7 Sep 2009 - Newsletter September 2009

Sunnymede Infant School Newletter

September 2009

Welcome!

Welcome back to school to everyone. We hope you had an enjoyable summer break. Our new children and families will be getting to know new routines and faces over the next few weeks. Please extend a warm Sunnymede smile to them and help them to get used to how everything works!

School Entrance

After some lobbying during the summer term, we are very pleased that the paved area directly in front of the school gates has been re-laid. Hopefully the new bollards will ensure that the area stays in good condition by preventing any parking on the pavement.

Please can I remind all parents/carers of the importance of keeping children, particularly pre-schoolers, close by at all times. The main gates are close to the road and are tempting for any little people who may like to ‘run’ whilst parents/carers are chatting.

Parking restrictions do operate outside the school during start and finish points of the day and these are enforced by traffic wardens. Please make sure that you park responsibly and remember that parents and young children need to have clear visibility along the road to stay safe. Parking a little further away and walking to the school is not only healthy but reduces congestion and keeps everyone safer.

Healthy Lunchbox Guidelines

We hope that you will support the focus on healthy eating by providing a balanced lunchbox meal. We do have a few dos and don’ts regarding packed lunches…….. Please do not include:

chocolate bars/chocolate covered biscuits or sweets.
nuts/nutty bars or peanut butter as we have children with severe, life threatening allergies.
Frubes and yoghurt tubes as these are extremely difficult for the children to manage and usually result in a yoghurt covered child
Cheese strings, as these encourage children to play with food and we try very hard to promote good manners.

One round of sandwiches, some fruit, yoghurt pot and a drink are usually ample for most children. Salads and pasta/couscous are also good manageable additions. Don’t forget to include spoons and forks! Refillable bottles are best, as we will refill during the day to ensure children have a good water intake.

See www.nutrition.org.uk/lunches for more lunchbox ideas Our midday assistants will gently encourage children to eat something of their lunch but will never force a child.

Dinner Money

SCHOOL MEALS NOW COST £1.80. THIS INCLUDES BREAD BAKED ON THE PREMISES AND A SALAD BAR IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN MEAL. YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT YOUR CHILD HAS A BALANCED, HEALTHY MEAL TO KEEP THEM GOING THROUGH THE DAY!

THE OFFICE SELL SMALL DINNER MONEY ENVELOPES AT £1.00 FOR 50.

Billericay in Bloom

Well done to all who entered the ‘Garden in a Pot’ section of the competition this year. You were very successful with 3 winners!

Joshua Simkins – 1^st

Mason Lee – 2^nd

Katie & Toby Bott – 3^rd

Although the school garden didn’t win any prizes this year it did look lovely. Thank you to all those who donated plants and helped.

Important Reminders…………

Jewellery should not be worn to school. Only 1 pair of small round studs is permitted. In line with Local Authority and National guidelines these MUST be removed for PE. Please find out which days are PE days from the class teacher and ensure earrings are removed before coming to school.

I would like to start the term with a strong reminder about attendance. It is extremely important that children get into good habits of punctuality and attendance at an early age as this sets the pattern as they grow older. Although much of our absence is due to inevitable illness which many children experience when they start school, we ask parents to help us improve overall attendance by avoiding keeping children off school for very minor ailments, birthdays, new shoes etc.

I would also like to remind everyone that no holiday requests will be authorised in the first half of the term and that children must have at least 90% attendance over the past year for any holidays to be authorised.

Last year we had 13 children with 100% attendance, which was a good increase on the previous year. Each term children with 100% attendance celebrate with Mrs Eades in the staff room with an afternoon tea party. If children arrive late after the register closes we are required to classify this as an absence for the session so please ensure that children are in school promptly. The school day starts at 8.55am

Whenever you consider keeping your child off school please remember:

·        1 day off per school year = 99.5% attendance

·        10 days off per school year = 94.7% attendance

·        20 days off per school year = 90% attendance

·        90% attendance = 4 whole weeks off school

·        90% attendance for your child through Primary and Secondary Schools means THEY WILL HAVE MISSED A WHOLE YEAR OFF SCHOOL IN THEIR EDUCATION!

Please think carefully!! Whilst we appreciate that holidays during term time are less expensive, there may be a hidden cost to your child’s education. Parents can request up to 10 days holiday per school year but this is not a right. Holiday requests are dealt with on an individual basis and may not be authorised if the school feels your child’s education may suffer as a result of time off. Persistent high levels of absence can lead to legal proceedings and fines for parents.

Sunnymede Talent Spotters

We know that many of our children are extremely talented and take part in a wide range of out of school activities. If your child has achieved special awards/levels or taken part in competitions, do let us know as we would like to celebrate their success in school too! Please send a short note to the school office and achievements will be noted in future newsletters.

Memorial for Liza Barnicoat

The handmade chair and story circle in memorial of Liza Barnicoat, a teacher at our school who sadly passed away in 2006, is in place in the Reception outdoor area. Miss Barnicoat was a much-loved member of staff by parents and children alike. If you donated to her memorial fund and would like to see the story circle please see the school office.

Improving communication with parents……if you access your email daily then Parentmail is for you! All school letters can be emailed directly to you so you never need lose a letter again! Go to www.parentmail.co.uk and enter your details to register.

Please do not send children into school with large rucksacks as they cannot fit safely onto the pegs and create a trip hazard on the floors. Children only really need their book bags, which can fit in a drawer and may bring a carrier bag for lunch/snack boxes if necessary. Thank you.