School Newsletter

Spring Term 2011

Newsletter no. 6 – 3rd February 2012

Dear Parents,

Clubs
There will be no clubs after school on Tuesday and Thursday next week, week commencing 6th February, except Football, due to parents’ evenings.

Sharing Assemblies
The sharing assemblies this term will be at 9.15am on the following Fridays:
10th February - Holly
2nd March - Oak
9th March - Chestnut
16th March - Cherry
23rd March - Willow

Book Club
The new book club will be starting after half term, on Thursday 23rd February. Children can choose a book and then each week bring a little money to save towards its purchase. If you wish your child to participate, please make sure they bring money to school in a clearly labelled envelope. 

World Book Day
The 15th annual celebration of books and reading takes place on Thursday 1st March, and we would like the children to come to school dressed as their favourite book character on that day.

Friends Meeting
The next meeting of the Friends of Emscote Infant School takes place at the chair’s house, 53 All Saints Road, at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13th March at school. Everybody is welcome; helpers are always needed at all sorts of events, and new ideas for getting people involved and raising money for the school will be gratefully received.

Non School Uniform Day
On Thursday 22nd March the children can wear their own clothes to school in return for bringing an Easter egg as a donation for the Easter Bingo.

Reading at Home
We have been monitoring reading at home and have discovered some disappointing results. Year 2 seem to be doing quite well, however in year 1 and reception the number of children reading at home regularly is below 50%. It is essential that children have regular practice at reading; parents should listen to their children read at least 3 times a week, for about 10 minutes each time. We will continue to monitor the situation, using reading diaries as evidence.  

Easter Bingo
The Friends of Emscote Infant School Easter Bingo takes place on Friday 23rd March, 6.00-8.00pm. Watch out for more details nearer the time.

Egg Tombola
The Friends will be running an Easter Egg Tombola on Tuesday 27th March in the playground after school (weather permitting).

Holidays in term time
If you wish to take your children out of school during term time for a holiday a form, available from the school office, needs to be completed and returned to school with an accompanying letter (if necessary).  This should be done 6 weeks before the start of the holiday.  Up to 10 days in a year may be granted and authorised, but previous attendance will be taken into consideration. Once attendance has been checked you will be contacted to inform you if the leave has been authorised or not.  You may be asked to come in and speak with me regarding your application. 

Extended Services
The list of activities you can access over half term has been published on the school website.

Prayer Meeting
Anyone interested in praying for the life of the school can join a prayer group that meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month, at All Saints Church. The meetings take place at 2.40pm; contact Suzanne Osborn for further details suzanne.osb@gmail.com.

Attendance and Punctuality
You are reminded the school day starts at 8.55am when the bell is rung in the playground. The gates will then be locked at 9.00am so all parents should vacate the playground as soon as the children go in to their classrooms. Registers are marked promptly at the start of the school day. All children arriving after 9.00am must report to the school office where the registers can be marked accordingly; arrivals between 8.55 – 9.10am will be marked as “late before registers close”. The registers will close at 9.10am so a child arriving after this time will be marked as “late after registers close” which is an unauthorised absence. If your child needs to be absent at the beginning of the school day for reasons such as medical appointments please let the office know and the appropriate record can be made. Also please remember to contact the school office if your child is going to be absent due to ill health.

Failure by a parent or carer to ensure the regular and punctual attendance of their child at school breaks Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 and can result in legal action.

Also good attendance and punctuality are essential life skills we are keen to develop and support in school.

Attendance January 2012

Well done Holly class, your attendance was exemplary in January! And congratulations also for having the least number of pupils arriving late for school last month.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Debi Cossins
Headteacher