Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Newsletter 2
9th November 2009
Dear Parents
Welcome back to the second half of term. I hope you were all able to enjoy the good weather and that the
children are returning to school refreshed and ready for the many activities, which traditionally add to the
broad curriculum in school in the lead up to Christmas. I noted with some dismay over the holiday that the
festive season is already in full swing in some stores!
A warm welcome to Mrs Avril Robson, who has taken over as Year 4 class teacher during Mrs Whiting’s
maternity leave. She was able to come into school on several occasions during the first half term to get to
know the class and Year 4 parents were able to meet her at the Parent Consultation Evenings. I am sure you
will be interested in future news of Mr and Mrs Whiting and I promise to keep you posted. In the meantime
I am sure you will join me in extending to Mrs Whiting our very best wishes for a happy and healthy
maternity leave.
The school was a hive of activity over the half term break with a variety of workers on site. The last stage of
the Interactive Whiteboard programme has been completed and the Nursery children will now be able to
access the exciting opportunities this hardware affords. Our thanks to the PTA for their generous donation
towards the cost of the interactive board.
New Sound systems have been installed in the remaining three junior classrooms as part of our inclusion
programme and a new mobile Sound system will enhance the provision available for teaching and learning,
replacing a very well worn unit in the hall.
Following consultation with all the junior children on choice of colours for the walls and floors of the Junior
Toilets, the refurbishment is almost complete. The colour choices have proven to be fantastic – we just
have to make sure that children don’t spend longer than necessary admiring them!
School Security
The half term holiday was also an opportunity to analyse additional requirements for the safeguarding of
the children in our care, which the new 2009 Schedule for Ofsted requires. I hope you will understand that
the following changes are in the interests of safeguarding both the pupils and staff.
From tomorrow, all adults entering the school building at any time in the day, must enter through the front
door and must report to the school office in the first instance. The double doors into the school hall are for
the use of children only. This should not prevent a parent speaking to a class teacher before or after school
in the spirit of our ‘Open Door’ policy, but it will ensure that we are able to keep a very close check on who
is in the building at any given time.
The exception to this is on Open Afternoons when parents should enter and leave through the outside door
of the classroom.
Please may I also remind you that children should be ready to enter their classroom at 8.55 am. There is a
teacher on duty in the junior playground from 8.45am. If your child arrives at school after 8.55a.m, they
should come through the front door and sign the Late Book. Persistent latecomers are brought to the
attention of our attendance officer.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD HAS A COAT IN SCHOOL.
School coats and fleeces are on sale from the school office. Fleeces are £14 and coats are £20.
Walk to School Week
Well done to everyone who managed to ‘Walk to School’ during the week before half term. Visitors to the
school were delighted with the ease in which they were able to park! A record number of walkers was
noted and congratulations to Year 2 and Year 6 who won the certificate for ‘Winning Walkers for the
infants and juniors respectively.
In the interests of protecting the environment you might be interested to look at a superb aerial view of the
area surrounding the school provided by Mr Ryall. You are invited to place a post‐it with your address in the
relevant place and potentially arrange car shares with your local neighbours.
Parent Consultations
It was good to see so many parents taking the opportunity to look at their child’s work and touch base with
their son/daughter’s class teacher at the end of the first half term. My thanks to the Governors for
providing refreshments on both evenings. As we are keen to make sure that parents are kept well
informed about their child’s progress, I would welcome feedback as to how helpful you found the evening.
The next individual consultation evenings are in the Spring term, but if you have a query before that please
contact the class teacher. There will be an Open Afternoon for you to review work at the end of this term.
The dates will be 3.l5 p.m. on Tuesday 15th December and 8.30‐8.50 a.m. on Wednesday 16th December.
Year 6
Last half term, Year 6 children were all trained as Play Leaders as part of our Sports Development
Partnership. They are now able to support the younger children at morning play.
Year 1/4 visit
Last half term Years 1 and 4 had a very successful combined visit to the Synagogue in Northwood as part of
their respective studies of the Jewish faith. The visit also served to strengthen the bonds within the family
groups of these children, an important aspect in developing our school community cohesion.
Year 5
Year 5 were able to visit Merchant Taylors’ school as part of our Partnership with the school and spent an
exciting morning split between their swimming pool, music department and canteen. The ‘favourite part’ of
the morning was variable between all three! This is also a good opportunity for Year 5 children to catch a
first glimpse of the size of a secondary school and we are grateful to MTS for their continued interest in
providing an exciting range of activities for our Year 5 children each term.
Information Session for Parents
There are some spaces available for any parent/carer who would like some ideas as to how they can
support their child with spelling and reading. Mrs Gaynor Howard and Mrs Naalchigar have organised some
workshops on the following dates and the spare places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Feedback from parents who attended similar sessions last year was very positive. Please speak to Mrs
Southern or Mrs Donnelly in the office if you would like to book a place.
Spelling Workshop Tuesday 17th November 9.l5 – 10.l5 a.m.
Phonics Workshop Tuesday 24th November 9.l5 – 10.l5 a.m.
Phonics Workshop Wednesday 25th November 2.00‐ 3.00 p.m.
Buy4Schools
Some parents have already registered with Buy4Schools, a fundraising opportunity for the school when
parents buy online. If you would like more information there will be a short presentation at 2.45 p.m. on
Friday 13th November in the Quiet Room.
Family Information Service
You may be interested in this comprehensive on‐line directory of services available to you locally such as
child care, brownie groups, etc. There is also information available on the Riversmeet Extended Schools
Consortium website http://www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/childservcedir/parentcarer/childcare/cis/
The Extended Schools Consortium also employs a parent support worker (PSW) called Tania Dean who can
offer advice to parents and who works independently of the school. She can be contacted by phone or
email. Telephone number 07531 787732 (mobile) or email TDean@rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk.
Remembrance Service
The school Remembrance Service is on Wednesday 11th November at 10.45 a.m. and will be led by Year 6
children. Parents and carers are very welcome to join us. In order that the children have an opportunity to
experience the impact of the silence at 11.00 a.m. we respectfully request that babies and young children
are not brought to this service. Poppies are available in school.
Anti‐ Bullying Week
The week beginning Monday 16th November is National Anti‐Bullying Week and as in previous years, we will
be taking this opportunity to raise awareness of the issues surrounding bullying. Our theme is ‘Being
Different, Belonging Together’ and will involve discussion in both the classrooms and assemblies. This is an
opportunity to recognise and value difference and to understand that despite being different, be it due to
race, gender, height, appearance or disability we can all work and belong together. We will be approaching
the theme on both emotional and spiritual levels, focusing on each child’s individuality as well as their part
in the corporate nature of the school and our Bible readings will come from 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
In addition, we aim to raise children’s understanding of what constitutes bullying and what to do if they see
or experience such behaviour. The Curriculum Committee of the Governing Body has recently reviewed our
Anti‐ Bullying Policy in preparation for our Governing Body Meeting later this month, and I attach a copy for
your information. Our focus will run over the next few weeks and it is likely that children will discuss this at
home. In addition to class and whole school input we will also use our new ‘House assembly’ forums, which
act as microcosms of the whole school, to ask children about how safe they feel in school and whether
there are any areas in the school where they do not feel comfortable so that we are able to respond to this.
In year groups the children will be using SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) materials and
there is a parent pack in the same scheme with a section about bullying. If you would like to borrow one of
these packs, please ask in the school office. We do ask however, that you return the material promptly to
school for other parents to use.
We aim to create a culture where bullying is not tolerated and encourage children to speak out if they
witness or experience any such behaviour. I would finally and very importantly draw your attention to the
responsibility you have as parents, to let us know immediately if your child becomes the subject of any
bullying behaviour, so that we can act swiftly and appropriately. As a staff we are concerned about the
increased possibility of cyber bullying in the light of the number of children accessing mobile technology.
Please make a point of talking through the guidance circulated at the beginning of term regarding safe and
acceptable use of ICT at home. If you have any comments to make on the reviewed Anti‐ Bullying policy I
would be grateful if you could pass them to me through the school office during next week.
PTA News and Events
Quiz Supper
Thanks to all those who supported the Quiz Supper last month. A great time was had by those competing
and our special thanks to Nick Pinder, Graham Foster and the Caskey family for master minding the whole
event. A total of £1445.66 was raised and some very high scores achieved!
Preparation for the Christmas Bazaar
Preparations are well underway for the Christmas Bazaar on 28th November. Do look out for information
fliers and be ready for Sweetie and Mufti days coming up! (See dates below).
Uniform Sale
Since the beginning of the new academic year the second hand uniform sale has made £187.95.
Stamps/Books for School/Sunday Times Books for Schools
We are still collecting stamps and tokens for the above. Please drop them in the office. Thank you.
Love in a Box
An increasing number of boxes are collecting in the hall in preparation for their shipment by Samaritan’s
Purse to be distributed around the world. We are hoping to beat our 2008 total of 135 boxes! This is a
wonderful opportunity to help children understand the importance of sharing their own good fortune and
thinking about those less fortunate. The boxes are being collected on Monday 9th November. Thank you for
your support.
Dates for your diary
There are a large number of ‘not to miss’ events between now and the end of term. Many details have
already been circulated in the first newsletter so here are one or two reminders of dates to check in your
diaries.
Target Spellings Wednesday 18th November
Sweetie Day Wednesday 18th November
Mufti Day Wednesday 25th November
Christmas Bazaar Saturday 28th November
Infant Concert Wednesday 9th December
Nursery Nativity Thursday 10th December
Christmas Party Friday 11th December
End of Term Open Afternoon ‐ Tuesday 15th December at 3.l5 p.m.
End of Term Open Morning ‐ Wednesday 16th December 8.30 – 8.50 a.m.
th
Christingle making (orange needed) – Thursday 17 December
Christingle Service in Church – Friday 18th December at 1.30 p.m.
Further specific information regarding each of these events will follow in due course. Please remember to
check ParentMail/School Book bags regularly.
Yours sincerely
Mrs E.L.Brett