Read this newsletter in Adobe Acrobat format
or Word document



SEPTEMBER, 2006

1 STAFF CHANGES
2 BUILDING WORK
3 PUPIL SECURITY
4 PARENT/GOVENOR VACANCY
5 SCHOOL UNIFORM
6 JEWELLERY
7 SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
8 VOUCHERS
9 WALKING BUS
10 CHANGE OF DETAILS
11 VACANCY
12 HARVEST CELEBRATION
13 DIARY DATES
14 SCHOOL GOVERNORS



Dear Parents

I hope that you all had a fantastic summer break! The children returned looking very smart in their school uniform and ready for the new school year.

We have 60 pupils joining us this term and whilst many have older 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 Miss Emma Spalding (Yr2), Mr Gary Alexander (Yr3) and Mrs Gemma Burke (Yr5) to our teaching staff. Our new teaching assistants are Mrs Julie Palmer (Yr1) and Mrs Abby Conolly (Yr6). Full details of class organisation are as follows:

Teachers Year TAs
Mrs Gent (Team Leader) Rec, Mrs Curran
Mrs Oates/Mrs Palframan Rec. Miss Wicks
Mrs Hughes (Team Leader) Yr 1 Mrs Windless
Mrs Nash/Mrs Van Dijkhuizen Yr 1 Mrs Marshall
Yr 1 Mrs Stephens
Yr 1 Mrs Palmer
Mrs Mans Yr 2 Mrs Russell
Miss Spalding Yr 2 Mrs Baldwin
Yr 2 (pm) Mrs Stockham
Mr Alexander Yr 3 Mrs Wood
Mrs Harley Yr 3 Mrs Brunger
Miss Graves (Team Leader) Yr 4 Mrs Donaldson
Mrs Burbidge Yr 4 Mrs Townsend
Yr 4 (am) Mrs Stockham
Mrs Burke Yr 5 Mrs Claydon
Miss Dean Yr 5 Mrs Bedford
Mrs Smith
Mr Lowe (Team Leader) Yr 6 Mrs Pearce
Miss Bond Yr 6 Mrs Conolly
Mrs Sweatman is the Special Needs Co-ordinator.
Miss Porter is our Musical Specialist as well as teaching Yr 3 on Thursday and Yr 5 on Friday (am).
Mr Thorn – Deputy Head with 2 days teaching commitment in Yrs 4 & 6.
Mrs Stockdale – Part-time teacher for Yrs 2 & 5
Mrs Townsend and Mrs Bedford – Senior Midday Supervisors.
Mrs Morton and Mrs Channing – Office Personnel available each day for those ‘tricky’ questions!
Mr Procter – Site Manager.
Mr Harman – ICT Technician.
Chair of Governors – Mike Pashler
Vice Chair Governors – Michael Hardwick

2 BUILDING WORK
Over the summer the work was completed on the refurbishment of the Infant classroom. Both Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms have been redecorated with new flooring. Both classes look very bright, clean and inviting. Please do come in at the end of the school day to have a look. Just let the class teachers in Years 1 & 2 know that you would like a look round.

In addition, the following work also took place – replacement doors, new heaters, tree pruning, new perimeter fencing (bit at a time), wood chipping adventure playground and some minor decorating. Thank you to Mr Procter for overseeing all this additional work during the break.

The infant and junior playground marking is due to take place this month so that the children can use those at playtimes.

3 COMING INTO SCHOOL – PUPIL SECURITY
We like to think at Hawkes Farm that parents feel welcome to come into school to help out in the classrooms. 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 in a large primary school.

Older children (juniors) who meet their parent/carer by the school gate are requested to return to school if there is no-one to meet them. They need to go to the main office and report to a member of staff. Please can you remind your children about these arrangements. The onus then is on the adult to come into school to collect them.

You are of course welcome to wait on the playground to collect your child. It is helpful to make sure that the exits are clear which 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 curriculum policies to building work and resources. We currently have one vacancy for a parent governor and if you wish to stand, please send in your nomination forms. If you would like to find out more about the role of the governor, I am very happy to talk through this, or ask our Chair or Vice Chair to contact you. Please ask as it is a great thing to get involved with and we do have a very supportive group of governors who work together in the best interests of the children and staff.

5 SCHOOL UNIFORM
As I mentioned before, it was great seeing the children looking extremely smart on the first day of term. Thank you for maintaining our high standards and expectations on dress and behaviour. A reminder to make sure that uniform is clearly marked (lost property boxes were over-flowing last term!)

6 JEWELLERY
A reminder that jewellery is not allowed for Health & Safety reasons. However, we do ask that children who have pierced ears only wear stud earrings (no hoops). These will need to be taken out for PE sessions or the earrings will be taped (school will provide the tape). 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 SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
On Monday, 25th September the photographer will be in school to take family (siblings) and individual school photos.
If you would like a ‘family’ photo to include pre-school/secondary school age children, please come to the junior hall between 8.10 – 8.45 am. this did prove very popular last year, and there was only a small wait! All individual photos and sibling photos of children who attend Hawkes Farm will be organised by us to take place during the morning. You do not need to arrange this yourselves.

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

9 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.

10 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.

11 SCHOOL CLEANER VACANCY
We currently have a vacancy for a school cleaner – Monday – Friday 3.30 – 5.30 pm. If you are interested, please contact the school office for more information.

12 HARVEST CELEBRATION
This will take place on Wednesday, 11th October. More information will follow in the October newsletter. There will be a special invite to Year 1 and Year 3 parents to join us on this occasion (details to follow).

13 DIARY DATES
Mon 25th Sept Individual and Family Photos – 8.15 am
Fri 6th Oct Genes Day (event organised by the children’s School Council)
Wed 11th Oct Harvest Festival
9.15 am Infants
10.15 am Juniors
Mon 16th Oct Parents’ Evening 3.30 – 6.00 pm
Wed 18th Oct Parents’ Evening 4.30 – 7.00 pm
Fri 20th Oct End of Term 1 (Autumn Holiday)
Mon 30th Oct Inset Day – Staff Training PSHE/PE
Tue 31st Oct Children return to school for Term 2
Please see website for provisional Christmas dates and term dates.

14 SCHOOL GOVERNORS

Dear Parents
Thank you very much for completing and returning the questionnaire sent to you by the Governors at the end of last term. We had responses representing more than one third of the children, which we believe gives a representative view of your thoughts about your children’s experiences at Hawkes Farm.
At the last meeting of the governing body we had a lively debate about what we could learn from the results and wish to share with you the results of the questionnaires.
Q 1, 2, 3: Of those that responded, over 95% agreed or strongly agreed that their child enjoys school, that they make good progress because of the quality of teaching and that their child is safe and well cared for.
Q 4, 5: A very large majority of the responses indicated that you think behaviour is good and that the school is well led and managed. Only one view expressed strong disagreement with this. Behaviour seems to be more of a concern with the older year groups.
Q 6: The questionnaire also asked how well you think the school takes account of the children's views. Over 75% of the responses agreed or strongly agreed that these were considered, but 13% didn't know if their children's views were. The majority of these "don't knows" related to infants.
Q 7: About 10% of the responses indicated that you thought the school didn't seek or take account of parents' and carers' suggestions and concerns, although a large majority, again more than 75% did.
We shall be reviewing how we might improve the ways in which the school communicates with parents and we are always interested in hearing from you. During the year various questionnaires will be sent out and there will be opportunities to come and talk to us. We hope that you will make full use of these to help us continue to strive for the best for your children
Thank you again for the responses.
If you'd like to see the complete minutes of the governors' meeting, they are posted on the notice board near the office.

Mike Pashler - Chair of Governors