Easter Hamper Request

Dear Parents/Carers

We will soon be raffling off our wonderful hampers and we would be extremely grateful of any donations of treats to make up the hampers, such as chocolate, chocolate eggs, biscuits, preserves, cakes, etc. 

Please bring in your donations to the school office by this Friday 19  th   March.

Many thanks for your continued support.     

Also, don’t forget we have a ‘Guess How Many Chocolate Eggs In The Jar’ competition happening at the moment.  It is 50p a guess.   Why not come along to the office and have a go.   

Regards

The PTA

Posted in News

Newsletter 13: 12/03/10

Dear Parents/Carers

New Back Gate
All schools have been required to upgrade their access arrangements in line with new Ofsted safeguarding regulations therefore all visitors to the school after 9:15 will need to use the new gate at the back of the school next to the play park on the village green. By doing this we ensure the safety of the children in our care.

From next Monday (15th March) very school day from 9.15am to 2.45pm this will be the only access into the school.  This gate will be locked during the school day and access will require buzzing the school office via the bell on the gate and waiting for the office to release the gate. Please proceed directly to the school office to sign in.

Please use the normal gates for the start and end of the school day.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sports Relief/Have a Heart Appeal
Next Friday (19th March) we will be fundraising for both Sports’ relief and Heart Radio’s ‘Have a Heart’ appeal which supports children in Cambridge who are terminally ill.

Non- uniform; pay 50p for wearing sports gear or heart-themed clothes.

• Activities: sponsored walk around school field in laps. Children will walk in class groups. Please use sponsor forms supplied.
• Cakes: we would be very grateful if you could donate heart-themed cakes and biscuits for a stall at morning playtime.
• Face painting: Year 6 children will be painting faces at lunchtime. 50p per child.

Discovery Detectives Day
This is on Friday 19th March. We are looking forward to seeing everyone’s projects!

Auction Of Promises
Many thanks for all your support at the auction which was held on Saturday, 27th February.  We raised an amazing £2,239.75.

Celebration Assembly
In the past parents have waited in the computer suite for Celebration Assemblies. Please can you now wait in the office foyer.  You will need to sign in and wear a visitor’s badge.

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.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

PTA Cake Stall & Pop Quiz

PTA CAKE STALL

We will be holding a cake stall after school on Friday 5th March in the hall.
We would really appreciate your donations of cakes to sell.
Please could you bring these to the office on the morning of the 5th March.   
 
Many thanks!

————————————–

BAR HILL SCHOOL PTA PRESENTS THE LEGENDARY
     

POP QUIZ

  
 ON SATURDAY 27th MARCH 2010  
 
TEAMS OF UP TO 8 PEOPLE  
 
£7.50 PER PERSON (includes hot food)  
 
TICKETS ON SALE AT THE OFFICE

Posted in News

Newsletter 12: 26/02/10

Dear Parents/Carers

School Phone
My apologies for all the disruption caused by the phones lines being out of order this week.  I am sure you appreciate that it is a problem out of our control and each day we were informed the phone line would be repaired. 

However, we are still waiting today for the telecom engineers to sort the problem and hopefully will be up and running by Monday.

If this is not the case, we will continue to use the following mobile number:  07736-487-834 or email us.

Auction Of Promises
The office will be open until 5.00pm tonight for you to get your last minute ticket.

We have sold 50 tickets so far and it promises to be a fun night with some great bargains.

Tickets are £5.00 and includes a baked potato dinner.  You can also join us on the evening and buy a ticket on the door.

Year 6 Leavers Photos
Year 6 will be having their photos taken on Thursday, 4th March for their Leavers Year Book.

Tuck Shop
Our first tuck shop after half term was a great success and Mrs Bacon and the citizenship group sold out!  Just a reminder, all fresh fruit and fruit juice still only 25p per item.

Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers
From Wednesday, 17th February until Tuesday, 8th June we will be collecting Sainsbury vouchers.  Please encourage friends and relatives to collect for your children. 

The Tesco voucher scheme is due to start sometime in March and we are still collecting Box Tops For Education of Nestle cereal boxes.

Cake Stall
We will be holding a cake stall after school on Friday 5th March in the hall.  We would really appreciate your donations of cakes to sell.  Please could you bring these to the office on the morning of the 5th March.    Many thanks!

Haiti Appeal
On Monday, we had a special assembly where we presented SOS Children Villages with a cheque for £940.  Cambridge Evening New took photographs so look out for it in the paper. 

Thank you once again for all your support.

Celebration Assembly
In the past parents have waited in the computer suite for Celebration Assemblies. 

Please can you now wait in the office foyer.  You will need to sign in and wear a visitor’s badge.

Football For Boys and Girls Under 6 and Under 7
We are looking to start the next Under 6/Under 7 Bar Hill team.
* Is your child currently in Reception or Year 1?
* Do they want to play football?
* Do they want to have fun?
* Do you want to see your child develop their social skills?
* Would you like to be part of our Club and help to kick off the team?

We want to hear from you!
Please contact Paul Neal (Secretary, Bar Hill Colts FC) on 01954 205076 or paul.neal35@ntlworld.com to register your interest.
 
Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Willow Dome

Dear Parents/Carers

As many of you will have noticed, over the half term holidays a beautiful willow dome was erected near the Year 5/6 play equipment.  This dome will be a fantastic teaching resource and when it is fully developed it will seat half a class at a time.

I am very grateful to Eleanor and Christopher Taylor’s family for spending a day over half term helping to plant and erect the dome and funding it as mentioned in a previous newsletter.

However, I’m sure you appreciate how sad both the Taylors and I feel to discover that it has already been damaged by some toddlers.  Obviously, the damage was done unintentionally but can you ensure that if you do have toddlers they do not wander near the willow dome or go inside it. 

We will now keep the fencing up until the end of this term so that the roots can get established.  We look forward to watching  it grow and appreciate your help in looking after it.

As you may have noticed, our phones have been out of order since Monday.  Telecom has been trying to rectify the problem since Monday and hopefully it will be fixed by tomorrow morning.  If they are not, you can contact us via email.

Yours sincerely 

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 11: 05/02/10

Dear Parents/Carers

Haiti Disaster Fundraising Event
Many thanks for everyone’s generosity. We raised an amazing £940. This will be going to the Cambridge charity SOS Children Villages. On Monday, 22nd February at our 9.00am assembly the SOS school coordinator will be in to receive the cheque and tell the children about the work being carried out in Haiti.

Celebration Assembly
In the past parents have waited in the computer suite for Celebration Assemblies. Please can you now wait in the office foyer. You will need to sign in and wear a visitor’s badge.

Lost Property
This will be available for inspection/collection this Monday the 8th of February in the entrance lobby before and after school. Please have a look as there is a considerable amount of clothing including coats and shoes..

We will be disposing of anything left during half-term.

Congratulations
Congratulations to Amber Pershouse who was successful at an audition run by Sky Blue Theatre/Dramawise. Amber is one of 65 children out of over 200 who has successfully got a part in ‘Whistle Down The Wind’ which will be held in June at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.

As you know, Dramawise takes place on a Tuesday evening at our school from 5.00pm to 7.00pm. Yesterday one of their leaders came in to do a free, fun production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. Free taster sessions are held every Tuesday.

For more information phone Frances Brownlie on 01223-832288 or email on frances@skybluetheatre.com.

Valentine Colouring Competition
The school office will be selling colouring pictures for 50 pence. Completed pictures need to be back by Friday morning, 12th February. Winners will be notified in the afternoon

Tuck Shop
Tuck shop will restart on Wednesday, 24th February. All fresh fruit and fruit juice still only 25p per item.

Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers
From Wednesday, 17th February until Tuesday, 8th June we will be collecting Sainsbury vouchers. Please encourage friends and relatives to collect for your children.

The Tesco voucher scheme is due to start sometime in March and we are still collecting Box Tops For Education of Nestle cereal boxes.

Auction Of Promises – Saturday 27th February
This promises to be a great evening. The lots are still coming in and we will keep you updated.

Half-Term Holiday
Just a reminder that half-term holiday will be from Monday, 15th February through to Friday, 19th February.

We will reopen on Monday, 22nd February.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Additional news items

Dear Parents/Carers

Just a reminder that this Friday is our Haiti Disaster Fundraising Event – Friday 29th January
As a school community we want to offer our support to all the poor children of Haiti who have been orphaned as a result of the earthquake. We are asking you, therefore, to be as generous as you have been in the past…..

Valentine Colouring Competition
From this Monday, 1st February, the school office will be selling colouring pictures for 50 pence…..

Dad’s Come For School Lunch
We would like to invite our dad’s to have a school dinner with their child next Thursday, 4th February…..

Read the full letter – Additional Newsletter January 2010

Posted in News

Newsletter 10: 22/01/10

Dear Parents/Carers

Haiti Disaster Fundraising Event – Friday 29th January
As a school community we want to offer our support to all the poor children of Haiti who have been orphaned as a result of the earthquake. We are asking you, therefore, to be as generous as you have been in the past and send all your spare 1, 2, 5 and 10p coins by Friday 29th January.

Also, on Friday we will be holding a bring and buy sale, run by the Citizenship Group, School Council, ABC an Year 6 members of the ECO team to raise as much money as possible for the children affected by this disaster.

Please can you encourage your child to donate 1 or more nearly new or new toys or unwanted Christmas gifts. We will also have a cake stall and refreshments so would appreciate donations of cakes and biscuits.

We have a target of £1000! So please help us reach this target! This money will be given to SOS Children’s Villages which is based in Cambridge and which deals directly with orphans.

Multi-agency Coffee Morning
For the parents of Year 6 pupils – Tuesday 26th January

All parents of Year 6 pupils who are transferring to secondary school in September 2010 to discuss transition issues are very welcome to attend. This will take place in the community lounge at 9:00 – 10:00am.

Visit by Author Jack Trelawny – Wednesday 27th January
Children in Years 1 – 6 are being treated to a talk by the well-known author, Jack Trelawny at 9:30 on Wednesday. Orders for signed books, priced at £6.99 can still be made. Order forms are available from the school office.

PTA Coffee Morning – Friday 29th January
This will be held in the community lounge between 9:00 and 10:00 am. All parents, grandparents, carers etc are very welcome to come and have a cup of coffee or tea and a delicious slice of cake.

Return Of Clothes
Please could you return any clothes lent to your child during the recent bad weather. We have very few trousers, socks etc left!! Donations of old clothing are also welcome.

Gardening Help – Willow Dome
We are erecting a willow dome near the Year 5/6 classrooms using money donated by Eleanor and Christopher Taylor’s great grandmother who died last year. She did not want flowers at her funeral but requested that the money was donated to the school. This was such a moving gesture and after much discussion we all decided that a willow dome would be a wonderful memorial.

The willow dome will be installed on Monday, 15th February (the first day of the half term break) and we would appreciate it if 2 or 3 adults would be prepared to assist the professional dome maker between 10:00 and 12:00. If you are able help, please contact the school office as soon as possible. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the construction, children will not be able to help.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 09: 08/01/10

Dear Parents/Carers

Happy New Year
Welcome back to the start of our new term.  Even though it seems a long time ago I hope you had an enjoyable break with your family.  We now look forward to spring and longer days!

Reminder
During the first three weeks of May children in all year groups [except reception and year 1] throughout England have their annual assessments.  KS2 (Year 6) SATs tests will take place during the week commencing the 10th of May.  We would also ask all families to avoid taking holidays during this period.

Borrowed Clothes and Wet Play
Please return clothes lent to your child if they have fallen over and borrowed dry clothes from the school. We are very short now and will not be able to supply clean trousers.

Also, if your child has outgrown any trousers or leggings please could you donate them to the school.
During wet weather you may want to consider sending your child with a change of clothes.

Grandparents’ Lunch
Please note on the school menu that next Thursday, 14th January is ‘Bring Your Grandparent To Lunch’.  Arrival times are as follows: 

• Reception grandparents arrive at 12.00 noon.
• Year 1 and 2 grandparents arrive at 12.10pm. 
• Year 3 and 4 grandparents arrive at 12.20pm. 
• Year 5 and 6 grandparents arrive at 12.40pm.

The One Show
This Monday, 11th January Bar Hill will have a feature slot on The One Show which airs on BBC1 at 7.00pm.  They are doing an item on Esperanto.  Tim Morley, our Esperanto teacher, some of our children and possibly Claire Higgins and Jo Montgomery might feature!

Thank You
Many thanks to all those parents who supported our Scholastic Book Fayre at the end of November.  We managed to raise £331 worth of free books for your children’s classrooms.

Playstation – After School Club
Tomorrow, Saturday, 9th January, The Playstation will be celebrating their 10th anniversary.  Come along and celebrate with them from 3.00pm to 5.00pm.  There will be a puppet show, face painting, balloon modelling and more.  For more information about tomorrow and the club contact Patsie (07921-541-549).

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News

Newsletter 08: 11/12/09

Dear Parent/Carers

Christmas Concerts
I’m sure you will agree with me that all the concerts this Christmas were just lovely.  I want to thank all our staff, children, PTA and governors for all their hard work and support this term.

Christmas Hampers
The Christmas hampers are on display in the new school foyer and raffle tickets are now on sale for them.  Tickets are available from the school office – price £1.00 a strip.  The draw will take place on the last day of term.

End Of Term Discos
These will be held on the last day of term, Friday, 18th December 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.

Christmas Cards
The red Christmas posting box is now in the school foyer.  Can we remind you to make sure that every card has the friend’s first name, surname and what class they are in.  If this information is not one the card, it cannot be delivered .

Healthy Eating Tuck Shop
This has now stopped until after the Christmas holidays. The tuck shop will start again on Wednesday, 13th January.

New Parent Governor
I would like to welcome Martin Murphy as our new parent governor. Martin has a daughter in the infants and a son in the middles.  We look forward to his input over the months ahead.

Overdue School Dinner Payment
As next week is the last week of the autumn term, please can Mrs Lewney have any outstanding school dinner payment.  Thank you

Nut Allergy
Having reviewed our school policy on children who have nut allergies, we have decided that no nuts will be allowed in school.

Absence Letters
If your child is going to be off school, please remember to phone in and leave a message either on the answer machine or with someone in the office for each day they are off.

Upon their return, please make sure your child has an absence note for the teacher which has the dates of the days they were off. 

If you do not send in an absence note to the teacher, it is recorded as an unauthorised absence.

Dates For January 2009 to July 2009

• February Half-Term  -  15th to 19th February
• Spring Term Closes  -  Thursday, 1st April
• Summer Term Starts  -  Monday, 19th April
• May Day  -  Monday, 3rd May
• May Half-Term  -  31st May to 4th June
• End of Summer Term  -  Thursday, 22nd July

School recommences on Wednesday, 6th January as we have two staff training days on the 4th and 5th January.  Swavesey Village College recommences on Tuesday, 5th January.

Finally, on behalf of the staff, governors and PTA I would like to thank everyone for their continued help and support. 

I hope you have an enjoyable, peaceful Christmas and I wish you all the best for 2010.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Posted in News