Friday 12th November 2010

Dear Parents and Carers,

LATENESS!!!!!
Our records show that there are a number of pupils who are arriving late. We are sure you will understand lateness can be very disruptive to the school day for all children (not just those who are late). Missing the start of lessons means instructions and other essential information will have to be repeated, which will delay the start of lessons and the children’s learning.

The school day starts at 8.55am and any pupils arriving after that time will be marked as late. Parents and carers of children who are being persistently late are being written to and if punctuality does not improve cases will be referred to the Education Welfare Officer.

St Joseph’s Parish Christmas Fayre
This exciting annual event is an important fundraising and community event for the Parish. The Fayre is being held in the Parish Hall on Saturday, 27th November, at 2.00pm and the school will be organising a stall as part of the event. Please come and bring you families.

The school will be running a stall using packets of sweets as prizes. To help support this we will be having a non uniform day on Friday 26th November. Can all children who are wearing their own clothes bring in a box/packet of sweets/chocolates to be won as a prize on the day. We ware also selling products that Y1 children made last year with Bristol Brunel Academy pupils.

Updated Contacts/Medical - If your child’s contact details or any new medical conditions have changed since the end of last term, could you please let the office know as soon as possible.

Community Carols Around the Tree
On Wednesday 8th December from 3.45-4.45pm there will be an opportunity to join the school choir to sing Christmas Carols around the Christmas tree, followed by minced pies. We want this to be a special community event and we hope you can all come.

Cabot Circus Concert
The choir will be singing in Cabot Circus on Thursday 9th December, raising money for the Ronald Macdonald House which is an independent charity which provides Home from Home accommodation, for critically ill children. We will also be collecting money for this charity when we sing around the Christmas Tree the previous day.


School Attendance - Well done to Mrs Rollings class with 96% attendance, Miss Wright’s and Mrs Patton’s classes with 97%, Mrs Ford’s class with 98% and Mr Conlon’s class with a smashing 99.1%!

Punctuality - We will now also be letting you know what classes have 100% punctuality. Unfortunately no classes last week had 100% punctuality. This is an indication of what a big problem lateness is becoming.

Team Points - St Mark’s Team won last terms Team Points competition. As a reward all of St. Mark’s team can wear non-uniform on Friday 19th November.

School Dinner Menu
Following the issue of the new school dinner menu by Eden, it has been decided that for week 2 and week 3 the menu for Tuesday and Wednesday will be swapped so that the roast dinner is on the Wednesday as usual.
On Wednesday 24th November(week 1), to celebrate British Sausage Week the Mild Chicken Curry will be replaced by Oven Baked Sausages with mashed potato and cabbage.
Christmas lunch will be on Wednesday 8th December - the menu is displayed in the playground noticeboard.

Book Fair Week - Book Fair week begins on Monday 22nd November, until Friday 26th November. This is an opportunity to buy some lovely books for Christmas and support the new school library (which is almost ready!)

Spare Clothing - If you have any spare underwear, socks, tights, trousers, we would be most grateful. These will be used as spare clothing in school.

Drumming Club - There will be no Drumming Club on Thursday 25th November (this is just for one week)

Celebration Assembly
There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 15th November, at 3.00pm. The following children will receive a headteachers award:-
Harvey Hill, Alflie Haberfield, Williams Scammell, Norbert Kulesza, Thomas Hallard, Emily Cunningham, King Wilson, David Wabissa and Maciej Oledzki.

Dates for Diaries

Sunday 14th November (10am) - Remembrance Mass in Church
Friday 19th November - St Mark’s non-uniform day
Monday 22nd November - Book Fair Week
Friday 26th November - Non uniform day (bring a packet of sweets)
Saturday 27th November - Parish Christmas Fayre
Tuesday 30th November - Lifeskills visit – Y6
Wednesday 1st December - Advent Mass in Hall – 9.30am
Friday 3rd December - PTFA Christmas Market
Wednesday 8th December - Community Carols around the tree
Monday 13th December - Foundation & KS1 Performance – 9.30am
Tuesday 14th December - Foundation & KS1 Performance – 2.00pm
Wednesday 15th December - Infant Party
Thursday 16th November - Carol Concert – 2.00pm in Church
Friday 17th December - Christmas Mass – 9.30am in Church
Friday December 17th - Christmas Disco
Friday 17th December - End of Term 2
Tuesday 4th January - Start of Term 3

Best wishes


Matt Condon, Headteacher