21 Apr 2008 - Newsletter 19 & Diary Dates
21 April 2008
Newsletter 19
Dear Parents
Welcome back to term 5 of 6. Summer term is always the busiest term of the year as pupils and teachers work towards achieving end of year expectations, both academic and recreational. One eye, as always at this time of year, will be set on the skies as so many events rely on fair weather. The first such occasion is this coming Saturday when the PTA will be holding a joint car boot sale with our infant colleagues from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. regardless of the weather (we will use the school halls if wet). Do try to come along and support this event if at all possible.
You may be aware that the NUT are taking strike action nationally on Thursday 24th April. NUT members at CVJS have indicated to me that they will not withdraw their labour on that date and as a result the school will remain open as usual for all pupils. It has been interesting to read some of the letters in the local press regarding the union action. Opinions are divided on the decision to strike and people’s opinions will depend on their individual circumstances and beliefs. However, the economic facts are clear for all to see and I am sure that teachers are not the only people who are feeling the pinch at the present time.
The school has recently made plans to develop the southwest corner of the main building in order to extend our accommodation and provide more flexibility for the wide range of curricular and extra-curricular activities currently on offer. This will augment our recently refurbished Educational Support Room and the newly created Pastoral Suite. The latter will provide a base for pupils and parents to meet with staff to talk about issues that might impact on school life but are not necessarily academic in nature. Many people comment to me about entering the headteacher’s office and the emotions thereby triggered, and we hope that by creating a pleasant and welcoming environment, that thoughts of sitting in the “naughty corner” will be extinguished. Materials currently available to parents on the Help Desk and noticeboard inside the reception area will shortly be re-located to the Pastoral Suite, where you are welcome to sit and browse and chat together (better than on the playground!). Who will get the ball rolling?
Thanks to Paul Hooper for transforming the “roundabout” in the front car park into an eye-catching feature. We hope to enhance this area further during the summer and also to consider how best to deal with the Station Road border. The wire mesh fence and the crazy paving slope are difficult to maintain but would be expensive to replace – both are the responsibility of the school.
As always, I welcome comments and opinions from you regarding any issues relating to school life and would be pleased to meet with you in the Pastoral Suite for an informal chat.
Dates for Summer Term 2008
April
21 Term 5 begins
26 PTA car boot sale
29- 23 May Hosting two Spanish students from Cadiz
May
5 Bank Holiday – school closed
12-16 SATs and Test Week – all year groups
19-23 International Week (see Phase Group letters for details)
Cycle training (Year 6)
22 Year 6 residential visit – final briefing for parents – 6.00 p.m.
26-30 “Half Term” holiday
June
2 Term 6 begins. Year 6 ice skating trip
3 Class photographs and leavers photo packs
4 School Athletics Sports Day – details to follow
6 PTA Fashion Show – 6.30 p.m.
9-13 Year 6 residential visit to Torquay
17 Cheltenham Schools Athletics – Field Events – Prince of Wales Stadium - 4.00 p.m.
19 Year 2 – 3 Parents Transfer Evening – 6.00 p.m.
24 Year 5/6 Inter School Rounders Tournament
25 Year 5 Parents Secondary Transfer Information Meeting (provisional)
27 Cheltenham Schools Athletics – Track Events – Prince of Wales Stadium – 5.00 p.m.
W/C 30 School Production – rehearsals and performances (to be confirmed)
July
10 Parents Evening (informal)
11 Fun Sports Day and PTA Summer Fayre on playground
16 Final Awards Assembly – 11.00 a.m.
16 or 17 Music Concert (evening)
17 Last day of academic year for pupils
18 Staff INSET day
Information regarding extra-curricular activities will follow shortly. Details of events and a list of dates will be posted on the school website at www.churchdownjunior.ik.org.
Yours sincerely,
D A Clough