CYPRESSINFANT SCHOOL
AUTUMN 1 2008 - NEWSLETTER
Hello everyone – it’s the end of a great first half term.
Children have settled really well into their new classes; and once again parental support is excellent.
We had great attendance at the parents evening/sessions in September – 85% for Nursery & Reception, 65% for Year 1 and 63% for Year 2.
Let me just bring you up to date on some news.
Cypress Children Centre
This time next year we will have our children centre open! Hooray! We are busy trying to finalise plans for the new build.
It will be attached to our existing nursery.
We are currently struggling with curtailing our grand designs into an affordable project.
If anyone has any ideas for substantial sources of funding please let me know!
Family Support Team
Our newly formed support team are working hard to establish themselves. Mrs Lynn and Mrs Maxwell are out on the playground every morning to greet you to another great day.
Don’t forget Mrs Lynn is also available after school until 4.45pm Monday to Thursday.
Parents, Teachers & Friends Association (PTFA)
Due to fantastic fundraising and support we have been given £2,000 for new playground equipment, £1,000 towards school trips and £1,500 towards special events and themes.
Thank you lovely PTFA.
How have we spent it? - well
Playground Equipment – New seating, picnic benches, tables with built in sand/toy pits and tables with games on the top are appearing in both nursery and the two playgrounds.
Trips – We will use it to reduce the actual cost of trips – for example the Year 1 science museum trip actually costs just over £12, but we are asking for £9.50. All possible because of this great donation from you!
Theme Weeks & Special Events – We have booked the following events with the £1,500:
Science Week – The Science museum will be bringing their wonderful bubble show to school - £350
Healthy Week–Two days of circus skills workshops have been booked - £440
Environment Week – A theatre company will perform “Dinosaurs and all that Rubbish” - £360,
and we will be having minibeasts workshops costing £350.
So, please support the PTFA either by helping out, or if you can’t do this please can you carry on supporting the events!
End of Year 2 Achievements
Once again our results last year were something to be celebrated.
We have again gone above national overall achievements in reading, writing and maths. Go Cypress! Thank you to all the hard work by children, parents and staff.
Beautiful School Grounds
We are truly blessed by our school grounds. However they take a lot of maintenance. Can you help?
Please come to grounds day on Sunday 9th November.
All welcome and a delicious lunch is provided.
Safe Parking
Thank you to Mr Stewart and Mr Cheyne who monitor our yellow zig zag lines for safe parking every day.
Thank you all those who park with consideration.
A special thanks to all of you who, where possible, leave the car at home.
Can you help in School?
We are running a training/discussion session for people interested in helping out with reading and/or general jobs. This will be held on Monday 17th November at 2pm in the hut on the top playground
Lost Property
There is a large amount of lost property in the medical room – including water bottles, coats, book bags and odd shoes!
Please check the lost property if your child has lost anything.
All property not claimed by the Monday 10th November will be taken along to a local charity shop.
School Lunches
The cost of school dinners for the next half term is £66.50.
Please remember to pay for your child’s lunches in advancevia the Parentpay system.
Clubs
We have recently met with a sports consultant to see about extending the number of out of school facilities.
Unfortunately unless I can find a football coach who specialises with 5 to 7 year olds, I will not be offering football next half term.
It is really important that our children focus on skills development and fitness. Finding coaches who can bring out the skills in little children is difficult.
We would also like to offer art classes; but have struggled to find an affordable, talented expert!
We did not run circus or magic skills this half term as there was not sufficient uptake.
Dance, Karate and Science will continue to run after half term.
We will also be trialling gymnastics.
We will run football again as soon as we have a suitable coach.
We are considering Taekwondo, Cricket, Drama and Basketball.
Please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire attached and return it to the school office.
One World Week
On our return to school after the half term break, we will be engaged in our “One World Week”.
Classes will be focussing on contributions to civilisation made by people from all over the world.
On Wednesday 12th November at 2pm we will have our “One World” performance.
We will ask children to come dressed in costumes that reflect their family heritage for that day.
Your teachers may be asking for contributions in class, please keep an eye open for requests.
We would also welcome anyone who could come in to share stories, cooking, songs, artefacts or anything from your culture. Can you help?
Dates for your Diary
November
5th - Year 1 to ScienceMuseum.
12th
One World Performance at 2pm*
15th - Open day for new parents – Reception and Nursery 2009.
17th – Helping in School Training Session – 2pm in hut.
25th & 27th - Parents evening*
December
3rd - Reception Christmas Performance*
5th - Closing date for Nursery and Reception in 2009 entries.
9th - Year 1 Christmas Performance*
10th - Year 2 Christmas Performance*
11th - Nursery singing*
12th - PTFA Christmas Fayre*
15th – Whole school Sharing Work Week*
18th -End of Term Disco for Year 1 & 2*
January:
6th - Children return to school and Arts Week*
20th - Individual photographs*
23rd - Year 1 to HornimansMuseum*
30th - Reception to HormnimansMuseum*
February:
9th - Year 1 & 2 Sharing Work week*
13th - End of term and bubble show to launch Science Week after half term.*
23rd - Science Week
March:
10th, 11th & 17th
Croydon Clocktower visits for Year 2*
24th - Reception Spring Performance*
25th - Year 1 & 2 Spring performance*
26th - Nursery Singing*
Week beginning 30th -
Whole school sharing work*
31st
Parents Evening*
April:
1st - Spring Disco for Year 1 & 2*
2nd - Parents Evening*
3rd - School breaks up
21st - Children return to school & Healthy Week*
May:
4th - School closed for public holiday
15th May -Year 2 to Hornimans museum*
18th -Year 1 & 2 Sharing Work*
22nd - School breaks for half term
June
2nd - Children return to school and Environment Week*
15th - Year 1 & 2 sports morning*
16th -Nursery & Reception sports afternoon*
26th - Reception trip to British Wildlife Centre (TBC)*
July
1st - New to school in 2009 – Reception & Nursery
3rd – End of year reports out.
6th – WholeSchool sharing work*
8th – Year 2 leavers assembly at 2pm
11th – PTFA Summer Fayre*
16th – Nursery singing.
* - Letter to follow
After School Clubs
Please take a few minutes to complete the questions below – your feedback will be used to help us plan for future clubs provision
1. We advertise our clubs for the coming half term through a booking form sent out at the end of the previous half term. How does this work for you?
2. Which clubs do you feel have been successful and why?
3. Which clubs do you feel have NOT been successful and why?
4. What clubs would you support?
5. To maximise the use of the hall and develop a varied menu of activities – we are considering doubling up clubs – e.g. there may be a club that won’t start until 4.30pm and run until 5.30pm. How would you feel about this?
6. We aim to cover costs and expenses. Most clubs are £3 for one hour – What do you think of this cost?
Do you have any other comments.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire – please now return this to the school office.
