Spring 2014
Issue 11
Normanton-on-Soar Primary School Newsletter
A warm welcome back to one and all, post Christmas.
We have had a terrific start already to this academic year;
let us hope 2014 brings us all even more successes.
www.normantononsoarprimary.co.uk
January
WI Knitting Club starts 3.30pm—4.30pm
Wednesday 8th
Piano & Guitar starts
Thursday 9th
Lego Club starts 3.30pm—4.30pm
Friday 10th
Cheerleading starts 3.30pm—4.30pm
Monday 13th
‘School Choir’ starts 3.30pm—4.30pm
Friends of School Meeting 7.30pm at The Plough
Monday 13th
Barnardo’s Assembly
Tuesday 14th
Cool Milk Assembly (Years R, 1 & 2)
Wednesday 15th
Wednesday 15th
Years 3 & 4—Sports 4-6pm at South Wolds Academy
Thursday 23rd
Governor curriculum visit
February
Valentine Disco 6.00 - 8.00pm
Tuesday 11th
Parent Forum 9.00am - all welcome
Wednesday 12th
Friday 14th
Last day of school before half term
Half Term Holiday
17th - 21st February
Mon 24th
Return to school following holidays
March
Thursday 6th
World Book Day
Governing Body Meeting - 7.00pm
Wed 19th to Fri 21st Years 5 & 6—Residential Trip
W/C 31st March
Parents Evenings - details to follow
April
Tuesday 1st
Easter Open Assembly 9.30am — Parents welcome
Friday 4th
Last day of school before Easter Holidays
Easter Holidays 7th April—21st April
Tuesday 22nd
School Starts for Summer Term
Tuesday 6th May
Advance notice of ‘Friends’ Meeting
Friday 23rd May
INSET DAY
Monday 2nd June
INSET DAY
Recent Fundraising
Thanks to all those who contributed generously for Children in Need, in
2013 we managed to raise a whopping £150, fantastic!
The children were very keen to support families in the Philippines following
Typhoon Haiyan. Thanks to Mrs Fuller who kindly donated a Lego Advent
Calendar as a prize. The children raised £100 which has been sent to the
appeal. A little care goes a long way, thanks to all those who participated
and well done to Otis who was very surprised that he’d won!
This year’s Poppy Appeal was our most successful year yet, we raised a
£54.40 I think the wristbands might have had something to do with it!
Friends of Normanton
Sarah Tremeer is our very enthusiastic Chair of Friends, who
really needs your help, her contact details are:
Telephone: 07793 816900
Email address: [email protected]
The next Friends meeting will take place
7.30pm, Monday
13th January at ‘The Plough’ in Normanton.
If you would like to volunteer to help the group, your support is very
much appreciated. Friends are very active in school and play a huge part
in raising much needed funds for school. It matters not how much time
you have to spare, any offer of help is always warmly welcomed.
Advance Notice of future meeting: Tuesday 6th May
Children Celebrate……………
Another seemingly successful production thanks to the many
talents of the children and the never ending hard working
staff.
The plays really are a great deal of work, but when you see the
children on stage it really does remind you of the super talent
in our school.
Many thanks to all those who supported and helped with the
production which despite the notable absence of Miss Waters
still managed, in a fashion, to carry on!
Jack and the Beanstalk, Panto by LADA productions
What a great way to end 2013,
for the children, by watching
the never ending talents of
LADA Productions and their
performance of Jack and the
Beanstalk. There were smiles to
be had all round and lots of
laughter filled the hall.
Yet another inspirational
performance by just three
talented actors. It was enjoyed
by one and all. We are hoping to
have them back next year!
Wet Weather
Just a Reminder: Children are permitted inside
school from 8.50am if it is raining. Otherwise,
they are collected by their class teachers on the
school yard at 9.00am. Children are supervised on
the yard from 8.50am. Please do support the
school by not dropping your children off earlier
than this as they will be unsupervised.
Reception starters
September 2014
If you have a child, or know of a child, who will be five between
1st September 2014 and 31st August 2015, they need to be
registered with their local authority so they can apply for a school
place.
Nottinghamshire is open for applications from 4th November 2013
and the closing date is 15th January 2014. Please note, places are
not automatically allocated at local schools and are based on
admission criteria. Every school place must be applied for by the
parent even if your child attends the foundation unit.
Applications are made to the local authority you pay your council tax
to, which are then passed to Nottinghamshire admissions for our
school.
Admission's contact details are as follows:
Nottingham
Tel: 01623 433499
www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/
learning/schools/admissions
Leicester
Tel: 0116 305 6684
www.leics.gov.uk
Derbyshire
Tel: 01629 537479
www.derbyshire.gov.uk
A Gentle Reminder - Nut Allergy
As we start the new year, just a reminder that we do
have a child in school with a severe nut allergy. We would ask that all
parents check lunchboxes etc to ensure that should your child have
nuts staff are made aware at the beginning of each day to ensure we
can take suitable precautions.
Thank you for your continued support with this.
Important Information
We have a child in school who has an auto-immune allergy to
gluten. This is very different from gluten intolerance as it has
a lasting effect on the body.
We are asking parents to help us be vigilant in ensuring your
child/children have an understanding of what this may mean.
We will be encouraging plenty of hand washing after contact
with food to ensure no trace is transferred to the child. As
such we would be very grateful if you reinforce this message
at home with your child/children to support school. There are
no major changes to any routines in school, however, there will
be an expectation of increased hygiene.
Thank you for your continued support and assistance.
Inhalers in school
A gentle reminder to check
expiry dates on inhalers,
please make sure they are named and accessible for
your child at all times,
thank you!
School Council 2013– 2014
We will be busy looking at our outdoor spaces this term,
watch this space!................
Class Newsletters
Class newsletters were sent out during the first week of this
term and contain information about what is happening in your
child’s class.
If you have not received a copy by Friday the 10th of January,
please do check with your child’s class teacher.
2013 / 2014 INSET days
Spring Term
There are no INSET days this term.
Summer Term
Friday 23rd May — Owls Club is open
Monday 2nd June — No Owls Club
There will be an additional Inset Day in the Summer Term,
details to follow.
Welcome to our new faces in the Foundation Unit this
term:
Isabella Festa
Olivia Hardwick
Rily Kerr
Toby Jenkins
Topic for this term and Class Staff
Foundation Unit
(F1 & Rec)
Class 1
(Y1 & Y2)
Class 2
(Y3 & Y4)
Class 3
(Y5 & Y6)
Around the world in a Mrs Barker,
term…….
Mrs Jackson and
Mrs Roberts
The Great Fire of
London
Miss Berridge
Minibeasts and
more….
Mrs Newcombe
Waterworlds,
rivers, coasts and
the Titanic!
Mrs Pygall
Healthy Snacks Please ……………..
There appears to be an increase in the number of snacks
bought into school particularly in KS2 (years 3-6)
If your child is bringing in a snack for morning break please
can it be either Fruit or a ‘healthy’ bar.
We have several children with allergies and we need to be
careful about the impact this has.
Please let you child’s teacher know if your child has a snack so
we can take any necessary precautions.
Please note: Key Stage 1 children are provided with free fruit
each day.
Please collect your child on time
Just a gentle reminder……for all collecting children.
Please do make sure you collect your child promptly at
the end of their session. School hours are:
9am -12pm
Morning session
12pm - 1pm
Lunch
1pm - 3.30pm Afternoon Session
Being late can cause distress to the children, and delay
prompt starts to sessions.
Dinner Money
School dinners for this term are £2.00 per day/
£10.00 per week.
Block payments (including inset days:
* For this half term: £60.00
* For the full term: £ 120.00
Cheques payable to “Nottinghamshire County Council”.
Please send money into school in a clearly named envelope
Remember dinners must be paid for promptly in advance or on
the day.
After non payment of 5 dinners we can no longer provide a hot
meal, parents will be contacted to provide sandwiches and
payment must then be brought into school.
Thanks to all who have paid on time or in advance!
Hamster Rota
A massive thanks to the McDermott family
for looking after Polo the Hamster over the
Christmas holidays.
If you could let the office know if you are able
to take Polo over a weekend / school holiday it
would be greatly appreciated.
Extra Curricula Activities
Day
Activity
Open
to:
Places
Provider
Time
Contact Details
Mon
School Choir
Miss Waters 3.30pm School Office
and
to
Mrs Waterfall 4.30pm
Wed
WI
KS2
Knitting Club
16
Normanton on 3.30pm School Office
Soar WI
to
4.30pm
Thurs
Lego Club
All ages,
from 4
25
Mrs Fuller
Fri
Cheerleading
All ages,
from 4
All ages,
from 4
3.30pm 07747464945
to
4.30pm
Andrew White 3.30pm School Office
to
4.30pm
Guitar & Piano
Will be continuing this term.
Both Scott Walters and Mrs Cleaver administer their own letters and
record payments, school has no direct involvement with any
communications sent out to parents.
There is currently a waiting list for both providers, please do advise
the office if you wish your child to be added to the list.
Congratulations on your success!
2013 Primary School Performance Tables
Our School has received a letter from the Rt Hon David Laws MP:
‘It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on the excellent
performance of your pupils in the 2013 national key stage 2 tests’
‘Your results show that 100% of your pupils gained level 4B or
above in reading and maths and level 4 or above in writing, this
makes you one of only 159 schools in the country to achieve this’
‘I would like to congratulate your staff, governors and pupils for
their hard work and success and to thank you for your leadership
in continuing the drive towards the highest standards
educational achievement’
Well done to everyone!
Reminder - SATS!
KS2 SATS take place 12th—16th May 2014.
KS1 SATS will take place throughout June.
of
Office Hours
The office is manned by Mrs North each day.
Monday
8.30am—2.30 pm
Tuesday—Friday
9.00am—2.30pm
The answer phone is checked every morning and afternoon for messages.
You can email the office on [email protected].
Emails are checked every morning.
Mrs Roberts is usually available each morning before school starts and
often at the end of the day.
Teachers and teaching assistants are available at the end of school.
For other times please arrange a convenient time either directly or
contact the office.
Illness / Absence
Please remember to report all absences to school. Messages can be left at any
time, no need to wait for office hours.
This enables us to account for all children and it is essential we know whether to
expect them in school or not.
The guidelines for infection control in schools stipulates “no return for 48 hours
from last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting”.
We appreciate this is sometimes difficult with respect to childcare
arrangements; however we need to consider the impact of illness on all other
children within school.
Also, please advise a member of staff if your child will be leaving at any time in
the day for appointments etc at the earliest opportunity.
Please sign your child out and back into school using the ‘Absence Log’ located by
the trophy cabinet in the school hall.
Thank you.
PE Kits in school
This term we will be making the most of the
weather and using our outdoor spaces.
Please do make sure your child has suitable
footwear and PE kit in school all week.
We will endeavour to send home kits if they
get dirty!
Parent Forum
Our next parent forum will be on:
Wednesday 12th February, 9.00am
Please come along to discuss any school matters that
are of interest to you.
If you can’t attend and would like to raise an item for
discussion, please email ([email protected]) or send a note into the school office
with a brief summary of the subject you would like to
be discussed.
Parent Forum - Autumn term 2013 - 6th November
Parent forum was attended by 5 parents including 2 parent
governors and the Head Teacher.
After school clubs
The Head Teacher invited comments about the availability, variety and costs of after
school activities.
Very positive feedback was received regarding school choir and discussions around
cookery, gardening and dance for different key stages were noted. School will endeavour
to provide a rich and varied after school programme for all children but noted that for
some activities costs would need to be passed through to parents.
Parking
Despite the recent campaign to keep all children safe including signage it would appear
there are still a couple of persistent offenders who continue to park on the yellow lines
outside school.
During the Spring term school will, once again, publish details of car
registrations in an effort to reduce the danger for all children.
Christmas Play
The Head Teacher sought feedback regarding the duration of nights for the production.
School will monitor the children during this year’s performance to ascertain the impact
for future years.
Cashless Payments for school dinners
The Head Teacher advised parents that Nottinghamshire Local Authority were moving
towards a cashless system “Squid” for payment of school dinners. Our school is one of a
handful who have not yet taken up the new system. The system provides parents with an
online option to prepay for each child. Each child not family is provided with a unique
PIN code which accesses their account details on line. For each child in a family this
task would need to completed individually. The Head Teacher invited comments and will
consult with all parents during the Spring term.
Students
Some questions had been raised about “student teachers” in classes. The Head Teacher
advised parents that class teacher’s retain overall responsibility for teaching and learning
within their class. Students are mentored by the Head and Senior Teacher. Students
would be in classes after the Christmas break until the February half term.