Newsletter 13: 20/03/09

Dear Parents/Carers

Funhouse Theatre Presents ‘What The Dickens’
This coming Tuesday, 24th March, the children will be watching the Funhouse Theatre’s production of ‘What The Dickens!’ based on various Dickens’ stories from ‘A Christmas Carol to ‘Oliver Twist’.

We are funding this as a special treat for the whole school so there will be no charge to parents.   Hopefully this will wet the children’s interest to read (or have read to them) the book’s themselves.

Cake Stall – This Monday, 23rd March After School In The Studio
The school choir will be taking part in a choir festival at West Road Concert Hall next Friday, 27th March.  In order to take part they have been fundraising and will be having a cake stall after school this Monday, 23rd March in the studio.

We would be very grateful if you could make some cakes to sell and come along after school and buy something nice for your tea to support the choir. 

Also, if you are a parent of a child in the choir, would you be willing to help set up and sell the cakes after school?  If you are, please contact Emily in the office on Monday morning.

Easter Lunch – Friday, 3rd April
All children who have a school dinner on Friday, 3rd April will be put into a Easter draw to win an Easter egg.  There will be a winner in each class.

Easter Holidays
The children’s last day of school will be Friday, 3rd April.  We will be back on Monday, 20th April (Swavesey Village College have a training day on the Monday, but our children do not!).

Below are the dates for the next academic year for you to keep.  Have a lovely weekend.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Dates For September 2009 To July 2010

Meet the Professionals Coffee Morning!

It’s that time of the term again when we are opening up the community lounge and inviting parents to come and meet those of us who work in schools and other services to support your children and you, their parents / carers.

At previous coffee mornings parents have been able to meet myself (the Parent Support Adviser) the Locality Manager (who can answer questions on the transfer to Swavsesey Village College), the Education Welfare Officer, the School Nurse, a representative from the Parent Partnership Service (to offer advice about Special Educational Needs), plus the head teacher and a variety of other people.

We hope that many of these professionals will be able to attend next week, and where they are not there we will be able to provide information on their behalf and signpost you to the appropriate services.

Even if you don’t need to talk to any of the people above, feel free to come along regardless and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit. There will also be toys available for younger children.

The event is taking place on Thursday 19th March from 9am in the community lounge.

I hope to see you there!

Rachel Britton
Parent Support Adviser

Newsletter 12: 06/03/09

Dear Parents/Carers

Camil’s Café – Tuesday, 10th March
As you know our Year 6 Citizenship Group run the Camil’s Café where delicious cakes, cookies and hot drinks are served.  There is also a white elephant/toy/book stall for you to look at.  In the past several parent have made us cakes to sell and if you are willing please bring your cakes to the school office on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Comic Relief Day – Friday 13th March
Next Friday is Comic Relief Day.  Would you be willing to make small cakes, biscuits, popcorn, etc for us to sell during morning break time to the children?  We would be most appreciative.

Also it will be non-uniform day.  For 50p your child can come in their normal clothes or wacky hair day and in red.  The money will go to Comic Relief.

PTA AGM – Wine and Cheese Evening
The AGM  will be this Tuesday, 10th March starting at 7.00pm. Everybody welcome.  Please come along and meet the PTA and find out what the fundraising for our children helps to buy.

Our PTA raises a great deal of money for our children and is a very important part of our school.

Coffee Morning For Parents – Thursday, 19th March
Another reminder that our next multi-agency coffee morning will be happening on Thursday, 19th March from 9.00am to 10.30am in the community lounge.

This was a great success last time with approximately 20 parents came and met with our school nurse, parent support adviser and our educational welfare officer.  This time we will also be joined by the locality team manager who has access to many different services you as a parent may want to call upon. 

Younger siblings are very welcome.  Refreshments  are served.

Help
We would be delighted if anyone could come and help us with our Key Stage 2 lunchtime ICT club (one session per week).  One of our governors has successfully run a club for the past few years but is unable to continue until September.  It is a very enjoyable club to run and doesn’t require any preparation.

If you would like any further details, please contact me to discuss it.

Pop Quiz – Saturday, 14th March
Teams of up to 8 people
£7.50 enter per person – includes hot food
Entries need to be back to Emily by Tuesday at the latest.
                                     
Nearly New Sale – Saturday, 28th March
Come along and bag yourself a bargain at the PTA’s popular nearly new sale.  It will be from 1.30 to 3.30pm and entrance is 50p per adult.

Fundraising For The School’s Choir Festival
The choir are singing at the above festival on Friday, 27th March.  We are raising funds and wondered if you could help us?  Four children from the choir have suggested the following ideas:

• Chloe Humphries – colouring competition
• Hannah Stepney – a colour hunt
• Erin Fox – guess how many sweets in the jar
• Erin Szembel – cake stall.

The colouring competition will be 50p per entry and a prize for the most colourful entry.  Please collect your picture (designed by Chloe) from the office.

For Hannah’s idea, please start collecting any items with the colour of your choice.  Pick up a bag from the office and pop all your coloured items in the bag.

We will let you know about the other two events as they happen.

Finally, we are to have an AUCTION OF STAFF SINGING!  Some of the staff have offered to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to a pupil whose parents make the highest bid.  Bids need to be into the office by Friday, 20th March in a sealed envelope.  It doesn’t matter when your birthday is … we will come and sing to you during lunch time and hopefully make you smile!

best wishes

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Caretaker – Press coverage

Dear Parent/Carers

As many of you will have read in Wednesday’s edition of the Cambridge News  a further article about Jack Fleming’s case was reported. 

As a headteacher and parent I fully understand parents’ distress and concern about what has happened.  As I stated in my earlier letter I am always here for you to talk things through.  Do contact me if you would like to raise a concern with me.

Schools are not on their own in dealing with difficult cases like this.  Throughout the entire situation I have consulted the Local Authority and police and have followed their advice.

Our children are always at the heart of all that we do and it is important that school life is as normal as possible for them and that we support them through this difficult time.

As you probably realise, there is likely to be further coverage of Mr Fleming’s case next week when he is sentenced but as yet we do not know the date of his court appearance.  I appreciate that this could cause further distress for you all but hopefully we will then have closure on the situation and we can look forward to the summer.

Yours sincerely

Lin Whyte
Headteacher

Caretaker update

Dear Parents/Carers

Many of you may have seen the article in today’s Cambridge News regarding Jack Fleming.

Mr Fleming was suspended from his post in late August 2008 before the start of the new academic year pending a police investigation, and has had no contact with the school since. In November he appeared in court charged with various offences. 

In mid-February he pleaded guilty to the charge of viewing ‘indecent images’ from his home computer. Consequently he was dismissed instantly from his post and has been given notice to vacate his property by the Local Authority.

Mr Fleming is due to appear in court for sentencing the week beginning Monday, 9th March.

We wish to reassure you that the charges do not relate to the school in any way and the only link between the school and Mr Fleming is that he was employed by the school. 

As you appreciate this has caused us considerable distress but as a school we are very grateful to you for all the support and respect you have given us regarding this situation and together as a school and a village we will go forward. The safety and welfare of our children is at the heart of all that we do.

If you have any concerns, or wish to discuss anything, please contact myself or Richard Sharman our Chair of Governors.

Yours sincerely