NEWSLETTER September 2008
Please find time to read this newsletter – it contains dates for future reference, items about school activities, reminders of school policy and invitations to events.
Staffing news:
We welcome Mr Scott who will be teaching Year 4 this year, and we are also pleased to see Mrs Smith and Miss Truelove returning after their maternity leave.
As always at the start of a new school year there are one or two reminders of policy that help our school to run smoothly.
Building work:
You will probably have noticed a great deal of external building work has taken place during the summer holidays. The car park for staff has been extended so hopefully this will reduce the number of cars parked on Park View Road every day. May I remind you that the car park is for staff and visitors to Park View - if you are picking up by car, there is a car park in St Mary’s Park which is only a few minutes walk from school, and by parking away from school it reduces the congestion and minimises the risk of accidents.
The completion of the new fence and entrances was slightly delayed, but should be ready within the next few days. The front playground has been extended, providing the children with more play space, and the wall and fence improve the outlook at the front of school as well as providing better security.
Uniform:
It was so nice to stand at the front of the hall this morning and see all the children in their uniforms – they looked so smart! Thank you for supporting our drive to have everyone in uniform at the start of the new school year. Sweatshirts (£7.00), polo shirts (£6.50) and fleeces (£11.00) are all available to buy from the school office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday if you still need to purchase any items.
Children also need to have a PE Kit in school every week. For children in the Infants this means a plain T-shirt, dark shorts and pumps or trainers. For children in the juniors this is a plain T-shirt in their house colours and dark shorts, pumps or trainers. (Oak – Red; Fir – Blue; Willow – Green; Ash – Yellow) In addition children may need a sweatshirt or tracksuit for outdoor games in winter. Football shirts are not to be worn for PE lessons in school time.
Mobile Phones/Nintendos/MP3 Players
Children must not bring these items to school with them – they are expensive and can be easily damaged or stolen. If your child needs to bring a phone to contact you at home time, they must bring them to the office at the start of the school day for safe keeping until 3.15.
School starts at 9.00.
Children in Reception classes and Years 1 and 2 wait in the front playgrounds, where their teachers will come out and blow the whistle as a signal to line up and enter school a class at a time.
Pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 must go to the playgrounds at the back of school and wait for the teacher on duty to come and blow the whistle as a signal to line up. The children will then be brought into school a class at a time.
If for any reason your child is late for school they must report to the school office in order to get their mark in the register. It is really important that children are on time for the start of the school day as lessons often begin as soon as the register is taken and important information can be missed if children are late arriving.
If your child is ill, please contact school as soon as possible on the first day of absence to let us know if they are going to be in, either by phone or by letter brought by brother or sister.
Healthy
School Status: 
As we explained last term, Park View is in the process of renewing our Healthy School Status. Following on from our successful ‘Fruity Fridays’, we are now extending this to every day. Children must bring a healthy snack for break times i.e. fruit, bread sticks, dried fruit, healthy snack bars etc. Crisps, sweets and chocolate bars are not allowed at playtimes (this does not include lunch time and packed lunches). The children have been very supportive of this initiative and we are looking forward to achieving our status later this year.
Could I
also take this opportunity to remind you that the children should only bring
water in their water bottles to drink during the school day
– these can be topped up at any time from our water
fountains in school.
As we have a number of children who are severely allergic to peanuts can I remind you that we do not
allow children to bring nuts (either whole nuts or peanut
butter
etc)
as part of their packed lunches or playtime snack. 
Dinner Money/School Meals/Packed Lunches:
Please can children bring their dinner money in an envelope with their name and class written clearly on the front. Dinner money is collected on Monday mornings and meals need to be paid for in advance. The cost of a meal from 1st September is £1.75 per day/£ 8.75 per week. If you are paying by cheque, please could you write your child’s name on the back of the cheque. Thank you.
If your child wishes to change from school meals to packed lunches or vice versa, we require a week’s notice.
After School Club:
There are a few places available this term – please see Miss Pattison if you are interested in taking a place.
Dates for your diary:
PTA:
Wednesday 17th September sees the first meeting of the PTA for this term. Everybody is welcome – please come and join us at 8.00p.m. in the staffroom. We look forward to seeing you.
The Family Disco will be held on Friday 3rd October – further information to follow)
The
annual
Halloween Event will
take place on Thursday 23rd October ( more information nearer
the time!)
Out of School Club:
The Out of School Club will be holding their AGM on Thursday 25th September at 7.00pm. Please make every effort to attend if your child goes to After school Club.
Charity Appeal:
This year we are supporting Mediquip4kids and a representative from the charity will be coming to talk to the children on Thursday 9th October. Further information will follow.
Harvest:
We will be holding our Harvest Festival on Thursday 16th October. Letters will be sent home shortly.
Governor’s Meeting:
The Governing Body will hold their termly meeting on Tuesday 7th October at 7.00p.m
Details of vacancies for two parent governors will be sent home later this term – please look out for them.
Parents Evening:
This term’s parents evening will be held on Tuesday 21st October. Letters detailing appointment times will be sent home closer to the time.
Individual photographs:
The school photographer will be in school to take family and individual photos on Tuesday 30th September.
Close on Re-open on
Autumn Term 2008 Monday 1.9.08
Mid-Term Thursday 23.10.08 Tuesday 4.11.08
Christmas Friday 19.12.08 Tuesday 6.1.09
Spring Term 2009
Mid-Term Friday 13.2.09 Monday 23.2.09
Easter Friday 3.4.09 Monday 20.4.09
Summer Term 2009
May Day Friday 1.5.09 Tuesday 5.5.09
Spring Bank Holiday Friday 22.5.09 Tuesday 2.6.09
Summer Friday 17.7.09
(Key stage 2 Statutory Test Dates: 11th – 15th May 2009)