Friday 10 December 2010


Friday 10th December 2010

Dear Parents and Carers,

Reception Nativity
A reminder that the Reception Nativity will be on Monday 13th December, at 9.30am and Tuesday 14th December at 2.00pm.

Christmas Celebrations
We would like to invite you all to our Christmas Carol Concert which will take place in the Parish Church at 2.00pm on Thursday 16th December. We would also like to invite you to our Christmas end of term Mass on Friday 17th December at 9.30am, which will also be in the Church.

PTFA Christmas Disco
A REMINDER TO GET YOUR DISCO TICKETS BEFORE THEY ARE SOLD OUT!!! The disco is next Friday 17th December, 7.00-10.00pm. The children get to choose their own songs – this was a great success in the summer disco!

IMPORTANT - Supervision Before School and Site Security
Can I remind you all of the following –

Although the school does it’s best to provide supervision in the playground between 8.45 and 8.55, this cannot be guaranteed. The care and safety of learners must remain the responsibility of parents and carers, until children enter the school with their class at 8.55.
Adults can only enter the building through the main school entrance (with the exception of parents escorting their children into the Reception class only). Please do not ask any members of staff or children to let you in through any other entrance.
Anybody coming into the school must check with reception first and sign in before coming into school. The visitors signing in book is now in the entrance porch.

Although we still strive to be a welcoming school, these measures obviously mean that we will be restricting access to the school building to those who have been authorised by a member of staff. These measures are in place to ensure –

a) We can account for all persons on premises (in the event of a fire or other emergencies)
b) Nobody is in school who might pose a risk to children

Children's Christmas Mass at St Joseph's - 6pm Christmas Eve
If your children would like to take part in the Children's Christmas mass at 6pm on Christmas Eve, either in the dramatised Gospel or by doing a reading (or both) then there will be two practices. The first will be on Monday 13th December, at 3.45pm in the church and the second will be on Monday, 20th December at 10.00am again in the church. For further information and to express your interest, please ring Cathy Williamson on 9401782. The Mass will also include a collection of gifts for the homeless (tinned food, gloves, etc.) to be taken up at the offertory. Everyone welcome!

PTFA – School Book Fair
Thank you to everyone who supported the book fair. Due to your efforts we raised an amazing £325 worth of books for the school library.

Absence – If your child is ill and unable to attend school, could you please ring and let the school know.

School Attendance
Well done to Mrs Joseph’s class with 96%, Miss Wright’s class (third week running) with high attendance of 97% and Mrs Patton’s with a fantastic 98%!

Punctuality – This is not improving. As Headteacher I am welcoming many families into school well after 8.55am. Lateness has a negative impact on learning. We will be writing to parents/carers where this continues to be an issue.

FILMCLUB – The Filmclub will be running next week with a special Christmas film.

Celebration Assembly – Wednesday 15th December, at 9.10am. The following children will received their headteachers award:-
Taychon graham, Josmi Saji, Harvey Hill, Niamh Tuohy-Tillson, Kymani Pinnock, Agnel Ailyath, Emediong Jumbo, Rashid Salawu-Thompson, Emmanuel Benny and Summer Edwards.

Dates for Diaries

Monday 13th December - Foundation & KS1 Performance – 9.30am
Tuesday 14th December - End of consultation on denominational transport
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

Friday 3 December 2010

Friday 3rd December 2010

Dear Parents and Carers,

Bad Weather
Unless conditions are severe the school will be open. Any closure would be publicised on the blog. The school will remain open all day unless conditions significantly worsen (this will be the absolute last resort). The aim is for business as usual!

It also seems that the cold weather is affecting punctuality. Please can you all prepare for these colder mornings so that you are able to get your children to school on time. Punctuality is still poor!

Security - For security reasons, when children arrive late, we are unable to allow parents escort their children to their classrooms. Children are perfectly capable of walking to classrooms by themselves.

ICT Club -A reminder that ICT will not run this coming Monday 6th December.

‘Tinsel 4 Tots Day’ – by Aaron Tarr Y6
Please support next Friday, 10th December, ‘Tinsel 4 Tots day’. We would like all the children and staff to wear tinsel for the day with non-uniform. It could be as little as wearing a piece on your clothes to dressing up as a tree – use your imagination for a small donation i.e. £1. All money raised will go to St Michael’s Hospital Special Care Unit.

£22.00 buys a ‘nest’ to help babies sleep securely in their cots. £100.00 buys a mattress for an intensive care cot, and £200.00 provides a family with accommodation next to the hospital for two months, so they can be close to their family.

Community Carols Around the TreeNext 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 ConcertThe 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.

Lost Property
Mr Pitt will be setting up a table for lost property on Monday 6th December, in the school hall from 3.15pm onwards.

Dean Field Study Centre
The next instalment of £20 is now due; please could you ensure that payment is sent to the school office by Friday 10th December. If you are paying by cheque, please make it payable to Bristol City Council.

Clothes for a Cause
The annual event of recycling old clothes, shoes, bags and curtains will take place at the end of January. Collection bags will be sent home to you the week beginning 10th January and they will need to be in school for collection by Thursday 27th January. If you are planning to have a clear out over the holidays, please could you hang onto it until after the holidays where we will be happy to recycle it for you. Money raised will be given to charity.

School Attendance
Well done to Miss Wrights (again), Mr Conlon’s and Mrs Patton’s classes with 97% attendance.

Punctuality - Punctuality much improved in Mrs Bell’s Class and Mr Conlon’s Class. Well done to those two classes.

FILMCLUB - Next week’s film will be part 2 of the Nativity which is rated a PG.

Transport to Denominational Schools - If you have not completed your additional denominational consent form, they are available from the school office.

Celebration Assembly - There will be no celebration assembly on Monday 6th December.

Dates for Diaries

Wednesday 8th December - Community Carols around the tree
Friday 10th December - Tinsel 4 Tots Day (non uniform)
Monday 13th December - Foundation & KS1 Performance – 9.30am
Tuesday 14th December - End of consultation on denominational transport
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