Dear Parents/Friends/Guardians 15th September
2005
Welcome
back to the new school year. I hope you all had a fun and relaxing summer. The
children have all settled well into their new classes and everyone is excited
about the year ahead. On a personal note can I please say thank you for all
your kind good wishes for my future as Headteacher.
Also thank you to the school team who have as always been fantastic. I am very
proud and extremely happy to be the leader of such an enthusiastic and
wonderful school!
Well
here goes for my first newsletter-I apologise for the length of this issue –
there is a lot to tell you.
Classes
The classes this year are:
Nursery Mrs Ballard
(Nursery
Nurse - Mrs Brown, LSA - Mrs
Byrne)
Reception Sapphire: Mrs Groat
(LSA - Mrs Gibson)
Year 1 Ruby: Mrs Barnett
Emerald:
Mrs Whitlock
(LSA
- Mrs Hartridge)
Year 2 Diamond: Mr Jackson
Amethyst:
Mrs Mannion (Acting Deputy
Head from 1st November until 31st December 2006)
(LSA
- Mrs Brittain/Mrs Swerling)
Mrs
English PPA cover, SEN, Curriculum
cover, supply cover for sickness/CPD, Acting Deputy Head until 30th
October 2006
Mrs Parkinson NQT cover,
Curriculum support
We were very sorry to say goodbye to Mr Nash and Mrs Bennett, they
will be missed by us all. Mr Nash has gone to
Caretaker Vacancy
An advert will appear in the local press
next week advertising the role of part time caretaker. The hours will be 20
hours a week over 40 weeks of the year and include an early start to open the
school. If you are interested or know of someone who is, please phone the
school for an informal chat with me.
Special Support Assistant Vacancy
We have a vacancy for a special support
assistant to cover 2 lunch times each week. Working hours: 12.00 - 1.10. Please
come in for an informal chat with me if you or any one you know is interested.
Thank you.
School Gates
While we have no caretaker the staff are
very generously helping me out. The Nursery and lower gates will be open from
approximately 8.30 to 9.15 and 2.45 to 3.45 to enable you to get full access.
On Monday we have a staff meeting and will need to shut the gates at 3.30 - sorry
for any inconvenience caused. If you know anyone who could help with odd jobs please
contact me at the school. We have an ever growing list of small DIY jobs that
need doing, thank you.
School Council
On Tuesday we had our first school council
meeting chaired by Mrs Mannion. Two children from each class, who were
selected by their class mates to represent them last week, attended. The aim of
these meetings is to ensure there is a forum for airing the ideas and concerns
of all the children. The representatives will talk with their classes prior to
each meeting to find out what they feel about different issues. The children
will then discuss the issues raised and decide on a course of action to suggest
to me. I very much look forward to working with the pupils in this way in the
future.
Topics for the
Autumn term
Each year group will be focusing on a
different topic each half term. Details of each one are listed below. As part
of our developing creative curriculum, the main stimuli for each topic will be
based around a piece of Art.
Foundation 1 &
2
This half term our topic is ‘OURSELVES’. The
artwork we will use as a stimulus for this half term is ‘The Bedroom at
Year 1
The focus for the first half term is
OURSELVES. The picture used as a stimulus is ‘Masks’ by Aurelia Fronty. The children will be learning about how their
bodies work, how houses have changed over time and describing their route to
school. They will be visiting the Village to look at old and new buildings as
well as visiting
Year 2
Our topic this term is SPACE. The picture
used as a stimulus is ‘Spaceshots – The Living
Earth’, a satellite picture. We will be looking at satellite and aerial
pictures, the earth’s atmosphere which will include recognition and names of
clouds. We will be developing knowledge of the solar system and a
representation of the solar system using papier maché! The children will learn about space ‘firsts’,
including the moon landing. We will also be looking at forces including
gravity. During the second half term the topic is
Admission to
Reception 2007/2008
Parents of children reaching the age of 5
between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008 need to
complete and return an admissions form to Bucks County Council by 17th
November 2006. Booklets and forms will
be available from the office when County send them to us (which should be
imminently). We will distribute copies
of the booklets to relevant children attending our Nursery.
Please note that a child
attending our Nursery is not automatically entitled to a place at the school
and the Infant School has no control or influence over the admissions
process. You must complete and return
the form to
Open Day
The Infant School & Nursery will be
open to all on Thursday 5th October from 9.15am to 2pm, when we are
holding an Open Day. This will be of
particular interest to parents of children applying for a place for their child
in 2007/2008 (as explained above).
Anyone is welcome to visit, so please spread the word.
Information
session for each Year Group
On Tuesday 19th September at
2.30pm we will be holding year group meetings for all Infant School parents.
Teachers of each year group will inform you of the content of the Curriculum
throughout the year for your child. They will also share strategies that you
can use at home to support your child’s learning. These will be held in the
classrooms and will last for half an hour. (Sapphire in Sapphire classroom, Y1
in Emerald, Y2 in Diamond). Parents who are unable to attend will receive the relevant
information in a letter.
Numeracy
Lesson for Parents
Mrs
English will be taking a Numeracy lesson on Tuesday
26th September from 9.15 – 9.45, in
Open Forum
Recent changes in legislation have meant
that the school no longer needs to hold an AGM for the parents and governors.
As a Governing body we felt that the chance for parents to meet the Governors
and Head and to ask questions would become limited. To ensure that parents
continue to have this opportunity we have decided to hold an Open Forum. This
will be held on 19th October at 2pm. All parents are welcome and if
you are able to attend please complete the form at the end of this letter. If
you have any questions please add these to the form so that an agenda can be
formulated. This is a new venture that I am sure you will make the most of. I
look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. If you are unable to
attend, a letter containing the questions and answers will be sent out.
PTA
A
huge thank you to the PTA whose amazing fundraising has enabled us to start the
year by purchasing new book boxes and resources for the cottage. They have also
pledged money for new shelving arrangements in the corridor so if you know a
carpenter please ask them to get in touch. The tables for the reception classes
and Nursery are on their way, which will complete their task of replacing the
class room furniture. I am sure you will agree that these really enhance our
learning environment. All of this expenditure goes alongside their generous
commitment for funding the photocopier and an LSA on an annual basis. I am not
sure how to begin to say thank you, but I can assure you their time and commitment
is truly appreciated. Can I please take this opportunity to encourage you all
to support them in all that they plan for this coming year and the future.
Don’t forget BAND NIGHT 30th September. (advertised in the
playground.)
Charity Donations
We
have been lucky that Martha Ware (parent of Mattie in Diamond) has been able to
send the old tables and chairs from our class rooms to schools in
Tissues
Please
can your child bring in a box of tissues to help us out as the Autumn and
Winter set in and the children catch the inevitable colds. Thank you.
School
Library Procedures
Starting
in the next 2/3 weeks the children in the Infant School will visit
the library on a weekly basis. The children choose a book and this is then
recorded on our computer system. These books should be returned weekly on the
class library day. You will be notified which day is your class day. Any lost
books will be charged at a rate of £5.00 per book.
Classroom Support
parents
If you would like to help in your child's
class with general classroom support please see your child’s class teacher. You cannot help in school, however, until you
have been checked and cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). Please
obtain the relevant forms from the office.
Reading with your
child.
Positive experiences of reading at home and
at school are very important to all our children. In order to support parents
with reading at home and to help those parents who hear children read at school
we are holding a meeting on 20th September at 2.30 p.m in the school hall. There will be time to share
strategies and then an “any questions” session. (This is a repeat of the
session ran last year.) If you would
like to support the school by listening to children read in your child's class
or an alternative class, please see your child’s class teacher.
Clubs
Available clubs this term are:-
Lunchtime
Clubs
Recorder - Monday lunchtime
(Years 1 and 2 only)
Short Tennis - Tuesday/Friday
lunchtime
French - Wednesday/Thursday
lunchtime
Guitar - Friday
lunchtime (Year 2 only)
After-School
Clubs
Spanish - Wednesday
after school
Football - Monday
after school (Years 1 and 2 only)
Premier Sports - Wednesday
after school
Letters go out from the individual club organisers indicating the requirements and charges.
Drawstring Bags
Mrs Barnett would like a selection
of drawstring bags (similar to PE bags) to store resources in. If anyone is
able to make or donate any they would be greatly appreciated. Please see Mrs Barnett if you are able to help.
Thank you!
Wycombe Wanderers
and Premier Sports Club
Wycombe Wanderers after school club starts
next Monday and Premier Sports starts on 20th September. Please collect your child as normal from
class after school and then take them into their classroom to help them get
changed. You are responsible for ensuring your child gets changed and is taken
outside to the club organisers for registration. If
footwear is dirty, please do not let your child walk through the school but
help them put their trainers/boots on outside.
Thank you!
Uniform Orders
Mrs Julie Powell has kindly taken
over the job of fulfilling uniform orders this year. Order forms can be obtained from the office
and returned there with payment attached (if you are paying cash and do not
have the exact money, the office will not be able to give you change – this
will be given to you when you receive your fulfilled order). Please note that orders received by 3pm on the
Thursday of each week will be fulfilled by Mrs Powell
the next day (Friday). We normally give
the order to your child to take home at the end of the day.
Permission for
other Adults to pick up children
Attached to this letter is a permission
slip if you would like to nominate other parents/guardians to take your
children home without you having to contact the school on the day (as is
currently the practice due to safety issues). Please fill in and return to the
office if you wish to do this (and have not done so already).
Home/School
Agreement
A Home/School agreement needs to be signed
by a parent, the child and the headteacher and a new
one completed every academic year.
Sapphire class parents and Nursery parents need not fill in the attached form but we ask Year 1 and Year 2 parents to complete and return it as soon as
possible. Thank you.
PE Kit/Labelling
Please ensure that your child has labelled PE kit in school for PE and Games lessons.
Tracksuits may be worn for Games lessons. If a child forgets their PE kit they
may borrow kit from school so that they are able to join in the lesson. Please
wash and return items borrowed so that they are available for other children.
Parents Evening
Infant School Parents
Evenings this term will be held on Wednesday 18th October from
3.30-6.00, and Thursday 19th October from 5.30-8.00. This will be a
time to look at your children's work and discuss any issues or concerns you may
have. You will receive a letter detailing timed sessions for you to fill in and
return to school.
SATs
Children in Year 2
(Diamond & Amethyst) will be involved in taking their SATs
during this academic year. You will receive more information concerning
procedures at a later date.
Products containing Nuts
Could I remind
everyone that some of our children have allergies to nuts, and therefore peanut
butter sandwiches and any product containing whole/chopped nuts are not allowed
in school. Thank you for your co-operation.
Vouchers
Thank you to all of
those people who collected vouchers for us last year (and especially to those
wonderful parents who had to count them!!) We have ‘bought’ lots of super new
equipment for the children to use including mats, tag rugby and hockey resource
sets, programmable toys, headphones, and CD Roms. All
of these will go to great use by all of the children
Dates for your Diary (changes will be marked
in bold)
18th September Wycombe Wanderers After School Club
Starts
French
Club starts Wednesday/Thursday this week
19th
September 2.30pm Year Group
Information meetings for Infant School parents, Sapphire in Sapphire classroom,
Y1 in Emerald, Y2 in Diamond
20th
September 2.30pm Reading meeting open
to all parents
21st
September 10.30am Class Parents
meeting with Mrs Peal
26th
September 9.15am – 10.15am Numeracy Lesson for Infant School parents in Pearl Class
29th September Funky Footwear Friday – Infant School
& Nursery
5th
October 9.15am to 2.30pm,
Infant School & Nursery Open Day – all welcome to visit
10th October 9.15am Harvest Festival in
11th October Individual photographs of children,
Infant & Nursery
18th October Infant School Parents Evening 3.30pm
to 6pm
19th October Infant School Parents Evening 5.30pm
to 8pm
2pm Open Forum for all
parents in school hall
20th October School closes for half-term 3.15pm
30th October School re-opens
14th November M&M Productions pantomime Infant
School
16th
November Nursery Open Day for
Nursery parents only, 9am to 11am and 12.40pm to 2.40pm
22nd November Scholastic Book Fair opens for a week
27th November Scholastic Book Fair last day
30th November Reception Induction meeting for spring
term children
12th December Years 1/2 Christmas Show for
grandparents afternoon
13th December Years 1/2 Christmas Show for parents
morning
Foundation Stage
(Nursery/Sapphire) Christmas Show afternoon
14th
December Years 1/2 Christmas Show
for parents morning
18th
December Party Day Infant &
Nursery
Nursery last day of
term
19th
December Carol Service 9.15am in
20th December Infant School last day of term, finish at
2pm
3rd January Staff training day
4th January Infant School children back to
school
New
Nursery children visit
5th January Nursery children back to school
9th February School
closes for half-term 3.15pm
19th February School re-opens (Infant & Nursery)
14th March Reception Induction meeting for
summer term children
28th March Nursery last day of term
30th March Infant School last day of term,
finish at 2pm
16th April Staff training day
17th April School starts (except Nursery)
(16th Training Day)
New
Nursery children visit
25th May Nursery & Infant School close for half-term
3.15pm
4th June Staff training day
5th June Nursery & Infant School re-open (4th
Training Day)
18th July Nursery last day of term
20th July Infant School last day of term, finish at 2pm
Yours Sincerely
Mrs
E Peal
Headteacher
A
copy of this letter is available on our website
'www.csg-school.co.uk'
Please
remember to walk to school if possible, and not to park in
'Our
school is a happy, caring place where we work together to learn and succeed by
doing our best'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will/will not be able to attend the open
forum on 19th October at 2.00pm.
I would like the following to be added to
the agenda
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signed_______________________Date_________________________