July 2013 End of Year Newsletter - Welwyn St. Mary's School

NEWSLETTER July 2013To the sound of music, a group of dedicated parents kept the BBQ alight and the drinks flowing until it wastoo dark to give change. Glitter tattoos, ice creams, a treasure hunt in our Nature Reserve and a yummyselection of cakes baked by the year 6 parents kept the children happy, while their parents were bidding forsome fabulous auction prizes. If this wasn't enough, a Zumbatonic session for kids followed an impressivegymnastic display and eventually parents and children alike got down to the infamous Tug of War. Oh what afun evening!The event also raised almost £3,000 (£2,990 to be precise) in the process which we are hoping to use forsome IT equipment and a canopy for the KS1 playground. Thank you to all the parents and staff who helpedwith the organisation of such a huge event and to those who turned up to support it. Please could we remindthose who have won their bid to bring payment to the School Office by tomorrow, Friday. Thank you.The PTFAWelwyn St Mary’s Travel Plan QuestionnaireWe now have the results of the Travel Plan questionnaire and full details will be sent by Parentmail. Therewere 116 questionnaire responses giving a response rate of 35.9% based on 323 eldest children/families atWelwyn St Mary’s. These responses represent the views of 153 children at the school, 33.7% of the schoolpopulation.Annual Questionnaire for Parents and CarersWe had a good response to the questionnaire that we sent out to parents and carers. Attached to thisnewsletter are the findings and as you will see the results are very positive. We thank those who have takenthe time to complete the questionnaire and will consider all comments and suggestions on our return toschool in September.Years 5 and 6 Welwyn Garden City Swimming Gala 2013.On 21 st June Welwyn St Mary’s took part in the 2013 Swimming Gala at Monks Walk. Nine schools entered.The team was Reece, Helena, Danielle, Sophie, Fabian, Owen, James and Robert. The whole team performedexceptionally well with Sophie and James coming first in butterfly and Robert and Helena coming first inbackstroke (incidentally, Robert is only in Year 4 and Sophie is only in Year 5 so this was a superachievement). The team spirit was great with the whole team cheering each other on. The noise wasdeafening! Overall, Welwyn St Mary’s were runners up to St John’s Digswell which is an outstandingachievement. A big thank you goes to all the children and to Mrs Heaney and Mrs Bradbury for their help.Sainsbury’s VouchersA very big thank you to all of you who have been collecting Sainsbury’s vouchers for our school. Mrs Tuckerhas been delighted with the response which has enabled us to buy equipment including hurdles, rugby ballsand a new ‘bus’ for Reception. Thank you!Welwyn’s Got TalentAs part of the Welwyn Festival week a talent contest was held for 8 - 16 year olds on Tuesday 25th June.We are proud to announce that two of our pupils won two of the three prizes on offer. Madeleine Texeirawas in third place and won a photographic session for her delightful modern dance. Nikita Setty did abeautiful performance of a monologue from Alice in Wonderland, where she was falling down the rabbit holeand came in second place. She won a week's place at Top Hat Stage School's summer school in August.Madeleine and Nikita were the two youngest entrants in the competition so their achievement wasTelephone 01438 714169 E-mail: admin@welwynst-marys.herts.sch.uk Website: www.welwynst-marys.herts.sch.uk

NEWSLETTER July 2013significant. Nikita and Madeleine were invited to perform their acts at the Welwyn Prom at the Civic Centreon the Friday. A very well done to both girls.Play RangersWe are pleased to inform parents that the Play Rangers scheme will be running again this summer and catersfor boys and girls aged six to twelve. Child UK staff will be at Welwyn playing field and Pavilion to welcomeand keep children enjoyably occupied. The Welwyn sessions will be on Mondays and Thursdays for fourweeks starting on Monday 29 th July and will be between 1.30 and 3.25 pm each day.Parents can be reassured that the outdoor activity sessions, which are free, are organised and closelysupervised by trained and qualified ChildUK youth leaders. Some of the activities that are going to be onoffer for the children are rounders, dodgeball, space hoppers, football, camp making, arts and crafts,jewellery making and a cool new activity called pop up tennis.Summer Holiday Club at New Church HouseThis year there will be a Summer Holiday Club at New Church House, St Mary’s Church in Welwyn. You wouldbe most welcome to join ‘Space Academy’. They meet every morning from 10-12 noon from Monday 29 th July– Friday 2nd August. There will be lots of fun, games, craft, songs and activities.A contribution of £5 towards our expenses per family is payable. Places are limited to 40 places so pleasecontact Revd. David Munchin, The Rectory, Ottway Walk, Welwyn, AL6 9AS, rector@welwyn.org.uk 01438714150 to book your place. The club is for primary school aged children.The Hub at St Mary’s Church.All year 6 children are warmly invited to The Hub at St Mary’s Church which is a youth group for thoseattending secondary school. It meets every Sunday evening in term time from 7.00 – 8.30 pm in ChurchHouse for lively discussions, fun and games, outings, music and lots more! September 8 th will be the firstsession back after the holidays. All enquiries please contact the Rector on 01438 714150.School LunchesFrom 1 st September 2013 Hertfordshire Catering will be a wholly owned Trading Company of HertfordshireCounty Council. The new company will be known as Hertfordshire Catering Ltd and all cheques for schooldinners should be made payable to ‘Hertfordshire Catering Ltd’ from 1 st September 2013. The new companywill continue to provide freshly prepared meals, utilising quality ingredients.Please could we remind parents that one month’s notice is required, in writing, to the School Office if youwould like your child to change to packed lunches or vice versa. Any school lunches that have been orderedwill still be charged.Building WorksWe will continue with our building programme of improvements during the summer holidays. Stairs to thestaff room, landing and toilets, classrooms R4 and A5 will be decorated. A shade will be erected over thepicnic area of the KS1 playground and a new outside door for KS1 will be fitted. In addition an inner door willcomplete the works to the reception area at the School Office.Telephone 01438 714169 E-mail: admin@welwynst-marys.herts.sch.uk Website: www.welwynst-marys.herts.sch.uk

NEWSLETTER July 2013End of TermJust a reminder that school finishes at 2.15 pm on Friday. Please can you ensure that your child has all theirbelongings and check lost property if there is something you are missing. We wish you all a lovely summerholiday and look forward to seeing you in the Autumn term.19 th July Term ends 2.15pmDiary Dates – 201322 nd July INSET DAY – school closed23 rd July INSET DAY – school closed24 th July OCCASIONAL DAY – school closed2 nd Sept INSET Day – school closedAutumn Term 20133 rd Sept Term commences28 th Oct – 1 st Nov HALF TERM Holiday6 th Nov Movie Night9 th Nov Family Portrait Day22 nd Nov Occasional Day – school closed17 th Dec Whole school pantomime at Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage.20 th Dec Term ends 2.15pm6 th Jan Term commencesSpring Term 201417 th – 21 st Feb HALF TERM Holiday4 th Apr Term ends 2.15pm22 nd Apr Term commencesSummer Term 20145 th May Bank Holiday – school closed26 th – 30 th May HALF TERM Holiday20 th June INSET Day – school closed8 th June Circus at Welwyn St Mary’s18 th July Term ends 2.15pm21-23 rd July INSET Days – school closedTelephone 01438 714169 E-mail: admin@welwynst-marys.herts.sch.uk Website: www.welwynst-marys.herts.sch.uk