Welcome to Innsworth Junior School web site.

Newsletter 10th September 2003 Part 1

It is lovely to be able to say 'What super weather we had this summer.' Everyone looks so refreshed and ready for the challenges that a new school year brings. Holidays have been varied, enjoyed, recalled and rewarding. I did come to hear that Olivia Hutin's quick thinking saved a young child from drowning. Well done Olivia.
We have welcomed many new pupils into the school this September and I am delighted with the way everyone has settled down. For Year 3's the transfer from Larkfield to Innsworth can be quite daunting. However, I have to report that the children do seem to have taken it in their stride. Well done to them all.
As mentioned at my presentation in February the Year 3's have been taking their break earlier than the rest of the school. I would be interested to hear the views from Year 3 parents on this. At lunchtime we have also split the field into two areas so that the Years 3 and 4 play separately to the Years 5 and 6. We as a staff feel this has helped the younger children to settle down much more quickly.
New pupils from 'far and wide' have joined across all year groups and again they seem to have integrated well. If you know that all is not quite as it should be with your child, please let the teacher know. There is no need for any child to have worries at this point in the school year. Back to talking of challenges ..... Back to top

Building Project

As you will by now be aware, the building work did not start this summer as envisaged. Once the tenders came in it became apparent that the LEA had seriously underestimated the cost. After many meetings and telephone calls between the governors and LEA, the LEA came up with more money. We also had to pledge a greater sum of money towards the internal alterations that are included in this building project. It now looks set that the contractors will be on site next Monday ready to complete the new offices and staff room before tackling the new class room. The handover of the new classroom is set for January 2004. Back to top

Health and Safety from Monday 15th September

This term's building work will seriously affect our procedures in school. Our foremost concern must be with the safety of both children and adults. The following issues need to be adhered to very carefully:
- Walking up or out of the school drive needs to be kept to a minimum because of the contractors' vehicles
- The main access gate in use will be the small pedestrian gate into the playground
- Cyclists must enter school by dismounting and walking their bicycles through the pedestrian gate. It would be appreciated if cyclists could be kept to a minimum.
- As the teachers will be parking in the playground (alongside the windows of the lower school corridor), pupils must keep to the other remaining half of the playground and the 'Quiet Area'.
- It is imperative that all pupils follow the school rules
- Parents visiting during the school day will still have to come to the front door for security purposes.
- All pupils leaving school must do so via the door nearest the school field (by Mrs Edge's classroom)
- Pupils attending Larkfield After School Club / Innsworth Out of School Club will need to meet in Mrs Edge's room.

Obviously the builders may give further instructions once work has started. Back to top

Summer Reading Project

Thank you very much for supporting your child's reading throughout the summer holiday. The books read were very varied and by a range of authors. Reading is a fundamental necessity for life so our expectations have to be high.
Year 3 parents should receive a Reading letter with this newsletter. Back to top

Home School Partnership Agreement

I am hopeful that 100% of parents will return our agreement forms, signed, discussed and ready to endorse. If you have any fundamental disagreement, please speak to us ? we (the teachers) want to work together with you (the parents) for the benefit of your child. Many forms have already come in - I am looking forward to signing 242 forms next week. Back to top

English and Mathematics Groups

Pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6 have been allocated their teaching groups for this year. Movement between groups does take place when it becomes obvious that a child may be better suited to the other group. Our assessments in October will also highlight if children have not been correctly placed. We do take into account the previous year's results but we also take account how children learn. Both groups in each subject will be following the same curriculum but differentiated to meets the needs of the individual children. Therefore there will be an overlap between the groups. Back to top

Homework Schedule

You should be receiving this schedule with this newsletter. I do hope that you will endorse the school's view that homework complements the work done at school and that it prepares the pupils for their secondary education.
We try not to overburden the pupils, as I believe learning does not just happen in school. It should be happening naturally throughout our lives. Back to top

Bullying

Bullying will not be tolerated at our school. We will not accept name-calling or physical violence of any description.
Our important rule is:
'NO TOUCHING WITHOUT PERMISSION'
The pupils are encouraged to tell an adult whenever they feel someone has done something wrong to them e.g. hit, name calling etc. Our motto is:
'Do not retaliate but tell an adult'. This stops the bully from putting the blame on the second person. Back to top

Staffing

Miss Hawkings has settled into Class 8 and is already proving a worthy successor (albeit temporarily) to Mrs Kemmett.
Mrs Pendlebury and Mrs Anson are staying the course and can be expected to take leave of absence (as expected) at the end of this half term. Back to top

Mrs Kemmett

We have already received four postcards from Mrs Kemmett and I can report that she and her husband are having a fantastic time. Having flown out to Vancouver on the 15th August, they have spent their time exploring the wilds of British Columbia. The last report stated that they were heading back to Vancouver for a short stay on Vancouver Island before heading south towards Los Angeles. We wish them well and look forward to hearing news following their drive down the Pacific Highway. Back to top

Extra curricular activities

All start next week. Please take it that if your child requested a particular club they will have been given a place. If numbers are too high to be manageable then the club will have to operate on a rotational basis. Computer Club operates on a rotational basis so Mr Jones will send out a letter informing you of the dates of your child's sessions. Children taking part in Computer Club are able to join other clubs, prior to or after having had, their set sessions.
The French Club will be taking place on Tuesdays and Spanish Club on Fridays. The language clubs are run by an outside agency so you do need to pay to attend these two clubs. You should have received a letter from the language club, if not, please ask Mrs Hamblett for a copy.
EXTRA: We hope to be able to offer a tennis club to Years 3 and 4, which will be taking place on Mondays from 3.15 - 4.15 p.m. Information on this will be out shortly.
EXTRA: As in past years Mr Andy Tucker will be offering football coaching for all ages at a cost of £12.00 (10 weekly sessions plus a certificate). This will be on Tuesdays from 3.30 - 4.30 p.m. and will commence on Tuesday 16th September.
EXTRA: After half term there may be a one-off Judo session to see if there is enough interest to run a Club. Information will follow shortly. Back to top

Bad Hair Day - Thursday 17th July

Do have a look at the photographs outside my room; they will make you smile! Back to top

Residential Visit 2004

Advance Warning
Year 5 and 6 Residential Visit to Saundersfoot , West Wales
Mon 28th June to Friday 2nd July 2004 - 5 Days.
Letter to follow soon. Back to top

Swimming for Years 5 and 6

You should have all received a letter about this year's swimming arrangements. If this is not the case please ask the class teacher. This term only Years 5 and 6 children will be swimming.
Parents of children in Years 3 and 4 do not need to send any money in yet. A letter will be sent at the beginning of the Spring Term requesting payment.
We do rely on parent helpers to assist us with swimming. If you feel you can help, please contact your child's class teacher. Thank you. Back to top

Headlice

Please remember to check your child's hair on a regular basis. No one is immune from headlice and repeated attacks do make parents very upset. A 'once a week check' seems a very sensible solution BUT we need everyone to participate. Last year one parent did invest in a badge that deterred headlice. It is not obvious why this badge works but it has done the trick for her child.
The cost is about £16 but if it works, it has to be good value. We would all like to see the end of headlice in the school. If you wish to know more about this badge please get in contact with me. Back to top

Innsworth Out of School Club / Hometime

At the end of each day children going to either 'Innsworth Out of School Club' or 'Larkfield After School Club' are sent to the library area. This is where the club leaders collect them. Should any child forget and go out to the gate they will be brought back into the library by one of the teachers. This will also be the case for all children awaiting a late parent. Back to top

Parent Helpers

If you feel you have a few hours to spare, mornings or afternoons, for one session or more, we can certainly put this time to good use. Please contact us if you are interested. Police checks do need to be made on all adults that we invite into school. This is no reflection on you, but an inevitable action in this day and age - unfortunately. Back to top

'Friends of Innsworth Junior School'

A 'Friends' meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 17th September at 3.30 p.m. We would be delighted to see a few new faces so please come along. Many parents often want to show an interest but feel they may be coerced into greater participation than they would want. Please be assured we are a friendly group who operate on a very informal basis with help being asked for on an individual event basis. Come along and see for yourselves. Back to top

Attendance

It is important that all children arrive on time so that they can settle down before the first lesson of the day. Obviously, there may be the odd occasion when the car will not start and you have no control over matters. Similarly, it is important that absences are kept to a minimum. Again there will be occasions where illness or a family holiday necessitates an unforeseen absence.

Any absence which is not deemed to be in the best interest of your child's education will be recorded as "unauthorised" and followed up. Obviously, dental or medical appointments are authorised, although keeping them to a minimum is ideal. The Governors do monitor all absences and concern is shown when the same names frequently appear. A telephone call to school, notifying us of your child's absence, allows us to keep a tight hold on pupil security. If you are unable to do this, we must have a letter following the absence. Most of our parents already follow this procedure.
Lateness is also monitored and this will be followed up if it happens with regularity. Children need all the support they can get and concentration comes from being ready to listen to the teacher. Back to top

P.E. Kit at School all Week Please

It is greatly appreciated if P.E. kit can be at school on Mondays and kept here for the whole week. This ensures that it is always available for children. Children will naturally be excused P.E. and games on medical grounds. Please send a note to the teacher if this is necessary.
Remember: Black shorts and white top for P.E. Plimsolls or bare feet for gymnastics, trainers only for outdoor games. Back to top

Clothing

PLEASE NAME YOUR CHILD'S CLOTHING.
A simple name or initials in biro would be quite adequate (you will need to repeat this action when you wash the clothing). Back to top

Parking

This is an emotive issue to people living nearby. I recognise that parking at 3.15 p.m. is at a premium but I must ask you to be mindful of the local residents. Parking with two wheels on the pavement is illegal and a local resident is becoming very irate because of the damage that is being inflicted on the grass outside her house. Please could I ask you to be mindful of this. Back to top

Secondary Transfer (Year 6 parents only)

Please take the opportunity to visit the secondary schools during these coming weeks. Many of you have already returned the reply slip about the meeting on Friday 12th September 3.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. The important date for parents living outside of Gloucester City i.e. you live in Churchdown, Sandhurst, Longford or Innsworth is 26th September.
If you are considering a selective school, you must apply for the correct form. Parents living within the city i.e. Longlevens or Abbeydale automatically have the right to place a selective school on their list.
We have contacted Pate's and they are expecting all parents who expressed an interest last term to attend one of the open evenings on Tues 16th and Wed 17th September 7 - 9 p.m. This is when the information booklet will be given to you about entry procedures for September 2004. Back to top

Year 3 and 4 Toilets

I am finally able to say that the toilets have now almost been fully refurbished (just the radiator to be reconnected). My caretaker and governors have spent many hours labouring in this area and I have to say they do look very stylish - super colour! (I had the final say!).

Painting the lower school corridor is next on our agenda - yes it is in dire need of a new lick of paint! Back to top

Harvest Festival: Wednesday 9th October 10.00 a.m.

This year's Harvest Festival will be taken by Reverend Katy Morgan from St John's the Evangelist Church, Churchdown. All parents are welcome.

We would value offers of help with the 'bagging' of produce after the service and with the Year 3 delivery of this produce in the afternoon. Please contact Mrs Pendlebury if you are available. Back to top

Part 2 of this newsletter