Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope everyone has had a good week and you are all staying safe. School continues to move forward in a still ever-changing and uncertain world with new announcements and fresh restrictions on the horizon. All we can do is carry on here and hope that schools can remain open, particularly after all the hard work that was done to reopen in September and settle the children back. We are a week away from half term so that will give us all a well-earned break and we can see where we are then.
Federation of St Joseph’s Junior and Infant Schools
You should all have received a copy of the consultation document along with a letter from the Diocese last week regarding the proposed federation with St Joseph’s Infant School. Apologies that it did not go out with the newsletter itself last Friday, but we were able to send it out on Saturday morning. We are also putting these documents on the school website. If you need a paper copy please come to the school office. As before I would urge everyone to respond to the consultation and give your views. There will be meeting for parents from both schools on Wednesday 4th November at 8:00am, 4:30pm and 7:00pm.
Covid-19
There will be protocols in place if a pupil is taken ill while in school with suspected Covid-19. If this happens parents will be contacted to collect their child as soon as possible and arrange a test. We cannot take a pupil back into school until they have been tested and the result is known. If it is positive they will have to isolate for 10 days from the first day of being unwell, if it is negative and they are feeling well they can return to school. Of course we will still expect parents to not send their children to school if they are unwell. I sent everyone a letter from the NHS last week with useful information around when to arrange a test for your child and when you don’t need to.
Flu Vaccinations
As you may be aware the government is offering flu vaccinations for all pupils up to Year 7. These will take place in school on Tuesday 24th November. We are sending home the pack today with all the information you need regarding the flu vaccination, how it is administered and why it is being offered to all primary aged pupils plus Year 7. Can you please fill in and return the form to school, even if you do not wish your child to receive the vaccine. Can you return the forms as soon as possible so that we can pass them on to NHS England.
After School Club/Breakfast Club
We are taking bookings for the After School Club from 2:45pm to 6:30pm. Breakfast Club is £2 per day and After School Club is £5 per day up till 4:30pm and £10 per day up till 6:30pm with a reduced rate of £40 if you book for the week. For the After School Club you will need to book a place. Application forms are available on the school website or at the school office and you can pay for both of the clubs online. With the colder weather, I would encourage parents to take advantage of both clubs.
Uniform
We are selling uniform every second week in school on Wednesday mornings from 8:30am to 9:30am. The next sale will be next Wednesday 21st October. If you need an item of uniform in an emergency, please come to the school office. With the colder weather now here, it is important that the children are coming to school with a warm and waterproof coat. Because money may be tight for many families at this time, I am relaxing the uniform policy for coats. If possible we would still like the children to be in dark coats but if you don’t have one, they can wear another coat to save you having to buy what can be quite an expensive item. Having said that, the school coats are very good value and are both warm and waterproof.
After School Clubs
After half term we are going to offer some after school sports/dance clubs for each year group. These are the clubs, days/times and which year group they are for:
Monday – Multi-Sports Club for pupils in Years 3 and 4 (3:00-4:00pm). Book this directly with PTC Sports as their coach Luke will be running the club for us. Book at https://ptcsports.class4kids.co.uk/term/28. The cost of the club is £21 for 6 weeks. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. For further information about the club you can contact Taskin from PTC Sports on 07513 522 896.
Tuesday – Dance Stables for all year groups (3:00-4:00pm). Book this directly with Dance Stables at ds.team@dancestables.co.uk.
Wednesday – Multi-Sports Club for pupils in Year 6 (3:15-4:15pm).
Thursday – Multi-Sports Club for pupils in Year 5 (3:15-4:15pm)
Both the Wednesday and Thursday Sports Clubs will be run by the coaches from Leyton Orient who are here in the afternoon. We will be putting the booking forms online from today on the School Shop so you can book a place for your child. The cost will be £21 for 6 weeks. Again places are limited so book early. All the clubs will start the week after half term and will not clash with after school tuition classes.
Catch-Up Tuition
To help schools after the long period of lockdown this year, the government is funding catch-up tuition to support pupils who may have fallen behind during the lockdown or who are behind their peers. We sent out invite letters to parents on Monday for Maths Clubs after half term next week and we have received most of the replies. If you received an invite but haven’t yet replied, I would strongly urge you to take advantage of this additional support for your child. We are focusing mainly on numeracy for the 6 week period after half term, as this is where the greatest need has been identified. As I mentioned last week the clubs will be run by our own staff and I am grateful to the 18 members of staff who have volunteered to run the different groups. They know the children best and can plan the work for their groups. All the groups will start after half term in the week of 2nd November and will not clash with any of our after school sports/dance groups.
First Communion Masses
Congratulations to all the children who finally made their First Holy Communion last Sunday in church. My own grandson was one of them so I was there for the Mass and it was a lovely occasion with nice weather. Good luck to everyone who is making their First Communion this Sunday at 3:00pm. I hope to be there too to see you all and then at the Going Forth Mass the following Sunday at 10:00am. I know you and your families have all had to wait several months to see you make your First Communion so it was great you could do this last Sunday and this Sunday.
Non-Uniform Days/Fundraising
We have now raised over £860 for school funds from our five non-uniform days so far This term. Well done everyone.
CAFOD Harvest Day (9th October)
We held our CAFOD Harvest Day in school last week to support their “Wash Your Hands” Appeal. I am happy to say we raised £200 altogether for CAFOD and I was able to send them a cheque this week to support the great work they are doing across the world.
Harvest Donations
Traditionally at this time of year we collect donations of food to then give to local food banks to support families who are experiencing financial difficulties, particularly at this time. Several families have enquired about this and we have had a couple of donations which is lovely. Unfortunately with the current restrictions we are unable to do this at the moment which is a shame given that food banks are even more important now.
Friday Assembly Awards (Week of 12th – 16th October)
These were the awards presented at the Friday assembly today. Congratulations and well done to everyone who received a reward today.
Golden Book Awards:
Class 3K – Maciej, Misbah and Michelle
Class 3H – Georgios, Ruthie and Matthew
Class 4P – Michelle, Jayden and Etinosa
Class 4RC – Tyler, Byron and Dominik
Class 5L – Emilia, Tomas A and Anna
Class 5O – Daniel, Bohdan and Kacper
Class 6PM – Natalia, Molly and Ezekiel
Class 6C – Adina, Devonte and Michael
Team of the Week – St. Patrick’s with 4,420 points. Well done.
Class of the Week – Class 50 for lovely writing and art work on Our Lady of the Rosary this week.
Attendance of the Week – Class 3H and Class 4RC with 100% attendance.
Pupils of the Week – Emily 3H, Michelle 4P, Elisha 5L and Neshae 6C
Half Term
The school will close for the half term break next Friday 23rd October at 2:45pm for Years 3 and 4 and 3:00pm for Years 5 and 6. We will reopen on Monday 2nd November at 8:45am for Years 3 and 4 and 9:00am for Years 5 and 6.
Yours sincerely,
J Alexander (Head teacher)
Dates for this term (will be added to and updated each week)
Friday 23rd October – last day of half term
Friday 23rd October – non-uniform day for school funds (bring £1)
Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October – half term
Monday 2nd November – first day of 2nd half term
Monday 2nd November – Year 5 and 6 Maths Clubs start today 3:15-4:15pm
Monday 2nd November – Year 3 and 4 Multi-Sports Club starts today 3:00-4:00pm
Tuesday 3rd November – Dance Club resumes 3:00-4:00pm
Wednesday 4th November – parental meetings, as part of the consultation on the proposed federation at 8:00am, 4:30pm and 7:00pm.
Wednesday 4th November – Year 6 Multi-Sports Club starts today 3:15-4:15pm
Thursday 5th November – Year 3 and 4 Maths Clubs start today 3:00-4:00pm
Thursday 5th November – Year 5 Multi-Sports Club starts today 3:15-4:15pm
Friday 6th November – non-uniform day for school funds (bring £1)
Friday 13th November – non-uniform day for school funds (bring £1)
Tuesday 17th November – Book Fair in school each day this week 8:00-9:00am
Thursday 19th November – end of consultation period on the proposed federation
Friday 20th November – non-uniform day for school funds (bring £1)
Friday 11th December – “Christmas Jumper Day” for Save the Children.
