news from the last week. Please make a comment if you have time.

Lots of updates have been added in this week’s blog!!!!

Celebration of Achievements

Natayla Thomas, Shania Lindsay-Powell, Kevin Snaden, Bethany Crawford
Luke Briones, Lea Scott

All parents are welcome to Monday’s celebration assembly.

Dates for Diaries

Monday 10th March Book Fair Week
Tuesday 11th March Years 5 and 6 - @ Bristol
Wednesday 12th March Joseph Performance
Thursday 13th March Joseph Performance
Friday 14th March Mrs. Rollings Class Assembly – including St. Joseph’s Day celebration. (Parents’ welcome)
Friday 4th April End of Term 4 – School closes for holiday
Monday 21st April INSERVICE DAY
Tuesday 22nd April Start of Term 5 – School re-open
Monday 12th May Start of KS2 SATS week
Friday 23rd May End of Term 5 – School closes
Monday 2nd June Start of Term 6 – School re-opens
Friday 25th July End of Term 6 – Summer Holidays

Attendance - Be There Badger


This term we will continue to focus on the importance of good school attendance.
We want all pupils to achieve the best they can and as we all know it is important
that they are in school as much as possible. We aim for all our children to
have attendance of above 95%.
This chart shows how many days of school are missed for different attendance percentages and how this can impact on achievement.

We know that children do get ill and need to stay off school but we want to work
with parents / carers to ensure children come in as often as possible to maximise
the educational opportunities available to them. Please contact us if you want to
discuss your child’s attendance.

Over terms 4 and 5 this year (25th February – 23rd May) any pupil that misses 3 days
or less will receive a certificate and a packet of ‘Be there Badger’ sunflower seeds at
the start of term 6.

The attendance resources we are using this term will feature the city’s
attendance mascot – ‘Be there Badger’ and we are hoping he will visit us in school soon!


Best Wishes


Matt Condon
Headteacher