Red cabbages and Story Tellers

As we returned to school this September we began to harvest the vegetables in our edible garden. We had a bumper crop of red cabbages, red and white onions, shallots, potatoes and beans. Y6 researched the prices of these at various local supermarkets and designed flyers to send out to parents. They then sold the vegetables at a stall in the playground and we were amazed to raise £230! We will be using the money to buy new plants for our garden including some mature fruit trees. Various groups of children have tended the garden during the school day and after school. Special thanks goes to Mr Smith who has put many hours into the garden. Mr Smith and myself have started a Gardening Club after school on Fridays. Over the year children from every class will be invited to take part.

Last week we welcomed Rogan Mills to school for our Book Week event. Rogan worked with Y4 and Y6 and their teachers and then with a group of infant children and their parents or grandparents. In the evening 51 parents and children and staff returned to school and enjoyed a storytelling session with Rogan which goes to prove you are never too old to enjoy a good story!

Holidays in term time

All holiday requests must be made on the Holiday Authorisation Request Form to the Headteacher prior to the holiday being taken. You can also obtain it from the school office. Any holiday that has not been authorised by the Headteacher will be classed as an unauthorised absence.

Requests will only be granted for the following reasons:-

• For service personnel and other employees who are prevented from taking holidays outside term time. Proof would need to be provided.
• When a family needs to spend time together to support each other during or after a crisis.

Safeguarding Statement

Unsworth Primary School is committed to the protection and safety of its pupils. Due to their day to day contact with individual children during school terms, teachers and other school staff are particularly well placed to observe outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour or failure to develop.

If any parent or carer has any concern regarding the protection and safety of a child please contact Mrs. Reynolds who is the designated teacher for Child Protection.

Class Assemblies

Class assemblies will take place on the following dates:

• Thu 8th Oct at 9.10am Y5
• Thu 12th Nov at 9.10am Y2

Refreshments will be served after each assembly

Message from the parent support Advisor - Mrs Channon

My name is Sarah Channon and I have worked as a teaching assistant within our speech and language resourced provision for 14 years, I have also managed the before and after school club.

After completing my degree in Early Years Education I furthered my experience working on a part time secondment with the childcare and extended services department. It was whilst on secondment that I developed a passion for extended services and in particular what this could do for Unsworth Primary School and our community.

The provision of Extended Services is a government initiative aimed at ensuring that all schools provide access to the core offer by 2010. The core offer of extended services is made up of 5 elements:

• Childcare
• A varied menu of activities including study support, sport and music clubs
• Swift and easy access to targeted specialist services
• Parenting support
• Community access to facilities including adult health, sports facilities and ICT.
  

As from September 2009 I will have a new role within school, I am the Extended Services co-ordinator and Parent Support Advisor.

We have an extended services notice board in the yard outside year 1. Please look at it to see what activities are available in our area.

If you would like any other information about my role please contact me through the school phone number, or call into school.

Over the next few weeks I will be arranging a drop in coffee morning/afternoon, there will also be questionnaires sent home to enable you to give your ideas and thoughts about how we can work together.

PTA AGM

The PTA AGM was held on 23rd September. The following were elected to committee posts:

• Chair – Mrs H Berrisford
• Vice chair – Mrs L Skinner
• Treasurer – Mrs R Mee
• Secretary – Mrs M Partington

Through the various events last year the PTA raised £6640.98. The most profitable events were the Christmas cards, the calendars (due to sponsorship), the Easter Egg Bingo and the Party in the Playground. We also received two large amounts from Barclays due to the work of Mrs Pearce- Langton with the PTA.

The PTA outgoings were £9797.30. £5229 went towards new gym equipment in the hall and other outgoings included coaches for trips and contributions towards theatre groups. The current PTA balance stands at £1967.16.

Open days

This year we have decided to alter the way in which we hold our Open Days as in the last few years fewer parents have been attending once they have been to one or two. This year each class will hold their own Open Day which will relate to some aspect of learning. You will receive some information about your child’s Open Day in advance and will be welcome to attend either or both of the morning and afternoon sessions. We ask parents not to stay over lunchtime as we cannot supervise the children properly if we have lots of visitors in school. The dates are:

• YR Friday 9th October
• Y1 Tuesday 10th November
• Y2 Thursday 26th November
• Y3 Wednesday 4th November
• Y4 Wednesday 4th November
• Y5 Wednesday 14th October
• Y6 Thursday 22nd October

Reminders

In the interests of pupil safety we would remind you that the pedestrian gates at the front and back of the school will be locked between 9.10am and 3.15pm.

At the beginning and end of the school day parents should not park in Blackley Close or the school car park. Reversing out of parking spaces on Blackley Close poses a threat to a child’s safety.

We would ask that parents do not send advertising flyers into school for distribution or distribute them on our playground or at our gates. The school cannot endorse products or events in this way.

Please ensure that your child does not wear jewellery or inappropriate footwear for school. Both of these stop them from playing safely in the playground.