Newsletter 24th January 2007
Spring 2007
Christmas Presentations
Christmas Technology Competition Making a puppet
Sponsorship 'Science' Quiz
Headlice
Healthy Eating/Living
Year 6 Fish Oil Trial - Information only
New members of staff
Chess Congress 2007
Football
Year 6 Booster Groups - Mathematics
Parentline Plus
P.E. Kit
Absence
Horizons Youth Club
End of Term 3 Holiday: Monday 19th to Friday 23rd February
Child Action - Suzanne Silcock
New parents - School Website
Uniform
Spring 2007
As this is the first newsletter of 2007, a belated "Happy New Year!" Although we have had a fair amount of rain this term, we have been very fortunate that the temperature has been pretty mild. Hopefully this will continue so that the children will be able to take their breaks outside. Back to topChristmas Presentations
The period before Christmas now seems so long ago! But that does not mean that we can omit mentioning the wonderful presentations, which we were all privileged to watch last December. The children put so much enthusiasm and energy into making such a success of these presentations. Many of you, I know, came along to all four evening performances - thank you for such sterling support. We always knew that our children could generate great volume but in this case, they surpassed themselves! Your children did us all proud. Back to topChristmas Technology Competition Making a puppet
Well done to the following children who rose so well to our 2006 technology challenge:Class 1 Class 2
1st Amy 1st Patrick
2nd Joe 2nd Kaylem
3rd Naomi 3rd Oliver
Class 3 Class 4
1st Lauren 1st Annabel
2nd Jake 2nd Amy
3rd Emma 3rd Louis
Class 5 Class 6
1st Jessica 1st Lee
2nd Sam 2nd William
3rd Becky 3rd Ellie
Class 7 Class 8
1st Hannah 1st Sophie
2nd Chris 2nd Nathan
3rd Carys 3rd Leanora
Congratulations to all children who participated in this very practical day. The children were able to put their technology skills into action. Unfortunately not everyone can be a winner but everyone can be determined to succeed in any given task. Well done to all our children. Back to top
Sponsorship 'Science' Quiz
All children will have been issued with this year's sponsorship knowledge sheets. Besides raising money [optional] we are also using this event as an ideal learning opportunity to increase the children's knowledge of Science facts. All children will be tested, whether they are being sponsored or not, so we do need your help in supporting their learning. Some children will set their goal and aim to get every fact correct whilst others will aim at a more manageable level. Please help your child in setting an achievable target, as we want all children to succeed and enjoy this challenge. If by any chance this is the first time you have become aware of this quiz, please contact school for further details. Back to topHeadlice
Once again, we have become aware that some children's hair is full of headlice. This is pretty unpleasant for these children, as well as other children who sit behind them on the classroom carpet and can visibly see either the eggs or the lice. Please do the Sunday night check and make sure it is not your child carrying these parasites around. They will reappear when we least expect them to, so we all need to be extremely vigilant. It may be advisable for children with long hair to have it tied back. Thank you to the parents who do inform us when they find evidence of headlice, as it does put us on the alert. Back to topHealthy Eating/Living
Thank you for your continued support with our 'fruit only' policy for break time snacks. We have no doubt that this has had a positive impact on the children's well being during the morning lessons. Back to topYear 6 Fish Oil Trial - Information only
As you are already aware we are conducting a fish oil trial with 20 Year 6 children. We are extremely grateful to the suppliers who have funded this trial. They are obviously hopeful that evidence will be forthcoming to show that the oil has had a positive effect on the children's behaviour. We'll keep you informed. I have to say that I have been very impressed with the way the children arrive at the office, queue up and take their daily 5ml of oil so positively. Back to topNew members of staff
We have been delighted to welcome both Mrs Potts and Mrs Neal-Hopes onto the teaching staff of this school. Mrs Potts is covering maternity leave for Mrs Pendlebury in Year 5 [job share with Mrs Kemmett] whilst Mrs Neal-Hopes is covering teacher release across the school for three afternoons a week. We have also been able to welcome Miss Christie back onto the cleaning staff after a long-term absence due to illness. Back to topChess Congress 2007
This year's Chess Congress will take place on Sunday 4th March at Innsworth Junior School. This is an event where our best chess players compete to become the Girl or Boy Chess Champion of Gloucester. The scores of the six highest scoring children go towards a team award. Nearer the date, I will give out invitations to the children in Chess Club, who are felt to be of the necessary standard. Back to topFootball
Very soon the school football team will be turning their thoughts towards their next major tournament. Becoming the County champions in Yate in December means that they now go through to the South West Area tournament in March. Thank you to the parents who gave up their Saturday morning to transport the team - the team rewarded them well! Back to topYear 6 Booster Groups - Mathematics
The booster sessions for Mathematics start next Tuesday and will continue for eleven weeks. If your child is participating in these early morning sessions, please support them when the going becomes more difficult. Cold outside, warm bed, early start! They will reap their reward later in the year. Back to topParentline Plus
Parentline Plus are running a course over five weeks called:'Bringing up confident children'.
Although the first session was last week, they have said that it is not too late to go along.
Thursdays 9.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. in the new Community Hall [next to the school]. If you do not work on a Thursday morning, go along. The sessions are free! We can never stop learning about how to help children so why not drop in. The people running these courses are friendly and will tailor the content to meet your needs. Please think about it - there is even a creche for those of you with younger-aged children. Back to top
P.E. Kit
We still see children sitting out of their P.E. lessons because of a lack of kit. This is not acceptable, especially with the current emphasis on being active. Please help your child to become a little more organised. Children should bring their kit in on a Monday morning to avoid the excuse,"I forgot that we had P.E. today." Back to top
Absence
A small minority of our parents do allow children to be kept at home when they should be in school. Obviously illness is unavoidable and we take no issue with these absences. However, some absences are questionable such as the "arrival and departure of flu within 24 hours", whole day visits to the dentist or "didn't know school had started". If we firmly believe you are not supporting your child's education we will unauthorise an absence and this could cause difficulties at a later time as the Local Authority will fine parents for a child's unauthorised absence. If you oversleep, it is better to bring your child in late rather than make up a reason and your child miss the whole day. We do appreciate that the majority of our parents only keep their children off when it is entirely necessary. If you do experience difficulties in getting your child to school, ask us for some help. We are here to support you, as well as your child. Back to topHorizons Youth Club
I have just come across a leaflet about the Youth Club held at Horizons on Cheltenham Road East. On Fridays they have a club for Juniors, 10 - 13 years of age, from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. If you are interested, the telephone number is 01452 715058. Back to topEnd of Term 3 Holiday: Monday 19th to Friday 23rd February
Two reminders in case these dates are not already in your diary - End of term 3 and SATsYear 6 Parents: Please do not book holidays for SATs week - Monday 14th - Friday 18th May. Absences count against the school. Thank You. Back to top
Child Action - Suzanne Silcock
Suzanne Silcock is employed by us to work on our behalf to help any child or family in the school. Initially Suzanne will contact parents, have a discussion about her role, complete a Common Assessment Form [which identifies any needs a child might have] and seek ways of addressing these needs. Sometimes the solutions can be very simple but it takes a discussion or an outside 'pair of eyes' to identify the way forward. Suzanne and I do sit in on multi-agency meetings, which are held in order to seek help from other professionals who may be able to assist. This project comes under the Government's agenda of 'Every Child Matters' so its aim is to help you. Often we will suggest to parents that this project may be worth their consideration. Please do not suffer in silence. If you have any child based worries, come and talk to us. It could be to do with your child's academic progress, friendship issues, family worries etc. The list could go on and on. You have ownership of any recommended action that comes from this project and at no point would this escalate outside of your control. Back to topNew parents - School Website
If you have a new email address, let Mrs Hamblett know so that any school correspondence can be sent electronically. Less trees to pull down!Our school website addresses are this one: www.innsworthjunior.ik.org
and: http://www.innsworth-jun.gloucs.sch.uk Back to top
Uniform
I am sure that you will all agree that the children look very smart in their school uniform. Please ensure that children always wear their school ties with their shirts. We have just reviewed our policy and open neck shirts are only permitted during the summer months. Ties are available from Mrs Hamblett, priced £2.50.As the weather has turned much colder, please make sure that your child has the appropriate coat, gloves, scarf etc., in order to keep warm during outside playtime. You never know - it might even snow!! Back to top