School Newsletter: 15/01/10



The latest newsletter is now online.

Dear Parents/Carers,

The school continues to operate thanks to the efforts and dedication of everyone at Edwalton.  We are indebted to you all for supporting us.  Please take your time in the current bad weather and drive safely.  Wednesday was a treacherous day because of the conditions and lethal black ice.  Whilst I was doing ‘duty’ with P.C. Leake there were 9 road traffic accidents just in our area between 8.50am and 9.10am!

Whilst supervising the children along the footpath, some drivers insisted on driving down the pavement whilst buggies were being pushed along.  Absolutely outrageous!  Parents spoke to the blue 4x4 driver and her number has been reported to the Police.  Several drivers insisted on driving down the cul-de-sac even after my warning notice about ‘black ice’!  Please be reminded that I tell you all this because I don’t want to lose a child or parent.  Please, please in the current conditions do not enter our cul-de-sac.  Park elsewhere or walk.  Be warned the Police will continue to operate in our area.  You are risking your licence and you will be reported.  Parking/driving on the pavement can result in being booked at the very least.  Feel free to report selfish drivers yourselves.  Be warned – it works!  Shall we start naming the owners?

100% Attendance

On a more positive note, the children below are the children who have not missed a single session (am or pm) of school during last term.  Well done everyone.  If you feel your child qualifies you can request a “steward enquiry” with Amanda Brown!

Ash Class – Ben Brown, Rosie Haworth, James MacDonald
Elm Class – Melissa Kilner, Liam Radford
Holly Class – Max Bill, Palak Goel, Freya Panton, Eleanor Roberts, Ben Stacey
Oak Class – Nyrobi Beckett-Messam, Owen Chappell, Poppy Fisher, Charlie Grice, Holly Grimes, Abigail Halloway, Oliver Hicks, Jonathan Jaycock, Nathan Walford.
Hazel Class – Jay Chambers, Tara Garlick, Ivan Pang, William Shaw.
Lime Class – Jack Birch, Megan Malfesi, Shakira Thomas, Lucy Wellor
Rowan Class – Jordie Avery, Samuel Dewick, Bhumika Goel, Samuel Inchley, Daniel King, Ajay Rana, Maxwell Shilton, Ailsa Turner, Caitlin Walker
Willow Class – Zharnel Bonner, Darwin Hadley, Bethany Halloway, Elaine Harris, Chloe Kent, Eleanor Postlethwaite, Alfie Rowley, Lorenza Squitieri, Jessica Thompson.
Beech Class – Daniel Cook, Jordon Coxon, Jack Dewick, Ellen Ferguson, Byron Griffin, Cameron Hefter, Shanice Kilburn, Mahiru Okabe, Lillie Powell, Harry Wesson
Maple Class – Samuel Asher, Megan Beck, Tamai Buchanan, Phoebe Greenhalgh, Meg Hudson, James Inchley, Thomas Jaycock, Harriet Turner & Rachel Brown.


Mon 18 January
12.15pm I.T. Club
12.15pm KS2 Spanish Club
3.30pm Animal Club
3.30pm YMCA Multi-Sports Foundation & Yrs1 & 2

Tue 19January
12.15pm School Council
12.15pm FS and KS1  
               Spanish Club
3.30pm YMCA Teamsports
Years 3 - 6

Wed 20 January
8.00am Marimba Band
12.30pm KS1 and KS2 Choirs
3.30pm – YMCA Football – Years 3-6
3.35pm Mad Science Club –
             in Hut

Thurs 21 January
Class Photographs - Saplings
12.15pm Eco/Gardening Club – Years 3 – 6
3.30 - 4.40pm Dance Club –
                        Yr 1 – Y6

Fri 22 January 
10.25am Holly & Beech Classes Swimming
12.30pm Christian Club (Lime)
12.30pm Chess Club


SCHOOL DINNERS

Please note the price of a school meal will increase to £1.95 per day from 5th January 2010

Mid-morning Café
Toast 20p a slice
Mini Pizza 35p each
Flavoured Milk 50p
Cookie 35p
Fruit Cuplette 30p


Animal Club

Please, please ensure your child is suitably equipped to participate in this club on Mondays

School Meals

On Wednesday the kitchen cooked and served over 200 hot, nutritious meals to both children and staff.  Well done Marion Janet, Pat, Julie and Yasmin!  A fantastic effort.  The school dinner constitutes a healthy meal, and given the recent media coverage that, allegedly, only 1 in 5 lunchboxes are of adequate nutritional value for young children, highlights the fact that a hot, cooked school meal is excellent value. I personally do not believe in ‘policing’ lunchboxes and feel the contents are your decision as a family based on informed advice and your child’s individual preferences.  However particularly, at the moment, the school meal offers tremendous value for money.
        
 Mid-Morning Snack 

Marion and Janet in the kitchen offer pizzas, drinks, toast, cookies and flapjack at 10.10am for both staff and children alike.  We would like some ideas to rejuvenate the menu.  Would your children like crumpets or a toasted teacake?  Please put your suggestions in the School Council Box in the school entrance.  Thank you.

  
 Path Clearing 

Many thanks to my Path Clearing Detail who have worked hard to support John and myself clear the main paths around school.  Up until today – as my lower back will testify – we have worked every day.  The following children have helped and deserve thanks.  Daniel Cook, Harry Bugg, Harry Wesson, Byron Griffin, Ranjeet Dhaliwal-Gordon, Cameron Hefter, Lucas Li, Jack Dewick, Jack Scott, Finley Owen, Callam Burton, Kiran Goindi, Liam Baker, Bradley Rice, Phoebe Greenhalgh, Tamai Buchanan, Charlotte Lee, Rachel Brown, Meg Hudson, Jack Sampson, Chloe Beaumont, Alfie Rowley, Zharnel Bonner and Nihal Goindi.  It’s cost me a few quid in free toast!


Saplings Class – Individual Photographs

Thursday 21st January
Exigent Photography will be in school on Thursday 21st January to take individual photographs of the children in Saplings Class.


Midday Supervisors

We are desperately short of mid-day supervision at the moment especially if the weather remains like it has been of late.  We have also admitted additional very young children who need closer supervision.  Could any mums or dads spare a few lunchtimes to help supervise our children over the lunchtime period from 12 noon to 1.15pm? The children are lovely and a joy to work with. The rates of pay are £6.58 per hour and the school actively promotes job-share.  Midday supervisors will need to have full CRB clearance.  Please contact the office for more details.


School Office Hours

The school office is open from 7.45am when Katie Yapp arrives, joined by Amanda at 8am and is staffed until 3.45pm Monday to Friday when Katie leaves.  Amanda works on a part-time basis.  Please keep phone calls to a minimum after 3.45pm as I have no cover for the office. Absence message can be phoned through and a message left on the answer phone anytime between 6pm and 7.45am.

The Governors and I have consistently wanted to staff the office from 3pm – 6pm Monday to Friday to have front-of-house cover.  It can be extremely difficult for me to operate front of house, the front door and run meetings with staff, governors or visitors.  We are hopeful that we will be able to offer such a position from April to help support me in an ever increasing complex role principally because children’s safety is paramount and we offer so many after school clubs and activities.

If you have any interest in the above role which would require basic reception and IT skills (letter typing) please get in touch with me.


School Council

This term School Council is asking the school to decide where to place the ‘Playground Good Behaviour Stars’.  These were purchased last year with proceeds from a Cake Sale.  Daniel Cook has photographed a range of different sites and classes will decide during School Council carpet time where they would like the stars to be placed.  If you log on to the Edwalton website and then follow the School Council link you can see these sites for yourself. 

Last term School Council raised £60 for Macmillan Nurses by holding a ‘Christmas Coffee and Music Afternoon’.  They will arrange for a representative from Macmillan Nurses to collect the cheque.

 Basket Ball Club - cancelled

The Basketball club that was going to run this term has been cancelled due to insufficient interest.  Cheques will be returned to parents who enrolled their child last term over the next few days.
 
 Swimming

A reminder that Holly Class and Beech Class will continue swimming again on Friday mornings from 15 January for four weeks until the last session on 5 February. 

 2010 SATs Test Week Timetable 

A reminder that the test timetable has been revised for 2010.  Please do not book holidays in this period.

Mon 10 May  English Reading
Tue 11 May  English writing
Wed 12 May  Mental mathematics and Mathematics Paper A
Thu 13 May  Mathematics Paper B
Friday 14 May  Science sampling tests (for selected pupils/schools) – Edwalton may be asked to undertake these tests.  Schools are selected at random – allegedly!

 

 CARTRIDGE RECYCLING 

We are still collecting empty ink cartridges.   However, we are only able to re-cycle:
DELL, CANON, HP and LEXMARK ONLY (no brand substitutes can be accepted)
School is no longer able to recycle BROTHER, EPSON or any other brand compatible cartridges and cannot recycle any make of toner cartridges.  To help us, please only send in what we are able to collect.  Thank you.


Some cartridges have a high re-cycling value and we will continue to cash these in to boost school funds.  Others on the list have a low/no cash value and we will donate these to Childline to support their current campaign.

       
       Brian Owens
       Head Teacher