14th September 2006

• In the first whole school assembly of the year, our pupils were reminded of the importance of ‘new beginnings’ and the opportunities they offer.  Hopefully our young learners are feeling enthusiastic about the chance to make this year their best yet in terms of effort, attainment and friendships at School!  Having nearly completed a full week, I imagine that the biggest immediate challenge at home is to reinstall the routines of homework and sensible bedtimes, so if mention of this in today’s bulletin helps parents in this quest, then all the better!
   
• This letter accompanies Michaelmas Term curriculum projections for Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two.  Homework and class timetables are also attached, unless you have already received them from your child’s class teacher earlier in the week.  I hope that parents will find this a useful way of linking in home activities with children, such as days out during weekends and half term, visits to the local library, internet research and even Christmas present lists!
   
• On Monday a timetable of school clubs was sent out together with an application form, which you are kindly asked to return by tomorrow if you have not already done so, to allow time for registers to be drawn up.  Teachers will formulate waiting lists for the more popular clubs, and pupils will be informed as to when in the school year their ‘turn’ at a club will take place. Clubs will start next week when we also hope to get out a confirmation slip to you with details of the clubs that your child is attending.
   
• Please note that Rugby Club will not run on Monday 18th September, due to low uptake.  The club is run by the professional players of Rugby Evolution, and will only run a club if there are at least 16 children.  Mr Holmes gave out the forms last term, but will give more out before the end of the week. If you are interested in your child attended this club then please return the form as soon as possible.  If the club does not run this term, parents will be informed in due course. We will endeavour to promote it again at a later point of the year, in the hope that those children interested in attending have a chance to do so.
   
• Most parents should now have returned the contact forms that were sent out last week.  If you have not done so, you are kindly requested to return them tomorrow.
   
• In a bid to further their successes of last year, our netballers met after School yesterday for their first practice.  There was an excellent turnout, and once again Miss Farrant and Mrs Marshall are encouraged by the level of skills and enthusiasm shown. 
   
• It is hoped that parents will appreciate advanced notice of St Peter’s Harvest Festival, which takes place on Thursday 28th September.  Pupils will be asked to bring in donations of food that will later be distributed among the community.  We hope that children will enjoy taking some time to decorate and fill a small box or similar container with food.  Further details of dates on which the collection takes place will follow.
   
• Pupils in 6PP will present a class assembly to the School, on Thursday 21st September.  Parents of pupils in this class are warmly welcome to join us. Please arrive at School for 10.20am and wait in the School Office, from where I will walk up with you when the children are ready.  The assembly is due to start at 10.30am.
  
• On PTAFA matters, the hanging baskets and planters ordered by some of you at the end of last term will be delivered to School on 26th September.  Please remember to collect your order.  A letter will follow in due course with details of the winter bedding plants that are available for purchase.
   
• The PTAFA’s AGM will be held in Sunnylands Hall on Thursday 21st September at 7.30pm where officers will be elected.  Please note that PTAFA meetings are open to all parents and friends of the School, and their aim is to provide social events for the School community, with some fund raising for the School and for charities.
   
• Pupils are looking smart and well presented. All items of uniform should be labelled.  Handwritten names on labels are not always effective solutions, because laundering makes the detail fade.  Woven name tapes are available from the Uniform Shop, and are by far the best option.  Having stated this, if you are a parent who takes great care in labelling uniform clearly, but have still experienced the frustration of missing items, then you certainly have my sympathy.  I would ask all parents, even at this late stage, to check on a regular basis that the uniform your child returns with at the end of the day is theirs.  There have been frequent occasion where, in the eagerness to get changed and out for Games or PE, pupils have returned home wearing items of uniform that are not theirs. 
   
• On the subject of uniform, please note that the Uniform Shop will open on Tuesdays from 2.30pm until 4pm, starting from 3rd October. 
   
• With new exercise books having been given out, parents should note that Monday 20th November will be a date that teachers will be frequently plugging with pupils, because after School on this day, there is a ‘share your work’ chance for parents to see what neat and accurate work has been completed by their sons and daughters, under the care and tutelage of their teachers.
   
• The next bulletin will be issued on Thursday 28th September.