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Newsletter - Wednesday 23rd March 2005

For once I am pleased to know that the holidays are just around the corner! Illness - staff and pupils - has been on a scale unknown ever before. Thankfully, the weekend weather reminded us all that we have the Spring and Summer months ahead of us. I sincerely hope that all the bugs and viruses have disappeared by the beginning of next term.
Unfortunate News - Mrs Baker's leg injury was not accurately diagnosed and it now looks likely that she will require an operation to improve the situation. This will mean that Mrs Baker will be in plaster and out of the classroom for the foreseeable future.
Good News - Mrs Sawyer who has been covering Mr Ward's absence, has agreed to continue her time with us, covering Mrs Baker's absence. We are very lucky to have 'found' Mrs Sawyer. Her teaching skills are second to none.
Mr Ward should be back with us by the start of the new term. Back to top

Curriculum Evening and Music Evening

Thank you to the parents who supported this evening. The feedback, which I have received, tells me that the parents present during the evening supported the school approach to becoming a healthier school. Do you? My apologies for not being present - I was a less than healthy person on that evening! Unintentionally!

Miss Schofield provided us with another wonderful Music Evening. Comments ranged from "The depth of talent is outstanding" "It was even better than last year!" to "The choir should enter the Cheltenham Festival." Well done to Miss Schofield and to all the children who took part. Donations to the Music Department totalled almost £130.00! Thank you. Back to top

The Crotchet Factory Music Studio

Music to our ears!! The children have been involved in the most wonderful creative music sessions today with Andrew Warn from The Crotchet Factory Music Studio. The drumming could be heard across at the shops! Who said there's no creativity in schools today! (It comes at a cost - Mrs Hamblett has now got a headache!!).
Many thanks to the 'Friends' for paying for this treat. Back to top

Netball Players

Well done to the netball team who won their league this year. It has been a success story: thanks must go to Mrs Anson and Mrs Rogers who have given hours to developing the pupils' skills. Back to top

'Friends' Bingo: Friday 25th February

Another successful bingo evening was held and once again, raised more funds for our school. We owe a great deal to the 'Friends' as we benefit greatly from their hard work and effort. Thank you to all of you who supported this so well. The amount raised was in the region of £320. Back to top

Easter Disco: Friday 18th March

From all accounts the Disco evening was a great success. I have been told that we had great support from our mums and dads during the evening. Many thanks for this. Thanks must go to the 'Friends' who once again organised a super evening for the children. The amount raised was in the region of £340. Back to top

Thursday 24th March and Revision Packs for Year 6

Please remember that it is 'Free Dress Day' tomorrow so no uniforms please. All donations will be going to 'Clic', the charity which we support.

Year 6 have all been given revision packs which may be of use to them during the Easter holiday. The decision about how much you wish them to do is up to you, the parents. The answer sheets are included! Back to top

Red Nose Day

The total raised on the day was almost £200.00 so thank you once again for supporting the children in their efforts to raise money. Back to top

Parents driving into school

We do have to ask parents to refrain from driving into school at any time during the school day. Our driveway is very narrow and it is proving difficult for staff or delivery personnel to enter/depart our premises. Safety is also an issue as children may be moving around the area. If at any time you see the gates open, please would you shut them. Thank you. Back to top

Daffodils around Innsworth

Thank you for respecting the request to leave the daffodils in their natural environment so that everyone has been able to enjoy the 'sea of yellow' that is evident around Innsworth. Back to top

Tesco Vouchers and Sainsbury's Active Kids Vouchers

We are once again collecting the Tesco computer vouchers. All vouchers can be sent into the school office via the children.

Mrs Anson is hoping to exchange Sainsbury's vouchers for tennis nets. So if you are a Sainsbury shopper we are also collecting these vouchers.
Perhaps we could set up a competition - Tesco v Sainsbury's. Where do our parents shop the most? Back to top

Headlice

Recently it seems to have gone quiet on the headlice front! This is not to say that these little 'nuisances' are not around. They are always lurking, ready to pounce so you must be vigilant and maintain the Sunday night routine. Complacency will allow them to become rife at a drop of a hat! Back to top

Athletics Club on Wednesdays next term and Keep Fit Club - Monday lunchtimes in the hall.

Mrs Anson is on the look out for parent helpers who may wish to help with Athletics club when we return in April. If you are interested, please contact Mrs Anson. You will not be expected to run, jump or hurdle - just help with the organisation! (Of course you can run, jump and hurdle if you wish!)

Mrs Edge has now opened this club up to Years 3 and 4. So if you want your child to get fit during the Summer term, make sure they are 'kitted up' by 12.30 p.m. each Monday. Back to top

You are what you eat!

If, like me, you have seen Jamie Oliver in action in the London Schools [on television] you cannot have failed to have been impressed with his commitment to children's health. It is now beyond doubt, that a diet of processed food, containing high sugar content, does affect a child's ability to concentrate. As part of our commitment to becoming a healthier school, please can I ask you to encourage your child to eat breakfast and to consider whether your child's packed lunchbox contributes to 'a less focused approach' in the afternoon? Caroline Segelov, our school nurse, would be more than willing, to come into school and spend time with helping parents on the issue. Back to top

Monday 18th April to Friday 29th April

The governors have backed our initiative of giving free fruit to all children at break time commencing Monday 18th April for two weeks. However, we need your support to make this a success. As the school will provide the fruit for the children's break, we need to ask you to not send the children in with other food alternatives. This will allow us to judge whether there is any noticeable difference in the children's behaviour during the lesson after break.
If your child has a preference for a particular fruit, then by all means send along a piece of that fruit but please, no crisps or chocolate bars. As this is only for a two-week period, we are hopeful that you will support this initiative. We are not trying to be dictatorial, we just want to help improve the children's health. This initiative will not have any influence on what you put into your child's lunchbox. Back to top

Clubs and Music Lessons

All clubs will start the week beginning Monday 17th April. Music lessons begin on:
Cello: Friday April 15th
Violin: Wednesday 13th April
Clarinet/Flute: Monday 18th April
Brass: Thursday 14th April
As Mrs Hatton has commenced her maternity leave, Mrs Tasney will be starting after Easter and will complete all the outstanding lessons for the year. Back to top

Chess Congress

Since my last newsletter seven of our chess players took part in the Chess Congress and did the school proud. Three have jointly been proclaimed 'Gloucester Boys' Champion' along with another pupil from Upton St Leonards. The combined scores of our six highest scoring Innsworth pupils gave us the team prize. Well done to all our Chess players, who regularly come along every Friday afternoon. Back to top

Consultation Evenings

Thank you to all our parents who came along to the two Consultation Evenings last week. The attendance for the Consultation evenings was: English 89.7%
Mathematics 92.1%
Until this percentage reaches 100% we will continue to strive for better attendance. Your child's progress is dependent on school and parents working together to support the individual. I will be telephoning those parents who have not requested an alternative date to the set evenings. Make your move first! (I am a chess player!). Apologies, once again, to Mr Ward's two groups. As soon as he is back with us (hopefully at the beginning of term) an alternative date will be set. Back to top

Teachers' Planning Time

From September all teachers will be given 10% of their teaching time away from their class. This should enhance their teaching skills as they will not have to spend hours and hours on a Sunday finding time to produce quality lesson plans. The governors have already decided on the way forward and we can tell you that we shall employ one teacher to provide all the release time. We are fortunate that we have the finances to do this. Not all schools are able to make this provision.
Attached to this newsletter is the letter that has been sent out from the LEA. Please contact me if you require any further information on this new initiative. Back to top

Tsunami Appeal

Miss Stocken has asked me to keep you informed about where the money that has been raised for the Tsunami Appeal has gone. Last month some of our Year 6 children raised £102, which went to the Lisa May Memorial Fund. Lisa May was from Cheltenham. The web site for this fund is: Lisamaymemorialfund.co.uk
Please log on and have a look at the site, as it will show you what the fund has already achieved.
As the official Tsunami Appeal fund is now closed, we have decided to give the 50% money raised by the 'Leaders and Heroes' quiz to this fund. We hope that you agree with this decision. Back to top

Reminder about Fashion Show

Please come along to the Fashion Show on Monday 11th April at 7.30 p.m., in aid of Sarah Rogers Marathon Run for N.S.P.C.C. Tickets cost £5.00, including a glass of wine, and are available from the school office. Even though Monday 11th April is an In-service day for teachers only, the school will be open in the evening for this event. Back to top

Children Leaving Our School

If you know that there may be a possibility that you may be moving away from the area before July, please could you let us know as we may shortly be in the position of not being able to offer places in some year groups. Back to top

Tentative Future Friends Events for Your Diary

29th April Barn Dance
24th June Beetle Drive
15th July End of Term Disco
30th Sept Beetle Drive Back to top

Lastly ....

My apologies for not being at the disco last Friday - this was my first absence in xxx years! Friday evening I was on my way down the M4 to Wales. With such a momentous occasion about to take place on the Saturday, I had to be with Welsh friends in front of a 'big screen'. However, I knew the school was in Mrs Kemmett's safe hands.
[Didn't Wales do well!!] England's turn next year!!
Have a very happy Easter. Back to top