Friday January 8th, 2015
HEAD’S WELCOME
Welcome back and a Happy New Year! I
hope you have all had a lovely holiday.
The children certainly seem to have had a
great time and have enjoyed sharing their
news.
We launched our Values-based Education
programme this week. The values you
voted for have all been sorted and we
have our official 22 Values. We start this
month with the value of Truth and the
children have been working on this
throughout the week, with assemblies and
stories to help them learn about this
value.
Staff had Health and Safety training on
Monday as part of our INSET day. One
area that was highlighted is that we must
make you aware of the fire exits in the
hall when you come to assemblies or for
other events. Should there be an alarm
when you are in school, please let the
children exit first and then follow on. We
meet on the upper playground. Year 6
will now read out a reminder each week.
Please note we have now booked our last
INSET day of the year for Monday July
4th. There will be no school on that day.
The forecast is for colder weather next
week, so please make sure your child is
well wrapped up for playtimes and
lunchtimes.
Best wishes
Ruth Worswick
STARS OF THE WEEK
Reception – Barnaby Kemp for showing the
school values and especially resilience.
Year 1 – Alexander Wenden for working so
hard and always having a go.
Year 2 – Zak Monk for his kindness and for
always trying his best.
Year 3 – James Donne for his enthusiasm
and working hard to improve his work.
Year 4 – Finlay Metcalfe for his thoughtful
and well-considered contribution to our
values discussions.
Year 5/6 – Louis Dudman for working so
hard in Maths and persevering even when
it’s tricky.
UNIFORM
Despite sending a reminder home last
term about correct uniform, we have
noticed that there are still lots of
children coming into school in trainers.
This is not correct footwear. If you
prefer your child to change into trainers
for playtimes, that is fine, but they need
to come to school in smart school shoes.
Government guidance is clear that
school uniform codes should be followed
by everyone, so please make sure your
children are correctly dressed. Please
see me if there is a problem.
DIARY DATES
th
January 11 – Y4,5,6 singing lesson with
Farnham Choir teacher
January 21st – Y5,6 lead assembly about Africa
February 15th – 19th – Half Term Holiday
nd
February 22
– INSET Day; school closed
st
March 1 – Parents’ Evening 3.30-5.30
VALUES
This month our value is
TRUTH.
Jesus said:
“I am the Way, the Truth and
the Life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.”
March 2nd – Parents’ Evening 5.30 – 7.00
March 2nd – Disability Awareness Workshops for
Y2,3,4,5,6
March 8th – Mencap Workshops for Y3,4,5,6
“If you tell the truth, you
don’t have to remember
anything.” Mark Twain
March 16th – Year 4 trip
March 25th – April 8th – Easter Holiday
June 27th – July 1st – Year 5/6 residential trip
July 4th – INSET Day; school closed
July 11-15th – Feeling Good Week
July 13th – Sports Day
July 19th – Back Up Sports Day
OTHER LETTERS HOME THIS WEEK:
GST NEWSLETTER
CLUBS LETTER
FOREST SCHOOL LETTER
Y5/6 STUBBINGTON CENTRE LETTER REMINDER
SCHOOL PLACES
Applications for Reception
places 2016 have now opened
and you have until January
15th to apply. Please let us
know if you need any help.
Remember to put all 3 options,
even if you are certain of where
you want to go. If you don't get
a place at your first choice and
haven't given a second/third
option you could be placed
anywhere.
HAVE A RESTFUL WEEKEND.
Friday January 8th 2015
The Good Shepherd Trust
7 January, 2016
NEWS FROM THE GOOD SHEPHERD TRUST
Dear Parents and Carers,
As the New Year begins it is timely for me to update you about developments in all the schools in
The Good Shepherd Trust (GST).
First Secondary School in The Good Shepherd Trust:
Christ’s College, Guildford, joined the Trust on 1 December 2015 after deciding to convert to
academy earlier in the year. Christ’s College is an 11-19 secondary school serving a large area. We
are delighted to welcome Christ’s College into the family of schools.
School Expansions and ‘bulge classes’:
Both Queen Eleanor’s and Ashley opened additional classes to accommodate more pupils in
September. Queen Eleanor’s already has permanent enlarged buildings and Ashley’s expansion
plans are going ahead through the local community consultation process. Christ’s College will take
an additional form of entry into Year 7 from September, 2016. In all, the Trust is now educating
some 2,100 children and young people.
Improving the Buildings:
Significant improvements have been made to several of the school buildings. St John’s has had a
new kitchen and incorporated in the build was a children’s kitchen which provides ‘Masterchef’
facilities which is being used enthusiastically by the children. The school has its own farm so the
intention is that pupils will see the journey of food from garden to plate.
T: 01483 459029 E: [email protected] www.cofeguildford.org.uk
The Good Shepherd Trust
Ashley School, is in the middle of building stunning hexagonal Harmony Centre which will provide
much needed space for curriculum development and innovation.
St Paul’s has replaced or refurbished all the toilets which, whilst not the most exciting project, is
another way of showing how children are valued.
The Holme is in the process having solar panels fitted which not only improves the energy bill but
teaches the children about energy use and conservation.
At the very end of last term Condition Improvement Fund bids were placed with the Education
Funding Agency (EFA) for all the primary schools and I’ll report back to you later when I find how
successful we have been. We are constantly trying to improve the quality of the buildings but we do
recognize that the EFA has to allocate funding on need and most of our school buildings are now in
good shape.
Children’s Results (often called ‘pupil outcomes’):
I mentioned in my previous letter that results seemed to be very strong in schools across the Trust.
I can now confirm that pupils across the Trust achieved above both local authority and national
averages. It is really good to see that the children and young people are attaining well and making
good progress across so many areas of the curriculum. It was a very nice experience to read such
strong ‘Ofsted Dashboards’ which showed many, many strengths (in some cases schools had no
identified weaknesses).
Big Lottery Fund Success:
T: 01483 459029 E: [email protected] www.cofeguildford.org.uk
The Good Shepherd Trust
Congratulations to The Holme which has been successful in a bid for an Awards for All grant from
the Big Lottery Fund. Combined with a generous donation from the school’s friends association the
grant will fund a larger and more exciting replacement for a broken climbing frame in the upper
playground, which was designed after input from Eco Warriors and School Council representatives
who met with a playground designer.
Learning Sheds
With the help of parents, St Mary’s has invested in two new outdoor ‘Learning Sheds’ to encourage
pupils to be creative through play and learn team building skills and problem solving techniques.
Children have the opportunity to use the sheds as part of their curriculum lessons such as planning
stories in English and using the mud kitchen for the measures topic in maths making the most of
natural materials to help deepen their understanding of the world around them.
Appointment of new Headteacher:
We have appointed a new substantive Headteacher (permanent) for The Weald from Easter 2016.
Mrs Rachel Jacob joins us from an executive headship over two London schools. We look forward to
Mrs Jacob joining the senior leadership team and she will soon be meeting with parents at The
Weald. Until then, Mrs Simpson will remain as Interim Headteacher.
Schools as part of the Community:
Increasingly GST schools are working with organisations in the communities they serve. St John’s
has just received approval from Mole Valley Borough Council to extend the opening of its multi-use
games area (MUGA) so that more community use can be arranged.
What next?
We had discussions with the Regional Schools’ Commissioner who is encouraging GST to grow
because of the positive impact we have had on schools. Our schools are doing well and we can
show the difference we are making to the quality of education in our seven (now eight) schools. We
are looking at innovative ways to group schools so that we can help to develop education across an
area. This is something the Regional Schools’ Commissioner is exploring with us.
I promised to look at improving our communication with parents and carers so that you could be
more informed about the Trust as a whole. We are committed to doing this and have worked with
our Diocesan Communication Team colleagues to improve what we do and how we do it. Work has
T: 01483 459029 E: [email protected] www.cofeguildford.org.uk
The Good Shepherd Trust
been done on our website and there is more to do. We will be sharing good news stories with you
over the year.
As we start 2016 I reflect back to last term. Whilst children and young people’s results are
important, there are so many other indicators which show that learners are getting a great
education. Their excitement in lessons, the way they work with each other, the way children
become more and more independent and the ways in which they learn to understand each other all
tells us that our young people are growing in confidence. I have the pleasure of visiting all schools
whilst they are in session; it is a joy to watch the schools grow even stronger and flourish as they
serve the needs of your children.
With best wishes,
Dr Peter Simpson
Chief Executive
The Good Shepherd Trust is made up of:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Holme CofE Primary School, Headley
St John's CofE Primary School, Dorking
St Mary's CofE Primary School, Chiddingfold
St Paul's CofE Primary School, Addlestone
Ashley CofE Primary School, Walton-on-Thames
Queen Eleanor's CofE Junior School, Guildford
The Weald CofE Primary School, Beare Green
Christ's College, Guildford
T: 01483 459029 E: [email protected] www.cofeguildford.org.uk
Dear Parents
This half-term’s clubs will begin the week of Monday 18th January 2016 and run for 4 weeks.
Please see below for dates which conflict with Staff Training.
Clubs will run from 3.15pm – 4.15pm.
Monday:
FIRST AID
Maximum 12, minimum 6, Years 5/6
Run by: Miss Mclaughlan
TH
THIS CLUB IS NOT RUNNING ON MONDAY 18 JANUARY
MULTI- SKILLS (No need to reapply)
No maximum, Years 1-2
Run by: Ms Worswick
THIS CLUB IS NOT RUNNING ON MONDAY 18TH JANUARY
Tuesday:
COOKING
Maximum 8, Years 1/2
Run by: Mrs Fox
THIS CLUB IS NOT RUNNING ON TUESDAY 26TH JANUARY
Wednesday
FOREST SCHOOL CONSERVATION CLUB
Maximum 8, Years 2 – 6
Run by: Mr Milam
Thursday:
FOREST SCHOOL CRAFT CLUB
Maximum 12, Years 2 - 6
Run by: Mr Milam/Mr Coutts
Friday:
NETBALL
Maximum 21, Years 3 – 6
Run by: Mrs Cooper
If you would like your child to join any of the clubs, please complete the attached slip and return to the
school office by Wednesday 13th January. If there are spaces after this date, please ask at the office
to join.
We will only notify you if you have been unsuccessful. Assume your child will take part in the club unless
you hear otherwise.
Please state clearly on the reply slip the order of preference of clubs as there are maximum numbers for
each club.
Best Wishes
The Office
Please use the other side of this reply slip to update any medical or contact details that may have changed
since you last contacted the office.
Reply Slip for clubs (one slip per child please)
Child’s name……………………………………………………………………… Class …………………………………………………………
Spring Term 1, 2016
Monday
First Aid
Years 5-6
Maximum 12 children, minimum 6
Multi-Skills
Years 1-2
IF YOU ALREADY ATTEND, YOU DO NOT NEED
TO REAPPLY!
Years 1-2
Maximum 8 children
Tuesday
Cooking
Wednesday
Forest School Conservation Club
Yrs 2 – 6
Maximum 8 children
Thursday
Forest School Craft Club
Years 2-6
Maximum 12 children
Years 3-6
Maximum 21 children
Friday
Netball
I give permission for my child ………………………………………………………… Class ……………………
to take part in the clubs ticked above. I have numbered my choices to show my child’s preferences.
Signed Parent/Carer……………………………………………………………………… Name………………………………………………………
Date:……………………………………………………………
The Holme Church of England Primary School
A Good Shepherd Trust Academy
Openfields, Headley, Bordon, Hants GU35 8PQ
Tel: 01428 714409 email: [email protected]
January 8th 2016
Dear Parents
Forest School Winter Clothing
I have noticed that some of the children are coming to Forest School with big coats, but nothing
underneath apart from a tee shirt. During a Forest School session the children wear coats which are
supplied by the school and these do not fit over the top so we have to take the children's coats off
leaving them a bit cold.
Ideally the children should wear the following as a minimum:
Vest
Short or long sleeved tee shirt
Jumper or fleece (1 or 2 thinner ones work well)
A hat which will fit under a hood
Gloves or mittens which may be worn when required
2 pairs of socks
If the weather is particularly cold or you have a child who gets cold easily it is a good idea to add
another layer of a tee shirt or jumper. Wearing layers means that it is easy to regulate temperature. It
is better to start off too warm.
We do have some spare clothing but please ask in advance.
It is important the children wear the coats supplied by the school as they are 100% waterproof and
tough which protect the children's own clothes.
A good breakfast such as porridge is a good idea to warm from the inside.
Please let us know if there are any problems,
Yours Sincerely,
Mr Milam
Forest School Practitioner
The Holme Church of England Primary School
A Good Shepherd Trust Academy
Openfields, Headley, Bordon, Hants GU35 8PQ
Tel: 01428 714409 email: [email protected]
Friday 8th January 2016
Year 5/6 Stubbington Study Centre 2016
Dear Parents,
The second payment of £45 for the residential trip is now due and to be paid by Friday January 29th
2016. Please pay this either by cash or cheque. Cheques to be made payable to” Holme Primary
School”. The next instalment will not be due until February 2016, however if you wish to pay any
instalments before this date we are happy to accept them.
If you have any problems with payments please do not hesitate to contact the school office as soon
as possible
Kind Regards
School Office