2. Summer Term 2008 Newsletters
Summer Term Newsletter 1: Monday April 21 2008
Dear Parents / Carers,The children seem to have enjoyed their post Easter break despite the less than special weather and it was good to see them all at assembly today. No doubt the sun will be out this week when we are all back at school.
This will be a normal school week as the school will be unaffected by the NUT stoppage planned for Thursday April 24th.
As usual the Summer term promise to be a very busy one with a packed agenda to get through over the next few months. You may wish to take careful note of the following events scheduled so far:
April / May:
• Wednesday April 23rd at 3.45p: Y6 SATs Meeting for Parents;
• May Day – Monday May 5th National Holiday, School Closed;
• Tuesday May 6 – Friday May 9th – Thurston Week for Y5;
• WB May 12 – 16 : KS2 SATs Week (See below);
• Saturday May 17: First Communions for St Gregory’s and Holy Rosary Parish. Holy Rosary Church at 10am;
• Thursday May 22 AM School Photographer (See below);
• Friday May 23 at 3.30pm: School Closes for Half Term and reopens at the usual time on Tuesday June 3rd (June 2 is a Staff In Service Day).
SATs Week / Timetable KS1 and KS2:
Our Y2 children will be working through a range of materials with their teachers throughout May and early June. Some children may work through to a later date depending upon what best suits the child.
For our Y6 children however, we are tied to the National Timetable and the class will work through the usual battery of tests during the week May 12 – 16 inclusive. The preparatory period is now underway and is very important with good attendance essential. The children have not been subjected to taking practice tests on a daily basis since September as is the sorry state of affairs in some schools. They have enjoyed their fantastic production of Macbeth and as far as possible a full and varied curriculum. Preparations based around revision of topics have been the norm though we will be asking the children to get used to the test format in the remaining weeks – this is only sensible given the importance attached to the process.
Thus the children will be well prepared with little to be anxious or worried about. I am sure that we will all pull together to support the children into giving their best efforts. As long as the children are fit, well and present then the week will take care of itself. The activities and booklets are usually well presented and appealing and if past experience is anything to go by then the children will enjoy the challenge. It’s quite special being a Y6 pupil during SATs week – you get all the attention!
As well as Y2 and Y6, early May is the peak assessment period for all classes so all the children may be experiencing a selection of tests prior to half term. Results from tests are used alongside our day to day assessment activities to help give as accurate a picture as possible of how the children are progressing. This information will of course be shared with the children and with Parents in the end of term report / open evening.
Parents should note that requests for holidays during this period will not be granted by the school. The Y6 period up to and including test week is particularly sacrosanct.
June / July:
• Wednesday June 4 PM: New Starters Induction Afternoon 1;
• Thursday June 5 at 3.40pm : Y6 Belgium Meeting for Parents / Carers (see below);
• Wednesday June 11 PM: New Starters Induction Afternoon 2;
• Wednesday June 18 PM: New Starters Induction afternoon 3;
• WB June 23 – Themed Week: Europe;
• Tuesday June 24: Y2 Football Tournament Academy of Light;
• WB June 30 – July 4: Y6 Trip to Belgium (early start!);
• Y5 Open Evenings this week (30th -4th): TBC;
• WB July 7th: Open Evenings for all except Y5(Individual appointments nearer the date);
• Tuesday July 15: Sports / SAPA Day (Wednesday July 16 reserve Sports / SAPA Day);
• Thursday July 17: Y6 Leavers Assembly;
• Friday July 18: Break Up for School Holidays 2pm.
At the minute we have no School Masses planned as all the Holy days are switched to Sunday observance or fall in holiday / weekends. We do hope to ask Father Michael to celebrate a school Mass in the Hall or a class Mass as appropriate. The invitations to Wednesday Assemblies will continue with classes Y1 and YR scheduled during the Summer Term (Dates TBC).
Belgium Trip:
All Y6 children attending the trip are asked to supply two passport sized photographs by the end of this week if possible, with the following information on the back of each:
• Name;
• Date of Birth;
• Place of Birth.
The meeting will be preceded by a comprehensive letter itemising key information – this will be distributed shortly.
Out of School activities will commence shortly, with an updated Summer term schedule finalised soon. Miss Watson asks me to remind you that we are collecting the Sainsbury’s Active Kids vouchers.
I look forward to seeing you as the term progresses.
Best Wishes.
Yours Sincerely,
K.J. Smithson.
Head Teacher.