Family Letter number 1
Autumn Term, 4th September 2008
Dear Parents,
Welcome back, or “Welcome”, if you have just joined our school. I hope that you have all had a relaxing and restful Summer.
Staff UpdatesThis week we welcome five new members of staff. Mrs. Barker, Mrs. Brooks, Mr. Halliday, Miss Hulse and Miss Attwood. Congratulations to Mrs. Brooks who successfully completed her teacher-training programme and has been appointed at this school as a teacher.
What to do if you have a query or concernFrom time to time parents have queries or concerns. In the first instance please contact your child’s teacher either before or after school or by leaving a message for them to contact you in the main school office. You may feel that the situation or issue has not been fully resolved. In that situation please contact the Phase Leader with responsibility for your child. They are:
| Mrs. Elcock | Reception and Nursery |
| Mrs. Strachan | Years 1 and 2 |
| Mrs. Brittain | Years 3 and 4 |
| Mrs. Moseley | Years 5 and 6 |
If, following their involvement, you are still concerned, please contact either myself, or Miss Nickolls (our Deputy Headteacher) via the main school office. On rare occasions parents feel that their concerns have not been fully understood. The Governing Body has a Complaints Procedure and a copy of this is available on request from the main school office.
Children’s Snacks and Packed Lunches – Nut AllergiesAt the start of the school year I would like to remind you that we have a high number of children in school who are severely allergic to both nuts and any product with nut traces. If they stand near anyone who has eaten nuts they could have an anaphylactic reaction. Please could you ensure that your child’s break time snack and packed lunch does not contain any nuts, nut products, or any product with nut traces. We do appreciate your support in this matter.
Jewellery, Make Up and Mobile TelephonesIn school we follow the LEA Guidelines regarding jewellery and make-up. Children can wear a watch to school and plain stud earrings if they have pierced ears. Both watches and earrings have to be removed for P.E., Games and Swimming. Children should not bring their mobile telephones to school as these are valuable items. In the event of a child needing to make a telephone call we can facilitate this from the school office. We would appreciate your support in this matter.
School MealsThe cost of school meals this term is £1.85p.
French ClubA new session of French Club will begin next week. If your child is interested in joining please ask Mrs. Pamley for the information.
Morning Break Snacks
If you wish your child to have a snack during morning break, milk and toast are available at main school – cost 15p for milk and 20p for toast. At the Annexe GeoBars are on sale at a cost of 35p.
Moving onto One Site
County Highways have now completed what is to become the new vehicle access into school when we move onto one site. Unfortunately we are still awaiting the ‘green light’ from Local Authority officers for building work to start. We will keep you informed as and when we receive any further information ourselves.
Coats
All children require a waterproof coat in school at all times. This is especially pertinent for those children in our annexe who regularly move between buildings, as such Years 5 and 6 will not be allowed on top yard at breaks and lunch without a coat.
PTA News
It’s the start of another academic year and it’s time to start thinking about organizing some social and fundraising events.
Last academic year the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at St. Michael’s raised just over £9000. A proportion of this has been pledged towards future playground equipment, and the resources we funded in 2007/8 were as follows;
| Infants Christmas Presents | £328.18 |
| ‘Animal Man’ Visit to School | £260.00 |
| Theatre Company Production | £1,150.00 |
| Children’s School Xmas Party Disco’s | £240.00 |
| Playground Equipment | £509.15 |
| Specialist Audio and Visual Equipment | £1,394.64 |
| Digital Movie Creator | £383.50 |
| Leavers Books | £259.57 |
In addition, we pledged £146.90 towards role-play panels for use in Key stage 1 and £200 toward a music library resource for staff to support the creative curriculum.
Throughout the year, refreshments are provided by the PTA at school events such as class worships; Nativity and Easter productions and other events throughout the school calendar. People have also provided their time to help out in ways such as covering books, counting Tesco’s/ Sainsbury’s vouchers and helping out at fundraising events.
Fund-raising requires a huge amount of effort, so every bit of support from parents, friends, sponsors and teachers is always greatly appreciated. Please remember the PTA is a volunteer organisation and so it is only as active as the people that support it.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday 15th September, 7:45-9pm in the Main School Staff Room. If you have any ideas, or want to find out more, then please pop along. We welcome new faces and ideas.
Another date for your diaries is the annual Christmas Fayre which is currently scheduled for Friday 5th December 2008 from 6pm to 8pm. More details to follow nearer the time!
Yours faithfully,
Miss H. McKay
Headteacher.