Monday 31 March 2014

Newsletter 30

EASTER SERVICE REMINDER– THURSDAY 3 APRIL
The service is being prepared and run by children from class EM and JA, so we would welcome the parents and grandparents of these pupils to St Michael’s Church this Thursday at 1.30pm. The rest of the school will go to the same service in the morning.

EASTER LUNCH – THURSDAY 3 APRIL
EATs catering will be providing a special Easter lunch on Thursday 3 April, menus in class.

CAKE STALL – FRIDAY 4 APRIL
There will be a cake stall in the pavilion on the front playground after school on Friday.  Classes KVNS & JC are baking for this event.
Remember to bring some pocket money to buy an after school Easter sweet treat.

HOUSE HOODIES
The recent delivery of the new PE House coloured hoodies has stimulated an influx of orders.  Because these are not stock items they have to be ordered in bulk; the next order will be sent off in the Easter break and should be back by mid May.
IF YOU WISH TO PLACE AN ORDER - IT SHOULD BE HANDED INTO THE OFFICE BY THIS FRIDAY.
The next order after this will be placed at the end of the Summer term for delivery in September.  Order forms are at the office.

DINNER MONEY COST FOR SUMMER 1st HALF TERM
*******Dinner money should be paid on Mondays******
Half term payments are due by the first Monday after each half term.
The cost for lunch every day will be = £48.40 23 April – 23 May = 22 days
Don’t forget you can pay for the whole term for 1/2/3 or 4 days per week too.
To pay on-line follow the link from the ‘Parent Information’ button on the school website
Weekly payments:               
        5 days  £11.00      4 days  £8.80     3 days  £6.60     2 days  £4.40                1 day  £2.20
Cheques should be made payable to Suffolk County Council (SCC)
with your child’s name and class WRITTEN ON THE BACK please.
DINNER MONEY MUST BE HANDED TO THE TEACHER IN AN ENVELOPE THAT STATES:       Child’s Name + Child’s Class + which days dinner money is for.
DEADLINE FOR HALF-TERM PAYMENT IS MONDAY 28 APRIL.

MUSIC TUITION INVOICES
Invoices for Violin, Guitar, Play-On Clarinet & Brass have been sent by email (or hardcopy if that’s how you received it last time) on Monday.  If you have not received them by Wednesday then please contact the office.  Payment is due in the first week back.


CLUBS – START OF SUMMER TERM
Clubs/tuition starting in the 1st week back (from Weds 24 April):
CMS Flute/Clarinet/Brass      
CMS Guitar
Maypole
Premier Sport Gymnastics
Violin (on Friday this week & again next Monday)
Clubs/tuition starting in the 2nd week of term (from Monday 28 April):
Fencing
Gardening
Reading
Cricket
Orchestra
Holy Horrors
MFSF Wind & Brass
French
Tennis (letter to follow)
& all lunchtime clubs.

SCHOOL MENUS FOR APRIL TO OCTOBER 2014
With this letter please find the EATs catering menus that start after Easter. You can also find the link to the menu from the front page of the school website.

BREAKFAST CLUB
Breakfast Club has taken off very well this half term, we would like to advise parents that this club is open to any child from Reception to Year 6.
It runs every morning from 7.45am to 8.30am when the children are escorted to the playground.  No need for advance booking, just turn up at 7.45am via the side door to the hall, sign your child in and pay for the session (£3 per session).
Please see the office if you have any further questions.


WE FINISH THIS FRIDAY FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAY
Children return to school on Wednesday 23 April.
May I wish you all a peaceful and relaxing Easter break,

Mrs Picton

Change to Morning and End of Day Routines

In consultation with the Parent Council, staff, children and Governors it has been decided to trial amendments to the morning and afternoon routines.

As you are aware the children at the present time line up on the playground at 8.45am and come in to class by 8.50am.  The Parent Council and staff have noted that at that time there is huge congestion in key areas, eg, stairs and entrance points.  They were concerned about the safety of the children due to the enormous movement of both adults and children both in and out of the school premises at the one time.

It has been agreed to trial a staggered system from the beginning of the summer term.  This would involve the school building being opened at 8.40am (not 8.30am as now) and staff being in class to welcome children from that time.  As children enter the classrooms normal early morning routines for each class would take place.  The changes mirror what usually occurs on ‘wet mornings’.  Families would be encouraged to drop off their children between 8.40-8.50am, when the doors will be closed and the register will be taken.  Any family arriving at school after 8.50am should register their child/ren with the school office.

The school playground will be open and supervised from 8.30am.  The office will be open at 8.30am.

At the end of the school day, in order to relieve some of the playground pressure of children and families, it has been decided to trial  Reception and Key Stage 1 children leaving school at 3.00pm in the usual manner and then Key Stage 2 leaving  at 3.05pm.  We envisage that by creating a staggered exit from school, families with Key Stage 1 children only will vacate the site before Key stage 2 exits, thus allowing more space. Bus children will be gathered in the usual manner.

This will have a knock -on effect on Friday assembly which will now end by 2.50pm and start promptly at 2.30pm.  Following discussion  with the School Council and the staff and reflecting our school’s ‘Good’ SIAMS report we’ve decided to follow a new style of Celebration Assemblies which will be linked to a theme of particular interest to the class. As this is also a trial we would welcome any feedback via your class Parent Councillor who will be at your child’s assembly.


We will review the success of this new procedure by the end of the summer term.

Children Take New Style Cycling Training

Bikeability is a new way of delivering safew cycle training to children. It is now a 2 day intensive course run by qualified instructors.
Click on the logo to find out more.
Over the last two weeks over 20 of our children have completed the course.








Thursday 27 March 2014

Violin Concert in School Hall

All of Mrs Fell's violin students took part in a concert for their parents yesterday.
Mrs Fell has done an amazing job - judging by the superb performances and confidence of al the children taking part.











Chess Final Today

A good quality match saw Jeremy emerge as the school chess champion this year. A great effort by Scott to get to the final. Thanks to Mr Byer for organising the competition during lunchtimes throughout the term.


Nursery Open Morning


Wednesday 26 March 2014

School Swimming Team win District Gala

The winning team win medals, trophy and flag.
 
The gala finished with a fun raft race.
 
They seem to be quite happy!
 


 

Magazine Art Winner

Josh Harrowven won a competition in The Star Wars Magazine - this is his drawing.


Freya Parker won Mrs Turner's artist of the month award for her cushion design.



Hockey players getting ready for house tournament

The HOWARD girls getting in some practice for the tournament next week. 


The MILLS girls on the Thomas Mills HS astro.




Monday 24 March 2014

Newsletter 28

***School will be open on 26 March as usual***

READING WORKSHOP REMINDER – THIS THURSDAY 27 MARCH
The Reading Workshop for parents and volunteer reading helpers will be held this Thursday at 2.15pm in the school hall. This is a ‘re-run’ of the workshop held in the Autumn, so much of the presentation will be the same as last time for those that have already been.

STORYTELLING EVENT FOR CH & KM AT FRAMLINGHAM LIBARY
On the morning of 31 March children in CH & KM will visit Framlingham Library for a special storytelling event that they are running.  Please see the class teacher if you are able to volunteer to escort the children.

EASTER SERVICE REMINDER– THURSDAY 3 APRIL
The service is being prepared and run by children from class EM and JA, so we would welcome the parents or grandparents of these pupils in St Michael’s Church on 3 April at 1.30pm.

EASTER LUNCH – THURSDAY 3 APRIL
EATs catering will be providing a special Easter lunch on Thursday 3 April, look out for the special menu in class next week.

CAKE STALL – FRIDAY 4 APRIL
There will be a cake stall in the pavilion on the front playground after school next Friday, 4 April.  Classes KVNS & JC are baking for this event.
Remember to bring some pocket money to buy an after school sweet treat.

DISCO REMINDER – deadline for tickets TODAY! & HELPERS REQUIRED!
Please ensure you have fully completed the details on the slip & returned to the office with payment by the end of Tuesday. 
Don’t forget, the children can buy drinks and tuck at the disco if they bring some change.
If your child is going to the disco PLEASE could you consider offering to help?
The Friends require a sufficient number of adults to help supervise otherwise they will not be able to run the disco. 
So please do let them know if you can help contact via the school office.  Thank you.

******PLEASE NO NUT PRODUCTS IN LUNCH BOXES******
This week alone 3 children have alerted the dinner ladies to the fact that they have got a cereal/snack bar in their lunch box that has nuts in.
PLEASE CAN WE REMIND PARENTS TO CHECK FOOD LABELS & NOT TO PUT THESE PRODUCTS IN THEIR CHILD’S LUNCHBOX. 

Thank you for your co-operation in this important matter.

                         DON’T FORGET…. VIOLIN CONCERT IN THE HALL ON
               WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 3.15pm

More Information Overleaf….

KS2 - please put your name in your PE Hoodie!
HEAD LICE OUTBREAK
We appear to have a number of classes who are repeatedly having outbreaks of head lice.  If you find head lice in your child’s hair please advise the teacher or the office IMMEDIATELY so we can advise parents from the class to check their child that night.
We know that parents who take the time to check & clear the problem get frustrated when head lice crawl back on from another child because not all the parents thoroughly checked for the problem. 
PLEASE can we urge parents to thoroughly check or treat their children for head lice during the Easter break to try to stop the spread. 
Everyone will thank you for doing this!
We also recommend that long hair is tied back.

BAG TO SCHOOL PROFIT
The Friends are delighted to let parents know that the last Bag 2 School collection made £180 for the school.  Thank you to all those parents who had a good clear out to fill a bag or 2 of unwanted clothes and shoes.
For your diary the next 2 dates for collections are 15 January and 11 June 2015.

PREMIER SPORT – GYM & FENCING CLUB
Application forms for Gym & Fencing next term were handed out last week.  Please be aware of Premier Sport’s new guidelines regarding full completion of the booking forms before a child can be accepted on their courses.  You can also apply & pay on line if you prefer.  There are some spare forms at the office



LOCAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION:

Greener Fram's ‘Swap or Mend it Morning’
It is on 26th April from 9.30-1pm at the Unitarian Meeting Hall. The idea is people bring unwanted bits (books, clothes, shoes, tools etc) and swap for wanted ones! We will also try to fix broken tools, machinery, furniture etc
The event is free for people bringing items to swap but donations for Greener Fram are welcome. 


TOWN SURVEY – NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
As many of you will know Framlingham is in the process of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan to influence development over the next 15 years and beyond. 
A resident survey has been produced which is generating a very good response rate. However, over 60% of respondents so far are retired, which is not representative of the community as a whole. 
The Neighbourhood Plan is an important opportunity for you to influence future development to the benefit of you and your children, so if you have not completed a household questionnaire, we would urge you to do so. Responses are sought from those living in nearby villages as well as in Framlingham itself. 
Hard copies are available at the school office and also from the town council office (next to the post office). 
Please return any completed surveys by the end of this term (ideally directly to the Town Council Offices).  Thank you.

Classes EM and PL/DD build combine harvesters

These fantastic machines were made from cardoard, plastic and paint. They are being entered for a Suffolk farming competition.


Friday 21 March 2014

Signs of Spring at Robert Hitcham's

Blossom on the cherry tree outside the school hall.
There were several bees pollinating the flowers.

Buds opening up on trees around the school.





Monday 17 March 2014

The Elves and The Shoemaker

Class KM have had some little visitors...
elves... 



They have been hard at work making shoes for little feet.




As a thank you Class KM decided to make the elves some homes.
Firstly, the children (shoemakers) did a plant survey to find out which plants would be most suitable to build a home with...



Then, they wrote lists of what they would need to build the homes...
 








and then....











Elf Homes fit for Elf Kings!
There are many more examples to see in our class.