The Carpenter’s Tale

Summer 1, 2012

Summer is here even though as I write the weather certainly does not seem appropriate for this time of year. The newsletter is only available in paper form at at the moment as the new website is currently being set up. I will inform parents when it is ready. One parent said they looked at it but did not realise it ever changed. Hopefully the new site will be an improved version but it will still have to hold the same things as previously.

Dates for your diary

20 April      Torch relay of prayer and coffee afternoon

22 April      Meeting for sacramental programme group 9.30am in Church

26 April      Curriculum committee meeting 5pm

27 April      Reception class letters should go out to parents

4 May         Red, white and blue day  picnic

6 May         Confirmation for Y3 sacramental programme group

7 May         Mayday closure

14/15/16/17 May  SATs tests Y6 and optional tests for all KS2

Throughout May ongoing assessments in Y2

20 May       First Communion for Y3 sacramental programme group

22 May       Dance day

23 May       Finance committee 4.30pm in school

24 May       Gymnastics day

25 May       Class 4 trip to Styal

28/29/30/31          Bikeability Y5/6- letters sent out

29 May       Meeting for new Reception class 2012 parents at 9.10am

30 May       Circusology day

31 May       Talk on Nepal for KS2

1 June         WHIT Friday- this is a school day until 1.30pm- see below

Assembly rota

27 April      Year 1

4 May         Year 2

18 May       Class 3

23 May       Class 4

31 May       Class 5

Topics this term

FS               Toys and forces

Y1              Materials/ St. Joseph’s school

Y2              The circus

Class 3        Ancient Greece

Class 4        The Victorians

Class 5 are not studying a set  topic this half  term as they are busy with other things.

SATs

Throughout May assessments are being made on all children in the school. It is very disruptive to the child and the whole organisation when parents choose to keep children away from school. The week beginning May 14 is a week of formal tests for the whole of KS2 and it is important all children are present. Assessments for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are more spread out but again require the child to be in school. Please do not take holidays at this time.

Torch relay

A separate letter has been sent about the Torch Relay of Prayer on Friday April 20^th. Parents are invited to the assembly and coffee afternoon afterwards. I would like to particularly thank Mrs Farmer (who is the school RE co-coordinator) and the chosen ambassadors for their hard work and effort around this special event. All staff have introduced Moldova to the children and once the London Olympics begin I am sure they will be listening for any mention of this country. Thanks Mrs Farmer.

Trips

Class 3, 4 and 5 all have local trips planned or have already taken part in them. The annual residential for Y5 and Y6 takes place at the end of June. Currently FS and KS1 staff are looking at the feasibility of a trip for them. The biggest issue for any trip is cost. Coaches are very expensive and when added to the price of admission this cost makes many trips impossible. If you know of any good venues for a trip please let us know. If a trip is organised individual letters will be sent about it.

Home school group thanks and events

The home school association is open to all parents. I would just like to thank them for their work to date. Easter egg bingo before the holidays was incredibly popular. We even ran out of bingo tickets at one point! Thank you so much to all those who helped make it a success by attending on the night, helping with the organisation, baking cakes for the café and donating prizes for the winners. Well done and thank you to every one.

Red white blue picnic

The final details of the picnic on May 4^th have not yet been fully made. The children are welcome to wear red, white and blue on that day and the picnic will be in the afternoon, Friday May 4^th. If the weather is good it will be outside on the grass but failing that in the school hall. Activities will vary dependent on the weather but hopefully we will have some games and send up lots of balloons as part of a balloon race. Parents will be invited to the event as it also is part of our celebration of the Queen’s jubilee. More details nearer the date.

Help/useful resources wanted

Topics in school take many forms but there are some items which are always useful to us. Used cards of any sort are very welcome in FS. Any scraps of fabric can be used across the school for art and DT projects. Old buttons, balls of wool and empty cardboard tubes and boxes are regularly needed. If you have any of these please send them in. This half term Mrs. Farmer would love to know of any person who came to St. Joseph’s and would like to share their memories of the school in the past with the children.

Free meals and free trips if registered

As mentioned last time please apply for FREE school meals if you are eligible. Part of the school budget is based on the number of children receiving free school meals. We have very little take up at St. Joseph’s and consequently get a lot less money than some other schools locally. If you are eligible please apply. In future children going on a school trip will no longer be required to pay for it and just write Free meals on their reply slip.

Reception places and Nursery place

Letters about places in Reception class and Nursery for September 2012 will be going out at the end of next week, April 27^th. Demand for places these days is very high. The school has to follow admission criteria very strictly. It is essential that any child is baptised before an application is made for a place in both Reception and Nursery. If not baptised they do not meet the current admission criteria. Tameside authority have told us that there are more children than places in the next few years in some areas so please make sure you have registered your child with us and have had them baptised before applying. Parents must also note that a place in Nursery DOES NOT guarantee a place in Reception class. The criteria have to be followed absolutely.

Whit Friday. June 1^st

Whit Friday is a school day. Children should come to school at the usual time in school uniform. The whole school will take part in the Mossley Whit walks. We really welcome the support and help of parents on this day. Children return to school for lunch but then finish at 1.30pm to enable them to take part in the sports events locally.

Holiday List 2012-2013

Please keep this list for reference purposes throughout the year.

Inset days 3 Sept, 5 Nov,25 Feb

Public holidays Easter 31 March, Mayday 6 May, Whit Friday 24 May