Dear Parents, pupils, staff and governors,

Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a good Christmas break.

Pantomime

The children thoroughly enjoyed yesterday’s pantomime performance of Beauty and the Beast performed by the West Midland’s Theatre Company. Thank you to the PTA for funding this treat which was lovely to come back to after the Christmas break.  I think the photo sums up their enjoyment!

Uniform

Please make sure children have appropriate footwear, a warm coat and wellies in school so that they can make full use of the school grounds at all times at this time of year.

PE Kit

Children should have a navy blue t-shirt, navy blue shorts, plimsolls (trainers for the older pupils) and a track suit.

Parking

Please be considerate when parking on the hill. Think carefully about the space you are leaving between neighbouring cars, use Randall Parker’s car park (especially at pick up time), at drop off in the morning turn left out of school and go up the hill and around the village if possible to avoid congestion at this busy time.

Independence

Please encourage children to come in to school by themselves, including passing messages where appropriate. If you need to speak to a member of staff please check they are available at the school office first (it’s usually fine to pass on a quick concern to Mrs Preece or Miss Burton). Adults coming into school should be signing in at the school office so that we know who is in school in case of fire and for safeguarding purposes.

STEM Week

During the week of 14^th March we will be having a week of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities. If you have a particular interest or expertise in this area and would like to get involved then please let me know.

Civic Award

Since starting at Appleshaw I have been itching to introduce an award scheme which I introduced at my previous school to great success but the timing hasn’t been right. However I now feel that we have the time, energy and resources to enable us to run the Civic Award for pupils in Years 2, 4 and 6. There will be a short meeting at 3pm on Monday 18^th January for parents to find out what’s involved (the information will be sent home and available online for those who are unable to attend).

Dates for the remainder of the year so far..

(This list will be added to as other dates (e.g. sports day, transition sessions, summer term parents’ evenings etc. are planned in)

•  18^th January: Civic Award meeting for parents of pupils in Years 2, 4 & 6 at 3pm
• 12^th February: PTA Disco
• w/b 15^th February : Half Term
• Saturday 12^th March: School Grounds Spring Tidy-up
• w/b 14^th March: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Week
• 18^th March: Interim Reports home to parents
• 21^st/22^nd March: Parents Evenings
• Thursday 24^th March: Last day of Spring Term
• Monday 11^th April: First Day of summer term
• Friday 15^th April: Swimming for Saturn Class starts
• Throughout May: Statutory Testing for pupils in Year 2 takes place
• w/b 9^th May: Year 6 Statutory Tests week
• Monday 2^nd May: Bank Holiday (school closed for the day)
• Sunday 15^th May: PTA 10K Fun Run
• Tuesday 17^th May: Class Photos
• Friday 27^th May: Day Closure for staff training
• w/b 30^th May: Half Term Holiday
• Monday 6^th June: Day Closure for staff training
• w/b 13^th June: Phonics Screening for pupils in Year 1
• 20^th – 24^th June: Jupiter Class to Osmington Bay
• Friday 15^th July: PTA Disco
• Wednesday 20^th July: Last day of term
• Monday 5^th September: Day Closure for staff training
• Tuesday 6^th September: Pupils in Years 1-6 start back at school