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Newsletter Wednesday 11th February 2004

This is the first newsletter of the term and we are approaching half term already. Once again - tempus fugit! Christmas seems so long ago, yet it is only seven weeks since we all sat down for Christmas lunch. The arrival of the snow, two weeks ago, brought much excitement to us all. We have some super pictures of the children enjoying their extra time outside: for many it was their first real play in the snow. However, for the half term, I'm sure we'll all be hoping for the warmer weather that we had last week. Back to top

Building Work

The internal work on our school is almost complete and I have to say, it does look very smart. The reception area is very secure and much warmer than it used to be. The new classroom is behind schedule but we are hopeful that 1st March St David's Day, is still a possibility as a completion date. I'm not going to hold my breath though! We also hope to have the painting of the Year 3 and 4 corridor completed by the middle of March. The summer term will see the same type of school refurbishment taking place in the Upper school corridor - yes, I can hear you all saying, "It's about time and it does need it!" We all whole-heartedly agree with you.
The builders will be making good the front area of the school [grounds] once the building work is finished. Back to top

Consultation Evenings

Please make every effort to attend both Consultation Evenings this week as it is so important that you are fully involved with your child's learning and have an up to date knowledge of the progress being made.
The children also recognise the importance of these evenings and want their parents to see their achievements.
Governors should be around during both evenings, if you wish to ask them any questions. Back to top

New Pupils

This term has seen the arrival of many new pupils. We hope that they have settled down and have made many new friends. In one year group we have had to introduce a waiting list, as we are so heavily oversubscribed. Back to top

Chess Congress 2004

We should shortly be hearing the details of this year's Chess Congress. 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. We are hopeful that we can emulate our success as last year's team winner. Back to top

Sponsorship Geography Quiz

I do hope that everyone has received the new sheet containing the question about continents. We thought we had checked it thoroughly! Despite all our efforts we still ended up with Asia down twice and no Africa.
When it comes to the day of testing the children's knowledge, each child will be given the same question sheet that they were originally given but there will be spaces for the answers to be inserted. The answer will be the underlined word on the original question sheet.
When the children decide which facts to learn, they can pick and choose from a section. They do not have to attempt the whole section if they find it too difficult. We want the children to succeed, whether they attempt 10 or 120 questions. Many thanks for supporting the children in their efforts with this task. Back to top

Early Morning Booster Groups

These booster sessions start on the first day back after half term for those invited to attend.

As I will be taking the early morning booster sessions after half term, I will not be around in the playground before school on Mondays to Thursdays. To counteract this, I will try and make it to the playground at 3.15 p.m. Back to top

'Innsworth Out of School Club'

This club has now transferred to our school and although things are not perfect [using Mr Ward's classroom is not ideal], things are much better because the need to walk to Larkfield has now gone. We are now awaiting completion of the new classroom so that the Club will be able to move into its own area. This will eliminate the present upheaval from one room to another. Back to top

Gloscat - Family learning Project

The fourth computer course is now well established and all adults are developing new skills. There are a few places available if anyone wishes to improve their Internet skills. See Mrs Hamblett for further details. Back to top

Football Update

The football team played on Friday against Widden at home. They played extremely well and won 6:1. Widden had beaten us in an earlier round and it was nice to get the equaliser. Yesterday we played against Fieldcourt in the first round of the Knock Out Cup competition. Innsworth won 3:2. Well done, to all the team! Back to top

Swimming Badges

Whilst Miss Stocken is endeavouring to get the certificates out before half term, this may not be possible and will be given out in the first week back. Back to top

Water machines

Children do need to bring a water bottle to school if they are going to make use of the water machines. Ideally the bottles with a retractable top are the most suitable ones for classroom use. Back to top

Parking

People living near any school must get really annoyed with parents' vehicles clogging up the roads. This cannot be avoided but please can I ask all of our parents to be mindful of the people living nearby. Two recent complaints have been with parking on the grass verges and parking so close to people's drives. One causes the area to look very unkempt and the other causes difficulty for house owners negotiating their own driveways. Back to top

Secondary School Allocations

This year almost all of our Year 6 children have been allocated their first choice of secondary school. We are really pleased that many of the children wishing to take up places in the Grammar school have been able to do so, although not all parents opt for a selective secondary school. We have children going to Pate's, Sir Thomas Rich's, Ribston, The High School for Girls, Chosen Hill Comprehensive, Churchdown Comprehensive, Oxstalls Comprehensive and St Peter's. Our pupils will do well, wherever they go, as long as they work to the best of their ability. Back to top

D.A.R.E Graduation

The Year 6 pupils are just about coming to the end of their Drug Awareness course. Once again it has been a huge success. Parents are invited to join the pupils at the Roses Theatre on 23rd March at 10 a.m. to celebrate the completion of D.A.R.E. with an hour's 'revue' of what they have learnt. Please put it in your diary. A coach will be provided to transport parents and children to Tewkesbury and will leave school at 9.30 a.m. A letter will be sent out after half term. Back to top

Mrs Kemmett's Travels

Having celebrated Christmas in Sydney and experienced Christmas dinner in the sun, Mr and Mrs Kemmett are now in New Zealand marvelling at the spectacular scenery around them. I would love to be there with them but I am not sure that I would have joined in their bungee jumping from Kawarau Bridge. Here are some of the other activities that they have engaged in - hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, jet boating, wine touring [by bicycle] whale watching, quad biking, luging, cruising, helicopter flying and glacier walking.
I am going to pencil in Mrs Kemmett for Monday assemblies for the whole of next year!
What tales she will have to tell. Did I tell you the one about??????? Back to top

Skipping

We were entranced at the marvels performed by Glebefield Primary School when they visited us last month. The impact on us can be seen every day in our playground. It is lovely to see children enjoying an activity that costs little money, enhances their physical well being, allows them to interact with their peers, keeps them occupied and allows them to set themselves a challenge. There are occasional mishaps when someone's rope catches someone else but all in all, we at school are really pleased with the way skipping has caught on. You can't beat some of the time-honoured activities!
We are stocking skipping ropes, even if supply does not always keep up with demand. Back to top

Headlice

Just a reminder that headlice are making a reappearance once again - not in a swarm but enough to make us aware. A remedy from one parent is Vaseline. The head is left clear, but it does take about six washes to wash out and it needs to be left on for some time.
Please can I ask you to do the Sunday night check, if you are not already doing so. Back to top

Cloakbays

These do become a mess so quickly because of the number of children using them. Last weekend, I purchased two dustbins, one for each cloakbay. If any article of clothing or equipment is found on the floor, it will be placed in the dustbin - it is clean! This way, if the children cannot find something at the end of the day, it should be located in the bin. Hopefully!!

In the Lower school cloakbay, some children are notorious for dropping their coats where they stand, whilst other coats are knocked off their pegs as others hang theirs up. P.E. bags are also problematic as these are often discarded as soon as P.E. is over. Many children take great care over their property and we have to say "Well done" to them and this is what we are trying to encourage.
As long as items are named, the Learning Support Workers can return items to owners before the end of the day. Back to top

Thinking Day

Guides, Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Rainbows and Beavers may wear their uniforms to school on Friday 13th February to celebrate the birthdays of the founders of Scouts and Guides. [Rainbows should wear their tabards over their uniforms] Back to top

Half Term Mon 16th to Friday 20th February

I'm sure that you do not need reminding that half term is next week. We do return on Monday 23rd February. Enjoy a super action-filled week. I hope to skate in Central Park in New York - this is just so that I can email Mrs Kemmett with my activities! Back to top

P.S. Year 6 Parents:

Please do not book holidays for SATs week - Monday 10th - Friday 14th May. Thank You. Back to top