24 Sep 2007 - Autumn Term Newsletter 2
AUTUMN TERM NEWSLETTER 2
Dear Parents and Friends
COMMUNICATIONS
I hope you have received all the information we have sent out in the past few weeks, and found it useful. Apart from Newsletter 1, you should have received the Home-School-Child agreement (many thanks to everyone who has returned it), Behaviour in School booklet, Helping your Child with Maths, Homework Guidelines, Internet use and press photograph permissions, and an outline of the topics to be studied this term. This week you should also receive an invitation to the St Peter's Association AGM. If you are missing any of these, please search your child's bag or if necessary, ask for another copy.
Thank you to everyone who has asked to have their newsletters distributed via e-mail.
If requested, hopefully you will have received this via the net!
If you have kindly offered to help in school in some way we will be contacting you very shortly, if we haven't already.
PARENTS' QUESTIONNAIRE 2007
We are most grateful to those of you who kindly returned a questionnaire last term. Please see the attached sheet. The results have made pleasant reading, indicating that much of what we endeavour to do we are getting it right! Most encouraging is the more positive response to the questions relating to homework and written reports. The governors and staff are considering the results and we will continue to improve further on some aspects of the questionnaire.
SETTLING-IN EVENING - Thursday, 3.45 - 7.00 p.m. (Tues and Weds for Coxtor 2)
We hope your child has settled into his/her new class happily and is making good progress. If you requested an appointment, a slip has now been sent home to confirm this.
When you come into school during the evening, just outside your child's class you should find a 'data checking sheet' giving details that we hold about your child, and in particular, the emergency contacts. Please would you be kind enough to check that this is up to date and amend as necessary. Thank you. There will be no Football Club tomorrow or Homework Club on Thursday as the teachers concerned will be meeting with parents. There will be no Chess Club tomorrow (Tuesday) or Netball Club on Wednesday as Mrs Stevens and I have to attend meetings.
Tuesday 3rd October - An Eventful Day!
a.m. SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER -
The Gilman & Soame photographer will be with us. If you would like to include non - St Peter's brothers and sisters in a family group please come along for a prompt 9.00 a.m. start. Following these, the photographer will take 'in-school' family groups. Finally, he will take individual photographs of those who have not already been taken with a brother of sister. Please note that children cannot have both individual and family groups taken. If you would prefer to have your children's photographs taken individually and have not already informed us, please let us know in writing by 1st October. Thank you.
p.m. JOSEPH and the AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
We will be departing from school at 1.15 p.m. in order to arrive in good time at the Theatre Royal. We hope to arrive back at school between 5.30 and 6.00 p.m., but of course we will be dependent on the traffic leaving Plymouth and so could be later. Please ensure your child is clear about the arrangements for getting home afterwards. We have ordered an interval ice cream for every child, but if there is a reason why your child should not have one please let us know beforehand.
HARVEST THANKSGIVING - Wednesday 3rd October at 9.00 a.m.
We are delighted to be sharing our Harvest Celebrations with St Rumon's School, in the Parish Church. A number of our children will be helping to lead the service. Children should arrive at the Church (NOT School) by 8.55 a.m. It would be appreciated if each child could bring along canned or packet items, fruit or vegetables as a 'thank offering' to God for the abundant harvest we enjoy. This will then be passed on to Tavistock Area Support Services for distribution locally amongst the elderly and needy. We will be walking back up to school after the service. You are very warmly invited to join us for this special service.
RETURNERS' SOCIAL - Friday 5th October at 3.30 - 4.45 p.m.
We would be delighted to welcome back any of the pupils that left us last summer, for a drink and a chat with their 'old' teachers (including Mr Reid we believe)! It's always good to hear how they have settled in their new schools. If you are aware of any such children please could you pass on this invitation on our behalf. (We always seem to have problems contacting all of them)
ST PETER'S ASSOCIATION - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 7.00 p.m.
Please try to come along to this important meeting. The work of the SPA makes an enormous contribution to the success of the school. Please consider putting your name forward. SPA committee meetings are held twice a term and meet either straight after school or in the evenings. Thank you.
SCHOOL BAND
Our brass and guitar tutor, Mr Gray is once again planning to run the school band. Last year it was thrilling to see how the children gained so much from playing together, and it often gave them a greater incentive to practice. It is likely to take place on Thursday mornings, starting at 8.15 a.m., and will cost £5 per half term. If you would like your child to participate please return the reply slip. When we have a clear idea of the number wanting to take part, we will arrange a starting date, probably after half term.
COLLECT AND SAVE!
If you eat any of the Nestle breakfast cereals please cut out the 'Box Tops for Books' tokens and send them in to school. Each one is worth 10p to the school. Last year we received over £100 worth of books from Nestles.
Computer Printer cartridges. Please don't throw out your empty cartridges - we can recycle them and receive a significant donation for every one. We received nearly £50 from these last year. Sadly this does not include laser printer cartridges.
Tesco Vouchers for Sport.
These will enable us to 'purchase' a range of sporting equipment. We received a variety of games items from last spring's Tesco promotion which children are able to use at breaktimes. Thank you.
HOLIDAY DATES
Goose Fair day (staff training) Weds 10 October
Autumn Half-term 22 - 26 October
Christmas 21 December - 2 January
Spring Half-term 18 - 22 February
Easter 21 - 24 March (2 days only)
Spring (instead of Easter) 7 - 18 April
May Bank Holiday Mon 5 May
Summer Half-term 26 - 30 May
Summer 21 July -
Please note that the Easter break just takes in Good Friday and Easter Bank Holiday Monday. The main break is being taken in April. This is the common pattern across all Devon local authority schools.
Please try to avoid taking holidays during school time as this does adversely affect your child's education. I can only authorise holiday absence if the child has a very good record of attendance. I am not permitted to 'authorise' any holiday requests which would exceed 10 days in any one year. Year 6 children should not be away from school during the week beginning 12 May 2008, when they will be doing their SATs. The rest of the children will be taking internal school assessments during 12 - 23 May, when I would strongly advise that children are not away.
Yours sincerely
John George
Headteacher
REPLY SLIP - SCHOOL BAND
Child's Name .............................................. Instrument(s) played ........................................
I would like my child to join the school band and agree to pay £5 each half term towards the costs involved. Please don't send any money yet - we will invoice you once the sessions have commenced.
Signed ................................................................................................ (Parent)
Dear Parents and Friends
COMMUNICATIONS
I hope you have received all the information we have sent out in the past few weeks, and found it useful. Apart from Newsletter 1, you should have received the Home-School-Child agreement (many thanks to everyone who has returned it), Behaviour in School booklet, Helping your Child with Maths, Homework Guidelines, Internet use and press photograph permissions, and an outline of the topics to be studied this term. This week you should also receive an invitation to the St Peter's Association AGM. If you are missing any of these, please search your child's bag or if necessary, ask for another copy.
Thank you to everyone who has asked to have their newsletters distributed via e-mail.
If requested, hopefully you will have received this via the net!
If you have kindly offered to help in school in some way we will be contacting you very shortly, if we haven't already.
PARENTS' QUESTIONNAIRE 2007
We are most grateful to those of you who kindly returned a questionnaire last term. Please see the attached sheet. The results have made pleasant reading, indicating that much of what we endeavour to do we are getting it right! Most encouraging is the more positive response to the questions relating to homework and written reports. The governors and staff are considering the results and we will continue to improve further on some aspects of the questionnaire.
SETTLING-IN EVENING - Thursday, 3.45 - 7.00 p.m. (Tues and Weds for Coxtor 2)
We hope your child has settled into his/her new class happily and is making good progress. If you requested an appointment, a slip has now been sent home to confirm this.
When you come into school during the evening, just outside your child's class you should find a 'data checking sheet' giving details that we hold about your child, and in particular, the emergency contacts. Please would you be kind enough to check that this is up to date and amend as necessary. Thank you. There will be no Football Club tomorrow or Homework Club on Thursday as the teachers concerned will be meeting with parents. There will be no Chess Club tomorrow (Tuesday) or Netball Club on Wednesday as Mrs Stevens and I have to attend meetings.
Tuesday 3rd October - An Eventful Day!
a.m. SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER -
The Gilman & Soame photographer will be with us. If you would like to include non - St Peter's brothers and sisters in a family group please come along for a prompt 9.00 a.m. start. Following these, the photographer will take 'in-school' family groups. Finally, he will take individual photographs of those who have not already been taken with a brother of sister. Please note that children cannot have both individual and family groups taken. If you would prefer to have your children's photographs taken individually and have not already informed us, please let us know in writing by 1st October. Thank you.
p.m. JOSEPH and the AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
We will be departing from school at 1.15 p.m. in order to arrive in good time at the Theatre Royal. We hope to arrive back at school between 5.30 and 6.00 p.m., but of course we will be dependent on the traffic leaving Plymouth and so could be later. Please ensure your child is clear about the arrangements for getting home afterwards. We have ordered an interval ice cream for every child, but if there is a reason why your child should not have one please let us know beforehand.
HARVEST THANKSGIVING - Wednesday 3rd October at 9.00 a.m.
We are delighted to be sharing our Harvest Celebrations with St Rumon's School, in the Parish Church. A number of our children will be helping to lead the service. Children should arrive at the Church (NOT School) by 8.55 a.m. It would be appreciated if each child could bring along canned or packet items, fruit or vegetables as a 'thank offering' to God for the abundant harvest we enjoy. This will then be passed on to Tavistock Area Support Services for distribution locally amongst the elderly and needy. We will be walking back up to school after the service. You are very warmly invited to join us for this special service.
RETURNERS' SOCIAL - Friday 5th October at 3.30 - 4.45 p.m.
We would be delighted to welcome back any of the pupils that left us last summer, for a drink and a chat with their 'old' teachers (including Mr Reid we believe)! It's always good to hear how they have settled in their new schools. If you are aware of any such children please could you pass on this invitation on our behalf. (We always seem to have problems contacting all of them)
ST PETER'S ASSOCIATION - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 7.00 p.m.
Please try to come along to this important meeting. The work of the SPA makes an enormous contribution to the success of the school. Please consider putting your name forward. SPA committee meetings are held twice a term and meet either straight after school or in the evenings. Thank you.
SCHOOL BAND
Our brass and guitar tutor, Mr Gray is once again planning to run the school band. Last year it was thrilling to see how the children gained so much from playing together, and it often gave them a greater incentive to practice. It is likely to take place on Thursday mornings, starting at 8.15 a.m., and will cost £5 per half term. If you would like your child to participate please return the reply slip. When we have a clear idea of the number wanting to take part, we will arrange a starting date, probably after half term.
COLLECT AND SAVE!
If you eat any of the Nestle breakfast cereals please cut out the 'Box Tops for Books' tokens and send them in to school. Each one is worth 10p to the school. Last year we received over £100 worth of books from Nestles.
Computer Printer cartridges. Please don't throw out your empty cartridges - we can recycle them and receive a significant donation for every one. We received nearly £50 from these last year. Sadly this does not include laser printer cartridges.
Tesco Vouchers for Sport.
These will enable us to 'purchase' a range of sporting equipment. We received a variety of games items from last spring's Tesco promotion which children are able to use at breaktimes. Thank you.
HOLIDAY DATES
Goose Fair day (staff training) Weds 10 October
Autumn Half-term 22 - 26 October
Christmas 21 December - 2 January
Spring Half-term 18 - 22 February
Easter 21 - 24 March (2 days only)
Spring (instead of Easter) 7 - 18 April
May Bank Holiday Mon 5 May
Summer Half-term 26 - 30 May
Summer 21 July -
Please note that the Easter break just takes in Good Friday and Easter Bank Holiday Monday. The main break is being taken in April. This is the common pattern across all Devon local authority schools.
Please try to avoid taking holidays during school time as this does adversely affect your child's education. I can only authorise holiday absence if the child has a very good record of attendance. I am not permitted to 'authorise' any holiday requests which would exceed 10 days in any one year. Year 6 children should not be away from school during the week beginning 12 May 2008, when they will be doing their SATs. The rest of the children will be taking internal school assessments during 12 - 23 May, when I would strongly advise that children are not away.
Yours sincerely
John George
Headteacher
REPLY SLIP - SCHOOL BAND
Child's Name .............................................. Instrument(s) played ........................................
I would like my child to join the school band and agree to pay £5 each half term towards the costs involved. Please don't send any money yet - we will invoice you once the sessions have commenced.
Signed ................................................................................................ (Parent)
