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Newsletter Wednesday 8th May 2002

We are rapidly approaching the time when assessments reveal how much progress and improvement has taken place in the classroom. Next week is not only an important one for Year 6 with their SATs but it is also a time for school assessments to take place in the other three year groups. Children who have worked hard all year will have no reason to feel anxious about these assessments, as they will have already covered the work during the year.

The Year 6 have worked extremely hard with all their revision and it is now time for them to let their confidence take over and tackle these tests with a "I'm going to show everybody what I can do" attitude. If effort was to be rewarded as well as performance, all the Year 6 would score top marks. However, we know that not everyone will be able to achieve this and we must be realistic in our goals. As long as the Year 6 achieve their personal targets, they will be successful and this is what we shall be celebrating. Back to top

Year 6 Booster Sessions

Friday 10th May will be the last booster session for this year. I have to say a big "Thank You" both to the children and the staff for their enthusiasm and efforts in making these sessions as successful as they have been. Both staff and pupils will be given questionnaires so that we can evaluate how useful the booster sessions have been. Back to top

Break time snacks

There are many schools which dictate what children can or cannot eat at breaktime. Personally, I do not feel that I want to go down this road as I consider this a matter for each parent. We do, however, say that sweets should not be eaten in school and I would be very grateful for your support in enforcing this.
As we are still without a caretaker it is important that all children take responsibility for their empty crisp packets. In order to look after our environment several of our pupils have spent breaks and lunchtimes picking up dropped packets. If litter continues to be problematic, we will be forced to review our situation. Back to top

Playground Markings/ Sponsored General Knowledge

We have arranged for a variety of games to be marked on the playground during half term.
This has been made possible because of the money raised by you last term. This still leaves us with a fair amount of money to purchase further playground resources in the coming months. Back to top

Summer Fayre - Saturday May 25th

Please help to make this year's fayre a day to remember.
What do we need?
White Elephant - An ideal opportunity to tidy up the attic!
Go Green - Any item that is green in colour or eco friendly
Bottle Stall - Bottles of any shape and size
Tin cans for coconut shy - No jagged edges please
Cakes - Please send in nearer the day
Teddies/Soft Toys - Must be clean and tidy
Nail varnish - especially bright, glittery colours
Many thanks to all of you who have offered to help at our Summer Fayre. If you have not already offered to help and you are able to, please contact the school. We do need as much help as possible.

I do hope as many of you as possible will stay on to celebrate the Queen?s Golden Jubilee. This is an ideal time to make our school part of the local community. Back to top

Raffle Tickets

Please keep those raffle tickets going: we are hoping for even greater success this year. As all the prizes are donated, all the money coming into school is pure profit. The 'Friends' are hoping to be able to buy new staging for school if the funds permit it! Fingers crossed! Back to top

Photographer coming: Thursday 23rd May

The photographer will be coming to school at 9.00 a.m. on Thursday 23rd May to take class photographs and the Year 6 leavers pack.

A brush or comb might be a vital asset on this day! Back to top

Computer Suite

At long last the computer suite is up and running once again. We still have software to install and a few machines are of a temperamental nature but generally the suite has been given 'a clean bill of health'.
We are indebted to several RAF technicians who have freely given up so much of their time to help eliminate our problems and get us back on line. Back to top

Gloscat: Family Learning Project

This project is now into its fourth week, with eight parents taking part. If anyone else is interested, please let us know and we will see if they can join the course mid way. I am really pleased that these courses run by Gloscat are being taken up and we hope that further courses will be set up in the future. Back to top

Clothing - Please label

Our stockpile of school jumpers is growing by the day! Unfortunately they are all unnamed and whenever someone tries to retrieve their jumper, it is never one of the pile! Back to top

Parents - Lateness and Absence

There has been a noticeable trend in the mornings for some children to amble into school at various times after the bell. We allow no more than ten minutes between the whistle at 8.50 a.m. and the Literacy session starting at 9.00 a.m. This means that children arriving late, will not be ready to settle straight into their lessons and this can cause disruption to the whole group.
If it comes to our attention that a child is frequently absent with no underlying medical reasons, we do forward names to our Educational Welfare Officer. We are indeed fortunate that most parents realize the importance of good attendance on progress.
Occasionally, parents may suspect a child is feigning illness. If this is the case, then there is something worrying him/her. Discussion and support between us all will always resolve this. Unhappy children will not make progress. Teachers are always ready to help parents, whatever the problem. Back to top

Summer Fayre Competition: Saturday 25th May 2002

There will be a Fancy Dress Competition during the latter part of the afternoon. There will be three prizes for the following groups: playgroup, infant and junior. Every child taking part will receive a small prize. Forward planning will pay dividends! Back to top

Bedding Plants

If you have ordered bedding plants from the 'Friends' please remember that Wednesday 22nd May is collection day here at Innsworth Junior School. The times are between 1.15 p.m. - 2.45 p.m. and 3.15 p.m. - 3.45 p.m.

The 'Friends' made a profit of approximately £169.00 for the school this year. Many thanks to Mrs Humphris for all her hard work. Back to top

Tesco and Walkers Vouchers

A huge "thank you" to Mrs Hood for counting approximately 7500 Tesco tokens! As yet we have not decided how they will be used.
A big thank also to all the parents who have helped cut out and count the Walkers tokens. At the latest count we have approximately 1700 towards books for school. Back to top

Jump Rope

In order to support the British Heart Foundation, we are going to participate in a 'Jump Rope' session. On Friday 17th May each class will be involved in skipping for half an hour. We are not going to ask for sponsorship because of our own in-house sponsorship event. Instead, the school will make a donation towards the British Heart Foundation. Back to top

Cycling Proficiency starting Mon 20th May

P.C. Bartholomew and Mr Bartlett have, once again, started to help our Year 6 children become proficient road users. Many thanks to them both. Back to top

Websites for Schools

For your information our school website can be found on
www.innsworthjunior.ik.org Back to top

Dates for your Diary

Mon 20th May Cycling Proficiency Year 6
Tues 18th June 10 a.m. 'Dare' Graduation Day for Year 6
Thurs 20th June A.G.M. Governors report to Parents 6.00 p.m.
Sun 7th July Car Boot Sale
Tues 9th July Class Consultation Evening
Wed. 10th July: English/Maths Consultation Evening
Thurs 11th July: Sports Day
Fri. 12th July: End of Term Disco
Thurs. 18th July: Last day for children
Fri 19th July Inservice Day for Staff Back to top

HALF TERM

I'm sure you won't have forgotten that Half Term is from Monday 3rd June to Friday 7th June inclusive. Back to top

D.A.R.E. Graduation Day 18th June 10.00 a.m.

I do hope that as many of our Year 6 parents as possible will be able to attend this graduation ceremony that is being held in the Olympus Theatre.
If other parents would like to attend then we would be delighted to see them. This would give parents of the other year groups a chance to see what D.A.R.E is all about. Back to top

Caretaker and Midday Supervisor

If you know anyone who may be interested in either of these positions please let us know. Both positions are vital to the efficiency of our school. Back to top

Coming Soon! - GEL The Upper School Production

Rehearsals are just starting to get underway for the Summer production of 'Gel'. Make a note in your diaries Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th July. Not to be missed! Back to top

Secondary School Selection

We finally heard last week that all our Year 6 pupils have now been allocated schools of their choice. When the secondary allocation letters go out to Year 6 parents in January, it is inevitable that some will be disappointed. This year, however, the process for some parents has been fraught with great difficulties and has proved a nightmare. I do hope that the LEA evaluates this year's procedure before the 2003 secondary allocation starts again. Back to top

Year 6 Sex Education Programme

A preliminary meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 15th May at 3.15 p.m. so that Year 6 parents can preview the material that Caroline Segelov, our School Nurse, and the classteachers will be using during the forthcoming four sessions. Back to top

Ecology Jubilee Project

Just to remind parents that there is a meeting today at 6.00 p.m. to discuss the Ecology area project. Back to top