Welcome back to the new school year after such a dreary summer!!
I am delighted with the way the children are settling into Year 1 and Year 2 with smiling faces and lots of confidence. The Summer Term transition programme has ensured this successful start.

STAFF NEWS

Miss Skinner has returned to us as Mrs Waters following her wedding in Australia!

Mrs Tomlinson is expecting a baby in January! She plans to begin her maternity leave at the end of this term. Miss Hyde will teach the class during this time.

Many congratulations to both!

Great Achievements!

Last term I told you that we are very proud to have achieved Healthy School status. At the very end of the term we heard that we have also achieved the Dyslexia Friendly School Award. Many thanks to Mrs Ayres for collating all our evidence!

School Improvement Planning

Every year during one of our INSET days the staff and governors work together to plan for school improvement over the coming years. So that you are in the picture I thought you would be interested to have an overview of our main priorities for improvement for 2008-2010.

• Over this academic year we are planning to refresh our topic cycles by developing a new theme with a focus on artists and their work to be taught next year.

• We will be working with our locality of schools to ensure that Gifted and Talented pupils maximize their potential.

• To track pupil progress systematically to inform planning for personalised learning using the new West Sussex Tracking document.

• Continue to develop the teaching of phonics and spelling

• To continue to develop the role of teaching assistants to raise pupil achievement

• To achieve Rights Respecting Schools Award (taking our Behaviour Policy further)

• To  achieve Inclusion Quality Mark status (ensuring that we are an inclusive school in all respects)

• To complete a vegetable garden

If you would like to know a bit more we could talk further at a Drop-In Coffee morning.

PARENTAL INVOVLEMENT

Parent helpers:

We are always pleased to welcome parents and carers into school to help. If you could commit to a regular slot please see your child’s class teacher.

When you do come in to help please ensure that you come in via the front door, sign in and collect a badge. Thank you.

Back to School talks:

You are invited to come along to the Studio to learn more about the learning that your children will be enjoying this year and how you can best support them. Please do try to come along.
Y1 Tuesday 7th October at 2.00
Y2 Wednesday 9th October at 2.00

CONSULTATION EVENINGS:

Late consultation beginning at 5p.m. Tuesday 14th October
Early consultation beginning at 3.30p.m. Wednesday 15th October

Lists to sign up will be displayed in cloakrooms from Monday 29th September.

PLEASE HELP US TO KEEP OUR CURRICULUM ENRICHED:

We are very proud of our curriculum that we strive to enrich for the children by inviting a variety of visitors and theatre groups. This is very expensive and unfortunately our school budget doesn’t stretch far enough to pay for all of these events. Over the past few years we have asked parents to donate a contribution of £10 per year to enable us to continue to provide an exciting curriculum full of first hand experiences.
To give you an idea of the cost:
Cuddle-Me-Do Farm: £200
The Puppeteers: £440
Australian story teller and artist: £550

DROP-IN COFFEE MORNING:

Coffee mornings are arranged once a month as an opportunity for you to come along and chat informally about a variety of issues. It’s an ideal time to get to know us better and gain a better understanding of school issues. (Such as the previously mentioned School Improvement Plan!)
See calendar at the end of this letter for dates.

WANTED: GARDENING WORKING PARTY

The wet summer has encouraged enormous growth in our Learning Garden (between Red Unit and the Nursery). We would love some help with weeding and pruning. Please use the Contact Us page to let us know if you are able to help during the school day.
If you would be available to help with the development of the vegetable gardens please see Ms Crossland.

CHRISTMAS

Yes, we’re already planning!

CHRISTMAS FAIR

We will again be working with the Junior School and the Brook to hold another fantastic fair on Saturday 6th December

MAD HAIR DAY – Friday 28th November

On this day the children can come to school with craziest hair style!! In return we ask that you donate a gift for mums for the Christmas Fair Secret’s Room to the value of at least £1
More information nearer the time.

PERFORMANCES AND DVDs

We have plotted in the dates for our performances. They will be as follows:

Tuesday 16th December Dress Rehearsal for pre-schools and siblings
Wednesday 17th December  Performance 9.45, Performance 1.45
Thursday 18th December  Performance 9.45
 
Please note that there will be no crèche and pre-school siblings will not be able to watch the performances on Wednesday and Thursday. Please make your own child care arrangements.

David Palmer will be filming the performances and we will be selling copies of the DVD.
More information nearer the time.

PARTY DAY

Party Day will be held on the last day of term, Friday 19th December.
More information nearer the time.

Alison Collins

Autumn Term Calendar of Events

September

Mon 15th
Australian story teller to Y2

Wed 17th
Friends AGM 7.30

Thurs 25th
Drop-In coffee morning 9.00

Mon 29th
Lists up for consultation evening

October

Wed 1st
Individual photographs

Tues 7th
Back to School talk Y1 2.00

Thurs 9th
Back to School talk Y2 2.00

Tues 14th
Late consultation evening

Wed 15th
Early consultation evening

Thurs 23rd
Drop-In coffee morning 9.00

Fri 24th
INSET day.
School closed for children.

Half term Mon 27th – 31st