Burford School

Newsletter

Dear Parents/Friends/Guardians 7^th September 2007

Welcome back to the start of the new school year. I hope everyone had a relaxing summer and is refreshed ready for all the exciting new activities that will be happening during the year. I intend to continue sending out a fortnightly newsletter which will detail information about events and activities that are happening in school, for example parents’ evenings, trips, school photographs, special days, after school clubs etc, as well as notification of useful dates. The newsletter will be given out to the children on a Friday and at the same time will be published on our website. The address for the website is ‘www.burfordschool.co.uk’ and I hope many of you will take a look on a regular basis.

Staffing

We are pleased to welcome Mrs Debbie Williams, our new Deputy Head, to the school this year. Mrs Williams will be teaching Y2, Y6 and giving overall general support. Mrs Annie Cole is now a student on the Graduate Teacher Programme and will no longer be working as a classroom assistant. We also welcome Mrs Amanda Baguley to the staff this year, who will be working with a specific child as well as supporting Y6 during the mornings. We have also appointed Mr Andy Watts who will be a general classroom assistant in Y4 in the mornings and working with a specific child and supporting the class in Y6 in the afternoons. Mr Watts will also be the Road Safety officer in the afternoons once his CRB check has come through. Mrs Gail Humphries will continue to be the Road Safety Officer in the mornings.

Unfortunately the appointed LSA for Y5 informed us this week she was unable to take up the position so we will be advertising this role again next week. We are also pleased that Mrs Donna Smith will be our new midday supervisor to replace Mrs Stephanie Thomas who will be leaving at the end of the month. We thank Mrs Thomas for all her hard work and wish her well for the future.

Congratulations

I am delighted to inform you that Mrs Platt is expecting a baby! She will be going on maternity leave at Christmas and will be off for the rest of the year, returning in September. A replacement teacher will be appointed before half-term to teach Juniper class from January until July.

FOB

Thank you to FOB for funding the terrific stamping shelter. It is large enough for a class so can also be used during the day! FOB has also funded the smart new signs for the school. They are both in the school colour of red and look very impressive!

Painting

I am very pleased to say that Bucks County Council are funding the external painting of all our school buildings. This will take approximately eight weeks and will include doors, fascias, the hexagon and fences!

CRB checks

As I’m sure you’ll agree, the safety of the children in school is of paramount importance. Therefore it is County policy to ensure all parents who help in school, either in the classroom or with transport, are CRB checked. This usually takes about three weeks to be authorized. If you wish to help in school please collect a CRB form from the school office. This needs to be renewed every three years.

Nut Allergies

There are a number of children and staff in school who suffer from nut allergies. Please could you remember this when making/packing lunches for your children. Thank you.

Security

This is a polite reminder about the procedures for drop off/pick up times.

Reception

Parents need to wait with their children at the gate in front of the Reception classes. The gate will be unlocked at 8.45 at which time you may deliver your children to the teacher at the gate. In this way we hope to encourage independence with the children feeling confident about walking into the classroom themselves. After the October half-term the children will join the rest of the school on the playground at the start of the day. At the end of the school day the children should be collected from the gate area in front of the Reception classes again.

Y1 – Y6

A teacher will be on duty in the playground from 8.30 each morning. From this time the school will be responsible for your children. You need to be aware that if children arrive in the playground before this time then it is your responsibility, as it is not possible for the children to be supervised. When the whistle is blown all parents need to move back and stand at the end of the path (at the corner of the car park) rather than half way along the path. Therefore please could you say goodbye to your children and then move to the end of the path after watching them walk into the playground. At the end of the day it is important that the younger children are collected rather than just allowed to wander off themselves. Parents of children in Y1 need to stand in the paved area opposite the Reception classes and wait for the teachers to deliver the children to you. Parents of Y2 children need to stand in the area by the Hexagon. The Y2 children will be brought down the slope only (not the steps) and delivered to you there. No child will be allowed to go until the teacher has seen the person who is collecting them. Teachers should also be made aware if other adults have been authorized by parents to collect their children.

This should ensure the safety of your children and your co-operation in this would be much appreciated!

Staff Training

Please note that this year the training days for staff when the school will be closed are 7^th January 2008, 21^st April 2008 and 4^th July 2008

Parents Meeting

There will be a meeting for all parents on Thursday 20^th September from 7.00pm – 8.00pm in the school hall. This will be an information session on how the school will be developing in the future. Refreshments will be provided from 6.45pm and we look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible!

Fruit/snacks

Please could you ensure only fruit or vegetables are provided for morning break. We are part of the healthy schools project; therefore chocolate, sweets, biscuits, fruit winders etc are not allowed.

Uniform

Outstanding items of new school uniform should arrive in school next week and will be sent home with your child thereafter. Apologies for the delay. I would like to thank Leanda Robson for all her hard work in setting up and organizing the new school uniform. She has done a brilliant job and has given up many hours of her time!

Gift Aid

If anyone still has any gift aid forms to return to school we would be very grateful if they were handed in the to the office. Thank you.

Y5 Residential

There will be a meeting for all Y5 parents in the school hall on Monday 24^th September at 7.00pm. This will be an opportunity to watch a presentation showing all the activities that will be provided and to discuss any concerns/issues about the planned trip to Osmington Bay in Dorset on April 28^th 2008.

New or amended dates in bold

Dates for your Diary

Monday 17^th September FOB – 8.00pm

Wednesday 12^th September Swimming starts for Y4

Thursday 20^th September Parents meeting 7.00pm

Y4 trip to Mary Ardens House

Monday 24^th September Y5 Residential meeting for parents 7.00pm

Friday 28^th September School Harvest Festival for pupils

Thursday 4^th October 11+ tests

Friday 5^th October Jeans for Genes day

Wednesday 10^th October 11+ tests

Tuesday 16^th October Book Fair starts

Parents Evening 4.00pm – 7.00pm

Thursday 18^th October Y4 to Sulgrave Manor

Parents Evening 4.00pm – 7.00pm

Y5 Victorian Day

Friday 19^th October School closes for half-term 3.15pm

Monday 29^th October School re-opens 8.45am

Wednesday 31^st October Individual School photos

Thursday 1^st November Y6 Residential Yorkshire meeting 7.30pm

Tuesday 20^th November Y3 Roman Day

Thursday 22^nd November Hampton Court trip Y4

Friday 30^th November Xmas Bazaar

Thursday 6^th December Reception Concert 11.00am

Tuesday 11^th December KS1 Concert 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Wednesday 12^th December KS1 Concert 1.30pm

NFER tests for Y6

Thursday 13^th December NFER Tests for Y6

Friday 14^th December NFER Tests for Y6

Monday 17^th December Tag Rugby fancy dress KS2

Xmas Orienteering 5.00pm

Tuesday 18^th December Xmas carol concert 7.00pm

Wednesday 19^th December Senior Citizens Tea Party 1.00pm

Thursday 20^th December Christmas Parties

Friday 21^st December School closes for Xmas

2008

Monday 7^th January Training Day for staff

Tuesday 8^th January School opens for Spring term – 8.45am

Tuesday 22^nd January Y3 Vikings Day

Monday 28^th January Y6 to Tutenkamun exhibition

Monday 4^th February NFER tests Y3 – Y5

Friday 15^th February School closes for half-term 3.15pm

Monday 25^th February School opens after half-term 8.45am

Monday 3^rd March Parents Evening 4.00 – 7.00

Thursday 6^th March Parents Evening 4.00 – 7.00

Monday 17^th March Creative Week

Friday 21^st March Good Friday

Monday 24^th March Easter Monday

Friday 4^th April The ‘B’ Factor

School closes for end of term

Monday 21^st April Staff Training Day

Tuesday 22^nd April School opens for summer term 8.45

Monday 28^th April Y5 trip to Osmington Bay

Friday 2^nd May Children return from Osmington Bay

Tuesday 6^h May SATs week Y3 -Y5

Monday 12^th May SATs weekY6

Saturday 17^th May FOB Ball

Monday 19^th May Yorkshire trip Y6

Friday 23^rd May School closes for half-term 3.15

Saturday 24^h May Children return from Yorkshire trip

Monday 2^nd June Yorkshire Trip Y6

School opens after half-term 8.45pm

Saturday 7^th June Children return from Yorkshire trip

Wednesday 18^th June KS1 sports day 9.30 – 11.00

Thursday 19^th June KS2 sports day 9.30 – 12.00

11+ meeting for Y5 parents

Wednesday 25^th June KS1 Reserve Sports Day

Thursday 26^th June KS2 Reserve Sports Day

Monday 30^th June New Reception Parents meeting

Tuesday 1^st July Secondary induction day/new class visits

Wednesday 2^nd July KS1 Reserve Reserve Sports Day

Thursday 3^rd July KS2 Reserve Reserve Sports Day

Summer Music Concert 7.00pm

Friday 4^th July Staff Training Day

Thursday 10^th July Open evening 6.00pm

Friday 11^th July Reports go out

Tuesday 15^th July Wycombe Swan Concert

Wednesday 16^th July Lower KS2 Concert pm

Thursday 17^th July Lower KS2 Concert pm

Friday 18^th July Y6 Leavers Assembly for School and Y6 Parents 9.30am

Monday 21^st July Tea Party for parent helpers PM

Wednesday 23rd July End of term – school closes for summer

Yours Sincerely

Mrs. K Whittington

Headteacher

This newsletter is also available electronically on the school website. If you would like to receive an automatic email please refer to the ‘subscribe’ section on the school website www.burfordschool.co.uk