21^st February 2007  

Dear Parent/Guardian/Carer, 

Newsletter 5

 Congratulations to our two chess teams who played so well at the National zone qualifier in Grimsby at half term.  The Under 11 team won four of their five matches to finish =1^st overall and go on to the National semi-finals at Pontins in June – well done to Thomas Matcham (Captain), Tim Weaving, Jack Simons, Sierra Humbert, Eddie Bowles and Dominic Bailey.  Our U9 team were very unlucky and just missed out on qualification by 0.5 of a point despite winning 3 of their matches. 

Open Afternoon – this annual chance to see the school in the classrooms take place tomorrow between 2 and 3pm.  Please come along if you can spare the time, all tours leave from the Hall.

 

Parents’ Evening – the bad weather put paid to our planned parent/teacher discussions for the Spring Term, this will now take place on Thursday 15^th March (3.30-4.30pm and 5.30-7pm).

 

Our children will once again be performing a musical drama production, this year it is the Dracula Rock Show.  The two evening performances will be on Wednesday 21^st and Thursday 22^nd March both at 7pm.  Tickets will be on sale, nearer the date, from the office.

 

School lunches – please make sure that all meals are paid for in advance.

 

 Yours sincerely, 

 

S. T. Wales

 

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5^th January 2007

 

Dear Parent/Guardian/Carer,

 Newsletter 4

 

A happy New Year to all our readers.  We hope you enjoyed the four Christmas Key Stage plays and the evening Carol Service.  All played to packed audiences and the children performed to a very high standard.  It was also wonderful to hear the choir sing on Classic Gold Radio just before Christmas.  A donation of £300.00 will be sent off to the East Anglian Ambulance fund next week.

 

It was great to see so many children staying for school Christmas lunch.  Thank you to all the staff for making this possible and to our FWR for the extras that went with the parties and celebrations.

 

Thank you to Mrs Ford for organising another successful Book Fair, it allowed school to receive additional resources through its success.

 

Last term’s Poppy Appeal raised £56.54 from our school.

 

We still need someone to advise us on problems with a classroom carpet.  If you can help, please contact the office.

 

Parent’s Evening this term will be on THURSDAY 8^th FEBRUARY with teachers available from 3.30 to 4.30pm and 5.30 to 7.00pm.  If you bring your child(ren) with you please do not allow them to wander around school unaccompanied.  Most teachers see between 90 and 95% of parents on such an occasion, it can make it difficult if separated adults expect to see the teacher twice for the same child.  If at all possible please either meet with the teacher together or one adult arrange for an appointment on an alternative day.

 

Headlice are a constant problem for schools, our new school nurse (Anthea Blackwood) is coming into school on Thursday 25^th January at 2.45pm to give advice to families on this tricky subject.

 

After-school clubs start next week EXCEPT Keyboards / Y3/4 Art / Y2 Computers/ Netball.  Please note they end on Friday 16^th March.  The following clubs are cancelled due to teacher meetings: Y3/4 Art 23^rd January; Drama 31^st January; Y6 Art 1^st February; All clubs 8^th February; Netball 28^th February; Chess 1^st & 2^nd March; Computer 8^th March.  Only return the form if starting a new club.

 

 This term’s Non Uniform Day will be on Friday 26^th January in aid of RNLI.  Part of their awareness day is also to wear trainers.  Please don’t forget your donation of up to £1.

 

 On all other days of the term we expect children to follow the standards set out by health and safety and our own school rules.  A few reminders:

a)      only one pair of stud earrings

b)      no nail varnish or make up

c)      no transfers to be worn

d)      hair to be one natural colour, no outlandish, aggressive haircuts or shaven heads – expect your child to be excluded from school if breaking this regulation. 

 

Please note that milk for this term will be £3.51 to half term or £7.41 to the end of term.  If your child no longer wants milk please let the office know as soon as possible. 

 

Clerk to the Governors – required as soon as possible.  The main duties are organising agendas and minutes, ensuring procedures are correct and records up to date.  Training is available.  A handover will be organised as required.  Minimum of four evening meetings a term plus termly update briefing.  Remuneration by negotiation.  For further details and a job description please contact either Tracey Lymer (Clerk to the Governors) or Sandra Thompson (Chair of Governors) via the office.

 

Yours sincerely,

  

 

S. T. Wales

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5^th December 2006  

Dear Parent/Guardian/Carer,

 Newsletter 3 

Christmas celebration dates are fast approaching, the first being the evening Carol Service at St Peter’s C. E., Wentworth on Wednesday (tomorrow) at 6.30pm.

 The following week will see all Key Stage plays.  Please help us out once again by only going to one of the performances, if you have the luxury of choice it will help balance the numbers if you go to the morning one.  Key Stage 1 (Infants) is on Tuesday 12^th at 9.30am and Wednesday 13^th at 2.15pm.  Key Stage 2 is at 2pm on Tuesday 12^th and 9.30am on Wednesday 13^th.  There will be seating for around 100 and room to stand at the back.  If there is anyone coming along in a wheelchair please let us know beforehand. 

Help – do we have a carpet fitter among our parents please?  Contact the school office if you can help. 

Our premises are now officially no smoking – inside and out.  Signs will be put up later but we would appreciate everyone’s co-operation in only smoking outside the school gates. 

There have been an increasing number of problems with Village College students in recent months at the end of the day.  Mr Shield has been informed that from now on only students who are collecting siblings/relatives etc are allowed into the school grounds.  If you are concerned by the behaviour or bad language of any secondary pupil please let me know. 

At this time of year there is a lot of illness and infection around, please do not send your child back to school until they are clear of anything that could easily spread.

 Miss Betts will not be in school for the last two days of term as she is getting married on the Thursday.  I know it will take a bit of getting used to but from the start of next term she will be Mrs Berrett.  Our very best wishes to her for December 21^st – at least she hasn’t got to change her car number plate.

 If you haven’t yet ordered your KS1 or KS2 Christmas dinners pleases let the office

know as soon as possible.  Kindly ensure that all school meals are paid for in advance.

For the safety of children and adults at the end of school please do not allow children to ride or scooter inside the school grounds.

 We would appreciate it if people who live in Witchford (or are driving by) keep a look out for unwanted visitors at weekends and during the holiday period.  We still experience damage to our grounds from irresponsible people who have not hired our facilities or gained permission to use them.

 Dozens of items of lost property are unclaimed at school.  If they have a name or initials we do our best to return them to their owner.  PLEASE try to name all items of school clothing and check every term in case it has faded away.  Let us know the details of an item that has been lost and we will try to find it.  It will help everyone if ALL belongings can be taken home at the end of term to allow cleaning to take place.

 

Yours sincerely,

  

S. T. Wales

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10^th October 2006

Dear Parent/Guardian/Carer, 

Newsletter 2

 Another long(ish) letter but with a lot of information that affects ALL families in one way or another.

 Please find attached the new school Attendance Policy.  National and County regulations have recently come into force that will change the recording of absences in your child’s register from half term onwards.  If you would like the full Local Authority information policy there are copies available from the news rack just outside the office or let us know and we will pass one on to you by pupil post.

Important points to note:

a)      family holidays in term will no longer be classified as Authorised Absence unless exceptional circumstances

b)      long weekends away including part of a Friday or Monday are unlikely to be classed as authorised

c)      pupils must be in school by 9.10am otherwise it will be unauthorised (unless exceptional)

d)      absences related to another member of the family will usually be Unauthorised

 Examples of Authorised Absence

i)                    sickness

ii)                   unavoidable medical/dental appointments

iii)                 exceptional family circumstances such as bereavement

 Examples of Unauthorised Absences

i)                    shopping

ii)                   over –sleeping/too tired

iii)                 birthdays

iv)                 arriving without notice to collect a child (unless exceptional)

 

Only the school can authorise absence, unauthorised absence = truancy and will be monitored by the school Education Welfare Officer (EWO) for possible further action by the Local Authority.

Overall our school attendance is good and above national and county averages. 

 Please help us to maintain and improve this statistic.

 New Travel Regulations

The new safety rules for cars are to be welcomed if they save just one life or restrict injury to a minimum.  However, parents need to be aware of the ‘knock on’ effect it will have on schools in general and The Rackham in particular.  All schools have been sent a letter by the Local Authority stating that school cannot organise parents to transport children other than their own.  In the past we have had visits to Ely Cathedral and other places of interest, this will no longer be possible unless we arrange a coach and all its other cost implications.

Children can be given a lift by another parent if it is arranged by their parents, children can be transported by a member of the teaching staff if covered on their insurance policy.  School will have checked a teacher’s policy and parents will be notified in advance of any such event.

 Staffing

Mrs Hindmarsh will be returning to The Rackham next week following her maternity leave.  However, she has decided that it will be on a limited basis of two days a week.  Her time will mainly be taken up with Mrs Carter’s class.  After I was notified of her decision it created a full time teaching vacancy and after the advertising and interviewing process had been completed Mrs Stuttle was appointed as a permanent member of staff.  She will also be in charge of Science throughout the school and the Gifted and Talented children at The Rackham.

 Recycling

This is an area we have worked hard on for a number of years.  With the help of everyone in school and in particular our Caretaker and Assistant Caretaker (Peter Wheelan and Rena Stacey) we have been able to recycle tonnes of paper and make money for the school at the same time.  Now, at last, with the help of Ian Allen, we have been able to agree a cardboard collection facility with East Cambs. D. C.   In the past this has been refused as we were classified as ‘commercial waste’.  Following Ian’s lobbying and common sense that decision has been changed.  We hope that it will not be too much in the way for pedestrians if put out on a Thursday once a fortnight.

 Token collections

At the moment we are saving the Tesco vouchers for sport equipment and the Cambridge Evening News tokens for a similar project.  The latter one started last Wednesday (4^th) with a valuable 100 points voucher.  The cereal box tops are still on the go along with the used stamp charity collection organised by Mrs Tutt.  Used printer cartridges are also most welcome.

 School meals

It was interesting to read recently about the falling numbers of children having a cooked school meal and the large amount of money that the County Council is in deficit.  This is not the case at our school.  Presently, we are averaging 120 meals a day with a lot of children still part-time in school.  Our kitchen was recently inspected by the Authority and came out with an excellent report.  We are very grateful to Alison Steggles, Sara Mann and Diane Pease for all their hard work and ideas for ways to improve our menus.

Beef is now said to be one of the safest foods on the market.  One option we are considering is roast beef as an alternative to chicken on occasions.  If you think this is a bad idea please let us know.  The kitchen can provide an alternative main meal option if your child is a vegetarian or has Free School Meals but does like one particular meal that week on the set menu.  It will greatly benefit our school in several ways if all families that are entitled to Free School Meals complete the form to claim them – I promise that your child will not be force fed if they don’t actually want to eat them.  Please remember that we have free (yes free) envelopes for you to use with any money that is sent into school – just ask the office and we will send them home.

 Wildlife Garden

Our new observation hide is fully complete and in operation for animal/wildlife watching.  We are extremely grateful to Mark Crowe for his hard work with this new project.

 Finally, returning to the first subject area, please make every effort to have your child in school by 9am to ensure that lessons can start on time.  Staff in Key Stage 1 and Foundation classes are very grateful for the regular daily contact/communication with parents/guardians/carers.  BUT please try to leave the classroom by 9am so that the class can have a prompt start to the day.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

S. T. Wales

 

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7^th September 2006

 

Dear Parent/Guardian/Carer, 

Newsletter 1

Welcome back to the start of another school year and a special welcome to the new families that have joined us this week from Reception and most other year groups throughout the school.

During last year your views were sought on many aspects of school life.  Please find the results of those not yet reported back to you.  We did not go ahead with our usual parent and child surveys with different year groups as we had recently undergone the very successful Ofsted report.  In addition, as we are a Church School, we also had an extra inspection day last June.  Unfortunately, the report has still not reached us.

Near the end of last term our children continued their sporting successes.  The girl’s U11 Kwik Cricket team qualified for the County Finals, finished 2^nd in their group and 5^th overall in Cambridgeshire after the play offs.  Six of our children travelled to Manchester University to compete in the UK Individual Chess Finals after several previous qualifying tournaments.  U7s – Lucy Wilkinson and Matthew Juden, U9 – Tim Weaving, U10s – Zoe MacDonald, Jack Simons and Tom Matcham.  Special well done to Tom for scoring four wins from his six games, at this high level it was a tremendous achievement.

Our Non-Uniform Day for Shades Day Guide Dogs raised £219.92.

Swimming during the holidays/weekends last term appears to have been very successful.  Unfortunately, the water was polluted by one of the swimmers towards the end of August and would have had to be shut down even if it hadn’t been the end of the season.  Many thanks to Diane Pease for putting together the rota and co-ordinating the hiring of the pool and to Pete Wheelan and Rena Stacey for their many hours of water care and cleaning.

School dinners charges have had to be raised although they are still cheaper than all the other schools run by the Local Authority.  More money is now being spent on ingredients to provide even better quality meals e.g. mashed potato will be from real potatoes.  Dinners are now £1.70 a day or £8.50 for a normal 5 day week.