1 Jan 2007 - January Newsletter
Dear Parent(s),
Newsletter ? January 2007
Firstly I hope you all enjoyed a really lovely Christmas. May I take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy New Year. Last term was very busy and I would like to thank you for your support for the various events held. The School Council organised three very successful ones, a Book Sale, a Cake Sale and a Christmas Card Competition. As a result they managed to raise over £240 which will be distributed to each class to purchase games for wet playtimes. The class winners of the Christmas Card Competition were, Reception ? Tayla Honour, Year 1 ? Ben Howells, Year 2 ? Jack O?Brien, Year 3 ? Rebecca MacRitchie, Year 4 ? Moesha Ottaway, Year 5 ? Selina Jenner and Year 6 ? William Couzens. I would also like again to thank the staff and children of Key Stage One who produced a wonderful Nativity and also Miss Mitchell and all the children who performed so well in our ?Carols in the Hall? event.
Last term also saw the school placed in the top 50 schools nationally in respect of the number of level 5s achieved by last year?s Year Six. Whilst it is always pleasing to see good news we are, as a school, committed to continuous improvement and so this coming year we will be starting not only to improve attainment but also to enhance all aspects of school life. I was particularly pleased to see Whitchurch recognised this year as the top school in Aylesbury Vale for value added. This measure looks at the progress made by a cohort from Year 2 to Year 6 taking into account various contextual data. It is, I agree, a narrow measure in that it just looks at attainment but I would like to think that the school adds value in other ways as well.
We now look forward to a new term which promises to be as busy as ever. I would like to welcome Mrs Heather Woodward to the staff. Mrs Woodward is covering Year One this term pending Mrs Hoaen?s return. I would also like to welcome the new children beginning in Reception this term and, of course, their parents. In addition Ms Julie Foale will be replacing Tamsyn Morgan, covering sessions for Years 3, 4 and 5. We also welcome Mrs Elizabeth Peacock who will be working as a lunchtime supervisor, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays covering for Mrs Jutta Foot who is on maternity leave.
Can I just mention Hot Dog Days, the dates of which are listed below. Some children are asking for hot dogs but are saying they have either forgotten or lost their money. Can parents please make it clear to their children whether or not they are to buy a hot dog (especially the younger ones) and make sure that their £1 is put somewhere safe i.e. a purse or small envelope with their name on. We don?t want any children to be disappointed.
Can parents of the new Reception children please keep hold of their pre-school children when dropping off in the mornings and then try to withdraw from the playground as soon as possible.
Finally, as we enter January, may I remind you of the procedure if the school needs to be closed. An announcement will be made on Mix 96 and, if possible, a notice will be displayed on the school gate. I very much hope that we will be able to keep the school open each day but I am sure you will appreciate that there are a number of factors which have to be taken into account including levels of supervision and the safety of staff, many of whom travel substantial distances.
Forthcoming Dates
Friday 12th January - 3.30 ? 4.10 p.m. After School Tennis starts
Tuesday 23rd January - Year 1 and 2 to Waddesdon Manor
Wednesday 24th January - Year 6 Hazard Alley (am)
Friday 26th January - Hot Dog Day
Thursday 8th February - Year 2 to Science Fair at Bourton Meadow
- Year 4 to Hampton Court
12th ? 16th February - HALF TERM
Friday 23rd February - Hot Dog Day
Thursday 1st March - Secondary Schools Allocation Letter issued
Monday 5th March - Parent Consultations 5 ? 7.30 pm
Thursday 8th March - Parent Consultations 6 ? 8.30 pm
Wednesday 14th March - M & M Productions ? The Little Princess?
Thursday 15th March - Grandparents? Day ? Reception
Friday 16th March - Red Nose Day - ?Karaoke?
Friday 23rd March - Year 5 to Hughenden Manor
Saturday 24th March - Inter-School Cross Country Event (am)
Thursday 29th March - TERM ENDS
Monday 16th April - SUMMER TERM STARTS
Yours sincerely,
S. Blore
Headteacher
Newsletter ? January 2007
Firstly I hope you all enjoyed a really lovely Christmas. May I take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy New Year. Last term was very busy and I would like to thank you for your support for the various events held. The School Council organised three very successful ones, a Book Sale, a Cake Sale and a Christmas Card Competition. As a result they managed to raise over £240 which will be distributed to each class to purchase games for wet playtimes. The class winners of the Christmas Card Competition were, Reception ? Tayla Honour, Year 1 ? Ben Howells, Year 2 ? Jack O?Brien, Year 3 ? Rebecca MacRitchie, Year 4 ? Moesha Ottaway, Year 5 ? Selina Jenner and Year 6 ? William Couzens. I would also like again to thank the staff and children of Key Stage One who produced a wonderful Nativity and also Miss Mitchell and all the children who performed so well in our ?Carols in the Hall? event.
Last term also saw the school placed in the top 50 schools nationally in respect of the number of level 5s achieved by last year?s Year Six. Whilst it is always pleasing to see good news we are, as a school, committed to continuous improvement and so this coming year we will be starting not only to improve attainment but also to enhance all aspects of school life. I was particularly pleased to see Whitchurch recognised this year as the top school in Aylesbury Vale for value added. This measure looks at the progress made by a cohort from Year 2 to Year 6 taking into account various contextual data. It is, I agree, a narrow measure in that it just looks at attainment but I would like to think that the school adds value in other ways as well.
We now look forward to a new term which promises to be as busy as ever. I would like to welcome Mrs Heather Woodward to the staff. Mrs Woodward is covering Year One this term pending Mrs Hoaen?s return. I would also like to welcome the new children beginning in Reception this term and, of course, their parents. In addition Ms Julie Foale will be replacing Tamsyn Morgan, covering sessions for Years 3, 4 and 5. We also welcome Mrs Elizabeth Peacock who will be working as a lunchtime supervisor, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays covering for Mrs Jutta Foot who is on maternity leave.
Can I just mention Hot Dog Days, the dates of which are listed below. Some children are asking for hot dogs but are saying they have either forgotten or lost their money. Can parents please make it clear to their children whether or not they are to buy a hot dog (especially the younger ones) and make sure that their £1 is put somewhere safe i.e. a purse or small envelope with their name on. We don?t want any children to be disappointed.
Can parents of the new Reception children please keep hold of their pre-school children when dropping off in the mornings and then try to withdraw from the playground as soon as possible.
Finally, as we enter January, may I remind you of the procedure if the school needs to be closed. An announcement will be made on Mix 96 and, if possible, a notice will be displayed on the school gate. I very much hope that we will be able to keep the school open each day but I am sure you will appreciate that there are a number of factors which have to be taken into account including levels of supervision and the safety of staff, many of whom travel substantial distances.
Forthcoming Dates
Friday 12th January - 3.30 ? 4.10 p.m. After School Tennis starts
Tuesday 23rd January - Year 1 and 2 to Waddesdon Manor
Wednesday 24th January - Year 6 Hazard Alley (am)
Friday 26th January - Hot Dog Day
Thursday 8th February - Year 2 to Science Fair at Bourton Meadow
- Year 4 to Hampton Court
12th ? 16th February - HALF TERM
Friday 23rd February - Hot Dog Day
Thursday 1st March - Secondary Schools Allocation Letter issued
Monday 5th March - Parent Consultations 5 ? 7.30 pm
Thursday 8th March - Parent Consultations 6 ? 8.30 pm
Wednesday 14th March - M & M Productions ? The Little Princess?
Thursday 15th March - Grandparents? Day ? Reception
Friday 16th March - Red Nose Day - ?Karaoke?
Friday 23rd March - Year 5 to Hughenden Manor
Saturday 24th March - Inter-School Cross Country Event (am)
Thursday 29th March - TERM ENDS
Monday 16th April - SUMMER TERM STARTS
Yours sincerely,
S. Blore
Headteacher