23 Jul 2007 - Weekly Newsletters Summer Term 2007
Weekly Newsletter No 23
Friday 6th July 2007
Dear Parents,
Our Summer Fayre on Saturday 14th July is getting close. We hope you and your family will be there!
Our collection of store school vouchers has gone very well. This week we ordered another P.C. and flat screen monnitor from Tesco using some of the 22,000 vouchers collected. We also received a cheque for £80.70 for our Nestle Box Tops collection. Many, many thanks for these collections. We can still receive vouchers for 'banking' for use next year.
Shortly parents of Years 3 to 6 children will be receiving notification of their children's SAT results. Early indications of results already in are very encouraging.
Next Friday (13th July) all being well, Class 4 will be going on a coastal trip to Watermouth Cove as part of our Geography curriculum, to study caves, arches, rock pools and beach formation etc. Children will need a dring and packed lunch, and suitable clothing for the beach and the weather - not school uniform, a coat and a towel in a bag will also be required. Children will not need to bring any money. To help with transport costs a contribution of £4 per child would be appreciated. Please complete the form below.
Don't forget we would like bookings for childrens guitar and flute lessons for next September. Please return the form below.
Next term we plan to take Years 1,2 and 3 swimming at South Molton Pool, with Years 4,5 and 6 going to North Devon Leisure Centre during the spring term.
Next Tuesday morning, classes 1 and 2 will be participating in the area Infant Music Festival at South Molton Community College. On Wednesday Year 6 children will be going to the same venue for a design and technology day. They will need a packed lunch on this occasion please. We assume parents are happy with these arrangements unless we hear to the contrary.
Weather permitting we hope to hold our Sports Day during the afternoon of Wednesday 18th July. Everyone is very welcome. The last day of term is Tuesday 24th July.
Currently children can arrive at school at 8.30am, ready to start at 8.45am. There seems to be some demand for childcare before that, from working parents. We are just gathering information at this stage, so if you feel you would use this(if it exists), please return the relevant form below within the next couple of days. Obviously it would have to be cost effective and viable.
G D Reed
Headteacher
*****************************************************************
Weekly Newlsetter No 22
Friday 29th June 2007
Dear Parents,
By now you will have received your child's annual report. Unfortunately we omitted to include an appendix sheet with each report, which gives further details, and explains how the effort/ability grading operates. This appendix is attached to this newsletter.
Considerable work is going on for our Friends Summer Fayre on Saturday 14th July. We would be grateful if parents could display the attached poster around and about. Volunteers are required to man stalls - please see the list in the school entrance porch.
We continue to have new children starting school and we welcome them. Sadly we have to say goodbye to Georgia Everett-Brown as the family are going to New Zealand ? but they will be back in a year.
Please note that there will be no recorder lessons on Monday. But children should be practising daily, as I ma sure they regularly do. At this school all children in Years 3 - 6 have instrumental music lessons. Some opt for guitars or flute/fife. Because we 'buy-in' teachers for these instruments a charge of approximately £45 is made for 10 lessons per term, which represents very good value. To book your child?s music tuition, please complete the form below.
Children in Classes 3 and 4 who do not have flute or guitar lessons in school, all have recorder lessons, for which there is no charge. These children need a plastic (not wooden) recorder please, available from any music shop at approximately £4 - 5. Please note that toy recorders are not suitable.
We continue next term with 4 classes in the morning, 3 during the afternoons, as at present. Class 1 will be for Reception and Year 1, Class 2 for Years 1 and 2, Class 3 for Years 3 and 4 and Class 4 for Years 5 and 6.
You might be interested in 3 children-friendly shows (part of North Devon?s Fringe Theatre Festival) being put on this weekend - all suitable for primary aged children and parents.
Multi-Story Theatre Company (Perhaps better known to local children as Gill and Bill) present The Golden Key their high-energy version of an ever popular tale. Performances are on Friday 29th June at 8.00pm and Saturday 30th June at 3.15pm. Age 5+
The Great Surmowill be presenting his own special brand of comedy magic on Friday 29th June at 5.00pm and Sunday 1st July also at 5.00pm. Age 5+. I know ?The Great Surmo? very well and find his show very funny, and therefore strongly recommend him.
And there is an opportunity for over 7's to see an exciting piece of contemporary dance created by Cathy Richards for North Devon Dance. Entanglement is on Friday 29th June at 6.30pm and Saturday 30th June at 7.45pm.
The productions last between 30 and 45 minutes. Tickets for each production are £3 full privce and just £2 for children and concessions. The performances take place in The Factory, a new venue on the Roundswell Industrial Estate, just past Sainsburys. The venue will be well signed.
Please note that the Football Competition at Forches is cancelled.
Currently we have collected around 22,000 Tesco Vouchers, boosted by 3,000 from Perrigo in Braunton. Are there any more?
Next Tuesday we have being visited by a Youth Choir giving us a concert and a workshop. This sounds very exciting.
G D Reed
Headteacher
******************************************************************
Weekly Newsletter No 21
Friday 22nd June 2007
Dear Parents,
Computer Club continues every Tuesday from 3.20 to 4.00 for all Years 4, 5 and 6 children. Places are restricted to 20 - so first come, first served.
Within a day or two you should receive your childs annual report. Classes 3 and 4 will, hopefully, receive these today. We hope you find this useful and informative. Teachers spend many hours writing these reports, and are very happy to meet parents at our summer parent/teacher consultations from 3.30pm onwards on Thursday 28th June. If you find the report self-explanatory please do not feel obliged to attend; the choice is yours. At the time of writing full SAT results are not available. These will be sent to parents as soon as we receive them. Reports for Reception children take the form of the national Foundation Stage Profile which Mrs French will give to parents at the parent/teacher consultation, as an explanation is useful.
Don't forget that Cook Kids Club is able to look after a limited number of children while parent/teacher interviews are going on, if you book early.
Next week's Cool Kids Club programme includes :
Monday - Potato seed hedgehogs Tuesday - Games Wednesday Craft - Bean Bag balls Thursday - Cookery - Banana Muffins Friday - Bingo evening - with prizes! Book early to avoid disappoinment.
On Friday 29th July, some of our older children will be taking part in the Barnstaple area Football Tournament at Forches School until 6.00pm. Letters to those concerned are on their way.
Class 4 had a thought-provoking visit to the 'Life' exhibition at Grosvenor Church this week as part of their R.E. work. The positive comments about our children's good behaviour by the exhibition staff was most encouraging.
Parents of Year R and 6 children will have received a letter about height and weight measurements. Please note that you only need to respond if you do not wish your child to be measured.
Currently we have a number of un-named sweatshirts and other clothing (particularly P.E. kit) in our lost property box. What can we do? If children's clothes were all labelled we would have no problem.
Our Friends Association (PTA) of which all parents and staff are members, does an enormous amount for our school, socially and financially. Our big fund-raiser is our Summer Fayre on Saturday afternoon 14th July. Please book this date and let your friends know about it.
G D Reed
Headteacher
******************************************************************
Weekly Newsletter No 20
Thursday 14th June 2007
Dear Parents,
You already know that school is closed tomorrow for a staff -only day. Have a nice long weekend!
Tonight, at 8.00pm, there is a Friends Association meeting to which everyone is invited.
Teachers are currently writing pupil's annual reports which, hopefully, will be with you within the next couple of week. Provisionally, Thursday 28th June (from 3.45 - 6.00pm) has been booked for parent/teacher interviews - this is to be confirmed. Don't forget that throughout the year you are welcome to discuss your child's progress with his/her teacher- you do not need to wait until our formal October and June/July consultations.
Many thanks to everyone who completed our recent parental questionnaire. The positive responses were extremely encouraging as the attached sheet indicates. Every response agreed with each statement. For example 100% strongly agree/tend to agree that teaching is good, children are making progress, the school is well led and that parents feel comfortable approaching school.
On Monday next (18th June) Classes 1 and 2 will be travelling to Falcons Gym for more PE sessions. Please ensure that children have their PE kit in school, and that they have a drink of water to take with them.
If your child is in Reception or Year 6 there will be a letter coming out shortly about measuring height and weight, part of a national study.
Our Cool Kids Club continues to thrive, although we have heard of two other local schools which have had to close theirs down due to lack of demand/support. In the near future, there may be a vacancy on our CKC staff. If you are interested in this paid employment (from 3.10-5.40pm, either daily or occasionally) please discuss it with either Sharon Newnham (Chair of the Committee) or myself.
Next week's programme includes :
Monday- Making potato seed hedgehogs and dressing up Tuesday - Making snakes and caterpillars out of egg boxes Wednesday - Making plaster of Paris leaf fossils Thursday - Cookery Friday Special Film Night- showing Happy Feet (Mumble, a tone-deaf Emperor Penguin, is unable to attract a mate through song, making him an outcast from the rest of his tribe. But his problems are trivial compared to the imminent food shortage they are all facing. In an attempt to redeem himself and win the heart of his beloved Gloria, Mumble goes on a journey of self-discovery only to find that his special tap dancing skills are a blessing in disguise. Please book very early to avoid disappointment.
If parents are not at school by 3.20pm to collect their children (and we have not heard from them) pupils are normally taken down to Cool Kids Club where they have a snack and join in the activities; this is to ensure their welfare and safety. You will appreciate that CKC need to make a charge for this service to parents. Most children come to CKC because they enjoy the activities, and stay until 5.30pm - perhaps you might consider giving your child an opportunity to socialise with others in this way.
If you have an order for Usbourne Books (via the Friends Ass) please return it to school next week; f.a.o. Hannah
Class 4's next technology project involves bread making. If you have a child in this Class with any sort of allergy or intolerance to any bread ingredients, please let us know.
Dinner Money for this half-term is £61.05. The cost for each meal is £1.65 - very good value!!! Please assist us by sending in Dinner Money on Mondays (cash in a named envelope, cheques payable to Devon County Council please)
G D Reed
Headteacher
Friday 6th July 2007
Dear Parents,
Our Summer Fayre on Saturday 14th July is getting close. We hope you and your family will be there!
Our collection of store school vouchers has gone very well. This week we ordered another P.C. and flat screen monnitor from Tesco using some of the 22,000 vouchers collected. We also received a cheque for £80.70 for our Nestle Box Tops collection. Many, many thanks for these collections. We can still receive vouchers for 'banking' for use next year.
Shortly parents of Years 3 to 6 children will be receiving notification of their children's SAT results. Early indications of results already in are very encouraging.
Next Friday (13th July) all being well, Class 4 will be going on a coastal trip to Watermouth Cove as part of our Geography curriculum, to study caves, arches, rock pools and beach formation etc. Children will need a dring and packed lunch, and suitable clothing for the beach and the weather - not school uniform, a coat and a towel in a bag will also be required. Children will not need to bring any money. To help with transport costs a contribution of £4 per child would be appreciated. Please complete the form below.
Don't forget we would like bookings for childrens guitar and flute lessons for next September. Please return the form below.
Next term we plan to take Years 1,2 and 3 swimming at South Molton Pool, with Years 4,5 and 6 going to North Devon Leisure Centre during the spring term.
Next Tuesday morning, classes 1 and 2 will be participating in the area Infant Music Festival at South Molton Community College. On Wednesday Year 6 children will be going to the same venue for a design and technology day. They will need a packed lunch on this occasion please. We assume parents are happy with these arrangements unless we hear to the contrary.
Weather permitting we hope to hold our Sports Day during the afternoon of Wednesday 18th July. Everyone is very welcome. The last day of term is Tuesday 24th July.
Currently children can arrive at school at 8.30am, ready to start at 8.45am. There seems to be some demand for childcare before that, from working parents. We are just gathering information at this stage, so if you feel you would use this(if it exists), please return the relevant form below within the next couple of days. Obviously it would have to be cost effective and viable.
G D Reed
Headteacher
*****************************************************************
Weekly Newlsetter No 22
Friday 29th June 2007
Dear Parents,
By now you will have received your child's annual report. Unfortunately we omitted to include an appendix sheet with each report, which gives further details, and explains how the effort/ability grading operates. This appendix is attached to this newsletter.
Considerable work is going on for our Friends Summer Fayre on Saturday 14th July. We would be grateful if parents could display the attached poster around and about. Volunteers are required to man stalls - please see the list in the school entrance porch.
We continue to have new children starting school and we welcome them. Sadly we have to say goodbye to Georgia Everett-Brown as the family are going to New Zealand ? but they will be back in a year.
Please note that there will be no recorder lessons on Monday. But children should be practising daily, as I ma sure they regularly do. At this school all children in Years 3 - 6 have instrumental music lessons. Some opt for guitars or flute/fife. Because we 'buy-in' teachers for these instruments a charge of approximately £45 is made for 10 lessons per term, which represents very good value. To book your child?s music tuition, please complete the form below.
Children in Classes 3 and 4 who do not have flute or guitar lessons in school, all have recorder lessons, for which there is no charge. These children need a plastic (not wooden) recorder please, available from any music shop at approximately £4 - 5. Please note that toy recorders are not suitable.
We continue next term with 4 classes in the morning, 3 during the afternoons, as at present. Class 1 will be for Reception and Year 1, Class 2 for Years 1 and 2, Class 3 for Years 3 and 4 and Class 4 for Years 5 and 6.
You might be interested in 3 children-friendly shows (part of North Devon?s Fringe Theatre Festival) being put on this weekend - all suitable for primary aged children and parents.
Multi-Story Theatre Company (Perhaps better known to local children as Gill and Bill) present The Golden Key their high-energy version of an ever popular tale. Performances are on Friday 29th June at 8.00pm and Saturday 30th June at 3.15pm. Age 5+
The Great Surmowill be presenting his own special brand of comedy magic on Friday 29th June at 5.00pm and Sunday 1st July also at 5.00pm. Age 5+. I know ?The Great Surmo? very well and find his show very funny, and therefore strongly recommend him.
And there is an opportunity for over 7's to see an exciting piece of contemporary dance created by Cathy Richards for North Devon Dance. Entanglement is on Friday 29th June at 6.30pm and Saturday 30th June at 7.45pm.
The productions last between 30 and 45 minutes. Tickets for each production are £3 full privce and just £2 for children and concessions. The performances take place in The Factory, a new venue on the Roundswell Industrial Estate, just past Sainsburys. The venue will be well signed.
Please note that the Football Competition at Forches is cancelled.
Currently we have collected around 22,000 Tesco Vouchers, boosted by 3,000 from Perrigo in Braunton. Are there any more?
Next Tuesday we have being visited by a Youth Choir giving us a concert and a workshop. This sounds very exciting.
G D Reed
Headteacher
******************************************************************
Weekly Newsletter No 21
Friday 22nd June 2007
Dear Parents,
Computer Club continues every Tuesday from 3.20 to 4.00 for all Years 4, 5 and 6 children. Places are restricted to 20 - so first come, first served.
Within a day or two you should receive your childs annual report. Classes 3 and 4 will, hopefully, receive these today. We hope you find this useful and informative. Teachers spend many hours writing these reports, and are very happy to meet parents at our summer parent/teacher consultations from 3.30pm onwards on Thursday 28th June. If you find the report self-explanatory please do not feel obliged to attend; the choice is yours. At the time of writing full SAT results are not available. These will be sent to parents as soon as we receive them. Reports for Reception children take the form of the national Foundation Stage Profile which Mrs French will give to parents at the parent/teacher consultation, as an explanation is useful.
Don't forget that Cook Kids Club is able to look after a limited number of children while parent/teacher interviews are going on, if you book early.
Next week's Cool Kids Club programme includes :
Monday - Potato seed hedgehogs Tuesday - Games Wednesday Craft - Bean Bag balls Thursday - Cookery - Banana Muffins Friday - Bingo evening - with prizes! Book early to avoid disappoinment.
On Friday 29th July, some of our older children will be taking part in the Barnstaple area Football Tournament at Forches School until 6.00pm. Letters to those concerned are on their way.
Class 4 had a thought-provoking visit to the 'Life' exhibition at Grosvenor Church this week as part of their R.E. work. The positive comments about our children's good behaviour by the exhibition staff was most encouraging.
Parents of Year R and 6 children will have received a letter about height and weight measurements. Please note that you only need to respond if you do not wish your child to be measured.
Currently we have a number of un-named sweatshirts and other clothing (particularly P.E. kit) in our lost property box. What can we do? If children's clothes were all labelled we would have no problem.
Our Friends Association (PTA) of which all parents and staff are members, does an enormous amount for our school, socially and financially. Our big fund-raiser is our Summer Fayre on Saturday afternoon 14th July. Please book this date and let your friends know about it.
G D Reed
Headteacher
******************************************************************
Weekly Newsletter No 20
Thursday 14th June 2007
Dear Parents,
You already know that school is closed tomorrow for a staff -only day. Have a nice long weekend!
Tonight, at 8.00pm, there is a Friends Association meeting to which everyone is invited.
Teachers are currently writing pupil's annual reports which, hopefully, will be with you within the next couple of week. Provisionally, Thursday 28th June (from 3.45 - 6.00pm) has been booked for parent/teacher interviews - this is to be confirmed. Don't forget that throughout the year you are welcome to discuss your child's progress with his/her teacher- you do not need to wait until our formal October and June/July consultations.
Many thanks to everyone who completed our recent parental questionnaire. The positive responses were extremely encouraging as the attached sheet indicates. Every response agreed with each statement. For example 100% strongly agree/tend to agree that teaching is good, children are making progress, the school is well led and that parents feel comfortable approaching school.
On Monday next (18th June) Classes 1 and 2 will be travelling to Falcons Gym for more PE sessions. Please ensure that children have their PE kit in school, and that they have a drink of water to take with them.
If your child is in Reception or Year 6 there will be a letter coming out shortly about measuring height and weight, part of a national study.
Our Cool Kids Club continues to thrive, although we have heard of two other local schools which have had to close theirs down due to lack of demand/support. In the near future, there may be a vacancy on our CKC staff. If you are interested in this paid employment (from 3.10-5.40pm, either daily or occasionally) please discuss it with either Sharon Newnham (Chair of the Committee) or myself.
Next week's programme includes :
Monday- Making potato seed hedgehogs and dressing up Tuesday - Making snakes and caterpillars out of egg boxes Wednesday - Making plaster of Paris leaf fossils Thursday - Cookery Friday Special Film Night- showing Happy Feet (Mumble, a tone-deaf Emperor Penguin, is unable to attract a mate through song, making him an outcast from the rest of his tribe. But his problems are trivial compared to the imminent food shortage they are all facing. In an attempt to redeem himself and win the heart of his beloved Gloria, Mumble goes on a journey of self-discovery only to find that his special tap dancing skills are a blessing in disguise. Please book very early to avoid disappointment.
If parents are not at school by 3.20pm to collect their children (and we have not heard from them) pupils are normally taken down to Cool Kids Club where they have a snack and join in the activities; this is to ensure their welfare and safety. You will appreciate that CKC need to make a charge for this service to parents. Most children come to CKC because they enjoy the activities, and stay until 5.30pm - perhaps you might consider giving your child an opportunity to socialise with others in this way.
If you have an order for Usbourne Books (via the Friends Ass) please return it to school next week; f.a.o. Hannah
Class 4's next technology project involves bread making. If you have a child in this Class with any sort of allergy or intolerance to any bread ingredients, please let us know.
Dinner Money for this half-term is £61.05. The cost for each meal is £1.65 - very good value!!! Please assist us by sending in Dinner Money on Mondays (cash in a named envelope, cheques payable to Devon County Council please)
G D Reed
Headteacher