Operation Christmas Child 2007

We are taking part in the annual shoe box appeal.

See the Operation Chistmas Child website and find out how to get invloved:
http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/occ/index.asp

To take part is as simple as STEPS 1, 2 & 3!
STEP 1 – Get a shoe box and fill it with gifts!
It is never too early to pack a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child
Find out how to:- fill your box- what to pack

STEP 2 – Get labels and enclose payment!
If you are packing less than 5 shoe boxes, download and print the label and gift aid form by clicking here. OR
If you are packing more than 5 boxes, order the number of leaflets you require by clicking here.
You can make the payment for your box online by clicking here.

STEP 3 – Send your box on it’s way
Drop-Off PointsYou may take your shoe boxes to any one of our Drop Off Points between the 4 th and 20th of November.
After 2nd October you can find your nearest Drop-Off Point by clicking here..

See video
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1078591553/bclid1112812767/bctid1111449584

Harvest Festival

On Thursay morning we held our annual celebration of Harvest at St Michael's church in Framlingham.

We listened to recorder music, took part in some singing and each gave some food or money. The food was taken to a refuge for homeless families in Ipswich called West Villa.
We also took part in some Autumn related activities. This task involved trying to identify and remember 10 autumn items.

Why do you think there is a clock? What is the yellow autumn fruit?

Light and Shade with an Autumn Theme

Still Life Art work by Class DB

In art with Mrs Mawson we have been looking at light and shade . We looked at some pictures by Leonardo Da Vinci showing light and shade. Mrs Mawson bought in some Autumn vegetables which were pumpkins,marrows, carrots, red onions and turnips she then placed them on the middle table. It took us a long time to get the light right and make sure there was a shadow.
We used charcoal and chalk to draw our pictures, the charcoal was used for shadows and dark areas, the chalk was used for light patches and detail.
Class DB had great fun experimenting with light and shade!

by Izzy and Hattie (Class DB)

French Refernce Books

Madame Baker (our French teacher) has recommended a very good book called 'En Ville'. It would make an excellentChristmas present for any child learning French. It would also be very useful for anybody visiting a French town.
The book is published by Franklin Watts
ISBN number: 978-0-7496-67993

New Building Work Starts

The builders arrived on Tuesday morning!
Their first job was to set up their office and workshop.
Their big green boxes arrived on the back of a huge lorry.
It takes a while for actual digging & building to happen. It will be fascinating to watch developments over the next few months.

Whole School Letter No 14

NON-PUPIL DAY – FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER 2007
Just a reminder that this Friday is a non-pupil day. Half term is from Monday 22 – Friday 26 October and we return to school on Monday 29 October.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
This is a project of the organisation Samaritan’s Purse and it delivers shoeboxes filled with gifts for families in Romania and, as in the past few years, the school is prepared to be a collection point. Some pre-wrapped shoe boxes will be available from the office if you require one. Please find enclosed a leaflet which will help you with what items can go in the boxes. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO CUSTOMS REGULATIONS there are items that cannot be included – please read the leaflet. We cannot send the boxes if there is no £2 to cover the Charity’s expenses as they will not be accepted. So please only send in shoeboxes with the accompanying £2. For reasons of security, cheques are preferred (made payable to Samaritan’s Purse) and please note that you may send one cheque to cover any amount of boxes in a group to save making individual cheques. If you are a tax payer look for the box to tick on the envelope and the Charity may then claim tax back on your gift.
Although the leaflet mentions the 4 to 20 November as the campaign dates – our final date will be FRIDAY 9NOVEMBER as the boxes are to be collected shortly afterwards. Extra leaflets are available from the school office.

OMEGA-3 & OMEGA-6 FOOD SUPPLEMENT
You may have seen in the local and national press articles about an observational study with Toft Hill Primary School children in County Durham who took regular supplements of Omega 3 and Omega 6 for two years. During this time the staff noticed those pupils taking the supplements exceeded the expected attainment levels, with the best results yet being recorded in English, Maths and Science SATs in their school. They also observed that the pupils, when in Year 5, had by the end of the year improved their concentration (observed by teachers and measured using Conners’ Teacher Rating Scales). We are not supplying these supplements as a school, and I am not endorsing this product, but I thought parents might like to find out more and if interested contact the company direct. Information can be found on www.equazen.com or Tel: 0870 2415621. The supplements come in many different forms, for example, £8.99 x 60 chews (taken daily). The newspaper articles are available from the school office should a parents wish to read them.

HALLOWEEN AND GUY FAWKES NIGHT
Suffolk Police have asked us to remind young people to take care with basic safety procedures over the next few weeks:
If children wish to engage in “trick or treat” please can parents suggest they call only on their family or known friends and members of the community because elderly, or people living alone, can feel vulnerable to unwanted callers in the evening.
The DTI runs an annual safety campaign to promote the safe use of fireworks in the run up to Bonfire Night. Information can be found on their website: www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks

Primary Schools Football Tournament

The annual High Suffolk Primary SchoolsTournament was held at Fressingfield on Friday afternoon. The 14 teams were divided into 4 groups.

We were put in a section with Debenham, Mellis and Wickham Market.
Hitchams got off to a great start with 3 quick goals against Debenham by Danny (2) and Oliver.
We then dominated against Mellis but could not find a goal so settled for a 0-0 draw.
In our third group match we played some excellent football agains Wickham. Oliver scored to give us another win.

As group winners we qualifieD for a semi final v St Botolphs. Danny scored twice in the first few minutes to settle our nerves. St Botolphs puled one back but William scored a third for Hitchams so that we won through to the final.

The final was against Eye who had beaten Stonham in the other semi final.
This proved to be the most exciting and high quality game of the tournament. Danny was thwarted several times by the Eye keeper and Marcus pulled off a brilliant save to deny Eye's talented centre forward. The game went into extra time but despite lots of chances neither team could score. Rather than the dreaded penalty shoot out we decided to share the trophy.

Captains from Eye Primary and Robert Hitchams.






Robert Hitchams were joint champions - well done boys. You were a credit to the school.

General Catering Assistant Vacancy

URGENTLY REQUIRED

A General Catering Assistant is needed for this popular primary school kitchen
providing a friendly and efficient service throughout the day to children, staff
and visitors – duties will include washing up and general cleaning.

Previous experience preferable but not essential as training will be given.

Hours of work variable – approx 11.30am-1.30pm (term time only).

Over 18 Rate of Pay £5.80 per hour + £0.75p per hour holiday supplement.

Whole School Letter No 13

NEW BUILDING WORKS
Work is to commence on our building extension for the school and the builders will be on site making preparations as from MONDAY 15 OCTOBER. This extension will provide two new classrooms and internal adaptions will provide: an additional multi purpose room incorporating a computer suite/music room/library, a new staffroom, a new medical room and replacement windows in certain classrooms and the hall.

The extension is to be built next to classes NH and CA and coming out into the current car park area. The wide path/roadway into the front playground will remain as an access.

An alternative route into school will be created from the top of the path coming in from New Road, across the drive and through the gate at the corner of the back playground, and coming along the playground and using the path leading from this playground, past the kitchen and into the area by the hall. A zebra crossing will be marked across the drive. Please take care walking over the back playground as this will become the staff overflow car park and so cars will be driving in and out at the beginning and end of the day.

We feel very fortunate to be able to have this new building work, agreed by the DfES and the Diocesan Board of Finance, and my thanks must go the governors and staff who have worked so hard to make it all happen.

We realise there will be months of disruption (it most probably will not be finished before May 2008) but I am sure you will all agree that the improvements will be most welcome. We are a school well used to disruption through new building work as it seems to happen on a very regular basis – and I am sure everyone will show the extra patience and care needed as has happened in the past.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Whole School Letter No 12

PARENT SURVEY

At the end of the Summer Term we surveyed the parents of pupils in Reception, Years 2, 4 and 6. Thank you to the many parents who responded – 68 families returned our forms.

The surveys were encouragingly positive in their comments on our school and its practices. 99% said their children liked coming to school; 98% said the school is led and managed well; 96%-97% believe that teaching is good; that children are expected to work hard and do their best and that arrangements for settling into the school when pupils are new are good. 94%-95% feel that our pupils behave well and that staff are encouraging them to become independent and mature; and treat them fairly.

16% felt that we should focus on improving our: communications with parents about their child’s work, especially about their current topic. In order to improve in this area we will introduce a termly letter to parents about what the topics of learning will be for that term. This information will then not be repeated in their annual school report.

14% stated they did not feel comfortable approaching the school with questions or problems and we were rather puzzled by this as we endeavour to have an ‘open door’ policy and welcome parents to book appointments, email or write to us about their concerns. We will seek some professional development in the way of training in this area, but if anyone wishes to speak to me with comments on how we could improve, I am open to your suggestions!

One question asked whether your child had been bullied or harassed and 16% felt that they had at sometime. It was rather a poorly worded question as we have never claimed that there is no harassment or bullying in the school, a better question would have been ‘Are you happy with the way school deals with harassment and bullying?’ This is the question we will use next time.

Bullying is an action repeatedly taken by one or more children with the deliberate intention of hurting another child, either physically or emotionally.

We have an Anti-Bullying policy and enforce it robustly whenever such behaviour comes to our attention, however, some children and parents mistake an isolated incident of mean or bad behaviour as bullying. These incidents will happen, sadly, but children have been well trained in how to respond and with our help they learn to cope with these upsets and even learn to manage their relationships almost independently by the time they are ready for Secondary school. As usual we will focus on this issue during Anti-Bullying week in each class.

The survey has been extremely useful and I appreciate the time and effort you have spent in filling the forms in. It is very useful to know how we can take the school forward.

Key Stage 1 School Orchestra

Mrs Fell, who runs our weekly Wednesday lunchtime orchestra, has spoken to me to say that any Key Stage 1 children (Year 1 & Year 2) who are having lessons to learn to play an instrument and who have some proficiency and confidence would be welcome to join the orchestra. However she is not able to take children who wish to join who want to play percussion.

Whole School Letter No 11

SAFETY
Our school is a very ‘open’ site and I would like to remind parents the measures we have in place to improve the safety of the children during the time they are at lessons.
All fire exit doors from the school will be closed and therefore locked to anyone trying to get inside after 9.00am and before 3.00pm each day. Everyone will be able to get out, of course, in the event of fire.
The two gates leading from the front playground, one to the steps to the front of the school and the other to the car park, MUST BOTH BE CLOSED from 9.00am to 3.00pm each day. Could we ask parents to be vigilant and ensure the gates are closed behind them as they leave after dropping children off in the mornings, or Nursery parents when they collect their children at 11.30am.
The front door and the door next to the hall will be the only doors with access to the school during lesson time. We would ask anyone who wishes to enter or leave the school to do so via these doors. This will include parents helpers, visitors etc.

HARVEST FESTIVAL
Our service will take place on Thursday 18 October in St Michael’s church. This year it has been decided to use the same format as last year for our Harvest Service. The service will include our usual harvest singing and prayers but incorporated into the service will be a series of children’s Harvest Activities. These will involve all the children moving around the church in groups. Therefore, unfortunately, we will not have space for parents to take part this year. Each child may bring in 1 or 2 small items to present for our Harvest collection. Any food donations will be passed on to the West Villa Homeless Families Unit in Ipswich and any money raised will go to the Soup Kitchen in Ipswich.

FUND RAISING – Children in Need – Friday 16 November
As you are aware the school has many fund raising events for charities over the year and this year some Year 5 children are very keen to support Children in Need. Therefore, it has been agreed that money can be raised by Key Stage 2 children (Y3 – Y6) bringing in a set of dressing up clothes with them to change into to take part in a ‘fun run’ around the front playground during school time for a donation. For Foundation and Key Stage 1 children if they bring in a donation they may bring in a teddy (possibly dressed like Pudsey) for the day.

YU-GI-OH CARDS
Unfortunately there seems to be rising incidents of missing and lost Yu-Gi-Oh cards so I feel I must now ban them from school totally. The ban will take effect immediately.

‘RETURNING TO TEACHING’ COURSE – SPRING 2008
Are you a secondary school teacher thinking about returning to teaching after a career break?
Would you benefit from a specialist course to help prepare and support your return to the classroom?
You can receive a bursary of up to £1500, plus help with childcare costs, while you attend a ‘Returning to Teaching’ course in the Spring Term 2008.
The course, based at Kerrison in North Suffolk and is run jointly by Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils. The course runs for one day a week over 10 weeks. Together with 10 days of school experience, the course will give you the chance to increase your confidence and update your knowledge and skills to prepare for your return to the classroom.
If you are a secondary trained teacher with Qualified Teacher Status and are planning to return to work, then contact the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Service (TRRS) for more information and an application form.
TRRS, Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX. Tel: 01473 264582.
Email: teachsuffolk@educ.suffolkcc.gov.uk

ROAD SAFETY AWARENESS
As you will have read in our recent Travel Plan update one of our key objectives is to ‘Make children aware of and give them the skills required for Road Safety’. With the help of the SCC Roadsafe team we are starting practical Road Safety training.
Class LC will be our trial class going on The Discovery Trail on Tuesday 16 October, this aims to familiarise the children with the area around school making special reference to the road environment. The Road Safety Officer will draw the children’s attention to safety features and safe approaches to the use of roads and pavements.
They will learn: What are dangerous places and why these are dangerous; Who are the people who help to keep them safe; The skills needed to keep themselves safe; The rules that help to keep them safe; Using their senses to help keep safe; The meaning of the words STOP, LOOK, LISTEN; What is traffic; What are vehicles; The vocabulary of the road - kerb, pavement, road etc.

Healthy Schools Award

Sir Robert Hitcham's has just been awarded a 'Healthy Schools Certificate'





click below for detailed report




http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddjhdtqr_2g9w3hv

School Dinners

If you would like to see the school dinner menu for the next few months then click on the link below. It will obviously help you and your children to decide whether or not they would like a school dinner by seeing the menu in advance.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddjhdtqr_1dt32fp

Year 5 Music Workshop

Images from the music workshop run by staff from Snape Maltings music school.

Some children took part in a percussion activity and the others put together a woodwind and strings band.

The Barn Dance

The Friends Association Barn Dance was a great success on Saturday evening. It was a sell out with 250 people taking part. Everybody had a wonderful time as well as raising lots of money.

Many people came in cowboy costume.

Thank you very much to 'The Crown Jules Band'

Football v Stonham

On Friday 5th October we played our first league game v Stonham. Unfortunately two of our best players were away from school and we struggled against more experienced opposition. Stonham as well as being a good team were also much larger than our boys. That's all the excuses out of the way.

The game of 20 minutes each way was well contested by two enthusiastic teams.

Robert Hitchams defended really well with Henry Hunt, William Debenham and Jake Lal outstanding in defence. The score at half time was 0-0.

The photograph shows a corner for Robert Hitchams being cleared by the Stonham goalkeeper.

Stonham got a desreved lead about 10 minutes into the second half. Hitchams responded with several good attacks prompted by our captain Liam Gooderham from midfield. Milo Dring got away from the Stonham defence but could not get in a strong enough shot to trouble their keeper. Hitchams began to tire and conceded 2 goals in the last minute. However, our boys never gave up and I am sure that with reinforcements up front we can look forward to the rest of the season with some confidence.

Skipping Workshop

Yesterday we had a visit from a man called John from 'Skipping Workshops'.
He trained a group of 12 chidren from year 6 how to do a whole range of skipping techniques & games. These children then put on a demonstration for the whole school. Mr Brook and Mrs Monk even joined in!

They (the trained children) can now act as skipping tutors on the playground throughout the year.
John then ran an open workshop after school which over 45 children took part in.
We would recommend the workshops to other schools. They are great fun and encourage the children to take part in an excellent form of exercise.

Skipping Workshops can be contacted at:

74C Thorndon Gardens

Epsom

KT19 0QJ

h.galley@btinternet.com

Football match v Stonham Primary

Our first match in a new Primary School League is on this Friday.
We have a home game against Stonham.
Kick off is at 3.30pm on our school field. The league games are all 8 - a -side and are 20 minutes each way.
Spectators are welcome.
Next Friday there is a 6-a-side tournament to be held at Fressingfield. We are entering 2 teams into this event.
Look out for match reports and pictures on the blog.

Cycling Proficiency

On Monday afternoons Mr Byer (you thought he had retired!)

is running a series of cycling safety sessions with the help of some parents.