March 2010
Dear Parents/Carers and Friends,
Teachers are now busy writing the children’s annual progress reports and these will be sent to you on Friday, March 26th. We have recently reviewed our reporting arrangements and have changed the format from last year. Instead of two shorter reports, you will now receive
information about your child’s progress and achievement for all areas of the curriculum in one report. Hopefully this will give you a good picture of your child’s overall performance in school. We also believe that this information is best shared with you now, when we are over half way through the school year, and not in July when the year is over and there is no opportunity to address any concerns. We hope you agree.
We are also trying to improve our arrangements for parent/teacher consultations. There will now not be a formal parents’ evening this term as you will have received the written report which should provide you with the information you need. However, if you have questions about the report, you will be able to contact the teacher before Easter to arrange a meeting. During the summer term, we shall be arranging an opportunity for you to come into school to see your child’s work and to talk with the teacher – we have yet to decide on the format for this.
Together with the formal consultations that most of you attended in November, we hope you will feel well informed about your child’s education.
With best wishes,
Anne Hood. Headteacher
Dear Parents/Carers and Friends,
Teachers are now busy writing the children’s annual progress reports and these will be sent to you on Friday, March 26th. We have recently reviewed our reporting arrangements and have changed the format from last year. Instead of two shorter reports, you will now receive
information about your child’s progress and achievement for all areas of the curriculum in one report. Hopefully this will give you a good picture of your child’s overall performance in school. We also believe that this information is best shared with you now, when we are over half way through the school year, and not in July when the year is over and there is no opportunity to address any concerns. We hope you agree.
We are also trying to improve our arrangements for parent/teacher consultations. There will now not be a formal parents’ evening this term as you will have received the written report which should provide you with the information you need. However, if you have questions about the report, you will be able to contact the teacher before Easter to arrange a meeting. During the summer term, we shall be arranging an opportunity for you to come into school to see your child’s work and to talk with the teacher – we have yet to decide on the format for this.
Together with the formal consultations that most of you attended in November, we hope you will feel well informed about your child’s education.
With best wishes,
Anne Hood. Headteacher
Staff News:
Firstly, exciting news! Nursery parents will already be aware that Mrs. Rice is expecting a baby! The baby is due in May and so Mrs. Rice will be leaving to take maternity leave at the end of this term -probably for a year. Governors are in the process of appointing a new nursery teacher to start after Easter.Sadly, Miss Streamer is also leaving us on March 19th. Miss Streamer has worked at St Sidwell’s as a Learning Support Assistant for nearly two years but has now decided to pursue a career in nursing. She will be greatly missed but we all wish her well for the future.
Those of you who use Fun Club will know that Miss Brewer has now taken over as Play Leader. The children seem to be very happy with her and we hope that parents/carers will soon get to know her. Africa
Year 1 and 2’s topic this term is Africa and we would be very grateful for your help if you have any African objects or artefacts at home that you might be able to share with us.
We would be delighted for you to either send any (non-fragile!) items in to school with the children, or else arrange a
suitable time for you to come in and show the items to the children yourself with Miss
Dymond, Mrs Hughes or Mrs Clarke . It would be lovely if you could tell us a bit about them and how you came to have them. Thank you very much for your help.
World Book DayTHURSDAY 4TH MARCH Click to see some pictures
Come to school dressed as your favourite book character and bring along the book to share…Junior / infant book sharing throughout the day…FREE BOOKS IN THE HALL AFTER SCHOOL!
Bring in any books you don’t want, and help yourself to other people’s for free! £1 World Book Day voucher for every childPLUS—
DON’T FORGET OUR COMPETITION TO WIN BOOKS FOR ALL YOUR FAMILY! Please see the office if you need another entry form!.
FREE BOOKS!
Don’t forget that we are having a Free Book Fair on Thursday (after school in the playground). You are welcome to come and take books for your
family—and if you have any unwanted books at home, please bring them in to share and swap with others!
Poetry Day
:We were lucky enough to have a whole day of poetry activities today which got children in the mood for World Book Day tomorrow. Christine McFarlane from Schools’ Library Services ran sessions with each of the classes, focusing on reading aloud, memorising and performing
poems. We finished off the day with each class sharing what they had done and ended with a poem involving the whole school.
Governors’ Corner:
Traffic Calming along York Road
.Governors have received an update from Devon CC following a request for detailed clarification of road safety requests for St Sidwell's School children using York Road.Devon CC confirmed that they have ordered 20 mph 'repeaters' flashing warning lights for the vicinity of the School. They have also confirmed that they will start a consultation process with the School in the near future, on the work to be undertaken and they will hold a public meeting, probably in the form of a PACT Meeting to explain to both public and parents exactly what road safety measures Devon CC intend to implement over the Summer Holidays 2010.
Devon have however rejected our request for cycle lanes to facilitate children eager to cycle safely to School.We shall endeavour to keep Parents informed of progress in all these matters.
Traffic Calming along York Road
.Governors have received an update from Devon CC following a request for detailed clarification of road safety requests for St Sidwell's School children using York Road.Devon CC confirmed that they have ordered 20 mph 'repeaters' flashing warning lights for the vicinity of the School. They have also confirmed that they will start a consultation process with the School in the near future, on the work to be undertaken and they will hold a public meeting, probably in the form of a PACT Meeting to explain to both public and parents exactly what road safety measures Devon CC intend to implement over the Summer Holidays 2010.
Devon have however rejected our request for cycle lanes to facilitate children eager to cycle safely to School.We shall endeavour to keep Parents informed of progress in all these matters.
News from the Acorn awards
Desribed by the TV naturalist Nick Baker as ‘better than the Baftas’ we were proud to be a part of the Acorn Awards where we were the runners up for the Award for Innovation (for the creation of our multi-sensory
garden).
The Awards were run by Exeter Council in conjunction with the Express and Echo, both of whom work to support school initiatives via the Green Team awards.
Eight children were at the ceremony, chosen randomly from the Eco team and Go Mad club who work to make our school more sustainable. They sampled green cocktails and polished off a buffet lunch before being applauded as ‘Ambassadors of the Future’. Mingling with celebrities as diverse as the Mayor and Exeter Chiefs players, they were entertained by the antics of a superhero and magician.
A memorable afternoon for all.(Read more about this in the Express and Echo 8 page supplement on 2nd March.)Thank you to our quiet supporters who are helping us to enrich the whole schools experience of nature.
Thanks to Ben, Rhiannon and their family for the new coloured bird feeders in school. Hopefully we will attract some small garden birds to our grounds.
Thanks also go to Kimiko who persuaded her nan to help at our Go Mad club (Gardening and Outdoors) and her granddad to make us some birdhouses. Kimiko’s nan has also donated some additional bird feeders for us to use in the grounds. This should mean that we can increase the wildlife living in and visiting our grounds.Thanks to the Go Mad team (Gardening and Outdoors: Making Adventurous Discoveries) for their work on the pond. The pond has become rather full of plant debris and a bit smelly and they have helped to clear some of this out to make room for wildlife. In addition they have created a log pile and a stone pile to increase the
habitats for small creatures in that area.
This is particularly important for our newt population which appears to be decreasing. If you would like to support us in any way by donating resources, expertise or help please contact Mrs Hallett
The Awards were run by Exeter Council in conjunction with the Express and Echo, both of whom work to support school initiatives via the Green Team awards.
Eight children were at the ceremony, chosen randomly from the Eco team and Go Mad club who work to make our school more sustainable. They sampled green cocktails and polished off a buffet lunch before being applauded as ‘Ambassadors of the Future’. Mingling with celebrities as diverse as the Mayor and Exeter Chiefs players, they were entertained by the antics of a superhero and magician.
A memorable afternoon for all.(Read more about this in the Express and Echo 8 page supplement on 2nd March.)Thank you to our quiet supporters who are helping us to enrich the whole schools experience of nature.
Thanks to Ben, Rhiannon and their family for the new coloured bird feeders in school. Hopefully we will attract some small garden birds to our grounds.
Thanks also go to Kimiko who persuaded her nan to help at our Go Mad club (Gardening and Outdoors) and her granddad to make us some birdhouses. Kimiko’s nan has also donated some additional bird feeders for us to use in the grounds. This should mean that we can increase the wildlife living in and visiting our grounds.Thanks to the Go Mad team (Gardening and Outdoors: Making Adventurous Discoveries) for their work on the pond. The pond has become rather full of plant debris and a bit smelly and they have helped to clear some of this out to make room for wildlife. In addition they have created a log pile and a stone pile to increase the
habitats for small creatures in that area.
This is particularly important for our newt population which appears to be decreasing. If you would like to support us in any way by donating resources, expertise or help please contact Mrs Hallett
Film Club
Our first film, “Hoodwinked” was shown on the 24th February and brought in a superb audience of 61
children. The helpers enjoyed the event as much as the children and we are all looking forward to the next one which will be “The Iron Giant” on the 10th March. We will be sending home a consent form in the next few days so please sign up promptly if you would like your child to attend. We hope by then to have extra Film Club passes for the children who have not yet received one
FOSSS FUN QUIZ NIGHT
Friday 12th March
7pm in the school hallTeams of up to 8 people
Licensed bar! Prizes!
£5 per person to include a free drink
£8 per person to include a free drink plus fish & chip supper (or vegetarian option)
Please sign up at the office as soon as possible to confirm your place!.
Security:
The new secure entry system is finally completed and hopefully you have all now worked out how to access the school! At least we now feel confident that the children are as safe as possible whilst they are at school
Diary for the Spring Term:
March
4th – World Book Day
4th – 2.45 p.m. - Mrs. Salmon, Headteacher of St James’ High School, to talk to parents
5th – Staff training day – school closed for children
10th – 9.20 a.m. – Year 4 class assembly for parents and friends
12th – FOSSS quiz and curry night – details to follow
25th – 10.30 a.m. – Eucharist service for KS2 children – parents and friends welcome
26th – 2.30 – “Tea with the Head” for invited parents
26th – Annual reports sent home to parents
29th – 3.30 p.m. – Drop-in for Infants. All welcome
30th – 3.30 p.m. – Drop-in for Juniors. All welcome
April
1st – 9.45 a.m. – Easter service at St. David’s Church led by Years 3 and 4 – all welcome
1st – p.m. – Easter Hat Parade and FOSSS Easter event for children
1st – School finishes for the Easter holiday.
The Summer term begins on Monday April 29th at the usual time of 8.55 a.m.
May 6th – school probably closed to children for the General Election
Under the Splotlight .MRS SOUYADMarch
4th – World Book Day
4th – 2.45 p.m. - Mrs. Salmon, Headteacher of St James’ High School, to talk to parents
5th – Staff training day – school closed for children
10th – 9.20 a.m. – Year 4 class assembly for parents and friends
12th – FOSSS quiz and curry night – details to follow
25th – 10.30 a.m. – Eucharist service for KS2 children – parents and friends welcome
26th – 2.30 – “Tea with the Head” for invited parents
26th – Annual reports sent home to parents
29th – 3.30 p.m. – Drop-in for Infants. All welcome
30th – 3.30 p.m. – Drop-in for Juniors. All welcome
April
1st – 9.45 a.m. – Easter service at St. David’s Church led by Years 3 and 4 – all welcome
1st – p.m. – Easter Hat Parade and FOSSS Easter event for children
1st – School finishes for the Easter holiday.
The Summer term begins on Monday April 29th at the usual time of 8.55 a.m.
May 6th – school probably closed to children for the General Election
By Jeffy & Gurmukh
What are your favourite hobbies?
Playing basketball, cooking and walking
What are your favourite subjects
Science and maths
What is your favourite TV show?
Eastenders and Ready Steady Cook
Which books do you like the most?
Les miserables ( French) By Victor Hugo
Which languages do you speak?
French, Arabic and English
Which class do you like to work in the most?
I enjoy working in all classes
Which countries have you been to?
Algeria, Tunisia (North Africa), France and Spain
School Clubs this Term
| DAY | LUNCHTIME | AFTER SCHOOL |
| MONDAY | Mrs Matchett – Wake Up Shake Up (Y5&6) Miss Rowden Worship Club (Yrs 5&6) |
Exeter City FC – Football (KS2) Premier Sports – Hall (KS1) |
| TUESDAY | Mrs Felton - Choir | Mr Leaman – Football (Y3&4) |
| WEDNESDAY | Mrs Brown –Roman club (KS2) Mrs Souyad – French (KS2) Mrs Cowdrey – Recorders (KS2) Mrs Hood – School Council (Y2-6) |
Mrs Barnes – Netball (Y5&6) Film Club — FORTNIGHTLY(10th & 24th March this term) |
| THURSDAY | One World Club 3.30—5.00—Hall Animation – Mrs RiceGardening—Mrs Hallett |
|
| FRIDAY | Ice Club (all children) Mr Oliver’s Sports |
Drama - Hatch It Theatre—Hall |