July
2nd 2008
Dear Parents and Friends,
2007/8 NEWSLETTER 7
The end of the school year is fast approaching, but there is still much
to be achieved before everyone goes off for the long summer holiday.
CLASSES FOR 2008/9
This morning the children have been told which classes they will be in
next year and spent the morning with their new teachers.
Once again this coming year all class teachers will have 10% Planning
Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time. This
effectively means that for one morning or afternoon a week the normal class
teacher will be having non-contact time with the class being taught by another
teacher. The exception to
this are those classes who already
have two assigned teachers.
Classes for next year are:
|
Class
|
Name of teacher
|
Year Group
|
|
Class
|
Name of teacher
|
Year Group
|
|
Oak
|
Mrs S Love
|
Reception
|
|
Badger
|
Mrs P Bray
Mrs H Newson
(covering Mrs Bray’s maternity leave)
|
Year 3
|
|
Ash
|
Mrs C Reene – Mon. to Wed. am
Mrs V Cross - Wed. to Frid.
|
Reception
|
|
Otter
|
Ms M Dark – Mon. to Wed.
Ms S Romney - Thur. to Fri.
|
Year 3
|
|
Fir
|
Miss K Matthews
|
Reception
|
|
Mole
|
Miss A Mill
|
Year 4
|
|
Elm
|
Miss R Wilson
|
Year 1
|
|
Fox
|
Miss V Silverlock
|
Year 4
|
|
Chestnut
|
Mrs G Peck
|
Year 1
|
|
Lewes
|
Mrs C Gadd
|
Year 5
|
|
Maple
|
Miss T Brown
|
Oldest Year 1 and youngest Year 2
|
|
Amberley
|
Mrs B Jones
|
Year 5
|
|
Cherry
|
Mr I Shergold
|
Year 2
|
|
Bramber
|
Miss J Ayre
|
Year 6
|
|
Willow
|
Mrs P Mack
|
Year 2
|
|
Arundel
|
Mrs E Opie
|
Year 6
|
Children in the new pure Year 2 classes have been mixed more than was
initially intended to ensure that we achieved two well balanced classes in
which learning can be maximised.
Parents of children in Maple Class, our only mixed age class, are
invited in to school for a meeting to explain the organisation of the class on
Tuesday July 15th at 2.30.
A few children will be leaving us at the end of the school year and we
expect a handful of children to join us in September in Years 1 to 6 to
maintain our school roll at around 500.
REPORTS AND ATTENDANCE
CERTIFICATES
By the end of next week we will have sent out to you a copy of your
child’s Annual Report, a comment sheet for you and/or your child to complete
as well as a summary of your child’s attendance this year up to last
half-term. For children in Years 2
and 6 there will be a copy of their SATs results. I have read through all of
the reports, most of which state how hard the children have worked this year
and outline their achievements. The
teaching staff have once again this year spent hours writing the reports and
we trust that you will find them useful summaries of how the children have
performed in school across the curriculum.
Some of the teachers have been trialling a new report format this year,
which I hope you find at least as useful as the old one.
If the reports or SATs results raise any issues, please don’t hesitate
to contact the class teacher now or at our Open
Evening on Monday July 21st between 3.30 and 5.30, when you
will also have the opportunity of visiting your child’s next class.
At the end of the term we will be giving certificates to those children
(usually about 20) who have had 100% attendance throughout the year.
STAFFING
At the end of the school year we will be saying goodbye to Mrs
Ireland
, an Assistant Headteacher in the school, who has for the last 16 years had
responsibility for ensuring that the needs of our special needs children are
fully met. We wish her all the
best in her retirement and thank her for her unstinting service to the school.
Zoe Chandler who has worked in the Early Years Department for three
years will also be leaving us to go to University to train as a Primary School
Teacher. We wish her every success
and look forward to hearing how she is getting on.
It is likely that we may well be expanding our team of Teaching
Assistants for September. Anyone
interested in receiving further details of possible posts need to register
this interest with the reception ladies.
SCHOOL PROMOTIONS
We continue to collect Nestle Box Tops and old ink cartridges.
We have so far collected over 44 000 Tesco vouchers and have ordered a
variety of technical goods, which we should take delivery of at the beginning
of next term. We have done even
better with the Sainsbury’s vouchers having collected so far 65 000.
We are in the process of ordering in the region of £2 500 of PE
equipment with these vouchers. If
you do have any vouchers lurking in dark corners please send them into school
this week to maximise our spending power.
THEMED WEEK
The children thoroughly enjoyed Science Week, in particular the visit of
staff from the
London
Science
Museum
. A special thanks must go to Mrs
Gadd and Mr Shergold who led the team organising the week.
CYCLING
PROFICIENCY
A very big thank you to all those adults who helped with cycling
proficiency last month, with record numbers of children taking part.
SUMMER FETE
It was good to see so many people attend our Summer Fete on Friday,
despite the fact that it was rather cold and rain beckoned.
I know that the children enjoyed all of the attractions and appreciated
some of the arena events. It is likely that we will have made in the region of
£3000 profit. A huge thank you to Maddy Pitt and her willing team of helpers
who put on such a splendid evening of fun and entertainment.
The Friends have tithed 5% of the money raised this year to continue to
support a school at Molete,
Ibadan
in
Nigeria
. The remaining money will go
towards installing drama lighting into our school hall which will be used by
children to create atmosphere to support a number of curriculum areas and of
course will be invaluable in setting the mood for our school productions.
MILK
Milk for September 2008 can be ordered on the Cool Milk at School Ltd
website: www.CoolMilk.com
HOT SCHOOL MEALS
Some fifty children enjoyed a hot meal in school on Monday, the first
day of the re-launch of this facility. Meals
can be booked on the www.mealselector.co.uk
site. We have menus in
school in the reception area for you to take away.
You do not have to book for the whole week but can select what meals
you would like to have, even if it is just one a week.
Children who qualify for a free school dinner need to ensure that they
continue to apply when renewal is due.
RESIDENTIAL TRIPS IN 2009
Year 4 children had a fantastic time at Dalesdown last month.
We have booked to go next year with Year 4 between June 9th
– 12th 2009. I am
very grateful to the staff who accompanied them on this visit.
Next year’s Year 6 will be going to Halls Green the week beginning
Monday July 13th 2009.
BARNARDO’S
We have just recently emptied the Barnardo’s cottage boxes which are
kept at home by over 100 children and counted a total of £480.65.
Since 1988 we have collected a total of £12, 393.68.
I am very grateful to the families who support this very worthy cause.
SCHOOL CLOSURE
The School will be closed for an INSET
day on Wednesday September 3rd
2008. Parents will be informed
of the other 4 day closures during the year as soon as they are known and
approved by the Governors.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
We will be electing a new School Council at the start of the new school
year and would like to thank the existing members for all their hard work this
year.
LOST PROPERY
All unclaimed lost property will be disposed of by Friday July 18th. Please
check our lost property trolley in the reception area as soon as possible to
re-unite items with their rightful owners.
SPORTS DAYS
As previously notified at the beginning of term Year 3 and 4 Sports Day will be held on Monday July 7th at 10.00 on the school field; Year
5 and 6 on Friday July 11th at 10.00 and the Infants on Thursday July
17th at 10.00. Parents
and friends of the school are very welcome to attend to cheer on the children.
All children will need to have a sun hat and have with them a plastic
container of drink to sip between events.
Children who suffer from asthma need to ensure that they have their
puffers accessible. All sports
days will be activity based to ensure maximum participation, with a few
traditional events.
FRIENDS’ CHILDREN’S
SOCIAL EVENTS
INFANTS:
The Infants will be having a party on Thursday July 17th between 5.00 and 6.30 p.m.
and will be entertained by the Magic Rabbit.
Tickets are priced £2.00 to include light refreshments.
YEARS 3 and 4:
All children in Years 3 and 4 are invited to an end of school year disco
on Tuesday July 22nd between
5.00 – 6.30. Tickets
cost £2 and include light refreshments. Teachers
would be pleased to receive offers of help from parents.
YEARS 5 and 6:
Children in Years 5 and 6 are invited to the ‘Leavers’ Disco and BBQ
to be held on Tuesday July 22nd
between 7.30 – 9.00.
All tickets for these parties will go on sale from Wednesday July 9th.
If you would like to volunteer your help at any of these events then I
am sure class teachers would be willing to hear from you.
Please note that school finishes
for all children at 2.30 on Wednesday July 23rd.
This has been a very busy year culminating in very positive reports following
Ofsted and the Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools.
We will miss our Year 6 children when they leave and wish them every
success as they move on to their Secondary Schools in September.
I would like to thank you all for your support this year and wish you
all a very happy and safe Summer holidays. The new school year starts on Thursday
September 4th at 8.45.
Yours sincerely,
Mr D Boreham
Headteacher
