Letter home: Friday, 6th October 2023

October 6 2023

Dear Parents/carers,

Welcome Service:

Thank you to all our families that came to Church to celebrate our Welcome Service. It was lovely to see all the smiling faces as the children received their books and the rest of school welcome them to our school with prayers and songs. Thank you also to Rev Anne Pollard for leading the service.

You can view photos from the service here.

Themed Lunch:

On Thursday we had a French themed lunch at school. Children enjoyed a choice of pizza baguette or chicken chasseur and then a selection of puddings. Year 3 enjoyed a French afternoon where they tucked into brioche and croissant and spoke in French telling each other which ones they liked, didn’t like and which they preferred.

Individual photos

School photos will take place on the 10^th October. If you would like a pre-school child included in the picture then please come to school at 8am. All children currently in school will have a family photo as well as an individual photo.

Church Clothing Sale:

Please see a leaflet attached highlighting a clothing and stall sale at St Mary’s Church on the 7^th October. There will be a lovely selection of stalls selling all sorts of items including cards, gifts and even cakes.

Robinwood Meeting:

We are having a meeting on the 10^th October at 3.15pm for the children who are going to Robinwood in November. This will give you an opportunity to ask any last minute questions, pick up a kit list and order any souvenirs you may want.

Flu Sprays:

Just a reminder that children will be receiving their flu sprays on Friday 13^th October.

Parents Evenings:

You will have received a letter and booking guide for our parents evenings taking place on Tuesday 17^th October, 3.30 – 5.30pm and Wednesday 18^th October, 3.30pm – 6.30pm. Nursery will have their parents evening on Tuesday 24^th October, 3.10 – 5.30pm. It is important that you make an appointment to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher so if you have any problems please speak to the school office.

Harvest Foodbank:

On Friday 20^th October, Year 1/ Year 2 have organised a non-uniform day in order to collect donations for our Harvest Foodbank appeal. Therefore your child can come to school in non-uniform, but we request a donation for the foodbank in return. Thank you for your support.

Drilling survey:

There will be surveys taking place on our school land between the 23^rd October and the 17^th November. The surveys are linked to the fact that the school was built on a mining area and our school is part of a school rebuilding programme. Therefore feasibility studies need to take place. This will involve drilling down on a number of different points around the school field. When the teams are on site drilling will be between 8am and 5pm. This will create some noise at points during the day so we have been asked to share this with our families.

Christmas Jumpers:

We will be collecting Christmas jumpers this term for a swap next half term. If your child has grown out of their Christmas jumper please save it for us to pass onto another pupil. You may also be able to pick up a replacement at the Christmas jumper exchange in November.

Year 6 High School applications:

Year 6 pupils need to apply for their High Schools by the 31^st October. Please note this is in the half term holiday. You will have already received information about open evenings at the local schools. Please make sure you apply for more than one school as if you do not receive your first choice, you will could be placed at any other local school where there are places available.

Reception Parents Phonics Session:

Thank you very much to the parents who attended the session providing an insight into how we teach your child to read through our phonics programme. I hope you found it interesting and I am sure the sound packs you were given will be really useful in supporting your child at home.

Reception and KS1 Reading Meeting

We would like to invite parents of children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 to come and find out more about reading with your child and the importance of story time. Refreshments will be provided. This will take place on the 7^th November at 3:30pm.

Harvest Festival:

Our Harvest Festival will take place at St Mary’s Church on Wednesday 18^th October at 9.30am. We will be inviting families from Year 1/2 (Miss Byram’s class) so please look out for more details in future letters.

Headlice:

Please can we ask all families to be very vigilant at checking their children’s hair for headlice. We have had a number of cases in school and this can only be stopped if the headlice are properly treated. Please follow this link for advice.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-lice-and-nits/

Packed Lunches and fruit:

Please can I remind families that pupils should not have fizzy drinks, sweets or chocolate bars in their packed lunches.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 receive a piece of fruit each day as part of a Government initiative. This stops when they reach Year 3 so we encourage children in Years 3 to 6 to bring their own piece of fresh fruit to school for a playtime snack. Thank you for your support.

Attendance:

We are heading into the time of year when there can be lots of bugs around. This list helps families know which illnesses and conditions require pupils to stay at home and when they can come to school. However if you have any questions please contact school.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

ParentPay:

Please ensure your account is cleared for Breakfast Club and Tea-Time club. If there are any outstanding amounts on these accounts from this point forward you will be unable to use Breakfast Club and Tea-Time club. If you are having any problems paying off these amounts please speak to the school office.

Coffee Morning:

All welcome to our informal Coffee /Tea mornings (drink and natter). These are held every Tuesday after dropping your children off at School. Under school age children welcome too as there are lots of toys for them to play with.

Please join us in the Children’s Centre with Mrs Boyle suppling the drinks and biscuits.

Walking to Church:

Please note that during the school year we regularly walk to St Mary’s Church. This could be for Church services or for rehearsals for performances eg Christmas. We are therefore asking for blanket permission for your child to participate. Pupils are always accompanied by adults and appropriate precautions are put in place. Children will also wear a hi-vis vest. If you do not give permission for your child to do this can you please contact school to make other arrangements.

Mobile phones in school:

Some of our older children bring a mobile phone into school. This is usually because they are walking home on their own. If you wish your child to bring in a mobile phone, please can you request a permission form.