Congratulations

Mrs Blanchenot gave birth to a baby boy on Monday 29^th June.  This was nearly 3 weeks early but both Mother and baby are doing very well. 

Nursery

Unfortunately we have had a couple of phone calls from people thinking that our Nursery is closing.  If you hear such rumours please can you inform people that our Nursery is certainly NOT closing but simply moving to be in main school next to the reception class.  The work on the current Nursery building will start in October when they will begin changing it to the new Children’s Centre. 

It’s a Wrap - 17^th July

On Friday the kitchen staff are making a special lunch for the Year 6 children, but all of the children are invited to join in.  There will be a variety of wraps for the children to choose from (these are the children’s favourites at the moment).  Friday’s lunch is based around the theme for the leavers’ concert this year which is ‘movie making’. 

Holiday dates

We break up from school on Tuesday 21^st July and the children return to school on Monday 7^th September.  We will be moving all of the furniture and equipment around on Wednesday 22^nd as well as emptying the Nursery.  We then have two training days on Thursday and Friday 3^rd and 4^th September.  Thank you. 

Shoes and school uniform

We have been very lenient about children wearing different shoes and uniform for the last couple of weeks as we appreciate that buying new things at this time of year isn’t at all economical.   However, please ensure that all of the children have the correct footwear and uniform for the start of term in September.  Too many children have not been bringing PE kit either.  They need it every week in school as this is an important element of the curriculum.  If children bring their indoor PE kit to school each Monday and then take it home on Friday this would save a lot of children getting in to trouble for not having their kit in school.  Thank you. 

Well done Natasha

Natasha, in year 6, won £100 for school.  She entered a cooking competition and went through to the regional finals.  She was extremely brave in front of the TV cameras and although she didn’t get through to the National finals she represented our school beautifully.  Thank you Natasha.  Jamie Oliver – look out! 

Going on holiday

Sadly some of our parents have received penalty notices this year for taking holidays in school term time.  This is a fine of £50 per parent, per child.  Next year there is to be a review of absenteeism and when it can be authorised by the Head teacher.  Regulations are tightening further and it looks as if there is going to be zero tolerance to any holidays taken in term time.  This is already happening at senior schools and looks as if it is to be extended to primaries too.  As more information becomes available we will pass it on to you ASAP.  Thank you.   

School grounds

As you can see they are finally getting sorted.  Thank you for your patience. 

A super year – thank you.  Have a lovely summer break everyone! 

Congratulations (but sadness too)

Miss Howley has gained a well deserved promotion at a school in Stockport and will be leaving us at the end of this term.  She has been a wonderful and valued member of staff in school and will be missed by everyone.  I know you will join with us in wishing her the very best for the future.  Her replacement will be appointed shortly. 

Brilliant news

Councillor Bolton came to our Monday assembly and thanked the children for filling in the questionnaires about the play area on Waterford Drive.  The amount of children’s responses has helped secure the funding required to improve this area.  Plans are underway to complete the work by January next year.

Well done everyone. 

Gardening

We can only apologise for the current lack of care of the grounds around school.  We are currently finding it difficult to secure a gardening company who can carry out this work for us.  Thank you to everyone who has offered their services to us but I’m afraid that because children are involved the health and safety, bureaucracy and insurance regulations make it a more difficult than it might at first appear.

It is extremely frustrating for us too, but I can assure you that it will be sorted as soon as possible. 

Million meals -  week WC 15^th June

The city council have organised another themed week.  Please see the menus for each day on the attached sheet.  Please could you try and pay on the Monday and state which days you wish your child to stay that week to help the catering staff with preparation.  Thank you.

There has been a vast improvement in the service and quality of food provided by the staff in the kitchen.  The children are now greeted by friendly staff  who are eager to help the children and they have a desire to provide a beautifully cooked and nutritious meal.  This has been reflected in the increased amount of  children having a cooked meal at lunch time.  It has also been reflected in the latest audit that was carried out by environmental services at the city.  Alison Bint and her team achieved a gold award.  Well done everyone. 

Sun safety

Good grief, where did the weather come from that we had over the weekend and earlier in the week!

I spoke to the children on Monday in assembly and encouraged them to wear a hat, bring additional water to school, seek shade and to make sure they had sunscreen applied.  Unfortunately staff are not allowed to apply sunscreen to children but they can apply it to themselves.  The children are very kind and want to share this but they must only use their sunscreen on themselves as many children have allergic reactions to creams. 

We have been assured that sunscreen, with a factor of 50, can be applied to children first thing in the morning and then it should last for the school day.  Thank you. 

Reminder!

Due to impending building work we now break up for the Summer holidays on Tuesday 21^st July.

INSET

We break up for half term on Thursday this week (21^st May).  We have an INSET day on Friday.  We return to school on Monday 1^st June. 

Other dates for your diary

We break up for the Summer holidays on Tuesday 21^st July.  This is a day earlier than advertised.  We have been given a concessionary day as school has got to be reorganised to house the Nursery in main school next year, whilst the Children’s Centre is started.  We will be in flux for 12 months.

Only emergency work will be completed for the Foundation stage unit this summer.  The main alterations will be completed during the summer holidays next year (2010).  We will endeavour to keep smiling!

We return to school on Monday 7^th September.  We are using two of the five INSET days on the Thursday and Friday.  Staff will be in school doing training on  ‘Learning to Learn’. 

SAT’s dates next year

Year 6 SAT’s commence on Monday 10^th May 2010 and last for the whole week.  You must ensure your child is not out of school for their SAT’s in Year 6.  If they are a prosecution by the city council will definitely occur (£50 per parent). If these SAT’s are missed they can’t be taken at an alternative time and sadly they still remain extremely important.

All of the children in school are assessed during this week.

The Year 2 children have SAT’s which are taken over a longer period of time and they need to be in school after Easter until the end of May.  Thank you. 

Picnic day

This year this is on Thursday 2^nd July.

There are Cheese, Tuna or egg sandwiches/cobs on offer again this year.  All of the children take part in the Teddy Bear’s picnic and your favourite cuddly toy is more than welcome too.   A list will go around to the classes asking which sandwich filling your child prefers, so you may want to discuss this with them.  Children are welcome to have the school sandwiches (£1.85) BUT we must know by Wednesday 17^th June  please so that the correct orders can be placed.  Thank you. 

Millions meals week – WC Monday 15^st June.

Lots to choose from. 

Little Hearts

Thank you for your support with this.  You raised £205.50 for the charity.  Well done everyone. 

Class shops

The class shops raised a total of £225.23.  This is going towards the steadily rising total for a climbing frame on the playground.  Thank you again. 

Parking

Several residents, parents, the police and councillors have raised concerns about the driving and parking around school.

Please be aware that a dropped kerb means that people should have access  for parking, even if they haven’t got a garage.  Blocked driveways are also causing concern as people often want to go out to appointments and can’t because of parked cars.  We have also had complaints of erratic driving, which is causing a danger to children at the beginning and end of school.

It is the age of the car but please be careful and courteous.  The police will be doing extra patrols in the area.  Thank you.

April 2009 No.7

INSET

Our final day this year is Friday 22^nd  May.  We therefore break up for the half term on Thursday 21^st May and return to school on Monday 1^st June.   

School Meals

Another reminder that since Easter the prices have increased to £1.85 per day / £9.25 per week.  I’m afraid we have been informed that there is to be another increase in September.   

Alison Bint is doing an excellent job running the kitchen and the school dinners are now of a really high quality.  They are both nutritious and appetising to look at.   The city provide good value for money and continue to subsidise meals but we will continue to push for further rises to be limited. 

Assessment week

All of the children do their annual assessments during the week commencing 11^th May.  The Year 6 do their SAT’s in the hall and the tests are at designated times during the week.  They cannot be taken outside of these times.  Please be aware of the hall being used and ensure the little ones don’t disturb Year 6 when dropping off or picking up older brothers and sisters.  Thank you. 

The Flood

New carpets have been fitted during the holidays but we have got to wait for a month to see if anything happens to the hall floor as it dries out.  It currently still looks as if we will be able to get away with the hall floor being sanded down three times and then resealed and varnished.  A messy job for half term or the six weeks holiday. 

Easter Class Shops

Wow!  I wish you could have all been there to see this happening on the last day of term.  The children were amazing and had a brilliant time. The children organised everything themselves and came up with some brilliant ideas.   From being at the cinema to having a make over – all were on offer.  How healthy a lot of the ‘shops’ were too. 

The fruit smoothies and kebabs went down a real treat!  I just hope they stayed there!

An amazing £225 was raised towards our climbing frame.  A fantastic effort by everyone.  Well done. 

Children’s Centre

The year ahead promises to be very busy and there will be some big changes at school. 

The plan is to change the Nursery building in to the children’s centre and this will have a separate access to it.  What services will be provided is still under discussion but a baby clinic, school nurse facilities and stay and play sessions are a few of the things that have already been discussed. 

Main school itself will benefit by having a Foundation unit made.  This will incorporate the Nursery and Reception classes and will provide the six areas of learning the children require in the Foundation Stage.  This is something we have wanted for a while as the Nursery needs to be integrated with the school instead of being on the other side of the playground. 

We will let you know at what stage things are happening as plans become firmed up.   The city need to get a move on though as the children’s centre has to open by 1^st April 2010. 

Congratulations

Miss Phillipps got married in the Easter holidays and has returned to school as Mrs Horton.  I know you will all join with us in wishing her happiness for the future.

Important information

Having had no children running away from school in sixteen years we have very sadly had two children do so in the past 6 months.  We took actions to ensure a Nursery child could not do this again by only allowing them to play with the rest of the infants once a week during their last term before they start full time in the reception class.   We have problems about allowing access through school as it is a right of way.  Luckily people have been very good about the fact that we need to keep school secure from vandalism during the evenings and holidays and have accepted that the gates are locked during this time.  However, an older child has now left school and we have taken the decision that the gates will be locked at all times except at the start and end of sessions.  It is hoped that there will be an understanding that there is no comparison between a  child’s safety and a persons right of way!

The locked gates will cause inconvenience and we are concerned that a child coming to school late will not be able to get into school.  We have spoken to the children about this and I’m sure that you will do the same.

The initial locking of the perimeter gates is a short term measure until we can arrange gates that can be locked without intruding on people being able to access the office, deliveries and visitors.  A surveyor is coming to discuss ideas at lunch time today and the work could start as early as Monday next week.  Our initial thoughts are to have the gates by Miss Wood’s class locked,  move the gate and fencing from Miss Small’s room to where the kitchen is and then keep the top gate locked at all times except at the beginning and end of the day.   This will allow access to the office at all times.

Thank you for your patience and understanding about this difficult position.

INSET day

A reminder that we have an INSET day next Friday (March 13^th).  As you know it is Red Nose day next Friday so we will be having a Red Nose tuck shop on Thursday instead.  Red noses can be worn a day early too if you wish.  We will be wearing ours!

Book Fayre

The last time to purchase books is on Friday morning. 

We will be drawing names out of a hat for five prizes of a £5 book on Thursday evening so that the children can choose their book during Friday.

OFSTED inspection

I hope you’ve all received a copy of the full report and children’s letter and have had chance to read it.  It is a wonderful report and a reflection of all the hard work that takes place here.  If you have mislaid your copy just come and ask for one at the office.

The ‘provide an increase number of computers’ was an action plan to address.  Thank you to everyone who has had suggestions for this.  It was in fact a political statement as we have been complaining about the size of our ICT suite for  years  but  always  have to spend revenue for improvements on maintenance.  The inspectors kindly wrote this to make the city realise the importance of computers in a school.  They have taken notice and discussion are taking place about proposals to make it larger.

Coupons

Please keep collecting Supermarket tokens.

Thank you.

Concerts

We had an unprecedented demand for tickets this year.   Thank you for all of your wonderful comments.  They are very much appreciated by all of the staff and children as everyone works so hard to put these performances on for you.  Thank you. 

Christmas Fayre

You raised a total of £472.  Thank you very much. 

Dinner increase

Derby City Council have raised the price of school meals from January 1^st 2009.  Schools have been putting pressure on the council to stop this happening but have only managed to delay the increase.   The meals are increasing by 15p per day to £1.70 (£8.50 per week).  Could you please ensure that dinners are paid for on a Monday as we collect the money for the council and a security company collects it. This is to ensure we don’t keep any money in school.  Please put the money in an envelope with the name and the days your child is staying for lunch on it.  The envelope then needs to be given by the child to the class teacher, as money is collected during registration. 

Please refrain from paying at the office.  Thank you. 

School Choir

Thank you for your tremendous support at the Westfield centre on Friday morning.  The children sang beautifully and received some very positive feedback (some schools haven’t been so lucky – budding Simon’s and Craig’s I’m afraid).  We don’t yet know if we have reached the final, but will let you know ASAP.  Thanks again – We’ve just had the phone call - WE’VE REACHED THE FINAL.  YIPEEEE! 

 Hair cuts

Severe hair cuts, some with lines in, seem to be the current trend.  Could you please refrain from allowing your children to have these? They are unfortunately making some children more aggressive and there seems to be some kind of badge of honour the more severe you have your hair cut.  Sadly it is the case of some children ruining it for everyone else!  Keep it for the six weeks holiday please. 

Worms

A lot of children get worms – and long gone are the days when every child was given worming tablets, at least once a year.  We have had a few cases in school and the holidays are a perfect time to stop the cycle and eradicate them.

Not all children itch and they are very hard to spot, which is why they are so hard to get rid of.  They are also extremely easy to catch and if one person in the household has them then everyone needs to be treated.  The treatment is simple – a tablet or medicine followed a couple of weeks later by another dose is all that is required.  Ensuring children wash their hands after going to the toilet and keeping their finger nails short helps a great deal as the eggs can’t be seen with the naked eye and like to hide under finger nails.  What a lovely thing to talk about during this festive season! 

Well that’s it for this year!  Please have a lovely Christmas and New Year.  We look forward to January and carrying on the brilliant work that everyone has been doing this term.

Performances

The infant performance of the Nativity is on – Tuesday 9^th December at 2.00 pm and Wednesday 10^th December at 9.30 am.

The junior children will be performing a selection of traditional carols and Christmas songs on Wednesday 10^th December at 2.00 pm.  You will have a separate letter regarding tickets.

Each year we have a collection for children’s charities.  This year, to try and make it a bit more festive we will be offering festive refreshments half an hour prior to the start of the performances.  The charge will be £1 for these and we will donate the profit to the various charities.

Dinner money

The city council have raised the price of a school meal from £1.55 to £1.70 from  Monday  5^th January.  I’m sorry, we have no jurisdiction over this!

Christmas Scout stamp and deliver

This is a cheaper way of sending cards in the Derby area.  You can purchase the stamps off Mrs Mold in school and then bring the cards back for her to take to the Scout depot.  The stamps are 20p each.

Parent Governors

Julia Ayling (Mum of Ben in Mrs Blanchenot’s class) and Debbie Doyle (Mum of Jonathan in Mrs Howley’s class) have been elected as Parent Governors.  They were both elected unopposed.  Thank you.

Parking

Would people please refrain from parking in the gateway as it is used as a turning place for others as they drop off or pick their child up from school.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Our Choir

Are entered in a choral competition and will be singing in the Westfield Centre on Friday 12th December at 11.30 am outside Monsoon.  If you are shopping in Derby that day please come along and support us.

Bikes

We still have far too many children riding their bikes in the school grounds and I’m afraid that asking them to stop doing this is obviously not working.  Anyone who has ever been hit by someone riding a bike knows just how painful it can be and it really can lead to serious injury to both parties.   We need to take the action that if a warning has been given and then it happens again the child will be banned from riding a bike to school.  I am sorry that it has come to this as the majority of the children do exactly what they have been asked.

On a brighter note – Parties

All of the parties this year are being held in the final week of term.

Mr Bradley and Mrs Kay are having their party on Monday 15^th.

Miss Small and Mrs Moncaster are on Tuesday 16^th.

Miss Phillips, Miss Howley and Mrs Hallam will be having their fun on Wednesday 17^th.

And last but certainly not least Mrs Merchant, Mrs Blanchenot and Miss Wood will be enjoying themselves on Thursday 18^th.  

And finally

Christmas dinner is on Wednesday 10^th December.  Anyone can have a Christmas dinner BUT it must be ordered and paid for by next Monday please.

CHRISTMAS DINNER ORDER FORM

My child/ren ……………………   ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………classes ………………………………….

 normally bring sandwiches at lunchtime. I would like her / him / them to have a Christmas Dinner on Wednesday 10^th December.

I enclose £1.55 per meal. 

We hope everyone enjoyed their day out at West Midlands Safari Park last Saturday.  I’m sure the beautiful weather helped. 

Reading competition winners

Thank you to everyone who sent a photograph in of the children reading during the summer holidays.  All of the photographs are on a display in the entrance hall.  After much deliberation the junior winner is Georgia Metcalfe who had her photograph taken reading a book in a shopping trolley and the infant winner is Isobel Bird whose photograph was taken reading a book whilst in the dentist chair. 

Breakfast Club

We know we provide a child minding service for many parents/carers in a morning as people want to get to work, and we do this gladly.  However, can you please ensure your child isn’t here until 8.15 am when breakfast club starts and also ensure they are bringing money to buy their breakfast with.  Any children NOT coming to breakfast club should not be on the premises until 8.45 am.   Thank you. 

Chocolate bars at lunch time! 

You are far too generous.  The children really do only need a maximum of one bar of chocolate in their packed lunch.  They want to go out and play!  Thank you. 

Poppies for sale

These will be on sale after the holidays.  The junior children will go around to each classroom after lunch each day to sell the poppies.  A minimum of 20p has been suggested as a donation.   Some of our children will be attending the remembrance day service in Chaddesden park again this year. 

Christmas Performances

It is the turn of the younger children to put on a performance for their families this year.  The times for these are as follows –

Tuesday 9^th December at 2.00 pm and Wednesday 10^th December at 9.30 am. 

The junior children will be singing a selection of traditional carols on Wednesday 10^th December at 2.00 pm.

We will not be charging for tickets again this year but their will be a collection  for children’s charities. 

New cards

All of the children in school are being given a new contact card for you to fill in.  Please can these be returned to school ASAP?  We still have occasions when a parent is difficult to contact as they have changed their mobile. 

Please keep us up to date with contact numbers.  

Family photographs

November 18^th at 8.30am

We have arranged for the photographer to come back to school to take family photos on this day.  They have assured us that any orders will be returned to school in plenty of time for Christmas. 

SAT’S

Year 6 SAT’s are for the whole week in May but accumulative penalty points are collected for 8 weeks previous to this too.  Please be aware of this in order to prevent having a £50 fine per parent.   Although we didn’t have anyone fined last year several parents in Derby City did.  The educational welfare officers check the attendance system every month. 

Christmas fayre – Friday 5^th December

Disco’s – 11th November – Infants

12^th November - Juniors 

Welcome back

The children have come back to school after the summer holidays looking extremely smart in their school uniforms.  Thank you for this.

Can you believe the continuing bad weather? This doesn’t help the playground and we understand how frustrating all the mud is to you as well as ourselves.   Unfortunately it is a problem that we can do little about.  Since the A52 was built, the new houses on Meadow Lane erected and a building removed (where the allotments are now) the playground floods very easily and silt from the banks surrounding it spills on to the tarmac. It doesn’t make any difference how often we have the drains cleared as the water table is very high and the drains can’t take the water.  The result is mud which is carried into school and obviously onto clothing as well.  You can be assured that the children are asked and told to stay out of the mud.  BUT!  Thank you for your understanding. 

Variety club

We have had a fantastic offer from the ‘Variety Club’.  They will provide  us with tickets to West Midlands Safari Park totally free of charge to adults and children who wish them.  They will also provide a wrist band for the rides at a cost of £1.  This is for Saturday 18^th October ONLY and everyone attending MUST have a pre booked ticket.   We have only just received the offer and tickets have to be ordered by tomorrow! If anyone is interested can you please let us know in the morning?  It would be a lovely day out.   

Reading photos

We launched a competition for over the holidays which entailed taking a photograph of your child reading in an unusual place.  The prizes are of book tokens.  Could you please make sure your photos are in school by Friday 19^th.  Thank you.  

Class teacher and Parent meetings

Please come to these meetings.  You will find out about spellings, reading, PE days and such like and it is your opportunity to ask about things that you are unsure of or need clarifying.  At these meetings we will also be handing out the topic sheets for each year group and also Home/School agreements.  We really do want to work with you as you are extremely important to us.  Thank you. 

Children’s Centre

There is a meeting in school on Friday to discuss the details of building a Children’s centre on our site.  We will let you know what is happening as soon as things have been confirmed and finalised. 

INSET days

Our next INSET day is Monday 20^th October.  The following one is in March and our final one for the year is Friday 22^nd May. 

Nursery and putting children’s names down

We have had a sudden influx of children wanting to join our Nursery whose names weren’t down on our waiting list.  As a result some children are having to wait until January to start with us.

To avoid disappointment please ensure your child is on our waiting list, even if they are not one year old yet.  Please let friends and neighbours know too.  Thank you for your help. 

Violin Lessons

If your child is interested please see Mrs Marshall at the office.