Newsletter 11: 28th November 2014

Dear Parents/ Carers,

The children have all been working hard this week producing work to help us assess their progress.

I have been at conferences at the Local Authority and the Diocese, which will help improve our school further and keep up with National changes.

                                                        Statue of St Francis of Assisi

      at the Diocesan Office

Policies on Website

Our updated Child Protection policy is now available on the website for you to read.

Healthy Packed Lunches

Thank you to all those of you who have provide their children with a healthy packed lunch. It has been lovely to see the children enjoying their fruit, vegetables and other healthy snacks.

Reception and KS1 children are entitled to a free, nutritionally balanced school meal, so please take advantage of this.

Able Writers Course

Two of our Year 6 girls, Kerys and Tiegan took part in an Able Writers course with the poet Brian Moses at Parklands Juniors this week. They enjoyed writing poems together and will share them with the school next week.

School Improvements

The new canopy has been completed and the children are now able to use the outside area outside the reception classroom. We will be making further improvements to this space in the near future.

  

Friends of Dame Tipping

The Christmas Fayre takes place on Friday. Thank you for all of your contributions so far. We would like donations of soft animal toys next week, please.

Payments

We are still awaiting some payments for the Pantomime and Theatre Trip. Please look in your child’s bag for a new slip if you haven’t paid, as we need permission as well as payment. Thank you.

Commendations

George Viney, Joe Stanley and Sidonie Holmes.

Well done!

Pen Licences

Congratulations to Devon Lees from Class 1 for earning his pen licence. This is awarded for consistently neat, joined handwriting.

Gold Book

Well done to Chinaza Osaji-Okai, Jack Robinson, Mojola Awosan, Michelle Onifade (twice), Elena Marshall and Hermione McCormack for earning their place in the Gold Book this week for excellent classroom behaviour.

Headteacher’s Award

Congratulations to Charlotte McCormack of class 1 for being awarded the ‘Dame Tipping Headteacher’s Award’ this week for her contribution to school life.

Attendance Matters

Well done to class 3 for having the highest attendance this week.

Unfortunately, this week’s attendance was not as good as last week’s. Let’s try really hard to improve for the rest of the term if we possibly can.

Sadly, I am still receiving a few requests for term time holidays. These will all be unauthorised and you may receive a fine from the local authority.

Dates for the diary:

·         Friday 5^th December- Christmas Fayre at St John the Evangelist Church Hall. 3.00pm-5.00pm

·         Monday 8^th December- ‘Aladdin’ pantomime in school.

·         Wednesday 10^th December- Class 1 visit to the library and museum in Romford.

·         Thursday 11^th December-‘Danny, Champion of the World’ at Brentwood Theatre 9.15am

·         Tuesday 16^th December- Reception and KS1 Nativity 9.30am and 1.30pm

·         Wednesday 17^th December- Christmas lunch

·         Friday 19^th December- Christmas Church Service 1.30pm

·         Tuesday 10^th February 2015- Parent consultation evening 2pm-6.30pm

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Kathryn Waters
The Christian value we are learning about this term is 'Service'

Free School Meals and the Pupil Premium

Dear Parents/Carers,

A new ‘Free School Meals / Pupil Premium Service’  web site has been launched  for parents to quickly and easily check eligibility for free school meals and, if eligible, also gain welcome additional funding for their child’s school, known as ‘Pupil Premium’.   If eligible, you are not obliged to accept the free school meals for your child if you wish to make other arrangements, but we do want to encourage applications as the additional funding gained would still benefit education provision at the school. 

What the service does for parents:

After entering essential details into the web site, the online application process links to the Department for Education system for checking eligibility and gives an immediate ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response, and will notify the school.     

This system is being provided to encourage parents to apply and take advantage of free school meals while at the same time increasing the benefit to schools from Pupil Premium funding, a substantial amount of which does not reach schools because not all parents who are eligible apply for free meals for their child. 

What the service does for schools:

As the government has now introduced free school meals for all children in Key Stage 1, it is more important than ever for schools to know the number of pupils for whom they can claim Pupil Premium funding. These funds enable schools to take on additional staff and invest in additional equipment, resources and activities to the benefit all children. 

Please visit www.fsm.lgfl.net , enter the necessary details and support this worthwhile initiative.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. R. Evans

revans31.311@lgflmail.org

Newsletter 10: 21st November 2014

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.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/childhealth6-15/Pages/Lighterlunchboxes 

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 5^th 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 11^th 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 26^th November- School Nurse Drop In 8.30am

·         Friday 5^th December- Christmas Fayre at St John the Evangelist Church Hall. 3.00pm-5.00pm

·         Monday 8^th December- ‘Aladdin’ pantomime in school.

·         Wednesday 10^th December- Class 1 visit to the library and museum in Romford.

·         Thursday 11^th December-‘Danny, Champion of the World’ at Brentwood Theatre 9.15am

·         Tuesday 16^th December- Reception and KS1 Nativity 9.30am and 1.30pm

·         Wednesday 17^th December- Christmas lunch

·         Friday 19^th December- Christmas Church Service 1.30pm

·         Tuesday 10^th February 2015- Parent consultation evening 2pm-6.30pm

Newsletter 9: 14th November 2014

Dear Parents/ Carers,

We have had a fun and exciting week at Dame Tipping, with lots of special events.

The School Council had their Boot sale; we had a whole school Remembrance Ceremony and enjoyed dressing up in our pyjamas today to raise money for Children in Need.

New information on School Website

Please look on the website for the following documents: Intimate care policy and charging policy. Hopefully these documents will give you a clear idea of our procedures. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

From time to time we would like to use pictures of the children on the newsletter and the school website, to share what we have been doing. Please let us know in writing if you do not wish for pictures of your child to be used in this way.

Remembrance Ceremony

You may have noticed the beautiful poppies at the front of the school. The children ‘planted’ these when we had our ceremony of remembrance on 11^th November. Aimee and Neve recited their World War 1 letters beautifully. We observed the 2 minutes silence together and had prayers from Reverend Marshall, who also gave each child a copy of St. John’s Gospel to keep.

School Improvements

Thank you for your patience whilst the work is going on for the school field and canopy. The children have been great about their playtimes and clubs being disrupted. We are hoping to have the work completed by the end of the month at the latest.

School Photographs

Please return your school photograph orders, with payment, by 17^th November.

Parking

The local police have been patrolling outside schools and this week they came to us. Please take their advice on how to park safely and legally, in order to avoid accidents and parking tickets.

English Homework

Our Bug Club online reading scheme is up and running and more books will be allocated over the coming weeks. If you have any technical issues, please call the digital helpline on 0845 313 8888.

Please encourage your children to complete the activities after reading their ‘bug club’ books. This can be accessed by the teachers and TAs, so they can check which activities have been completed. This will replace the ‘write ups’ which the children currently do.

If you have any technical issues, please let us know so that we can support you in accessing the online resources.

Friends of Dame Tipping

Don’t forget to visit our Facebook page:  ‘Friends of Dame Tipping’. Please look on this page for updates about Friends’ events and meetings.

We have also registered Dame Tipping with easyfundraising.org.uk

To raise funds all you have to do is go on to the easy fundraising website, search for Dame Tipping, follow the instructions and install the toolbar. This will help prompt a reminder every time you shop online. It costs us absolutely nothing.

We are very short of volunteers to run stalls for the Christmas Fayre on 5^th 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.

Please remember to hand in your Christmas card orders by Monday, if possible.

School Council ‘Boot Sale’

The sale raised an amazing £133.87, which means that the school council have already raised over £200 this term. They will be given the opportunity to decide how they would like to spend the money in order to benefit all the children.

Parents’ Open Afternoons

Please see below for the date of your child’s parents’ open afternoon. This will be a chance for you to look at your child’s work with them. A more formal Parent Consultation Evening will take place in February. This will be your opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with the class teacher. You may take your child home after the open afternoon, but please ensure you tell a member of staff, so that they can be ticked off the list.

Payments

Please don’t forget to pay your Theatre or Pantomime money as soon as possible. For year 5 and 6, Stubbers deposits need to be in by Monday if possible. Thank you.

Commendations

Josh Thurbon, Freddie French, Louise Stafford, Lou-Lou French, Tobi Oyetunde, Tommy Randall, Zachary Teshola, Fae Dignum

Well done, everyone!

Pen Licences

Congratulations to Dhiya Chagger, Louisa Gordon and Joshua Ajayi for earning their pen licences. This is awarded for consistently neat, joined handwriting.

Gold Book

Well done to Zachary Teshola and Jack Robinson from Class 3 for earning their place in the Gold Book this week for excellent classroom behaviour.

Headteacher’s Award

Congratulations to Annaliese Bimpong of class 1 for being the first to receive the ‘Dame Tipping Headteacher’s Award’ this week for her fantastic contribution to the school. Annaliese will take the cup and book home this week.

  

Dates for the diary:

·         Monday 17^th November- Parents’ open afternoon Years 1, 3 and 5. 1.15pm-3.00pm

·         Tuesday 18^th November- Parents’ open afternoon Years 2 and 4. 1.15pm-3.00pm

·         Wednesday 19^th November- Parents’ open afternoon Year 6. 1.15pm-3.00pm

·         Tuesday 25^th November- School Nurse Drop In

·         Friday 5^th December- St John the Evangelist Church Hall. 3.00pm-5.00pm

·         Monday 8^th December- ‘Aladdin’ pantomime in school.

·         Thursday 11^th December-‘Danny, Champion of the World’ at Brentwood Theatre 9.15am

·         Tuesday 16^th December- Reception and KS1 Nativity 9.30am and 1.30pm

·         Friday 19^th December- Christmas Church Service 1.30pm

·         Tuesday 10^th February 2015- Parent consultation evening 2pm-6.30pm

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Kathryn Waters

 The Christian value we are learning about this term is 'Service'

Dame Tipping Christmas Fayre

Friday 5th December 

3-5pm 

Dame Tipping Christmas Fayre 

St John the Evangelist Church Hall    

Newsletter 8: 7th November 2014

Dear Parents/ Carers,

Welcome back after half term. I hope you had a good break. As you can see, the school has been thoroughly cleaned and the work on the field is underway. The weather hasn’t been kind to us, but I am hoping that the field will still be ready to use by the spring.

New information on School Website

Please look on the website for the following documents: Whole school behaviour policy (draft); Playground procedure; Action plan from Parent Voice event and Reading Guide for Parents. Hopefully these documents will give you a clear idea of our procedures. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

Mrs Wakeman

As you may have noticed, Mrs Wakeman has not been in school this week. She is on jury service and may not return until the end of next week. Please help us to cope without her by keeping calls and visits to the office to a minimum. Please check on the school website for information, or ask another parent if at all possible.

Clubs will be running each week unless you are informed otherwise by the school.

Remembrance service

I would encourage you to attend the Remembrance Service at St John the Evangelist on Sunday at 10am. Two of our pupils are reading at the service.

School Photographs

Please return your school photograph orders, with payment, by 17^th November.

Christmas Shoebox Appeal

Please bring in any filled shoe boxes to school as soon as possible. We have 13 so far, but would like to send a lot more than this.

Dangerous Parking

Yet again, I need to appeal to some parents not to park on the pavement, as this means that children are having to walk in the road, thus putting them in danger. A small child was run over outside a local school during the school run just this week, and had to be taken by air ambulance to the London Hospital. I am very worried that something similar could happen here, due to parents’ thoughtless parking. As parents, we need to think about the safety and welfare of all children, not just our own. Please leave plenty of time for journey and, if necessary, park further away from school and walk here. Unless this situation changes, the police and traffic authorities will become involved.

  

English Homework

Our Bug Club online reading scheme is up and running and more books will be allocated over the coming weeks. If you have any technical issues, please call the digital helpline on 0845 313 8888.

Please encourage your children to complete the activities after reading their ‘bug club’ books. This can be accessed by the teachers and TAs, so they can check which activities have been completed. This will replace the ‘write ups’ which the children currently do.

PE Kit

Please ensure that your child has their full PE kit, including joggers and trainers in school every day. We would prefer dark tracksuit trousers. Please avoid ‘designer’ kit, as we cannot guarantee it will not get dirty.

Friends of Dame Tipping

The AGM was held on Thursday afternoon. The Committee were voted in as follows:

Chair: Danielle Davies

Vice Chair: Michelle Webb

Secretary: Marcia Hagon

Treasurer: Kay Percival

We would like to have a professional banner to advertise our Christmas Fayre to the local community. If anyone knows a company who could provide a banner at a competitive price, please let us know.

We now have a Facebook page:  ‘Friends of Dame Tipping’. Please look on this page for updates about Friends’ events and meetings.

We have also registered Dame Tipping with easyfundraising.org.uk  

To raise funds all you have to do is go on to the easy fundraising website, search for Dame Tipping, follow the instructions and install the toolbar. This will help prompt a reminder every time you shop online. It costs us absolutely nothing.

British Legion Fundraising

Many people have given generously to the British Legion Poppy appeal. Thank you.

School Council ‘Boot Sale’

The school council are running a boot sale on 11^th November to raise money for school equipment. Please donate any unwanted toys, games, books and stationary (in good condition). Children should bring coins to purchase items on Tuesday.

Fruit and Vegetables

The reception and KS1 children are very much enjoying the fruit and vegetables provided by the Borough. Thank you to Mrs Potts for organising this.

We would like the scheme to KS2. However, this will incur a small cost for parents if they wish their child to have fruit.

If anyone knows a supplier who may be able to provide fruit at cost, please let us know.

Becoming Independent

We are very pleased with how confidently the children are coming into school independently.

Commendations

Oliver Mahoney, Amber Gordon (x2), Abigail Lee, Michael Battrum, Josh Thurbon, Aaron Hick, Deborah Ajayi

Well done, everyone!

Dates for the diary:

·         Sunday 9^th November- Remembrance Service at St John the Evangelist 10am

·         Monday 17^th November- Parents’ open afternoon Years 1, 3 and 5. 1.15pm-3.00pm

·         Tuesday 18^th November- Parents’ open afternoon Years 2 and 4. 1.15pm-3.00pm

·         Wednesday 19^th November- Parents’ open afternoon Year 6. 1.15pm-3.00pm

·         Tuesday 25^th November- School Nurse Drop In

·          Friday 5th December - 3-5pm Dame Tipping Christmas Fayre - St John the Evangelist Church           Hall      
             Monday 8^th December- ‘Aladdin’ pantomime in school.

·         Thursday 11^th December-‘Danny, Champion of the World’ at Brentwood Theatre 9.15am

     Tuesday 16^th December- Reception and KS1 Nativity 9.30am and 1.30pm

·         Friday 19^th December- Christmas Church Service 1.30pm

·         Tuesday 10^th February 2015- Parent consultation evening 2pm-6.30pm

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Kathryn Waters