Newsletter No.7
Dear Parents/Carers,
This is the last full newsletter before the half term break. The last 6 weeks seem to have flown by and the excellent start to the new school year has been maintained by all the classes. I have been particularly impressed with how well our Year 3 pupils have settled into the school and how many of our older pupils are great role models.
I have had a very enjoyable 3 days at Buckden with our Year 6 pupils this week. The weather stayed mainly dry if a bit cool and as always we experienced the quiet and calm atmosphere of Buckden Towers Retreat Centre. It was especially nice to meet up with Father Jim Kennedy who celebrated Mass with both classes in the beautiful Lady Chapel at Buckden. My thanks to all the staff who willingly gave up their time to be with the children and to ensure they had an enjoyable and safe experience.
October
We are now into the month of October and during the month we have special prayers for Our Lady of the Rosary and will also be doing work around Black History Month. I have asked the children to try and have rosary beads in school during the month that they can use in class and assembly to pray to Our Lady of the Rosary.
Masses and Assemblies
Well done to the Year 6 classes who held their special Mass on “Friendship” at Buckden Towers on Tuesday. We have two class assemblies next week. Class 4RB have their assembly on “Called” on Tuesday 15th October at 2:30pm and then Class 3K have their first assembly in the junior school on “Promises” on Thursday 17th October at 2:30pm. Parents and families are always welcome to join us.
Harvest Donations
Thank you to everyone who sent in donations of food and other items for our Harvest Day last Friday. You can still send in donations and we will be distributing them to the food bank in Walthamstow before half term through the School Council.
After School Activities
The current timetable of after school activiites ends next week. It has generally gone very well though we have had to move some of the clubs to different nights. Next Monday I will send home the new timetable for after half term so that you can book clubs for your children. We will be revising the timetable to have fewer outdoor clubs with the dark nights coming and more indoor activiites such as drumming, drama and cheerleading. You will need to sign up by next Friday to guarantee a place. Please note that the gardening club next week will be on Wednesday rather than Thursday as they have been invited to see George Mitchell’s garden clu
Friends’ Association AGM
My thanks to the parents who attended the meeting last night. It was a small group and it was disappointing not to see some new parents coming along, however it was a positive meeting and we can now plan ahead for the year and confirm the following dates for events later in the term:
Sunday 8th December – Christmas Bazaar 1:00-4:00pm
Friday 13th December – Christmas Coffee Morning to raise money for Save the Children (tie in with our “Christmas Jumper Day”) 9:00am
Friday 13th December – Family Film Night 7:00pm
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 29th October at 6:00pm. We will be organising the Christmas Bazaar and the other events so we need lots of ideas and offers of help. I know several parents cannot attend the meetings but still help out in different ways which is great and much appreciated. It would be nice to get some new parents and families involved so that the jobs can be shared around.
After School Club
We are currently taking bookings for our After School Club which runs from 3:05 to 6:30pm each school day. Application forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded from the school website. Our prices remain unchanged so the current cost is £14 per day or £50 for a full week. We also offer an occasional ad hoc service which costs £7 up till 4:30pm and £14 up till 6:30pm.
Uniform/PE Kits
Uniform will next be on sale after half term on Wednesday 30th October from 8:50-9:30am and then every second Wednesday during the term.
Attendance and Punctuality
Congratulations to Class 4RB who achieved 100% attendance this week and Class 3K who also achieved 100% punctuality.
Class of the Week
Well done to our Year 6 classes for their excellent behaviour at Buckden Towers this week on their residential retreat. They engaged in all the activiites, showed maturity and helped each other throughout the stay. Also well done to Class 5L for their outstanding behaviour on their trip to the Ragged Museum last Friday. Again the children were wonderful ambassadors for the school.
Trips
Class 5O will be making their visit to the Ragged Museum to support their work on the Victorians next Thursday 17th October. Parents in 5O have already received a letter with all the details of next Thursday and need to make sure they go online to authorise and pay for the trip
Non-Uniform Day for CAFOD
We are holding a non-uniform days for CAFOD next Friday 18th October when the children can bring in £1 for wearing their own clothes. Next Friday we are encouraging the children to wear the brightest clothes they can so we can help CAFOD to “Brighten up the World”. We will also be holding a cake sale next Friday.
Library
The re-decoration of the school library is now complete and the books we no longer need have been taken off the system. All that remains now is for the new books to be put onto the system and shelves and we should be up and running after half term. The Governors’ Meeting was held in the refurbished library this afternoon. Again my thanks to everyone who has helped in this project and given up their time over the last few weeks.
Quiz Night (Friday 18th October)
Our former pupil Sinead Menekse, who has also painted most of the murals in the library, is hosting a quiz night here in order to raise funds for an opportunity to teach in Dominica next year. It will be on Friday 18th October from 6:30pm in the school hall. Adults £5, children £3. Snacks and buffet will be provided, bring your own drinks. To book a table, contact Marion (Sinead’s mum) on 07492743070.
Secondary Applications
Father Gerry will be signing the Certificate of Catholic Practice form for secondary schools after all Sunday Masses from 13th to 27th October. More information is in the parish newsletter. The closing date for applications is 31st October.
Half Term
Just to remind everyone that school will close next Friday 18th October at the normal time of 3:05pm for the half term break and re-open on Monday 28th October.
Yours sincerely,
J Alexander (Head teacher)
Future Dates for your Diary
This is a list of important dates for this term; it will be updated and amended each week. Please keep it in a safe place to refer to.
- Monday 14th October – “Writing Day” in school
- Tuesday 15th October – Class 4RB Assembly on “Called” 2:30pm
- Thursday 17th October – Class 5O trip to the Ragged Museum
- Thursday 17th October – Class 3K Assembly on “Promises” 2:30pm
- Friday 18th October – Last day of 1st half term (finish at normal time of 3:05pm)
- Friday 18th October – Non-uniform day for CAFOD’s “Brighten up the World” (£1)
- Friday 18th October – Quiz Night in school 6:30pm
- Monday 21st – Friday 25th October – Half term break
- Tuesday 29th October – Artyface Mosaics Project for Year 3 all day
- Wednesday 30th October – Artyface Mosaics Project for year 4 all day
- Thursday 31st October – Whole School Mass for All Saints led by Y3 11:00am
- Thursday 31st October – Artyface Mosaics Project for Year 5 all day
- Friday 1st November -Artyface Mosaics Project for Year 6 all day
- Wednesday 6th November – Year 6 and Class 5O cinema trips am
- Wednesday 6th November – Year 3 visit to the Natural History Museum
- Thursday 7th November – Year 4 visit Millfield Theatre to watch “Macbeth” am
- Thursday 7th November – Class 6P Assembly on “Remembrance” 9:00am
- Thursday 7th November – Poppies and Poems Workshops for Year 3 pm
- Friday 8th November – Non-uniform day for Christmas Bazaar
- Friday 8th November – Poppies and Poems Workshops for Years 4, 5 and 6
- Monday 11th November – Cinema trips for Year 3 and 4 am
- Tuesday 12th November – Cinema trip for class 5L am
- Thursday 14th November – Class 3H Assembly on “Visitors” 2:30pm
- Friday 15th November – Non-uniform day for Christmas Bazaar
- Wednesday 20th November – Simon Murray (illustrator) in school today
- Friday 22nd November – Non-uniform day for Christmas Bazaar
- Thursday 28th November – Class 5L Assembly on “St Andrew” 2:30pm
- Friday 29th November – Non-uniform day for Christmas Bazaar
- Monday 2nd December – Maths Assessment Week in Years 3, 4 and 5
- Monday 2nd December – Parent Meetings 1:00-3:00pm and 4:00-6:00pm
- Wednesday 4th December – Class 5O Assembly on “Hope” 2:30pm
- Thursday 5th December – Pantomime of “Aladdin” in school 10:30am
- Thursday 5th December – Fire Safety Talk for Year 5 pm
- Friday 6th December – Non-uniform day for Christmas Bazaar
- Sunday 8th December – Christmas Bazaar 1:00-4:00pm
- Monday 9th December – Mock SATs Week in Year 6
- Monday 9th December – Reading Assessment Week in Years 3, 4 and 5
- Tuesday 10th December – Carol Concert led by Y3 in church 10:30am
- Wednesday 11th December – Carol Concert led by Y3 in church 7:00pm
- Friday 13th December – “Christmas Jumper Day” for Save the Children”
- Friday 13th December – Family Film Night 7:00pm (TBC)
- Monday 16th December – Writing Assessment Week for all year groups
- Tuesday 17th December – Y4 Shakespeare Concert of “Macbeth” 11:00am
- Wednesday 18th December – Y4 Shakespeare Concert of “Macbeth” 7:00pm
- Thursday 19th December – Whole School Mass led by Year 5 11:00am
- Friday 20th December – Last day of term (finish at 2:00pm today)
