Dear Parents & Carers,
Now at the end of another academic year, our new Year 6 children have said goodbye to their predecessors as they leave today to start in their Secondary Schools after the Summer break. We are delighted with the success they have achieved in SATs, where everyone gave of their best and achieved remarkable results. However, for me, their greatest achievement was the resilience they have shown in transition to secondary and their fantastic end-of-primary celebrations – their Little Red Riding Hood Performance as well as their ‘Celebration’ Collective Worship - showing their very best and we have great expectations for each of them.
Deployment of Teachers
One of our teachers is leaving us today. Miss Teal is moving on with her career taking up a new post at a school in Sunderland. We wish her well in her future career. Mr Gowling, an experienced teacher has been appointed to take up post with us in September. And we wish to congratulate Miss Clark on her forthcoming Wedding during the Summer break, and she will return as Mrs Cotson in September.
Your children have been preparing for September with their teachers this week, which I’m sure they have shared, but just in case here are the arrangements, remembering some of our teachers work part of the week:
Nursery - Mrs. Dixon
Reception - Mrs. Hutchinson
Year 1 - Miss McMorris
Year 2 - Mrs. Cotson & Mrs. Lupton
Year 3 - Mr. Gowling & Mrs. Cotson
Year 4 - Mrs. Wright & Mr. Gowling
Year 5 - Mrs. Brookbanks & Mrs. Marshall
Year 6 - Mrs. Marshall & Mrs. Wright
Miss Crowe and Mr. Boagey will continue to work with children and classes across the setting.
Uniform
As we turn our thoughts to the new academic year, please be conscious of our uniform requirements: our uniform is grey for trousers, skirts, shorts, pinafores etc. (NOT black or navy); white or jade for shirts, polo shirts etc; and, navy for jumpers, sweatshirts, cardigans and coats. Please note all children in school need two pairs of footwear: indoor footwear can be shoes or slippers, but not training shoes or slipper socks; outdoor shoes can be trainers or shoes for use at breaktimes.
We are very lucky to be having new carpets fitted in the classrooms over the Summer break, so we hope to keep them in good condition, by wearing indoor shoes/slippers. PE uniform consists of a T-shirt in a given house colour, with navy shorts and, for outdoor sessions, navy tracksuit. Please note that NO jewellery is allowed as part of our uniform policy. Piercings of any kind, including ear-rings must be removed before coming into school. (If you would like your child to have pierced ears, knowing that it takes 6 weeks before they can be removed, this Friday would be an ideal opportunity. However, please remember they cannot be worn in holiday care.) Also, please be aware that no branded items are necessary – plain shirts, jumpers and coats are the norm.
Parents wanting to have clothing with a school ‘logo’ are advised to limit the number of these to reduce costs. Remember also the need to avoid extreme and distracting hairstyles and applied-nails or varnish. In school children engage in quite vigorous activity and, like the ear-rings, we don’t want any risk or children to be less engaged because they are worried about their appearance. Also, for those with long hair, remember we frequently have nits visiting our school, so tying hair back can help reduce the invasion.
Charity and fundraising: Thank you!
You and your children have raised lots of money for charities across the year including Macmillan, St. Cuthberts Care, Cafod, the hospice… and we are also very grateful for the monies raised through sponsored events and raffles to support our enhancement activities. The Sponsored music practice before the Spring Ensemble raised £787.50 from the 29 children who participated, which covers the cost of replacing instruments and attending concerts including Royal Northern Sinfonia at the Glass House, which so impressed the children. The Early Years Raffles, Tombola, Bake Sales etc. raised over £1750.00 – an amazing total that enables us to engage the children in hatching chicks, watching butterflies emerge, visits in the local area and to the theatre and cinema, as well as extending our range of toys and equipment for the very young.
Entitlement to Free School Meals
Many of our children are entitled to this provision and it not only supports them, but it affects the amount of money the school receives from Government too. Particularly in the years from Reception to Year 2 when all children receive universal school meal provision, parents can think there is no need to apply for their child’s entitlement. In recent year’s we have noticed this reduces our school’s grant, so we would implore parents to make the application on behalf of their child to ensure we receive their full entitlement.
Breakfast Club and Universal Breakfast Provision
As some of you already know, we have been chosen to launch the new universal breakfast provision, widely trailed by government. This entitles all children to a snack breakfast (similar to that they already receive in school, but toast replacing the tradition of bagels). This will now be offered from 8.15 - 8.45 am each morning for all children from Reception to Year 6. There is no need to book, the children simply come into the hall, via the garden door any time after 8.15 am. Breakfast of cereal or toast will be available until 8.40 am and children will be ready to make their way to class after 8.45 am. Children not taking up this offer will continue to enter school via the playground after 8.45 am. Be aware that this will mean there is no breakfast snack available for the children arriving after 8.45 in future, as our provision of this snack has been overtaken by the universal offer.
If you still require earlier childcare (offered in our traditional breakfast club) this is still available to be booked, obviously now covering only the cost of the care from 7.45 until 8.15am.
School Photographs
Children in Nursery Class, Reception and Year 6 will have their photographs taken for inclusion in the ‘Whole-Class’ Pictures on Thursday 24th September, during the morning. Individual pictures will be taken on another date, which we are yet to have confirmed, but we will let you know when it is.
Autumn Term Professional Development Day for Staff
Please note the unusual date this year for our Autumn Training Day. It is not the last Friday of the half-term, as we have come to expect, but is rather Friday, 9th October, due to the team delivering the day for us across Hartlepool.
Our patronal feast for St. John Vianney takes place during the Summer break on Tuesday 4th August and is a time to especially celebrate our learning and worshipping communities. As ever, please remember in your prayers the children and families of our setting and all the staff that support them throughout the year.
I am sure everyone is hoping that the glorious weather continues during the Summer Holiday but in light of the recent tragedy at Seaton Carew, keep safe especial if going to the beach or pool. Please continue to hold the children, families and staff of our school community in your prayers. I look forward to welcoming all the children back on Wednesday 2nd September.
Yours sincerely,
John Hardy, Head Teacher