AUTUMN TERM NEWSLETTER No. 1 Friday 3rd September 2010
Dear Parents,
WELCOME BACK
How lovely to be returning with beautiful sunny weather to start the new year! Welcome back to everybody and a special welcome to all our new children and parents. We wish you a happy and successful year ahead, and trust that we will work together in close partnership to enable all children to become the best they can be. It already feels as though we have been back for longer than two days, for the children have settled beautifully and all appear happy to be back in school routine. The staff might take a little bit longer!
THANK YOU
You are a very generous bunch of parents: thank you so much for your lovely gifts and good wishes at the end of last term. They are very much appreciated by all.
NEW STAFF
We welcome our new members of staff and wish them a happy and successful association with this lovely community of Holy Family.
Miss Rebecca Elliott - Year 3 class teacher
Miss Lauren McNeillie - Reception class teacher
Mr Simon Stannard - P.E. & KS2 Maths support teacher
Mrs Amarit Gidda - Year 5 class teacher
Mrs Clare Doyle - Year 5 support teacher
Miss Jenny Madley - Graduate trainee
Miss Pauline Rudd - Graduate trainee
TIMEKEEPING
Playground supervision begins from 8.15am No child should be on site before that time as supervision is not available. You may take your child into the classroom from 8.40am once the bell has been rung. Reception, Years 1 & 2 have registration at 9am, and Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 is at 8.50am. Arrival after that time means that your child will be marked late. Late arrivals must come into Reception to be marked in. Please ensure that your children are on time as a late start is very disruptive to the beginning of the school day for the child, the rest of the class and the teacher. Except for Reception for the next 4 weeks, the school day normally ends at 3.20 for Years R, 1 and 2, and at 3.30 for Years 3 – 6. It is expected that children are picked up on time, as there are no supervision facilities available, unless in an emergency, in which case we would expect a telephone call as early as possible.
LATE ARRIVALS
With immediate effect we are required to inform the Local Authority Attendance Officer of the names of any pupils who arrive late more than 5 times in the term. The Attendance Officer will then deal with parents on this issue.
ABSENCE
Please try to ring as early as possible to let us know if your child is unwell or is going to be absent for any other reason on a particular day. Failing this we will ask you to complete an absence form when your child returns to school. Requests for leave of absence will involve completing the relevant form. May I remind you that authorisation should be sought in advance. May I also remind you respectfully that children must not be taken out of school during term time for the purposes of a holiday. The majority of you will be aware of the Government stance on this and we must adhere to these requirements.
NAMING UNIFORM
Please ensure that you clearly mark all items of uniform including the PE kit with your child’s name. You know why!
Just a reminder that summer uniform may be worn until October half term. We do not expect to see girls in trousers until after Christmas at the earliest.
JEWELLERY
Another reminder: if your child has pierced ears the only earrings acceptable for wearing in school are small plain studs. Any child not conforming to this request will be asked to remove their earrings and not wear them again. No other jewellery should be worn.
LUNCHES
Just a reminder that we are a Healthy School and, as such, we commit to providing the healthiest option within reason for our children’s lunch menus. You may remember that we have agreed to our treat day being on a Friday only when children may have a biscuit or some crisps, for example. Next week’s packed lunch menu is detailed below.
INSTRUMENTAL TUITION
Please note that all instrumental tuition invoices must be paid before lessons begin. Violin lessons will begin on Monday 13th September and Flute/Clarinet on Tuesday 14th September. Children will be given lesson times on the first day. Lessons will not commence until invoices have been paid. Thank you.
AFTER SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Year 5 & 6 football club – Tuesday 3.30pm – 4.45pm beginning 7th September. If you would like to play for the school you must attend regularly. Football boots and appropriate kit is needed (does not need to be Holy Family PE kit) ; shin pads are not essential unless selected to play for the team. Thank you. Mr Stannard
SWIMMING
This term, Year 3 will be going swimming starting on Thursday 9th September and Year 5 beginning Friday 10th September. Swimwear consists of the following:
Girls – one piece costume, hat, towel and bag
Boys – swimming shorts/trunks, hat, towel and bag. These shorts must be well above the knee.
PTA
The PTA is organising a BBQ here at school next Friday evening 10th September for all new children and their parents. Look out for the posters in school next week.
HEALTH AND SAFETY BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
This is a newsletter of reminders! Please do not allow your children to go on the adventure playground, trim trail, nursery or foundation playground before or after school. Adult supervision by school staff of these areas is required and staff are not available before and after school in this role. Thank you.
LITURGY
At 9am Wednesday 8th September, Father Kevin will be leading a short Liturgy for parents of children in Nursery, Reception and Years 1 & 2 in the school hall. You are all most welcome.
COFFEE MORNING
Don’t forget our coffee mornings each Thursday. Come along to the hall after you have dropped your child to class and enjoy a cuppa and a slice of toast – all welcome, especially our new parents (bring a friend!). Toddlers are welcome.
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD
Please complete the enclosed form so that classteachers know as much as possible as soon as possible about the children in their class. It will help us to ensure that children’s needs – emotional as well as learning – are addressed sooner rather than later. Please return it to your child’s classteacher by the end of next week at the latest. Thank you.
Have a lovely weekend.
Anne O’Connor
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