School Newsletter
Autumn Term 2009
Newsletter No. 4 - 4th December
Dear Parents,
We are now entering that busy fortnight when lots of fun activities are taking place in school. Please read on…
Christmas Fair
The Christmas Fair takes place this Friday evening between 6 – 8pm. Please try to support the event; helpers are still needed so please make yourself known to Rachel Reed 07900 091492.
Christmas Concert
We are all looking forward to the children performing “Hosanna Rock”. Due to fire regulations we have had to limit the number of people we have in the hall, but I hope most of your ticket requirements have been met.
You are reminded there will be no entry to the concert without a ticket, and that toddlers and babies should attend the day performances only and NOT the evenings.
As in previous years, parents are free to video or take photos at the performances.
All Saints Junior School will all be visiting on Friday at 10.30pm.
You are reminded the children will go home at 2pm on Thursday, to return at 5.45pm, fully dressed in costume, and go straight to their classrooms.
Christmas Party
Parent Reps will be coming round soon with party food lists for the children’s Christmas party to be held on Thursday 17th December in the afternoon.
The reps are:
Willow: Anita Metcalfe (Jack), Rebecca Travis (Amelia)
Cherry Class: Lynn Haste (Mila)
Oak Class: Rachel Reed (Devon), Jo Coles West (Kate)
Chestnut Class: Kate Johnson (Ruby Goss), Louisa Clarkson (Daisy)
Holly: Ellen Booth (Liam Latham), Kerry Burnell (Chloe Irving)
Sycamore Class: Beth England (Hannah), Lynn Stevens (Nathaniel)
Coats in School
Please make sure your child wears a coat to school, and that it is clearly named and has a loop to hang it up with.
Parent Questionnaires
Thank you for your responses to our parent questionnaires. It is really good to hear the many positive comments about the school. A few issues were raised, such as working parents concerned about being able to sign up for parents’ evenings.
If you are unable to get into school you can ring us or send an email and we will put you on the list. Also some of you felt it was awkward getting into school to buy uniform. There is a downloadable order form [click here] on our website that you can complete and send to school with your child, in an envelope clearly marked “Uniform Order” (please make cheques payable to Friends of Emscote Infant School). Your order can then be returned to you via your child.
Please check the website for dates as all the information and newsletters are on the site.
I hope this has addressed any issues if there are any other areas you would like to discuss just pop in for a chat.
Manners
We are having a real focus on manners in school. Please could you continue to encourage your children to say please and thank you and not to interrupt when others are talking. Table manners in the dinning hall are also a focus. All children who have school dinners must use a knife and fork at all times and we are encouraging them to chop their own food. This is a skill that needs practising and we would welcome your support from home.
Healthy Schools
We are a healthy school and aim to share these values with the children. Please could you set an example to the children and avoid smoking anywhere near the school.
School Christmas Lunch
Those of you who ordered a Christmas lunch for your child on Wednesday December 17th will receive a letter next week requesting payment. Please return the slip with payment to school no later than Friday 11th December.
School Closure Text Message Service
You can sign up to receive text alerts if the school has to close due to bad weather at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolclosures. Announcements will also be made on local radio stations.
School Post Box
There is a post box in the entrance hall for children to post Christmas cards to their friends. Please make sure they clearly mark the envelope with the name of the child and their class so that our expert team of Year 2 sorters can deliver them correctly!
Book Club
The last book club will be held on Friday 11th December and will resume in the New Year.
Christmas activities
- Monday 7th – whole school visit to All Saints Junior School to see their Christmas performance
- Tuesday 15th – Mother Goose pantomime in school
- Wednesday 16th – whole school walk to St Nicholas Park & Christmas lunch
- Thursday 17th – church service and children’s parties
Clubs
All clubs will finish this week, as the next couple of weeks are going to be very busy for the children and staff.
Absence from School
It is a requirement for school to report all absences and they have to be specifically coded depending on the reason for the absence. It is therefore most important that you inform the school by phone on the first day of your child’s absence or by letter on their return to school, thank you.
Christmas Service
All parents and friends are warmly invited to join with us at All Saints’ Church on Thursday 17th December at 9.15am for our end of term service.
Scallywags Holiday Club
Scallywags will be open Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd December, between 8.30am and 5.30pm. There will be festive activities and games; hourly or daily bookings taken for any child aged 4 – 11.
Scallywags staff would like to thank all those who have used the club over the past year and wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
For more details go to www.scallywagskids.co.uk, alternatively call Jo 07834 241 414 or Pam 07759 301 115.
Operation Christmas Child
Well done, we managed to collect in the region of 100 boxes which will make a lot of children happy this Christmas.
Governors
School governors have a vital role in making sure all pupils receive the highest standard of education possible. They have specific duties given to them by law including: agreeing school development priorities; setting school targets; agreeing school policies; and making sure the curriculum is balanced.
Governors provide a headteacher with support and advice, sharing in formulating the school’s aims and vision.
Governing bodies are generally made up of between nine and 20 governors. At Emscote we have a governing body comprising community governors, local authority governors, parent governors and associate members:
Ed Leung (Chair) – parent governor
Ann Blight (Vice-chair) – LA governor
Maureen Hoooper – LA governor
Vicky Castree – LA governor
Adrian Court – community governor
Sharon Jones – community governor
Dan Cale – community governor
Chris Heydon – parent governor
Jayne Ali – parent governor
Eamonn McFadden – parent governor
Charlotte Hudson – staff governor
Debi Cossins – staff governor
Jon Queralt – associate member
Linda Hart – associate member
Billie Harvey – clerk to governors
Extended Services
As part of our extended services participation I have been asked to tell you about a positive parenting group being set up by Niki Tolley from the Family Information Service. Please come along for a cup of tea and a chat on Thursday 10th December from 9.30-10.30 if you would like to hear more about the group.
Illness
Please remember if your child has been sick they must not return to school for 48 hours after the last bout of sickness. We have a lot of children who are returning to school before they are fully recovered.
Reading Survey
I am very pleased to find that there has been an increase in reading at home since our last survey (see table below). We now have a class trophy for the class which reads the most at home so the competition is on! We would really like the percentage of children reading at home to continue to increase.
End of Term
School will finish at 3pm on Friday 18th December 2009 and the children return on Tuesday 5th January 2010
Have a fabulous Christmas and a Happy New Year
Yours sincerely
Debi Cossins
Headteacher
|
