23 Apr 2007 - Newsletter No. 5

Dear Parents

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter break and enjoyed the fantastic weather we had.

Sri Lanka  

I am sure that you have heard either via the children or through the Harpole Parish Newsletter, that five of us are going to visit our twinned school in Sri Lanka .  We have managed to secure funding from the British Council for this visit.  Miss Wallis, Miss Bowers, Miss Core and Miss Lawrence will be travelling out during the May holiday and I shall be visiting the school week commencing the 11^th June.  The aim of these visits is to set up long term curriculum links between our two schools.  We shall spend the week working alongside the teachers and children in Sri Lanka .  It is also hoped that we will be able to do a reciprocal visit next year with the teachers from Sri Lanka coming over to join our school for a week.

Improving Communications with Parents

In our attempt to further improve communications between the school and yourselves, we will be setting  up a  facility  to e-mail all information we send out to you.  This will include Headteacher’s Newsletters, Class Newsletters etc. 

If you would like to receive information via e-mail then please complete the attached form.

We shall still send out paper copies of letters so do not worry if you do not have an  e-mail facility.

Please also note that you do not need to reply to acknowledge receipt of any information sent out via e-mail.

Remember all Newsletters and other information is also available on our website.

Recent Developments

Judging by the take-up, the Hot School Meals recently introduced seems to be very popular.  We now have approximately 50% of the school having hot school meals at least once per week.

Mr Rednall, our Site Supervisor, has been busy over the Easter Holidays and shelving has now been put up for our Yr 2 and Yr 3 classes to put their lunch boxes on.  Mr Rednall will also be refurbishing the swimming pool changing rooms over the coming weeks in preparation for the resumption of school swimming after the Whitsun holiday.  School swimming will re-commence week beginning the 11^th June – more information to follow.

Wrap Around Care  

You may remember, we sent our questionnaires concerning the demand for before and after school care.  Having found a provider, we were hoping that we would be able to use the Youth Club as a venue for this service.  Unfortunately, however, having met with the Youth Club Committee before Easter, they felt that such a club would impinge too much on the Youth Club activities and, consequently, we will not be able to use the building for this purpose.  This does mean that we will not be able to offer this service from September.  I can assure you though that both the Governors and I are looking at alternative arrangements and I will keep you informed of any further developments. 

and finally…..

I am sure you have already heard that we have a Mallard duck nesting on the school playground.  She is currently sitting on 10 eggs.  The eggs usually take 28 days to hatch.  We have contacted the RSPCB and if they successfully hatch, we shall move mum and her chicks to somewhere more suitable!

Yours sincerely

Terry Mortimer

Headteacher

School Information via E-Mail

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Please return this slip to the School Office via your child by Friday 4^th May