Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter Headteacher: Mr Paul Lavis Deputy Headteacher: Mrs Sam Harris
22nd October 2010 Volume 4, Issue 3 Contents:
North Dorset Children’s services
2
Year 6 Parents
2
Governor’s Blog
2
Primary Times Magazine
2
Dorset PSA Service
3
LEEWAY project
3
Life Education Van
4
Parking & Dropping off
4
Diary Dates
4
Upcoming Events ~ 25th - 29th Oct Half-Term Mon 1st November Staff ~Training Day Children return to school Tuesday 2nd November School Nurse Drop-in Tuesday 23rd November
Dear Parents Dear Parents, Well, it would appear that Autumn is leaving us and Winter is fast approaching. I guess this is a good opportunity to say: Please make sure the children come to school in the appropriate clothing for the time of year. You would be surprised at the number of children who say they don’t have coat when it’s absolutely freezing outside! Talking of outside – I have a plea. After school (and before school) please please please keep your children with you at all times. The school cannot be responsible for children climbing on the adventure playground, running around the playground and Astroturf or even through the school. This is a plea not just from me but the whole staff who would be mortified if somebody hurt themselves or went missing after school. We also have a problem with the number of scooters and bicycles that are being stored in school. At the moment we just don’t have the room for them. We have looked for
space to store these items and have been scuppered on more than one occasion due to health and safety reasons. We are moving forward on this but in the meantime please don’t expect to be able to store scooters and bicycles at school. If you are accompanying your children to school in bicycles and scooters can you make sure that they have understood to walk them across the school grounds and not ride them. Hopefully, we will have some news about storing bikes and scooters in the next half-term. Thank you so much to all of those who have attended Friday assemblies over the past half-term – they have been wonderful occasions. If your children are due to be in the limelight soon I look forward to seeing you then. Finally – those parents in Year 6 who haven’t filled in the forms for transfer to secondary school: make sure you do so by 31st October!
Page 2
Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 3
North Dorset Children’s Centres
North Dorset Children's Centres - There is a huge range of activities and events happening at the children's centres across the North Dorset cluster this summer (Gillingham, Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton). For a complete programme, please contact each Children's Centre for a flier. Contact: Shaftesbury - 01747 850288; Gillingham 01747 837960 (Tues Thurs); Sturminster - 01258 474141
Year 6 Parents Important Transfer to Secondary School Please note the deadline for applications for transfer to secondary school is 31st October 2010 Apply online via dorsetforyou.com/schooladmissions or contact The Admissions team on 01305 221060
Governor’s Blog
Dads Events Diary Activities for Men with kids Shaftesbury Dads Group Saturday 10-12.00 twice a month, soon to resume weekly Shaftesbury Children's Centre, Wincombe Lane, 01747 857400 Men with kids aged 0-8, all welcome Contact: Jonny Hoskins by email j.hoskins@dorsetcc.gov.uk or tel. 07917 172230/ 01305 224800
Primary Times We have some free copies of the Primary Times available in the school office.
Philippa Daffern – Vice Chair I was born and Educated in Crosby, Merseyside. I read English at Liverpool University and Graduated in 1972. In 1992 after completing research I was awarded an MA. After 38 years teaching in the maintained and private sectors, I recently retired. My career included an Advisory post in the inner city Liverpool and a senior appointment at The Royal Masonic School for girls at Rickmansworth. I regard my experience as varied! I have taught across the age ranges and have some experience in Special Education. I am married to Adrian, a retired engineer and we moved to Blandford St Mary in 2006. We have one married daughter Helena and a grandson, Oscar.
Blandford St Mary Primary School Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 3
Page 3
Dorset PSA Service Kevin Anthony 07776472746 Or you can ring the office number on: 01305 250161
Dorset PSA Service “What is a PSA?” Parenting is likely to be one of the hardest, unpaid jobs we will every do. It is one that asks for no experience or training and we are expected to do a good job! Sometimes the daily challenges school and family life bring can make a parent’s job even more of an uphill struggle. The Parent Support Advisers offer parent focussed help and support. PSAs can help parents on a one-to-one basis, signpost parents to services which can provide specialist help and much more. We work directly with parents to provide support that can encourage their children to feel settled and secure, both at home and at school. The service is free and available to all parents. “Caring
kind and supportive” Blandford Parent
LEEWAY Project The LEEWAY Project is offering the following FREE activities in the October half-term for children aged 9 to 16 years of age, who are eligible for the Step Up funding: Ferndown Leisure Centre – Join the fun with sports, games and swimming.
Meet at Reception at 10am & collect at 3pm. Please bring PE kit, swimming costume and towel, plus a packed lunch and extra drink! You must be confident in the small pool.
Please book a place on: 01202-862582 or playplusdorset@googlemail.com
Woodland School @ Moreton, Nr Wareham. - Find the buried treasure with the Leeway Pirates Pick up from Pinehurst Chapel, West Moors, at 9.30 am and return at about 3.00 pm. Please bring a packed lunch, drink, waterproofs, wellies and a change of clothes!!
Book a place on: 01202-862582 or playplusdorset@googlemail.com
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
Website : www.blandfordstmary.dorset.sch.uk
Life Education Van Visit
Parking & Dropping off
At the end of the first week back we will be having a visit from the Life Education Van. The children will be having class sessions on Friday 5th and on Monday 8th November. The Life Education teacher has offered to run a parent session on Friday 5th November from 2.45pm to 3.15 pm which you are most welcome to attend. This will give you an opportunity to see the super resource for yourselves and discuss any questions you may have.
Please could we remind parents for the safety of our children not to drive through or park in the school grounds. Thank you
Further details to follow.
Diary Dates: Monday 25th -Friday 29th October Monday 1st November Tuesday 2nd November Friday 5th November
~ ~ ~ ~
Tuesday 23rd November
~
Half-Term Staff Training Day Children return to School Life Education Van Parents’ session 2.45pm to 3.15pm School Nurse Drop in 9am
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
HAND IN THIS SLIP TO HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING A PRIZE! OCTOBER NEWSLETTER Child’s Name……………………………………………………….
Base Name………………………………….. Year Group………………..