3rd November 2011 - Ide Primary School
3rd November 2011 - Ide Primary School
3rd November 2011 - Ide Primary School
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<strong>Ide</strong> <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>School</strong> - Newsletter 9<br />
Knowing Children As Individuals<br />
Telephone 01392 259964 Website - www.ide.devon.sch.uk<br />
Dear Parents/ Carers,<br />
Thursday 3 rd <strong>November</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
Welcome back, I hope that despite the rather wet and windy weather you had a great half term with the<br />
children. We have had an interesting start to term with our cultures week and many thanks to staff who have<br />
worked around building arrangements to ensure that learning continues as normal. As always the run up to<br />
Christmas (seems too early to mention that word) is always a very busy but exciting time for the children. Within<br />
the next week you will receive a special Christmas newsletter that will outline all of the dates and arrangements<br />
for the festive season. We would appreciate a quick return on<br />
the slips that will be attached,<br />
particularly in respect of Christmas lunches etc.<br />
Cultures Week – Myself and Others<br />
The children in Classes 1,2 and 3 have had a very busy week<br />
and really enjoyed learning about Hinduism from the visiting<br />
speakers yesterday. They enjoyed trying on the clothing,<br />
cooking, making cards and sharing in worship. The teachers<br />
were impressed by the excellent questions children asked.<br />
There has been some great art work going on around the<br />
school also. Take a look at the events section of the<br />
website to find out more.<br />
Culture week – London Residential<br />
Class 4 have returned safely from their visit to London,<br />
meeting with their MP, seeing the West End show The Lion King and<br />
visiting a mosque. Your children were all exceptionally well behaved and clearly<br />
thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Can I thank Mr Martin for organising the trip and to Mrs<br />
Johnson and Mrs Wetherell for giving up time away<br />
from their own families to accompany the children.<br />
As you can appreciate, whilst away they are on call<br />
24 hours a day! There are more photos on the<br />
website.<br />
Assembly theme – This half term the theme of our<br />
assembly is ‘ A recipe for Friendship’ this links to the<br />
SEAL theme – Getting on and Falling 0ut, if you wish<br />
to borrow a family SEAL pack some will shortly be in<br />
the entrance hall, please just sign them out and<br />
return when you have finished.<br />
<strong>School</strong> Improvement Focus – Learning to Learn<br />
One of the focuses for school improvement this year is<br />
developing children’s awareness of how they learn.<br />
Good learners need to not only learn facts and skills<br />
but more importantly develop appropriate learning<br />
behaviours. Last half term we had a focus on taking a<br />
risk, not worrying about getting it wrong as we learn<br />
from our mistakes. The<br />
focus this half term is on questions, asking them to help us learn and to challenge ourselves , show curiosity by<br />
asking questions. To get minds thinking each week we shall have a question of the week that I will share with<br />
parents in the newsletter and with children in assembly. Talk with your child about their ideas and we will find a<br />
way of sharing possible answers, thoughts and ideas to them – if you have a suggestion how, please let me<br />
know.
Question of the week!<br />
Areheroeseverfrightened?<br />
MUGA Development<br />
As you can see the construction of the Multi Use Games Area has started. Despite the heavy rain we have<br />
suffered, construction is still on course to complete in about two weeks time. The children have enjoyed<br />
watching the diggers go by. Thank you to parents for keeping clear of the High Street with parking and children<br />
walking to school. There are photos on the website where you can watch the progress and development.<br />
Friends of <strong>Ide</strong> <strong>School</strong> – FIS<br />
Nicki Mugford has now taken on the role of chair of our parents group and will welcome the support of everyone.<br />
Can I say a BIG thank you to Rachel Herbert who has lead FIS so fantastically during her time as chair and of<br />
course to Cheryl Haddy in the role of treasurer and all of the other parents who regularly attend the meetings<br />
and help out at events. FIS have worked really hard, particularly over the last twelve months to raise astonishing<br />
amounts of money which has supported not only the Muga, but the library, class trips, swimming and purchased<br />
equipment for the field and playground.<br />
Industrial Action<br />
As you may be aware from media coverage, a number of teaching and support staff unions are balloting<br />
members over industrial action for <strong>November</strong> 30 th . I shall write to parents in due course if this action affects our<br />
school.<br />
<strong>School</strong> Closure Procedures in the Event of Poor Weather or other events.<br />
As we begin to approach more wintry weather I will remind parents of arrangements should the school need to<br />
suddenly close for snow or other reasons. We always attempt to remain open as long as we can staff the school<br />
at sufficient levels and the site is safe for pupils. We always aim to make an assessment by 8am in the morning.<br />
In the event of the need to close we will;<br />
• Use the text alert service to contact parents<br />
• Announcements are made regularly by BBC Devon and Heart FM<br />
• Devon County Council schools website also publishes lists of school closure.<br />
• Where possible designated governors who are snow marshals will attend the site and any local staff will<br />
man the phone if possible.<br />
• Work is already in place on the schools website for children to undertake.<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
Sean Millar<br />
Headteacher<br />
Key Dates<br />
Tuesday 15 th <strong>November</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> Improvement Partner Visits<br />
Tuesday 15 th <strong>November</strong><br />
Class 3 Assembly – 3pm<br />
Thursday 17 th <strong>November</strong><br />
Individual photographs<br />
Thursday 24 th <strong>November</strong><br />
Class 4 Assembly<br />
Monday 21 st <strong>November</strong><br />
Resources Committee<br />
Monday 28 th <strong>November</strong><br />
Curriculum and Standards Committee<br />
Monday 12 th December<br />
Monday 12 th December<br />
Full Governors Meeting<br />
Choir to sing at Jubilee Club<br />
Monday 12 th December<br />
Singing – whole school at Tescos 5:30 pm – 7pm<br />
Friday 16 th December<br />
Last day of Autumn Term<br />
Tuesday 3 rd January<br />
First day back to school<br />
15 th January Applications for <strong>Primary</strong> places closes<br />
W/C 14 th May<br />
Key Stage 2 SAT tests.