7 Jan 2008 - Newsletter 10

07 January 2008

 

 

Newsletter 10

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Parents

 

Welcome to a new year and a new term.  It was great to go into the holiday period on the back of some uplifting performances from the two phase assemblies and the Carol Concert.  I am sure it made all those who attended feel a lot more Christmassy, although I did notice a few sad robins around town on the week-end before Christmas!

 

As I have mentioned on several occasions this year, I feel that the atmosphere in school is very positive and that the children are working hard in all they do to achieve successful outcomes.  This can only happen when we work together as a team; pupils, parents, staff and governors, and I hope that we can continue to provide opportunities for you to develop your part in this important partnership as we move into 2008.  In an institution such as ours, there will always be issues, but through frank, open and honest communication none of the issues should be insurmountable.

 

Dates up to February half-term (Term 3)

 

 

January

 

 

7^th                    School re-opens

10^th & 11^th       Headteacher interviews

11^th                  Interim progress reports issued to all year groups

21^st                  Full Governing Body Meeting

22^nd – 27^th        Comenius Preparatory Visit to Sicily (Mr Clough not in school)

24^th                  PTA meeting

28^th – 30^th        4E residential visit to the Wilderness Centre

31^st                  Year 6 to Swindon (Victorian visit)

 

February

 

 

1^st                    Year 5 to Swindon (Victorian visit)

                        PTA Quiz Night

4^th                    Parents Evening:  3.30 – 6.30 p.m.

6^th                    Parents Evening:  3.30 – 6.30 p.m.

11^th – 13^th        4D residential visit to the Wilderness Centre

15^th                  End of Term 3 (return on Monday 25^th February)

 

 

 

We are very fortunate in Gloucestershire to have an excellent International Centre based at Hucclecote, which promotes and develops cross-cultural links and global awareness through a wide variety of visits and exchanges with countries around the world.  In the past few years members of staff have benefited from seeing at first hand how education systems operate in France, Italy, Poland, Hong Kong and China.  As a school we hold the intermediate International School Award and we hope to achieve full status in the next year.  I have been invited to attend a preparatory visit to develop a multilateral Comenius partnership with schools in France, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria, which will take place in Sicily at the end of this month.  I am keen to ensure that the benefits of any such partnership are shared with the pupils and parents.  The proposed project topic is “Buon Appetito …Europa!” so it may well be that we develop the cake sale theme a little wider!

 

We have already begun to plan our International Week which will run from Monday 19^th May to Friday 23^rd.  Each year group has chosen a continent and the classes within the year group will study the continent in general but a country each from that continent in greater detail.  We will give you further details of what might be involved in due course.  Please note that this week follows SATs Week, which runs from Monday 12^th May to Friday 16^th.

 

You will be receiving phase letters shortly which will outline the major curriculum topics for this term as well as any other information pertaining to the particular year groups.

 

Finally, you will be aware that there has been an outbreak of a winter vomiting virus over the holiday period.  May I stress to you that if you or your child has been affected by this, please stay away from school until 48 hours after the symptoms have passed to avoid the chaos that might be caused to staff and pupils by an epidemic in school.  Thank you.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

D A Clough