Newsletter 5.9.18
Date: 5th Sep 2018 @ 3:49pm
05 September 2018
Dear Parents
Welcome to the start of a new school year. It is with great pleasure we say hello to our new Reception children and a welcome back to those who were with us last year. The children all look fantastic today in their new uniforms, thank you for your support with this matter
School Improvements
During the summer we have been busy improving the school environment with new canopies being installed outside of the Reception Classes and outside of the Nursery. These should provide the children in these areas with cover to facilitate their outdoor learning. In addition, we have moved the staff room to ensure that the three Y4 classrooms are adjacent to each other and have the best space available. Furthermore we have had to have the windows in the new block repacked as the original contractors had not installed the correct grade of frames. Finally, we have added additional fencing for security on the Y6 yard and some additional tarmac.
New Staff Members
This year we welcome Miss Phillips to Y3, Miss McCabe to Y4 and Miss Baker to Y6, in doing so we now have 3 classes in each year group. Furthermore Miss Stanway has moved into a teaching role having completed her degree, she will share a class with Mrs Moorhouse in Y5.
In addition to the new teaching staff, we welcome Mrs Whelan and Mr Bebbington as teaching assistants to the school. I am sure that you will join with me in making all new staff feel welcome.
New Year Group Welcome Meetings
These will be led by the staff from each year group on the following dates and will be held in the theatre:
|
Date |
Time |
Year Group |
Location |
|
Tues 11th Sept |
15:15-15:45 |
Year 5 |
Theatre |
|
Tues 11th Sept |
15:45-16:15 |
Year 4 |
Theatre |
|
Weds 12th Sept |
14:45-15:15 |
Year R |
Theatre |
|
Weds 12th Sept |
15:15-15:45 |
Year 1 |
Theatre |
|
Weds 12th Sept |
15:45-16:15 |
Year 2 |
Theatre |
|
Thurs 13th Sept |
15:15- 15:45 |
Year 6 |
Theatre |
|
Thurs 13th Sept |
15:45-16:15 |
Year 3 |
Theatre |
Please try to attend if possible, as the staff will outline how the year will run in addition to outlining how we can work together to maximise the learning opportunity for your child(ren).
Inset day
Please note that we have had to reorganise one of our school Inset days to accommodate staff training.
This will now take place on Monday 15th April 2019 instead of Monday 3rd June 2019.
Please see attached calendar for clarification.
Before and After School (Wrap Around) Clubs
If you need to use the aforementioned clubs for child care, please log in online via www.eduspot.co.uk using your mobile phone number, email, password and child’s name to book the club. Should you be new to the facility and wish to start using the clubs or have forgotten your password, please contact the school office and a member of the admin team will guide you through the process.
You are now able to pre-book the breakfast and afterschool club for the full term ahead. The club list is printed in the morning, any children not on the list will be asked to be collected by a parent. It is therefore vital that you book your child into the club with plenty of notice. Online bookings will not be accepted on the day. If you do need a club booking on the day, please ring the office on 01606 288188, but this facility must only be used in emergencies.
Due to changes in financial regulations/criteria, we are no longer able to permit parents to owe more than £20 at any given point in time, for services provided. Please make arrangements to keep any money owed to a minimum by topping up your child’s account. This can be done by logging into the school money system regularly. We also accept cheques made payable to High Street Primary School, handed into the office where a receipt will be issued.
Y6 Team Building Camp
This year I will be leading a team building camp for the children in Y6 on Thursday and Friday of this week. I will be accompanied by the Y6 staff and Mrs Lowe and together we will be preparing the children for the year ahead. As a result, Mrs Taylor will be available to sort any queries, should the need arise.
Clubs
Each year the staff volunteer to run a selection of after school clubs to enhance the opportunities for the children. A full list of these will be posted on the school website by the end of next week. The children will be informed of the different clubs and will have the opportunity to sign up for the ones which they wish to attend. Please note that as these clubs are run on a voluntary basis, staff may need to postpone or cancel them at short notice, so please don’t rely on them for child care.
Trips / Pupil Premium
As a school we have developed a programme of residential and day visits to enhance the curriculum and stimulate the learning experiences of the children. In doing so, we have always looked at ways of subsidising the visits for all concerned; for example the true cost of the London visit for Y5 pupils would be in excess of £240.00 if we charged the full amount.
However, we are also aware of the cost of the visits to parents and without sufficient contributions from you; the visits would not be possible.
From this year we will continue to subsidise the visits in the same manner for all parents, however we will also be able to offer a 30% discount on the price specified for each visit, for children who are in receipt of Pupil Premium. To qualify for this, parents need to apply for free school meals even if their child currently gets them through the Universal Infant Free School Meal Programme.
- Your child might be able to get free school meals (and therefore Pupil Premium) if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Parking
Please note that the upper tarmac area outside of the Y6 classrooms is not for parent parking and is only available for visitors during the day.
Finally
Should you have any concerns or wish to raise any points about the service we provide, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the school office.
Kind regards
Mark Joule
Head teacher
HOLIDAY LIST 2018/19
|
|
School Closes |
School Opens |
|
Autumn Term |
|
Wednesday 5th September 2018 |
|
Autumn Half Term |
Wednesday 24th October 2018 |
Monday 5th November 2018 |
|
Christmas 2018 |
Friday 21st December 2018 |
Monday 7th January 2019 |
|
Spring Half Term 2019 |
Friday 15th February 2019 |
Monday 25th February 2019 |
|
Easter 2019 |
Friday 29th March 2019 |
Tuesday 16th April 2019 |
|
Summer Half Term 2019 |
Friday 24th May 2019 |
Monday 3rd June 2019 |
|
Summer 2019 |
Wednesday 24th July 2019 |
|
Bank Holidays:
Friday 19th April 2019
Monday 22nd April 2019
Monday 6th May 2019
Inset Days-
Monday 3rd September 2018
Tuesday 4th September 2018
Thursday 25th October 2018
Friday 26th October 2018
Monday 15th April 2019
(These are days that staff are in school but not the children)