The Carpenter's Tale
Autumn 2012 - Number 2
The dark early evenings of Winter have now started so can I please make an appeal to all parents to walk down the slope to meet the children. Staff can only see silhouettes from the door and we do not want children to leave the building without knowing that an adult has arrived for them. If the weather is icy or snowy please walk children down individually to the bottom playground and wait for the doors to be opened. It is safer to come down in a small group than en masse. If it is snowy, please make sure children have a change of footwear for the day, as snowy wellington boots are impractical in classes.
Dates for your diary
9 Nov Vision test for Reception class
15 Nov Non uniform day
17 Nov Parish Christmas fair
18 Nov Sacramental programme group for Y3 pupils at church
25 Nov Sacramental group at church
29 Nov Finance committee meeting at 5pm in school
29 Nov RE committee meeting at 5pm in school
5 Dec Christmas fun bingo at 6.00pm prompt
16 Dec Sacramental programme group in church
17 Dec Dress rehearsal for FS and KS1 concerts
18 Dec FS and KS1 Concerts at 9.30am
18 Dec KS1 Christmas party
18 Dec KS2 Carol Service, 7.00pm in Church
19 Dec FS Christmas party (morning)
19 Dec Christmas Dinner day
19 Dec KS2 Christmas party (afternoon)
19 Dec Reconciliation Service in church 7.00pm for everyone and sacramental programme group
20 Dec Pantomime at George Lawton Hall 1.00pm
21 Dec Mass in church at 10.00am
21 Dec School closes at usual time (3.10/3.15pm)
7 Jan School reopens
Topics this half term
FS Celebrations
Y1 Light and Dark
Y2 Vikings, Pushes and pulls
CL 3 Magic of materials
Cl 4 Tudors, Keeping warm
Cl 5 Forces and Second World War
Pantomime
A separate letter will be sent home next week about a whole school (sorry not Nursery!) visit to the George Lawton Hall to watch Jack and the Beanstalk. Last year the show was excellent and hopefully should be as much fun again this time. It is essential that parents give permission to enable their child to take part in this trip. Please complete the return slip in the letter for each child and remember those on free school meals are eligible for a free visit. Please consider whether you should apply for free school meals (even if your child does not take them) as it does help with costs of some school events.
Absence
Mrs Townson is currently absent from school and we wish her a speedy return. Miss Soliman will be taking the class full time until further notice and we wish her an enjoyable Christmas term in school.
Dark nights
It is increasingly dark at the end of the school day. We are asked to advise parents to ensure children have some bright colour or fluorescent strip on their outer wear at this time of year so that they can be more easily seen. Could I ask all parents/carers to be extra vigilant when driving and parking near to school? Please be prepared to go more slowly and park more safely even if further away so that everybody’s child is safe not just your own.
There had been complaints from other parents and local residents at the end of last half term about parking on the yellow zigzags on the school side of the roads and on parents stopping in the middle of the road to let their child out (and into a road!) Please think carefully about safety this winter. Also as mentioned above please pick your child up at the bottom of the slope so that we can see you.
If any child is attending an after school club they must now be picked up in person as it is too dark for any child to be going home alone after 4pm.
Non uniform day
Father Michael is holding his Christmas Fair on Saturday November 17th at 11.00 am in the George Lawton Hall. As a school we support the parish by running the bottle tombola. Children are welcome to come in their own clothes on Thursday November 15th in return for a bottle for the bottle tombola. It is obvious that we ask for full, unopened and attractive bottles for this stall (and possibly containing some alcohol!). Thanks in anticipation of your generosity to St. Joseph’s Church and parish. If you can come along on the day please do so. All the usual attractions will be available.
Christmas events
Most of the Christmas events are in the last week of term this year so please make a note of them in your diaries. Many children will be asked to learn words and songs for this occasion and we would be grateful if you could help with this. Nearer to the date ideas for suitable costumes for FS and KS1 will be sent home to ensure that all goes perfectly on the day. The dress rehearsal is a school event only but if any parent is unable to make the actual concert morning they are welcome to attend the dress rehearsal. Please speak to a member of staff about this.
Wanted
Do you have any pieces of material or wool taking up valuable space in a drawer or cupboard? If so the staff would be pleased to take them from you to use in creative projects over the next few weeks. We also welcome used Birthday and Christmas cards and quite often can use interesting shaped boxes. If in doubt please ask your child’s class teacher if your unwanted goods could be used in school. Thank you.
Bad weather warnings
In light of the two previous bad winters I would like to reiterate our ways of informing parents of any change to school opening hours. We use a variety of methods which include answer phone message (please take the time to listen to it), message on school website, listing on Tameside website and hopefully in the near future a text alert system. Please also check for letters in your child’s bag for any written information. We close school as seldom as we can and indeed have only done so on three occasions to date but if it does happen these are the various ways or communicating the change to parents.
Levy
Several families still owe the levy payment for this year. I would very grateful if any arrears could be paid off as soon as possible to clear this debt from the school. Thank you.
Medicine
We have a number of new families in school who may not be aware of some of our policies. The medicine policy is of particular importance. We do not as a matter of course dispense medicine to children. Children who are ill need to be at home. However where a child is finishing a course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor to be taken FOUR times a day the school will give the lunchtime dose. However the medicine must be named for the child, given in to staff (including a spoon) with written instructions from the parent about administering it. Any child on long term medication should have a medical plan so that all staff are aware of the child’s needs. This will be discussed fully by parents and school. Bought over the counter medicines cannot be given by school but a parent may come at lunchtime if they wish to do this.
After school dance club
Miss Soliman runs a dance club after school on Friday afternoon for children from Y2 to Y6. Cost is £3.00 per session. If you wish to attend please let her know.
Film club
Film club will be held on Nov 13th, 20th and 27th. It will then close until after February half term.
Returning information
A number of families have not returned data collection sheets. It is essential that we have correct contact details and up to date medical histories. If you have not yet returned your form, please do so as soon as possible, so that the task can be completed. Thanks to all those who have returned their forms.
Reception class places
The online application system is now open for all applications for Reception class September 2013. It is very important to apply before the deadline of January 15th. I would advise all parents seeking places to complete their form before Christmas. Tameside LA expect there to be very high demand for places in the next few years, so please remind all family and friends with young children to ensure they have applied in time. Late applicants are very unlikely to get the school of their choice.
Words to use to help your child learn.
The following phrases are often used with children and some parents might find them useful at home.
Say “YET”. If your child says “I can’t do it “say “You can’t do it yet”. This gives them hope that they will achieve it later.
Say “You are getting better at....” as often as you can. We all need praise.
Say to your child "Take a break, do some exercise then start learning again”. The brain needs this to keep performing well.
Practice of skills in reading, times tables and spelling are best done little and often at primary school and 10 good minutes is much easier to manage than a lengthy struggle with a reluctant child. Good luck!
What does the new Reception class like doing at school?
“Playing out” “Friends” “The water tray” “Packed lunches” “Painting”
“Everything” I hope it stays like that!
