Newsletter - Autumn Term 2009.
Written by Mrs Withers   

  CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

AUTUMN TERM - NEWSLETTER

   11th September 2009

Dear Parent(s)                                                                             

Welcome back to our school for the new school year.  Welcome to our families, who have joined us this academic year.  I hope you and your children will be happy at our school.

Safeguarding Children

Due to new Government legislation any parents working with children have to be CRB checked.  We therefore need any parents who wish to volunteer to help in school in any way; for example helping in classrooms, going on school trips or taking children to and from any event out of school, to undertake this check.  We will not be able to have parents help in school without this process being undertaken.

If you think that at ANY TIME during your child's school life with us you may wish to help please could you call in at the Office and collect the relevant forms for completion. It would be better to have completed the check than be disappointed when we have to turn away kind offers of help. The process takes up to 6 weeks to complete so please ensure you give completed forms into the Office in good time.

Once the checking is completed you will be provided with an identity badge which you will be required to wear when supporting our children.I am sorry that we have to ask you to do this but I am sure you will understand that the safety of your children is paramount.  Thank you.

Absence

Children of school age, by law, must attend school regularly.  If you need to ask for leave of absence this must be done before the absence is taken. I am only legally allowed to authorise 10 school days each year, more than this is counted as unauthorised absence.

Please can I emphasise that holiday should only be taken during term time if it cannot be taken during school holidays.  Also if a child has two weeks holiday each year, by the end of Year 6 this equates to a whole term out of school.  We will not provide work for your child to undertake to make up for the lost learning during your holiday.

We also have in place a ‘daily call' system.  If you do not contact us on each day of your child's absence we will contact you.  To reduce the number of calls we have to make, if your child is unwell please telephone school each day of your child's absence, if possible before 9.30 a.m.  Thank you.

Behaviour

We are very proud of the behaviour of the children in our care. Both Ofsted and the Church Inspection recognised the outstanding behaviour of our children.  To this end we have a system of rewards and termly certificates.  Teachers will contact parents specifically to share positive feedback.  Certificates are awarded to the children for achievement in work or behaviour, at the end of each term.  These are presented at our Friday assembly or at the end of term assembly.  The children are proud to receive these awards.

Conversely we have set procedures which are recorded in our Behaviour Policy for those occasions when a child's behaviour does not meet our expectations.  This is available in school, with all our policies for parents to read.

School Uniform

Winter uniform for both boys and girls includes a button to the neck white or grey shirt and a school tie, which can be purchased from the School Office for £2.50. Only watches and stud earrings may be worn. Earrings have to be removed for P.E.  If they cannot be removed then you must provide tape to cover them for P.E.  For P.E. children should wear a plain white polo or t-shirt and black shorts. White polo shirts with the school logo for P.E. may be purchased from the National Schoolwear Centre.

Please encourage the children to dress smartly for school. Shirts should be tucked in and ties tied, so they are a reasonable length.  Please ensure shoes are sensible and can be worn comfortably all day.  Fashion shoes are not appropriate.  Socks should be white, black or grey, ankle or knee length, trainer socks are inappropriate. Please support us in our uniform policy.  We are trying to develop smart dress habits to prepare pupils for Secondary School and their future working life.

Assemblies

You are very welcome to join us for Friday assembly at 8.50 a.m. On Friday we hold visitor, class or sharing assemblies. I will publish the list for this term, once it is confirmed.  Assemblies planned to date are as follows:

Friday 18th Sept - Year 3 House Sorting Friday 25th Sept - School Council and Peer Support badges will be presented at this assembly.

Tuesday 22nd September at 8.50 a.m - Harvest Festival Assembly.  As Reverend Cornwell does not work on Friday, we have decided to hold this on the day she normally leads our assembly. Further details will follow regarding this assembly.

School Records

If you have changed any of your personal details e.g. home address, email address, mobile phone number, doctor's details, please notify the School Office. There have been occasions when we have not been able to contact parents, as we have not had an up to date mobile number. Please ensure you inform us whenever you change this.  If there is additional medical information please inform the Office.

Millennium Garden

I am very pleased to be able to tell you that the Millennium Garden has been refurbished and now provides a quiet area for the children to use all year round.  We have a great new water feature and are sourcing camomile plants in order to surround the paved surface with a camomile lawn.  Once we have planted this we will organise an opening ceremony for parents and contributors. Further details will follow.  Thank you very much to you all as members of the PTA for making this possible and a special thank you to Mrs. Dewson who co-ordinated the refurbishment.

Healthy Schools Task Group

As many of you already know, we gained the Healthy Schools Accreditation two years ago and have been continuing to work within the guidelines set down by Bracknell Borough Council ever since. 

What many of you probably aren't aware of is that we don't just look at the food that the children eat within the school gates, we actually look at four distinct areas namely: Healthy eating, physical activity, emotional health and well being and PSHCE (the world around the children). 

So what have we changed within the school?  We now celebrate children's birthdays by allowing them to come out of uniform to celebrate, we've installed plant pots round the outdoor space that last term held plants such as tomatoes, herbs and flowers and we now provide fruit and veg for KS2 once a month.  Amongst other things, we've invited BlendaVenda, Sainsbury's, and Super Schools  in to spend time with the children and Mrs. Gellatly and Mrs. Parker were recently pitched against each other in a cooking competition.  We've also revisited Stranger Danger, the Buddy Bench and Buddy System and Peer Mediation with the children and each term we have a day and an assembly dedicated to a message or activity that strengthens the four key areas mentioned above.   

If you feel you would like to come and join us or have any new ideas you would like to share with us please do come along to our next meeting on the 22nd of September at 3.30 in the library.  If you can't make it but want to contribute, please contact the Office with any comments or suggestions.

Birthday Celebrations  

Could I remind you that instead of bringing cakes or sweets to share in class on their birthday the children may come to school out of uniform.  Should their birthday fall at the weekend or during the school holidays then they can choose a day either before or after the weekend/holiday to come to school out of uniform.  The children love the idea of being able to wear special clothes to school on their birthday.  Thank you.

Forthcoming Events

Parents Information Evening -  This will take place on Tuesday 22nd  September starting at 6.15 p.m. for Reception to Year 5.  Each Class teacher will do their presentation at 6.15 p.m. and again at 6.35 p.m. in order for parents with children in more than one class to hear the talks. 

The Year 6 presentation will take place at 6.15 p.m. only as this is to be followed at 6.45 p.m. by a meeting for Year 6 parents about the residential journey planned for March 2010.  Should you have any concerns/issues you wish to discuss with the classteacher, please arrange to see them after school one day if there is not the opportunity at this meeting. Formal parent's evenings, with set appointments will be held later in the term.

Macmillan Coffee Morning - This event will be held after assembly until 11.15 a.m. in the dinning hall on Friday 25th September. Any offers of cakes or raffle items to Mrs Pandya, or Mrs. Forbes. I do hope you will support this event.

Attached are the lists of Clubs taking place this term and also the dates of events planned for the term. Further details for each event will follow nearer its date.

We are trying to encourage as many parents as possible to receive letters from school by email.  If you have been receiving paper copies but are able/willing to have letters sent by email please could you give Mrs. Paterson your email address.  Thank you.

I look forward to a successful year and hope that if you have any concerns, you will arrange to come in and see your child's classteacher or me about them.

Yours sincerely

B L Gellatly (Mrs)

Headteacher

 

 

Clubs

The clubs on offer this term are listed below.  We will, for the Spring and Summer terms, endeavour to publish the Clubs available at the end of the previous term to help your planning. These will begin the week commencing Monday 14th September except for the Age to Age project Club which will commence on Tuesday 29th September. Details about this Club will follow.  Children wishing to attend a club must return the attached permission slip signed by a parent. Paper copies of permission slips can be obtained from the School Office. Please could you also emphasise to the children, that if they commit themselves to a club, they are expected to attend on a regular basis.

If any parent is interested in running a club, please contact the School Office or talk to me. Thank you.

Autumn Term 2009 - School Clubs

 

Day

Before School

Lunchtime

After School

Monday

No Clubs

No Clubs

3.15 - 4.15

Basketball Club (Yr 3 & 4)

Tuesday

7.45 - 8.40

Gymnastics (fee paying)

12.30 - 1.00

Knitting Club (Yr 3 - Yr 6)

3.15 - 4.15

Age to Age project Club- starts 29th September

3.15 - 4.15

Netball (Yr 3 - 6)

3.15 - 4.15

Art & DT Club ( KS1 & 2 - max. of 8 in each) - no club 1st December.

3.15 - 4.15

Eco warriors (Yr 4 - 6) Max. of 10

Wednesday

No Clubs

Recorders (existing group)

12.20 - 1.00

Judo (Whole School)

(fee paying)

12.30 - 1.00

Choir (Y3 - 6)

3.15 - 4.30

Hockey Club (Yr 5 & 6) Max. of 10

Starts  30/9/09

Thursday

No Clubs

No Clubs

3.15 - 4.15

Running Club up to October half term - not 24th Sept. (Yr 4, 5, 6)

Computer Club (open to parents & children) Max. of 10 families

(To use either programs on the suite/internet)

 

Friday

7.45 - 8.40 Gymnastics (fee paying)

No Clubs

No Clubs

 

       DIARY DATES FOR THE AUTUMN TERM 2009

 

18 September                        8.50 a.m Yr 3 House Sorting Assembly

22 September                       8.50 a.m Harvest Festival Assembly

3.30 p.m. Healthy Schools task Group meeting 6.15 - 7.00 p.m. Parents Information Evening

                                                6.45 p.m. Year 6 Journey meeting

25 September                       Macmillan Coffee Morning

29 September                       7.30 p.m. PTA AGM

14  October                           6.00 p.m Governors Meeting                                  

17  October                           PTA Winter Ball at Wellington College

20 October                            6.30 p.m. Y4 & 5 Residential journey meeting

21  October                           Bracknell Schools Tag Rugby Festival

22  October                          School Photographer - Individual & Family

27 - 31 October                    HALF TERM

02 November                         School Closed - Teacher Training Day

13 November                         Bracknell Schools Cross Country Event

18 November                         3.30 - 7.00 p.m Parents Evening

19 November                         3.30 - 6.00 p.m Parents Evening

27 November                         PTA Children's Disco

30 November                         9.30 - 11.30 a.m. New Intake visits

02 December                         9.30 - 11.30 a.m. (1.30 p.m.) New Intake visits

6.00 p.m Governors Meeting

04 December                         8.50 a.m Tree Decorating Ceremony

06 December                         Bracknell Town Christmas Carol Concert

07 December                         a.m Infant Production Dress Rehearsal

08 December                         10.30 a.m KS1 Production

09 December                         6.30 p.m KS1 Production

14 December                         Helping Parents ‘Thank you' Lunch

17 December                         8.50 a.m. Christmas Service at St Johns Church

Christmas Dinner at School

18 December                         2.30 p.m School day finishes at School

 

CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

Dear

CLUB PERMISSION SLIP

 

I give permission for my child ................................................ to stay to .................................................... club

 

on ................................................... and make provisions that they are collected safely after school.

 

     Signed:...............................................................Parent/Guardian

 

 

CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

Dear

CLUB PERMISSION SLIP

 

I give permission for my child ................................................ to stay to .................................................... club

 

on ................................................... and make provisions that they are collected safely after school.

 

     Signed:...............................................................Parent/Guardian

 

 

CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

Dear

CLUB PERMISSION SLIP

 

I give permission for my child ................................................ to stay to .................................................... club

 

on ................................................... and make provisions that they are collected safely after school.

 

     Signed:...............................................................Parent/Guardian

 

 

CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

Dear

CLUB PERMISSION SLIP

 

I give permission for my child ................................................ to stay to .................................................... club

 

on ................................................... and make provisions that they are collected safely after school.

 

     Signed:...............................................................Parent/Guardian

 

 

CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

Dear

CLUB PERMISSION SLIP

 

I give permission for my child ................................................ to stay to .................................................... club

 

on ................................................... and make provisions that they are collected safely after school.

 

     Signed:...............................................................Parent/Guardian

 

Last Updated ( Friday, 16 October 2009 )