18th January 2008

Thank you to all of those who returned the parent questionnaires. They have now been collated and analysed. The data they produced has been discussed both at staff meetings and the first of this years meeting of the school governors. I am really grateful for your comments and several of them have already been acted upon. For example additional information for new parents will be added to the induction pack and of course the governors and I will continue to work on some other areas which you highlighted for us.

For your information the building work on the outside store will start on Monday 21st December. The only disruption will be when they dig out the paving to put in the electricity and fire alarm cables. Please use the normal entrance until such time as I put up a notice asking everyone to use the office door.

Football did not start on Tuesday 15th, as planned due to the bad weather, but Premier Sports have promised to make up the session either at the end of term or the beginning of next half term. I will make sure you have the date so that the children will know when to bring their kits.

I hope that you all put the ‘Sounds-Write’ parents evening date in your diaries which I gave you in the last newsletter. This evening is especially for you. Parents of children who have been at the school for several years will know that I have arranged several curriculum evenings for you in the past. They are very informative and they are designed to explain how we teach particular elements of the curriculum in order that you can support your children’s learning more confidently and enjoyably at home. Please indicate on the slip at the end of this letter if you will be attending on Thursday 24th January at 7:30pm.

Healthy Tuck shop will, as usual, be on the last Friday of the month, 25th January. The cost remains at 50p.

The second of our three annual parent’s evenings is due to take place on Wednesday 20th February. As this is the first week back after half term we are sending out the booking forms a little earlier. On this occasion we have decided to trial a one afternoon and one evening format. Therefore your appointments can be made anytime from 2pm through to 7pm. Please return your form as soon as possible to ensure that you get the most convenient time for you.

We have recently had quite a few occasions where reading books and library books have been lost or damaged. It was decided at the last governors meeting that due to the high cost of books we will, in future, be asking parents for a £5.00 contribution towards replacing books which are lost or damaged.

As many of you will have noticed our ‘mole’ problem is getting worse. In order to decide how to progress with their ‘exclusion’ from school we need to establish numbers. I have been advised that I need to have the area rolled and then do a daily count over a period of time to estimate how many little visitors we have. Once that is done we move on to their removal! I think it would be much more fun for the children to be involved so we are going to have a ‘mole stamp’ Please ensure the children bring Wellington boots, walking boots (or old trainers with plastic bags to cover and string to tie will do if they don’t have boots!) ‘The Stamp’ will take place on Thursday 31st January. (Why pay for a roller when we have 130 little feet.) Any big feet would be welcome too! The children will then be given some time to do some research on moles and they will be the ones to collect the data over the next week in order to solve the problem.

I was very proud of the children in class two this week when we went on our RE trip to visit three places of worship in Bedford. They behaved beautifully and were a real credit to the school and their parents.

I would like to remind parents that the notice board in the main entrance hall is updated regularly with information including the latest parent’s news letters, as is our web-site. The web-site is also updated with pictures of school trips and events. Please visit the guest book when you log on.

Finally thanks to the Governors who have completed the autumn terms monitoring and evaluation cycle. They came into school to make observations of curriculum areas and have delivered their reports to the governing body. Mr Rees was responsible for art and music, Mrs Dunning for PE (swimming) and playground observations, Mrs Bell for ICT in the foundation stage. (Class 1)
The spring term cycle will include observation and reports for Science, PE (games and gymnastics and the special educational needs provision throughout the school.

See you all at the Sounds-Write evening!

Lynda Clark
Headteacher
 

PARENTS’ CONSULTATIONS
WEDNESDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2008

Name of child................................................................ Class..................................

Name of child................................................................ Class..................................

Name of child................................................................ Class..................................

I/we will/will not be able to attend the consultations. Please tick your time preferences below.
 

2.00pm – 3.00pm
3.00pm – 4.30pm
5.00pm – 6.00pm
6.00pm – 7.00pm
I would like an appointment with Mrs Clark

Please note that the appointments are scheduled at ten minute intervals and will be terminated after that point to ensure we maintain punctuality.
 

‘SOUNDS-WRITE’ PARENTS EVENING
THURSDAY 24TH JANUARY AT 7:30PM.

I will / will not* be attending the ‘Sounds-Write’ parents evening on Thursday 24th January 2008 at 7.30pm.
(*please delete as necessary)