School Newsletter - 5th February

Dear Parents,

This will be the final letter before half term which starts the week beginning 18th February, 2008.

I am pleased to announce that the Christmas collections for the building of a school in Nampula raised £400 giving a total collected to date of £3100. We hope to provide an update of the project shortly.

Congratulations

Our Netball Team reached the finals of the Plymouth and District Netball tournament which is a great tribute to them and to Mrs Daymond and Mrs Farmer who coach the Netball club.
The school has also achieved its 3rd Basic Skills Quality Mark being externally moderated in a very extensive investigation of standards and developments in both Mathematics and English.

Yellow Pages

These are mounting high in number and storage! They can still be brought to school up to the 29th February. Only old copies can be recycled; this years books cannot be used.

Gift Aid Forms

Thank you to all those parents who are currently in the scheme or have recently joined. This is a very easy way to support the school and also helpful to your tax code when in the 40% range. Please send in any new requests at any time or request a Gift Aid form from the school.

Disabilities & Equalities Scheme

The school is fully supportive of this scheme and we would advise that if any parent or member of the local community requiring access to the school or its facilities, contact Mrs Daymond, Mrs Carter or myself.

Health & Safety Issues

Just a brief reminder to contact the school as early as possible if your child is absent through illness, and to request an absence form for dental or medical appointments (unless it is for an emergency or same day appointment). Please leave a message on the 'answerphone' if the line is busy or unmanned. It is school policy only to have studs or sleepers for earrings at all times and not just for PE and Games lessons.

Apple Juice

We have a stock of apple juice made from different variety of apples pressed and bottled by the Westlake Apple Juice Company. 250ml bottles are 50p each and the £1.50. The small bottles can be bought and consumed during school time but the larger bottles need to be picked up from school. They will be on sale each break-time from tomorrow onwards.

Good as New School Uniform

We have willing volunteers who will set up stall on Monday and Tuesday at 8.50am and 3.05pm next week in the entrance foyer/studio.

Yours sincerely

Bill Houldsworth

School Newsletter - 22nd January

Dear Parents,

Christmas soon passes, but I would like to thank you for your generosity when collecting for the school in Nampula. A grand total of £367 was raised.

Collections

A good stock pile of Yellow pages is forming, so please continue to send them into school. We have placed our order for Tesco Sports equipment, but we can still collect spare vouchers up to the end of February. Please send any you find into school.

Good as New School Clothing.

We have a very good stock of GAN school uniform, but we do need one or two parents who are willing to organise this for us. We usually try to have a few days when the clothes are set up for sale at the start or end of each half term. If you are interested in helping with this please contact me.

National Bird Watch.

This weekend will see the continuation of the National Garden Bird watch survey. If any of your children would like to take part Mrs Knight will provide the necessary information and data collection forms.

Packed Lunches

At present children in the Junior classes can eat their packed lunches either in the hall or outside and if the weather is too inclement they eat in the resource areas outside the classrooms. This is not a desirable place but meets the need when necessary. However, the weather has been so wet recently that it is difficult to find anywhere dry to eat outside. We are therefore changing the lunch arrangements over the winter months so that a whole class at a time eat their meal in the hall together and no child will be allowed to have their packed lunch outside. Classes will come in for their dinner on a rota that will alter on a weekly basis so that the same class isn't always last in. On days when it is too wet even to go outside, children will have to eat packed lunches in their class resource bases as is currently the case. This is no change for the Infants and the Juniors will have had the new arrangements explained to them today. Parents of year 3 have highlighted the problem, which the new procedures will hopefully resolve.

PTA

From the last meeting a new committee has been formed which has made a start on organising events for the coming year. There are still vacancies for others to join. If you were unable to attend the other day or are interested in joining, please consider attending the next meeting to be held on Tuesday 12th February at 7.45pm in the staffroom.

Wassailing Friday 1st February

This is an advanced notice of our annual 'wassail' to be held at the school orchard straight after school on Friday 1st February. Children and parents will congregate at the school ready to walk to the orchard. On return there will be hot drinks and apple pie in the hall.

Sailing Years 5& 6

As previously announced there will be an introductory talk to parents and pupils, by Mike Duffield from Plymouth and Devon Schools Sailing Association, about this year's sailing arrangements for years 5 & 6 in the hall at 3.15pm. It will last approximately 45 minutes.

Mrs Beck

This Friday will be Mrs Beck's last day in school and the start of her confinement. I am sure we all wish her the very best and look forward to the sound of two happy babies somewhere around March time!!?. If you would like to contribute towards a present for her which we will give her on Friday, please send any contributions into school by this Thursday.

Gift Aid

This is a very easy way of financially supporting the school by claiming back tax on any voluntary contribution you make towards any school activity. This doesn't affect any of your tax coding and can be beneficial to your coding if you are on the higher tax threshold. Please consider signing a 'gift aid form'. If you have already done so thank you very much and your original form will remain with us until your child leaves school. All money raised goes towards school equipment.

Walking Bus

There will be no Walking Bus due to bad weather. Start 30th January, weather permitting!! With a prompt 8.35am leaving time. the correct footwear must be worn.

I look forward to meeting many of you over the next few evenings' Parents Meetings.

Yours sincerely,

Bill Houldsworth

School Newsletter - 8th January

Dear Parents,

A warm welcome back to school in this new year and I trust you have enjoyed a good Christmas and New Year. Also welcome to those parents new to the school with children starting yesterday in the Reception class.

Refreshments in the Studio

The governors will be organising tea and coffee in the studio each Monday morning, up to February half term, for parents and pre-school children. Please feel free to come along and chat with one another and with one or two governors.

Parents' Evenings 23rd & 24th January, 2008

Yesterday you will have received details about the planned appointments for your children. Exceptional arrangements have been made this year for Year 1 only, due to Mrs Beck's imminent confinement. For new parents of children in Reception Class there is a 'Meet the Teacher' evening starting at 6.00pm on Thursday 24th January. There will be crèche facilities in the studio only for those attending Parents Evening. If you haven't received the appointments letter, please contact the office for another copy.

Parent Teachers Association

The work and role of the PTA is an integral part of the school and we have always been very fortunate in having great support from our parents and particularly from those who are willing to form a committee. There is a meeting of the new committee this Thursday, 10th January at 7.45pm in the school staffroom. If you are interested in joining the group please come to this meeting or speak to any of the existing committee. (see PTA Newsletter)

Yellow Pages

We will be participating in the recycling scheme for the collection of Yellow Pages. Please bring your old ones and that of neighbours down to school where we will store them ready for final collection some time in March.

Lateness

It is always good to establish routines for arriving on time at the start of the school day and the start of a new term. I would encourage, for all the clear reasons, to ensure children arrive no later than 8.55am. Please also send children to school with a coat and sweat shirt as we do try to go out for break and lunchtimes whenever it is practical.

Sailing Year 5 & 6

Each year we hold a weeks sailing on the Hoe for years 5 & 6. Mike Duffield, one of the senior instructors is coming to school, along with one of the boats used, to talk to parents and children about the activities and organisation of the week on 1st February, 2008 at 3.15pm.

Extra Curricular Activities.

These will commence next week, but please be aware that the week of Parents Evenings there will be no activities on the Wednesday or Thursday. Also, to ensure we can use the hall if the weather is bad, Football will now take place on Monday at 3.15pm.

I look forward to seeing many of you at Parents' Evening.

Yours sincerely,

Bill Houldsworth

School Travel Plan ~ Survey results ~ Spring 2006

In 2006, we issued a Parental Survey on travelling to school and what would encourage more people to walk or use the bus. Seventy seven forms were returned with the following results:-

Do your children use the bus regularly?
Yes 29 No 47

Would your child use a 4-15pm bus after clubs?
Yes 30 No 42

Does your child normally walk to school?
Yes 14 No 64

Would you let your child walk to school on a Walking Bus with trained adult supervisors?
Yes 39 No 37

Would you be interested in a Park and Walk ie from The Garden House?
Yes 42 No 33

Would you be interested in joining a school car share register?
Yes 27 No 48

The main points raised where possible action can be taken to increase bus use and walking are listed below and have been incorporated into the School Travel Plan. This has been submitted to Devon County Council:-

What improvements would encourage you to walk to school?
· Safe route to school suitable for pushchairs / more hard paths
· Walking Bus
· Park and walk
· Reduced speed limits
· Create a path from the Church car park in Buckland Village through to Modyford Walk.
· More people to walk on the path through the Garden House /public paths so it feels safer
· Less to carry to and from school
· Reduced speed limits in the village/ roads
· School signs

What would encourage more use of the bus?
· Buses free / cheaper
· No members of public on the bus
· Police checked drivers on the buses
· Supervision on the bus ensuring children sit down
· Bigger buses
· More direct routes as long bus routes are off putting for some children
· A safe bus stop by the Stonemoor Wimpy estate
· Bus to Dousland
· Seatbelts must be used / provided
· More information on Bus routes and times

What are the main reasons for using the car?
· Cheaper to use the car/ Faster to use the car
· Roads are not safe for walking
· After school clubs mean you have to use the car as there is no bus
· For many people it is too far to walk
· Use the car to maintain social contact with parents and teachers
· No seatbelts on buses
· Strangers on the bus
· Tight schedule and more convenient
· Young siblings who cannot walk / pushchairs
· Work / other commitments

Many of the barriers to walking along the public path through The Garden House have already been removed or improved. We have started a Walking Bus on a Wednesday morning through the Garden House which has proved very popular. If you want to join the Walking Bus please obtain a permission slip from the Office. In addition all drivers on the public transport buses which serve the school are police checked.

In due course we will advise you what further actions Devon County Council will be taking in response to our School Travel Plan.