11 Sep 2006 - Abbeymead Newsletter 1
Dear Parents and carers
Welcome to the new school year, and this our first newsletter. Please keep it safe for your information. Each publication is numbered so that you can check whether you are missing one from the sequence. Spare copies can always be collected from the green tray on the front reception desk.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
Please see the last page of this newsletter for the full 2006/2007 term dates that are specific to Abbeymead School and include all inservice days.
W/b 11th Sept. Cycling proficiency training for Y6
11th/12th Sept. Guitar lessons begin
15th Sept. Violin lessons begin
20th Sept. Flute/clarinet lessons begin
21st Sept. I.C.T. training for parents (see below for details)
28th Sept. Y1 visit to Over Farm
3rd Oct. 1.30 ? 2.30pm Reception 2007 parents? meeting
4th Oct. 1.30 ? 2.30pm Reception 2007 parents? meeting
4th Oct. Gloucester Lord Mayor to visit Y4
5th Oct. Y6 visit to Swindon Steam
11th Oct. 1.30 to 4pm Current Reception parents? meetings
17th Oct. 5-8pm parents evening
18th Oct. 3-6pm parents evening (except Reception)
23rd to 27th Oct. Half term
30th/31st Oct Inservice days ? school closed
9th Nov. School photographer in
30th Nov. School choir to NIA, Birmingham
11th Dec. Christmas Carol Service in Gloucester Cathedral
19th Dec. Whole school visit to Everyman Theatre
20th Dec to 2nd Jan Christmas holidays
IMPORTANT FOR Y6 PARENTS ? SATS week w/b 14th May ?
please do not take your child on holiday during this week.
OFFICE NEWS
Just a little reminder on behalf of the office staff. When sending in money to school, please send cheques (to Abbeymead School Fund unless otherwise stated) rather than cash. Could we also ask for the child?s name and class to be identified on the back of cheques to help identify those parents/carers who have a different surname to their children. All envelopes must be given to your child so that they can hand them to the class teacher. No envelopes should be handed into the office either by a parent or a child. Thank you for your help in this matter.
STAFF NEWS
We welcome four new members of staff to our team:-
· Miss Ford who is working in Year 5, Indigo 1.
· Miss Allen who is working in Year 5, Indigo 2, will be taking responsibility for Mrs Riordan?s
class during his two days non contact time each week when he covers his Deputy Head
responsibilities.
· Mrs Chamberlain who is covering Mrs Clift?s maternity leave in Reception, Red 1.
· Mrs Pike who joins our cleaning team.
Mrs Anne Hook leaves us at the end of this week after 14 years as a member of our staff. Anne started as a lunchtime supervisor and then took on the role of clerical assistant in the office. We will miss her and wish her well for the future.
With Mrs Hook?s departure we now have a vacancy in the school office:-
Administrative Assistant ? to work 20 hrs per week during term time only.
We are looking to appoint an Admin. Assistant to work in our busy but very friendly school office. No day will be the same, it never is when children are involved, and the work is an interesting mix of practical and clerical tasks in liaison with others. If you are outgoing, organised and child-centred, we are very keen to hear from you.
Please contact Chrissy Rushworth in the office for further information, including an application form, job description and person specification.
Tel. 371710 or e-mail: secretary@abbeymead.gloucs.sch.uk
COMMUNICATION / INFORMATION
Topic Webs from class teachers will be sent out shortly, as will the list of extra-curricular clubs which are being offered by staff this term.
The topic webs provide an outline of the work intended to be covered before Christmas. As you receive these at the start of each new term, please read them carefully, as the staff work hard to ensure that parents receive sufficient information on work to be done in school.
PARENTS EVENINGS - Tues. 17th October 5 ? 8pm and Wed. 18th October 3 ? 6pm
?Signing up? sheets for parents to book appointment times with teachers will be available in classrooms from the week beginning 9th October. Please remember that if you have any lengthy or complex issues to discuss with your child?s teacher, you may wish to contact school to arrange a separate meeting on another day. The purpose of the parents? evening meeting is to enable a brief progress update with the teachers where areas for improvement can also be discussed.
PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN
A brief reminder regarding children due to start school in September 2007. If you have a pre-school child whose birthday is between 1.9.2002 and 31.8.2003 and you haven?t yet registered him or her with us, please do so immediately. Siblings are a priority - but only if we know about them!
NEW CAR SEAT REGULATIONS ? from 18/09/06
With this letter you will receive a double sided sheet that outlines the new regulations regarding the wearing of seat belts and child restraints.
CAR PARKING
Like so many schools, Abbeymead suffers from traffic congestion in the mornings. Please note that the school car park is for staff only. No parents may park on the school grounds. Please do not drop your children off in the school gateway. We would also ask that parents be aware of our neighbours when parking. We sometimes have people who are unable to get to their driveways or even their road because cars have been left in unsuitable places Please make use of the shop car park (not those spaces used by the Turmut Hoer customers) or walk to school if you are able to.
FABS (Friends of Abbeymead School) -100 Club Winners
Congratulations to the August winners.
1st Andy Roselli
2nd Di Garland
3rd Richard Grieve
ABSENCES
On the first day of your child?s absence from school, please inform us by telephone, e-mail, note, or a message passed on by another adult. This remains an important child safety issue.
DOGS - Reminder
Can I respectfully remind parents that dogs are not allowed on the school grounds at all and we ask that dogs are not tied up near any entrance onto the school grounds.
HEAD LICE
Headlice are regular visitors to any family. We would ask that all parents regularly check for these unwelcome visitors. Should you require more information please contact the school nurse team at Rikenel Health Centre or pick up the Gloucestershire Health Authority?s policy from the school office.
UNIFORM
It is great to see the children looking so smart at the start of term, and we appreciate your support in this matter. The National Schoolwear Centre on Northgate Street in Gloucester is the sole suppliers of our uniform.
A respectful reminder that jewellery is for wearing outside school ? only small stud earrings are allowed in school.
TOKENS
Tesco sports vouchers are currently being collected. Please send in your vouchers via the children who can then post them in the appropriate box by the main entrance. Thank you.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
With this letter you will receive a leaflet about Operation Christmas Child. We know it seems really early but you will appreciate that as these boxes will be travelling long distances and therefore will need to be ready for collection at a date designated by the organisation. Please could boxes come into school immediately after half term and before 4pm Wed. 2nd November. Thank you for your support.
MILK
It is not too late to order milk for your child to have during morning breaktime. Forms can be collected from the front desk for the milk to be ordered directly with the Cool Milk For Schools company. When ordering, please ensure that you identify your child?s current class teacher so that the milk is directed to the correct class. Thank you.
SCHOOL PROFILE
Just to remind you that with new guidance from the Department for Education and Skills (DFES), Abbeymead has published the School Profile 2004/5. This is an on-line document that is available for parents to read at schoolprofile.parentscentre.gov.uk/916/2172/english/2004. Hard copies of the document are available at the front desk on request. This document covers the academic year 2004/5 because that is the latest confirmed data that the DFES has on our school?s performance. The profile for 2005/6 will be published during this academic year.
ICT OPPORTUNITY
Get with I.T. is a free initiative to help women in Gloucestershire gain confidence and skills to return to work. It aims to teach computer skills which are transferable from the home to the office along with C.V. preparation, interview skills and career guidance.
To enrol on this course you need to be:-
· A woman who is currently unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week.
· Competent in Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Internet explorer.
· Confidence in navigating both your computer and the internet.
The course will include trouble shooting, stripping and rebuilding computers in the workshop (not to be tried at home!) and learning to upload new software onto the PC. Along with learning to manage the operating system, file and folder management, the desktop and Control Panel and customizing Windows XP.
GLOSCAT will be running an 8 week course (excluding holidays) here at Abbeymead School from 21st September. Sessions will be 2 hrs a week after school from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Funding is available for childcare.
Please contact Nicky Allen on 01452 563278 to book your place or for more information.
J Pass
Headteacher
Welcome to the new school year, and this our first newsletter. Please keep it safe for your information. Each publication is numbered so that you can check whether you are missing one from the sequence. Spare copies can always be collected from the green tray on the front reception desk.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
Please see the last page of this newsletter for the full 2006/2007 term dates that are specific to Abbeymead School and include all inservice days.
W/b 11th Sept. Cycling proficiency training for Y6
11th/12th Sept. Guitar lessons begin
15th Sept. Violin lessons begin
20th Sept. Flute/clarinet lessons begin
21st Sept. I.C.T. training for parents (see below for details)
28th Sept. Y1 visit to Over Farm
3rd Oct. 1.30 ? 2.30pm Reception 2007 parents? meeting
4th Oct. 1.30 ? 2.30pm Reception 2007 parents? meeting
4th Oct. Gloucester Lord Mayor to visit Y4
5th Oct. Y6 visit to Swindon Steam
11th Oct. 1.30 to 4pm Current Reception parents? meetings
17th Oct. 5-8pm parents evening
18th Oct. 3-6pm parents evening (except Reception)
23rd to 27th Oct. Half term
30th/31st Oct Inservice days ? school closed
9th Nov. School photographer in
30th Nov. School choir to NIA, Birmingham
11th Dec. Christmas Carol Service in Gloucester Cathedral
19th Dec. Whole school visit to Everyman Theatre
20th Dec to 2nd Jan Christmas holidays
IMPORTANT FOR Y6 PARENTS ? SATS week w/b 14th May ?
please do not take your child on holiday during this week.
OFFICE NEWS
Just a little reminder on behalf of the office staff. When sending in money to school, please send cheques (to Abbeymead School Fund unless otherwise stated) rather than cash. Could we also ask for the child?s name and class to be identified on the back of cheques to help identify those parents/carers who have a different surname to their children. All envelopes must be given to your child so that they can hand them to the class teacher. No envelopes should be handed into the office either by a parent or a child. Thank you for your help in this matter.
STAFF NEWS
We welcome four new members of staff to our team:-
· Miss Ford who is working in Year 5, Indigo 1.
· Miss Allen who is working in Year 5, Indigo 2, will be taking responsibility for Mrs Riordan?s
class during his two days non contact time each week when he covers his Deputy Head
responsibilities.
· Mrs Chamberlain who is covering Mrs Clift?s maternity leave in Reception, Red 1.
· Mrs Pike who joins our cleaning team.
Mrs Anne Hook leaves us at the end of this week after 14 years as a member of our staff. Anne started as a lunchtime supervisor and then took on the role of clerical assistant in the office. We will miss her and wish her well for the future.
With Mrs Hook?s departure we now have a vacancy in the school office:-
Administrative Assistant ? to work 20 hrs per week during term time only.
We are looking to appoint an Admin. Assistant to work in our busy but very friendly school office. No day will be the same, it never is when children are involved, and the work is an interesting mix of practical and clerical tasks in liaison with others. If you are outgoing, organised and child-centred, we are very keen to hear from you.
Please contact Chrissy Rushworth in the office for further information, including an application form, job description and person specification.
Tel. 371710 or e-mail: secretary@abbeymead.gloucs.sch.uk
COMMUNICATION / INFORMATION
Topic Webs from class teachers will be sent out shortly, as will the list of extra-curricular clubs which are being offered by staff this term.
The topic webs provide an outline of the work intended to be covered before Christmas. As you receive these at the start of each new term, please read them carefully, as the staff work hard to ensure that parents receive sufficient information on work to be done in school.
PARENTS EVENINGS - Tues. 17th October 5 ? 8pm and Wed. 18th October 3 ? 6pm
?Signing up? sheets for parents to book appointment times with teachers will be available in classrooms from the week beginning 9th October. Please remember that if you have any lengthy or complex issues to discuss with your child?s teacher, you may wish to contact school to arrange a separate meeting on another day. The purpose of the parents? evening meeting is to enable a brief progress update with the teachers where areas for improvement can also be discussed.
PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN
A brief reminder regarding children due to start school in September 2007. If you have a pre-school child whose birthday is between 1.9.2002 and 31.8.2003 and you haven?t yet registered him or her with us, please do so immediately. Siblings are a priority - but only if we know about them!
NEW CAR SEAT REGULATIONS ? from 18/09/06
With this letter you will receive a double sided sheet that outlines the new regulations regarding the wearing of seat belts and child restraints.
CAR PARKING
Like so many schools, Abbeymead suffers from traffic congestion in the mornings. Please note that the school car park is for staff only. No parents may park on the school grounds. Please do not drop your children off in the school gateway. We would also ask that parents be aware of our neighbours when parking. We sometimes have people who are unable to get to their driveways or even their road because cars have been left in unsuitable places Please make use of the shop car park (not those spaces used by the Turmut Hoer customers) or walk to school if you are able to.
FABS (Friends of Abbeymead School) -100 Club Winners
Congratulations to the August winners.
1st Andy Roselli
2nd Di Garland
3rd Richard Grieve
ABSENCES
On the first day of your child?s absence from school, please inform us by telephone, e-mail, note, or a message passed on by another adult. This remains an important child safety issue.
DOGS - Reminder
Can I respectfully remind parents that dogs are not allowed on the school grounds at all and we ask that dogs are not tied up near any entrance onto the school grounds.
HEAD LICE
Headlice are regular visitors to any family. We would ask that all parents regularly check for these unwelcome visitors. Should you require more information please contact the school nurse team at Rikenel Health Centre or pick up the Gloucestershire Health Authority?s policy from the school office.
UNIFORM
It is great to see the children looking so smart at the start of term, and we appreciate your support in this matter. The National Schoolwear Centre on Northgate Street in Gloucester is the sole suppliers of our uniform.
A respectful reminder that jewellery is for wearing outside school ? only small stud earrings are allowed in school.
TOKENS
Tesco sports vouchers are currently being collected. Please send in your vouchers via the children who can then post them in the appropriate box by the main entrance. Thank you.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
With this letter you will receive a leaflet about Operation Christmas Child. We know it seems really early but you will appreciate that as these boxes will be travelling long distances and therefore will need to be ready for collection at a date designated by the organisation. Please could boxes come into school immediately after half term and before 4pm Wed. 2nd November. Thank you for your support.
MILK
It is not too late to order milk for your child to have during morning breaktime. Forms can be collected from the front desk for the milk to be ordered directly with the Cool Milk For Schools company. When ordering, please ensure that you identify your child?s current class teacher so that the milk is directed to the correct class. Thank you.
SCHOOL PROFILE
Just to remind you that with new guidance from the Department for Education and Skills (DFES), Abbeymead has published the School Profile 2004/5. This is an on-line document that is available for parents to read at schoolprofile.parentscentre.gov.uk/916/2172/english/2004. Hard copies of the document are available at the front desk on request. This document covers the academic year 2004/5 because that is the latest confirmed data that the DFES has on our school?s performance. The profile for 2005/6 will be published during this academic year.
ICT OPPORTUNITY
Get with I.T. is a free initiative to help women in Gloucestershire gain confidence and skills to return to work. It aims to teach computer skills which are transferable from the home to the office along with C.V. preparation, interview skills and career guidance.
To enrol on this course you need to be:-
· A woman who is currently unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week.
· Competent in Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Internet explorer.
· Confidence in navigating both your computer and the internet.
The course will include trouble shooting, stripping and rebuilding computers in the workshop (not to be tried at home!) and learning to upload new software onto the PC. Along with learning to manage the operating system, file and folder management, the desktop and Control Panel and customizing Windows XP.
GLOSCAT will be running an 8 week course (excluding holidays) here at Abbeymead School from 21st September. Sessions will be 2 hrs a week after school from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Funding is available for childcare.
Please contact Nicky Allen on 01452 563278 to book your place or for more information.
J Pass
Headteacher