14 Sep 2007 - Newsletter No.2
Horfield CEVC Primary School
Newsletter No.2
Friday 14th September 2007
Dear Parents
New Reception Children
It's been delightful this week to see our new Reception children coming to school so enthusiastically, and so smartly dressed. Work to fence off their area of the patio is almost finished and we hope that by next week they'll be able to access outdoor areas in complete safety... let's also hope the fine weather continues!
Pedestrian Access
We have noticed this week a significant number of families using the Bishop Manor Road car park exit as a pedestrian access to the school. Parents are reminded that the correct way to enter the school is via the pedestrian gate by the main entrance, and in no circumstances should children be crossing the car park.
School Information
Year group teachers are currently revising the information leaflets about topics; guidelines, expectations etc and these will be sent home by the end of the month. We are also currently reconsidering our school homework policy and until this is resolved we are not formally setting homework, although teachers will be encouraging a regular home reading habit and they may be asking children to practise tables and spellings.
After School Clubs
Gym Club will be starting next week after school on Thursday. All the children able to join this term have been notified and Mrs Howell is keeping a waiting list for future gym club members.
Football Club - will be starting on Tuesday.
Rugby Futures - started today.
Swimming
Unfortunately we have learned this week that Horfield Leisure Centre will not be available for our school swimming until 28th September. We apologise for this and we will revise and re-circulate the school swimming timetable accordingly.
Website
Our website is currently being updated and we plan to include much more information and news about the many exciting and interesting events and activities that take place in the school. As of today you will be able to access the weekly newsletter (and this year's back copies) plus an up to date list of staff and governors. Do keep an eye on the site though as there will be revisions and new features every week from now on! The address is www.horfieldceprimary.ik.org
Pupil Information
Pupil Data Sheets are attached for all pupils. Please can parents check the information carefully and return these to school as soon as possible. The Data Sheets also give parental consent for school trips and for the use of photos in news articles and on the website.
Dietary Requirements - please can parents also check this part of the sheet and amend if necessary, as the new catering contractor will require this information to provide appropriate meals for pupils next term.
Parent Volunteers
As I am sure you'll realise we are always looking out for parent (grandparent?) volunteers who have some spare time and would be willing to help out in a variety of ways in the school.
Friday afternoons Walking to Horfield Leisure Centre
Tues/Thurs afternoons Walking to Monks Park Computer Centre
Wednesday afternoons Enrichment - many opportunities!
We would also be grateful of help any afternoon next week to assist the LSAs in creating literacy resources.
Please be aware that all volunteer helpers must have current CRB clearance when helping out in school. This is a straightforward process and forms are available from Ms Green in the office.
Music
All parents of children having instrument lessons should have received their invoices this week, please speak to Ms Green if you have not received yours.
Pianos - Free to good home! We have two spare upright pianos that have been regularly tuned and maintained at school. If you are interested please speak to Ms Green.
Bristol Half Marathon
Congratulations to all those runners from the school community who completed last week's half marathon. I gather a number of them were so pleased with their performances that they have already registered for the Bath half marathon!
Congratulations also to Amy Parker who came fourth in a mile race around College Green.
Cycle Track records
By way of continuing the sporting theme Mr MacDonald has published our school official records for a complete circuit of the cycle track. Therefore the records to beat are:
Year 3 Ellie Leather 54.54s Year 4 Amy Parker 51.06s
Year 5 Cory Grant 53.16s Year 6 Kyle Foulger 44.78s
Let's see which is the first record to be beaten!
Party in the Park
A further sport related item relates to the proposed sale of the YMCA sport field on the boundary of Henleaze, Horfield and Bishopston. Golden Hill Sports Ltd has mounted a fundraising campaign and there is a Party in the Park from 12 noon to 7pm on 22nd September.
School Association News
A reminder that the School Association shop is open on Wednesday mornings at 8.55am. This year there are a number of new badged items including some very nice book-bags, rucksacks and reversible fleeces. Do have a look at the items on offer.
Ugandan Visitors
In the week beginning 24th September we shall be hosting two visitors from Tropical School in Masindi. We plan to officially open the outdoor shelter at the end of the Monday morning service. In the evening of Thursday 27th September there will be a concert at Henbury School to celebrate the Bristol/Masindi Educational Partnership which now involves 16 schools from each community. Our choir will be taking part in the concert and parents are very welcome to attend the event.
New Format
Please remember the new format where the newsletter / news items will be produced on blue paper whist letters requiring a response will be on yellow paper. In short:
Blue for news
Yellow and black - Send it back!
Attendance
Primary schools in Bristol have just been issued with the latest "league table" information about attendance rates relating to the last school year. Our current level of attendance (measured through 2006/07) is 93.9% which is a significant improvement on the 92.8% level recorded for 2005/06. Congratulations everyone! This statistic means that we are 50th out of 111 primary schools in Bristol and that we are marginally above the Bristol average of 93.8%. Parents should be aware, however, that our absence through holidays is higher than the Bristol average. Our attendance target for 2007/08 (set by the DFES) is 94.6% and I am re-issuing our attendance leaflet with today's newsletter in the hope that the whole school community will recognise the vital importance of establishing and sustaining an expectation of high attendance, and that we aim to actually achieve this target by next July.
I would also like to point out the importance of being in school on time ready for 8.55am registration. This morning there were 12 children late!
A Sutton
Diary Dates - Term 1
Monday 3/9/07
Tuesday 4/9/07
INSET Days
Wednesday 5/9/07
Start of Term 1 for pupils - Years 1-6
Monday 10/9/07
Start of Term 1 for reception pupils
Monday 24/9/07
2 Ugandans in school/opening of Ugandan shelter
Friday 28/9/07
Swimming - Years 2 & 6
Friday 5/10/07
Swimming - Years 2 & 6
Thursday 11/10/07
School Photographer - Individual/Family photos
Friday 12/10/07
Swimming - Years 2 & 6
Wednesday 17/10/07
Harvest Service in school at 9.30am
Friday 19/10/07
Swimming - Years 2 + 6
Friday 19/10/07
End of Term 1
Newsletter No.2
Friday 14th September 2007
Dear Parents
New Reception Children
It's been delightful this week to see our new Reception children coming to school so enthusiastically, and so smartly dressed. Work to fence off their area of the patio is almost finished and we hope that by next week they'll be able to access outdoor areas in complete safety... let's also hope the fine weather continues!
Pedestrian Access
We have noticed this week a significant number of families using the Bishop Manor Road car park exit as a pedestrian access to the school. Parents are reminded that the correct way to enter the school is via the pedestrian gate by the main entrance, and in no circumstances should children be crossing the car park.
School Information
Year group teachers are currently revising the information leaflets about topics; guidelines, expectations etc and these will be sent home by the end of the month. We are also currently reconsidering our school homework policy and until this is resolved we are not formally setting homework, although teachers will be encouraging a regular home reading habit and they may be asking children to practise tables and spellings.
After School Clubs
Gym Club will be starting next week after school on Thursday. All the children able to join this term have been notified and Mrs Howell is keeping a waiting list for future gym club members.
Football Club - will be starting on Tuesday.
Rugby Futures - started today.
Swimming
Unfortunately we have learned this week that Horfield Leisure Centre will not be available for our school swimming until 28th September. We apologise for this and we will revise and re-circulate the school swimming timetable accordingly.
Website
Our website is currently being updated and we plan to include much more information and news about the many exciting and interesting events and activities that take place in the school. As of today you will be able to access the weekly newsletter (and this year's back copies) plus an up to date list of staff and governors. Do keep an eye on the site though as there will be revisions and new features every week from now on! The address is www.horfieldceprimary.ik.org
Pupil Information
Pupil Data Sheets are attached for all pupils. Please can parents check the information carefully and return these to school as soon as possible. The Data Sheets also give parental consent for school trips and for the use of photos in news articles and on the website.
Dietary Requirements - please can parents also check this part of the sheet and amend if necessary, as the new catering contractor will require this information to provide appropriate meals for pupils next term.
Parent Volunteers
As I am sure you'll realise we are always looking out for parent (grandparent?) volunteers who have some spare time and would be willing to help out in a variety of ways in the school.
Friday afternoons Walking to Horfield Leisure Centre
Tues/Thurs afternoons Walking to Monks Park Computer Centre
Wednesday afternoons Enrichment - many opportunities!
We would also be grateful of help any afternoon next week to assist the LSAs in creating literacy resources.
Please be aware that all volunteer helpers must have current CRB clearance when helping out in school. This is a straightforward process and forms are available from Ms Green in the office.
Music
All parents of children having instrument lessons should have received their invoices this week, please speak to Ms Green if you have not received yours.
Pianos - Free to good home! We have two spare upright pianos that have been regularly tuned and maintained at school. If you are interested please speak to Ms Green.
Bristol Half Marathon
Congratulations to all those runners from the school community who completed last week's half marathon. I gather a number of them were so pleased with their performances that they have already registered for the Bath half marathon!
Congratulations also to Amy Parker who came fourth in a mile race around College Green.
Cycle Track records
By way of continuing the sporting theme Mr MacDonald has published our school official records for a complete circuit of the cycle track. Therefore the records to beat are:
Year 3 Ellie Leather 54.54s Year 4 Amy Parker 51.06s
Year 5 Cory Grant 53.16s Year 6 Kyle Foulger 44.78s
Let's see which is the first record to be beaten!
Party in the Park
A further sport related item relates to the proposed sale of the YMCA sport field on the boundary of Henleaze, Horfield and Bishopston. Golden Hill Sports Ltd has mounted a fundraising campaign and there is a Party in the Park from 12 noon to 7pm on 22nd September.
School Association News
A reminder that the School Association shop is open on Wednesday mornings at 8.55am. This year there are a number of new badged items including some very nice book-bags, rucksacks and reversible fleeces. Do have a look at the items on offer.
Ugandan Visitors
In the week beginning 24th September we shall be hosting two visitors from Tropical School in Masindi. We plan to officially open the outdoor shelter at the end of the Monday morning service. In the evening of Thursday 27th September there will be a concert at Henbury School to celebrate the Bristol/Masindi Educational Partnership which now involves 16 schools from each community. Our choir will be taking part in the concert and parents are very welcome to attend the event.
New Format
Please remember the new format where the newsletter / news items will be produced on blue paper whist letters requiring a response will be on yellow paper. In short:
Blue for news
Yellow and black - Send it back!
Attendance
Primary schools in Bristol have just been issued with the latest "league table" information about attendance rates relating to the last school year. Our current level of attendance (measured through 2006/07) is 93.9% which is a significant improvement on the 92.8% level recorded for 2005/06. Congratulations everyone! This statistic means that we are 50th out of 111 primary schools in Bristol and that we are marginally above the Bristol average of 93.8%. Parents should be aware, however, that our absence through holidays is higher than the Bristol average. Our attendance target for 2007/08 (set by the DFES) is 94.6% and I am re-issuing our attendance leaflet with today's newsletter in the hope that the whole school community will recognise the vital importance of establishing and sustaining an expectation of high attendance, and that we aim to actually achieve this target by next July.
I would also like to point out the importance of being in school on time ready for 8.55am registration. This morning there were 12 children late!
A Sutton
Diary Dates - Term 1
Monday 3/9/07
Tuesday 4/9/07
INSET Days
Wednesday 5/9/07
Start of Term 1 for pupils - Years 1-6
Monday 10/9/07
Start of Term 1 for reception pupils
Monday 24/9/07
2 Ugandans in school/opening of Ugandan shelter
Friday 28/9/07
Swimming - Years 2 & 6
Friday 5/10/07
Swimming - Years 2 & 6
Thursday 11/10/07
School Photographer - Individual/Family photos
Friday 12/10/07
Swimming - Years 2 & 6
Wednesday 17/10/07
Harvest Service in school at 9.30am
Friday 19/10/07
Swimming - Years 2 + 6
Friday 19/10/07
End of Term 1