Newsletter – September 2017

Welcome back

It was good to welcome the children on Tuesday. They all looked ready for coming back to school after the summer break and it was interesting listening to their talk about the holidays. It was lovely to see our new F1 children settles so quickly.

Curriculum this half term

On the website you can find a curriculum overview term by term of what your child will be studying and learning about. We will send a curriculum newsletter giving general information and a more detailed breakdown of the learning taking place in the classroom, which will be distributed in the near future.

Church Distinctiveness

Our Christian value for this half term is Thankfulness and will be the focus for our daily worship. This will link to our focus as we celebrate Harvest at the beginning of October. We look forward to welcoming Rev Andy and Rev Mo as they share leading worship on a Wednesday.

Extra-Curricular Activities

We welcome Miss Jones as our after school club co-ordinator who will run our after school club every evening from 3.30 to 5pm. Drama club will continue to run on a Tuesday evening after school and is open to children in years 3,4,5 and 6.  This has a small charge of £2.50. Sports club is on a Friday afternoon and runs from 3.30 to 4.30pm.  If you wish for your child to stay until 5 please inform the office. Both breakfast club and after school club are becoming increasingly busy, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Staff News

We wish Mrs Hailstone well as she begins her maternity leave and look forward to meeting new baby Hailstone in the near future.

School Uniform

Please ensure your child has all their uniform labelled, as it makes it easy to return lost property and helps after changing for PE, especially for the younger children. We also suggest that even if the weather looks nice, that your child brings a coat to school.  We will be making the most of every opportunity to go outside, this includes in light rain. Uniform continues to be available for you to order from the website and can be delivered free to the school or your home at an additional cost.  Please see our website for details.

Wellies and Waterproofs

Mrs Wrightson has asked that if anyone has any old wellies or waterproofs that are too small but may fit our Foundation Stage pupils if you would kindly donate them.  This will enable the children to play outside in poorer weather and keep dry.

Data and Permission Sheets

At the same time as the newsletter you should have all received permission slips and data forms. Please ensure these are completed and returned no later than Friday 22 September.   It is important that we have current contact details so that there is no delay if we need to pass on information.

Reminders

All pupils who have moved into year 3 are now eligible to pay for their lunch as the infant school meal scheme only applies to children up to year 2. Dinner money for pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 should be sent to school on a Monday in an envelope marked with your child’s name and the days meals that are required. The price remains at £2.30 per day or £11.50 for a full week. If you think Envelopes containing money and letters are to be returned to school should be handed into the class teacher by your child and not at the office.

Toast is also available at a cost of 20 pence per day. If you wish for your child to have toast during the morning playtime please send the money on a Monday in a sealed envelope with your child’s name and the days that they require toast. This can be handed to your child’s teacher. If your child wears ear rings please ensure they are the plain small stud type and that they are removed on PE days or plasters/tape sent to school with your child so that they can be covered for safety reasons. Pupils should bring their PE kits on a Monday to leave in school until Friday as sometimes additional opportunities during the week may mean they need their PE kits.

Arrangements for the school day

At the beginning of the day the doors will open at 8.45am and the children are free to come into school from this time.  The school day will officially begin at 9.00am, by which time children are expected to be in class and ready to work.  After 9.00am your child will have to enter by the main office and this will result in a late mark.

At the end of the day F1 and F2 pupils, as well as children in Years 1 and 2, will be handed over to parents, so please come into the school grounds when the gate is opened at 3.30pm. For pupils in Years 3 to 6 they are allowed to meet you on the playground or walk home alone, if this is what you arrange with your child.

Please inform staff of any special collection arrangements. We appreciate that sometimes arrangements change at the last minute, please inform the school if someone else is collecting your child and then we can ensure that everyone is safe.

PTFA

The PTFA work extremely hard every year to raise money to give back to the children. They are always looking for and are keen to welcome new members, so do come along and support your school and find out about the work of the PTFA and how it has a positive impact on your child’s school life.

Date of next meeting  – Friday 15^th September at 2.30pm.

Dates for the Diary

• Friday 15 September 2.30pm – PTFA meeting
• Tuesday 19 September 4.30pm – Y5/6 Residential Court Meeting for the Parents of those children attending Caythorpe Court
• Thursday 28 September – Topic afternoon and McMillan coffee afternoon.  All donations of cakes gratefully received.
• Tuesday 10 October – 9.00am – Family and Individual Photographs
• Tuesday 10 October time tbc –  Harvest celebration, St Lawrence church.
• Wednesday 11 October – Friday 13^th October – Residential visit for years 5 and 6.
• Friday 13 October – no celebration assembly.
• Monday 23 October – Parents’ evening.
• Friday 27 October 3.30pm – Half term begins
• Monday 6 November – 8.45am Return to school.
• Friday 17 November – school closed to pupils for training.
• Friday 1 December – school fair.
• Tuesday 12 December – Year FS1, 2, Year 1, 2 and 3 performance.
• Thursday 14 December, pm –  Whole school visit to pantomime.
• Monday 18 December, 6pm – Christingle Service at St Lawrence.
• Wednesday 20 December – Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas Lunch
• Friday 22 December 3.30pm – Schools closes for Christmas
• Monday 8 January 8.45 am – Return to school

Download a copy of this newsletter here