Newsletter 2: 19/09/08

Dear Parents

Individual and Family Photographs
Individual and family photos will be taken on Thursday, 2nd October.  Your child should be bringing home a letter today with further information.

40th Birthday Celebrations
This autumn sees the 40th birthday of Bar Hill School.  We are hoping as many as possible will come out to join us for our celebration/barbecue/fun day on Saturday, 11th October from 12.00noon to 4.00pm.

The children have spent time talking about the 1960s and what life was like when the school first opened. There will be a display of children’s work and photographs up in the school. The children’s stalls and other stalls will be situated in the school so whatever the weather, the fete will go ahead!

Mr Bill Norton, who will be familiar to some of you, has kindly agreed to come and open our fete as well as taking an assembly on the Friday. Mr Norton was the first headteacher of Bar Hill school and he was also my headteacher  as I started my teaching career here at Bar Hill School in 1974!

School Dinners
School dinners now cost £1.90 per day.  It would be helpful if you could pay either with the correct change or a cheque.

If you have more than one child in the school, they can go on the same cheque.  Just put their names on the back and how much each child should receive.

Also, if you pay more than is needed (a £2.00 coin for a £1.90 lunch), this will be put into the dinner programme.  The computer keeps track of how much is paid and how many lunches are eaten.  At the end of half-term the office will let you know if you are in credit and for how much.

End Of The Day
Please note that parents of Year 3, 4, 5, and 6 children should not be waiting for their children by the all-weather court as this causes congestion and makes it difficult for others to pass, particularly parents with buggies.

All parents should wait in the playground for their children. Years 1 and 2 have designated places and the teacher will wait with the children until they have been collected. If a parent is late then the child will be taken into the school to wait in the entrance foyer.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Musical Theatre
There will be a taster session for the musical theatre group this Wednesday, 24th September after school in the studio and is open for all children from Years 1 to 6.

The new teacher Hollie will be pleased to meet old students as well as new.

If your child likes to sing and act then have them come along this Wednesday and have a go.

After-School Clubs
The following clubs are held on the days listed below. If you are interested in you child joining any of the clubs please see Mrs Lewney in the office.

Mon:    Gym club 4-7 years – 3.15pm
            Gym club 7-11 years – 4.15pm
Wed:    Hockey – All Ages – 3.15pm
            Football – Rec, Year 1 & 2 – 3.15pm
            Street Jazz – All Ages – 3.15pm
            Cheerleading – All Ages – 4.00pm
Thurs:  Musical Theatre – 6-11 years – 3.15pm

I wish you an enjoyable weekend with your family.

Best wishes

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Newsletter 1: 5/9/08

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 welcome several new families who have returned to Bar Hill.  We also extend a warm welcome to all our new reception children and their parents.

We also welcome our new deputy headteacher, Sanjay Mistry.

Celebration And A Thank You
I am sure you would like to join me in congratulating Claire Poulton (now Claire Mayer) on her marriage this summer.

Also, Judith Dickson asked me to thank the parents, children, PTA, governors and staff for all her wonderful leaving gifts.  She was very touched by everyone’s kindness.

School’s 40th Birthday Celebrations
We will be celebrating the schools 40th birthday on the weekend of Friday, 26th September after school and the school fete on Saturday, 27th September.  Do pop these dates in your diary.  It should be a lovely two days of celebrations.

The children will all be involved during the next two weeks working on  this for their creativity project.  More details to follow.

Office Hours
The school 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.

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

Healthy Eating Tuck Shop
The tuck shop will start up again this Wednesday, 17th September during morning break.  Fruit and drinks are 25p. 

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.

Parent Mail
If you would like to receive letters and school information by email, please pass on your email address to the school office and we will add you to the list.

Reminder
During the first three weeks of May children in all year groups [except reception and year 1] throughout England take assessment tests.  Year 2 and 6 children are also taking their national SATs tests. 

Gate
You may have noticed over the summer holidays that the side gate (near the path going up to the Playstation building) has been removed.

We have found that it is safer for the children to use the larger double gates in the playground to access the school playing field.

Volunteer Parent Helper’s Accredited Course
‘Helping In Schools’ is a 45 hour accredited course through the Open College Network. 

The course will be held at Mayfield School in Cambridge for 10 Wednesdays, 9.30am to 3.20pm starting on 24th September. 

Interested parents must have their Heads backing and be prepared to do two hours volunteer work per week in the school. For more information, contact Sue Young on syoung@wea.org.uk or 01480-455080.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher