October 2008 Newsletter

Dear Parents,

The first month of the new school year has passed already. The children have settled into their new year groups well and everyone is working very hard. Thank you for all your help and support in making the start to the new school year as easy as possible for the children and the staff.

We were very pleased to see so many parents at our PTA coffee morning, in aid of the Macmillan Cancer charity & the Breast Awareness campaign. We raised over £170. It was a very informal way for staff & parents to get to know each other. There were some lovely cakes kindly donated by several parents and these were enjoyed by everyone. In addition Mrs Bailey was very pleased to recruit some new parents to the PTA. Their next meeting will be on 9th October at 9.00. All are welcome to attend.

On Friday we are asking the children to take part in Jeans for Genes day. If your child would like to come to school wearing jeans we would ask for a 20p donation which we will donate to this very worthwhile charity.

We would like to remind all parents that you should not drive your car onto the school grounds in the morning and afternoon when you are picking up or delivering your children to school. Parking spaces are for staff, who need to access them before school starts but are being prevented from doing so because parents have parked in them. If you come to school with your child in a taxi, that should also stop outside the school grounds

We ask that you comply with this for the safety of all the children, parents and staff who attend this school. Parents have been asked repeatedly not to drive onto school property at these busy times of the school day and yet there are still those parents who do not seem to think that this request applies to them. If you are a parent who is still driving into school, how would you feel if you were held responsible for an injury, or worse, to a child on school premises?

Mrs Kemp is hoping that our Eco warriors will be able to grow us a good crop of potatoes next year. One class had the pleasure of cooking & eating newly dug potatoes from our Eco garden this year, which they loved and so we would like to grow more. In order to do so, if you have any spare large, clean, plastic plant pots which you think would be suitable for us to use, could you please send them in.

We have had reports that dogs are being carried by parents onto the school grounds. Can we remind you that dogs are not allowed on school grounds, either walking or being carried, for obvious reasons of both health and safety.

The school Education Welfare officer came into school this week and was very impressed at our excellent attendance record so far this term. Thank you to everyone who has helped us get off to such a good start. There has also been a noticeable improvement in the punctuality of pupils compared with this time last year which is very good news. We have a new Attendance award board in the school hall which will inform everyone as to who has won awards and how we are progressing with our new 2008-2009 target of achieving 94.5% attendance throughout the school. Please take the opportunity to look at it next time you are in school.

Can you please check that the clothing that you send your child to school in, is the clothing that they come home with. All clothing must be clearly named if it is to stay with its rightful owner. We already have an overflowing lost property box with unnamed items that we are unable to return. Parents who have named clothing are complaining that children are taking home the wrong clothes. The child’s error is not being rectified by parents by sending these named items back into school the next day.

All children need a P.E. kit which is kept in school and then taken home at half term to be washed. On P.E. days children with pierced ears must have their earrings removed by parents. Staff are not allowed to take them out nor put them back in. Children will not be allowed to do P.E. with earrings in.

Children should only wear inexpensive stud earrings to school, not hoops or dangly earrings. This is to prevent their ears being ripped by catching them in theirs or other pupils’ clothing or on pieces of PE equipment.

Can you please remember to put milk & dinner money in different envelopes as different members of staff deal with them.

We are pleased to say that the Book Fair arrives this week and will be open from before school on Friday morning on 3rd October until the morning of Thursday 9th October. There is always a good selection of books for children of all ages and it is a good opportunity to start your Christmas shopping.

With best wishes to you all
Mrs. Mooney and all the staff

Diary dates

Please note that Gold Award assembly dates have been provisionally booked and may be subject to change. You will receive an invitation confirming these dates nearer the time.

October
1st - 1.45 p.m. Harvest Festival service in Waltham Abbey church
2nd - School council elections 3rd - Gold Award assembly - Mrs Cuncarr’s class, Jeans for Genes day
6th - Mrs McVie’s class parents invited in to lunch all week
9th - Last day of book fair
10th - Gold Award assembly – Mrs McVie’s class, Individual class photos
13th - Mrs. Huckett’s class parents invited in to lunch all week, Reception class open mornings all week
17th - Gold Award assembly – Mrs. Huckett’s class
20th - Miss Wannenburg’s class parents invited in to lunch all week
23rd - Open evening – 3.20-5.00 & 6.00-8.00 – school hall
24th - Gold Award assembly – Miss Wannenburg’s class

School closes Friday 24th October for half term
Monday 3rd November INSET day
School reopens Tuesday 4th November

November

4th - Mrs Penketh’s class parents invited in to lunch all week
6th - Year 1 Lego town planning day
7th - Gold Award assembly – Mrs Penketh’s class
10th - Mrs Kemp’s class parents invited in to lunch all week
14th - Children in Need – 20p to bring in a small bear to school for the day, Gold Award assembly – Mrs Kemp’s class
17th - Year 2 Florence Nightingale workshop
20th - 9.00a.m. PTA meeting
21st - Year R visit from Harlow museum
25th - p.m. Year 2 Grandparents’ afternoon


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