Dear Parents and Carers

Weren’t our Year 5 and 6 children lucky with the weather for their off-island residential visit? I would like to thank all the adults who accompanied this visit. It is a huge responsibility, so we really do want to thank Mrs Corkill, Mrs Sandell, Mr Baker, Miss Christie and Mr Dalton-Brown for giving up their time to do this. It is pleasing to hear that the good behaviour of our children was again remarked upon by members of the public, so well done to our children for being a credit to us all.

The previous week saw our last football and netball clubs for this academic year and I would like to say a big thank you to all the adults who have helped run these clubs. Without the extra help of children’s relatives and friends of the school it would be very difficult to run as many clubs as we do.
Talking of extra help, we would like to run a cricket club as an after school club for the second half of this term but we were wondering if we have any enthusiasts out there who could help us do this?

On Tuesday 27th May it is our Sports Day (weather permitting) starting at 1:30pm. Please do come along to support if you can and don’t forget to bring your trainers if you want to take part in the events we have lined up for you! Could you remember to check your child has their PE kit, sun screen and a sun hat (if you think it necessary) and a water bottle in school on this day? If it is wet we will move Sports Day until the next day.  * As you may now be aware it rained on the 27th May there fore the date of the Sports Day has been changed to after TT to Thursday 17th July.

Do remember the strange pattern of the days the school is open to children. The children are only in school on the Tuesday and Wednesday (27th & 28th May). Then they are on holiday until after TT week, returning on Monday 9th June. To say we came back so soon after Easter and that this is a longer Summer Term than usual we do still seem to be galloping through it.

Sponsored Saunter – we hope to hold this event again this year on 11th June (if wet the next day). To explain the event to our new parent, we all go out and walk, at our own pace, round the school field. The children can do as much or as little as they want and we all enjoy the occasion. Hopefully, the children will be able to find some generous people to sponsor them to complete a certain number of laps. This year we are going to use the money raised to help finance the transport costs of the educational visits we do. You will have noticed that we do take the children out on visits to museums, the theatre, sporting events, etc. and the number of these visits has, intentionally on our part, increased in the last year or so. I think everyone will agree that the children enjoy the benefit from these visits. However, you may be surprised to know that a day’s coach hire from Protours costs in the region of £180, so even when I ask for contribution from the children going on the visit we still need to find over £120 to pay for transport. We do get some money from Government, but we need to make up the difference so hopefully, we can raise lots of money from our Saunter so that we continue to go on as many visits as we would like to. Your child will be bringing a Sponsor Form home later this week and we really would appreciate you doing your best to support us in this, if at all possible. Thank you
Whilst talking about support, have you see the new playpen in the infant play area? This has been bought with money raised by you through the PTA. It is gorgeous and, although it was only put up on Thursday night, the children have already enjoyed using it. So on the children’s behalf, can I say a big thank you to you all.

When we come back after TT week we are holding our induction meeting for the parents of the children who will be joining our reception class next year. Shortly after the meeting, we will be placing a uniform.

Order, so if you want to order any uniform for next year please can I ask you to do so as soon as possible? Forms are available from the office.

Unfortunately, I had a letter on Friday telling me that, as it will be after TT week before the contractor hands the Southern swimming pool back, we will not be able to take the children swimming this year. I, like you, am very disappointed by this news, as I had been hoping we would, at least, get in a few lessons in this half term. We will start planning for next year soon and I would ask you to think about whether any of you would be willing to help us in our swimming lessons. We will be looking for anyone who could help with a group at the pool (support will be offered to do this). Many of you will know that Sharon Roosen did this for us for a long time, for which we are very grateful, but she now works and is unable to carry on. We will also be looking for volunteers to accompany children on the coach to and from the school so that we can leave more teachers down there with the groups. Please think about whether you can helps us in this way. I am really keen to try to help the children to ‘catch up’ where possible in their swimming and the more help we can enlist to help us do this the easier it will be. If you want to know more details please contact me.

 
Nursery places are now available for next year to any child living in our catchment area it is open to any child age 3 years on or before 31st August 2008. Please let your friends know so they can register? Further details are available from the office.

We are in need of some D.I.Y skills we recently bought a container from B&Q so that we can store the skipping ropes, hoops etc. out in the yard rather than have them cluttering the entrance. However, at the time of writing no one has yet managed to put it together. Please can someone help?

Please remember that Wednesday 28th May is the last day in school for the children until after TT week.

Finally, can I finish with a reminder that now we seem to have the good weather with us you may wish to provide a hat and other sun protection for your child?

Yours sincerely
J. Barrow (Head Teacher)