Newsletter Term 2 - 2007/08
Dear Parents and Governors,
Walking Bus Awards
I am pleased to announce that once again the school scooped an Award at the 2007 Walking Bus Awards Night. For the second year running we won the Top Walking Bus in Thanet Award. Our coordinators Sarah Davies and Karen Edmondson together with volunteers Amanda Pennie, Lyn Turner, and Vanessa Vorpe joined Mrs Webb and I at the Award Night Presentation Dinner to collect the award. Well done to everyone who has supported the walking bus over the past year, it really does make a difference, keep it up!
Walking Bus Grant
Earlier this year the Walking Bus applied for and received a £1,000 from the Department for Transport to help support the “bus service”. With it we have purchased:
Walking Bus Rucksacks
The children who walk with the bus were each given a rucksack. These enable the children to carry their book bags, water bottles, lunch boxes and PE kits in a handy waterproof rucksack on their back.
We have purchased 3 Wellington boot holders. These have been placed outside Classes 4, 3 and 2. All children may bring their wellies to school providing they are clearly named (on the soles if possible). Children may use their wellies to walk to school in wet weather as long as they bring their school shoes too. They may also use them to play on the field on dry days. Class 1 keep their wellies in class.
PTA Annual General Meeting
The PTA Annual General Meeting took place on Tuesday 13 November 2007 in the school hall. The meeting was very well attended by committee members, new parents and staff.
At the meeting Mr David Kirby was elected as Chairman, Mrs H Francis was elected as Vice-Chairman, Mrs F Tudor as Secretary and Mrs Stephens was elected as Treasurer. Five members all of whom are new to the school were elected as committee members.
I would like to thank everyone for supporting PTA events. With the money you have raised, we have been able to purchase Gym Equipment, Staging and Lighting for our new hall. Altogether it has cost approximately £16,239 to equip the hall. The PTA have have contributed £9,621 towards this figure. Once again I would like to thank you on behalf of the Governing Body, Staff and children for you generosity.
Book Fair
The Book Fair took place last week in the school entrance. We were able to purchase just over £79 in books for each class with our commission.
National Anti-bullying Week
During last week the school focused on PSHE activities relating to Bullying.
Could you help us by allowing your child to complete an anonymous on-line ‘Safe at School’ survey on their perception of bullying. This will help the school to identify any issues and needs. Once the link has been made could you leave your child to complete the survey in private as you may inhibit any responses given. School data will not be shared with any other agencies.
You will find a direct link to the survey on our website: monktoncep.ik.org , follow the ‘Links’ on the browser and go to ‘Children’s Sites’.
Please find below reminders and details of all the events taking place for the last 4 weeks of this Term.
Xmas Lunch
As usual we will be offering all children a chance to take part in our traditional Christmas lunch served by the ‘Monkton Waitress Service’ (school staff). This will take place on Tuesday 11 December. If you wish your child to take part please complete the form your child should have brought home on Friday 23 November and return it to school together with a payment of £1.80 per child in a sealed envelope by Friday 30 November. If your child has school meals they will automatically receive Christmas Lunch please do not send in any money or forms.
Class 2’s Performance –Tinsel and T Towels
Class 2’s Performance will take place on Thursday 13 December at 1.30pm in the School Hall. Following the Service the PTA will be selling Mince Pies and refreshments the School Christmas Raffle will be drawn. All Parents, Relatives and Friends are welcome to attend.
Christmas Bazaar
We will be holding a Christmas Bazaar in the School Hall on Friday 14 December in the School Hall from 1.30pm until 3.30pm. For those of you who are new to the school, this is an opportunity for children to purchase Christmas Presents for their family whilst raising money for the School Fund.
The School Fund is mainly used to subsidize school trips, and other activities and extras that take place throughout the school year.
Children may bring their money in a named purse/envelope and hand it to their Class teacher for safekeeping. Classes will visit the Bazaar with their Class teacher. All parents and friends are welcome to visit the Bazaar from 3pm.
We would be grateful for donations of gifts suitable for sale i.e: Toiletries, confectionery, fancy goods and stationary. These should be of saleable quality please!
Donations may be placed in the boxes provided in the entrance hall outside the school office. We thank you in advance for your continued support.
Please keep sending in your donations right up until the morning of the Bazaar – Thank You.
Christmas Party
The school party will be held on Monday 17 December. We would be very grateful for donations of food for the party, this will be arranged by the PTA. (Remember we are nut free school – do not send in peanuts or donations containing nuts). Contact Mrs Webb in the school office should your child have any dietary requirements. Please send food into school on the morning of the 17 December. Thank you.
Your child will not need a packed lunch or school meal on this day. This is a non-school uniform day warm party clothes to be worn on this day!
Carol Service and Nativity
This year we will be holding a Carol Service and Nativity tableau in the School Hall on the last day of term Wednesday 19 December at 10am. Everyone who can, is welcome to join us for this first community event in our school hall.
Stiletto Shoes
Just a reminder - when visiting the school hall, please avoid wearing stiletto heeled shoes and boots.
School finishes on Wednesday 19 December at 1.30pm, if you are unable to collect your child/children at this time please inform the school office and arrangements will be made for them.
Just so you know…
Advance Notice Severe Winter Weather Conditions
The school will stay open if at all possible when there is severe weather such as deep/drifting snow, very high winds, widespread flooding. Parents and carers have the responsibility of getting children/pupils to and from school safely and need to decide if the journey is safe when severe weather affects transport and/or walking conditions. Parents/carers should inform the office if their child is absent due to severe conditions making the journey unsafe. If your child has a disability and/or learning difficulty your decision to take the journey must take this into consideration. Please consider carefully and only keep children at home if conditions are unsafe.
On occasions, the school may need to close and a message will go out on Local Radio if the decision is made before 7.00 a.m. Local Radio information is given out on Radio Kent, Invicta Radio and KMFM. If on the rare occasion school closes at a time within the school day, parents/carers will be informed by telephone.
Late opening and/or early closure is a possibility in poor weather conditions and schools will either inform parents the night before or via the Local Radio.
If conditions worsen in the school day and parents feel it is absolutely necessary to collect children, please report to school office and let Mrs Webb know that you are taking your child home. Please avoid collecting children before the end of the day, particularly if you live in Monkton, unless you feel their safety is at risk.
Please ensure your Child is appropriately clothed for cold/wet/windy weather and that shoes/boots have good grip for icy conditions.
The Spring Term 3 starts on:
Thursday 3 January 2007 at 8.50am.
Yours sincerely,
J. C. Graham
Headteacher