ARCHIVE - NewStAnd Newsletter - 19th November 2010

19th November 2010

Dear Parents,

Inset Day

Monday 29th November.
Friday 27th May 2011.

Reception/Acorn - lunches

We will be delighted to welcome our Reception children to lunch and afternoon school on 7th December before their Christmas Play and on 10th December before the pantomime. On the 9th December we will be having our Christmas party lunch followed by an afternoon of fun activities. Parents must confirm with school office if their child is to travel home form school on the bus.

Christmas Productions

Reception/Acorn & Holly & Oak

Christmas Recipe on December 7th at 1.15pm.
Christmas Recipe on December 8th at 6.45pm.

Chestnut/Ash & Willow

Five Gold Rings on December 7th at 6.45pm
Five Gold Rings on December 8th at 1.15pm.

Please complete and return Christmas Productions 2010 Ticket Request Form by 3rd December. As we can only seat 120, we will have to limit the number of seats for any performance to a total of two per family. Additional seats may be allocated when we know how many wish to attend. We will, as usual, do our best to meet your requirements. We would ask you not to bring very young children to the performances. When not on stage, the children will be looked after in the classrooms.

Could you please arrange for the children to arrive no earlier than 6.15pm on the evening of a performance.
If you have any problems regarding transport for your children on any evening, please contact the school office and we will try to help.

Admission is by programme. These will be free of charge. Donations to the collecting plate will be used towards the cost of the productions. Coffee and other refreshments will be served either between, or following the performances, by members of the PTA, who will also be running a raffle. You will be contacted by class teachers regarding help required with costumes.

In previous years I have spoken to all parents regarding concerns over the taking of still and video images of performances. To this end I would be grateful if you would contact me if you do not want your child photographed as part of a group performance. No individual photographs will be taken.

Post Box - 3rd December

Children will be able to post Christmas cards to friends from 3rd December. These will be delivered during the last week of term.

Home School Agreement & Governors' Questionnaire for Parents 2010

Please visit website 'parents' info & then newsstand newsletter section' or request a hardcopy from school office - Thank you

Hot Christmas Lunch - Reminder

9th December - Please mark your order to reach us by Friday 26th November.

Key Stage 2 Design Technology & Life Education Visit

Any further donations please would be gratefully received and your support has indeed helped us to gain Arts mark Gold Award.

Winter Play time

We are keen, as are all the children, that they enjoy our field as much as they can during the winter months. Children who wish to play on the field during play times need to bring in a pair of outdoor shoes/boots which can be left in the cloakrooms. The children must therefore change into them to go on the field, and change out of them when they come in. Thanks.

Website

In addition to our Reception children our numbers have also been increased by newly arrived pupils in other year groups. Many parents contacting us about places have indicated that our website has given them a great preview of the school and its children. Mrs Bella Neate Clegg continues to work fantastically hard to coordinate and promote the high standards of this site. It now contains a wonderful, interactive school brochure and many other new features.
Please use it regularly as it has back copies of newsletters and other important information and details of your child's life in school.
We aim to increasingly use the site to strengthen communication with you and to provide the community with a broad and comprehensive view of its school. There is also my email address in case you would like to contact me.

p.miller@yetminster.dorset.sch.uk

www.standrewsyetminster.org.uk

Photograph permission

During the school year we would like to take some photographs of the children enjoying school life. The photographs would be mainly groups of children however if individual photos are taken they would not be close up shots and names would not be published. The photographs may then be used on our website or in newspapers where appropriate.
If you would prefer this not to happen please let me know in writing.

'Early Arrivers'

The Early Arrivers scheme.
Pupils may arrive at school no earlier than 7.30 a.m.
Pupils arriving between 7.30 am and 8.15 am will enter the school through the main school entrance and go directly to the Hall to be greeted by supervisory staff. Parents or guardians must accompany them into school and hand them directly into the care of 'Early Arrivers' staff' who will register them.
There will be a breakfast option available at a small additional charge.

Pupils will remain under the supervision of 'Early Arrivers' staff' and will be offered a range of indoor activities including the use of the library. (Pleases note that no computer facilities will be available at this time!)

At 8.15 am all pupils will take their belongings to the cloakrooms and join other pupils arriving on the buses.
(Please note that pupils, other than those on buses, should not be arriving before 8.30 am!)

A charge of £2 will be levied for each pupil arriving at any time between 7.30 and 8.15 am. Should your child require breakfast of cereal, toast and fruit juice the daily cost will be £2.50.
Parents will be billed on a monthly basis.

Dates for Diary (More to follow)

18th November - Shoe Box Christmas Appeal - due to Leigh Village Stores.
24th November - Evening 'Children's magic Show' - more information to follow.
29th November - Inset Day.
3rd December - PTA Christmas Fair - Please remember your raffle tickets.
9th December - Christmas Lunch.
10th December - Robin Hood Production visiting school.
13th December - Class Holly & Oak visit Scaplan's Court.
14th December - Christmas carol singing - Old Vicarage at Leigh.
17th December - Church Service. (End of term).
4th January 2011 - Back to school.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN STARTING SCHOOL

15th January - Closing date for applications if your child is starting school in September 2010. www.dorsetforyou.com/schooladmissions
To find out more information please contact:
The School Admissions Team, Dorset Council, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ
Tel: 01305 221060
e-mail: admissions@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Hot School Meals Reminder

Please note that orders will always be collected one week in advance by 9.00 am on Monday preceding the week for which you are ordering even if you are only ordering a meal for one or two days during that week. If you think you may be eligible for free hot school meals, please ring Dorset Direct on 01305 221000. They usually only require your national insurance number to be able to process your application.

Running Club

Please note running club has been cancelled until next term.

School Clothing Grants

Unfortunately, we have had to discontinue the provision of new school uniform to families experiencing financial difficulties. We will be continuing to offer second hand uniform.

Let's Grow School Vouchers - Morrisons

Any vouchers by 24th November please.

Yours sincerely

Paul Miller
Head teacher