Friday 30 March 2012

Happy Easter

This morning in St Michael's Church we enjoyed a fantastic and inspiring Easter service.
It included a short musical play put on by our year 6 children called 'Roll Back the Stone'.

Thursday 29 March 2012

Violin Concert in School Hall

22 children put on a fabulous concert for their parents.
Led by Mrs Fell, our violinists went through a range of small and large group pieces which demonstrated the skills learnt this year.



District Cross-Country Champions

Jake on his way to winning the boys race at Broughton Hall Farm in Stonham Aspall.
We also included our own inter house competition within the race.
Mills House were the winners with an excellent average position of 22.
Howard were 2nd with a score of 30. Bulstrode were 3rd and Hitcham 4th.
The start of the boys race. Thee were 207 boys and 196 girls taking part.
Grace (only 9 years old) on her way to a fantastic 2nd in the girls race.
Zoe came in 3rd to get a bronze medal with Elie just behind.
Robert Hitcham's had its best ever girls team. 6 girls finished in the top 10 with a further 2 in the top 15 places.
Grace and Zoe receiving their medals.

Our 3 medalists
Action from around the course

Monday 26 March 2012

Newsletter 29

VIOLIN CONCERT – Reminder Wednesday 28 March
Violin pupils will perform to parents, friends and relatives in the school hall on Wednesday 28 March after school at 3.15pm – 3.45pm. Everyone is welcome to come.

HITCHAM HOLY HORRORS – Wednesday 28 March
Just a reminder that HHH IS running this Wednesday.

CROSS COUNTRY REMINDER – Wednesday 28 March
Just a reminder to those Year 5 & 6 who are doing the Cross Country on Wedensday to remember their PE Kit and trainers.

NURSERY PARENTS PLAY & CHAT – Wednesday 28 March
All current Nursery parents are welcome to come along on Wednesday anytime between 9.30- 11.30 to join their child in Nursery and to chat to the Nursery staff. Please go straight to Nursery where you can sign in.

EASTER SERVICE – Friday 30 March
Year 6 parents are welcome at either the 9.30 or 10.30am service at St Michael’s Church to watch their children perform the Easter Service to KS1 or KS2.

HOUSE SPELLING COMPETITION RESULTS
Congratulations to Howard who for the second year in succession won our House Spelling competition. A special mention to Joel Heather (DB) who achieved maximum marks (20/20) which is no mean feat when several words were very challenging.

NEW MENUS – w/c 26 March
This week we will be distributing the new menus from Suffolk County Catering. These menus will run from April to October.

IPSWICH RECORD OFFICE
Ipswich Record Office is hosting a free Open Day on Saturday 14 April. There will be guided walks to learn about the history of the surrounding streets. A selection of archives will be on display. Learn how to begin your family history research using your county archives. Come behind the scenes on a free strongroom tour. Explore life on the Home Front. Activity packs for children will also be on sale.
Phone Ipswich Record Office, Gatacre Rd, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ on 01473 584541 or email Ipswich.ro@suffolk.gov.uk for more information and to book your place.

CAKE STALL – Friday 30 March
The end of term cake stall is being baked for by class JC & class KT this week – do come along to the playground pavilion on Friday to buy some Easter treats.

END OF TERM
This Friday is the last day of term and children return to school on TUESDAY 17 APRIL.
May we take this opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable Easter holiday.

PLEA FOR TREE PROTECTORS FOR NEW SAPLINGS
We have a number of sapling trees that we are due to plant shortly and we wondered if any ‘green fingered’ family may have 20 tree protectors that they could donate to the school?
If so, please bring them to the school office, thank you.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Newsletter 28

DISCO SOLD OUT FOR KEY STAGE 2
The Friends would like to advise parents that there are no spaces left at the Key Stage 2 Disco on Friday 23 March. Key Stage 1/Foundation will have places available on the door.

VIOLIN CONCERT – Wednesday 28 March
Mrs Fell, who teaches Violin to a number of our pupils in school, has arranged for them to perform to parents, friends and relatives in the school hall on Wednesday 28 March after school at 3.15pm – 3.45pm. Everyone is welcome.

YOUNG ART EAST ANGLIA
We have been informed that the recent Art competition that a number of our pupils took part in raised £8500 for Cancer Research UK.

DINNER MONEY ENVELOPES
We have some really useful envelopes for paying money into school in; they can be used for dinner money, trips, Friends events etc.
They are priced at £1 for 25 and are available at the office.

SHARE SESSION REMINDERS – CLASS CH & KM
Just to remind parents that Class CH share session is on Tuesday 20 March and Class KM is on Thursday 22 March at 1.15pm.

VOLUNTEER SAFEGUARDING TRAINING
The first training session for volunteers takes place on Friday 23 March, followed by one on Monday 26 March and another on Thursday 29 March. If any volunteers are unsure of which session they are booked on please ask Mrs Miller at the office. Please note it is a requirement for all regular volunteers to have this child protection training every 3 years.

EASTER SERVICE – Friday 30 March
The Easter Services this year are being run by Year 6 pupils; although we normally have these services for the children only, we would like to invite the parents of Year 6 pupils to come along. You are welcome at either the 9.30am (KS1) or 10.30am (KS2) service at St Michael’s Church. Foundation Easter Service is being held in school.

BAGS 2 SCHOOL
The Friends would like to advise parents that the Bag 2 School collection in January raised £190 – thank you to everyone who donated unwanted items.

APACHE HELICOPTER AT FRAMLINGHAM COLLEGE – Saturday 28 April
A great opportunity to discover more about the Apache Helicopters that we often see flying over Framlingham. The helicopter will fly in at 2pm and will remain at the college until 4pm; during this time there will be opportunities to learn about the helicopter and the Military establishments in the area. There will be a 10m high climbing wall, RAF Honington Volunteer Band, a small arms trainer and charity stalls for whom they are raising money on the day – Help for Heroes, Walking with the Wounded, Combat Stress and the Afghan Appeal fund.

FRAMLINGHAM 2012 T-SHIRT DESIGN COMPETITION
Please find with this letter a sheet on which pupils can design a logo for the Framlingham 2012 events of the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics – all instructions are on the sheet.

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Newsletter 27

MOTHER’S DAY SERVICES REMINDER– Friday 16 March
On Friday, the Mother’s Day Services at St Michael’s are at 9.30pm for Nursery (KS) and Reception (CH & KM), 10.30 for KS1, then 1.30pm for children in Year 3 & 4. Parents are welcome to attend.

HELP AND SUPPORT BOOKS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
We would like to make parents aware that we have a number of really helpful books for families dealing with difficult circumstances – eg separation, bereavement, illness. Parents are more than welcome to borrow them, please just ask Mrs Colchester, or ask at the school office.

FRAMLINGHAM 2012 - OLYMPIC FLAG PARADE - FRIDAY 27th JULY
This event is being coordinated by the Framlingham Business Association who have asked us to promote this event for them:
Celebrate & take part in this historic event - by donating a minimum of £2.50 per person you will be able to join the parade of flags leaving Framlingham College on FRIDAY 27th JULY and finishing on Market Hill in time to watch the Opening Ceremony on the GIANT Screen.
There will be flags from all participating countries (hopefully 205) and Framlingham will have its own torch & flame. The event is being organised by a number of groups in the town who form the Combined Framlingham 2012 Committee. They have provided the donation cards which are being distributed with this letter. The cards WITH donation money can be returned to the school in an envelope or deposited at The Coop, Post Office or Bulstrodes.

SPORTS CLUB DIRECTORY
If you are looking for a sports activity or club in the SCDC area please do look it up in the new Sports Club Directory in the office. This has been provided by the local council in partnership with the ‘active communities’ project, it lists contact details for any sport you can think of!

TESCO VOUCHERS
The Tesco voucher scheme which enables us to claim free resources for the school will run from 12 March to 20 May. The collection box is outside the school office.

COMICS NEEDED PLEASE
The Nursery would like donations of any old comics please for the Nursery children to read – they need to be in good condition and would particularly like ones suitable for Nursery age boys. Please drop them off at the school office. Thank you.

CAPTIVATE DRAMA has spaces for classes starting in April – for young people to develop their acting, movement, singing and musicality skills.
It runs on Saturday afternoons at the Performance Studio, Thomas Mills High School.
For further information or to reserve a place, please contact 01728 720063 or
e-mail captivatedramafram@gmail.com
There will be a taster session on Saturday 24th March do come along and try it out!

FRAMLINGHAM COMMUNITY GARDEN – WORKING PARTIES
Do go along on March 18 or on April 22 from 10-12.30pm to the community garden at Pig’s Meadow above the New Road Allotments to help prepare, sow and plant for this year.
Also make a Mother’s Day gift this Sunday, plus free refreshments.
For more information contact Jem on 01728 724946 or see greenerfram.org.uk

Monday 5 March 2012

Newsletter 26

TEACHING ASSISTANT VACANCY – Summer Term Only
We have a vacancy for a teaching assistant for the summer term only, to work in the Reception class for 10 hours per week. Previous experience and relevant level 3 child qualification are an advantage, but not essential.
If you are interested please speak to the school office for an application pack.
Closing date for Applications Friday 16 March, interviews Wednesday 21 March.

GOVERNOR’S SURVEY OF PARENTS
OFSTED is coming – probably next term – so your school Governors would like your views on how the school is doing.
A special satisfaction survey will therefore be coming round in March. We apologise for yet another survey (a separate Nursery survey is also due, see below) but please do fill it in as your views do really matter.
Thank you,
From the Governors of Sir Robert Hitcham’s CEVAP

NURSERY QUESTIONNAIRE
Parents of children in Year 2, 1, Reception and Nursery have been sent home a questionnaire to help us with research on our Nursery provision. It was sent in a plain brown envelope in your child’s book bag on Thursday. Please can we ask that you take a little time to complete this for us and return it to the school office in the brown envelope by Friday 9 March?

NO HOCKEY CLUB AT PRESENT
Until Mr Brook returns from Jury service we are sorry but there will be no Tuesday after-school Hockey club for year 4 & 5.

NO RUGBY CLUB THIS WEEK ONLY
Mr Vaughan is unable to run Rugby club this week due to another school commitment. It will resume as normal next week.

GRANDPARENTS TO LUNCH – this week
Please let the grandparents know to sign in at the foyer by the school hall at 12.00pm where the children will meet them to take them into lunch. Please note there will be a queue for the meal as there are so many grandparents to get through. Once they have finished the grandparents should sign out before they leave school when the children go out to play.
Any Nursery children NOT booked in to lunch club should be taken home by the grandparent.

YEAR 6 TO HIGH SCHOOL REMINDER – Thursday 8 March
Please remember Y6 pupils will need to bring in a packed lunch on Thursday as they will be spending a day doing DT, Geography & History activities at Thomas Mills High School.

DINNER MONEY
The office are increasingly being handed loose coins and notes over the counter to pay for dinner money. Please can we ask that you hand the dinner money in a named envelope to the class teachers on a Monday morning. If you do not pay for school lunches on a Monday then your child should have packed lunch for that week.
Parents can pay for the half term rather than weekly if they would like – please ask at the office for a ‘pre-pay’ form.

IMPORTANT : NUTS IN LUNCH BOXES
As parents are aware we have a strict NO NUTS policy in school. However, we have found recently on a few occasions pecan nuts thrown away in the food waste bin from a child’s lunch box. We must stress to parents that you should NOT be placing nuts or nut products in your child’s lunchbox as we have children at school with life-threatening nut allergies.
Please can we ask for your full support on this, thank you.
In addition, we will be asking children to not place their lunch box waste (except drink cartons) in the school waste bin but to take it home in their lunch box. We feel it is important that parents are aware how much of their child’s lunch is eaten / leftover.

LUNCHTIME SUPERVISOR VACANCY
We have a vacancy for a lunchtime Supervisor on a regular basis for Thursday lunchtime and relief cover on other days when needed. Full training will be given.
The rate of pay is £6.47 per hour plus holiday pay, the hours are 12.00pm - 1.20pm.
If you are interested please speak to the school office. Thank you.

FREE SCHOOL MEAL APPLICATIONS
It's now quicker and easier to apply for Free School Meals. For the majority of claimants you will no longer need to send proof of your benefits with the application form. Suffolk County Council will check your eligibility against the Government's benefits database and as long as you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, the provision of Free School Meals will commence. An application form is available from the school or can be downloaded at www.suffolk.gov.uk

MOTHER’S DAY SERVICES – Friday 16 March
Next Friday, 16 March, we are holding a Mother’s Day Service at St Michael’s for Nursery (KS) and Reception (CH & KM) at 9.30pm, which will be followed at 10.30 with a service for children in KS1, then in the afternoon at 1.30pm for children in Year 3 & 4. Parents are welcome to attend.
The afternoon service will finish in time for the parents to get back to school for the celebration assembly if you have another child in class NS.
Please note the Nursery will need lots of parent volunteers to help walk the children to and from the Church, please see Mrs Stephenson in the Nursery to offer your help if you can. Thank you.