St Michael s School 15 March, 2017 Newsletter No: 24 New Arrivals! The Nursery and Reception children are very excited about their new arrivals 5 baby chicks have hatched so far as part of their Living Eggs Project. Easter Services Some of you might be wondering why our Easter Service is after the Easter holidays some of you may not have even noticed yet. The reason for the unusual timing is that, this year, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are right at the end of the Easter holiday. Usually, term ends before Good Friday. We feel that it makes more sense to celebrate the before Easter stories before the holiday and the resurrection stories after Easter. OFSTED Report Many parents have been asking me when the report from our recent OFSTED inspection will be published. I m afraid the answer, at the moment is I really don t know. When the inspector has written the report, it then goes through a series of quality assurance checks before it can be sent for publishing. Formal Ball I hope you have all been choosing your frocks and coordinating tiaras ready for the Sensory Room Ball. Ladies, I hope you have been digging out your best outfits too! I know the ball will be a great event in itself and, even better, it s all in a great cause. You can find out more about why we need a sensory room later on in this newsletter.
Sports Day: Probable Date Change As I m sure you are all aware, our sports day is due to be held on Thursday 6th July. We have a problem with this date. Year One really want to go to the Roald Dahl Museum and the only date they can have is you guessed it. Thursday 6 th July! We can either change the date of Sports Day to the day after or Year One will have to miss Sports Day. I would prefer to change the date of Sports Day, but I am aware that some parents have to book time off work well in advance and are unhappy when dates change. If you have any strong feelings either way, please let me know before Wednesday next week so that I can put the definite date in next week s newsletter. SENSORY ROOM Everybody knows that it is important to keep our bodies healthy but what about our mental health? That s every bit as important. It would be lovely to think that we could all sail through life without encountering mental health problems but it is unlikely. These difficulties affect about 1 in 10 children and young people and at least one in four of the population will experience problems at some point in their lives. Over half of mental health problems in adult life (excluding dementia) start by the age of 14. Although mental health issues are relatively common, it is often the case that children and young people don t get the help they need as quickly as they should. As a result, mental health difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, depression, conduct disorders and eating disorders can stop some young people achieving what they want in life and making a full contribution to society. Prince William, a champion of promoting good mental health, describes a generational shift that has taken place in attitudes to mental health, allowing a better understanding of things that in the past went unacknowledged. Just this week, Sarah Brennan, Chief Executive of YoungMinds, said: Schools are critical in helping prevent mental health problems escalating, in building wellbeing and resilience and helping young people learn the skills they need to cope in today s world. At St Michael s, we take our children s mental health and wellbeing seriously: from PSHE in the classroom to Time to Talk during playtimes, we recognise the benefits of talking, reflecting and being supported through whatever difficulty life throws at our children. That is why we are working so hard to raise funds for a Sensory Room. Many of you will remember when we introduced the idea at the Moving on meeting in June, we talked about why this room will be a wonderful addition to the school and will benefit all children. Whether a child is experiencing specific difficulties such as coping with bereavement, experiencing high levels of anxiety or has a recognised special need, this room will be an adaptable space - a quiet place for reflection and calm, a place to talk and any other sessions that will be beneficial for our children. So, what have we achieved so far?
We have had several fundraising initiatives over the last 6 months: In September, a team of St Michael s children and staff raised sponsorship money by taking part in the Mayor s fun run. In October, we received sponsorship from a marathon run by one of the parents. A donation from Howdens. Donations from families, friends of families and governors PTA Small grant fund Spring Ball Thanks to your support, we are well on our way to reaching our fundraising target of 10,000. What can you do to help? As you know, the Spring Ball is taking place next week (Saturday 25 th March). Your support for this has been fantastic and it promises to be a great event. This is an excellent opportunity to raise as much money as we can so that we can get the Sensory Room up and running as soon as possible. If you are unable to attend the Spring Ball, never fear! You can still add your support and help provide this resource for all of our children by: Buying raffle tickets for our Grand Draw there are some fantastic prizes to be won. Bidding on an item in our mini-auction again there are some great prizes. For more details on the auction and how you can place bids, even of you are not coming to the Ball, please take a look at the brochure on the school website or copies held in the school office. A big thank you from The Sensory Room Team for all your support! Year 6 - SATs Meeting Just a reminder of the Year 6 SATs meeting which is being held next Monday, 20 th March at 6pm in Year 6M classroom. Sainsbury s Active Kids Vouchers Just a reminder that we are collecting these vouchers for the school for sports equipment. Please drop your vouchers in the school office or send them in via your children s bookbags, many thanks.
WOP Band Year 5 Friday 24 th March Music Assembly 9:30am On Friday 24 th March, Year Five s saxophonists and clarinettists will be demonstrating their skills to the rest of the school during assembly. Year Five parents are welcome to attend and will be able to wait in the hall from 9.20am. France Year 5 Final Payment Just a reminder that your final payment for France of 22 is due by next Wednesday, 29 th March via Parentpay. Hair Accessories It has come to our attention that hair accessories are getting bigger and bigger and the hair fashion at the moment is bigger is better. Before you spend your hard earned money on accessories, may I remind you of the following information that is available on our website. From our website: both boys and girls, long hair (below collar length) should be tied back fully at all times and fringes should be clipped back out of the eyes. Hair bands, scrunchies etc. should be green, white, red or green and white check. They should be soft enough to wear during PE lessons. Headcoverings worn for religious reasons should be plain white or bottle green. If a child s hair wear is in any way a distraction to the wearer or to others (which, believe it or not, has actually happened already) or is likely to catch on PE or play apparatus, it may need to be removed. I am sure that most parents will use their common sense when choosing hair accessories.
Parents Information Afternoon / Evening: Wednesday 22 nd March 2017 Please come along to our Parents Information Afternoon / Evening on Wednesday 22 nd March. We have designed the sessions so that parents can attend one or both of them. Each session will focus on How to help your child with There will also be a 5 minute slot at the end of each session for questions. Please tick the session(s) that you would like to attend, add a few details below and return to the office, for the attention of Mrs Rolland. We look forward to seeing you! Afternoon: Session A 2.00-2.45pm Session B 2.00-2.45pm Session C 2.45 3.30pm Session D 2.45 3.30pm Phonics Arithmetic Phonics Arithmetic Spelling Maths Problem solving Spelling Maths Problem solving Evening: Session A 6.30 7.15pm Session B 6.30 7.15pm Session C 7.15 8.00pm Session D 7.15 8.00pm Phonics Arithmetic Phonics Arithmetic Spelling Maths Problem solving Spelling Maths Problem solving Name Contact Number Child s Name Class
Reception Cake and Cuddles Afternoon Friday, 24 th March, 2:30pm Reception children are eagerly waiting to welcome their parents to their Cake and Cuddles afternoon to celebrate Mother s Day. There will be singing, there will be cake and there will be cuddles what s not to like? Mrs Betts-Hammond s Science Question of the Week! (The answer will be hidden in the newsletter) Q. Can frogs live in salt water? School Journey - Year 6 Final Payment Just a reminder that the School Journey has to be paid in full by Friday, 31 st March at the latest. The total cost is 425 please check where you are up to on Parentpay and make your final payments, many thanks. TALENT SHOW DVD A DVD of the TALENT SHOW is being made over the next couple of weeks and will cost 7. If you would like to purchase one, please complete this slip and return it via your children s book bags to the office. I would like to order. DVD(s) of the TALENT SHOW ( 7 each) and I enclose. My Child s Name is: in Class
Friday, 24 th March is Red Nose Day for Comic Relief We are holding a non-school uniform day in aid of Comic Relief on Friday, 24 th March with the following themes: Wear Red for Red Nose Day Or, if you are feeling adventurous: Dress up as a Red Nose for Red Nose Day! Donations of a 1 per child please to take part, many thanks. The Big Pedal Monday 20 th March Friday 31 st March As a school, we are taking part in The Big Pedal to encourage everybody to get on their bikes and scooters and ride them to school. please see below: The Big Pedal is the UK s largest inter-school cycling and scooting challenge that inspires pupils, staff and parents to choose two wheels for their journey to school. Powered by Sustrans and funded by the Bike Hub, the 2017 challenge will run from 20 to 31 March. On each day of the challenge, schools compete to see who can record the greatest number of pupils, staff and parents cycling or scooting to school. A school s best five days will determine their final position. All schools will be entered into daily prize draws for rewards including bike and scooter stunt shows, equipment and storage if over 15% of your school cycle or scoot on each day of the challenge. Prize details will be announced on The Big Pedal website. You can find out more at http://bigpedal.org.uk Bikes can be left against the railings leading up the slope in the side playground and scooters in the shelter in the front playground.
TFL Easter Bunny Design Competition TFL have invited us to take part in an Easter Competition, the details are below: TfL has launched an exciting competition asking pupils across London to design a card to show how they think the Easter Bunny should travel sustainably to deliver Easter Eggs over the holidays. Pupils can think about how the Easter Bunny will deliver eggs around London and who might be able to help: How do you think Becky the Bunny should sustainably travel around London over the holidays? How will Becky deliver all the Easter eggs around London? Who or what will be able to help Becky deliver them? The winners will have their designs used on digital communications for the Easter closures, which will be sent to select TfL customers in April. There will also be an exclusive prize, which will be announced before the competition deadline after half term. If your child would like to take part in this competition, please print off the attached entry form and send their completed design into school by next Tuesday 21 st March. If you do not have access to a printer, your child can collect an entry form from Mrs Jones from tomorrow.
PTA NEWS Year 2 Coffee Morning and Cake Sale Friday 17 March Please come and join us for coffee and cake at 9:15 am on Friday. The Year 2 cake bakers will be selling their delightful wares at the coffee morning and also after school. Please could the delightful ware-bakers leave their donations in the school office on Thursday 16 March. Please see the leaflet at the end of the newsletter for full details. Thank you. PTA AGM Monday 27 March, 7.30pm onwards in school Please get this important date in your diary and try to come along to learn about what the PTA have been doing to raise funds and have a say in how the money is spent. Further details are shown in a letter at the end of this newsletter along with important information about nominations for the PTA committee.
PTA NEWS PTA Annual General Meeting Monday 27 March 2017, 7.30pm at school Dear Parent/Carer Please be aware that the St Michael s PTA Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Monday 27 March 2017 at 7.30pm at school. It would be great to see as many parents/carers there as possible. Please join us at this important meeting. The AGM represents a chance to review the past year of PTA activity and make plans for the future. Future plans include proposing a schedule of PTA activities and fundraising events, as well as deciding how to use the money we have raised. PTA funds are given by you, the parents/carers of St Michael s children, be it through direct donations, sending your children to school discos, or attending fayres and other events. All the money raised is used to the benefit of St Michael s children. You re entitled to know where this money goes and to have some input in deciding how it is used in the future. Attending the AGM gives you a voice in these matters. The AGM is also the meeting at which the PTA Committee is elected. Every year at the AGM, the existing PTA committee is dissolved and a new one elected. Full elections are held for all PTA committee posts. This involves a voting paper being sent out to allow all parents to have their say in who runs the PTA. To decide who the candidates we might vote for are, a nomination slip is provided overleaf. Any parent/carer who wishes to stand for one of the six PTA committee posts should complete this form and get two other St Michael s parents/carers to sign the form as a nominator and seconder. Nomination slips should be returned to the school office by Friday 17 March 2017. Please note that any parent/carer of a St Michael s child is free to stand for these posts. We would not like anyone to feel that standing is pointless as the current committee, or their associates, will just be voted back in. To emphasise this, the current committee have agreed that they will not nominate or second any candidates. PTA committee members are free to stand again but they will need to ask people outside the committee to nominate and second them. Nominated candidates for each post, and details of voting procedures, will be announced in the week commencing Monday 20 March 2017. The results will be announced at the AGM on 27 March 2017. We sincerely hope you might consider standing for a PTA committee post and it would be wonderful to see you all at the AGM. St Michael s PTA Committee, March 2017
PTA NEWS PTA Committee Posts There are six committee posts up for election. A brief description of each is provided below. Chair: The Chair provides leadership for the committee, sets the agenda for meetings and manages meetings in line with the agenda. The Chair needs to work closely with Secretary and Treasurer to ensure that the association is run effectively. The Chair should also liaise regularly with the Head Teacher of the school. Vice Chair: The Vice-Chair provides support to the Chair and takes on duties such as chairing meetings where required. Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for ensuring that there are effective communication links between committee members and between the association and the school. The Secretary deals with all the correspondence that the association receives and helps the Chair ensure that committee meetings run smoothly. The Secretary makes sure that all meetings are accurately minuted. Vice-Secretary: The Vice-Secretary provides support to the Secretary and takes on duties such as taking minutes of meetings as appropriate. Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for day to day administration of financial records and procedures as well as the banking and handling of money at PTA events. The Treasurer keeps a record of all income and expenditure and reports on the financial position at each committee meeting. The Treasurer is responsible for handling the money raised at events, making approved payments and making arrangements for counting of money at events. Vice-Treasurer: The Vice-Treasurer provides support to the Treasurer and takes on duties such as handling money at PTA events as appropriate. If you would like any further information on what these posts involve, please contact one of the following members of the current PTA committee: Cheryl Povey (Chair)- cherylpovey@hotmail.co.uk Rachael Harker (Treasurer) harkerr@parliament.uk Sophie Doran (Secretary) - the.dorans.are@btinternet.com PTA Committee Post Nomination I wish to stand for the position of: My name in (capitals) Contact email: Signature Contact phone: Nominator (name in capitals) Signature Seconder (name in capitals) Signature Please return completed forms to the school office by Friday 17 March 2017. Thank you.
Community News Ultrasport will be holding their usual holiday clubs at the school at Easter watch out for leaflets in your bookbags this week.