Dear Parents/Carers,
Masses and Assemblies
Well done to Class 6C who presented a very powerful and reflective assembly on “Death and New Life” this week. Our Year 6 pupils will be leading the special Deanery Mass for all the Catholic schools in Waltham Forest next Thursday 12th March at 10:30pm in St Joseph’s Church.
Coronavirus
I sent home a letter this week from the local authority with up to date information about the Coronavirus. I will keep you updated if anything changes in the next few days and weeks. It is a rapidly changing situation and we are taking the normal precautions which I am sure you are also doing at home. All the classes will wash their hands before going for lunch and at key times during the day e.g. after PE lessons. We are also using assemblies to remind the pupils about binning used tissues and we are buying additional hand washing bottles and sprays to use on door handles, light switches and well-used surfaces. Ms Le who leads on Health Education in school, is co-ordinating a lot of these measures and we are putting posters around school. We are not planning to cancel any events or school trips at this time and will be guided by advice from both the local authority and government.
Consultation
Thank you to everyone who came to either of the meetings on Wednesday. I am also grateful to the school governors’ who made time in their busy schedule to come along and answer your questions. I hope it was a useful forum. There are just over two weeks left in the consultation period and again I would urge everyone to respond. Please don’t be concerned about putting your name on the form, they will be anonymised and no individual respondent will be identified. Can I also assure everyone that our governing body will make their decision based purely on the responses from parents and staff at the Junior School.
Friends’ Association
We are holding the “Have a Heart Family Quiz Night” on Saturday from 7:00-9:30pm to raise money to buy a defibrillator for the school and the local community (thus the title!). For one night only your headmaster will become the quizmaster! Admission is £5 for adults and £3 for children (this includes a buffet plus soft refreshments; you can bring your own drinks). The winning team (minimum of 4 per team) will win £100. We are holding a raffle with lots of prizes including a signed shirt from the Leyton Orient first team. Hopefully many of you can come on Saturday and we can have a nice evening and raise lots of money.
Uniform
Uniform will next be on sale next Wednesday 11th March from 8:50-9:30am.
Lenten Fundraising for CAFOD
It has become a traditional part of our journey through Lent to raise money for CAFOD and support their Lenten Appeal. As part of this fundraising we will be holding our popular colour themed non-uniform days each Friday during Lent up till the end of term. The children can wear their own clothes as normal in return for bringing their £1 and we have a colour theme each week with a prize for the most colourful class. Friday 13th March – “Green Day”, Friday 20th March – “Yellow Day”, Friday 27th March – “Blue Day”. We will also be holding other fundraising events this half term including “Lenten Wells”, a sponsored walk at the end of term and cake/ice cream sales on some of the Fridays.
Book Day (6th March)
It was lovely to see lots of the children coming to school today dressed as their favourite book character. It turned out better to have the day today rather than yesterday when the weather was so wet and cold and the children did not get outside at all. I also gave out book tokens which the children can use at our Book Fairs later in the term.
Class of the Week
Class 6C is Class of the Week for their thoughtful assembly on “Death and New Life”. It was a fitting and appropriate way to mark our journey through Lent.
Attendance and Punctuality
Well done to Class 3H who again had the best attendance this week with 100% and Class 4P who had the best punctuality also with 100%.
Sport
Good luck to the Year 4 Boys and Girls Football team who will be taking part in the Leyton Orient Indoor Tournament at the Score Centre next Thursday.
Bikeabilty Training
24 of our Year 5 pupils have the opportunity next week to improve their cycling skills and learn about cycle safety with the trainers from the Bikeability Group. There will also be training for up to 24 pupils in Years 3 and 4 on 25th and 26th March and I have given out letters to all the children in these classes today.
Trips
Unfortunately the planned trip to the Olympic Park for a group of our Year 5 pupils next Thursday afternoon has had to be postponed by the organisers.
Lettings
Just to remind everyone that the school is available for lettings this year at very competitive prices. If you would like to book the hall etc. for a party or family event or know of someone who is looking for a venue, please contact the school. The summer term in particular is very popular for bookings e.g. First Communion parties, so I would recommend getting in touch as soon as you have a date in mind.
Easter Sports Club (6th-9th April)
We will be holding an Easter Sports Club during the first week of the holidays from Monday 6th April to Thursday 9th April (Friday 10th April is Good Friday). The club is being run by PTC Sports who are already working in school on Mondays and will be running our activity afternoon on St Joseph’s Day. We will shortly be sending out fliers for the club so that you can book places for your child. There are only 40 places available so I would suggest that when you receive the flier from PTC Sports, you book quickly to guarantee a place.
Piano Lessons
Piano lessons for 20/30 minutes each week are offered during school hours and at home by arrangement, from beginners up to Grade 5. For more details, contact Tracy Swart on 078 945 80286.
Visit from GB Volleyball Player and Sponsored Event
On the morning of St Joseph’s Day on Thursday 19th March, the school will be hosting a GB Volleyball player as part of the Sports for Schools Scheme. Peter Bakare will be here to work with the children in a series of fitness circuits in the hall followed by a 30 minute assembly where Peter will talk to the children about his life and the hard work needed to be a top athlete. As part of this event, we are asking the children to get sponsored for the fitness circuit on 19th. The money raised will be split 60% to the school to buy sports equipment and 40% to Sports for Schools to cover their costs and help support the athlete in his training. At the assembly next Monday, I will be talking about the event, showing the children a DVD about the fitness circuit and then we will give out the sponsor forms to all the children. They collect their sponsors before the 19th March, d o the fitness circuit on the day (all the children will take part in this) and then they have a week after the event to collect the sponsor money and bring in to school.
Yours sincerely,
J Alexander (Head teacher)
Future Dates for your Diary
- Saturday 7th March – “Have a Heart” Family Quiz Night 7:00-9:30pm
- Monday 9th March – Bikeability cycle training for Year 5 pupils this week
- Thursday 12th March – Deanery Mass for Y6 pupils at St Joseph’s Church am
- Thursday 12th March – Year 4 football tournament at the Score Centre am
- Friday 13th March – Non-uniform day for CAFOD’s Lenten Appeal (“Green Day”)
- Wednesday 18th March – Scholastic Book Fair begins each day before school
- Thursday 19th March – Mass for St Joseph’s Day in church led by Y4 11:00am
- Thursday 19th March – Visit from GB Volleyball Player for sponsored event am
- Thursday 19th March – Sports/Activity Afternoon run by PTC Sports
- Friday 20th March – Non-uniform day for CAFOD’s Lenten Appeal (“Yellow Day”)
- Friday 20th March – School hosting an RCE Conference in the main hall today
- Monday 23rd March – Consultation on the proposed Hard Federation ends today
- Monday 23rd March – Parental Consultation Meetings (1:00-3:00pm/4:00-6:00pm)
- Wednesday 25th March – Year 6 trip to Harry Potter World
- Wednesday 25th March – Bikeability cycle training for Year 3 and 4 pupils (2 days)
- Thursday 26th March – Book Fair ends today
- Friday 27th March – Non-uniform day for CAFOD’s Lenten Appeal (“Blue Day”)
- Friday 27th March – Year 3 trip to Mountfitchet Castle
- Monday 30th March – German teacher in school this week (UK/German Connection)
- Monday 30th March – Lenten Reconciliation Service am
- Tuesday 31st March – Year 5 Easter Production 11:00am
- Wednesday 1st April – Year 5 Easter Production 7:00pm
- Thursday 2nd April – Class and group photographs am
- Thursday 2nd April – Sponsored walk for CAFOD pm (to be confirmed)
- Friday 3rd April – Last day of term including Lenten Service led by Year 3 am (school ends at 2:00pm today)
- Monday 6th April to Thursday 9th April – Easter Sports Club run by PTC Sports
- Monday 20th April – First day of summer term
