Newsletter 7

Autumn Term 2013

Good Things Grow Here

Congratulations Mr Wallace!
I am delighted to inform you that Mr Wallace has been successful in his application for the Headteacher position at St Oswalds Church of England Primary School in Mollington. Mr Wallace takes up his new post in the Summer term 2014. Mr Wallace has been Mill View Deputy Headteacher since January 2007 and has made a significant contribution to the leadership and management at our school. He completed his National Qualification for Headship a couple of years ago and is very excited about becoming a Headteacher.

School Trips
As many of you are aware in recent newsletters our school budget is extremely tight and we do not have an allocated budget to fund the cost of trips. As a school we request parental voluntary contributions to cover the cost and the school funds the cost of any additional staff required to go on the trip plus any shortfall if required. If there are insufficient voluntary contributions made to cover the cost we may need to cancel the visit as we would not want to discriminate against any individual children or families. We do appreciate the financial challenges for our families and consider the cost very carefully before booking trips. If you are unable to fund your childs trip please speak to Mrs Walters before the trip. Thank you.

Christmas Trips
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are visiting the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton to see Jack & the Beanstalk on Friday 13 December. The reduced cost per child is 9, including transport. To ensure we reach the Floral Pavilion in plenty of time, Reception and Key Stage One children will have an early lunch. Reception children will begin their lunch at 11.30am and Key Stage One will follow shortly after. Please remind your child of the importance of eating their lunch quickly to ensure we are ready on time. There will be no morning snack on this day so children will not need their snack purses in school. Year 3 to Year 6 are visiting St Marys Centre, Chester to see The Snow Queen on Monday 16 December. The reduced cost per child is 7, including transport Payment and approval for the trip can be paid via ParentMail. We are awaiting confirmation from St Marys Centre regarding timings for the performance and will inform you nearer the date.

Saying Thank You

Last Friday we recognised the valuable contribution our teaching assistants make to our school in a special assembly. Every teaching assistant was presented with: A Thank You card written by a child An Achievement Card written by a child An Outstanding Contribution card from the Governing Body A gift from everyone Our Year 6 children changed the words to a familiar song and everyone was treated to a PowerPoint presentation of childrens words and pictures saying why the teaching assistants should be thanked. It was an extremely touching assembly and there are photographs on our school website in the whole school community section.

Lunchtime Behaviour
Lunchtime supervisors are concerned about the amount of food that is being left on the hall floor after lunchtime. This behaviour of throwing food on the floor is unacceptable for many reasons; however we are more concerned that the children are not eating the food you have provided for them. Please could you speak to your child about appropriate behaviour and the importance of eating the food provided by home.

Fundraising at a Local Supermarket

When I contacted the supermarkets to support our technology fundraising I had a positive response from one store Morrisons. They were extremely accommodating and have arranged for us to provide a bag packing service for their customers on Tuesday 17 December from 10am to 3pm. All profits will go to improving our technology provision Mr Gilbert has a 6000 wish list for immediate resources! The children in Year 6 will have the opportunity to bag pack with staff either in the morning or afternoon. If you are able to bag pack for a couple of hours in the middle of the day it would be really appreciated, please contact the school office. Year 6 10am to 11.30am Parents & staff 11.30am to 1.30pm Year 6 1.30pm to 3pm

Thank you to everyone who has supported our PTA technology fundraising this term we are desperately trying to get an income of 5000 as a PTA to become a charity. Being a charity will enable us to access grants and bids to improve the opportunities for your children at school. To date the money raised through sponsorship and bookings for a stall is 3500, however, our outgoings are 3400 (St Johns Ambulance Friday & Saturday 200; Promotional Flyers 240; Advertisement 99 in Upton magazine; Banners 260; Rink Hire 2600). All sales from the raffle, the rink tickets, the grotto, photographs and a donation from ApeBar catering will be our profit.
Christmas Fair and Skating Rink
Friday 13 December 6pm 9pm and Saturday 14 December 10am 4pm Thank you so much for your wonderful creative donations to the raffle. We have 7 themed bags of goodies alongside other prizes donated by families and staff:

2 night stay for up to 2 adults & 2 children (bed & breakfast) at any De Vere Village Urban Resort valid Thursday Sunday nights from 19 December 2013 to 02
February 2014, excluding New Years Eve

2 night stay for up to 2 adults & 2 children (bed & breakfast) at any De Vere Hotel (excluding Cameron House & Grand Brighton) valid Thursday Sunday nights from 19
December 2013 to 02 February 2014, excluding 24 & 25 December and New Years Eve

Dinner, bed & breakfast for 2 adults at the Forest Hills Hotel, Frodsham Meal for 2 at Moules a Go Go in Chester Two bottles of gin A free day at A-Star Sports Holiday Club 1 free term of Rhythm Time for child 50 cocktails in a Hoole Bar

Raffle tickets will be available at the fair 1 a ticket.

Skating Rink Bookings

We have taken over 300 bookings for the skating rink and some sessions are now full. Skating is recommended for children over the age of 3 (shoe size 8) only and adults are welcome to skate too. If you have made a booking please read our guidelines for staying safe on the rink. If you do require first aid members we have financed for St Johns Ambulance to be available at all times. The room designated for first aid treatment is the rainbow room accessed through the main school building.

Being Safe on the Skating Rink

Wear gloves and warm clothes but not long scarves or long coats Make sure your skates are correctly tightened Listen to the instructors and skate in an anticlockwise direction Do not drop any litter or eat food whilst on the rink Stay safe on the rink by not sitting on the barriers Do not carry any bags or young children Do not skate if you are pregnant or have a heart condition Ask an adult to skate with you (or watch you) if you are a child under 12

Being Safe at the Fair

This year our Christmas Fair is a large community event over a period of two days and there will not be the facility for staff to supervise children. All children under the age of 11 must be supervised by an adult at all times. If any child is unsupervised by an adult parents will be contacted.

Dates for your diary

Saturday 07 December Choir at Hospice Coffee Morning at Holy Ascension Church Hall Sunday 08 December Choir singing at Chester Zoo 10am and 4pm Monday 09 December Christmas Wreath making with Mrs Gilbert Wednesday 11 December Key Stage 2 Carol Service at Holy Ascension Church Thursday 12 December Choir at Chester U3A St Columbus Church Thursday 12 December School Christmas Lunch Friday 13 & Saturday 14 December Skating Rink & Christmas Fair Friday 13 December 1.30pm Reception, Year 1 & 2 theatre trip to see Jack & the Beanstalk Monday 16 December Years 3 to 6 theatre trip to see The Snow Queen Tuesday 17 December Reception, Year 1 & 2 Christmas Sing-a-long 10.30am and 1.45pm Wednesday 18 December School closes at 3pm for Christmas Holidays 06 January School opens for the Spring term