Dear Parents and Friends,                                                                                  July 7^th 2010

 

2009/10 NEWSLETTER 7

We are now less than three weeks away from the end of our school year and I am sure everyone is looking forward to their summer break.   

CLASSES FOR 2010/11

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 G Peck	Reception		Badger	Miss N Neylon	Year 3
Ash	Mrs C Reene Mon to Wed Mrs S Love Thurs – Friday	Reception		Otter	Miss G Bishop	Year 3
Fir	Miss K Matthews	Reception		Mole	Miss A Mill	Year 4
Elm	Miss R Wilson	Year 1		Fox	Ms K Willing	Year 4
Chestnut	Mrs A Martin – Mon – Tues Mrs H Edwards – Wed – Friday	Year 1		Lewes	Mrs I Bezencon	Year 5
Maple	Mrs T Keates	Oldest Year 1 And Youngest Year 2		Amberley	Mrs C Collins	Year 5
Cherry	Miss V Silverlock	Year 2		Bramber	Ms M Dark Mon – Wed Ms S Romney – Thurs – Friday	Year 6
Willow	Mrs P Mack	Year 2		Arundel	Mr I Shergold	Year 6

Mrs Opie, Mrs Evans, Mrs Bray, Miss Ayre and Mrs Ireland will all be working with a variety of classes and groups of children in a support role.  

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 13^th at 2.30pm.  

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.

STAFFING  

I am delighted to be able to tell you that we have appointed Mrs Clare Collins to the post of Assistant Headteacher, replacing Mrs Brooking who left at Christmas.  Mrs Collins comes to us as a senior teacher from another West Sussex school and I am sure that she has a lot to offer the school and will be a real asset to our school community.

You will have already been notified that Mrs Cross and Mrs Jones will be leaving at the end of the term.  Mrs Saunders who has worked for the last 13 years as a Teaching Assistant in the Reception classes will be retiring this month.  I would like to wish them all well and thank them for many years of faithful service.  

PARENT CONSULTATION

In my last newsletter I invited parents to write in and tell me their views on end of day arrangements as I have been considering whether we should change the timings at the end of the day so that there is less then 15 minutes between the finishing times of infants and juniors.  I received about a dozen responses, with points made for and against the proposals in equal measure. Those who would wish times to stay the same point out about William Older times of sessions, car parking, congestion in and around school, the sheer logistics of picking up 2 children from a large site.  Whilst those who would like to equalise finishing times mainly talk about waiting a long time in the playground for their Junior aged children, particularly in inclement weather.  I have discussed the outcome of our consultation with Governors and have decided not to change the timings for the end of the day, but to give consideration as to how we can make the waiting time more comfortable.  If you have any ideas of how we can achieve this, please let me know.

 

We had 154 questionnaires returned by parents in Years R to 5, following Parents’ Consultation evenings.  The feedback was very positive with 98% of parents saying that overall they are happy with their child’s experience at school and that they enjoy school.  One issue that was highlighted by a few parents was the size of the Junior classes. The average size of classes in the school is 31 children, but of course our Reception classes are not more than 24. Our Published Admission Number is 70.  Unless we re-introduce mixed age classes across the school, which I feel will not be a good move, we are always going to have around 35 children in the Junior classes when full. The point I would like to make is that we employ many extra teaching and classroom support staff in school to support children at every level (those struggling and the very able) whereas many schools have no classroom assistants in their Junior classes.  At the beginning of next term we will be looking at ways in which we can improve the school further as part of our School Development Planning day and will be again seeking parents’ views.   

AWARDS  

The school has successfully had its Artsmark Silver Award re-validated for another 3 years in recognition of our dynamic arts education programme.  Artsmark is more than simply a mark of distinction to us; taking part in the scheme has enabled us to develop our arts provision, and see the children who take part become more self-confident, engaged and excited about learning.

We have recently been assessed for the Dyslexia Friendly Award, which we are likely to receive before the end of term.  

REPORTS AND ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES  

By the end of this 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 July 2^nd.  For children in Years 2 and 6 there will be a copy of their end of key stage teacher assessments.  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 the school across the curriculum.  

If the reports or SATs assessments raise any issues, please don’t hesitate to contact the class teacher now or at our Open Afternoon on Monday July 19^th between 3.30 and 4.15 when you will also have the opportunity of visiting your child’s next classroom, although not all teachers will be in school.  

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, as well as those who have managed full attendance this term.  

SCHOOL PROMOTIONS  

One of our longest serving volunteers in the school, Edwina Sanders, has devoted many hours to sorting, counting and bundling our Tesco and Sainsbury vouchers.  She has processed over 37,000 Tesco vouchers and 66,000 Sainsbury vouchers.  We have already ordered 10 digital cameras using our Tesco vouchers and have banked the ones which have come in recently.  The Sainsbury vouchers we still have a couple of weeks in which to collect them and then we will be putting in a significant order for sports and cooking equipment.  We still are collecting Nestle Box tops in school and recently exchanged them for a cheque for £237.

FLORA VOUCHERS  

Thank you to everyone for collecting vouchers for the Flora Cooking Scheme over the past three years.  We have been able to order a significant amount of cooking equipment to supplement our existing resources.  

LIBRARY BOOKS  

Ms Dark has asked me to remind you that all library books should be returned well before the end of term so that stock taking may take place.  It is particularly important that anything that belongs to the school in possession of Year 6 children is returned before they move on to their High School.  

THEMED WEEK  

The children thoroughly enjoyed “Protection Planet Safety Week”, with all our visitors and many activities taking place.  A special thanks must go to Mrs Edwards who organised this very successful 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.  I know that the children enjoyed all of the attractions and appreciated the arena events.  It is likely that we will have made in the region of £3,200 profit.  A huge thank you to Amanda Bishop and her willing team of helpers who put on such a splendid evening of fun and entertainment.     

LUNCHTIME FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT  

Mr Gent has been running a football tournament at lunchtimes over the past month.  Congratulation to T-ownage who won in the final against Bramber Blades; 4 : 2.

CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA  

The choir and orchestra had a fantastic evening on Monday performing a Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley to a really enthusiastic audience.  Thank you to all parents whose continuous support has enabled the children to do this.  If you missed our performance, the choir will be singing a selection of those songs in our music assembly on Thursday 22^nd July at 2.00pm.  

At 11am on Monday 19^th July the peripatetic teachers are putting on a concert for the children.  If your child is thinking of starting or already plays a string instrument you are invited to come along and enjoy the performance.  

MILK  

Milk for September 2010 can be ordered on the Cool Milk at School Ltd website:  www.CoolMilk.com.  

HOT SCHOOL MEALS  

Around 100 children at any one time have taken a hot school meal and we would like to encourage as many as possible to consider having a hot meal, particularly in the Autumn Term when the weather gets colder.  Menus are available from school and children can opt in to having a meal every day or on certain days of the week.  If you wish to order a meal or find out more about the service please access the following site:-  www.mealselector.co.uk. or ring 0845 6037998.  

RESIDENTIAL TRIPS IN 2011  

Year 4 children had a fantastic time at Dalesdown last month.  We have booked to go next year with Year 4 between June 7^th – 10^th 2011.  I am very grateful to the staff and parents who accompanied them on this visit.  

SCHOOL CLOSURE  

During 2010/11 the school will be closed for 6 INSET days, the dates for four  of them are:-

Thursday October 7^th 2010, Friday October 8^th 2010, Thursday May 26^th 2011 and Friday May 27^th 2011.  Parents will be notified of the other two days in due course.  

LOST PROPERTY  

All unclaimed lost property will be disposed of by Friday July 16^th.  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 Tuesday July 13^th at 10.00am on the school field; Year 5 and 6 on Tuesday July 20^th at 10.00am and the Infants on Friday July 16^th at 10.00am.  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 Tuesday July 20^th between 5.00 and 6.30pm and will be entertained by Robbie the Magician.  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 Wednesday July 21^st between 5.00 – 6.30pm.  Tickets cost £2.00 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 (tickets £2.00) to be held on Wednesday July 21^st between 7.30 – 9.00pm.  

All tickets for these parties will go on sale from Wednesday July 14^th.  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 3.05pm on Friday July 23^rd.  School begins on Wednesday September 1^st – doors open at 8.35am for a punctual start at 8.45am.  

Finally, I would like to thank all the parents for their full support this year.

Yours sincerely,

Mr D Boreham  

Headteacher