September 2009 Newsletter

Welcome Back

Welcome to the first newsletter of the school year.

We have had a very busy start to the term and the children have settled really well into their new classes.

As well as our new children we have also welcomed four members of staff to their new posts. Mr French has been appointed as our Y5 teacher and Mrs Davey, Mrs Hayes and Miss Costin have been appointed as teaching assistants in YR, Y1 and Y3. We hope they will all enjoy being part of our school community. Mr. Rhodes has also been appointed to the new role of Assistant Headteacher. He will be assisting myself and Mrs Moseley in the leadership of the school during Mrs Moseley’s two-year post as Early Years Language Consultant.

During the summer we have had our first harvest of produce from our edible garden—look out for our vegetable stall next week!

Next week we will be holding our Welcome Assembly. This will be held in the hall at 9.10am on Wednesday 16th September. This is always a lovely assembly during which our Y6 pupils officially welcome children new to the school. All parents of children new to school are very welcome to attend.

Well Done Assembly

Every two weeks we hold our Well Done Assembly. Each class teacher nominates up to four children for their good work, their attitude to learning or their good behaviour. They are given a sticker and a postcard to take home and the whole school is told about their achievement.

A record of nominations is kept on our “Well Done” table in the school hall. We also award the “Teamwork Trophy” to one child at each Well Done Assembly for their contribution to their class and/or the wider school. They are awarded the trophy and a special treat for their class such as an extra playtime.

Reminder:School Car Park

Please remember for safety reasons parents should not use the school car park unless they have written permission from the Headteacher.

If you drive into the car park and down Blackley Close at the beginning or end of the day you are posing a risk to our children.

Whilst we work on road safety with the children they do not always take care on Blackley Close so please avoid parking there . Please keep the corner of Chadderton Drive and Parr Lane clear so that the Crossing Patrol has a clear view down both roads.

This year special permits have been issued for the use of the car park.
Only a few permits have been issued and staff will challenge anyone using the car park without permission.

Class Assemblies

Class assemblies will take place on the following dates:

• Thu 1st Oct at 9.10am Y6
• Thu 8th Oct at 9.10am Y5
• Thu 12th Nov at 9.10am Y2

Refreshments will be served after each assembly

How will school be providing PPA time for teachers this year?

From September 2005 teachers have been entitled to guaranteed time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA time). This works out at 10% of the school day—approximately 2.5 hours a week.

The following arrangements have been put into place both to ensure that we meet the requirements of the remodelling agreement but more importantly to ensure we provide high quality teaching and learning experiences for our pupils.

PPA time will be provided for each class in the following ways:

• YR Mrs Sherlock will teach YR on Wednesday mornings with the help of three teaching assistants.
• Y1 We continue the work with our partner schools in the Music Collaborative. This means that we welcome back our specialist music teacher, Miss Geelan. She will teach at Unsworth each Tuesday and will teach Y1. Miss Geelan also teaches other classes during the day she is with us but that is not part of the PPA provision for those classes.
• Y2 will be taught by Miss Thomas and Mr French (our upper junior teachers) each half term while Mr Rhodes has PPA.
• Y3 and Y4 Madame Beattie (Le Club Francais) will teach French to Y3 and Y4. The lessons will take place on Friday afternoons. Mr Adams who is our specialist Design and Technology teacher will teach Y3 and Y4 DT on Friday afternoons.
• Y5 and Y6 will be taught French by Madame Beattie and DT by Mr Adams on Friday mornings.

PTA AGM

The PTA AGM will be held Wednesday 23rd September at 7.30pm in the school hall. All parents and carers and school staff are encouraged to attend this first meeting.
This term we have arranged a number of events and fundraisers including the 100 Club, discos for the infants and the juniors, Christmas cards and calendar and photographs and DVDs of the Christmas productions.

Following last years events we have equipped our school hall with up-to-date large PE equipment. We have also ordered a range of separate smaller pieces of gym apparatus which will improve indoor PE lessons for all our children.
If you would like to be involved we would love to hear from you and look forward to seeing you at the AGM.

Reception 2010

Is your child due to start school in September 2010? If so you need to put their name down on our list NOW!

Children born between 1st September 2005 and 31st August 2006 will start school in September 2010.

Priority places go to siblings of children already in school. The deadline for applications to the Local Authority is 11/12/09.

We are having Open Days for Reception Class 2010 on the following days and times:

• 14/10/09 9.30-10.30am
• 22/10/09 9.30-10.30am
• 3/11/09 2.00-3.00pm

Please contact Mrs Lancashire at school to put your child’s name down or to attend one of the Open Days.

Other Notices

Children using the Before and After School Club need a written letter from parents if going home with someone else.

Dinner money this year will be £9.00 per week. Please make sure dinner money is paid each Monday and sent in an envelope. Cheques should be made out to Bury MBC. The kitchens require two weeks notice for children to change from dinners to sandwiches as food is ordered two weeks in advance.

If your child needs medication in school please ensure you have completed the necessary paperwork with Mrs Lancashire. If your child has an injury requiring a plaster cast a risk assessment must be completed before they return to school—please contact Mrs Reynolds.

Please ensure ALL clothing and equipment is marked with your child’s name.