8 Sep 2007 - Newsletter
NEWSLETTER 1 5th SEPTEMBER 2007
Dear Parents,
I'd like to welcome you all back to school after the summer break. I hope that you have had a relaxing time and that your children are refreshed and eager to learn. An especially warm welcome to all the children who have started with us today. Although we may feel a little glum about the end of the holidays, it is exciting to look forward to the new school year and pleasing to see the children back with their friends and tackling new challenges with enthusiasm and determination. Underpinning all we do in school is our aim of providing an exciting, challenging and enjoyable education, and as teachers our rewards come from seeing the pupils enjoy and achieve, both academically and socially. We want the very best for our pupils, and ask you to work with us to ensure they achieve all they can. There will be an opportunity for you to meet your child's class teacher next week (details below). In the meantime, if you have any queries or concerns about anything to do with school, I am usually available at the end of the school day. Alternatively, you can make an appointment to see me through Mrs Ballantine or Mrs Clarke in the school office.
Parent's Meeting -7.00/ 7.30
Tuesday 11th September
This is an opportunity for parents to meet their child's new class teacher, who will outline their expectations and the relevant programme of work for the year. To accommodate those parents with more than one child in the school, teachers are offering two sessions, one beginning at 7.00, the other at 8.00. There will also be a short meeting in the hall at 7.30. This will be a chance for me to outline the school's key priorities this year and discuss some of the day to day issues that may be helpful, particularly to parents new to the school. I will also be available on the evening for any parents who wish to see me privately.
Contact details
Please inform Mrs Ballantine as soon as possible if any of your contact details have changed. An emergency contact list will be created, please let Mrs Ballantine know if you do not wish to have your telephone number distributed to other parents.
Swimming
Swimming will resume next week and will continue for as long as the weather stays fair. Your child's class teacher will give further details as to swimming times.
School bags/ Uniform
Several members of staff have raised concerns about the size and the number of bags pupils were bringing into school at the end of last term. We have limited cloakroom space, and the cloakrooms can quickly become overfull and therefore hazardous. Please ensure that your child only brings in the equipment necessary for the day ahead to minimise this problem.
Uniform will be on sale on Tuesdays before and after school.
Music Lessons
Just to inform you that peripatetic music lessons start next week. Woodwind lessons will be on Tuesdays, with Guitar and Violin lessons on Wednesdays. Your children will be notified of specific times next week, but will definitely need their instruments on the days stated. They should be stored neatly in the library. (They may also want to have a quick practice before next week, if they have lapsed a little over the summer).
Fair Processing Notice
Please find attached a summary of Fair Processing requirements. This is a statutory document which we are required to issue at the beginning of each academic year. It gives details of the information that is kept by the school about your child(ren) and about how it is used and who has access to it. If you would like a fuller version of the document a website address is provided. Alternatively, contact the school and we can give you a copy of either the condensed or the full version of the same document.
Gate Goodbyes
Could parents of Year 1 and above please say goodbye at the main gate in the mornings to enhance safety in the playground and to allow the children a settling in time with their friends after leaving their parents.
Healthy Eating
As last year, every child in Classes R, 1 and 2 will be offered a piece of fruit or a vegetable each morning under the government's ongoing scheme. Parents will need to provide a healthy snack (i.e. fruit or vegetable) for children in Classes 3-6 to eat at morning break. The first batch of snacks for the Infants arrived this afternoon, so there will be a snack available for them tomorrow.
'Come to Church' Sunday
St. Dunstan's is taking part in this national initiative that is inviting people ' back to Church'. You may have got out of the habit of coming or be intrigued as to what happens on a Sunday at St. Dunstan's ? either way you will be very welcome. There is a separate Sunday School for children and the main service will include a number if well known hymns. It all starts at 10 am on September 30th and will last about 1 ¼ hours. We look forward to seeing you. For further information, please contact James Tomkins (275944).
I hope you will join me in looking forward to another rewarding and exciting year for the school.
Dear Parents,
I'd like to welcome you all back to school after the summer break. I hope that you have had a relaxing time and that your children are refreshed and eager to learn. An especially warm welcome to all the children who have started with us today. Although we may feel a little glum about the end of the holidays, it is exciting to look forward to the new school year and pleasing to see the children back with their friends and tackling new challenges with enthusiasm and determination. Underpinning all we do in school is our aim of providing an exciting, challenging and enjoyable education, and as teachers our rewards come from seeing the pupils enjoy and achieve, both academically and socially. We want the very best for our pupils, and ask you to work with us to ensure they achieve all they can. There will be an opportunity for you to meet your child's class teacher next week (details below). In the meantime, if you have any queries or concerns about anything to do with school, I am usually available at the end of the school day. Alternatively, you can make an appointment to see me through Mrs Ballantine or Mrs Clarke in the school office.
Parent's Meeting -7.00/ 7.30
Tuesday 11th September
This is an opportunity for parents to meet their child's new class teacher, who will outline their expectations and the relevant programme of work for the year. To accommodate those parents with more than one child in the school, teachers are offering two sessions, one beginning at 7.00, the other at 8.00. There will also be a short meeting in the hall at 7.30. This will be a chance for me to outline the school's key priorities this year and discuss some of the day to day issues that may be helpful, particularly to parents new to the school. I will also be available on the evening for any parents who wish to see me privately.
Contact details
Please inform Mrs Ballantine as soon as possible if any of your contact details have changed. An emergency contact list will be created, please let Mrs Ballantine know if you do not wish to have your telephone number distributed to other parents.
Swimming
Swimming will resume next week and will continue for as long as the weather stays fair. Your child's class teacher will give further details as to swimming times.
School bags/ Uniform
Several members of staff have raised concerns about the size and the number of bags pupils were bringing into school at the end of last term. We have limited cloakroom space, and the cloakrooms can quickly become overfull and therefore hazardous. Please ensure that your child only brings in the equipment necessary for the day ahead to minimise this problem.
Uniform will be on sale on Tuesdays before and after school.
Music Lessons
Just to inform you that peripatetic music lessons start next week. Woodwind lessons will be on Tuesdays, with Guitar and Violin lessons on Wednesdays. Your children will be notified of specific times next week, but will definitely need their instruments on the days stated. They should be stored neatly in the library. (They may also want to have a quick practice before next week, if they have lapsed a little over the summer).
Fair Processing Notice
Please find attached a summary of Fair Processing requirements. This is a statutory document which we are required to issue at the beginning of each academic year. It gives details of the information that is kept by the school about your child(ren) and about how it is used and who has access to it. If you would like a fuller version of the document a website address is provided. Alternatively, contact the school and we can give you a copy of either the condensed or the full version of the same document.
Gate Goodbyes
Could parents of Year 1 and above please say goodbye at the main gate in the mornings to enhance safety in the playground and to allow the children a settling in time with their friends after leaving their parents.
Healthy Eating
As last year, every child in Classes R, 1 and 2 will be offered a piece of fruit or a vegetable each morning under the government's ongoing scheme. Parents will need to provide a healthy snack (i.e. fruit or vegetable) for children in Classes 3-6 to eat at morning break. The first batch of snacks for the Infants arrived this afternoon, so there will be a snack available for them tomorrow.
'Come to Church' Sunday
St. Dunstan's is taking part in this national initiative that is inviting people ' back to Church'. You may have got out of the habit of coming or be intrigued as to what happens on a Sunday at St. Dunstan's ? either way you will be very welcome. There is a separate Sunday School for children and the main service will include a number if well known hymns. It all starts at 10 am on September 30th and will last about 1 ¼ hours. We look forward to seeing you. For further information, please contact James Tomkins (275944).
I hope you will join me in looking forward to another rewarding and exciting year for the school.