Dear
Parents/Carers,
Scary
to think that there is less than 5 weeks until Christmas day! I am beginning to
hear the sound of music wherever I go as pupils across school begin the task of
committing their songs to memory, ahead of rehearsals a few weeks from now.
Thanks to Mrs Fletcher’s persuasive manner and excellent marketing, the choir
has swelled in membership to around forty choristers – and boy does it sound
GOOD!
Christmas Performances
I
have had some queries from parents in relation to Christmas Performance and
must apologise if events were not clear in last week’s newsletter. All classes
in school are involved in a performance (dates below). Reception and Years 5
& 6 will be leading their own special celebrations of Christmas through
carol services, with Y1 & 2 and Y3 & 4 performing in a play. More
information will follow about the specific details from the key stage leaders
next week.
Notoriety - at last!
This
week, I have been approached by the commissioning editor for the Leadership and Governance Hub (online http://www.optimus-education.com/ ) and the Hub Highlights magazine. As she is putting together
an article on good quality marking and feedback to pupils – an area Ofsted
recognised as a strength in our school – she wanted to conduct a case study of
our work in this field to share with other school leaders. She commented upon
the small proportion of reports being published currently who are receiving
positive comments about this aspect of school, and I am very proud that we are
in a minority (!) and that our work will be shared in this forum. I’ll let you
know when we’re live!
Lost property
We’ve
had 100% coats on the playground this week, with even our hardiest of pupils
seeking the comfort of their winter wear. We have quite a collection of lost
property building up – please see staff if your child has lost anything over
the last few weeks and we will do our best to locate it. Please can I remind
parents to find a marker pen to mark the label with a name so that misplaced
coats can be returned to their rightful owner. Thank you.
Children
in Need
Enormous thanks to all parents and
pupils who coppered up last Friday for Children in Need. Together, we raised £586.10
for this brilliant cause, and have happily passed on the proceeds.
Christmas Toy Appeal
I
have been contacted by the YMCA, who’s Christmas Toy Appeal we have supported
in the past. The appeal invites members of the community to gather toys – new
and old – which the YMCA then collect and distribute to children whose
Christmas will be significantly better for your generosity. I am very keen to lend our support to this
fabulous cause for local children and families and invite parents and pupils to
bring donations into school between Monday
2nd and Thursday 5th December. Thank you.
Playgroup
I
am very pleased to make parents aware that a group of local mums, babies and
toddlers will be gathering in our Community Room each Thursday afternoon for
some social time in a nice environment. I am hoping that this becomes a popular
resource and a good place for parents to gather and form friendships. We have a
great raft of toys, some tea/coffee and biscuits and a warm room available
between 1pm and 2.45ish every Thursday – come along! And on that note…
Coffee morning
I
am very aware that our regular get togethers have dried up a bit this year, due
to my teaching commitments every morning. I’m sorry about that, as I have
genuinely enjoyed getting to know parents and hearing your views in this forum
during the past two years. With that in mind, the next coffee morning will be
on Wednesday 11th December,
9-10. Come along and share your views, or just enjoy the coffee and
biscuits. :0)
Attendance
What
a brilliant week, attendance wise – up 1.5% on last week to the heady heights
of 96.9% overall. I cannot believe that Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 have
ALL secured attendance above 97% this week: simply phenomenal. I also cannot
quite believe that Class 5 and 6 were neck and neck again, and yet Class 5 have
once again pipped them to the winners post by 0.1% at 99.2% Incredible – well
done Class 5. Can you make it a hat trick? :0)
|
National Minimum
‘Good’ Expectation
|
Target
2013-2014
|
Attendance this
week
|
Year to date
|
|||||||||
|
95%
|
96%
|
96.9%
|
95.9%
|
|||||||||
|
Class attendance
figures for this w/e :- 20/11/13
|
||||||||||||
|
Rec A
|
Rec B
|
Class 1
|
Class 2
|
Class 3
|
Class 4
|
Class 5
|
Class 6
|
Class 7
|
Class 8
|
Class 9
|
||
|
90.1%
|
94.3%
|
97.6%
|
97.6%
|
97.4%
|
97.3%
|
99.2%
|
99.1%
|
95.3%
|
97.6%
|
98.4%
|
||
Dates for December!
Next week, 2 exciting dates are coming
up. First up, Y4 will be busy packing this weekend in readiness for their Robin
Wood residential adventure. Pupils will enjoy three days of outdoor activity
and the excitement of sleeping in bunks with friends. For many, this first
residential experience is the most memorable of all primary school experiences,
and we are looking forward to seeing that excitement first hand on Monday
morning! Have a ball, Year 4!
Next Thursday, the Friends group are
meeting to put the final touches to organisation around the Christmas Fair,
which is actually less than two weeks away. Pupils are invited to wear
non-uniform for the day next Friday 29th November. There is NO
CHARGE for this day of fashion – we are merely asking for a donation for one of
the stalls at the Christmas Fair… Any bottled, chocolate or gift or unwanted
soft toys (please don’t send your favourites!) will be gratefully received by
the Friends group, who will transform the whole thing into a sparkling
spectacular on the 4th December between 3.30 and 5pm.
Don’t forget – next Friday is also the
final day to submit your order for the Christmas Dinner. If your child would
like to enjoy the Christmas Dinner – please call into the office and make your booking!
|
25/11
|
Y4
Robin Wood Residential
|
12/12
|
Christmas
Dinner
|
|
28/11
|
Friends
Christmas prep/meeting 6.30 onwards
|
12/12
|
Choir
performance at St Pauls
|
|
29/11
|
Non –
uniform day – Donations for Christmas fair
|
16/12
|
2pm
LKS2 (Class 4, 5 & 6) performance
|
|
3/12
|
Sleeping
Beauty – pantomime in school (am).
|
17/12
|
2pm
KS1 performance (Class 1, 2 & 3)
5.30
LKS2 (Class 4, 5 & 6) performance
|
|
4/12
|
Christmas
Fair 3.30 – 5.00
|
18/12
|
2pm
Reception performance
|
|
5/12
|
Woodwind
Trio – music concert in school – pm
|
20/12
|
2pm
UKS2 lead Carols Around the Tree.
|
|
7/12
|
Choir
performance at Methodist church
|
|
|
Have
a wonderful weekend,
Mrs
Bailey
