11 Jan 2008 - Newsletter 6
Happy New Year to you all and best wishes for 2008.
Staffing
We are looking forward to Term 3 with all the new learning and experiences it will bring for the children and staff.
At the end of Term 2 we said farewell to Mrs Barber and temporarily to Miss Millar who is currently in Costa Rica leading an expedition. We welcome two new members of staff on a temporary basis - Miss S Ainscough in 4m and Mr Evans job-sharing in 4b. Miss Millar will return in Term 5 and Mrs Wootten will return from maternity leave in Term 5 to replace Mrs Barber permanently as the job-share partner to Mrs Brear. We are also appointing a part-time Teaching Assistant to work 12 hours weekly with a yr 5 pupil - further details about this post are available from the office and the deadline for applications is Monday 14th January.
Every Child Matters
ENJOY AND ACHIEVE
The school has received a grant of £295 from the Rosemary Bugden Trust which will be used to purchase 4 new Yamaha keyboards for use in music lessons.
The school Christmas Card design competition was won by Callie Edwards with a computer generated design of Father Christmas landing on a rooftop!
An information leaflet about pupil attendance is available to view on the parent’s noticeboard at the entrance of the school.
POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION
There is a formal complaints procedure if you wish to discuss any issues [small or large]. Any difficulties should be first discussed with the class teacher of the pupil concerned. If the problem is still unresolved please speak to myself [or Mrs Elmore in my absence]. The final stage in the school process is the Governing Body through the Chair of Governors - Mrs Kathy Fieldhouse. She can be contacted through the school office. Any problems are best dealt with quickly so please do not hesitate to contact the school as we all want the best for every one of our pupils.
Year 4 took part in a very interesting project last term involving surveys of travel and shoppers in Thornbury High Street. The children presented their findings as PowerPoint presentations to the mayor of Thornbury, Mayor Bob Griffin, on the 14th of December. He will be sharing the children’s results with Thornbury Council at a future council meeting
Parent Council
There has been a proposal to start a parent council later in this academic year. This will need to be discussed by the Governing Body. I have received expressions of interest from a few parents already but would be interested in receiving any more views as the feasibility of a council.
KEEPING SAFE
Some of our older pupils have being using the internet in an unsafe way and giving out their own and friends personal details and access codes to unknown adults at home. Please be aware of how your children are using the internet and in particular MSN groups and the website www.IMVU. If you wish to know more about the benefits/problems involved in internet use, South Glos Council regularly hold information meetings and I will always publicise this information in the newsletter.
SEAL[ Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning]
This term the whole school will commence learning on the topic ‘Going for goals’. The recent INSET day focused on this important area and the theme will be a learning focus in both classrooms and school collective worship. We are also having a parallel focus on ‘truthfulness’ in collective worship. If you see any good examples in a school pupil either in or out of school we would like to know in order that we can acknowledge the child.
There have been several problems with vandalism over the Christmas holiday period - the ‘ Buddy bench’ was completely destroyed, broken glass bottles and cans have been littered across the field and playground area and a fire was started on the Gazebo damaging the floor. The children have missed several playtimes recently due to broken glass. We work very hard to keep our school safe and pleasant and these vandals are demoralising to all involved in caring for the school. If you see anyone in school premises after school please telephone the police on 0117 9455980. The community police are now very regularly patrolling our premises and have already contacted some trespassers.