St Mary’s C.E.V.C. Primary School,
Mill Lane,
Bradford Abbas,
Sherborne,
Dorset.
DT9 6RH
Telephone and fax: 01935 476515
E-mail:
Website:
Headteacher: Miss E Grunnill
Administrative Officer: Mrs. E. Hemsley
6thJanuary 2015
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to the new Spring term – I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and new year! The staff have spent a lot of time planning and preparing some very exciting lessons and events which I hope the children will enjoy. If you have had any changes to your contact details, please let the office know.
E-SAFETY
The children are having their annual e-safety training from Dorset Safer Schools and Communities Team this Thursday. These are fun sessions delivered in an age appropriate and sensitive way. There is a session for parents after school in the hall at 3.40-4.40pm. Please do try and come, even if you have been before, as the online world is ever changing and it is important that we know how to support our children. There is a crèche available as these sessions are NOT suitable for children.
MUSIC
This term, Year 5 and 6 will be involved in a pyramid Rock choir! The children will take part in some workshops in school which will culminate in a concert at the Gryphon.
Year 4 and 5 will also have samba lessons delivered by the Gryphon Music Coordinator Mr Val Mizen.
OTHER DATES
SATs - Mrs Middleton will be holding a SATs meeting for Year 6 parents on 14th January at 3.30pm in her classroom. This is a chance for parents to find out about this year’s SATs and ask any questions you may have.
PHONICS - Mrs Dyer will be holding a phonics meeting for Year 1 parents on Thursday 22nd January at 3.30pm in her room. This is an important opportunity to find out more about the phonics screening for Year 1 so please do try and attend.
BOOK FAIR - The book fair will be in school during the week commencing 23rd February. The fair will be open every day after school Monday to Thursday and will have a selection of up to date, popular books to choose from. The school benefits from a percentage of the sales.
PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS–Parent/teacher interviews will also fall in this week. A letter will come home nearer the time for parents to select a time. Dates are: Tuesday 24thFebruary 4-6pm (Class 1,3,4,5) 3-6pm (Class 2) and Wednesday 25th February 5-7pm (Class 1,3,4,5) and 4-7pm (Class 2). YEAR 6 PARENTS – please note that your parent/teacher interviews will be on the later date of Tuesday March 10th from 4pm. Of course, if you have a concern or problem, please do not wait until February.
CLASS ASSEMBLIES - Class assemblies for parents to come and watch will be on a Tuesday afternoon at 3pm this term and are as follows: Tuesday March 3rd Class 1 Churchwell; Tuesday March 10th Class 4 Great Western; Tuesday 17th March Class 3 Five Bridges; Tuesday 24th March Class 2 Underdown Hollow. Mrs Middleton’s class will not be doing a class assembly as such this term as they will be performing in the Gryphon rock concert as well as preparing for the Gateway, both of which parents are invited to see.
DISCO - We are still awaiting a confirmed date for the children’s disco this term but will let you know as soon as we can.
CROSS COUNTRY - The area cross country will be on Tuesday March 3rd at the Gryphon School and usually starts at 4pm. Details to follow nearer the time…
STORIES BY FAIRY LIGHT – We will be running this very popular event again on Friday 6th March from 6pm-7pm to celebrate world book day. Children are invited to come back to school dressed in their pyjamas and dressing gowns, to listen to stories read by adults from the school community. This is a lovely event which will have a minimal cost to cover hot chocolate and biscuits. If you would like to read a story this year, please let myself or Mrs Middleton know and we’ll book you in!
RED NOSE DAY – Red Nose will be on Friday 13th March. The school council will decide in due course how we will raise money for this!
YOUTH MAKES MUSIC CONCERT – I will be taking the choir to take part in the annual Youth Makes Music Concert at the Digby Hall on March 17th. The concert starts at 6.30pm but we aim to congregate at 6pm. More details nearer the time..
HOOKE COURT – Year 5 are off to Hooke Court on March 18th – 20th inclusive. This trip, organised and run by Mr Harpham is a short residential cluster trip. Our children relish the opportunity to stay away from home and make friends or reinforce friendships with their peers from the small school’s cluster.
YEAR 5/6 ROCK CONCERT Thursday March 26th – TBC – This is the proposed date for the Pyramid Rock concert that Year 5 and 6 are participating in. It will be held at the Gryphon and more details will be passed to you when I have them.
READY TO CLIMB
I am hoping to use some of our sports funding to take KS2 to Ready2Climb in Yeovil. This is an excellent facility and gives the children an opportunity not only to develop their climbing skills in a safe and controlled environment but also to build their self confidence. Details will come home by letter.
PTA
The PTA are in the process of organising lots of great activities which I hope you will be able to support. There will be a blue bag collection on January 16th at the school so if you have any spare, old clothes/sheets/towels etc, that you’d like to part with, please put them aside for this. There will also be a ‘Skool’ disco for parents on the evening of the 28th February at Bradford Abbas Sports and Social Club. More details on both to follow…
YEAR 6 CAKE SALE
Message from Tricia Chapman (Owen’s Mum):
Dear Parents/Carers,
On behalf of the organisers I wish to thank all of you who supported the year6 cake sale as it was very successful and a great way to begin the Christmas holidays.
Happy New Year.
I will of course, send home further details on all of these events nearer the time. Please continue to check your child’s book bag daily for letters. Our Facebook page is very successful and is a very good way of sharing information quickly so please like us. Newsletters will come home around the 20th of each month and will be posted on our website as well as being displayed in the foyer by the office. Some of the letters home will also be posted on our website under ‘information’.
I very much look forward to working with you and all the children again this term!
Kindest regards,
Miss E Grunnill
Headteacher