Dear Parent/Carer,
Class Assembly
Well done Class 1 DJ for a great assembly on Friday! We learned lots of information about countries around the world!
Fun Run
Foundation Phase children were great with their running last week and they raised £54.00 for St David’s Foundation. Well done eveyone!
Cricket Workshops
The first of our after school Cricket Workshops run by Paul Morris from Newport Cricket Club start this Wednesday after school.
National Tests
The National Tests in Reading and Numeracy start on Wednesday for all children from Year 2 upwards. The timetable is below:
|
DAY |
TEST |
|
Wednesday |
Numeracy- Reasoning |
|
Thursday |
Numeracy – Procedural |
|
Friday |
Reading |
|
Tues and Wednesday |
Catch up testing for any pupils who miss a test through illness. |
Children have been practising these tests in class so that the process feels fairly normal to them but you can really help your child with these tests by not worrying about them and encouraging your child.
The tests are just a snapshot of what your child can do on the day and don’t show how much they have learned during the year or any of the amazing talents that they have.
Your child’s education is so much more than a set of three tests; it is about friends, confidence, caring and enjoyment of learning itself so please remind them of that and reassure them if they are worried.
Attendance and Punctuality
Last week there were still high numbers of children who arrived at school late, after the side door had been shut and we cannot carry on like that.
We have to improve our punctuality in the morning. Estyn identifed it as an area of concern in our last inspection.
From Tuesday, all parents bringing children late to school will be required to sign a late slip which will be kept on record, giving a reason for their child’s lateness. Children who arrive after the register closes at 9.20am are marked as absent and these absence marks will count towards the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice, which carries a fine.
I will be at the back of the school at North Street to direct any late parents to the main entance on Stow Hill, where Mrs Couch will be and she will manage the pupil lateness slips.
Please work with us to ensure that your child does not miss important schooling first thing in the morning. Please read Mrs Couch’s attendance letter very carefully.
We really do need your help!
School Budget
You may have heard on the news or have seen in local press that school budgets are extremely tight again this year. Whilst we have been able to protect jobs within the school from being lost, it is becoming increasingly hard for us to find the money we need for basics let alone any extras.
We very much want to continue to provide the children with every opportunity that we can and so are keen to contact any businesses who may be able to sponsor a school activity, even in a small way.
If you or any family members are able to suggest any organisations that you work for or have links with for us to approach for sponsorship, or for match funding for events such as our Summer Fayre, that would be very helpful for us. We will continue with our usual fundraising and you know that we will always put the children first in decisions that we make but any extra help that we can find will be particularly helpful this year. I am keen to hear from you also if you have any good fundraising ideas. We will shortly have a meeting of the Friends of St Woolos where we will be able to share our ideas.
Diary Dates
Please look out for the updated Diary Dates sheet today.
Next Week
School and Nursery are closed on Monday 7th May for the Bank Holiday.
I wil be out of school next week because I am doing an inspection in another school. Therefore, Mrs Couch will be Acting Head for the week.
Bonus Ball
Our Bonus Ball competition bring us in a small amount of money each week, but it
is vital to the school. Parents and staff contribute to it. Thank you for supporting this.
There are some spare numnbers if anyone wants to join for £1.00 a wek (half of which goes to the school).
There is a rollover this week.
Yours sincerely,
H L Vaughan
Headteacher