P
MAGDALEN GATES PRIMARY SCHOOL
Weekly Newsletter: 20/03/2017
Attendance
Well done to
Year 3 who received the £10 in assembly this week.
Their attendance for
last week was……..
99%
School attendance % last week was: 96.1%
P4C:
How would you describe an elephant to someone who has never seen one before?
Red nose Day – ‘Dress Up as a Nose’ THIS FRIDAY- 50p donation 
Our School Parliament would love it if all children could come into school on Friday 24th March, dressed as one of
the 2017 Red Nose Day nose characters! The characters you can choose from are shown below:
EYFS and Year 1 Class Assembly
Please take the time to complete our annual Parent Survey and return by Friday 8th July –
your feedback counts very much.
(A returns box is in the school office)
Good Luck – Miss Wingate
Dr Wingate will be leaving us at the end of this term. I am sure you will join with me to wish her all the best
on her new career venture.
Parents and Newsletters - IMPORTANT
Recently we have had many parents saying they are not receiving their weekly newsletters – it is
disappointing to hear that parents are not able to read the newsletters as a lot of time, effort and resources
are put into this as we try so hard to keep our parents fully up to date with events and news going on at
school. We can assure parents that EVERY CHILD in the school is given a newsletter on a Monday by their
class teacher. The only time a child would not be given one is if you have asked for it to be sent electronically.
IF YOUR CHILD is not coming home with a NEWSLETTER ON A MONDAY PLEASE ASK THEM TO RETRIEVE IT
OUT OF THEIR BOOKBAG/TRAY AT SCHOOL. If your child is absent on a Monday (for whatever reason) a copy
is always popped into your child’s tray at school. The school’s website is also updated every Monday with a
copy of the newsletter. If you find your child is still not bringing them home why not sign up to have your
weekly newsletter sent electronically?  Please pop into the office and give your email address to the
ladies in the office. Thank you
Attendance Trips
Children are already talking about this term’s attendance trips which take place on Tuesday 28th March.
This week, if your child has had 95% attendance or above (5th January-17th March) they will be bringing
home a letter informing them of their trip destination.
95-96% - Wroxham Barns
97-98% - Trip with Broads Tours
99-100% - Adventure Island at Lowestoft
This letter will also contain important information on whether your child will need a packed lunch or specific
clothing requirements so please read. Parents will be asked to sign this consent letter to agree for their child
to attend their allocated trip. Again, I have to mention that there will absolutely be no “swapping”. If parents
do not wish for their child to attend the allocated trip then parents can indicate this on the form and their
child will stay at school.
Please remember the reason we run these trips termly is to allow all children the maximum opportunity to
attend – therefore if your child has suffered a bout of illness this term, we hope they are likely to attend
the next round of trips.
IMPORTANT - A Message to all parents from Liz Earnshaw - Magdalen Gates Parent Support Advisor
I’m sure by now you are all used to me standing at the gate on Monday and Wednesday mornings with Ms
Fahy. What you may not be aware of, is the full range of services I can offer you as parents apart from
saying “good morning”!
From one to one meetings to offer support and advice, I am also trained to deliver the Incredible Years
Parenting Programme to groups of parents. This is a very comprehensive weekly parenting course which
works best with a group of ten or more parents. It is a course for parents who would like to learn more
about ways that children operate including understanding more about where the behaviour comes from
and ways to support their children with positive and effective approaches.
What I love about the group approach is that it allows us to share parenting experiences and learn more
about useful strategies in a supportive and friendly environment. In the past, parents attending the course
have consistently found that the techniques carry on working into the teen years and beyond, even in the
most challenging situations.
I would love to deliver the 14 week course at Magdalen Gates Primary should there be sufficient demand.
Although it seems a big commitment, none of my previous groups have wanted it to end, insisting on
regular reunions!
Past feedback demonstrates that the parents have loved the relaxed and informal approach to learning
and have greatly valued the simplicity of the techniques and the course handouts which build into a
‘parenting toolkit’.
If you would like to know more, you can call or text me on 07584131367 or alternatively, speak to me at
the gate.
School Lunches - Edwards and Blake & New 3 weekly Menu format
As from 1st April we are delighted to award our new contract catering to Edwards &
Blake. Working together, this will enable us to explore refreshing new opportunities
and alternatives in order to ensure an improved service to enhance the lunch time
experience for all our pupils at Magdalen Gates. When children eat better, they do
better. Nutritious, balanced meals are not only important for children’s healthy
development; they also boost their energy and concentration during the school day.
School lunches will still continue to cost £2.20 and must be ordered and paid for in advance using the new
order menu.
* The new Edwards & Blake menu is a 3 week rolling programme which will be changed every term.
* All families will receive a laminated copy for reference and a copy of which will be displayed in the main
school hall.
* The 3 week parent order form will continue to go out with the newsletter but only once every 3 weeks.
* The first order form will be going home on 27th March to be returned to school by 31st March at the
latest. Thank you
Reminder about free school meal entitlement - Apart from Universal Free School Meals for all EYFS, Yr1
and Yr2’s, your child may be entitled to free school meals if you receive one of the following benefits:
Income Support; Employment Support Allowance (Income Related); Income Based Job Seekers Allowance;
Guranteed Pension Credit; Child Tax Credit and your income is less the £16,190. If you are eligible your
child could have a free healthy meal every day. We are keen to encourage families who are eligible for
Free School Meals to apply. Even if you do not wish your child to have a free school meal, you should still
apply, as the school receives an extra funding per pupil each year. Details of how this ‘pupil premium’
money is spent is available on the schools website. If you think your child may be entitled to a free school
meal, please complete an application form. These are available from the school or from
www.norfolk.gov.uk/schoolmeals
FOMG SPRING DISCO
Tickets are now on sale from the office! Don’t forget we do need a responsible
adult to be on site with their children during the evening.
There will be a licensed bar for the adults and refreshments for the children.
Hotdogs will also be on sale and a sweet “tuck bar” for the children. Disco lights
& music start at 6:30pm and the disco ball stops spinning at 8pm.
The School discos are much loved by the children and we really hope the Spring
Disco will be as well attended as the last!
Keeping Children Safe
I thought parents might find it interesting to know every child in the school has been asked to name 5 adults in school
they feel they could or would like too if they need help with anything – this could be at school or home. Every class
teacher has a copy too. We are always trying to find ways to support and care for our pupils.
Minibus Driver Post
We have a vacancy for a minibus driver at school. If you are interested please see Jill in the office who could let you
know about hours, training and pay. We are hoping to appoint a new driver ASAP so swimming is not affected after
Easter.
Swimming after Easter
Year 1 will start swimming on Monday afternoon’s after Easter and Year 4 on a Friday morning.
Year 6 France
17 children had a wonderful week in France last week! A massive thanks to Mr Lawes, Miss Long and Mr Williams for
taking them – we are lucky to have such dedicated staff.
Easter Coffee Morning
A reminder about the Easter Coffee Morning. Parents/family members are invited to come along to our Easter Coffee
morning on Thursday 24th March at 9am. Yummy cakes on sale and we will be holding an Easter raffle – we would
love donations of Easter Eggs! Remember all money raised is used to support our wonderful children.
Thank you
A special thank you to all the parents who have taken the time to fill in the Parent/Guardian skill survey. If
you have mislaid the form and wish to fill one in, please pop into the office as Jill has some spares.
Well done Year 3 Class Assembly
Year 3 hosted a fantastic class assembly recently - Well done to all the children and staff, It was really
wonderful to see so many parents there – THANK YOU!
Diary Dates:Tuesday 21st
Wednesday 22nd
Thursday 23rd
Friday 24th
Mon 27th
Tue 28th
Wed 29th
Thr 30th
Fri 31st
EYFS
Yr1
Yr3
Yr5
Yr6
Yr4
Yr6
Yr4
All
All
Yr3
Y6
9-12pm
9-12pm
9-12.30pm
1.30-3.30pm
8am
9-12.30pm
9-12.30pm
2-3pm
3.30-4.30pm
3.30-6pm
All day
9-3pm
1.30-2.30pm
9-10am
-
Yr5
Yr1
Yr3
Yr6
Yr6
Yr4
All
All
9-11am
9.20-10.20
1.30-2.30
2-3pm
8am
9am
10.30-12.30
6.30-8pm
9am
Parent/Teacher consultations
Step on It – Road Safety training
Parent/Teacher consultations
Parent/Teacher consultations
Spelling Blitz
Parent/Teacher consultations
Parent/Teacher consultations
Story Cafe
Football match at Lionwood School
Catch up evening Parent/Teacher consultations
RED NOSE DAY – 50p donation
Puppet Theatre workshop
WOW Community Sports
Young Carers meeting
Termly Attendance Trips
Theatre Royal back stage tour
Story Cafe
Swimming gala at Riverside
Story Cafe
Spelling Blitz
Yr6 Assembly – parents welcome
Norfolk Food Discovery – gardening session
SPRING DISCO
Magdalen Gates Easter Coffee Morning – All welcome
Break for Easter
SCHOOL RE-OPENS WEDNESDAY APRIL 19TH
THERE WILL BE NO NEWSLETTER NEXT WEEK