School Newsletter

Spring Term 2010
Newsletter No. 6 - 4th February 2010

Dear Parents,

Haiti
On Thursday 11th February we will be wearing hats for Haiti. The children are aware of the earthquake in Haiti and we would like to raise some money to help support the many children in desperate need.

Coffee, Cake and First Aid
Extended Services are hosting an event at Emscote Infant School on Thursday 11th February between 9.00 – 10.30am, inviting parents for cake, coffee and first aid talk and demonstration.

Gap Events
The Gap community development project is organising the following activities:

Action Dads - dads can have fun with their children aged 5-8; on Saturday 13th February there is a circus skills session, Saturday 27th February music and sounds and Saturday 13th March bowling at Tenpin.

Magic Friday @ Woodloes – from 29th January for 10 weeks a free course including hip-hop dancing, samba drumming and a DJ workshop.

Kick Boxing – free sessions every Tuesday.

Radio Podcast, Samba Football, Poster Design, Kick Boxing – Mondays 4.30 – 6.30pm 8-12 years, Tuesdays 4.30 – 6.30pm 8-16 years, Wednesdays 5.00 – 7.00pm 12-16 years.

For more information on all activities talk to Ed or Marcus at The Gap on 01926 494200.

Friends Meeting
The next meeting of the Friends of Emscote Infant School takes place on Tuesday 2nd March 7.30pm at school – all welcome. We need helpers for the table top morning on Saturday 6th March and the Easter Bingo on Friday 19th March. Any new ideas for promoting and raising money for the school will be gratefully received.

World Book Day
We would like the children to dress as a traditional book character on World Book Day, Thursday 4th March. We will be holding many exciting literacy activities for the children.
 
Calling all Gardeners and Willing Helpers!
We have lots of small jobs that need doing around the school grounds and we are looking for volunteers to help between 10am – 12pm on Saturday 6th March.  If you could spare some time on this morning it would be much appreciated. There will be a list of jobs in the entrance hall for parents to sign up for.

Table Top Sale
Saturday 6th March is also the Friends Table Top Sale, where you can rent a table and sell any items – an indoor car boot! Set up time 10.30am, selling between 12 – 2pm. Hopefully it will be a busy and successful day for all.

Easter Egg Challenge
We have been working in partnership with central Warwick schools (All Saints, Newburgh, Coten End, Lapworth, Budbrooke and Ferncumbe) in an initiative to encourage community cohesion and the development of working together with our neighbouring schools. Each school is designing an eco-friendly Easter egg box. A number of students will be chosen to make Apprentice-style podcasts presenting their ideas. We have been working with All Saints Junior School to produce our podcasts together. The presentation evening for the podcasts is at All Saints on Tuesday 16th March at 6pm-7.30pm. Children who have taken part in the project will be invited to the evening with the families.

Non School Uniform Day
On Thursday 18th March the children can come to school in their own clothes in return for bringing an Easter egg as a donation for the Easter Bingo.

Easter Bingo
The Friends of Emscote Infant School Easter Bingo takes place on Friday 19th 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 Thursday 25th March in the playground (weather permitting).

Sport Relief Day
The Sport Relief initiative is run by Comic Relief to raise money to help poor and vulnerable people at home and overseas. Fund raising kicks off nationally on Friday 19th March, but as we already have rather a lot going on that week we have decided to have our fund raiser on Friday 26th March. The children can come to school dressed up as a sporting personality or in their favourite sports gear, and we will be having a small fun run around the playground in the afternoon. A small donation for Sport Relief would be greatly appreciated.

Emscote Fun Run and Street Party
A special community day is being arranged by The Gap community at The Chantry, Spinney Hill, on Saturday 15th May. The event includes a sponsored fun run, stalls and presentations by local organisations. Anyone interested in having a stall or taking part in the fun run should call Alwyn Finney or Andrew Baugh at The Gap on 01926 494200. Sponsor forms for the fun run will be available from school. Children can run or walk with their family and friends.

Midday Supervisors
If you are available to be relief midday supervisor when we have absences please see Miss Hart or Mrs Harvey in the office. A lunch time session would be from 11.50am – 1.05pm and payment would be £9.13. You would need to undergo a CRB check if you have not already had one.

CRB Checks
You are reminded you must undergo a CRB check if you help in school. Please come to the school office to obtain a disclosure application form.

Swearing
Unfortunately a few parents have had to speak to me about people swearing in the school grounds. Please remember that all adults in and around the school are role models to all of the children in the playground. Our children are very young and may repeat something that they have heard in all innocence. Please only use language in the playground that is suitable for young children.

School Uniform
If anyone could help to sell the school uniform on Wednesday afternoons between 2.45 - 3.15pm please see Rachel Reed (Devon, Oak) or pop in to the office.

Library
We are working on raising standards in reading at school. We would like the children to be able to use the library on a more frequent basis. We are looking for parents who could work in the library between 8.45 – 9.15am each day. Our aim is for the children to be able to change their books on a frequent basis and to bring these books home to share. If you are able to help in the library please see Mr Queralt.

Smoking
I have noticed a real improvement in the reduction of smoking around the school site. Thank you, this is obviously better for the children entering and leaving the site. Please keep it up; don’t forget if you need help giving up smoking you can call the NHS free smoking helpline 0800 0224332.

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. 

National Grid - Cash from companies
We’ve just discovered that parents working for National Grid can apply to have up to £400 of their fundraising for charities and schools matched each year by filling in a simple form.  And another scheme, the Employee Community Grant, is open to those employees involved in volunteering activities outside of work; they can apply for up to £1,000 every two years for their partner charity or school.  If you work for National Grid, please let us know and we’ll explain how you can get involved in fundraising for Emscote.

Grants for Laptops and Broadband Access
Families that are eligible for free school meals are entitled to apply for Laptops and Internet/Broadband connections. The Prime Minister has made this pledge to try and give ALL children home computer access. You need to ring 0333 200 1004 for an application and we are more than happy to provide any help needed in this process. If you are eligible for free school meals and have not registered please pop in to the office for a form.

Sharing Assemblies
Sycamore - Friday 5th February 9.15am
Cherry – Friday 5th March 9.15am
Chestnut – Friday 12th March 9.15am
Willow – Friday 19th March 9.15am

Yours sincerely,

Debi Cossins
Headteacher