Blackpool & Chester Zoo Infant School Dinners next year Old Earth Newsletter New for 2014-15 We are NOT on strike on Thurs 10 July—School will be open as normal. The terrific Infant Free School Meal pledge from the Government is set to come into force from September. This terrific policy will see every Reception, Year One and Year Two child receive a School Dinner, free of charge. This will save families the best part of £400 a year, for each infant child. The policy is based on seemingly common sense research that identifies that children function better with a well balanced lunch inside them ! We will be providing healthy & wholesome meals for the children based on new nutritional standards, from Sept 2014. At Old Earth, we are pleased to let you know that our meals already meet and exceed requirements. Our mix of home grown produce and locally sourced ingredients; mixed with our ‘cooking from scratch’ (wherever possible) policy and our 5 star hygiene rating; sees us at the top table for nutrition and on the bottom of the pile when considering levels of sugar, salt and saturated fats. We are expecting all Infants to take up this offer of a free school dinner from the start of the next school year (ie no sandwich boxes from home). If any parents have concerns about this policy, please speak to Mr Reynolds, otherwise we will start the new year with all Infants eating a school lunch. We attach a current menu—please note the wide variety of choices available; these include 2 main choices each day with additional options of baked potatoes, salads and sandwiches—all of which can be supplemented by salad from the salad bar, seasonal vegetables and the potatoes of the day PLUS a choice of hot & cold puddings. A vegetarian option is available daily. Juniors : Sadly, the government have not provided a free meal for the Juniors, so they will need to keep paying!! From September, the price of the meal will rise to £1.80 a day (£9 a week). This is the first price increase for 4 years, and with it comes a pledge from the Kitchen… to maintain the choices for all classes—even if they are on last sitting (this pledge comes as a result of feedback from the children in school Council and from Parents at the Parents’ Forum). At the start of the new school year we will be inviting parents to come along with their child to enjoy a school dinner—we know that this will help to dispel any myths, or memories, you have about school dinners… and comfort you that the meals are excellent, wholesome & healthy with a wide choice each day. Chester Zoo : Classes 5 & 6 “The little baby chimpanzee was trying to do backflips, but kept landing on his head” Brandon L “Chester Zoo was great fun because I liked seeing the animals sleeping, eating and walking around their cage. My favourite part were the camels because I like their humps” Phoebe H “We had a nice time at Chester Zoo because I like the fruit bats. I thought I was brave going into the bat cave and having big fruit bats flying over me” Louie P Blackpool : Classes 3 & 4 : “It was the best day of my life!” Freya “Punch & Judy was really funny” Lauren “The Fish & Chips were yummy but the ghost was scary on the Punch & Judy” Amelie “I made my own sandcastle with a real spade and it was funny when Amelie got ice cream in her hair” Abyan Action from the Y6 mini residential Reports & Informal Parents’ Evening Your child’s annual written report will be coming home next Friday; and with it will come their class allocation for next school year. As usual, we see some year groups moving up to the next class ‘en bloc’, with others being re-organised based on educational and social reasons. Informal Parents’ Evening is from 5.30pm—7pm on Mon 14th July. This evening is a drop in session where parents can pop in to say farewell to one teacher and introduce themselves to next year’s teacher. Amelie and Lyla represented Old Earth in the ParaOlympics this week. They took part in a range of adapted sports and had a ball competing as part of the Elland Cluster team. See lots of you at the PTFA Grand Ball @ Bertie’s tonight… Drinks Reception at 7.30pm Year 6 Mini Residential The Y6 Mini Residential treat went brilliantly. The children spent two days on special activities and also had lots of down time to just play and relax with the teachers & support staff who have had the pleasure of teaching them over the years. Some quotes … “Camping on the school field overnight and going for breakfast in my oneise felt really funny” “It was really tiring doing the walk but great when we camped out” “I loved the archery and climbing wall best” PAYMENTS DUE : Little Earth and extra slots at School Nursery—last day to pay is Thursday 10th July… please make every effort to get these fees in. FREE SUMMER ACTIVITIES : Last day for applications for any of these activities is Mon 7 July. ELLAND CARNIVAL : Information…. 10.30am Sports Events—our school is represented; Procession at 12pm starting at Elland CE School; 12.30pm Carnival on the school field. If you can help on the PTFA stall—even for just 30 minutes—please just pop to the stall and volunteer your services—thanks. YORKSIRE IN BLOOM : John & Jack from YiB came to judge our school in this year’s competition. Given a detailed and informative tour by 4 of our Gardening Club, they were effusive in their complements. If you haven’t looked round the school gardens yet this term, leave some time on Informal Parents’ Evening to have a look (Mon 14 July 5.30—7pm). You can look round the School’s Interactive Art Gallery too if you’ve not yet had a chance. GOLF CLUB : The School Golf Club had its last tee off this week with the children being allowed to play on the course—a treat as they had been the “best school we’ve ever had at Bradley Park” NEWSPAPERS : Y4 urgently request newspapers for an end of term project—any donations can be brought into school on Monday The Tour de France display & bunting with some of the beautiful blooms admired by the Britain in Bloom judges this week Monday : PTFA Meeting Tuesday : Y6 Transition Work at Brooksbank; Foundation Stage ‘Play Hour’; Full Governors’ meeting where next year’s budget was ratified. Wednesday : Class 5 went to Chester Zoo; Yorkshire in Bloom judging; Y6 Mini residential Thursday :Y6 Mini residential; Class 3 and Acorn Choir assembly; Lloyds Bank staff in to support grounds improvements & art and cooking lessons Friday : Y6 official transition day at their new High/Grammar School; Class 4 to Blackpool; PTFA Ball Monday : Tuesday : Transition Meetings—teachers talk through each individual child, they are passing up, with the child’s next teacher Wednesday : Lower Junior Wimbledon— parents welcome from 1pm Thursday : Friday : In School Transition Day. After registration in their normal class your child will spend the rest of the morning in their class for next school year; No Tuck shop Written reports and class allocation 2014-15 sent home. SUMMER HOLIDAY CLUB AT BIG/LITTLE EARTH 100 CLUB ‘Double Winners’ Packed summer programme for children from 2—11. 1st £100 B. Moore 2nd £50 B. Reynolds 3rd £30 S. Crowther Book your places at the school office. CONTACT US... DETAILS Telephone : 375316 Fax : 370584 Website: www.oldearth.co.uk Email: [email protected] NEXT WEEK In a lovely gesture, a group of our entrepreneurial children set up a loom band stall. Louie P, Molly B, Georgia, Madison and Clayton C, Molly M, Liberty R, Ella C, Erin B, Izzie & Indie R have (so far) raised £123.39 for Overgate Hospice… what a kind, thoughtful & hardworking bunch. Overgate Donation : £123.39 Noticeboard THIS WEEK Para Olympics at Spring Hall Week 37 Issue 351 Friday 4th July 2014