19 Sep 2008 - Newsletter highlights - 19th September 2008

Staff

As you may have realised from an advertisement in the local papers, we are recruiting for a part time secretary in our offfice.  This is because Mrs Bateman, who currently works on Tuesdays and Fridays, is retiring in October.  Mrs Bateman has worked at the school for over 15 years in the office and as a midday supervisor.  We shall certainly miss her.

Governors

Just a reminder that our Parent Governors are available to be contacted with questions or issues that you wish to bring to their attention. Parent Governors are unable to become personally involved in individual concerns, although they are able to advise on appropriate courses of action.

Our Parent Governors are Beth Gill, Andrew Liddle, Greg Abrahams, Heather campbell and Lee Blackshaw Dobbins.  If you would like to speak to a Parent Governor, please leave your details in the School Office so that one of them is able to contact you.

Harvest Festivals

The dates for our Harvest Festivals are Wednesday 1st October (infants) and Tuesday 7th October (juniors).  Children should be dropped off at the church first thing, please, rather than coming to school first, so they have to walk only one way.  We should be grateful for offers of help with the walk back.  Please let your child's class teacher know if you are able to do this.  Thank you.

The children are invited to bring gifts of food for the services.  These should please be tinned or packet items rather than fresh produce.

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Walk to School Month

October is Walk to School Month, the week beginning 6th October is Walk to School Week, and Wednesday 8th October is International Walk to School Day.

We have been chosen by the County Council to take part in a whole range of exciting activities to support Walk to School Day.  These are still being planned, but we are hoping that as many children will be able to undertake their journey to school by walking on that day.  We are trying to arrange some parking areas away from school in order to make 'Park and Stride' possible.  Watch out for more details in next week's newsletter.

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Planning Overviews

At the beginning of each term, we usually send out details of the term's learning to be undertaken by each year group.  We are planning to make these available online on our school website rather than sending paper copies to everyone.  Please look out for them - they will be there shortly.  If you do not have internet access and would like a printed copy, please contact the office next week.

Holidays in Term Time

Please remember that both the Government and Local Authority strongly discourage the taking of holidays during term time.  If you are wishing to apply for leave of absence for your child, please consult the Attendance Policy which is issued to all parents (and available on the Prospectus & Documents page of this website), before completing a form, available from the office.

The following is taken from the Gloucestershire county Council website:

Time off school for family holidays is not a right.  Schools have discretion to allow up to 10 days absence in a school year for a family holiday if they believe that the circumstances warrant it:

Schools may agree up to 10 days "holiday leave" in exceptional circumstances such as:

- for service personnel and other employees who are prevented from taking holidays outside term-time if the holiday will have minimal disruption to the pupil's education; and

when a family needs to spend time together to support each other during or after a crisis.

The LA recommend that Holidays which are taken for the following reasons should not be authorised:

- availability of cheap holidays;

- availability of the desired accommodation;

- poor weather experienced in school holiday periods; and overlap with beginning or end of term.

DATES

Please see our updated Calendar page. Also included in the Calendar is the date of our Information Evening for Reception parents, when staff will give some details of how the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum develops in the children's first year in primary school. (This meeting is not suitable for children).

Lions Inter School Quiz

The Preliminary Heat of the Inter Schools Quiz was held here on Tuesday after school.  In a close fought contest involving Moat, Hempsted and Brockworth, we were delighted with 2nd place - which puts us through to the next round.  Well done to all team members and those who supported as reserves.