Headteacher’s Newsletter
Issue 3 6thJanuary 2015
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the start of a new year and a new term.
THE STAFF OF ST STEPHEN’S JOIN ME IN WISHING ALL OUR FAMILIES A HAPPY, SAFE, VERY PEACEFUL AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
I am delighted to report on two pieces of very good news for St Stephens. In October the Minister of Statefor school reform, Mr Nick Gibb MP wrote to me to congratulate the staff and pupils for the high standards of phonics achievement in Year 1. St Stephen’s came in the top 5% of schools Nationally in the phonics screening tests. Secondly, in November the top 200 state primary schools were published in the Sunday Times and we are delighted that St Stephen’s came 152nd. I would like to extend these congratulations to yourselves the parents who continually support the school and to the dedicated staff.
We encourage you to visit our school website . The site is regularly updated to keep you informed of all the news and events happening in school. Your child’s weekly homework is available to view on our classes and curriculum page, diary dates are displayed to keep you informed and much more.
Please look out for the range of services and activities for families with young children in the Children’s Centre. Pick up our Activity Calendar from reception in both the school and nursery.
Please read this letter carefully as it contains useful information about school events and dates for the rest of this term.
Ms Neena Lall
Headteacher
SPRING TERM DATES 2015
JANUARY 2015
Monday 5thJanuary / Primary Pupils return 8.55am
Wednesday 7th January / Maintained Nursery Pupils return
Thursday 8th January / Year 6 SATs and Farm Visit meeting 2.45pm in the school hall
Thursday 15thJanuary / Primary Parents evening 3.30-8.30pm
Nursery, Reception Class and Year 1 Consultation Day
Community health event in school hall
Monday 19th January –Friday 23rd January / Year 6 Farm residential visit
Wednesday 21st January / Year 1 Phonics test meeting 3.30pm in the school hall
FEBRUARY 2015
Monday 9thFebruary –Friday 13th February / Science Week
Tuesday 10th February / Safer Internet Day
Tuesday 10th February / Parent Meeting- How to keep your children safer on the internet-3.30pm in the school Hall
Thursday 12th February / Governors Open afternoon 1-3pm
Friday 13th February-Half Term holiday – School closes at 3:15 pm
Children’s Centre and Day care will remain open.
Monday 23rdFebruary -School restarts at 8:55 am
I will inform you of any additional dates and events that may be set during the term.
THIS TERM’S TOPICS
Reception / Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3 / Year 4 / Year 5 / Year 6
All about me / Building and homes / Aliens and outer space / Adventure and dinosaurs / Who do you think you are? / Being British / Blue Planet
JOY CUP
‘THE JOY CUP’ is awarded to a member of each class each term.
The joy cup is awarded to those children who have a joy for coming to school and embrace all that St Stephen’s has to offer.
I would like to congratulate the joy cup winners for the Autumn Term 2014.
RZ-AazminaFasi
RS- Musfirah Eman
RM-Samiya Islam / 1L-Arwa Bhullani
1S-Jayden Wheatle / 2D- Rutvi Patel
2H-Ishrath Chowdhury / 3L- Alisha Asif
3S-Adil Ahmed / 4K -Reda Ferose
4S -Abukar Abukar / 5S-Umer Asif
5A- Alesha Khan
5M-Aisha Qazi / 6D- Nihal Amin
6J-Zaina Mulaffar
FUNDRAISERS
  • Book Fair-Thank you for buying books, we raised a fantastic £956.19
  • Harvest Donations of food were gratefully received by Community Links.
  • Poppy Appeal- £75.55
  • DISCO-£275.72
  • Hamper – £118.89 for School Fund
  • Save the Children- Christmas jumper day-£470
Thank you for all your donations to these worthwhile causes.
STAFFING
Primary
We welcome 2 new members of staff James Frecknall, who will be teaching across the school and Cilla Patel, who will be supporting children in year 1.
Site Update
The reception is being landscaped during this half term. This is the final stage of the school building works and reflects our ethos of the importance of outdoor learning,especially in the early years.
Safeguarding
E-Safety- It has come to my attention that some of our children are either playing or watching computer games that are rated above their age. In some cases children have been playing games rated 18. Please make sure that your children are supervised when playing computer games and are playing age appropriate games.
Telephone numbers- It is essential that we have up to date telephone contacts for all parents and carers. Please ensure that the school office receives updated details if they change. It is vital that we have these in case of emergency.
Local Crime-Parents have informed me of inappropriate activities and gatherings after school hours in the roads surrounding St Stephen’s. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. After meeting local counsellors, we were advised that any inappropriate activities must be reported using the non-emergency 101 telephone number. The local police need to be informed of any incidents if they are to support the local community effectively.
You can report some issues through the ‘Love Newham’ app.
CONTACT US
St Stephen’s Schools and Children’s Centre, Whitfield Road, London E6 1AS
Head teacher: Ms Neena Lall
PRIMARY
Deputy Head Teacher-Mr Adam Bennett / Nursery and Children’s centre
Deputy Head Teacher-Mrs Janet Mantey
Tel: 0208 472 7575
Fax: 0208 472 1575
Email:
Website: / Tel 0208 471 1366
Email:
Website: