Newsletter Friday 29th February 2008

29th February - A Leap Year

Daffodils around Innsworth

Sponsored Maths Quiz

Early Morning Booster Sessions

‘Friends’ Meeting – Tuesday 4th March at 3.15 p.m.

Tesco and Sainsbury’s Vouchers

Staffing for September 2008

Football Result

Message from Miss Mackie

Book Amnesty

Head Lice

Beginning and end of the school day

29th February - A Leap Year

It is hard to believe that tomorrow will be 1^st March  – St David’s Day.  For those of you from my side of the border make sure you have your daffodils …or leeks ready. 

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Daffodils around Innsworth

The children have been reminded about looking after the daffodils, which enhance the Innsworth environment.  Look but don’t touch!

 

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Sponsored Maths Quiz

Just a quick reminder that the quiz will be taking place next week –Thursday 6^th March.  We do not want children to become stressed about learning these mathematical facts.  As long as they try their best, this will be good enough.  These facts will enhance their mathematical knowledge, which can only be a very good thing.  Some children will obviously want to test themselves against the whole set of facts, whilst others will be doing well to set their target at a lower level.

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Early Morning Booster Sessions

I am really pleased with the response from our Year 6 children.  They arrive, greet me with great enthusiasm, get their white boards out, and are ready to work from the word ‘go’.  Thank you Year 6. 

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‘Friends’ Meeting – Tuesday 4th March at 3.15 p.m.

The ‘Friends’ are desperate for some new members for this “far too exclusive” club. The organisation of future events is at stake!  Meetings are generally held once a month and at the end of a school day in order to minimise inconvenience.  Events happen several times a year, with the main fund-raising being the Summer Fayre.  Please come along next week and find out what is involved. 

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Tesco and Sainsbury’s Vouchers

We are still collecting Tesco and Sainsbury computer vouchers. All vouchers can be sent into the school office via the children.

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Staffing for September 2008

As you are aware, our pupil numbers have dropped considerably in the last two years, mainly due to the closure of RAF Innsworth.  The announcement that an army unit “ARRC” would occupy the site gave us confidence that with careful management, we would be able to ride out the ‘lean’ period in between.  Although the dates of 2009 and 2011 have been put forward as possible dates for the ‘ARRC’ arrival, the Ministry of Defence has yet to make a definitive statement about which of these dates will see the arrival of the army unit.  With this uncertainty and the fact that our budget is based on a formula involving pupil numbers, we are arriving at a situation where our expenditure will be far greater than our income.  As with the house keeping at home, this will ultimately lead to financial ruin. 

For September we have anticipated that pupil numbers will be around 140, which is a further drop from out current numbers.  This means that we shall probably have five classes across the school, involving mixed age classes.  Our experience this year of mixing age groups has been a very positive one and it has left us feeling confident that we can meet the needs of all children.

Unfortunately, the downward trend in pupil numbers has triggered a redundancy situation. The formal process has begun and staff [teachers, teaching assistants and others] now have to await an outcome.  The governors have a very difficult task ahead of them as they undertake a staff review, matching the future needs of the school to the expertise of the staff.  We have a very experienced and committed staff at this school and it is with great sadness that we have to go through this procedure.  Voluntary 

redundancy is an option that some may opt to take, thereby alleviating the pressure for others.

We felt that we needed to keep you informed as the next few weeks may become very difficult for our staff members.  Please rest assured that our commitment to your children is unwavering and our commitment to moving this school forward is total.

If at any time the current situation changes, we will let you know.

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Football Result

We must congratulate our football team, who have finished top of their league.  This is Miss Mackie’s first year as Games co-ordinator so this is obviously a superb result.  We must give praise to Mr Cresswell, a Year 5 parent, who has been so passionate about this year’s football and given so much time to training and match fixtures.  Currently, the team have just reached the semi finals of the knock-out league cup. Well done to everyone involved.

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Message from Miss Mackie

We are finding that some children stay at school to watch football/netball matches at the end of the day. We have no problem with this but we need to let you know that we cannot take responsibility for any child after 3.15 p.m. unless they are in a club. This means that parents, who give permission for children to stay and watch, must take responsibility for their safety.

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Book Amnesty

Miss Schofield has announced that a book amnesty is taking place next week. Please could you have a look around the home for any reading books belonging to school, especially our scheme reading books, which seem to have disappeared from the shelves. Nobody will be told off! In anticipation - many thanks.

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Head Lice

No matter what we do we seem to be losing the battle over these invaders. Apparently vinegar has been touted as a possible aid to eradicating headlice. It’s worth a try – I would imagine rinsing the hair in diluted vinegar before a final rinse would be what they are suggesting.  If anyone has any tips we can pass on to parents, it would be appreciated.

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Beginning and end of the school day

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