April 2009
Dear Parents
Welcome back to school for the summer term. We hope you all had a good holiday. Many thanks for all the support you gave to your children in encouraging them to take part in the Decorated Egg and Easter Bonnet events. Well done to everyone for some really fantastic entries. Congratulations to the winners!
We have really been enjoying the good weather and have had a good start to what is a very busy term.
Attached to this letter are the key dates for the term please keep it for reference. Additional information will be provided for particular groups/classes nearer the time.
School
will be closed on Monday May 4th for the Mayday Bank Holiday. School will
also be closed for staff training on Monday 1st June.
Beginning of Autumn Term 2009
Please note that the beginning of the Autumn term for the children is Monday 7th September. This will be preceded the previous week by two days of training for staff on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September.
Emergency Contact Details
It is essential
that we have a contact number for emergency purposes. We also need to be
advised of any change of address or medical conditions, please make it a
priority to advise us of any changes. We regularly have difficulties contacting
parents when a child is ill due to numbers on file being out of date. Please
contact the school office personally, or send a note into your child’s teacher.
Attendance
and Punctuality
Well done to all those children who came to school every day on time last term. We were delighted to award 96 100% certificates in our end of term assemblies.
It is very important that every child has a good start to the day and being on time is essential. The bell goes for junior children at 8.50am and for infants at 8.55am. If you are having difficulties getting your child to school on time please come and talk to us about it. Our Home School Support Workers and Learning Mentors may be able to help.
Hilldene Children’s Centre
We are very pleased that the Children’s Centre, which is managed by the Local Authority, is in the process of opening it’s doors to the local community. Everyone is welcome to go in to look around and meet the staff who will be able to provide information on what Children’s Centres can offer for you and your child. The staff would be very grateful if you would complete a short questionnaire to help them identify the services that you would like.
School Uniform and ‘Nearly New’ Shop
Thank you to those parents who support our uniform policy by ensuring that your children look as smart during the summer months as they do at other times of the year. We are trying to make our school the best it can be and encourage the children to take a pride in their appearance and their achievements. Children are welcome to wear shorts but these should not be those designed for sports wear. Parents are also reminded that tracksuit bottoms are not acceptable. When buying shoes for school, especially for girls, please consider that your child will be wearing them to run around in the playground. Strappy sandals and backless shoes can be dangerous and should not be worn. If trainers are worn these should be plain black.
We
have many items of good quality ‘nearly new’ school uniform for sale.
Please ask office staff if you are interested.
P.E. Kit
Please
help us and your child by ensuring they have an appropriate PE kit at
school. P.E. is a very important aspect of the curriculum and all
children are expected to participate. P.E. kit comprises of - navy
shorts, a plain white T-shirt and a pair of plimsolls/ trainers. Children
cannot take part in P.E. if they are wearing earrings. Junior pupils are
expected to remove earrings themselves. For Infant pupils, please help us
by removing earrings on P.E. days before the children come to school.
Sports
Day
Please
note that we will be holding our Sports Day on Tuesday 19th May at
9.30am for Infant children and at 1.30pm for juniors. This date is
earlier than in previous years.
Year
5 Visit to Stubbers Outdoor Pursuits Centre
68
children from Year 5 will be visiting Stubbers Outdoor Pursuits Centre in
Upminster for three days from Wednesday 29th April to Friday 1st
May. We wish them a very happy ‘action packed’ time!!
Year
6 SATS Week
The
children and staff have been working very hard to prepare for these tests.
We know that many of you have been working very hard at home too!! I’m
sure you are all aware that the tests start on Monday 11th May
for the whole week. It is essential that all Year 6
pupils are in school for the tests that take place each day. Our school
will be penalised for pupils who are absent. These statutory tests are
marked externally by independent markers. The results should be
available by the end of June, hopefully in time for inclusion in the end of
year reports.
Assessments
for Pupils in Years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Children
in Years 1-5 will be completing assessments and tests during the week beginning
8th June. The results of these will be used to inform you of
your child’s progress in the end of year report.
Breakfast
Club
Our
breakfast club is open every day from 8.00am until the beginning of the school
day at a cost of £1.20 per child. No advance booking is required.
Please go to the canteen at 8.00am where staff will be pleased to see you.
Year
6 pupils are invited to attend breakfast club free of charge during SATS week!!
The Big Sleepover for Year 4
Year 4 children are invited to a sleepover at school on Friday 12th June. This is the fourth year that we have taken part in this national event. The children have a great time and also raise funds for ‘Childline’.
Year
Group Assemblies
It
is always good to see so many parents and friends at our year group assemblies
each term. The dates for this term’s assemblies are included in the list
of dates attached. We look forward to seeing you.
Reading
Book Amnesty
We
are concerned that a high proportion of reading books are unfortunately not
being returned. Please encourage your child to search around the house to
try to find any that you may have forgotten to return, it doesn’t matter if
you’ve had them for a long time. No child will be reprimanded as we are
having an Amnesty!!
Meetings for Reception and Year 2 Parents
In order to help the Reception and Year 2 children make a good transition to both Year 1 and Year 3, we are inviting parents to come to a meeting to discuss the changes the children will experience when they move to their new year group. If you are the parent of a child in either a reception class, (RH, RP, RN) or Year 2 class, (2G, 2W, 2M) please make a note of the date for your meeting. More information will follow nearer the time.
Meeting for Reception parents in preparation for Year 1, Friday 10th July at 2.30pm in Infant Hall
Meeting for Year 2 parents in preparation for Year 3, Monday 13th July at 2.30pm in Junior Hall
Cycling to School
We
have a limited number of spaces available to leave bikes in our cycle racks for
those children whose parents would like them to cycle to school. If
you would like your child to begin to cycle to school please ask at the office
for a Cycling Agreement Form. When this is completed your child will be
issued with a Cycle Parking Permit.
Car
Parking
Please
note that parents are requested not to use the staff car park unless
collecting a sick child from school. If you drive into school before or
after the school day for Breakfast or Wonder Years our After School Club, please
drive VERY slowly, as there are often pedestrians crossing the car
park at these times. We will soon be installing barriers to further
improve levels of safety.
School
Dinners and Packed Lunches
Dinner
tickets can be purchased from 8.30am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from the
canteen. The cost is £1.80 without a drink, or £2.10 with a drink
included. Please make sure that you write your child’s name on the dinner
tickets you buy so that they can be returned if they are lost. If your
child has a packed lunch please do not include fizzy drinks and items
of sweets. Thank you.
Parent
Helpers
Mrs
Consterdine is always pleased to hear from parents who have spare time to help
in school. If you are interested please give your name to our office staff.
Thank you
Hilldene
Pupils broadcasting on Link FM
Many
of our Year 6 pupils and members of the Newspaper Club will be broadcasting the
weather forecast at 1.00pm on Link FM. Tune into (92.2FM) every day until
the end of term to hear them.
Annual
Reports
Annual Reports will be sent home on Wednesday 8th July. The report will provide you with information about your child’s strengths and outline targets for future learning in relation to nationally expected standards. The name of your child’s’ new teacher will also be included.
Parents who wish to discuss their child’s report should attend our ‘Report Surgery’ which will be held on Monday 13th July from 3.30pm. This will give you the opportunity, if you so wish, to talk privately to your child’s teacher.
Open Evening
We look forward to seeing everyone during Open Evening. This will be held on Thursday 9th July between 3.30pm and 6.00 pm. This is a lovely occasion when you will have the opportunity to look at your child’s work and also look around the whole school. During the afternoon, at 2.30pm, members of the Governing Body will be holding an informal meeting with the school council. The meeting provides the children with the opportunity to talk about their experience of school and explain some of the things that the council have been involved with. Parents are most welcome to join us for this occasion. If you are ever concerned about your child’s progress or well being please speak to your child’s teacher or a senior member of staff immediately, you do not need to wait until an official parents evening.
Friends
of
The FHS Committee are working hard to plan the Summer Fayre which will be held on Saturday 4th July. We need a lot of help to make sure that the event is successful. If you have any time to spare and can help in any way please contact the school.
Many thanks for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you at many events during the Summer Term.
Best wishes
Jane Davenport
Headteacher