Newsletter No 1 - 6th May 2011

Happy MAY Birthday to: Hannah Bradford, Leo Burnell, Ruby Dallimore, Benedict Diment, Buddy Halliday, Molly Howard, Ella Lavene, Maisie Matthews, Oliver Stewart and Tazmin Vale.

During the month of MAY we are focusing on the core value of UNDERSTANDING

Topics/Areas of Study
A letter from your child’s teacher outlining the topics/areas of study that pupils will be covering in Terms 5 and 6 will be sent home on Friday in book bags.

School Meals
The New Summer/Autumn menu, recently distributed to parents has also now been uploaded onto the Learning Platform and the school website.

Cycling Proficiency Training
The following pupils have put their names down for cycling proficiency training: Alice Madry, Amy Akers, Andrew Oakley, Chloe Brown and Benedict Diment. Please could any other Year 6 pupils who would like to take up this opportunity let Mrs Hopkins know by Monday 9th May? After this date, depending on the size of the group, we will decide whether to offer this opportunity to the oldest Year 5 pupils. The sessions will be held in the afternoons and will commence on Friday 20th May, then 27th May, 10th, 17th & 24rd June. The test date will be on Tuesday 28th June. Each pupil will need a roadworthy bicycle (front and rear brakes and reflectors) and a cycle helmet, which fits properly.

Gardening Club Request
Does anyone have any bark chips (end of bags or whole bags) which they would be willing to donate to the Gardening Club please?

PTA News
Spring has definitely sprung and the fantastic weather has meant that everyone who bought plants through the P.T.A. has been able to get out in the garden and make the most of the sunshine. The plant sale resulted in a profit of £124.69 for P.T.A. funds, so “Thank You!” to all those who placed an order. Thanks also to Sarah Green and Lucy Ellis who did a great job in sorting the orders and handing them out.

Can we remind parents and carers that there will be a School Uniform Sale on Friday 6th May from 2.45pm under the covered area outside Class One. Tracy Perring will be on hand to sell you new items, such as sweatshirts, cardigans, tee shirts etc. There will also be some second-hand items that include white tops, trousers, skirts, dresses etc. We are still accepting any last minute donations, so if you have any clean items in good condition that you wish to give, please bring them into school A.S.A.P. Payments can be made by cheque or cash on the day. All proceeds will go towards P.T.A. funds.

The Clothes Recycling Collection will be on Tuesday 10th May from the school at around 10am. If you have any clean, good quality adult and children’s clothes, shoes, belts, bags, bedding, towels or soft toys, please bring them into school in the blue recycling bag we have provided (via children’s book bags) by 9.00am on the Tuesday morning. If you run out of blue bin bags , it is fine to use ordinary black bin bags. Thank you.

Puzzle Trail Sheets are selling like hot cakes! There is just under two weeks left to complete the trails and return your sheets to the school to stand a chance of winning a prize in the draws that will take place at the Family Fun Day (See details below). The P.T.A. can now confirm that adults could win Tea for Two at The Crazy Bear and children could win Tickets to Beale Park.
Puzzle Trail sheets are available from Sarah Madry 07749 224464, Catherine Odell 07917 696149 or the school office. Each Puzzle Trail sheet is being offered for a small donation of £5.00 towards P.T.A. funds, but we would like to present a fantastic “Buy one get one free” offer of both Puzzle Trails for £5.00! Please return your completed Puzzle Trail sheets to the school by 3.00pm on Saturday 14th May to be entered into the draws.

On Saturday 14th May from 1.30pm in the Community (School) Hall everyone is welcome to join us for some wonderful craft activities, tea, coffee, hot chocolates and yummy cakes. We plan to have face painting, kite making, seed planting, model building and lots of other fun and games on offer for children of all ages. Parents can come and have a catch up with friends and why not bring grandparents along too, to join in the fun. Entry to the Family Fun Day will be free and each activity will be available for a small charge towards P.T.A. funds.

Calling All Families! -To make the Family Fun Day a truly fantastic event for the children (and adults!) the P.T.A. need a little help from parents and carers!
We would like to make a request for donations of cakes and biscuits to sell on Saturday 14th May and would be very grateful for any contributions, whether they are home made or shop bought. Please bring any treats into school on Friday 13th and leave in the school kitchen, or bring along on the day.

We are also requesting donations of any items to do with children for the children’s tombola. They can include good quality, second hand or new books, toys, games, sweets etc. Please bring any items into school A.S.A.P. and leave in the red P.T.A. box labelled donations in the school hall. This is the perfect opportunity for a clear out, so why not donate some unwanted “bits and bobs” and help a good cause?

If anybody is able to help out and lend a hand at the Family Fun Day then the P.T.A. would love to hear from you! – If you are able to give just half an hour of your time please speak to Sarah Madry or contact her on the above mobile number.

As always, the P.T.A. is very grateful for everyone’s on going support and thank you in advance for your generous contributions. We should be able to bring you some exiting news about the development of the children’s play equipment very soon. Watch this space for updates!

Little Bears News
Continuing with the “All About Me” theme, we will be talking about our families and making family trees. It would be great if children could bring in a family photo as part of this topic work.

DIARY DATES:
Monday 9th May SATs Week
Swimming begins for Class 2 pupils – 4 sessions in total
After school Cricket Club starts
Tuesday 10th May PTA Clothes Recycling collection. Please bring bags in for 9am.
Wednesday 11th May After school Netball Club and Multiskills starts
Thursday 12th May After school Football Club with Premier Sports
Saturday 14th May PTA Family Fun Day – 1.30pm at school (please note new time)
Wednesday 18th May Y5 Students visiting ICC – PE lesson
Mobile library visit
Wednesday 25th May Weighing and measuring of Reception pupils and Year 6 by the school nurse (rearranged from 25th March)
Friday 27th May Break up at the end of Term 5 at 3.15pm
Monday 6th June INSET Day – teachers only at school
Tuesday 7th June Pupils return to school for the start of Term 6
Wednesday 22nd June Y5 Students visiting ICC – Creative Arts
Mobile library visit
Friday 22nd July Term 6 ends at 1.30pm