NEWSLETTER 01 10 SEPTEMBER 2010
A very warm welcome back to all our Key Stage One children and parents. We look forward to a happy and successful year for all of us. Should you have any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time. We will be holding our Parents and Friends Association Annual General Meeting later in October to which you are all invited. More details later.
We would like to welcome all the new Reception children and their parents. If there are any concerns or queries, however small, please feel free to speak to the class teacher or to me.
RE NEWSLETTER FOR PARENTS – The children will be bringing home information about the topics they will be studying in Religious Education this term and a synopsis of the academic areas.
SCHOOL MEALS AND MILK - If you would like your child to have school meals these must be ordered by 9.30am on Wednesday mornings for the following week.
SCHOOL UNIFORM – Mrs Lepore deals with school uniform on Tuesday afternoons. Payment should be left with the order form and will be available for collection on Wednesdays (providing the stock is available) from the Durham Street reception area between 2.45pm and 3.00pm.
If you require meals/milk or uniform order forms these are available from the Durham Street reception area from 8.45am to 9.00am and from 2.45pm to 3.00pm.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS – CHILDREN IN YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2
There are spaces in the Dance, Bat and Ball and Drumming Clubs. There are also spaces for the Art Club should any Year 2 child wish to join. Please see Mrs Lepore if your child would like to attend any of these Clubs. Unfortunately there are no places left in the Football Club but please let Mrs Lepore know if you would like to put your child’s name on the waiting list.
ADMISSIONS SEPTEMBER 2011 - Applications are now being considered for children to join the school in September 2011. Parents of children born 1.9.06 to 31.8.07 who have not yet contacted the school and who would like their child to have a Catholic Education are asked to telephone or contact Mrs Slaght as soon as possible. The closing date for completed application forms to be received by the Local Authority is 15 January 2011.
DATES FOR INFORMATION
SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHS
Individual photographs will be taken on Friday 24 September. Siblings in school will be photographed individually and together. If you would like to bring another child for a family photograph please do so between 8.30am and 9.00am.
CHRISTMAS TRIP TO THE WYVERN THEATRE
The whole school will be walking to the Wyvern Theatre on the morning of 6 January 2011 for the pantomime ‘Peter Pan’. More details will be sent home in due course and parents will be asked for a voluntary contribution towards the cost.
Right here, Right now! a Catholic led conference in Highworth on 2nd and 3rd October with inspirational speakers (including Roy Hendy) sound teaching, children's groups, worship, prayer ministry, workshops, liturgy, praise and Mass.
Celebrate, South West is another similar event held at St Bede's Catholic College in Bristol on 23rd and 24th October. For this event we need volunteers to help run the children's 3-7 years creche/activities. More information and booking forms from Marguerite Holliday (480611) or from the school office.
HOLY ROOD CATHOLIC INFANT SCHOOL
If a child is absent from school through illness parents are asked to phone or email by 9.30am on the first day of absence. A note should be sent in with the child when he/she returns to school explaining the reason for the absence.
In accordance with the school’s Attendance Policy parents should refrain from withdrawing their children from school for holidays during term time. The Governors are anxious that parents appreciate the negative effect on a child’s education when he/she does not achieve the target attendance rate of 95%. It is the child who is disadvantaged by having to catch up with the work missed while she/he is absent from school.
Parents do not have a right to take their children out of school for holidays during term time. By law you must ask permission for your child to miss school. Swindon Local Authority advise parents not to disadvantage their child’s education by taking a holiday during term time. It is up to the head teacher to decide whether or not the absence will be authorised. If the absence is not authorised there is a risk of a £50 penalty notice, per parent, per child, per holiday.
Parents wishing to apply for their child to have leave from school must complete a form that is available from the school office and return it to school for authorisation well in advance of the proposed leave.
We hope you will be able to work with us to ensure your child achieves his/her full potential whilst at this school by attending school regularly. Thank you for your co-operation.
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Please ensure that your child/children’s belongings are clearly marked.
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48 Hour Rule – Children should not come to or return to school for a period of 48 hours after they have had a bout of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. This is to minimise the spread of infection.
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The only jewellery allowed is one pair of stud earrings, where the ears have already been pierced, i.e. one single stud earring in each ear.
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Smoking – The school building and playground are all non-smoking areas.
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Please do not speak to the children through the railings. If you wish to speak to your child please come into the office.
BRINGING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNINGS
GROUNDWELL ROAD ENTRANCE – We ask that parents wait with their children until members of staff come out to supervise them at 8.30am. Children must not be left without adult supervision before the staff are on duty at 8.30am.
DURHAM STREET ENTRANCE – Parents who wish to wait with their children must remain in the designated area at the Durham Street entrance until the doors open at 8.45am. Children must not be left without adult supervision at the Durham Street end of the playground.
The gates at the Groundwell Road entrance are locked at 9.00am. If you bring your child to school after this he/she should be brought into school through the Durham Street entrance.
Please do not park directly outside the school in Durham Street when bringing children to school or collecting them. The area must be kept clear so that parents and children have clear vision and can cross the road outside the school in safety.
We also ask that cars do not block the access to vehicle alleyways in the vicinity. Traffic wardens patrol the area regularly and tickets will be issued where cars are illegally parked ie residents’ only parking bays, single and double yellow lined areas.
