Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome
After such a long break we have been delighted to welcome the children back to school this week. We have missed the children and it has been great to see so many happy faces walking smartly into school!
EYFS development
You will have noticed our newly refurbished EYFS area. Following Governor requests for funding, we successfully applied to Nicholas Postgate for money to improve this area. As a result we were able to employ Mr Anthony Wadsworth (another parent) to re-landscape our EYFS area and widen our walkway into school. New doors were also installed to make a more fluid transition between the indoor and outdoor learning for Nursery and Reception. This not only enhances safety in and around school but offers a beautiful area to ensure we maximise the independence of our youngest children. I am sure you agree this is a welcome and necessary addition in our continuous drive for school improvement.
To avoid accidents, on entry into and exit from school please ensure children do not play on the equipment in our EYFS area.
| Date | Event |
| Monday 16th September | P.T.A Annual General Meeting, 7pm |
| Tuesday 17th September | Y5/6 Trinity Transition Assembly, 9am |
| Tuesday 24th September | Trinity Open Evening, Year 5&6, 6pm |
| Wednesday 25th September | Y6 Residential Parents meeting, 2.30pm |
| Wednesday 25th September | Education Mass St. Mary’s Cathedral, 7pm, |
| Wednesday 2nd October | Buddies Assembly (Reception and Y6 parents), 9am |
| Wb 7th October | Judaism week |
| 9th, 10th, 11th October | Year 6 Residential to Robinwood |
General information
Administration changes
Last year I made you aware of budget restraints impacting on school staffing and resources. I was grateful and appreciative that so many people offered their time to volunteer in classes.
This year, as an academy, there have been changes to the Administration teams. Mrs Day will now work as a Business Manager across two schools (ourselves and Corpus Christi) whilst Mrs Simpson will provide our full time administrative support.
Attendance and holiday requests
Our attendance figure for 2018-19 was 97.2%. Our Trust target is 97%. Every school day is precious. For any holiday requests, a form is available from the school office and can be downloaded via our website. This must be completed and returned to the school office prior to a holiday. Pupil leave in term time will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. The Trust, Mrs Simpson and I track attendance across the year. Mrs Simpson and I will call upon the help of a Trust attendance officer should there be an indication of persistent absence or lateness for individual children.
Please work with us in ensuring outstanding attendance. We thank you in advance for your commitment to your child’s education.
Term dates
Please find attached with this letter our Term dates for 2019-20. Please note in green the 5 allocated PD days where children will not be in school. In the hope that you can book cheaper holidays we have facilitated 2 days either side of our May half term.
Terms dates for 2020-21 will not be decided upon until nearer Christmas time. As soon as they are available I will communicate this with you.
Uniform
Standard of uniform is exceptionally high – thank you. The children look ‘as smart as carrots’!
Our uniform shows that we are part of St Bernadette’s Primary School community, and we have the highest expectations with regards to school uniform. Please can we maintain this high standard and encourage all children to wear their uniform smartly. Please could we ask that particular attention is given to the following:
- All uniform is clearly labelled with the child’s name.
- Ties to be worn with shirts.
- Pupils with long hair must be tied back.
- Small plain bows can be worn.
- Skirts should be of an appropriate and modest length.
- Shirts/blouses to be tucked in.
- Haircuts to be appropriate (no tramlines, patterns or sculpting).
PE Kits
It is important that our children are ready and equipped for their weekly PE sessions and we have school PE kits for that purpose. Plimsolls and our coloured PE tops should be provided for indoor PE sessions, and trainers and appropriate warm clothing for outdoors/KS2 cross country. We have optional outdoor hoodies/jogging bottoms for children to wear during the winter months.
Earrings
Only small stud earrings are suitable for school. This is to prevent accidents as children are very active at playtimes. Earrings must be independently removed for PE. Children who have recently had their ears pierced will be given tape to cover their ears before PE lessons. Staff cannot be held responsible for lost earrings. No other jewellery is permitted for school.
School Lunches
Mrs Martin continues to provide fabulous school meals on a 3 week rota. The menus are currently being revised and we will inform you of changes in our next newsletter. School will of course still cater for any specific dietary requirements; if you want to discuss this further please contact the school office.
Please can we remind you that the school needs 2 weeks written notice if your child changes from school dinners to packed lunch.
Dinner Money
School dinners now cost of £2.10 per day (£10.50 per week). Dinners must be paid for in advance, preferably by ParentPay. If you have forgotten your log in details, or don’t have one please see the office staff.
Parking
Please can we ask that you continue to park your cars respectfully around the school area (including Skiddaw Court). You are not permitted to park before or after school over drives and on the yellow zig-zag lines.
Collecting children from school
If for whatever reason there is a change to the usual person collecting your child from school, this may be an invitation to another child’s home, a party etc. Please can you ensure that it is the parent /carer who makes the school aware as to who will be collecting their child.
Walking home
Please be reminded that any parents wanting their Y5/6 children walking home alone MUST have completed the necessary form. Without this they will not be allowed to leave school unaccompanied. Forms are available from the school office.
Only children walking home alone are permitted to bring a mobile phone into school. This must be handed into the school office at registration and can be collected when children go home. Again agreement forms are available from the office.
Key Stage 2 Schools In / Maths Club
In the good weather children are allowed on the playground from 8.30am. The playground is supervised by a member of teaching staff. Year 2-6 children who attend Maths Club or Schools Out are allowed onto the playground at 8.30am. If you want your child to remain in Maths Club or Schools In until registration at 8.40am please can you advise a member of staff.
School Nurse
Should anyone have any new or regular medical concerns with their children such as bed wetting, head lice etc. Please inform the school office who will make contact with our school nursing team. Our website also contains relevant generic health advice.
Future events
- Year 6 Residential –Robinwood 9th – 11th
- Monday 14th October – Tempest Individual Photographs
- W/c 28th October – Half Term Break
Annual Calendar
As soon as we have finalised our annual calendar we will communicate this with you so you are notified of all forthcoming events.
PTA
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the PTA will be held on Monday 16th September, 7pm in school.
If you would like to support the work of the PTA or can offer your assistance in a key role within the committee please come along. We actively encourage new members to our meetings and remind you all that you all members of our Parent Teacher Association and your support and ideas are really appreciated.
With the support of you, the PTA hope to organise several events throughout the year to raise vital funds of school. More details will be provided following the AGM.
Education Mass
Every year Bishop Terry celebrates Mass for our community of schools in St. Mary’s Cathedral. This year the Education Mass will take place on Wednesday 25th September, 7pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Bishop Terry extends a welcome to children and parents if they would like to join the teachers.
Extended Schools Activities
Our many and varied extended school clubs will commence in the coming weeks. Information will be filtered out through individual classes.
Trinity Open Evening
As part of the new St Nicholas Postgate Trust, we work in close partnership with our feeder Catholic Secondary School. We actively encourage all Year 5 and Year 6 parents to visit Trinity College for their Open evening on Tuesday 24th September, 6pm.
As a passionate headteacher in a Catholic school I am confident the formation of the wider Nicholas Postgate Trust will not only have an impact on us to continue to build upon our many strengths but it will also positively impact on Catholic Secondary Education. Mrs Louise Dwyer, the new Head Teacher of Trinity, will be in school to deliver a short assembly to our Y5/6 children on Tuesday 17th September at 9am. We have arranged it at this time in the hope some parents will be able to attend. Although the assembly is for Y5/6 children, any parent is welcome so please feel free to attend if you would like to listen to Mrs Dwyer’s vision for Trinity Catholic College. She will be on the playground at 8.30am and will also be available for questions collectively or privately following the assembly.
Stay in touch
This year we will continue to communicate with via our weekly reminders, monthly newsletters, Twitter, our website and our eschools messaging services.
Those parents new to school will be issued with a unique code and instructions on how to register to eschools and how to use our Learning Platform. Curriculum and Religious Education newsletters will be sent out towards the end of September.
Please can you ensure the school office have your up to date contact information including email addresses. If you are not receiving emails please contact the school office to ensure you are fully informed of upcoming events. Any families who do not have an email address are able to request paper copies of the newsletters etc.
Website
We continue to populate and update our new website: https://stbernadettes.npcat.org.uk
Please use this to access school information such as events, latest news, external reports policies, governance, Nicholas Postgate Trust and other general information. You can also contact school and access the children’s learning platform via this link. Our new email address is [email protected]
If you have a Twitter account, please follow us. We have a private account you can access easily through the school website or Twitter. To protect the safety of the account only parents, family and known friends to the school will be accepted (18+).
And finally,
We are in the process of facilitating and recruiting volunteers to support school life. We are extremely grateful for our existing volunteers but would welcome further support as outlined above due to existing financial constraints in schools. If you can offer any support please can you contact the school office, Mr Conway or Miss Brady.
Thank you in advance for all you do to support your children with attendance, behaviour, uniform, homework, reading and times tables. We have a school network to be proud of and together we will ensure we do our best to ensure your children are supported to be the best they can be. Please do not hesitate to contact teachers, the office or myself should you wish further clarification on anything or on how to support your children further.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. P. Conway
Head Teacher
