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September , 2005

1 STAFF CHANGES
2 BUILDING WORK
3 PUPIL SECURITY
4 PARENT/GOVERNOR VACANCY
5 SCHOOL UNIFORM
6 JEWELLERY
7 MUFTI-DAY
8 CAR PARK
9 INFANTS
10 PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE
11 SCHOOL PHOTOS
12 SCHOOL VOUCHERS
13 WALKING BUS
14 CHANGE OF DETAILS
15 DIARY DATES

Dear Parents

I hope you’ve all had a good summer break!

We have sixty-one pupils joining us this term and whilst many are younger brothers and sisters of children currently with us, we extend a special welcome to those families for whom this is their first link with Hawkes Farm.

1 STAFF CHANGES
We welcome Mrs Joanna Mans (Yr 2), Miss Rebecca Dean (Yr 5) and Mr James Goatley (Yr 6) to our teaching staff this term. Our new Teaching Assistants are Mrs Lucy Stephens (Reception) and Mrs Terry Marshall (Yr 1). Full details of class organisation is as follows:

Teachers Year TAs
Mrs Gent (Infant Team Leader) Rec. Mrs Curran
Mrs Oates/ Rec. Miss Wicks
Mrs Palframan Rec. Mrs Stephens
Mrs Hughes Yr 1 Mrs Windless
Mrs Nash/ Yr 1 Mrs Marshall
Mrs Van Dijkhuizen¬ Yr 1
Mrs Mans Yr 2 Mrs Russell
Mrs Burbidge Yr 2 Mrs Baldwin
Miss McBride (Yr 3/4 Team Leader) Yr 3 Mrs Wood
Mrs Harley Yr 3 Mrs Brunger
Miss McRae/ Yr 4 Mrs Townsend
Mrs Stockdale Yr 4 Mrs Donaldson
Miss Graves Yr 4
Miss Bond Yr 5 Mrs Claydon
Miss Dean Yr 5 Mrs Bedford
Mr Lowe (Yr 5/6 Team Leader) Yr 6 Mrs Pearce
Mr Goatley Yr 6 Mrs Stockham

Mrs Sweatman is the Special Needs Co-ordinator.
Mrs Round will continue support with Years 4, 5 and 6.
Miss Porter will continue as our Musical Specialist as well as teaching Yr 5 on Thursday.
Mr Thorn – Deputy Head with 2 days teaching commitment in Years 3 & 6.
Claire Griggs is a temporary Graduate Teacher in Year 3.

2 BUILDING WORK
Over the summer the work was completed on refurbishment of the Infant toilets and redecoration of the Reception classroom. I am delighted to say that these are bright, clean and fully functional! Please do come in at the end of the day if you would like a quick look.

3 COMING INTO SCHOOL – PUPIL SECURITY
You are always welcome to come into school, none more so than if you are able to help out in the classroom. If you’d like to assist in any way at any time, please let your child’s teacher know.

Whenever you come into school, for whatever reason, please remember to sign in at the office first. There is the temptation to assume that just because your child attends school, everyone in the building knows you. Unfortunately this is not the case and it is essential that all visitors check in first at the office.

Older pupils who meet with their parent / carer at the gate are given specific instructions to return to school if the person they’re expecting is not there to meet them. The onus is then on the adult to come into school to collect them. You are of course welcome to wait on the playground and it is helpful to children and parents alike if you remain on the playground rather than coming right up to the doors. This allows both you and the children to get a clear sighting of one another.

4 PARENT / GOVERNOR VACANCY
Governors play a vital role in supporting and guiding all aspects of school development, from what is taught in the curriculum to the building and full range of resources needed. Three vacancies now exist and if you wish to stand for election please send in your nominations, supported and signed by a proposer and seconder, both of whom must be parents of pupils at the school. Nominations should contain a short personal statement (50 words max) and be sent to the School Office marked for ‘The Headteacher’ no later than 30th September (please contact School Office for details).

5 SCHOOL UNIFORM
It was a delight to see the children proudly wearing their new school uniform at the beginning of the term. They all looked very smart with their new clothes and new school black shoes. Thank you for helping us maintain our high standards and expectations on dress and behaviour.

6 JEWELLERY
As you are aware children are not allowed to wear jewellery to school for health and safety reasons. However, we do ask that children who wear stud earrings either take them out themselves for the PE sessions or that the earring is taped (school will provide this). If you are unhappy with this please let the child’s classteacher know in writing. Infant children may need stud earrings to be removed at home on their PE days.

7 MUFTI-DAY – END OF SUMMER TERM
Thank you for all the contributions to the School Council’s Mufti Day. We raised £185.97 towards the children’s playground project.

8 CAR PARK
We do ask that parents DO NOT use the school car park to drop children off or pick them up from school. The car park is for staff use, visitors to the school and for the ‘disabled’.

9 INFANTS
At the beginning of the school day we do ask that all children, once they have entered the school grounds, do not leave the safety of the playground.

10 PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE
At the end of last term we sent out a Parent Questionnaire. Thank you to those who returned their copies and for your helpful comments. The results (sent home with the hard copy of the report) show we continue to work in close partnership with you and were delighted by your positive response. Thank you once again and if you would like to share your ideas, I look forward to seeing you at the meeting on 28th September, or please do drop me a line.

11 SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
On Monday, 26th September the photographer will be in school to take family (siblings) and individual school photos.

If you would like a family (siblings) photo to include pre-school / secondary age children, please do come to the junior school hall between 8.15 – 8.45 am. This did prove very popular last year, and there was a small wait! All individual photos and sibling photos of the children who attend Hawkes Farm will be organised by us to take place during the morning. You do not need to arrange this yourselves.

12 SCHOOL VOUCHERS
We continue to collect vouchers for schools. The collection boxes are located in the main entrance.

From 12th September until 6th November we will also be collecting TESCO SPORTS (for schools and clubs).

Last year we were able to purchase a laptop with Tesco vouchers, and sports and art equipment as part of other schemes. Thank you for your support.

13 WALKING BUS
Thank you to those parents who help with the very successful ‘Walking Bus’ Scheme. If you would like further information, or are able to offer any help, please see Caroline Wilson or let the school office know.

14 CHANGE OF DETAILS
Please don’t forget to keep us informed of any changes to your contact details. If you are unsure whether the details we have on record are correct, please call in at the School Office.

15 DIARY DATES
Mon 26/9 Individual and Family Photos – 8.15 am
Wed 28/9 Meeting RE: Parent Questionnaire 9.00 am
“ “ “ FOHF AGM – 7.00 pm Infant Hall
Mon 3/10 ‘Love in a Box’ Assembly
Wed 12/10 Harvest Assembly (More info. to follow)
Tue 18/10 Parents’ Evening 3.30 – 6.00 pm
Thur 20/10 Parents’ Evening 4.30 – 7.00 pm
Fri 21/10 End of Term One (Autumn Holiday)

Mon 31/10 Start of Term Two
Wed 2/11 AGM Report from Governing Body 7.00 pm
Fri 16/12 End of Term Two (Christmas Holiday)

Dates for Christmas activities will be issued in the October Newsletter.

Yours sincerely

Mrs V Cobb
Headteacher