Monday 17 October 2011

Newsletter 9

REMINDER - CHRISTMAS DINNER SLIPS TO RETURN
We require slips returned for the Christmas lunch choice for EVERY CHILD please, by the end of the week at the latest. If we do not receive a slip from you we will ASSUME THAT YOUR CHILD WILL BE HAVING A CHRISTMAS DINNER which will need to be paid for in December. Thank you.

REMINDER - CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL - Friday 4 November
Please return the filled shoe boxes for Samaritans Purse by Friday 4 November, don’t forget to include the £2.50 in the envelope. Thank you.

NEW MENUS AND BONFIRE LUNCH – Friday 4 November
Please find with this letter the new menus that start after half term and carry through until Easter.
On the first Friday back after half term the catering team are providing a Bonfire Lunch of Hotdog or Cheddar Cheese Catherine Wheel, Sauté potatoes, sweetcorn and peas, with Banoffee Pie for dessert. To access the menus on line visit www.eats-catering.co.uk here you can also find out nutrition and allergen information.

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS – Thursday 20 October
Photos of all individual children and family groups will be taken on Thursday, all children will need to wear their school sweatshirts. Thank you.

REMINDER GA JB SHARE SESSION - Friday 21 October
Parents of GAJB are reminded to come along to this Friday’s share session at 1.20pm.

REMINDER CAKE STALL – Friday 21 October
There will be cakes for sale this Friday after school in the front playground pavilion.

REMEMBRANCE POPPIES – from 31 October
Poppies will be on sale in the school after half term. They will be brought to the classes each day when the children will have an opportunity to purchase a poppy if they wish to bring in a donation.

ADMISSIONS POLICY 2013/14 CONSULTATION
We have placed a draft version of our policy on the school website as a ‘discussion’ document. We welcome any parent comments to the school office or via email to c.miller@hitchams.suffolk.sch.uk; the consultation period is now to 7 November 2011.

RECORDER CLUB
We are sorry, but due to a shortage of available musical staff we are only able to now offer Recorders to Year 3. Mrs Hopkins and Mrs Eyles will be running this on Wednesday lunchtimes. Separate letters are being sent to Year 3 pupils this week.

AUTUMN REPORTS & PARENT CONSULTATIONS
Reports will be coming home on the Friday after half-term (4 November), along with the report you will find a slip to be returned about booking an appointment to meet with your children’s class teachers for Parent Consultations on either Wednesday 9 or Thursday 10 November from 3.30pm – 6.00pm. Please return this slip by Tuesday 8 November.

YELLOW MOON CATALOGUES
The Friends apologise for not making it clear that any orders for Yellow Moon craft products (from the catalogues handed out recently) need to be made direct to Yellow Moon, not via the Friends. Thank you.

RECEPTION OPEN SESSIONS – for Pupils due to start school September 2012
The Reception classes will be open for visits by parents with children due to start school next September. The sessions are on Tuesday 1 November 9.30-11.30am or Thursday 3 November 1.30-2.30pm. Parents are asked to please sign in at the school office where admission application forms are available.

MRS SPENCER MATERNITY LEAVE
I am pleased to inform parents that Mr Snowden will be taking over Mrs Spencer’s class whilst she is on Maternity leave. He joins us after half term. I am sure everyone will join me in sending best wishes to Mr and Mrs Spencer for the birth of their second child.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY – A report from Mrs Picton
Last Friday Revd Owen and I accompanied 7 children from our school to London where we took part in the National Celebrations for the 200 years of Church Schools at Westminster Abbey. We were very honoured to be chosen to take part in these celebrations along with 3 other schools in our Diocese.
Revd Owen and I were so proud of the children - Amy, Eleanor, Isabel, Lucy, Oscar, Sam and Zac – who were wonderful ambassadors for our school.
There are photographs of the wonderful event on the Blog, and you can also look on the diocese website for more information and photos of the event:
http://www.stedmundsbury.anglican.org/index.cfm?page=cyp.content&cmid=434

ST EDMUNDSBURY CATHEDERAL – A report from Mrs Picton
As part of the national celebrations for Church Schools on Sunday 16 October Ben, Lucy and Emily from Year 6, with their families, joined a great number of other Church Schools at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. They carried our new school banner in the procession during a service led Bishop Nigel Stock.
It was a wonderful event re-affirming the very special place of Church Schools in Suffolk.
Our three representatives carried our banner with purpose and pride.

SUFFOLK SPORTS PARTNERSHIP – A report from Mrs Picton
On Sunday 16 October Mr Brook and I represented our school at the Ipswich and South Suffolk School Sports Partnership awards. We were proud to have been shortlisted along with 2 other schools; although we did not win the award it was an honour to be recognized as one of the great sports provider schools. My grateful thanks go to all the staff, past and present, who made our nomination possible.

NEW BOOK GROUP FOR MUMS
If any mums would be interested in joining a new book group please contact Sam Tassera on Samanthatassera@yahoo.co.uk or text on 07712 651222. The group would aim to meet once every 6 weeks. [Please note this is independent of the school]

DON’T FORGET... HALF TERM NEXT WEEK
Half term commences on Monday 24 October, the children return on Monday 31 October.