NEWSLETTER October 2014

NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2014
STAFFING NEWS
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Welcome to two new members of staff who both joined us on 6 October - Miss Kirsty Marshall, our new
HLTA, and Miss Vanessa Wilson, our new P.E. and Sports Apprentice who will be working with children in
their P.E. lessons alongside Mr Stephenson.
We recently welcomed Mrs Lynsey Wright and Miss Harri Binns to our Midday Supervisory Team. We also
have a few additional casual Midday Supervisory Assistants including Mrs Angela Gough,
Mrs Lyn Verschoyle, Miss Joanne Longega, Mrs Vidhi Gandhi and Miss Natalie Harman. I am sure they
will all be getting to know the children quickly over the next few weeks.
Many of you will already know Mr Mark Biles, we are
grateful that he has been covering for many months
while we have been without a day-time caretaker. I
am delighted that he is now our permanent full time
Site Manager.
OUTSIDE ACHIEVEMENTS
If you would like your child’s outside achievements to be published in our newsletter, please email these to
me: [email protected] We like to celebrate all achievements, no success is too small – if
you send a photo we will try to put that in as well.
SCHOOL GAMES MARK
We recently had the brilliant news that we were successful in achieving the
Sainsbury’s School Games Silver Mark! Thank you to all the staff involved
in gaining this award.
TUBS-4-TABLETS
We have recently registered with Flora and Stork for
their school collector scheme. Tokens are available
inside promotional tubs of Flora 500g and Stork 500g,
available in Tesco stores. Please send tokens into
school and if we collect enough tokens, we can claim
FREE Samsung Galaxy tablets for the children to use
in school. Thank you for your support.
PGL WEEK
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Some of our Year 6 children took part in a PGL activity week from 6 to 10 October. The children and
staff, including myself, had an exciting and challenging week of abseiling, rock climbing, archery, assault
course, team building activities and riffle shooting. PGL staff were on hand to offer their expertise and
encouragement and all children and staff thoroughly enjoyed the new experiences and challenges. It was
a pleasure to take the children and their behaviour was outstanding. Thanks to Mr Pallant, Mr Horleston,
Mr Steward, Mrs Shepherd and Mrs Dring for accompanying the children with me.
Quotes from children:
I enjoyed PGL because I overcame some of my fears. Jessie Bird
It was amazing in every way, shape and form! Harvey Granger & Finley Grayling
Challenging but a great achievement. Tobi Adekunle
SECONDARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
All children in Year 6 should have received the ‘Moving On’ leaflets for Secondary School. The admissions
team recommend making applications on-line at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions . Applications can be
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made until the deadline which is Friday, 31 October.
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS
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On 18 September our Year 5/6 football team played in a Cup game against Camps Hill School and
won 5-1.
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On 25 September our Year 5/6 football team played in a League game against Pear Tree Spring
Junior School, they lost 2-1.
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On 26 September our Year 5/6 team played in a football tournament at Pixmore School in Letchworth,
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they came joint 4 out of 6 teams.
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On 9 October our Year 5/6 team took part in a football tournament at Barclay School and came 4 out
of 6 teams.
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On 10 October our Year 3/4 football team played a friendly game against Martins Wood School. The
team had a great winning score of 3-0.
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On 16 October we are taking part in a Primary Cross Country Competition.
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MY POETRY HERO WINNERS
Last month we congratulated all the children who entered the ‘My Poetry Hero’ competition and were
chosen to have their poetry entries published in a book ….. all the children except one who was missed off
the list in error – so congratulations now to Mariah Turkson, your poem will be published in the ‘Young
Writers’ publication, well done.
COME & FIND OUT HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF FAMILY LIFE
Stevenage Educational Trust will be running a 4 week Family Nurturing Programme for parents/carers.
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Beginning on: Tuesday, 11 November (18 , 25 Nov, and 2 Dec)
Time: 9.30 - 11.30 am
Venue: Broadwater Childrens Centre, Longmeadow School, Oaks Cross, Stevenage, SG2 8LT
To book onto this free course please contact: Shelagh Mackey 01438-310044 [email protected]
MURAL
Miss Jewitt has begun the creation of the Round Diamond Mural. Thank you to all the many children who
contributed ideas and suggestions to the final design. Miss Jewitt will be tracking the progress of the mural
via the website, Facebook and Twitter and hopes to have it completed by half term. If you would like to
keep an eye on her progress the Mural can be found at the main entrance to the school under the
canopied area.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
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We have planned a wonderful day of celebrations on Wednesday, 22 October for our Harvest Festival
this year. Parents/carers are welcome to join us in the morning for Key Stage Harvest assemblies:
9.30 am
10.30 am
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
We kindly ask, if you do need to bring younger siblings, that you take them out of the Harvest assembly if
they are noisy. Tea and coffee will be served at 10:00 am for those parents/carers attending both
assemblies.
11.30 am
EYFS (THIS IS A QUIET ASSEMBLY, JUST FOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN IN SCHOOL)
These will be led by the Reverend Sue Hardwidge and parents are welcome to attend. We will also be
collecting donations of food for the North Herts Sanctuary who support local homeless people. If you
would like to make a donation of food to the Sanctuary they find the following items the most useful:
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Tea and coffee
Tins of fruit and custard
Cereals and biscuits
Non-perishable foodstuffs
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Please do not send items in before 22 October as we do not have space to store them in school.
In the afternoon some of the children will be visiting the elderly residents of Martin’s House Residential
Home to perform our Harvest Songs. We look forward to sharing news, photos and videos of our
performances on our school website, facebook and twitter.
HAPPY KIDS
Happy Kids runs a safe and secure breakfast, after school and holiday club at Round Diamond. To book a
place for a fun filled half term week, contact Kim Parker on 07814-536088.
ARTS PLAY
Miss Jewitt is developing an outside Arts area for the Key Stage 1 playground. So far the children have
created their very own theatre, now they would like to create a musical area. For this we are seeking
donations of old metal pots, pans, saucepans and frying pans. If you have any of these items you would
like to donate please send them into school with your child for Miss Jewitt.
NO PENS DAY WEDNESDAY
No Pens Day Wednesday was a great success. The children enjoyed a day of learning focusing on skills
other than writing including ICT, Drama and Arts skills. Our Pen Police were on hand to ensure that those
caught 'Pen Handed' were shown the error of their ways! We will be sharing photos and videos of the day
on Facebook, Twitter and on our website.
YEAR 2 LEARNING SHARE
We were delighted to welcome many of our Year 2 families to our first Learning Sharing Afternoon this
week. Parents were able to come and view the children's topic learning both in their books and on
displays. The children loved this opportunity to share their learning which was all about life cycles.
Throughout the term all year groups will be holding a Sharing Afternoon for parents to attend.
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
EYFS
Year 3
Year 1
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Friday, 24 October
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Tuesday, 25 November
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Wednesday, 3 December
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(Reception & Nursery) Monday, 8 December
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Tuesday, 9 December
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Thursday, 11 December
ROUND DIAMOND SOCIAL MEDIA
Remember you can keep up to date with Round Diamond news by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
Facebook
Official-Round-Diamond
Twitter
@rounddiamondsch
Please note that our social media feeds are for the use of parents only as primary school children are too
young to hold their own social media accounts.
PHOTOGRAPHS
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Please note the new date for school photos – Friday, 24 October. Individual and family photos will be
taken during the day of children who are in our school or nursery. Younger siblings or family
members/children who attend other schools are welcome to have a family photo taken at 8.30 am.
DATES FOR THIS TERM
OCTOBER
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Parent Consultations (4.00 – 8.00 pm)
Harvest Festival – 9.30 am (Years 1 & 2)
Harvest Festival – 10.30 am (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6)
Harvest Festival – 11.30 am (Reception)
Parent Consultations (3.45 – 6.00 pm)
F.O.R.D. AGM 7.30 pm
Individual & Family Photographs (Change of date)
Open Afternoon for Year 4 Families
HALF TERM:
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OCTOBER
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Sponsored Cycle Ride – Reception & Nursery
Autumn Walk with Grandparents – Morris Class 9.00 – 10.30 am
Autumn Walk with Grandparents – Renoir Class 9.00 – 10.30 am
Autumn Walk with Grandparents – Morning Nursery 9.00 – 10.30 am
Autumn Walk with Grandparents – Afternoon Nursery 12.30 – 2.00 pm
Open Afternoon for Year 5 Families
F.O.R.D. Discos for children
SCHOOL CLOSED – OCCASIONAL DAY
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Open Afternoon for Year 6 Families
‘Stay and Play’ Reception & Nursery 9.00 am or 2.00 pm
Open Afternoon for Year 3 Families
Open Afternoon for Year 1 Families
Christmas Jumper Day
F.O.R.D. Christmas Fayre
Christmas Dinner
End of Term – 2.00 pm
NOVEMBER
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DECEMBER
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Zoë Phillips
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you have any ideas or suggestions for the school that you would like to put forward or strengths you
would like to see remain, please fill in the tear off slip below or email: [email protected]
Idea/Suggestion: …………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...............
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...............
Parent/Carer’s Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Child’s Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….

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