29 Feb 2008 - Newsletter 8

Dear Parents,

There are many changes around the school at the moment- you may have seen adults and children digging the allotment, new furnishings outside the office and changes to our reading book storage.  Thank you to the many staff, parents and pupils involved in planning and executing these improvements.

Every Child Matters

ENJOY AND ACHIEVE

Many of you will have received home-school agreements at parents’ evening.  Please make an effort to send these back into school as soon as possible.

The school Eisteddfod will take place on the  19^th and 20th March with the winners concert for parents on the  3^rd April.  Further details and entry forms will be available early next week.  Winners from 2007 are asked to return their trophy to the school before the competition starts.

The governors no longer produce an annual report for parents but there is a DFES school profile which has taken its place.  The profile can be accessed by  http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ parents and carers section.  It   includes up-to-date information about the school including recent results.

We have recently purchased a range of new furniture for the school entrance and year 6 classes which is gradually being installed as it arrives.  We hope to use the entrance area for meetings with parents as well as a reading and learning area for the children.  There is also a trophy cabinet which will hold school awards.

You may have heard your children talk about ‘Big Writing’.  This is a new whole school development designed to make writing at length an enjoyable and meaningful experience.  Quiet music, adapted lighting and special writing equipment are all part of the experience.  As part of the project staff are trialling a new way of    assessing pupils overall writing standards and individual targets.

Book week starts on Wednesday 5^th March.  Separate information will be sent home about this but there is a sale of books after school each day and an opportunity to dress as a book character on   Friday 7^th  March.

Some of our Gifted &Talented pupils have been enjoying special event days run by local deputy headteachers. So far there have been Religious Education, dance, music and science events.

POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION

The joint school infant and junior allotment is now taking shape thanks to a working party of parents and year 6 children.  We are still looking for a water butt and wondered if anyone had a spare that they could give to the school to collect rainwater. The school council is overseeing this exciting project.

Our parents development project will start this term and it looks likely the first topic will be ‘family friendly discipline’. If you wish to be included in this new project please contact me as soon as possible. We have a few names already but could accommodate another 4 parents or interested adults.

Parent helpers in school are welcome to drink tea/coffee in the library during pupil break times.       Improved facilities are planned soon.

BE HEALTHY/STAY SAFE

We still have a few people parking on school premises at the start and end of the day [usually for Kids Klub]. This is a safety issue and on occasions staff have been unable to park due to parents using the spaces. 

I would like to thank all the children who are now walking into school with their bicycles and scooters.

We have installed a code access at the rear of the school and only staff know this code.  All visitors must enter the school via the school office where they sign in and we know who is present in case of fire, etc.

Our yr 5 and 6 dance club has now started to lead the school in 5 minutes of ‘Wake & Shake’ three days each week.     After assembly, the whole school does an aerobics style dance which will ensure that all our pupils are meeting the      national two hours per week active PE target.

The SEAL and assembly themes for term 4 are ‘Good to be me’ and ‘Peace’.  We have also started to give out SEAL theme certificates in Friday assembly directly related to this term’s focus.

The play rangers project has now ended. The children enjoyed the opportunity to be with younger children and the different play activities including a parachute, going into the woods and physical challenges on the infant school equipment.

ECONOMIC WELL-BEING

The Yr 6 national assessment week starts on Monday 12^th May and there are assessments each day. Years 3, 4 and 5  assessment week will be the following week. Please make a particular effort not to take pupils out of school during this important period.

The governors have decided to appoint a short term temporary extra maths teacher for year 5 for two terms.            Applications for this post are due by today.

FOCJS events - It was a good turn out at our last Committee Meeting.  Thanks to everyone for their contribution.  We now have a new Committee who are actively planning the events for fund raising for this academic year.  Further details to follow in a FOCJS Newsletter.

The cake sale raised £147.73—thanks for all donations 

Please can you include the following dates in your diary:

7th March—Quiz

11th March FOCJS Meeting

27th March—Children’s Disco

Some year 6 parents have booked Cattle Country for a special leavers event on  21st July (further details to follow).  Please will all year 6 parents put this date in their diary as it was a very enjoyable event last year for all the children.

We still have a traditional piano and stool for sale for £250. Please contact the office if you are interested.

School Governors and School Council

Our present Parent School Governors are:  Mr D Ashworth, Mr I Blunden, Mr M Heaton and Mr D Ling

Chair of Governors—Mrs K Fieldhouse (who is also a parent)

School Council reps are:  6C—Jack Gillet, Eva Morley     6B—Sam Summerfield, Fiona Alexander  

5E—Luke Jackson, Anna Williams   5J—Harry Woolf, Laura Haywood     4M—Lucy Wombwell, Alex Tillin  

4B—James MacDonald, Lucy Crow  

3M—Tom Williams, Ellen Morgan   3W—Lewis Moseley, Charlotte Bancroft  

 This term's sandwich money of £2 is now due.

Wednesday 5 March        Book Week Starts

Friday 7 March                 FOCJS Quiz - 7.30pm

Wednesday 12 March     INSET 4

Wednesday 19 March     Eisteddfod Heats

                                        Y6 SATS Meeting for Parents - 5.45pm

Thursday 20 March         Eisteddfod Heats

Friday 21 March              Bank Holiday

Monday 24 March            Bank Holiday

Thursday 27 March         FOCJS Children's Disco

Thursday 3 April              Eisteddfod Winners Concert

Friday 4 April                   TERM 4 ENDS

Monday 21 July                Y6 Leavers Event - Cattle Country