Friday 18 October 2013

Dear Parents/Carers,

New School Clubs

After the holiday, the following clubs will be starting:

·         On Monday and Friday Mrs Petela will be leading Energy Club which is a fun, physical activity club which encourages children to be fit and healthy. Two clubs will run with Years R, 1 and 2 running after school on a Monday and Years 3-6 running after school on a Friday. All sessions are free, will finish at 4.30pm and are offered on a first come, first served basis.

·         Kodu Club is a new computer club, which is being led by Mr Condon, will focus on programming and game design using the Kodu programme. The club is open to pupils in Year 5 and 6 and will finish at 4.30pm every Monday. There is no cost for this club.

Club
Finish Time
Year Groups
Start date/day of club
End date
Cost
Textiles
5pm
3-6
Mondays
On-going (payment covers until Christmas)
£2.50 per session
Choir
4.30pm
3-6
Tuesdays
On-going
No cost
Gymnastics and Dance
4.45pm
1-6
Wednesdays
Wednesday 18th December
£2.50 per session
Football
4.45pm
1-6
Thursdays
Thursday 19th December
£2.50 per session
Mandarin
4.15pm
1-6
Fridays
On-going
No cost
Art
4.45pm
3-6
Thursdays
On-going (payment covers until Christmas)
£2.50 per session
Energy Club
4.30pm
R-2
3-6
Mondays
Fridays
On-going
No cost
Kodu Club
4.30pm
5 and 6
Mondays
On-going
No cost

We no longer require written permission but places will be allocated on a first-come basis. Please send payment into the school office in an envelope with details of the child and chosen club. If no payment is required please send in a brief note requesting a place for your child.

Mr Condon’s Charity Bike Ride for Ataxia UK

A big thank to those of you who have donated to Ataxia UK. £85 was raised for this charity’s important work.

Supporting learning at home

During the recent Parent’s Evenings, many parents enquired about what resources might be available to support learning further at home. Here are some ideas of materials available online:

·         Visit Mathletics through our school website. Mathletics gives children an excellent opportunity to practice and improve their maths skills. All children in Year 1-6 have been given their own login which is available at school. Mathletics can be accessed online on a personal computer or an IPad app, which is now available.

·         Also on the website, is our own Number Crunch website. This includes materials to show how we teach calculation in simple steps (multiplication and division are currently being updated), as well as all the number clubs, which help children learn their tables. All materials can be downloaded to be used at home. A new Number Crunch website is currently under construction.

·         Again on our website, the Challenge website includes a range of materials to support learning in Maths, English, Science and other areas.

·         The BBC Bitesize website includes a great range of activities for children of all ages to learn, practice and improve their key skills. These interactive materials work on personal computers but not on Apple products such as IPads.
If you would like to buy books to support learning at home, many are available at shops such as Waterstones or WHSmiths. The school can recommend CGP who publish a wide range of books to support learning in English and Maths. They produce study guides as well as practice and revision books and their website can be found at:

                                                 www.cgpbooks.co.uk/Parent/homeParents

Please let us know if there are other useful materials, which we can add to this list.

Morrison’s ‘Let’s grow’ Gardening Vouchers

Morrison’s will be giving out Let’s Grow Gardening Vouchers until 27th October 2013.  The School Gardening Club depends on these vouchers which they exchange for seeds, equipment and compost.  If you are not offered the vouchers at the checkout, please ask for them and send them into school as soon as possible.  There is a collection box in the reception area of the school.  Thank you for your continued support.

IMPORTANT –Reporting Absence

Can I remind parents that if their child is absent, they must telephone the school so we can ensure all children are in school or safely at home. If we have not received contact regarding an absence by 9.30am, we have no alternative but to record the pupil’s absence as unauthorised, which could result in further action being taken.

Play Equipment for Reception

With the Reception slide recently broken, we are looking for replacement plastic outdoor play equipment (e.g. play equipment produced by Little Tikes or similar). If anybody has such equipment that they would like to donate please see Miss Phillips or contact the school office. Any donations are very much appreciated.

Attendance

Well done to the following classes for their good attendance last week:

  • Reception and Year 3 with an amazing 100% attendance.
  • Year 1 with a great 99% attendance.
  • Year 5 with 98% and Year 4 with 97% attendance.
  • Reception, Year 1 and Year 3 will have special non uniform days on Wednesday 23rd October.
Good Attendance and Punctuality Presentation

As you know we have planned a 100% attendance presentation when each class will have a special draw where children can win a £10 voucher. Because punctuality this term has been disappointing, when entering children into the draws, we will be entering all children with 100% attendance and no more than 2 late arrivals to school. Each 100% child will be given a ticket on Thursday which they need to bring to Friday’s assembly. This ticket also means they can wear their own clothes on the following day for the presentation.

Celebration of Achievements

There will be a celebration assembly on Monday 14th October at 9.10am, where the following children will receive their Headteacher’s award:  Marco La Porta, Lena Smith and Angus Wallace.

Super Stars Sports Award:  Maria Benny, Emily Nurse, Janice Asemota and Piper Whitaker.

Art Super Stars Award: Blake-Anthony Bennett and Aleena Vincent.

Dates for Diaries

Wednesday 23rd October                          -           Attendance non uniform for Years R, 1 and 3

Friday 25th October                                     -           Non uniform day for all Term 1 100% pupils

Friday 25th October                                     -           End of term and 100% attendance presentation

Monday 4th November                               -           Start of Term 2

Tuesday 5th November at 2pm                -           Tour for prospective parents

Wednesday 6th November                                    -           Mass for All Saints in church (Year 5 reading)

Friday 29th November                                 -           Advent Mass in school hall (Year 4 reading)

Monday 2nd December                              -           Book Fair Week

Monday 16th December - pm                   -           Infant Nativity Performance

Tuesday 17th December – am                   -           Infant Nativity Performance

Friday 20th December                                 -           Christmas Mass in Church (Year 3 reading)

 


Best wishes

 
Matt Condon
Headteacher

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