Read this newsletter in Adobe Acrobat format
or Word document



MAY 2007

1 Swimming
2 Staff Vacancies
3 Staff Changes
4 School Tests
5 School Trips
6 School Council
7 Lost Property
8 Holidays in Term Time
9 Frequently Asked Questions
10 Hot Weather
11 Parent Course Details
12 School Profile
13 Diary Dates
14 FoHF News

Dear Parents

Welcome back to the summer term. It is another busy term with the Summer Fair, swimming and our Multi-cultural Arts Week organised for the week beginning 11th June. Keep informed by reading the monthly newsletter and visiting the calendar section of the school’s website at www.hawkesfarm.co.uk.

1 SWIMMING
We will be starting swimming sessions in Term 6 beginning 5th June. A letter went home last week (a timetable and a request for extra help). Please see your child’s classteacher if you need further information.

2 STAFF VACANCIES
If you are interested in becoming a Midday Supervisor (11.55am – 1.10pm) or a cleaner at the school, please leave your details at the office. We will then contact you when a post arises.

3 STAFF CHANGES
Mrs Mans is expecting her second child in August this year. She will therefore be on Maternity Leave in the autumn term. A temporary appointment will be made during Term 6. Our staffing arrangements for September will be included in the June and July newsletters.

Mr Peter Lowe will be leaving at the end of this term to take up his new appointment as Head of Juniors at St Andrew’s School in Eastbourne. Congratulations to Mr Lowe on his promotion. Miss Melanie Bond has been appointed as the new Year 5/6 Team Leader and Literacy Subject Leader. Congratulations to Miss Bond as well.

4 SCHOOL TESTS
A reminder that children from Years 2 – 6 will be involved in curriculum test this term. The outcome of these tests will be reported to parents with the child’s
school report on Friday, 6th July. We will also include more information on what the test scores really mean in the context of your child’s learning.

Year 2 Tuesday, 8th – Friday, 25th May
Years 3, 4 & 5 Week of Tuesday, 8th May
Year 6 Week of Monday 14th May

5 SCHOOL TRIPS
It’s that time of year when all children take part in a school trip. This is linked to the planned curriculum and supports their learning in class. This year costs will range from £10 – 15 due to an increase in travel, insurance and administration costs.

Reception - Washbrooks Farm
Year 1 - Eastbourne Beach
Year 2 - Seven Sisters Country Park
Year 3 - Hertmonceux Science Centre
Year 4 - Hever Castle
Year 5 - Pyke House (residential)
Year 6 - PGL Adventure Centre (residential)
Newhaven Fort (March visit)

We hope you are able to support our summer trips as the children do benefit from the first-hand experiences. Thank you.

6 SCHOOL COUNCIL
The children on the School Council organised this year, a fundraising event for Comic Relief and the World Wildlife Fund. Each charity received £109 from the recent red mufti-day event. Thank you for your support.

7 LOST PROPERTY
At the end of Term 4, the Lost Property box in the junior entrance was ‘overflowing’ with school clothes which were not named. Please could you check that your child’s clothing is clearly labelled and remind them to put their jumpers, etc on their pegs or in their bags.
We are going to make a real effort this term to keep the box ‘empty’!

8 HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME
Every day in school is crucial to your child’s learning. In line with LEA and Hailsham Schools’ Policy, we do not authorise holidays in term-time. Please be aware of the school’s policy and support us in delivering a balanced curriculum for every child.

9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
How long do children get to eat their lunch?
The Infants go into lunch at 11.55am and have until 1.00pm. The majority will take half an hour with a few children needing longer. Once they have finished their lunch, they put up their hand and a member of staff will then let them go out to play.

The Junior lunchtime is from 12.10pm – 1.10pm. There is a rota so that each year group gets to go first, eg, Monday 3, 4, 5, 6, and by Thursday 6, 3, 4, 5 and so on. Again on average children take half an hour for eating. If a child is very slow they will be given extra time by coming in early with a friend (this doesn’t happen very often) but arrangements will be made for individuals.
School dinners are very popular on Wednesdays and Fridays which means that the year groups in last may feel rushed.

What is the official opening time?
The official start of the school day is 8.55am. A member of staff is on duty on each playground ten minutes before at 8.45am.

The school gates open at 8.30am. If Junior children arrive early, parents must be happy that their child is responsible enough to be left from 8.30am – 8.45am.
Infant children must always be accompanied by an adult as they are too young to be left on their own.

10 HOT WEATHER
Your child needs to bring a water bottle and a sun hat to school during the hot weather. If you wish your child to wear sunscreen, they need to be taught how to administer this safely by themselves. In some cases it is easier to put this on first thing in the morning before school.

11 PARENT COURSES
We received an excellent response from parents following the March newsletter ‘Short Courses’. These have been sent to Sussex Downs College Outreach Department to organise for the coming year. Please read the monthly newsletters to keep up to date with developments.
The ICT five week course is now running and proving to be a success. We hope to be able to run more of these courses over the next year.

12 SCHOOL PROFILE
The Governors Annual Report was replaced in 2004 by an electronic School Profile Report. The 2005 – 2006 School Profile has now been published. You can access this from www.schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk and then type in Hawkes Farm. If you do not have internet access and would like a hard copy, please let the school office know.

13 DIARY DATES
Mon 14/5 Year 6 National SATS Week
Mon 21/5 5RD Pyke House Residential (2 nights)
“ “ Cycling Proficiency Week 6MB
Wed 23/5 5GB Pyke House Residential (2 nights)
Fri 25/5 Last Day of Term 5

Mon 4/6 Inset Day
“ “ Cycling Proficiency Week 6PL
Tue 5/6 Term 6 begins
Fri 8/6 Year 6 PGL Weekend Residential
Mon 11/6 Year 6 PGL Return
“ “ Multicultural Arts Week
Tue 19/6 6PL visit to HCC
“ “ Infant Sports Afternoon
Thur 21/6 Herstmonceux Cricket Tournament
“ “ 6MB visit to HCC
Mon 25/6 Year 2 Trip to Seven Sisters
Tue 26/6 Junior Sports Day
Mon 2/7 New Reception Visit – autumn born
Tues 3/7 “ “ “ “ “ “ - spring born
Wed 4/7 “ “ “ “ “ “ - summer born
“ “ Year 5 New Playleader Training at HCC
“ “ New Reception Parents Meeting - 7pm
Fri 6/7 School Reports sent Home
Wed 11/7 Year 1 Trip to Eastbourne Beach
Wed 18/7 Year 6 Production - 9.30am & 6.30pm
Thur 19/7 “ “ “ “ “ 6.30pm
Mon 23/7 Year 6 Leavers’ Party – 6.00pm
Tue 24/7 Last Day of Term 5

Wed 25/7 Inset Day

Thank you once again for your continued support.

Mrs V Cobb - Headteacher

Cont/…

14 NEWS FROM FRIENDS OF HAWKES FARM SCHOOL – PTA May 2007
We hope that those of you who came to our Spring Disco enjoyed the event and we thank you for your support. We believe from positive responses that it was a successful night. We managed to raise just over £1,000!

Funds raised last term but not previously itemised: Sutton Seeds: £100
Textile Recycling: £92
Second Hand Clothing Sale: £56.40

Funds raised this term:
Charity Box Collections: £15
Second Hand Clothing Sale: £36.50
Mobile and Printer Cartridge Recycling: £59.50

Events coming up soon:
We do hope that you will all continue to give your support in whatever way you can to our major fundraising event of the year – our Summer Fete – Saturday 16th June. Without the support from parents, friends and teachers, this event would not take place, so all offers of help would be greatly appreciated. A flyer will be coming out in book bags in due course for your consideration.

May
Official opening of Wildlife Area – Date to be announced.
Draw tickets go on sale for the Summer Fete Raffle

June
Tuesday, 12th – Second Hand Uniform Sale – Infant Playground after school
Friday, 15th – 6.00pm - 9.00pm setting up for our Summer Fete
Saturday, 16th – 9.30am – 12.00pm continuing setting up for Fete
Saturday,16th – 1.00pm – 4.00pm – Summer Fete, thereafter it is clearing up time!
Tuesday,19th – Refreshments at Infant Sports Day
Tuesday, 26th – Refreshments at Junior Sports Day

Recycling of mobiles and printer cartridges – Please keep on bringing your empty/broken and unwanted items into school and dropping them off in the recycling boxes provided at the main entrance. Your old stuff recycled is worth pounds to support our school!

Yellow Moon catalogues – purchases can be made at any time up until August. Order from it now or keep it close by for when you might like to have a browse. Up to 25% cash back from the Yellow Moon Company is given towards fundraising at our school! If you have mislaid your copy, there are spares available from the school office.

Thank you for your continued support.

Melanie Izon - Chairperson