Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter Headteacher: Mr Paul Lavis Deputy Headteacher: Mrs Sam Harris
12th February 2010 Volume 3
Issue 7
Contents:
Parent Working Parties
2
Surveys
2
Education City Passes
3
Free Computers
3
Half Term Events
3
Horse Riding
4
Diary Dates
4
Upcoming Events Monday 15th– Friday 19th February ~ Half term Monday 1st March ~ Parents Evening - Early Wednesday 3rd March ~ Parents Evening—late Monday 8th March—12th March ~ Enterprise Week.
Dear Parents You‘ll be pleased to know that I don‘t have too much to say this time around! However, before you begin cheering, please look at the following picture:
Yes—it is a picture of chocolates. In our community assembly on Friday (which, of course, you are all more than welcome to attend—we would love to see more people there) I announced a competition of sorts. On each class blog are two links: one to a pupil survey and one to a parent/carer survey.
Tuesday 9th March ~ School Nurse Drop In Thursday 1st April ~ last day of term.
and children in each class will be added up. The class with the most completed surveys will win a box of chocolates to share before they go home. (Before anyone worries about some classes being bigger than others—a fairness calculation will be carried out involving very complicated percentages, a calculator and Mrs Roberts!). Also—those of you who have children who receive additional support with their learning at school have an opportunity to feedback on our SEN Blog as well as those who feel their children have some form of disability. Your feedback really is welcomed and enables us to continue to improve the school in partnership with yourselves. If you don‘t have access to the internet at home, you are welcome to complete the surveys in school during our coffee morning on Friday after assembly. Enjoy half-term and see you when we all return.
On Friday afternoon of this week, the total of completed surveys for parents
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Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter Volume 3
Issue 7
Parent Working Parties In 2012, the Olympics come to the UK and as you will know, Dorset are a host county. The school is involved in a project connected to the legacy that the Olympics will leave for our children in Dorset. We thought it might be a nice idea to involve some parents in considering what this might look like at Blandford St Mary Primary. If you would like to be part of a group who have the opportunity to steer this project and have a very real impact on the curriculum of our children then please fill in the reply slip on
the reverse of the newsletter. Another hot topic that I‘m sure lots of parents would love to be involved in discussing is homelearning. We are planning to look at our homelearning policy in the Summer Term. If you would like to be part of a group discussing this then please indicate on the same slip on the back of the newsletter. Many thanks.
Surveys (just in case you missed it on the first page!) From time-to-time we ask parents and children to answer some questions about their experiences of school and give suggestions about how we may improve what we provide at Blandford St Mary Primary. If you venture onto our school website and then access your child‘s class blog, you will find a link (in the top left or right hand corner) that will take you to the survey. The only information collected is the information you give and is anonymous. Feel free to be as positive as you like and of course let us know where you feel we can improve. If you or your child has a disability or your child is considered to have special educational needs (and therefore has an IEP) then please take the time to complete a survey which is on the SEN blog.
Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter Volume 3
Issue 7
Page 3
Education City Home-learning Passes As you may remember last year our children had the opportunity to purchase Education City homelearning passes. I am very pleased to let you know that thanks to our Friends of School (and yourselves for supporting our fundraising!) we are able to provide a pass free of charge to every pupil. The children will be bringing home a card with their ID and password on today. Access details are as follows:The address of the site is: www.educationcity.com. When you ‗arrive‘ at the site you will be faced with this screen:
Log in by clicking on the ‗Home Work‘ button above and typing in the pupil ID and password from your child‘s card. If you have any problems please let us know.
Free Computers ~ Home Access initiative The government has launched the Home Access Initiative providing grants to low income families to get access to a computer and the internet to get online at home. The grant allows eligible applicants to buy one of the following packages: 1. Full package (a computer, one year‘s internet access, service & support) 2. A computer with service & support only 3. One year‘s internet access only. This initiative may be of interest to those parents who qualify for a free school meals allocation. The hotline number to ring is 0333 200 1004. In addition to the above, up to 50% grants are also available for those who may not qualify for a free school meals allocation. For further information, please contact the school office.
HALF TERM EVENTS Family Craft Workshops On Tuesday 16thFebruary The Dorset Scrapstore will be at the Fun4Kids event in Carter Community School, Blandford Close, Hamworthy, Poole from 11 am to 3 pm and on Thursday in Upton Libraary from 10am to 12 noon for a family Craft Workshop. Entry to both events is free, but children must be accompanied by an parent or guardian at the Family Craft Workshop.
Streetwise Event On 12th February students from Bournemouth University are holding a film premiere of ―Percy Jackson and the Olympians‖ at Empire Cinema Tower Park. All proceeds will be going towards Streetwise. There will be a short clip at the start of the film about Streetwise and how it can benefit parents and children. The event will start at 4 pm and the actual film will start at 5 pm
Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter Blandford St Mary Primary School Birch Avenue Blandford St Mary, Dorset DT11 9QD
Phone: 01258-453331 Fax: 01258-455865 Email: office@blandfordstmary.dorset.sch.uk
Horse Riding Deer Park Riding School have contacted us about an opportunity for local schools. They would like to offer 10 weekly riding lessons at a reduced rate of £70. Normal charge for one half hour lesson is £18 ~ quite a saving! Lessons will run for half an hour from 4 pm on Wednesdays or Thursdays. If we have more than five children interested they will run two sessions 4 pm and 4.30 pm, however total places are limited to 10. As the 10 lessons would need to be paid in advance, the riding school are quite happy to organise a taster session. If you thought your child would be interested in this wonderful opportunity, please contact the school office.
Diary Dates: Monday 15th –Friday 19th February Monday 1st March Wednesday 3rd March Monday 8th March—Friday 12th Tuesday 9th March Thursday 1st April Monday 19th April Tuesday 20th April
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Half-Term Early Parents Evening (details to follow) Late Parents Evening (details to follow) Enterprise Week (details to follow) School Nurse drop-in End of Spring Term Staff Training Day Children back to school.
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HAND IN THIS SLIP TO HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING A PRIZE! FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
Child‘s Name……………………………………………………….
Base Name…………………………………Year Group………………….. I would like to be involved in: Olympics Working Party .... Home-Learning Discussion ....