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Newsletter Wednesday 5th January 2003

It does seem strange to be saying 'Happy New Year' but for those parents we do not meet at the school gate, this is our first contact in the new term. Since we have returned to school the time has simply flown. So many things have already happened:
· Years 3 and 4 to the pantomime in the Forest.
· Years 3 and 4 have started their swimming sessions.
· The Gloscat 10 week Computer course for adults has begun.
· Year 6 English and Maths Booster groups started two weeks ago.
· Years 5 and 6 to 'Midsummer Night's Dream' at the Roses Theatre.
· Year 5 and 6 Social Communications Skills Groups have started on their 10 week sessions.
· 'Friends' have purchased new children's bibles for use across the school.
· Year 6 parents have received their letters about their child's school for next September.
· Third Year students from Cheltenham and Gloucester University have started their final teaching practice at Innsworth. Back to top

Year 6 Parents

Please do not book your holidays for the week beginning MONDAY 12th May 2003, as this is SATs week. Back to top

Year 6 English and Mathematics Booster Groups

Booster groups started two weeks ago. I was overwhelmed with the response from children wanting to attend these sessions. Whatever the political reasons are for promoting this initiative, the fact remains that the small groups do achieve what they are designed to do.
They allow the children to have extra teacher input with other children of similar ability. Confidence grows and grows. In an ideal world class sizes would allow this to happen naturally. Back to top

Year 6 - SATURDAY MORNINGS

This is a completely new venture for us at Innsworth - 6 SATURDAY mornings for Year 6. I was absolutely astounded and obviously delighted, when so many of our Year 6 children asked to come to these sessions. This made me feel so proud of our pupils - they were saying that they wanted to be in school on a Saturday!
This is a new government initiative that arrived on my desk just before Christmas. We could put in a bid for money to be used for teaching sessions in half term, Easter or Saturdays. We decided to go for Saturdays. Miss Stocken, Mrs Kemmett and myself are taking these sessions and if last Saturday was indicative of the other Saturdays to come, we will deem them to be very successful. So for those parents who see us all arriving at school, no you won't have mixed up the days! Back to top

Maths Week: Beginning 10th March

We were so impressed with Book Week that Miss Stocken has organised a Maths Week. I have seen the arrangements and it is going to be a super week. We will still be tackling other areas of the curriculum but they will all come through Maths. Back to top

Staff Leaving

Miss Thackway, Year 5 Learning Support Worker, was unable to continue her employment with us at Innsworth. We were sorry to see her go but we have appointed a very suitable replacement. Mrs Gibbons [parent] joined our staff last week and is now working in Year 5 in the afternoons. Back to top

Swimming

Swimming is going really well for our Years 3 and 4. However, due to the time constraints of travel, there is not enough time for children to have leisurely showers. This means that shampoos, body sprays etc are not needed. Apologies to those children who may be upset by this. Back to top

Behaviour / Discipline Policy

This policy is now in its final stages. Never have I spent so long on a policy document. We [staff and governors] have worked with the professionals for many hours, poured over model policies and so we really do hope that what we have, cannot be bettered. Parents who offered to review the policy last year have been invited to offer their views before it is finally put in place. Thursday 6th February at 1.00 p.m. if you are interested in joining this session. Back to top

Exclusion

We do not take exclusion lightly but will use it when children's actions require it. I have recently excluded children for inappropriate behaviour, which was not acceptable and totally against our Motto 'Pride'. Back to top

Caretaker - Internal Alterations

You may already be aware that alterations have been taking place in the Year 3 and 4 corridor. The term I like to use is 'Creative Planning'. We are trying to utilise our present space as much as possible. We have amalgamated two cloak bays into one, halved the girls' toilets to create new boys' toilets [we were told we had enough toilets for 500 children!], built new urinals and made the former boys? toilets into a teaching and learning area. The former cloak bay will, by the end of term, be an SEN teaching and learning area.
This will provide the very children who need support, with a teaching area that is not dependant on another teacher vacating a classroom or crossing fingers that the computer room will be empty.
The day we appointed our present caretaker, Mr Birch, was a fortuitous day for us. His skills have allowed our present alterations to happen without a major financial outlay. Back to top

Other Property Developments

By this time next year we expect to have an extra classroom [permanent structure] in the school. At the time of building we are also going to move both my office and the secretary's office to the front of the school. This will be for security purposes and to allow the staffroom to be made larger. The LEA are financing the new classroom but we are having to pay for the new staffroom/ office move. At present the LEA are still putting the contract out to tender. I will keep you posted of all new developments as and when they happen. Back to top

Lost property

One Year 6 girl lost a NEXT cardigan on the day of the school party. It is navy with grey sleeves, has hearts and an 86 on the sleeves. Its whereabouts remain a mystery. If you can shed any light on this, please let me know. Back to top

Healthy Eating

Nobody has stopped me and expressed any types of view whatsoever [last newsletter]. Therefore I think the next stage is to actually canvas the views of all parents. I think we do have a duty to promote healthy eating at a young age because we are all aware of the damage that can appear in later years. Back to top

'Brain Gym'

The inservice day for teachers in January was a practical one to do with 'Brain Gym'. 'Brain Gym' is about the children undertaking simple practical activities that connect the right side to the left side of the brain before starting their formal lessons. This has a great impact on how children co-ordinate their movements, physical as well as written. If you would like to know more about 'Brain Gym' just ask the classteacher or your child.
We have been told that the drinking of water throughout the day has a major influence on concentration and performance in the classroom. Hence we are encouraging all children to bring a water bottle to school each day. Flavoured water or juice does not impact in the same way because the body, apparently, thinks it is a food! Plain water has a knock on effect within minutes of drinking it. If only it was that simple! Back to top

Blue Peter Appeal - Bring 'n Buy

Congratulations must go to our enterprising children in Year 5 and 6, particularly Dale Lewis and Lisa Cummings. Dale sought permission from school, sent off for the details, set the date, organised the letter to parents and enlisted help from his peers. Lisa joined in the planning and execution of the 'Bring 'n Buy'. Her cake stall went down a treat. Two days of buying and selling resulted in a profit of £89.00 towards the Blue Peter Appeal- a wonderful and worthwhile effort. Thanks must go to all the children who brought items into school for selling and who indeed, came ready to spend. I was very grateful to Mrs Cummings who oversaw the two day event. Back to top

P.E Kit

P.E. kit seems to be a continual problem! In the office we do become quite exasperated by the continual interruptions in order to borrow spare kit. Where possible we do give out spare shorts, plimsolls etc. but it is not good training for the children. Certainly by Year 4 children should know that we expect kit to be brought into school on a Monday and taken home on a Friday. Please would you reinforce this message if you know your child needs it.
P.S. You would be surprised at the number of times that children blame their parents for lack of kit! Back to top

Uniform

Thank you for supporting us with the wearing of school uniform. We have finally managed to get rid of the large hooded sweatshirts that seemed to be so popular with some of the children. They are fine, but for outside of school. We seem to be having success, as well, with the wearing of school shoes. Again, this could only happen with your support.
Our plea now is to eliminate the wearing of necklaces and this is for safety reasons. Again, these have a place, but outside of school. Children do run around at lunchtime: they fall over and inadvertently catch someone else. Necklaces can cause great injury around the neck if this happens. Recently we have also had to pull children up for wearing earrings other than studs. Again, this is a safety factor. Back to top

Consultation Evenings

I have taken on board the comments that were written on the last Consultation Evening questionnaire. Teachers have been asked to either allow longer for each parent interview or try to keep to the allotted time of 5 minutes. It is not easy to keep to five minutes as some parents may have real concerns that they wish to discuss. If this happens, I have suggested to staff that they consider a further appointment when time is not at such a premium. Our teachers are always willing to give time to parents when concerns are raised. The down side of giving appointments at 10 minute intervals is that the Consultation Evening will be spread over a longer time and therefore, some appointments will be quite late into the evening. Any suggestions for an improved Consultation Evening format will always be considered. We always seek to improve! Back to top

School Council: Report by two Council Representatives

A big 'Hello' from the School Council members: Georgina Mockford, Peter Haynes, Oliver Booth, Kathryn Coleby, Charlotte Clements (Treasurer), Dale Lewis, Emily Piddington (Secretary) and Tom Hazelden (Chairman). Our job is to help make the school an even better place from a child's eye. If any children have any problems, don't hesitate to talk to us! Back to top

Mobile Phones

We would prefer that mobile phones were not brought into school. If, however, you feel circumstances necessitate your child having one, please would you send in a written note. We will not accept responsibility for mobile phones in school. Back to top

Half Term and Easter Holidays

Just to remind you that half term is from 24th - 28th February. The Easter holidays are from Monday 14th - Monday 28th April (inclusive). The children come back to school on Tuesday 29th April. Back to top