St Christophers C E School
Email: [email protected] www.st-christophers.oxon.sch.uk
Newsletter
No 1: 9th September 2011
Dear Parents
A warm welcome to all! It was lovely to see so many families represented in our first assembly of the year. Thank you for coming and showing your support by sharing this special time with us. As well as welcoming many new families into our school community, we are also pleased to welcome our new Lunchtime Supervisor Velia Mansfield and Ginkgo Class Teacher, Sarah Hill. I would also like to thank all the staff, in particular Janet Hobbs, who have worked hard through the summer to create the clean and welcoming environment ready for the beginning of term. I look forward to working with you all to ensure a happy and successful year at St Christopher's.
Carol Phillips Acting Headteacher Absent from School ?
If your child is absent from school for any reason, please dont forget to let us know. Absences are recorded in our registers with the appropriate reason code, i.e illness, medical appointment etc. Where no reason is given the absence is recorded as unauthorised and may be investigated by the Educational Welfare Officer. Please notify us about the absence by telephoning school on 01367 860318 and selecting option 1 to leave a message. Thank you.
School Dinners have been increased to 2.10 per dinner. Dinners should be paid in advance cheques payable to Oxfordshire County Council please. Wednesday 14th September 2.45pm Year 2 Assembly re Forest School see details attached. Monday 19th September Clubs start - see details attached. Tuesday 20th September KS 2 swimming starts see details attached . Friday 16th September 2.45pm Celebration Assembly Everyone Welcome!
Quick Reminders
BREAKFAST CLUB
DAILY FROM 7.45AM (PRE BOOKED) 3.00 8.15AM (DROP IN) 2.00 Booking forms for September now available from Mrs Norton-White or the School Office SCHOOL UNIFORM St Christophers uniform can be ordered from: www.simplyschoolwear.co.uk Tel: 0800 404 6644
Parking Around School
As we are at the start of a new term, please may we remind parents to respect our neighbours when parking near the school. From time to time we do receive complaints please help us keep this to a minimum by not blocking drives and gateways and keeping clear of the zig-zag lines thank you
Emergency School Closures
In addition to our text system, school closures will be broadcast on: HEART FM 102.6 FM GWR 96.3 FM BBC Radio Oxford 95.2 FM Or check local radio station websites
Missed a Newsletter? If you have missed a newsletter, they are available on our website www.st-christophers.oxon.sch.uk
School Lunch Menus!
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Week Commencing 12th September 2011 Macaroni Cheese Sweetcorn & Green Beans Ice Cream with Fruit Sauce Roast Chicken with Yorkshire Pudding, Roast Potatoes, Carrots & Cauliflower Chocolate Mousse with orange wedge
Ham & Pineapple, New Potatoes, Peas and Baked Beans Feathered Iced Sponge
Tomato Pasta Bake with Carrot & Swede Batons and Broccoli Fruit slice
Sausages Chunky Chips, Baked Beans and Peas Oat Cookie with milk
Week Commencing 19th September 2011 Cowboy Hotpot Diced Potatoes, Sweetcorn and green beans Ginger Cookie with milk Pizza Jacket Potato, Peas, Coleslaw Hot Chocolate Fudge Cake Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding, Carrotts & Cabbage Cheesecake Teryaki Chicken Noodles, sweetcorn and broccoli Iced Bun Breaded Fish Chunky Chips, Baked Beans and Peas Strawberry Iced Smoothie
Also available every day: Yoghurt, Fresh Fruit & Water - 2.10 per meal. Any cheques for dinners please make payable to Oxfordshire County Council. Thank you to everyone who remembered that dinner money has increased to 2.10 per day from September. Dinners should be paid in advance on a Monday of the week in which dinners are taken. As usual, the correct money in a named envelope is very much appreciated. HEALTHY EATING - All Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 children are given a healthy snack daily. Key Stage2 children may bring in a healthy snack, no crisps or chocolate, if they wish. WATER BOTTLES - Just a quick reminder that we encourage all children to bring a water bottle to school each day. Water bottles (with a sports style top) can be kept on desks for continuous use during the day. We recommend the bottles be named!
Diary Dates
12 Sept
th
13 Sept 7.30pm Cotswold Voices
th
14th Sept 2.45pm Year 2 Forest School Assembly 21st Sept 8.40am Choir 3.15pm Zumba 3.15pm Board Games & Chess Club Yr 2 Forest School 28th Sept
Harvest Service in Church
15th Sept
16th Sept 2.45pm Celebration Assembly
19th Sept
3.15pm Hockey Club 7pm Phonics & Reading Evening 26th Sept
20th Sept Year 3 & 6 Swimming 3.15pm Recorders 3.15pm Computer Xplorers 3.30pm Tennis 7.30pm Cotswold Voices 27th Sept
22nd Sept
23rd Sept
3.15pm Football
2.45pm Celebration Assembly 3.15pm Nature Club 30th Sept
29th Sept
3.15pm Hockey Club
Year 3 & 6 Swimming 3.15pm Recorders 3.15pm Computer Xplorers 3.30pm Tennis 7.30pm Cotswold Voices
8.40am Choir 3.15pm Zumba 3.15pm Board Games & Chess Club Yr 2 Forest School
3.15pm Football
2.45pm Harvest Celebration Assembly everyone welcome 3.15pm Nature Club
FREE SCHOOL MEALS
YEAR 2 FOREST SCHOOL ASSEMBLY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2012 AT 2.45PM It is with great excitement that I invite you all to our Forest School assembly on Wednesday 14th September at 2.45pm. The Education Officer from the Forest School at Ernest Cook Trust in Fairford is coming to explain what happens at Forest School and how these outdoor learning experiences can be used to enrich the curriculum. The aim is to provide a weekly trip to Forest School on Wednesday afternoons for the Year 2 children. In order to do this we would need to set up a rota of volunteer drivers to take the small group of 10 children to Fairford, leaving school at 1pm and bringing them back at 2.45pm. Drivers would be welcome to stay and take part in the group session. Please contact the office for more information or to volunteer. The aim is to arrange some trips for the other year groups to support their outdoor learning too but as these are bigger groups we will need to arrange coach transport on these occasions. The use of the Forest School is free and, therefore, provides an excellent way to develop outdoor learning while providing very good value for money. I hope you feel able to support us in this exciting venture. Entitled to Free School Meals? Children whose parents/carers receive the following support payments may be entitled to the Free School Meal scheme: Income support/Employment support Income based job seekers allowance Support under the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 The Guarantee element of State Pension Child Tax Credit - providing that Working Tax Credit in not included and that the annual income for Tax Credit purposes is within the guideline set for the financial year.
If you feel this applies to you, then please call into the school office for an application form.
Children in all classes are expected to have their PE kits in school all week. PE kits may be taken home over the weekend for washing, but please make sure its back in school on Monday morning. No football kits may be worn for PE lessons. Oak and Willow Class will need shin pads and mouth guards for PE. May we remind parents that all children are expected to wear school uniform with suitable school shoes (no trainers or opentoed sandals) and long hair must be tied back for health and safety reasons. Children will also need to bring their coats to school as wherever possible we like the children to play outside at morning break and lunchtimes. .
THE SCHOOL BUS
Please note that the school bus service is provided directly by Oxfordshire County Council, who are responsible for the bus contract not the school. Below are the contact details for OCC Integrated Transport Services. If you experience any problems with the bus service provided we would be grateful if you could report them directly to OCC. Oxfordshire County Council Integrated Transport Service Tel: 01865 871670
We are delighted Mrs Rowe will again be offering lessons again starting next week at St Christophers. If your child is in Year 3 or above and is interested in learning the guitar, please contact the school office for a form.
GUITAR LESSONS
MEDICINES IN SCHOOL If your child has a
medical condition or allergy e.g asthma, that may require medication e.g inhalers, during school hours, then please send in to school in a clear plastic box/bag, with a photograph of your child along with a completed medical consent form which can be obtained from the school office thank you.
Swimming Programme 2011/2012
This years swimming programme will begin on Tuesday 20th September 2011. Once again, we will use Brize Norton swimming pool and transport will be provided by Rebound Coaches. To cover costs we need to ask parents to pay a contribution of 1.50 per lesson. Please see below which year groups will be swimming which term.
Term 1
Years 3 & 6 20th Sept 27th Sept 4th Oct 11th Oct 18th Oct
Term 2
Years 3 & 4 1st Nov 8th Nov 15th Nov 22nd Nov 29th Nov
Term 3
Years 3 & 5 10th Jan 17th Jan 24th Jan 31st Jan 7th Feb
Term 4
Years 3 & 4 21st Feb 28th Feb 6th March 13th March 20th March
Term 5
Years 3 & 5 1st May 8th May 15th May 22nd May 29th May
Term 6
Years 3 & 6 12th June 19th June 26th June 3rd July 10th July
Children will need a swimming kit, which must include a swimming hat (available from the school office at a cost of 1.00) in a suitable bag. Boys must wear swimming trucks, not shorts. Oxfordshire County Councils policy does not allow children to wear goggles. If your child needs to wear goggles they need to be BS 5883:1996 - please return the permission form below. Please ensure that all watches and earrings are left at home on swimming days Please note that a letter from a parent is required if a child is to miss a swimming lesson for any reason. Generally, if a child is well enough to be at school then they are well enough to swim. If you would like to help with these swimming sessions, we are looking for a parent volunteer if you are interested then please speak with Mrs Brownjohn or Miss Phillips.
.. REPLY SLIP
Goggles in Swimming - (please return even if your child already wears goggles) I wish to request that my child .. be allowed to take part in swimming lessons wearing his/her goggles which meet BS 5883:1996. I understand that the regulations recommend that goggles are not worn for school swimming lessons. I further understand that in the event of injury arising from my child wearing goggles, neither the County Council nor the Governors of the School will be prepared to accept liability for such injury.
Signed . (Parent/Guardian)
Date ..
.
SWIMMING PROGRAMME
Cheques payable to Oxfordshire County Council
I enclose a contribution of 7.50 to cover the costs for Term 1 Name Class . Date ..
Signed ... (Parent/Guardian)
Parent Information Evenings 2011-12
In order to help us plan for the year please indicate below which events would be useful and of interest to you and return to the School Office.
Focus for Event
Phonics Maths Science ICT Curriculum Assessment
Yes
No
Literacy-reading and writing
Other(please specify Please indicate which of the start times below would suit you best. Please feel free to tick more than one.
3.30pm
5.00pm
6.00pm
7.00pm
Any other comments. ...
PHONICS & READING EVENING MONDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2011 7.00PM
BREAKFAST CLUB
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Norton-White for making St.Christopher's Breakfast Club so successful. Sadly, Mrs Norton-White will be leaving us and, therefore, we are seeking to appoint a Breakfast Club Leader to take on this valuable role. If this is something that might interest you please feel free to call in to the school office. We will be advertising the post with full details shortly.
We would like to invite all parents and carers to this curriculum evening, which will provide essential information on how to support your child with learning to read. The phonics element is high priority for Foundation Stage and Year 1 Parents, but will also benefit children of all age groups. We will be looking at the Assessing Pupil Progress grids (APP) and explaining the different areas of assessment in reading. Please let the school office know if you will be attending by Friday 16th September 2011. This evening will be led by Miss Phillips, Mrs Clements, Mrs Cookson, and Mrs Watt.
At Langford Village Hall Classes every Monday evening 6pm 7.15pm / 7.30pm 9pm For more information please call Jane on 07966 799241 or 01367 810125 . Thank you for your kind donation.
YOGA FOR EVERYONE
COUNTRY FFF&B PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS HEAVY HORSES / VINTAGE STEAM
On Saturday 24 September 2011 Manor Farm, Black Bourton, OX18 2PD Enquiries 01993 851139 www.ploughingmatch.co.uk Adults 8.00 / Children/OAP 5.00
th
A good range of school clubs will start again this term please see below. We request a voluntary contribution to help cover resources and staff costs. To register your child(ren), please return the reply slip attached
Club Mon Tues
Hockey Recorders Beginners Welcome Computer Xplorers Tennis Club at Colston
Led by
Mrs Brownjohn Miss Hill
Time
3.15pm 4.15pm 3.15pm 4.15pm 3.15pm 4.30pm 3:30-4:30pm Starts 13th September 8.40am 9.10am 3.15pm 4.15pm 3.15pm4.15pm 3.15-4.15pm 3.15-4.15pm
Year Group
KS2 Yrs 4, 5&6 Yrs 4, 5&6 Yrs 1-6 Yrs 4,5 & 6 KS2 KS2 Any Any
Numbers
Min 10 12
Cost
8.00 10.00
Dates
19th, 26th Sept 3rd, 10th Oct 20th, 27th Sept 4th, 11th & 18th Oct
Computer Xplorers Chris Hand
Forms TBA Starting 20th from September office Forms from the school office / book direct on 07970 481707 or [email protected] Free 21st, & 29th Sept 5th, 12th & 19th 21st, & 29th Sept 5th, 12th & 19th Oct 21st, & 29th Sept 5th Oct 22nd Sept to 15th Dec 2011 (12 weeks) 23rd & 30th Sept 7th, 14th & 21st Oct
Wed
Choir
Mrs Henderson Claire Goodenough Mr Cornish Oxford United Janet Hobbs
Zumba Board Games & Chess Club Football Nature Club
Min 10 20 Forms in the office Any
10.00 6.00 36.00 10.00
Thurs Fri
Please note:
Once your child registers, we do expect that they will attend each session For ease of banking & administration, payments are due at the start of the course Payment and commitment is for the whole course to cover staff/coach costs & resources Please collect your child promptly as staff may need to go home!
CLUBS:
Please register my child(ren) for the following clubs:
Tick/Initials Club
Hockey Recorders Choir Zumba Board Games & Chess Club Nature Club
No. of Sessions
4 5 5 5 3 5
Contribution
8.00 10.00 Free 10.00 6.00 10.00
I enclose (cheques payable to St Christophers School please) Preferred telephone number in case of emergency/club cancelled: Child(rens) name(s): .. Class(es) .
