1 May 2008 - May Newsletter

 

Dear Parent(s),

Newsletter – May 2008

It seems a long time since my last newsletter but I think this is due to various Easter breaks!  As you will know Mrs Knight left the staff at the end of the term.  Ms Faulkner is now teaching Year 2 full time.  I have also been informed by Mrs Hoaen that she has decided to stay a full-time mum for the next couple of years and so will not be returning for the foreseeable future.  We all, obviously, wish her the very best.  However, Mrs Hoaen has asked me to mention that she is very keen to restart private tuition lessons, so if any parents are interested please contact the school office for details.  I need also to mention that Miss Rawlins-Smith will be leaving at the end of the school year.  As you may know Miss Rawlins-Smith has recently become engaged and is relocating to Bath where her fiancé lives and she already has a house. I would like to thank her for all her hard work and I know that she is very popular with children and parents and will be sorely missed.  I would also like to mention that Mrs Walker is leaving at the end of this term to work with the Thembalitsha Charity in South Africa . She will obviously be missed by all the staff, parents and children here at Whitchurch and I know you will join me in wishing her and her family all the best for the move.   We are in the process of appointing new members of staff and I will, obviously, let you know the staffing arrangements for next year as soon as I know them! Due to the various changes, Year 1 is now taught by Ms Frearson on Tuesday whilst, Mrs Srini covers Year 5 in the morning on a Tuesday and Year 2 in the afternoon.  Mrs Fulton now teaches RE to Years 3 and 4 on a Tuesday afternoon. 

I would like to thank the parents who put themselves up for election as parent governors.  As a result the count the following parents have now joined the Governing Body.  Mrs Brown, Mr Dee-Crowne, Reverend Mansell, Mrs Moody and Mrs Steele.  I would like to formally welcome them and hope they enjoy their term of office. 

We are going to complete a number of projects during this term and over the summer break, including the refurbishment of all the toilets, the construction of a narrow passageway alongside the school hall and the installation of a hard play surface.  The end of the Key Stage Two SATs is due to take place next week, whilst Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 will also be completing tests.  The results from the tests are then put with each child’s results from a whole variety of assessment data undertaken throughout the year to produce the overall grade on their end of year report.  Can we request full attendance during that week?

We will also be reviewing the school’s uniform policy and undertaking a review of the arrangements for lunchtime supervision.  Can we remind you that girls are not allowed to wear trousers during the summer term and can we request that shirts are worn and not polo shirts?  Also can we remind parents to say their goodbyes to their children at the school gate as some parents are still coming into the playground in the mornings?

May I thank all the children who paraded, danced and generally participated in the May Feast. Our May Queen this year was Florence Downs who was attended by Paige Jamieson and Bonnie Leheup.  It is really lovely to see that so many children from the school take part in the life of the village. 

Year 5 will be going on their residential visit to the Isle of Wight next week, accompanied by Mrs Hawkett, Mr Hawkett, Mrs Fulton and Miss Turner.  Mrs Srini will be covering Year 4 during this time.  In June, 16^th – 20^th, Year 6 will be going to Fairthorne Manor with Miss Albrighton, Mrs Grace and myself, (I’m just bringing the sunshine!!).

 

 

May I also remind you that we are still collecting Tesco Computer Vouchers.   If we collect enough, these vouchers provide us with two computers a year.  We would be very grateful if you could tell relatives and friends to pass on their unwanted vouchers to enable us to reach our target.  We are also collecting Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers.

I have been asked to mention that if any parent has a working video recorder which they no longer need we would be very grateful if they would consider passing it on to the school.  Also, may I have a little moan.  We do have a large number of children who study one of the various martial arts.  Unfortunately there have been occasions during playtimes when they have been ‘shared’ with other children.  I would ask parents to just remind their children that on no account should they ‘practise’ their skills in school. Thank you.

Dates for the Term

 

 

12^th – 16^th May               -           Year 5 to the Isle of Wight   

 

-                      SATs week

 

 

 

 

                                  19^th May                        -           World Book Day (we are asking the children, and staff, to come

 

in dressed as a character from a book).

 

 

20^th May                        -           Sponsored Assault Course

 

 

 

21^st May                        -           10 Yr 5’s to Kwik Cricket Tournament

   

 

 

23^rd May                        -           Hot Dog Day

 

 

 

 

9^th June                         -           Year 1 to Claydon House

 

 

 

 

16^th – 20^th June               -           Year 6 residential trip to Fairthorne Manor

 

 

 

 

19^th June                       -           M & M Productions ‘Kosmic Krew 3’ (Sponsored by the School

 

Association)

 

 

20^th June                       -           Children’s Ball

 

 

 

 

23^rd June                       -           Year 6 Games at Waddesdon CE School

 

 

 

 

24^th June                       -           Year 5 Science Fair, organised by the Royal Latin School

 

   

 

 

27^th June                       -           Hot Dog Day

 

 

 

 

28^th June                       -           School Association Summer Ball

 

 

 

 

1^st July                          -           Year 6 Induction Day at new secondary schools

 

 

 

 

2^nd July                          -           Reception to Mead Open Farm

 

 

 

 

    4^th July                          -           Year 3 to Roald Dahl Museum

 

 

 

 

7^th July                          -           District Sports at Stoke Mandeville Stadium (4pm) 

 

 

 

 

9^th July                          -           Sports’ Day (pm)

 

 

 

 

10^th July                        -           Parents’ Open Evening (6pm – 8pm)

 

 

 

 

    12^th July                        -           School Association Summer Fayre

 

 

 

 

14^th July                        -           Year 3 & 4 to the Royal Latin School for a French Day

 

 

 

 

16^th July                        -           Buckingham School Sports Celebration 6pm – 8pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17^th July                        -           School Summer Music Concert – 6pm – 7pm.  This is an

 

evening when the children who have been learning an instrument during the year get the opportunity to perform for their parents.

   

18^th July                        -           Hot Dog Day

 

 

 

-                      School Association Summer Social (details in due course)

 

 

21^st July                        -           Speech Competition 1 pm

 

 

 

22^nd July                        -           End of Term

 

 

 

As you can see, there are one or two things happening this term!!

 

 

 

The new school year will start for the children on Wednesday 3^rd September.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Dates for 2008/09

 

 

Autumn Term 08

 

 

Open    Wednesday 3^rd September                      Close    Friday 24^th October

            Monday 3^rd November                                         Friday 19^th December

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Term 09

 

 

Open    Tuesday 6^th January                               Close    Friday 13^th February

            Monday 23^rd February                                         Friday 3^rd April

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer 09

 

 

Open    Tuesday 21^st April                                  Close    Friday 22^nd May

            Monday 1^st June                                     Friday 17^th July

 

 

 

Staff Training Days –      Monday 1^st September 08

Tuesday 2^nd September  08

Monday 5^th January 09

Monday 20^th April 09

Monday 20^th July 09

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter – Friday 10^th – Monday 13^th April (within school holidays)

 

 

 

Early May Bank Holiday: Monday 4^th May

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S. Blore

Headteacher