Dear Parents/ Carers,
We have had another busy and productive
week at school. I am so proud of the way that the children are trying their
best to get onto ‘Gold’ by behaving well and working hard in class. I am sure
that some of you noticed how the children’s handwriting is improving when you
looked at their books during the open afternoons.
Tea Party for Local Residents
I was so impressed with Class 1
yesterday, when they held a tea party for local residents. The children wrote
and delivered invites to people who had lived in the village for a long time,
some of whom came to the school in the 1950s and ‘60s. After giving our
visitors a tour of the school, taking orders and serving tea and coffee, they
put on a fantastic presentation, showcasing their work so far this term. The
residents were even treated to some songs, with a very impressive solo from
Josh Thurbon.
Anti Bullying Week
Your children may have told you that we
have been focussing on Anti Bullying this week. All children should have
received a card, telling them about bullying, using the STOP acronym. We have
spoken a lot about the difference between falling out with their friends and
actual bullying.
Please discuss this with your child.
Welcome Back Mrs Wakeman
Mrs Wakeman has returned from jury
service and we are so pleased to have her back. As you can imagine, she has a
lot to catch up on, so please do check the school website and ask your friends
before calling the school for information.
Flu Forms
Please return your flu vaccination forms
by Monday. The vaccinations will take place during the last week of term.
Absence phone calls
It is very important that you call in to
school to report your child’s absence as soon as you possibly can. We are no
longer asking for notes, so if you do not call, we have no record of why your
child is absent and the absence could be unauthorised. From a safeguarding
point of view, we need to know where your child is.
Please note that a parent being ill is
not a reason to keep your child off school. It is important that you make
alternative arrangements for getting your child to school; otherwise the
absence will be unauthorised.
Healthy Packed Lunches
As a school, we encourage all our
children to be fit and healthy. Mrs Potts is our ‘Healthy Schools Champion’ and
will be working with you to ensure that our children learn to make healthy
choices.
We
have noticed that several children are bringing in sugary and fatty foods in
their packed lunches. Please avoid the
following: crisps, chocolate, cakes (including donuts).
Here are some suggestions for healthy
alternatives from the NHS ‘Live Well’ website:
Children
often like food they can eat with their fingers, so chop up raw veggies
such as carrots or peppers, and give them houmous or cottage cheese to dip
the veggies in. Breadsticks and wholemeal crackers are great finger foods
and they can be spread with low-fat soft cheese or eaten with reduced-fat cheddar
and pickles.
Replace
chocolate bars and cakes with fresh fruit, dried fruit.
Vary
the fruit each day and get them to try new things, like kiwi or melon.
Reception and KS1 children are entitled
to a free, nutritionally balanced school meal, so please take advantage of
this.
School Improvements
The first phase of the field is nearly
complete. In the spring, further improvements will be made to improve the
drainage, so that we should have a fully useable play area by the summer. The
canopy at the back will be completed and checked next week.
After School Clubs
Parking
Please do not wait in the school car
park if your child is in clubs as this causes congestion and delays the start
of outdoor clubs. If you are not able to go back home, please find an
alternative place to park, whilst being considerate to our neighbours.
Picking up on time
Please ensure that you arrive back at
school by 3.50pm to pick up after clubs. Members of staff volunteer to do clubs
and it is taking advantage of their good will if parents are late to pick up
their children.
Friends of Dame Tipping
We
are still very short of volunteers
to run stalls for the Christmas Fayre on 5th
December. We need your help in order to make this event a success. Please
see one of the Friends if you, or any of your friends or family are able to
give up an hour of your time.
Arrangements for the trip to the
Brentwood Theatre
KS2 children will need to arrive at
Brentwood Theatre by 9.30am at the latest on 11th December for the
performance of ‘Danny, Champion of the World’. The school will be open from
8.20 that morning if you need to drop younger siblings here first. I will be at
the theatre by 8.45am, should you need to drop at the theatre first (depending
on where you live). We will show understanding if you drop at the theatre first
and younger siblings are slightly late that morning. The coach will bring us
back to school by lunchtime, so normal lunchtime arrangements will apply.
Payments
We are still awaiting some payments for
the Pantomime and Theatre Trip. All Stubbers deposits are now paid. Thank you.
Commendations
Fern Collins, Kiitan Bayode, Jake
Henwood, William Smythe, Josh Thurbon, Aimee Bradley,
Amber Gordon, Ruby Walton, Albert
Gilbert, Tommy Randall, Aaliyah Bimpong, Chidi Emechebe
Well done, everyone!
Pen Licences
Congratulations to Scarlett Kedadi, Scarlett Clarke,
Billy Newman, Charlotte McCormack and
Kerys Walton for earning their pen licences. This is
awarded for consistently neat, joined handwriting.
Gold Book
Well done to Faye Newman, Freddie French, Charlotte
McCormack, Scarlett Clarke, Sidonie Holmes, Amelia Stanley, Taylor Moss and
Josh Thurbon for earning their place in the Gold Book this week for excellent
classroom behaviour.
Headteacher’s Award
Congratulations to Spencer Murrell of
class 1 for being awarded the ‘Dame Tipping Headteacher’s Award’ this week for
his great contribution to school life.
Amazing Attendance!
I would like to say a huge
congratulations to class 2(Year 3 and 4) and Class 4 (Reception) for 100% attendance this week. We are so
proud of you all!
Dates for the diary:
·
Wednesday 26th November-
School Nurse Drop In 8.30am
·
Friday
5th December- Christmas Fayre at St John the Evangelist Church Hall.
3.00pm-5.00pm
·
Monday 8th December-
‘Aladdin’ pantomime in school.
·
Wednesday 10th December-
Class 1 visit to the library and museum in Romford.
·
Thursday 11th
December-‘Danny, Champion of the World’ at Brentwood Theatre 9.15am
·
Tuesday 16th December-
Reception and KS1 Nativity 9.30am and 1.30pm
·
Wednesday 17th December-
Christmas lunch
·
Friday 19th December-
Christmas Church Service 1.30pm
·
Tuesday
10th February 2015- Parent consultation evening 2pm-6.30pm
