Newsletter 8.9.06
Introduction
Snacks, lunch and drinks
Named property
Art and Design Technology
Swimming money
Leave of Absence
FBS AGM
Recycling ? a reminder
Clubs
Tesco Vouchers
Introduction
Dear ParentsMay I take the opportunity to welcome all parents and children to the new school year at Butleigh. I have been very grateful for the added office support from Mrs Williams and Mrs MacKenzie during the summer term. Mrs Gingell expects to return on Monday. The children have settled down really well into their first week. Your child is of great importance and we believe that to be able to learn they need to be happy, confident, understand themselves, understand their feelings and know how to get on with each other and make friends. To help all our children with this we will be working in school on special activities that develop these skills. Each half-term we will be looking at a particular theme. The theme will start with an assembly and be followed up in class. The theme for this half-term will be New Beginnings. During the term the children will be exploring how to create a learning environment that helps the children learn together in a happy, busy and safe way. They will also learn about the feelings they have when they are happy, sad, scared and excited, and how to manage these feelings in the classroom.
You will see that work is well under way for the Foundation ?Outdoor Classroom?. This has involved
re-designing Class 1 and we are looking forward to the completion of the exterior aspects of the classroom. The office has also received a huge facelift and the entry from the school will be via a new door by the hall. Until work is finished it would be best to enter via the outer door or through the hall if it is not in use. This month we are having more secure locks fitted to the main building to improve our security. One of the consequences of this, is that entry to the building will only be via the outer door by the office.
Thank you for your responses to the parent questionnaire last term. I was delighted, but not surprised, that the school continues to be seen in such a positive light. There were one or two concerns regarding communications, some of which we were already aware of and in process of addressing. I am determined to iron the remaining ones out this year. Our response to these concerns is part of an ongoing desire to engage parents more actively. For example:-
1. Seeing your child?s teacher. There have been no changes here, but may I reiterate our desire to work in partnership with you. May I urge you to come and talk to us when issue do arise as they can invariably be nipped in the bud. However, may I request that you do not to come into the classrooms first thing in the morning unless it is urgent as teachers, preparing for the day?s lessons, would prefer to give you their full attention and more time.
2. Seeing the Headteacher. Many issues regarding your children are best dealt with by the class teacher in the first instance, but where you have anything you wish to discuss with me, I shall be happy to do so, and would encourage this.
3. A new and clearer prospectus which contains more focused, precise information for parents and will go out to all in the autumn,
4. Our new website, www.butleighprimary.ik.org, the content of which will build greatly this term.
5. A new and colourful marketing brochure which is now separate from the prospectus,
6. The Maths evening this autumn,
7. Improved pupil target setting system that will be better and earlier communicated to you,
8. A new policy on homework which you will receive shortly, and the use of homework diaries in Classes 3 and 4 You may use the space at the end of each week (marked ?Saturday?) for messages or for sick notes. Back to top
Snacks, lunch and drinks
The Schools Fruit and Vegetable scheme is continuing in the Infants who will have their snack provided free. It has been interesting to note how much children enjoy these. I would like to take the opportunity at the beginning of the school year to remind you that it is our policy that snacks for the Juniors should only be fruit, vegetables or a plain biscuit in a named container. Please do not send your child in with sweets, chocolate or crisps for their snack.Continuing with this theme, we encourage children to bring water bottles into class, but please could you provide bottles with a ?sports? lid to minimise spillage. Similarly, at playtime, only water or milk (which can be purchased through school) should be drunk.
If fruit and vegetables need cutting up for break or lunchtime, please could this be done at home rather than asking staff to do this. Back to top