Newsletter – September (2) 2013
Dear Parents,
I hope that your children have settled in to the new school year and are enjoying their learning.
A number of issues, stemming from discussions with parents and in line with the School Development Plan have presented themselves this term.
HOME / SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR LEARNING
Firstly, we are planning to work even more closely with parents to support their children’s learning. In the first instance we will be sending guidance documents to every home explaining how parents can support their children in the following areas:
(1) Phonics and Spelling, (2) Reading and Writing and (3) Mental Maths.
We will then follow this up with meetings for parents giving further explanation of each curriculum area linked to strategies for homework. The first set of guidance materials will be for Phonics and Spelling. The information leaflets will be sent out just before half term and the meeting will take place on Wednesday, 6th November at 6.00 pm. Although the phonics training is more suitable for parents of those children beginning to read, the training for spelling is appropriate for parents of children of all ages. Ambitiously, therefore, we are opening the meeting to every parent. Owing to numbers, it would be useful if only one parent per family attended the meeting. An attendance request form can be found at the end of this newsletter.
TRACKING PUPIL PROGRESS
Secondly, we would like to give clearer guidance about the progress that each child is making. At this parents’ meeting teachers will give an outline of where children are generally in their learning and what progress needs to be made. The Senior Management Team are currently looking at new national standards and are using these to help develop a process by which parents can be more involved in their child’s progress. This work will be in place for the spring term parents’ meeting.
VISITS
I am delighted that children in Class 3 and Class 4 had such a wonderful time at Weston Park. The Y1 children in Class 2 will be going on their visit to Boscobel House on Wednesday, 2nd October.
Children in KS2 have taken part in a Black History Workshop this week examining the issues relating to immigration as a follow up to the linked theatre workshop last year about Colonial Britain. As part of their Victorian topic, children in KS2 will also be taking part in a Victorian Dance workshop on Wednesday, 13th November
CAKE STALL
There will be a PTFA Cake Stall on Friday, 4th October. Cakes will be on sale either just outside the school (if dry) or underneath the bungalow’s veranda (if wet). Single cakes will cost 50 pence or they can be purchased at 5 for £2.00. All proceeds will go to School Funds.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
The school will be celebrating Harvest in St. Andrew’s Church on Thursday, 10th October. The service will start at 9.00 am but I would be grateful if all children could be taken to church for 8.40 am. Parents are very welcome to stay for the service, but I will apologise in advance for the lack of seating! Children will be taken back to school by school staff at the end of the service – at about 9.45 am. Donations of tinned and packet food are most welcome and these should be brought to the church on the day of the service. Donations of money can also be left at church. All funds will be given to those charities supported by St. Andrew’s Church.
PHONICS AND SPELLING EVENING
Child/ren’s name…………………………………………………………………..
Class/es………………………………..
I would like to reserve a seat for the Phonics and Spelling meeting on 6th November 2013.
Signed…………………………………………………………..…