16 Jul 2008 - Newsletter 12

Newtown C.E. (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School

 

           Newsletter 12- Wednesday 16^th July 2008
      www.newtownprimary.ik.org

 

 

 

Dear Parent, Guardian and Friend of the School,

 

 

Deputy Head Teacher – Mr Nicholls

 

I would like to thank Mr Nicholls through this newsletter for his ‘outstanding’ work as Deputy here at Newtown before he moves on to Headship at Brockhurst Infants. Mr Nicholls has been a great help to me professionally and personally and I have enjoyed every minute of our partnership. I know that many of you appreciate the work he has done throughout his period of office, but also will not have seen the untold amount of work that he has quietly carried out behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly – the sign of an excellent Deputy. This has been a partnership of equals.

 

We all wish you the very best for Brockhurst Infants.

 

 

Retirement of Mrs Boniface

 

I would also like parents past and present to join me in thanking Mrs Boniface for her ‘outstanding’ contribution to Newtown Primary over many Years as teacher, Governor, Friend of Newtown and font of great wisdom and experience. Her work and insights in all these areas have contributed so much to this school, both in the ‘old’ and ‘new’ school. Mrs Boniface has had a unique career in teaching, having taught in both the secondary and primary sector and countless children have benefited from her high expectations and hard work both during the school day and long hours before and after. Her enthusiasm to give the best education remains undiminished.

 

Thank you Mrs Boniface for your outstanding contribution to the school and education and our best wishes for the next step.  We will all miss your passion for education.

 

 

Mrs Martin/ Mrs Reid – part time Job Share M/R 1

 

I am delighted that we retain the services of Mrs Martin for three days a week next academic year and that Mrs Reid will be returning from her maternity cover to take the class for the other two days. We have all thought very carefully about this arrangement and how it operates and believe that it will bring some good benefits to all pupils in the class.  You will see from the staffing list that Year 1 will again operate with the same staffing team to ensure continuity. Mrs Reid will also provide cover across the school on a weekly basis on one day. 

 

A full staffing list will be published in the first newsletter.

 

 

Goodbye to Miss Andrews and Mrs Leither. Return of Mrs Claridge from Maternity cover.

 

We say goodbye to Miss Andrews at the end of term as her year’s maternity cover contract comes to a close. I am delighted that she has found employment as a LSA in Portsmouth. Mrs Leither leaves us to pursue her teaching cover having provided LSA cover in Year 3. I would like to thank them both for their enthusiasm, help to children and with fitting in with the ethos of Newtown.

 

Mrs Claridge returns as LSA and goes in to the Year R team. We welcome her back.

 

 

High Visibility jackets.

 

We are very grateful to First Great Western for supplying us with High Visibility jackets. They will improve the safety of our children and staff, on the many trips we take around town. Thank you.

 

 

Church Service. Wednesday 23^rd July 10.30am

 

You are all very welcome to attend the last church service of the school year. It is at 10.30am, in Christ  Church, when we say good bye to leavers-children and staff.

 

 

School Disco – a success!

 

At the Summer Disco on Monday we trialled a new ‘register’ system so that we knew exactly which children and adults were in the school in case of a fire or emergency during the evening. We were very pleased with how sensible the children were so we plan to develop this system with all after school events.

 

Thank you for your help and co-operation which made this a very successful exercise.

 

 

Spanish Club – Wednesdays ( 3.00 – 4.00pm in the Autumn Term)

 

Due to a very high level of interest, Miss Phillips will run the after school Spanish Club in blocks of six weeks each half term. Miss Phillips will write to you with the dates for each child.

 

 

Junior Toilets

 

Our Junior toilets are being re-furbished prior to the school holidays with complete re-fits. Many of the suggestions of the School Council have been incorporated into the design. We will look at re-furbishing the other toilets in our next School Improvement Plans.

 

 

Cycle Proficiency.

 

With the steady increase in children cycling to school, we are looking to start up the cycle proficiency training again. Any volunteers will be trained and gratefully put to good use. Contact the office or Mr Prince if you are interested.

 

 

Quiz.

 

A great time was had by those who came. The winning team ‘The Peelers’ kindly donated their winnings to the school library for new books and these books are already in use. (Nobody has been brave enough to mention that my team came last. It was only my wife and me and we will be bringing reinforcements next time!)

 

We hope to have our next Quiz in the Autumn Term.

 

 

Muddy Boots Gardening Club

 

We have been shortlisted as winners for the Gosport in Bloom competition. We will be invited to an awards ceremony in October when we find out what the children have won.

 

 

Weekly Diary.

 

At a recent coffee morning, parents said they were pleased with the new A3 timetable we display each week, so you can keep up to date with things going on in school. A copy will be put in the school display board by the cycle track, as well as on the front door of the school.

 

 

School Library

 

The school library will be closed as from Monday 14^th July 2008.  Children can use their local library (i.e. Gosport Discovery Centre or Elson Library) to borrow books.  The public libraries allow children to borrow eight books at any one time and keep books for up to four weeks.  Please find below information regarding the opening times of the Discovery centre plus their website address. Don’t forget the Summer Reading Challenge throughout the holidays!

 

 

 

Gosport Discovery Centre
High Street

, Gosport
Hampshire PO12 1BT
tel 0845 603 5631

 

Open
Mon-Fri 9.30am-7pm
Sat 9am-4.30pm

 

www3.hants.gov.uk/gdc.htm

 

 

Newtown Banner

 

A new banner has been designed by Eleanor Mansfield in Year 4 and made by Mrs Bull. It will get the first airing on our way to church next week.

 

 

Pink Books/ Record of Achievement

 

Please enjoy reading the Record of Achievement that your child brings home and ensure that it is returned by Monday 21^st of July to ensure passing on to the next teacher.

 

Useful dates – a full comprehensive list of the dates for the year will go out in the first newsletter in September.

 

 

Summer Term 08

 

Weds 23rd July                 Leaver’s Service at Christ Church 10.30 am

 

School closes for Summer Holiday at 3.00pm

 

Autumn Term 08

 

Weds 3^rd Sept             School re-opens after Summer Holiday

 

Mon 8^th Sept              2.30pm Meet the New Teachers – a chance for you to hear the news from your child’s year group. Collect your child at 3.00pm and then let them show you the school and grounds.

 

Fri 24^th Oct               School closes at 3.00pm for Autumn Half Term holiday   

 

Mon 3^rd Nov               School re-opens for 2^nd Half Autumn Term   

 

Fri 19^th Dec                     School closes at 3.00pm for Christmas Holiday

 

 

Spring Term 2009      

 

Mon 5^th Jan                     School re-opens for Spring Term

 

Fri 13^th Feb                     School closes at 3.00pm for Spring Half Term holiday

 

Mon 23^rd Feb                   School re-opens for 2^nd Half Spring Term

 

Thurs 2^nd April                School closes at 3.00pm for Easter holiday (Fri 3^rd April is an INSET Day.)

 

Summer Term

 

Mon 20^th April                 School opens for Summer Term

 

Thurs 21st May               School closes at 3.00pm for Summer Half Term holiday (Fri 22^nd May is an INSET Day.)

 

Mon 1^st June                    School re-opens for 2^nd Half Spring Term

 

Weds 22^nd July                School closes at 3.00pm for Summer Holidays.

 

 

Please also note that holiday dates for all schools in Hampshire for this year and beyond can be found at www3.hants.gov.uk/learning

 

INSET Days 2008/09 – INSET Days are now booked and I wanted to give you as much advanced warning about these closures. Fridays have been attached to holidays where possible and chosen to enable your families to make use of a long weekend where possible.

 

Fri 26^th September 2008  Maths Primary Framework 

 

Fri 30^th Jan 2009 AQA English Writing

 

Fri 3^rd April MFL Day Cluster

 

Fri 22^{nd  May} Assessment

 

Fri 5^th June Maths

 

 

As this will be my last communication of the term, may I offer my best wishes for the Summer holidays. May the sun shine brightly for all!

 

Mr. Matt Prince Headteacher