Newsletter 1: 10/09/10

Dear Parents

Welcome back!  I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday with your family.

The children have all settled in very well and we have welcomed several new families.  We also extend a warm welcome to all our new reception children and their parents.

We also welcome our new teachers, Lucy Todman and Nicola Welham.

Office Hours
Many thanks for all your patience last year while the new offices were being built. 

The new office is open from 8.35 to 9.10am in the mornings and 3.00 to 3.30pm in the afternoons.  Other than an emergency, could parents please refrain from coming at other times to the office.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Uniform and water bottles are only sold on Wednesdays during the above times.

School Security
From 9.15am to 2.50pm the only access to the school will be through the front gate.  As of Monday, the front gate by the middles classrooms will be open in the mornings for children to come into school.

Parent Mail
If you would like to receive letters and school information by email, go to: http://www.parentmail.co.uk/ then to ‘about us’, then to ‘register’ and follow the directions.  This way you will receive newsletters, menus, and other information if your child forgets to bring them home.

Healthy Eating Tuck Shop
On Wednesday, 22nd September we will be restarting our healthy eating tuck shop.  This takes place every Wednesday morning during break time.  For 25p your child will be able to buy a piece of fruit or a carton of juice.

School Dinners
Just a reminder that school dinners are now £2.00.  It would be helpful to the office if parents put school dinner money in an envelope marked with your child’s name and class teacher.

If you are unsure how many meals your child will be having, rather than paying daily, wait until the end of the week.

If you pay by cheque, please make payable to ‘Bar Hill Primary School’.  Siblings can be paid on the same cheque.  Please put how much is going to each child on the back of the cheque.

Healthy Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club runs every morning Monday to Friday.  Parents can drop their children off at the school from 7.45am.  The cost of breakfast and childcare is £2.50 per day.  Parents can use it on a regular basis or a one off basis.

Children who attend really enjoy it as they also play games with Kevin and sometimes do some cooking.  All ages welcome.

Medication
Please could you make sure that you notify the school office if your child has any medical conditions such as asthma or allergies.

School Fun Day – Saturday, 25th September
We are looking forward to our annual School Fun Day and Barbecue.

The festivities start at 12.00 noon and there will be a barbecue, bar, various games, homemade cakes, cookies, lucky dips, tombola stalls, unwanted gifts suitable  for adults or children, bric-a-brac, a chocolate stall and more.

If anyone can spare an hour to help, please phone the school office.

This fun day is always a lovely celebration and we would be delighted to see you, your family and friends.

Message From The Library
Did your child take part in this summer’s ‘Space Hop Reading Challenge’? There will be a presentation ceremony on Thursday, 30th September for those children who completed the challenge.

The library wanted to let all children know that it is not too late to complete the challenge of reading six books.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 20: 09/07/10

Dear Parents/Carers

School Open Evening
It was good to see so many of you on Tuesday night for our open evening.  I am sure that you appreciated the children’s wonderful art work and it was a lovely end of the year celebration of all the children have accomplished.

Art Exhibition
The last day to collect your child’s pictures will be this Monday, 12th July.  Come to the office to purchase.  The cost of the picture is £7.00 (second picture £6.00). 

Tuck Shop
This is now finished until September.  Thank you all for your support over the past year.  A big thank you to Mrs Bacon who runs the tuck shop with our citizens.

Summer Concerts
The dates for the summer concerts are:

• Reception – Friday, 16th July 2.00pm in the school hall
• Year 1 & 2 -  Monday, 12th July 6.00pm in the school hall
• Year 3 & 4 – Tuesday, 13th July 2.00 & 6.00pm in the main church
• Year 5 & 6 – Wednesday, 14th July, Thursday, 15th July 6.30pm in the school

End Of Term Discos
These will be held on the last day of term, Thursday, 22nd July in the school hall.  Tickets are now on sale from the office from 8.45am to 9.05am and 3.00pm to 3.20pm.

• Reception/Year 1/2 Disco  -  6.00pm to 7.15pm
• Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 Disco  -  7.30pm to 9.00pm
• Year 6 Leaver’s Party  -  Saturday, 17th July from 7.30pm to 9.30pm
• Year 6 Leaver’s Assembly -  Thursday, 22nd July starting at 9.30am in the school hall

School Meals
If you have any outstanding dinner money, it is imperative that you pay by Monday, 19th July in order to give Mrs Lewney time to close down this year’s dinner figures.

From September school meals will increase by 5p to £2.00.  Unfortunately due to the increased cost of food we have had to make the extra 5p charge.  However, I am sure you know what excellent value they are and the cost is still in line with schools in Cambridgeshire who use the County Catering Service.
 
Change Over Afternoon
This Monday, 12th July, the children will be going up to their new class in the afternoon and to meet their new teacher.  This is an important afternoon for them and the staff look forward to welcoming and getting to know their new children.

School Gate
It would be much appreciated if you made sure your children do not play with the keypad on the back gate or climb on the back gate/fence.  This has been reported to me on several occasions and has caused problems for our office staff.

This gate is not in use after 3.15pm.

Non-Uniform Day – Last Day Of Term
The last day of term, Thursday, 22nd July will be a non-uniform day.  Children can come non-uniform for 50p.  This can be given to the class teacher and the money will go towards a charity.

First Day Of The Autumn Term
The first day of the autumn term for the children is Monday, 6th September.  From the 1st September the school office will be back at the front of the school.

There will be a final newsletter on the last day of term.

Yours sincerely 

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 19: 25/06/10

Dear Parents/Carers 

Summer Concerts
The dates for the summer concerts are:

• Reception    Friday, 16th July 2.00pm in the school hall
• Year 1 & 2    Monday, 12th July 6.00pm in the school hall  (note change of venue)
• Year 3 & 4    Tuesday, 13th July 2.00 & 6.00pm in the main church
• Year 5 & 6    Wednesday, 14th July 6.30pm in the school and  Thursday, 15th July 6.30pm in the school

Change Over Afternoon
On Tuesday, 6th July, the children will be going up to their new class in the afternoon and to meet their new teacher.  This is an important afternoon for them and the staff look forward to welcoming and getting to know their new children.

School Open Evening
This will be also be on Tuesday, 6th July from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.  You will have an opportunity to visit your child’s classroom and class teacher for September and celebrate your children’s work and learning.

Art Exhibition
This will also be held at the Open Evening.  You can view your child’s art work in the main school hall.  The cost of the picture is £7.00 (second picture £6.00).  You can buy your child’s painting either on the evening or the next day (Wednesday, 7th July) up to 9.30am.  They have created some amazing art work so please come along and see them.

Sports Day
Years 3, 4, 5 and 6  -  Monday, 5th July starting at 1.30pm on the school field.

Year 6 Fundraising Afternoon
This Wednesday, 30th June 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Children from Year 1 to Year 5 have been invited to a fundraising event lead by our Year 6 children.  There will be a variety of stalls which will cost between 20p and 50p to take part in.  The money will be going to a variety of charities.

Please send money in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name if they wish to take part.

Last Chance To Send In The Following
Old mobile phones and old foreign notes and foreign coins (old and new – including pre-euro coins).  Please send any of these to the school office.  These will be going to the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Tesco Tokens
Many thanks to all those who collected tokens for us this year.  You collected an amazing 56,565!

We have ordered the following:

5 Primary Visualisers
5 Canon Entry-Level Power Shot Digital Cameras
5 Recordable Speech Bubbles
3 Rainbow Talking Boxes
3 Talking Points
1 HP Colour Laserjet Printer
1 Speaking and Listening ICT Kit
1 Jungle Mat
1 Bird Box with Camera

I hope you all have an enjoyable sunny weekend.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 18: 10/06/10

Dear Parents/Carers

Celebration
A huge congratulations to the Year 5 and 6 Kwick Cricket team.  They came runners up in the area heats and have therefore qualified for the County finals to be held at Clare College in a
few weeks  time. We wish them all the best.

Father’s Day Lunch

• Years 3, 4, and 5  -  Bring your dads on Thursday, 17th, arriving at 12.20pm
• Reception, Years 1, 2 and 6  -  Bring your dads on Friday, 18th, 12.10pm (12.20 for Year 6)

Reply slips need to be returned no later than Tuesday, 15th June to enable the chef to order the food.

Sports Day

• Reception, Years 1 and 2  -  Friday, 18th June starting at 1.30pm on the school field.
• Years 3, 4, 5 and 6  -  Monday, 5th July starting at 1.30pm on the school field.

Summer Concerts
The dates for the summer concerts are:

• Reception – Friday, 16th July 2.00pm in the school hall
• Year 1 & 2 -  Monday, 12th July 6.00pm in the main church
• Year 3 & 4    Tuesday, 13th July 2.00 & 6.00pm in the main church
• Year 5 & 6 – Wednesday, 14th July 6.30pm in the school, Thursday, 15th July 6.30pm in the school

Last Call For Tesco Vouchers
Tesco vouchers are being collected from the school this Wednesday, 16th June.  Unfortunately cannot use them after that date.  If you have any sitting around, please may we have them Monday.  Thank you so much for all the vouchers you have given us so far.  We will let you know what we purchase with them

School Open Evening
This will be held on Tuesday, 6th July from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.  You will have an opportunity to visit your child’s classroom and class teacher for September and view your children’s art work.  This is a lovely opportunity to celebrate your child’s achievements, so do come along and bring your family.

Art Exhibition
This will be held at the Open Evening.  You can view your child’s art work in the main school hall.  The cost of the picture is £7.00 (second picture £6.00).  You can buy your child’s painting either on the evening or the next day (Wednesday, 7th July) up to 9.30am.

Absences
If your child is going to be absent from school please let the school office know in the morning.  You can leave a message at any time on the office phone.  If you let a class teacher know, you must also still tell the office staff.

If we have not heard from you by 10.00am, we will phone as this is part of our security policy.  When your child returns to school, the class teacher also needs to have a note with a reason for the absence.  Many thanks.

Dad’s Day
Tomorrow the Children’s Centre will be running a ‘Dad’s Day’.  It will be held in the Octagon from 10.00am to 12.00noon.  There will be painting, planting (grow your own vegetables), a soft play area and general play area as well as road safety equipment and vehicles.  Free bacon sandwiches for all!  The session is open to all male carers of a child aged 0 to 5 years.

Best wishes

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 17: 21/05/10

Dear Parents/Carers

Sun Cream and Hats
Now that the weather has improved and the sun is finally shining please remember to provide sun hats and apply sun screen in the morning.

We will be allowing the packed lunches to eat their meal outside occasionally while the weather is good.

Bicycles
Just a reminder! Only children in Years 5 and 6 are permitted to park their bikes in the school’s bike shelter. This is a privilege for the older children. We are hoping to be able to provide additional bike parking facilities around the outside perimeter of the school with the assistance of the Sustrans group. We will notify you via this newsletter when this is available. May I also remind parents that scooters are not allowed on the school site.

East Anglian Air Ambulance
Representatives of the air ambulance will be coming in to speak to the children at a special assembly on Tuesday, 29th June.

If you would like to help them raise funds, we are collecting old mobile phones and foreign notes and coins (old and new – including pre-euro coins) on their behalf.  Please send any of these to the school office.  Many thanks.

Bar Hill School needs your used printer cartridges and mobile phones to recycle with Recycool. We can raise money for the school with these and prevent them going to landfill. Please ask your family and friends to save them from their homes and work and bring them to the school office.  Thank You!

Class Photos
Please can these be returned to school by Wednesday morning, 26th May, as they will be collected by Van Cols in the afternoon.

Cake Stall
Next Friday, 28th May, there will be a cake stall after school.  We would be grateful for any cakes, biscuits, popcorn, etc you would be willing to make or buy.  Please bring them to the office on Friday morning.

PTA Plants
If you ordered summer plants from the PTA, they will be ready for collection this Wednesday, 26th May after school.  They can be collected from the grass area just outside the school office.

Tesco Vouchers
Please may we have all your vouchers in as soon as possible as Tesco will not accept any vouchers after the deadline of 2nd July.

Additional Needs Support Group
During half-term (Thursday, 3rd June from 9.30am to 11.00am) the Children’s Centre in conjunction with the Parent Partnership Service would like to offer a ‘stay and play’ session and chat with other parents/carers.  For more information contact Alex Rees at:  Alexandra.rees@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Swavesey Saturday Music School
Every Saturday morning during term time Swavesey Village College run a Music School. 
The timetable is as follows:

• 9am Sing up
• 10am Rockin’ Rhythms – theory
• 11am Makin’ Music – play together
• 12 noon   Technically speaking  – recording  techniques

Only £2.50 per hour.  For further details contact:
Audrey Caldwell – acaldwell@swaveseyvc.cambs.sch.uk
Paul Garner –  pgarner@swaveseyvc.cambs.sch.uk

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 16: 07/05/10

Dear Parents/Carers

Tesco Vouchers
Thank you for all the vouchers you have collected for us so far.  Also, please thank your family, friends and neighbours who have also collected for us.

Tesco finish giving out vouchers this Sunday, 9th May.  Please may we have all your vouchers in as soon as possible as we have to have them posted to them no later than Friday, 2nd July. Tesco will not accept any vouchers after the deadline of 2nd July.

If you can bundle them up in packs of 100 with a rubber band, the office would be most appreciative!

Sainsbury Vouchers and Flora Cooking with Schools
Many thanks for all the vouchers we have been receiving.  Please continue to encourage friends and families to collect vouchers for us.

Bikeability Scheme
We will be having another 20 bicycle racks installed soon on the infant playground thanks to the bikeability scheme which is good news.  We will report on progress in our newsletters.  Watch this space

SATs Week
Year 6 SATs commence this Monday, 10th May.  Year 2 SATs will be throughout the month of May.

Due to Year 6 SATs next week there will be no Tuck Shop this Wednesday, 12th May.  Tuck Shop will resume the following Wed, 19th May.

Walk To School Week
This commences on Monday, 17th May.  We are so fortunate in Bar Hill to be able to walk to school!  Please support this initiative and walk with your child to school rather than drive down in your car.  Bar Hill is one of the few villages when you can do this, so please support us in this campaign.  Thank you.

East Anglian Air Ambulance
We will be fundraising for this very worthwhile charity during the summer term.  They will be coming in to speak to the children at a special assembly on Tuesday, 29th June.

In the meantime, we can raise funds by collecting old mobile phones and old foreign notes and foreign coins (old and new – including pre-euro coins).  Please send any of these to the school office.  Many thanks.

Cross Country T-Shirts
Does your child still have a green cross country t-shirt at home?  If yes, please could they be returned to the office as soon as possible.

School Vegetable Plot
Do you have any vegetable plants that you are willing to donate to the school vegetable plot?  We would be thrilled to receive any spare you might have.  Either bring them to the school office or call the office and we can collect them from you.

PTA News
If you are ordering plants from the PTA, please send your order and payment to the office by this Monday, 9th May.

The PTA are doing a fantastic job of fundraising for our school so that our children can enjoy privileges and treats such as visiting authors, the space dome and live theatre. 

I am extremely grateful to the PTA for their magnificent help and support.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 15: 23/03/10

Dear Parents/Carers

Class Photos
Your child will be having their class photo taken this Monday, 26th April.  Please ensure your child comes in school colours.

Congratulations
The following were winners of the PTA’s Easter competitions:

• Guess How Many Eggs In The Jar Winner – Anna Bennett (Year 6)  -  225
• Easter Hamper Raffle – Large Hamper – Sam Stevens (Year 4)
• Small Prizes - Jamie Bladen (Year 5) – Matthew Stewart (Year 1) -  Jack Knight (Year 1)

Esperanto/Usborne Books & CDs
The office now has a supply of Esperanto Books which are produced by Usborne books at a reduced rate of £5.00 per book.  We also have a CD and words of the songs the children learn which cost £2.00.

These will be a great tool in helping your child learn Esperanto.

Some of our children and their families have had a lovely trip over the Easter holidays to Herzburg in Germany were they met with our link school there and our other link school from Hungary.

Year 3/4 Football On The Astro
Football on the astro turf for Year 3/4 will take place after school on Mondays.  It will finish at 4.00pm.  Parents must stay with their children.

School Reports
We are trialling new school reports this year and would very much appreciate your feedback at the end of the summer on them.

The first report will be sent out next week.

Dates For The Summer Term

• Year 5 and 6 – Bike To School Week
• Monday, 26th April to Friday, 30th April
• KS2 SATS – Monday, 10th to Friday, 14th May
• Year 6 Residential – Monday, 21st June to Wednesday, 23rd June
• Open Evening – Tuesday, 6th July – 6.00pm to 7:30pm
• Change Over Afternoons – Tuesday, 6th July and Monday, 12th July

Sports Day – Both start at 1.30pm

• Reception, Year 1 and 2  -  Friday, 18th June
• Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 – Monday, 28th June

The After School Club has reported to us that many of our children have been playing on the roof of The Farmhouse over the Easter holidays.

They, as well as us, are concerned for their safety and would appreciate you speaking to your children about the dangers of playing on a roof and trespassing on other people’s property.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Yours sincerely

Sanjay Mistry
Deputy Headteacher

Posted in News

Trip to Herzberg: a great success!

A few hours ago, a group of nine children from Year 2 to Year 6 arrived home from a five-day trip to Herzberg-am-Harz, the self-proclaimed “Esperanto-Town”. This was the last of three visits that were part of the Springboard to Languages Comenius project, funded by the European Commission.

The visit was a great success, and was thoroughly enjoyed by children and parents alike. Families from the third partner school, Komlostetői Általános in Miskolc, Hungary, were visiting at the same time, and many of the German host families took in both a Hungarian and a British family at the same time, making for some very international households.

Kaz said that his favourite part was the day at school, where he met some nice pupils. Anna enjoyed the climbing web in the school playground, while Callum’s favourite was the mini-Olympics.

Mr Mistry, who went on the trip, said, “We are proud to be able to offer this opportunity to the children of Bar Hill, and I’m very pleased indeed with this, the final visit of the two year collaboration. I would like to think that some of the friendships formed and renewed this week will last a lifetime.”

If the tears that went with the goodbyes at the station are anything to go by, Mr Mistry may well get his wish.

Caitlin (centre) with her friends Emily (7, from Germany)
and Csenge (10, from Hungary)

Posted in Esperanto

Newsletter 14: 26/03/10

Dear Parents/Carers

Julie Gawthrope
Mrs Gawthrope’s last day teaching will be this Wednesday, 31st March.  She has been a truly amazing, committed and excellent teacher at our school since her appointment ten years ago.  Though I am very sad to lose her as a teacher, I have always fully supported Mrs Gawthrope’s decision to become a Church of England minister as I know that she has so much to offer her congregation.

I am sure that you will join me in wishing Mrs Gawthrope and her family every happiness in her new role and move to Cambridge. If any parents would like to make a contribution towards and/or send a message to include alongside Mrs Gawthrope’s leaving gift, please send it in a named envelope to the office.

Sports Relief/Have a Heart Appeal
We all had a very enjoyable fun day last Friday raising money for Sports Aid and Have A Heart Appeal. The following was raised:

• Have A Heart Appeal  £240.50
• Sports Relief   £504.65

Please can all sponsor money for Sports Relief be in to us by next Thursday and once again thank you for your support.

Esperanto/Usborne Books & CDs
The office now has a supply of Esperanto Books which are produced by Usborne books at a reduced rate of £5.00 per book.  We also have a CD and words of the songs the children learn which cost £2.00.

These will be a great tool in helping your child learn Esperanto.

New Back Gate
Thank you all for being so understanding with our new back gate and putting up with the inconvenience.  Just a reminder to stand near the buzzer and back a bit so the office staff can see who is there.  Many thanks.

School Reports
We are trialling new school reports this year and would very much appreciate your feedback at the end of the summer on them.

The first report will be sent out around the 30th April and the second report will be sent out around the 16th July.

Dates For The Summer Term

• Year 5 and 6 – Bike To School Week – Monday, 26th April to Friday, 30th April
• KS2 SATS – Monday, 10th to Friday, 14th May
• Year 6 Residential – Monday, 21st June to Wednesday, 23rd June

Sports Day  Both start at 1.30pm

• Reception, Year 1 and 2  -  Friday, 18th June
• Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 – Monday, 28th June

Open Evening
Tuesday, 6th July – 6.00pm to 7:30pm

Change Over Afternoons
Tuesday, 6th July and Monday, 12th July

School Term Dates Until July
This Thursday, 1st April is the last day of the spring term.  School reopens on Monday, 19th April.  The May half-term will be from Monday, 31st May to Friday, 4th June and our last day of the summer term will be on Thursday, 22nd July.

Your child should be bringing home two other bits of paper.  One will have next years terms dates and is on light yellow.  The other is from the PTA and is on sunshine yellow.  If you need additional sheets of the terms dates they are in the foyer of the office.

I hope you all have a peaceful and relaxing Easter break.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Esperanto information meeting

If your child is in Years 1 to 4, you’re probably aware that they are learning a foreign language called Esperanto, but you might not know much more than that about it! If you’d like to know what the language is all about, and more importantly why it’s being taught to the children at Bar Hill, you’re invited to attend a parents’ information meeting on Thursday 25th March, to be held in one of the Uppers classrooms at 6pm.

Mr Morley will be presenting the Springboard to Languages course that your children are following, and will be happy to answer any questions you might have about it.

Posted in Esperanto, News