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Newsletter Thursday 20th November 2003

Christmas Bazaar: Saturday 22nd November / Family Christmas Disco / Year 3 and 4 - Pantomime 'Aladdin'

Vacancy for Midday Supervisory Assistant and Update on Mrs Kemmett

Reading and Parent Helpers for Reading

Several Year 3 parents have mentioned that our approach to Reading differs from Key Stage 1, where the focus was on the teacher listening to the individual child. At Key Stage 2 the emphasis is on the development of the children's skills to decode text and understand inferred messages within it. The most effective way to develop these skills is through guided reading sessions, which significantly increases time for sustained teaching. Every child should participate in one guided reading session, lead by the teacher, each week. When guided reading sessions take place, other children within the main group will be undertaking other Literacy based activities e.g. spelling, reading comprehension, handwriting etc. We do recognise that some pupils still need to be listened to and wherever possible, we try to include this within school hours by using our classroom assistants or volunteer parents. However, limited time and human resources do restrict what we are capable of achieving. This is where we need you, the parents to work with us and undertake the 'reading to an adult' sessions at home. We value the partnership with parents as both school and home working together will ensure our children realise their potential.
We are again appealing to any one 'beyond the school gate' who is willing to give up an hour or two each week to help those children whose reading is still developing. If you feel able to offer your services or if you know of a gran or granddad that may be willing, please see your child's teacher. Many parents already help out in school each week and we do appreciate all that they do for us. Back to top

Snails

32 snails are still looking for a home! They would make suitable gifts for people, as they require fairly low-level maintenance. If you are interested, please see Mr Jones in Class 2. Back to top

Seeing your child's teacher

I am always delighted to see parents and help put any anxieties to rest. Please feel that you can also approach your child's teacher at any time during the term - you do not have to wait for Consultation Evenings. If the teacher is not able to see you straight away, a mutually convenient time could soon be arranged. Back to top

Extra Curricular Matches

Recently, there have been a variety of sporting fixtures against other schools. I do feel that competition is a healthy part of life and that it should be encouraged. Matches after school often require parent help as well as extra teacher time so once again we value the adults who allow this to happen.
Latest results:
Chess Innsworth v Brockworth 16 to 8. A win to Innsworth.
Netball Innsworth v Robinswood Primary. Innsworth won 6-1.

Football Innsworth v Widden Primary. Widden won 2-0.

Thanks must go to Mr McQuilkin who arranged the Sunday morning Football match in aid of providing funds for a new football strip. Back to top

London Trip to the Imperial War Museum

We are very grateful to the staff and parents who gave up the whole day to make sure that this visit went as smoothly as possible. Unfortunately no amount of planning on our part can eliminate unforeseen problems. Eagleline has informed us that the hydraulic plate ripped away from the flywheel. A mechanically minded governor tells me that this type of problem could not have been anticipated. The response from the children about the day's visit has been very favourable and I've already heard that one family intend to repeat this visit during the Christmas holidays. Back to top

Operation Christmas Child

Thank you very much for sending in the Christmas boxes - around sixty boxes were brought into school. These have been collected and will be on their way to making Christmas a little more festive for youngsters in other parts of Europe. Back to top

Start of the school day

It has been brought to my attention that some children are arriving at school well in advance of school starting. As school begins at 8.50 a.m. no pupil should be inside the school building before 8.30 a.m. in case of fire. Obviously some teachers give children monitoring jobs but this should not require children to be in school before 8.30 a.m.
Teachers are out on the playground from 8.35 a.m. each day to supervise children arriving. Back to top

Building Work

The building work is progressing steadily without too much inconvenience for everyone in school. Mrs Hamblett and I are delighted with the new offices and look forward to seeing the completion of the reception area around Christmas time.
The children have been very good in observing the playground rules that have been imposed because of the car parking on the playground. All in all, the nine weeks of building work have not been too fraught.
Fingers crossed for good weather up to Christmas. Back to top

Power Cut

The power cut before half term caught many schools out and there are several lessons to be learnt from it. The time of the power cut was a major problem as I was on a course that day and then caught in traffic as I made my way to school. Mrs Pendlebury ended up with a hall full of parents and children of all ages and no telephone system working. If a power cut occurs again in the run up to the start of the school, then all children will be sent to their classes to register before any action is taken. This may cause inconvenience to parents but it will safeguard the interests of the children.
Thank you to those parents who brought their children back to school for the afternoon session. The decision to open again for the afternoon session was made because the power company gave me confidence that the problem was already being tackled. Our practice has been reviewed and a new policy has been written. The advice from Shire Hall is that children should be sent home with parents or neighbours if the emergency occurs as children come to school. If you are not happy for this to happen, please let us know. As this is the first time I have been involved in sending a whole school home, [and I have been teaching a long time] I do not envisage this happening again in the near future. Back to top

Healthy Eating

The apples that are being delivered to us each week by the 'Lions' are being gratefully received. Last week's Russet apples were super and the best of the varieties we have received over the last four weeks. Up until this week, the favourites appeared to be the 'Gala' apple. The children were put off by the appearance of the Cox's apple because of the skin tone/texture. Despite my reassurances that there was nothing wrong with the apples, the children were quite sceptical! Back to top

Christmas Presentations

This year we have gone back to our normal arrangement of having both a Lower and Upper school presentation. This requires a great deal of organisation, commitment of time and stamina from all concerned at this time of the year. The singing coming from the school hall during rehearsals sounds so lively and upbeat. Make sure you put the dates in your diary, as these performances will guarantee to put you in the Christmas spirit. Back to top

Lower School Christmas Production: 'Michaelmas Mouse'

Performances will take place on Monday 8th December at 1.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. and on Tuesday 9th December at 7.00 p.m. A letter will be sent home today giving details. Back to top

Upper School Christmas Production: 'Captain Christmas'

Performances will take place on Monday 15th December at 1.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. and Tuesday 16th December at 7.00 p.m. Upper school children should already have received a letter. Back to top

Year 4 Visit to Wildlife Centre, Robinswood Hill

Another visit is in the offing for tomorrow. The children will need to wrap up well as the weather could be rather wet and cold. Back to top

Year 3 Visit to the Caerleon Museum

This is taking place on Tuesday 16th December. A letter will be sent home this week giving further details. Again warm clothing will need to be the order of the day. Back to top

Technology Competition

On Wednesday 17th December the whole school will be taking part in our Christmas technology competition which we hold every year. Every child will be expected to take part in the making of a diorama - the teacher will explain what this entails nearer the time. However, every child will need to have a shoe box - hence the advance warning! Many shoe shops will give you a shoebox if you ask them nicely. If anyone has extra boxes I'm sure we can put them to good use. Back to top

Carol Service

On Thursday 18th December we are going to have an informal Carol Service with Reverend Katy Morgan being present. This will take place at 10.00 a.m. and be approximately 40 minutes long. Parents are welcome to come along. Back to top

Coffee and mince pies

As a way of saying 'Thank you' for all the help we receive throughout the year, we would like to invite all our volunteer parents / grandparents to come along and have a coffee and mince pie with us on Thursday 18th December at 10.45 a.m. Invitations will be issued at the beginning of December so please put the date in your diary. Back to top

Christmas Parties

Class Christmas parties will be held on Thursday 18th December in the afternoon. Children will not require a packed lunch as the party food is set out for 12.30 p.m. Class teachers will make their own arrangements with their own classes about bringing in party food. Children are allowed to wear their 'party clothes' on the day rather than wear school uniform. Back to top

Last day of term - Non uniform day

Friday 19th December will be a non-uniform day for everyone in school. Donations will be collected in aid of 'Clic', the children's charity that we support. Back to top

Consultation Evenings

Thank you to all the parents who came along to the Consultation Evening before half term. Attendance was 92% [3 families were on holiday] so we were all very pleased with this. I do hope you found this evening informative and were made aware of your child's present performance in the classroom. Next term you have two Consultation Evenings so that greater attention can be given to progress in Literacy and Numeracy. If you are on holiday when Consultation evenings take place, the class teacher will be only too pleased to offer you an alternative date. Back to top

Judo

The early morning session last week was so successful that Bath University have agreed to run a club each week. This will start after Christmas and will possibly be held after school on Fridays. The cost will be the same as was originally envisaged - £38 per term. Further information will be sent out before Christmas. Back to top

Swimming Lessons

Swimaway, a local provider of private swimming lessons has written to us asking that we make you aware of the continuing opportunities that exist for swimming lessons at Beaufort Sports Centre, Tuffley and Sir Thomas Rich's School, Longlevens. Contact can be made on 01452 520849 if you require more details. Back to top

Christmas Bazaar: Saturday 22nd November / Family Christmas Disco / Year 3 and 4 - Pantomime 'Aladdin'

Yes, there is time to watch THE match on Saturday before coming along to school. Please support the efforts of the 'Friends' to raise funds for school resources. Father Christmas will be putting in an appearance!

The 'Friends' Family Disco will take place on Friday 28th November from 6.30 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. There will be a bar for adults, hotdogs, sweets and soft drinks for children. A letter will be sent out this week with further details.

We are planning a visit to the Wesley Players' production of 'Aladdin' (an amateur production) in Cinderford on Friday 23rd January 2004.
Any last minute bookings need to be sent in immediately as we need to complete our seat reservations this week. Back to top

Vacancy for Midday Supervisory Assistant and Update on Mrs Kemmett

There is a vacancy for a midday supervisory assistant from 12.00 - 1.00 p.m. each day (5 hours per week). The salary is £1240 p.a. (based on Grade C Point 7 £11013 pro rata). If you are interested in applying for this position, please contact Mrs Hamblett for an application form.

Mrs Kemmett continues to keep us informed as to her whereabouts via her very newsy postcards. They are currently travelling along Australia's east coast towards Cairns, having taken in a little of the rugby scene in Brisbane. We have received some super pictures and we can only 'drool in envy'. I'm sure she'll have some wonderful tales to tell when she arrives back next August. Back to top