Feb 2015
Gunter Primary School Newsletter—February 2015 A note from Miss Riley….. Happy 2015 everybody! It has been a cold start to the year, and as such we need to be particularly careful about our outdoor play at school. A risk assessment is made daily as to whether the playground surface is safe enough for the children or not - and playtime will be held indoors if necessary. It is always good to get the children out at some point during the day, even if only for a few minutes, as it is a long time to be stuck indoors with no fresh air or chance to stretch their legs, I am sure you will agree. Usually any ice has thawed enough for lunchtime outdoor play, although all staff remain particularly vigilant when there is any increased risk of injury due to slips. On Wednesday, for example, when it was snowing intermittently, the children were given the choice to go outside if they had good coats on, or to stay in if they wanted to. Children are repeatedly reminded about wearing coats, gloves, hats etc., so please help us by sending your children in to school in sensible footwear/outerwear. In the event of an Emergency school closure, such as due to extreme weather conditions, a text message will be sent out as ea rly as possible to alert parents – please make sure we have up to date contact details for you at the school office. Here’s hoping you have managed to stick to your new year’s resolutions so far – Gunter’s is still to be the best we can be for the benefit of all our pupils, and the community we serve. Do let us know if there is anything more we can do to make this happen [email protected] – or just to tell us what we are doing well! Please note, Thursday 7th May will be an enforced closure at Gunter due to the Local Elections - this means school will be CLOSED for all pupils. This is in addition to the teacher day already booked for Friday 8th May. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but after consultation with the Elections Office we have no alternative due to safeguarding issues. Lucy Riley, Head Teacher
CONTACTS Events and Activities from February—April 2015 Wednesday 11 Feb – year 5 trip to Think Tank
Telephone: 0121-464-2367
Wednesday 11th Feb – year 4 to Sorrel Park for tree planting with Birmingham Trees For Life.
Fax: 0121-464-8015
th
Friday 13th Feb – valentines disco: 1.15-2.00 pm FS/KS1, 2.15-3.00 pm KS2. Friday 13th Feb – break up for half term (1 week) Monday 23rd February – TEACHER DAY (school closed to children) Tuesday 24th February - Spring half term 2 starts Wednesday 4th Mar – KS1 Reading for Pleasure parent workshop (more information to follow) Thursday 5th March – World Book Day (more information to follow) 16th – 19th March – Science Week Friday 27th March – break up for the Easter holidays (2 weeks) Monday 13th April - Summer term starts
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: gunterprimary.org Address: Gunter Road, Pype Hayes, B24 0RU.
Gunter Primary School
School Council Thank you to everybody who attended the Christmas Fare. The money that was raised has been given to The School Council and will be used to fund some new markings on the playground. Mrs Seymour & The School Council
P.A.T.H.S (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) Thank you for your input into this programme. Your comments are appreciated. Your child will be VIP again over the next few weeks. Please take the time to give your child a written compliment, it really helps your child develop their self esteem and know they are a valued member of their family as well as our school
Staffing We have a new Deputy Head Teacher! We welcome Mrs McConnell who comes to us from Great Barr Primary School where she is Assistant Head Teacher. Those of you in years 3 and 5 , as well as the school council, have been lucky enough to meet her already – the rest of you will have to wait until after Easter I’m afraid! She will be working with target groups across the school, as well as developing our curriculum and looking closely at how we can further improve our provision for the gifted and talented among you. I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Mrs McConnell and making her feel part of the Gunter family when she arrives. January saw a new year and a new teacher for Gunter – Mrs McDonald, who is teaching in year 6, as well as delivering our Modern Foreign Language provision in key stage 2. She is also our English lead and will be working hard to build on the excellent start Mrs Baker has already made in making sure we produce super readers and writers in Gunter. I know there are already plans in place for a book week, with competitions and prizes galore, so watch this space! Mrs Higgins says hi and that she is missing everyone very much. She is getting better every day and hopes to be back at school as soon as she is well enough.
Attendance Attendance for January 2015
TARGET: 95.2% Year R (FS2)
91.1
Year 1 Year 2
95.2
Year 3
97.2
Year 4
90.4
Year 5 Year 6
92.9
94.4
93.8
Well done to Year 3 also well done to Year 1 who met the target KEEP IT UP!
Teacher Days: Monday 1st September 2014 Monday 3rd November 2014 Monday 23rd February 2015 * NOTE NEW DATE * Friday 8th May 2015 Monday 1st June 2015 Monday 20th July 2015
Gunter Primary School
Activities at Pype Hayes Children’s Centre: Tuesday
10.00-11.30
Baby Group (0-1 year olds)
Wednesday
9.15-11.45
Health Visitor Drop in Baby Weighing Clinic
1.30-2.45
Stay and Play (0-5 year olds)
Thursday
9.30-11.30
Toddler Group (1-2 year olds)
Friday
10.15-11.15
Musical Babies (0-18 months). 6 weeks, call 675 1123 to book
For parents new to Children’s Centres we are offering a welcome group to show you the services on offer at the 5 children’s centres in the area. For further information call Featherstone CC: 0121 675 3408 or Osborne CC: 0121 675 1123 Details of activities at Featherstone CC, Osborne CC, Erdington Hall CC and Barneys CC can be found on our website: http://featherstonelocality.washwoodheath.net
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS Monday’s
Aston Villa Football Training 3:30pm — 4:30pm Choir Practice 3:15pm — 4:15pm
Tuesday’s
Art Club 3:15pm — 4:15pm
Wednesday’s
One Fitness Academy Football Training 3:30pm — 4:30pm Gardening Club 3:15pm — 4:15pm
Thursday’s
Street Dance 3:30pm - 4:30pm
DINNERS
Welcome to Little Folks Day Nursery and Out of School Clubs at Gunter Primary School Welcome to Little Folk’s Before and After School club based at Gunter Primary School. Our before and after school care is based in a cabin within the grounds of the school. Ofsted have rated us as a “Good” provision for both young and older children on the grounds of care and opportunities that we offer our children.
Nursery dinners are £8.50 per week , KS2 1 and 2 dinners are £9.50 a week Please send in your payment in an envelope marked clearly with your child’s name, class and the amount and hand it into the school office where you will be issued with a receipt .
Breakfast Club our breakfast club offers a range of healthy options including cereal, fresh juices and toast. The children engage in a range of activities until they are taken to their classes at 8:55 am After School Club our after school club offers a range of child and adult initiated activities for the children to engage with. We offer a range of new experiences for our children to allow them to build on their own learning opportunities through play. Staffing our club is run by Faz (Level 3 Early Years) who is the named Manager and Anita who is a trained level 3 play worker. Opening Times: Breakfast Club 7:30 am - 9:00 am
After School Club 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm
SNOW IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSURE, SUCH AS DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS, A TEXT MESSAGE WILL BE SENT OUT TO ALERT YOU - PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE UP TO DATE CONTACT DETAILS FOR YOU IN THE SCHOOL OFFICE.
Young Voices 2015
Parent Group Valentine Disco Friday February 13th 2015 Foundation & KS 1 1.15pm - 2.00 pm
Mrs Hart and Mrs Bailey took 12 of our talented singers to a special concert on 14th January. UKULELE CONCERT Well done to year 4 for a fabulous concert which many of our parents also attended.
(Nursery Children must be with an adult) KS2 2-15 pm - 3-00pm
Prices:
Refreshments on sale
Breakfast Club £3.75 (slight rise in Jan 2015) After School Club £6.25 (slight rise in Jan 2015)
Tickets: £1.00
ALL ENQUIRES PLEASE CALL 0121 327 3815
Children will be able to wear their own clothes to the Disco and Foundation and KS1 children will be allowed to go home at 2.00 pm if they are collected by an Adult.
LEAVE DURING TERM TIME
Please complete a Leave in term time request form if you need to take your child out of school during term time please note, leave will only be granted in exceptional circumstances (see the school office or our website). See the Parent Information Sheet, sent out recently and available on our website, for more information.
CONTACTS Events and Activities from February—April 2015 Wednesday 11 Feb – year 5 trip to Think Tank
Telephone: 0121-464-2367
Wednesday 11th Feb – year 4 to Sorrel Park for tree planting with Birmingham Trees For Life.
Fax: 0121-464-8015
th
Friday 13th Feb – valentines disco: 1.15-2.00 pm FS/KS1, 2.15-3.00 pm KS2. Friday 13th Feb – break up for half term (1 week) Monday 23rd February – TEACHER DAY (school closed to children) Tuesday 24th February - Spring half term 2 starts Wednesday 4th Mar – KS1 Reading for Pleasure parent workshop (more information to follow) Thursday 5th March – World Book Day (more information to follow) 16th – 19th March – Science Week Friday 27th March – break up for the Easter holidays (2 weeks) Monday 13th April - Summer term starts
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: gunterprimary.org Address: Gunter Road, Pype Hayes, B24 0RU.
Gunter Primary School
School Council Thank you to everybody who attended the Christmas Fare. The money that was raised has been given to The School Council and will be used to fund some new markings on the playground. Mrs Seymour & The School Council
P.A.T.H.S (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) Thank you for your input into this programme. Your comments are appreciated. Your child will be VIP again over the next few weeks. Please take the time to give your child a written compliment, it really helps your child develop their self esteem and know they are a valued member of their family as well as our school
Staffing We have a new Deputy Head Teacher! We welcome Mrs McConnell who comes to us from Great Barr Primary School where she is Assistant Head Teacher. Those of you in years 3 and 5 , as well as the school council, have been lucky enough to meet her already – the rest of you will have to wait until after Easter I’m afraid! She will be working with target groups across the school, as well as developing our curriculum and looking closely at how we can further improve our provision for the gifted and talented among you. I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Mrs McConnell and making her feel part of the Gunter family when she arrives. January saw a new year and a new teacher for Gunter – Mrs McDonald, who is teaching in year 6, as well as delivering our Modern Foreign Language provision in key stage 2. She is also our English lead and will be working hard to build on the excellent start Mrs Baker has already made in making sure we produce super readers and writers in Gunter. I know there are already plans in place for a book week, with competitions and prizes galore, so watch this space! Mrs Higgins says hi and that she is missing everyone very much. She is getting better every day and hopes to be back at school as soon as she is well enough.
Attendance Attendance for January 2015
TARGET: 95.2% Year R (FS2)
91.1
Year 1 Year 2
95.2
Year 3
97.2
Year 4
90.4
Year 5 Year 6
92.9
94.4
93.8
Well done to Year 3 also well done to Year 1 who met the target KEEP IT UP!
Teacher Days: Monday 1st September 2014 Monday 3rd November 2014 Monday 23rd February 2015 * NOTE NEW DATE * Friday 8th May 2015 Monday 1st June 2015 Monday 20th July 2015
Gunter Primary School
Activities at Pype Hayes Children’s Centre: Tuesday
10.00-11.30
Baby Group (0-1 year olds)
Wednesday
9.15-11.45
Health Visitor Drop in Baby Weighing Clinic
1.30-2.45
Stay and Play (0-5 year olds)
Thursday
9.30-11.30
Toddler Group (1-2 year olds)
Friday
10.15-11.15
Musical Babies (0-18 months). 6 weeks, call 675 1123 to book
For parents new to Children’s Centres we are offering a welcome group to show you the services on offer at the 5 children’s centres in the area. For further information call Featherstone CC: 0121 675 3408 or Osborne CC: 0121 675 1123 Details of activities at Featherstone CC, Osborne CC, Erdington Hall CC and Barneys CC can be found on our website: http://featherstonelocality.washwoodheath.net
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS Monday’s
Aston Villa Football Training 3:30pm — 4:30pm Choir Practice 3:15pm — 4:15pm
Tuesday’s
Art Club 3:15pm — 4:15pm
Wednesday’s
One Fitness Academy Football Training 3:30pm — 4:30pm Gardening Club 3:15pm — 4:15pm
Thursday’s
Street Dance 3:30pm - 4:30pm
DINNERS
Welcome to Little Folks Day Nursery and Out of School Clubs at Gunter Primary School Welcome to Little Folk’s Before and After School club based at Gunter Primary School. Our before and after school care is based in a cabin within the grounds of the school. Ofsted have rated us as a “Good” provision for both young and older children on the grounds of care and opportunities that we offer our children.
Nursery dinners are £8.50 per week , KS2 1 and 2 dinners are £9.50 a week Please send in your payment in an envelope marked clearly with your child’s name, class and the amount and hand it into the school office where you will be issued with a receipt .
Breakfast Club our breakfast club offers a range of healthy options including cereal, fresh juices and toast. The children engage in a range of activities until they are taken to their classes at 8:55 am After School Club our after school club offers a range of child and adult initiated activities for the children to engage with. We offer a range of new experiences for our children to allow them to build on their own learning opportunities through play. Staffing our club is run by Faz (Level 3 Early Years) who is the named Manager and Anita who is a trained level 3 play worker. Opening Times: Breakfast Club 7:30 am - 9:00 am
After School Club 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm
SNOW IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSURE, SUCH AS DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS, A TEXT MESSAGE WILL BE SENT OUT TO ALERT YOU - PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE UP TO DATE CONTACT DETAILS FOR YOU IN THE SCHOOL OFFICE.
Young Voices 2015
Parent Group Valentine Disco Friday February 13th 2015 Foundation & KS 1 1.15pm - 2.00 pm
Mrs Hart and Mrs Bailey took 12 of our talented singers to a special concert on 14th January. UKULELE CONCERT Well done to year 4 for a fabulous concert which many of our parents also attended.
(Nursery Children must be with an adult) KS2 2-15 pm - 3-00pm
Prices:
Refreshments on sale
Breakfast Club £3.75 (slight rise in Jan 2015) After School Club £6.25 (slight rise in Jan 2015)
Tickets: £1.00
ALL ENQUIRES PLEASE CALL 0121 327 3815
Children will be able to wear their own clothes to the Disco and Foundation and KS1 children will be allowed to go home at 2.00 pm if they are collected by an Adult.
LEAVE DURING TERM TIME
Please complete a Leave in term time request form if you need to take your child out of school during term time please note, leave will only be granted in exceptional circumstances (see the school office or our website). See the Parent Information Sheet, sent out recently and available on our website, for more information.
