5 Jun 2009 - Newsletter 33

 

Newsletter No. 33
Friday 5th June 2009

 

Dear Parents, Carers and Governors,

 

Year Two Buddy Dates
This exciting programme is about to start! Dates have been arranged, buddies are being allocated and the Year 3 teachers are looking forward to meeting their new pupils.
Let me explain our plans. We want our pupils to have a smooth and easy transition to their new school. So our year two pupils get to know the older pupils at in a positive, friendly way - each Yr2 child is matched with a Yr5 “Buddy”. This makes the oldest children our friends – someone to go to if we need a friendly face. The Yr5 children come down to the infant school, make friends and generally have a fun time getting to know each other. Then we visit the Junior School and our buddies give us a tour.

I know the Yr 5 children are very excited at the prospect of being a buddy – they remember being buddies themselves when they were in Yr2 and really look forward to being the older responsible ones now.

We also have a transition at staff level. The two teachers who will be in Yr3 next year visited today to meet the pupils and we have arranged a staff meeting so the academic records can be handed over through discussion.

This system has been in place now for a number of years and alongside our many joint events with the Junior School, we find that our pupils have a very successful transfer to their next, “big” school!

The dates are…
* Today – Yr3 teachers visit the Infants and meet the Yr2 children
* Thurs 18th June - Yr5 buddies visit the Infant School
* Wednesday 24th June - Yr2 visit their Yr5 buddies at the Junior School
* Tuesday 14th July – Yr2 to meet their new teachers

A letter is also coming home today to year two parents from Mrs Montie explaining about houses and a parents meeting she’d like to invite you to. This is available to download below.

 

Year Two Parent Questionnaire
Attached to today’s newsletter (available to download below) will be a parent questionnaire for our Year Two leavers. We do find your opinions, ideas and suggestions very useful, so I hope you are able to complete it and return it so we can inform our future practice.

 

Junior School Uniform Sale
The Junior School will be holding a uniform sale for all new parents on Tuesday 30th June between 2.00 – 4.00pm.

 

Polehampton Day – Friday 12th June
Next Friday we have our exciting annual joint event with the Junior School. This is a wonderful day when the two schools can celebrate the life of our founder, Edward Polehampton. We share song, dance and drama with our year one and five children taking the lead each year.

We would like everyone to dress up in colourful clothes – no contributions needed. Year One children will all need to wear their red PE T-shirt for their dance.
Can all children wear sensible shoes as we will be walking to the junior school.

Everyone is invited! We would appreciate volunteers to walk us there and back, but do come along at anytime to join in with the celebrations. We hope to picnic at the Junior School so everyone will need a packed lunch on that day – if it’s wet, we will picnic back here. If you are entitled to a free school meal, do let us know if you’d like the school to provide a packed lunch on that day.

Do think about what your child might need in terms of weather on the day. For example, hats, plenty to drink and additional sun cream if it’s sunny; a waterproof and sensible shoes if it’s not!

 

We have a dry and a wet timetable, as we’ve had to deal with both in previous years!
See the timetable from Mrs Montie (attached below) for approximate agenda and timings.

 

Change to the menu for next Thursday
Due to Polehampton Day next Friday, Thursday 11th June will now be Friday’s menu as this is more popular than cottage pie.

 

Morning Club survey
Every now and then, I am asked about a morning club at school. In order to ascertain whether we would have enough interest to make it viable, I’d appreciate it if you’d complete the survey which is attached below – thank you.

 

Tending our new Garden Area – any green fingers out there?
As you know, we've been developing a beautiful new part of our outside area. We now have lovely bedding plants, a path with different stones and textures and a revitalized planting patch. Whilst it will be a great learning opportunity for the children to plant and grow their own crops and flowers, we would appreciate some support with the regular tending of this area, watering in the holidays and weeding.  If you have any spare time and would like to help us out, please call the school office and ask to speak to Mrs Clark.

 

Plant pots needed!
Small plant pots are needed for a new gardening project, please can you send into Mrs Clark – thank you.
 
Twyford Advertiser Playground Leaders
There’s a lovely article about our playground leaders in the Advertiser this week – do take a look and see what we’re up to.

 

Red/white checked school shirts
Unfortunately we have had problems with our suppliers for boys red/white checked shirts.  We have now managed to find a company who is able to supply these in smaller sizes however this could take up to 8 weeks!  We will let you know if they arrive sooner.

 

Multi Skills Course
Wokingham are offering our children a multi skills course to develop their basic skills such as jumping, throwing, skipping, balancing bean bags etc.  The idea is for the children to have fun through games.
This will be held in school and starts next Thursday 11th June 3.30 – 4.30pm and will run until Thursday 16th July. This is a free course and places are limited to 20 children, therefore this will be on a first come basis. If you would like your child to join in please complete the form at the bottom of the newsletter and return to the office asap as this expected to be very popular.

 

Sainsbury’s Active school vouchers
This scheme has now finished, if you  have any vouchers at home please can you bring them into school so that we can send off.

 

PTA news
Just a reminder about our PTA meeting which will be held on Monday 8th June in school hall at 8.00pm, everyone is welcome to attend.

 

Email Correspondence
To support our Eco-Team in making Polehampton C of E Infant School an Eco-Friendly School, we are planning to use electronic mail for as much correspondence as possible between home and school (to save a few trees, and cut down on cartridge costs).  At the moment we only have 45% electronic communication compared to 95% for other local schools. If you are not receiving your newsletter by email already could you please submit the most appropriate email address for us to use for newsletters, class information and trip letters etc.  Please e-mail directly to school:-  admin@polehampton-inf.wokingham.sch.uk  so that we can start as soon as possible.
 
Local Weather Forecast

Heavy rain all weekend!

 

Best wishes
Helen Ball
Headteacher

 

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