Newsletter 1 – January 2015 The Spring Term has started well. The children have returned with a very positive attitude to learning and most are behaving really well. A number of parents commented about the trees that had been cut down along the front of school. The weeping silver birch in particular was so beautiful. Unfortunately these trees had become diseased and had rotted, even though they looked all right to us. They were becoming dangerous and so have been cut down before they fall down. We are looking into replacing them, but are slightly hampered by a main water pipe in that vicinity. The Christmas Fair was very successful. The PTFA have put the money raised in December together with other money and have given the school £3000 to have the playground area enhanced with lots of markings to help the children have great playtimes, as well as help with their learning in the outdoors. THANK YOU TO THE PTFA School employs in excess of 60 people and institutions of this size always experience challenges with staffing. We do our best to keep things as consistent as possible for the children. At the time of writing Mrs Peach continues to be away on long term sick leave. Mr Hill has done a sterling job of teaching the reception class. Mrs Bullen is just about to start a series of treatment that will mean she is restricted as to how often she will be able to come into school. Contingency plans have been put in place to cover all that Mrs Bullen undertakes. We wish her well over the next few months. The Selsdon Education Partnership is planning an event at the end of June based around the theme of circuses. The children have put forward their ideas for this event and the adults are now working hard to make sure their ideas come to fruition. Apologies now, if you find your child juggling with fruit. They have been told to NOT try to spin the plates at home!! 1 Years 5 and 6 will be spending a week away on residential school journey at Carroty Wood, Tonbridge, early in March. They will be carting, swimming, BMX biking, high and low rope work ….. also, hopefully they will sleep well, which makes such a difference to the adults who volunteer for this week away from school. The children remaining at school will undertake special work throughout this week. Punctuality – school starts for Nursery at 8.45. This is the time that all other pupils should be arriving at school. This gives them a little bit of play and socialising time prior to the whistle being blown for the start of school. Far too many pupils have been late recently and then have to access school through the front door. The pupils’ entrance is open until 8.55 and should be used up to this time. Year 6 are practicing hard for the Croydon Schools’ Music Association Junior Festival which will take place on Thursday 19th March at the Fairfield Halls. Being part of a 500 strong choir is a fabulous experience for the children, as well as giving them a taste of live theatre. All who have taken part previously have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Throughout your child’s complete time at school he / she will regularly have lessons relating to growing up and changes to their bodies. In curriculum terms these are headed up as ‘Relationships and Sex Education’ and this can be quite startling for many parents. In essence, this means using correct terminology for parts of the body, answering any questions asked, ensuring children know about keeping healthy and hygienic and that they are able to cope when friendships don’t go as well as is hoped. All of this work is encompassed in the scheme of work issued by the Local Authority and approved by the school’s Governors. It is only when they are in years 5 and 6 that the ‘nitty gritty’ bits of sex education are explained to the children. 2 A few reminders: Hair longer than shoulder length should be tied back or put up – hair band, pony tail, plaited, bun. We are trying to stop the spread of those nasty little critters called head lice. Gilbert Scott Primary school has a school uniform. This includes black shoes, or black trainers – NOT white or red ones. Children’s shoes are best if they can be flat. Heels are not suitable for running around in the playground or for using the trim trail. Most children want to blend in with their peers, please help them to do this. If you have any spare, outgrown uniform we would very much appreciate it. If your child needs to be changed at school, please wash the borrowed clothes through and return them to school. Please keep nail varnish and anything other than stud earrings for the weekend. We are beginning to gather large amounts of lost property, including coats! Please ensure your child’s clothes are named. This way they are more likely to be returned when left lying somewhere strange in school. Please remember to put adequate amounts of money on your Parentpay account to cover the children’s lunches. If possible, an amount for the month would be great, but weekly is ideal. Daily is not really appropriate. This causes a huge amount of extra work for the office and kitchen staff. It also costs the school extra money, which we don’t want to have to charge parents for. Please try to ensure that your child has a healthy and substantial packed lunch. A sandwich or wrap with ham, cheese, tuna, chicken, a piece of fruit, carrot or cucumber sticks are all excellent. We have noticed a few children having chocolate spread or jam every day. The Government is beginning to show an interest in what children have in their packed lunches. They are definitely discouraging crisps in packed lunches. More information about this when we receive it. The contract for providing school cooked lunches has come up for renewal. Various companies put in a bid for this and a company called Caterlink have been appointed to take over from 1st April 2015. 3 If you are sending someone else to collect your child, please try to let the office know before 3 pm – even earlier than this is best. This is the busiest time in the office and sometimes it is difficult to get a message to the relevant class in good time. Extra Reminders: Hear your child read and sign their book every day. Book bags in school every day. If a book is deliberately damaged then a charge will be issued to replace it. PE kits brought to school on a Monday and taken home for washing on a Friday Dates: Half Term – school will close at normal time on Friday 13th February and reopen on Monday 23rd February. School finishes for the Easter holiday on Friday 27th March at 2 pm. Summer term starts on Monday 13th April. Monday 4th May – Bank Holiday Week beginning 11th May – SATs for year 6 Friday 22nd May – school ends at normal time for half term Monday 1st June – Training Day Tuesday 2nd June – school opens to pupils Tuesday 30th June / Wednesday 1st July – special SEP circus event at Gilbert Scott …. dates to be confirmed Friday 17th July – school finishes at 2 pm for the summer holiday School reopens to pupils on Monday 7th September 4