St Luke's C of E Primary School, Glossop

Newsletter

25.4.13

Dear Parents,

Our Big Write Week last week generated lots of interesting letters and stories. Poor Sam, shipwrecked on an Island needed lots of help from the children. The responses the children made included really thinking out where Sam could be, what Sam needed to stay alive, good questions for Sam and ideas of how Sam could be saved.

The Kites have been very busy practicing their map reading skills by orienteering around school. They were set the challenge of finding their way around the grounds and solving Maths problems to prove they had found the right place. A huge amount of fun was had by all.

I have loved watching the islands designed by Eagles and Merlins slowly emerge. Changing from a paper design to a 3D model. It has been a bit like watching a volcanic atoll emerge from the sea.

I am a little concerned because if I walk through Key Stage One I am frequently confronted by pirates! Luckily the parrots are being quiet and not stopping the children learning. If the pirates of old had been as industrious and cooperative as our children they would have ruled the world!

Friday is a very busy day. PAS are running an African Skills Day for the children. Your child should have brought home a sponsor form. PAS are going to teach the children some games and skills they picked up in Africa and try to raise a little money to help the families they met there. All the children will take part but if your child is able to be sponsored by one or two people it would be great. Please can they bring their sponsor form in tomorrow.

Friday also sees a PTA meeting after assembly do stay and have a drink and take part if you can.

The Year 6s will be taking part in some First Aid training on Friday afternoon so need to have any long hair tied back and be wearing suitable clothes.

On Monday 29th the younger children will be having a Zumbatonic taster session. Please don’t ask me exactly what it is but it sounds very healthy.

It is Messy Church on Wednesday 1st May after school in the hall. I know it is becoming more and more popular with the children, there was a fantastic turnout last time.

Friday 3rd May Kites Class are leading our assembly.

I am afraid that head lice have been spotted by a number of parents this week. Please can you check your children’s hair for lice and treat them if live lice are found. If you would like any information about the treatment of head lice there is a leaflet in the entrance hall produced by the school nursing team.

If you would like to order any of the gorgeous plants from the PTA orders need to be in by Friday 26th. The hanging baskets I had last year looked great for months.

Please see the attached dates for the term. As ever there will no doubt be changes.

Alice Littlehailes

April
26th African Skills Day
First Aid Training
PTA 9.30
29th Zumbatonic

May
1st Messy Church
6th Bank Holiday – school closed
8th Sing at St Mary’s for 8 children
13-17 SATs Week
16th PTA Plant Pick up in the playground
17th Peregrine’s Assembly
Pamper Night
23rd New Parents Meeting
24th Take One Picture Assembly 2pm
Finish for half term

June
3rd Back to school

7th Kite’s Assembly
10th Maths challenge at Glossopdale
13th Pupil Forum
21st Eagle’s Assembly
25th Governing Body Meeting
29th PTA Summer Event – a new event in our calendar

July
4th Last Swimming session
9th Sports Day
11th Kestrel’s Assembly
Reserve Sports Day
12th INSET Day – School closed to children
15th Summer Production dress rehearsal
16th Summer Production early evening
17th Summer Production afternoon
18th Summer Production early evening
19th Leavers Do
22th Summer Disco
23rd Leavers Assembly
Finish for summer at normal time.

Newsletter

18.4.13

Dear Parents,

Welcome back after the Easter Holiday. I hope you all had a good one. The children have returned refreshed and recharged. This is a busy half term it is the one in which National Tests are taken. The Year 6s will sit a number of SATs papers in the week of 13th May. The results of these and the teacher’s assessments of where the children are at will be used by their next school to inform their future learning. The children in Years 3-5 will also be taking some tests that week so they can experience what it is like and it isn’t such a shock to them in Year 6. These tests are not accurate assessments of attainment and so we just use them to help the teacher’s make judgements about what the children need to learn next. The Year 2s take part in formal national assessments, across this term, that are a mixture of tasks done with the teachers, tests set nationally and an assessment of all the work done recently. Our aim is for the Year 2 pupils to not even realise this is happening. The children should just feel they are working as normal in school. If you have any questions or queries about these assessments do not hesitate to ask us. Please do not put lots of pressure on your child about these assessments as this can just cause them anxiety.

I have been fascinated recently by the Channel 4 series Bedtime Live about sleep, I don’t know if you caught any of it. Alongside helping families retrain their children to be good sleepers they explored the research about sleep. This week they carried out an experiment in a school to test the effects of sleep deprivation on memory and ability to work in school. The children who had a nap, so were less sleep deprived performed about 50% better than the rest of the children. Across the series the children reported using electronic gadgets such as games consoles, phones, tablets and televisions into the night rather than sleeping. The latest research recommends children of Primary school age should be sleeping for around 10-12 hours a night, more for the younger children.

Friday Toast starts again this week bring in your 20p for the treat of toast. Thank you to all the parents who help cook the toast on a Friday morning. If you could help out with toast making more volunteers are always needed.

Cookery Club for the second group in on this week 19th April, and next 26th April.

Swimming starts next Thursday 25th April for Kites Class.

On Friday 26th April the Merlins are going to have some first aid training so long hair will need to be tied back and I would recommend they wear trousers or thick tights as it will be a practical session.

Ann Tracy has some spaces for beginner Gymnasts in her Friday session, 3.30 – 4.30 in school, if your child is interested in trying out gymnastics do phone her on 07855439693. You never know we might have the next Louis Smith or Beth Tweddle in school.

Alice Littlehailes

Newsletter

21.3.13

Dear Parents,
Thank you for your generosity, we raised £211 for comic relief last Friday.

Both Merlins and Ospreys had a safety talk from the fire service and should be talking to you about having escape plans and smoke alarms.

Osprey Class are leading the assembly on Friday, everyone is as ever welcome to join us.

Tomorrow sees the Easter Afternoon tea and the draw for the raffle, the number of people who have told me they are winning the One Direction Tickets is amazing. The tea starts at 2pm with the raffle drawn at 2.45 and the hall clear for Gymnastics by 3.30!

Next week is parents evening on Monday and Wednesday so there will be no Film, ICT or Key Stage One clubs. Gardening will still be on, on Tuesday.

It is our Easter Service in church on Wednesday. It would be lovely if you could join us. It will start as soon as we can get the children registered and across from school. The PTA will be providing refreshments for any of you that are able to stay.

On Thursday my diary says ‘Masked Ball’ for the children in Key Stage One. I am not sure exactly what is happening but I have my ball gown ready. Watch this space for more details.

We finish for Easter on Thursday 28th at the normal time. The PTA will be selling popcorn after school.

Key Stage Two children should have brought home a letter about fruit for next term. If your child would like to have fruit please return the letter by Wednesday 27th.

We come back to school on Monday 15th April.

Alice Littlehailes