Autumn 2015 (2)
Dear Parents and Carers,
School Fair
We would like to thank all the parents and children who attended the School Fair on the 26th September. It was a
lovely day with some fantastic weather! The PTA raised £932 profit from the Fair and they are currently looking at
how they will use it to support the school.
Healthy Snacks
One or two children have begun to bring snacks that are high in sugar or salt at break times. We have a school food
policy and we recommend that children bring in fruit, dried fruit, vegetables (e.g. carrot sticks), plain biscuits, cereal
bars that are not chocolate based or yoghurt. Any drinks should only be plain water.
Recently children have brought in some cheese based products (such as cheese strings) which are acceptable. If in
doubt please ask the class teacher. High sugar based snacks/drinks have been proven to impact on pupils
concentration and this has a negative effect on their behaviour and academic progress.
We do provide snacks at break time which can be bought for 20p each including drinks and healthy biscuits.
Water
Can we also remind parents that your child may bring in water to drink in the classroom for Years 1-6. The children
do have access to water in class but they are able to bring in their own if they prefer. However, please don’t send
flavoured water as again this has a high sugar/chemical content and affects concentration. Foundation 1 and 2 have
constant access to water in addition to snack times during the morning and afternoon teaching sessions.
Sickness
We still have a sickness and stomach bug in school at the moment. Can we please remind parents that children
should be kept off for 48 hours after being sick or a bout of diarrhoea. This is to minimise the risk of infection
spreading. If your child has a medical reason not related to infection that causes them to be sick can you please
inform your class teacher so that we are aware. There are times when choking can cause sickness, especially when
eating, but again if your child has this habit please inform your class teacher. Mr Snape has spoken to staff to ensure
there is a consistent response to illness in school.
Please do not be offended if we send you home with your child even if you feel they are well enough – infections
spread quickly and we have to be cautious. We have asked all staff to refer parents to Mr Snape, Mrs Aldread or Mrs
Woodhouse in future if there is any doubt. If you are unsure please contact the school office.
Sport Teams
There have been a few changes to how the school will participate in sports events this year. There are frequent
sporting festivals run by the School Sports Partnership that we try and attend but at times this can come down to
timing of the events and available staffing. This year we have reduced the commitments for the football team to
festivals and the Coleman Cup enabling us to enter other sporting competitions. At the same time we are
negotiating with a local parent with past grassroots football coaching experience to begin regular football sessions
after school looking towards potentially increasing the team commitments in the long term.
There are two Football Festivals/Competition that are up and coming. Both are at Shirebrook Academy and run from
3.30 until 5.30. The first is on the 13th October for Girls Football which Mrs Aldread is organising, The second is on
October 22nd for the a Year 5 and 6 team which Mr Snape is helping with. Both will depend on getting parent
support for transport.
“Pupils are extremely polite and considerate”
“Pupils are provided with many memorable learning experiences” OFSTED 2014
Naming Clothing (especially jumpers!)
Can we please ask that parents remember to name clothing and check regularly after washing that it is still readable.
Keeping track of whose jumper is whose can be difficult when there are 200 of them and having them readable
makes life easier for us and an increased likelihood we can find and return them.
2015/16 Dates
6th and 7th October – Parent Consultations
7th October – Choir at Tupton Hall
9th October – Y5/6 at Galleries of Justice
Week beginning 12th October – Mr Marples working with Y1 to Y6 on Orienteering Skills (this will be outside)
14th October – Choir at Winding Wheel
15th October – Y1 and Y2 at Sudbury Hall
23rd October – Bikeability Training for Y6
23rd October – Break Up for Half term
2nd November – Children return to school
26th November – Y3 at Creswell Crags
9th December – KS2 (Y3-Y6) Christmas Performances
14th December – Mrs Aldread’s class at Tibshelf for ‘Snow White’
15th and 16th December – KS1 provisional dates for concerts
18th December – Break Up for Christmas
2016 Dates
4th January – INSET Day (school closed)
5th January – Children return to school
12th February – Break Up for Half Term
22nd February – Children return to school
23rd February – Y1 and Y2 at the Butterfly House
24th March – Break Up for Easter
11th April – Return to school
2nd May – May Day (school closed)
27th May – Break Up for Half Term
6th June – Return to school
Currently we are seeking to finalise Governing Body permission for Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th July to be INSET
Days. We will confirm this ASAP and will mean school will finish on the 22nd July 2016.
“Pupils are extremely polite and considerate”
“Pupils are provided with many memorable learning experiences” OFSTED 2014