23 May 2008 - Newsletter 32

Newsletter No. 32
Friday 23rd May 2008

Dear Parents, Carers and Governors,

The New Playground
Haven’t we had an exciting week with the new equipment!! See the photographs on our Gallery Page. It’s been brilliant to finally let the children play and learn how to use it. Even more good news is that we still have room for a boat! This will arrive after half term and will be the school side of the large wood chip area.
I’ve been so proud of the children in how they’ve taken on all the rules and turn-taking and thank you for your support with that.
I think that the beginnings and ends of the day work well at the moment. We can, therefore, continue to let the children access it at those times. If we do find the numbers become too many, we will have to start a rota. In these times, they must be supervised by an adult. Please do not allow children to run ahead of you, for instance if you need to talk to the teacher or another parent – you must be able to see your child playing. Thank you.
Let me clarify the rules.
• Only children above the age of 4 can play on the monkey bars and the new fitness trail.
• The house and train are fine for any age, as will be the boat when it arrives.
• No child must go over the top of any equipment. For example, not on top of the monkey bars or over the climbing wall.
• No tumbling over the bars – when there are a lot of children playing this isn’t a safe thing to do.
• A reminder that children must not be assisted in tasks that they can’t do themselves, as it’s been designed to be self-regulating.
• We have limited each session to a class at a time. i.e. 30 in the large pit and 30 on both the house and the train. If the end/beginning of the day looks too crowded, please move along – the play equipment will be there for a long time to come and they will all get lots of turns!
As you can see, it’s mostly about common sense!
I’d like to repeat my thanks to the PTA for their hard work in raising so much money and giving this wonderful gift to the children. I’m sure you can see the joy in their faces.
It has been worth it!! The school council presented the PTA with a Thank You card in assembly today, on behalf of all the children – they have been very aware of all the work the PTA do for them and wanted to say thank you.
There should be a picture in the local papers next week, so do take a look.

School Bell
Starting after the half-term the school bell will be rung at 8.50am so that the children are aware that it is the start of the school day, and that they should be making their way to their classrooms.

Clerk to Governors Vacancy
We currently have a vacancy for a Clerk to  Governors, further information and an application form can be found on:- www.wokingham.gov.uk

School Photo – Reminder
Just a reminder that Class Photos will be taken after the half-term on Friday 6th June from 9.00am.

A date for your August diary!
This year's ChattaBox holiday club at St Mary's Church Centre is going to be lots of fun!  It will be happening from Tuesday, August 26th - Friday, August 29th, from 10am - 12noon, with a special Family Service in St Mary's Church on Sunday, August 31st.  Put the dates in your diary now; booking forms will be available in the church and on the website (rustwychurch.org.uk) from Sunday, July 6th.

Lost Property
One of our new children in Red class has lost a reversible school jacket which is named inside the hood pocket.  Please can you check over the half-term that your child/children has the correct jacket – thank you! Our lost property box in the school office is overflowing with unnamed uniform, if your child has lost anything  please come and take a look.
 
Lost car key
A Mercedes car key has been found in the chippings in our new play equipment, please collect from the office if this is yours.

Year 2 Parents/Carers
Uniform order forms (for the Junior School) are now available from our school office also.  When making your orders please specify on the sheet if you have or had any siblings/relations that are/were in one of the Houses, and would like your child to be in the same house at the Juniors.  (Stanlake - Red, Chiswick - Green,  Penn- Yellow or Loddon - Blue).  The Junior School will do their best to arrange this for you.   
 
Year 1 Cake Sale
Yesterdays cake sale raised £100.00 profit for the school – well done!

Non-uniform Day
Thank you for your contributions today.

Have a fantastic Half-Term!

Helen Ball
Headteacher