Monday, 07 July 2003

Dear Parent,

This is the busiest summer term I can remember in 7 years.

School Calendar for the remainder of term

School Meals Survey

Many thanks for the big response to the school's pupil and parent survey. We will send you the details of the survey in September which we hope will get the LEA Catering Department to change practice to address your needs. (The school has no overall control of the catering department , but we conducted this survey at their request after staff and Governors expressed  concerns  about the declining numbers of pupils choosing to have a school dinner.)

Who teaches who in September

• The new mixed Year 5 and Year 6 classes will be taught by Miss Ward, Mrs Jennings and Mrs Flint

• The Year 3 and 4 mixed year classes will be taught by Mrs Flynn (first term by Mrs Barratt while Mrs Flynn is on a term's maternity leave. Mrs Flynn is expecting a child in September and will be back in January 2004), Mrs Williams and Mrs White.

• Year 2 will be taught by Mrs Smith and Miss Newton

• Year 1 will be taught by Mrs Mellor

• Reception will be taught by Miss Ryder and Mrs  Britton

• Nursery will continue to be taught by Mrs Banks.

Staff Leaving

Mr Thornborrow has served the school for 6 years and hopes to move to Holland where many of his family now live.

Mrs Evans has served the school for more than 20 years and retiring from the profession. School hope to give Mrs Evans  a special retirement present . Parents are invited to contribute to the leaving present of a dedicated member of staff who has been a stalwart of the school and taught many generations of pupils.

Mrs Flynn is expecting a child early September and leaves school at the end of term for a term's maternity leave. We wish her and her family all the best.

We will let you know as soon as we receive news of : the  birth, gender, name ,weight etc and maybe a photo or two on the website!

The Long Summer Break

I always get teased by non-teacher friends about our holidays! The worst of which is my milkman in Lichfield who lives in Pinfold Lane, Cheslyn Hay!

My staff see teaching as a profession and not a job with fixed hours. Much work is done by my staff outside school at home during the evenings, weekends and  in their holidays. Although school closes to pupils during the holidays and weekends, there is scarcely a holiday or a weekend when my  staff are not back in school.

I personally would welcome a shorter summer break as it is a long time for pupils to be without schooling.

The Government are looking at changing the national  holiday pattern.

How can you best help your child over the long summer break?

Please encourage your child to read and share in that process. Reading is the key to learning.

Over the summer , the school website will host writing and reading competitions for your child to remain motivated. There will be prizes for winners in each year group .If you don't have internet access, use Cheslyn Hay Library where internet access is free.

That said many thanks for your support over the year.

We wish all school leavers every success and hope they will keep in touch. Many pupils do and we must be the only  primary School in the UK which has had former pupils register the school  with 'Friends Re-united'

Autumn term

Teaching staff are in school on September 1^st.

Pupils start back on September 2^nd 2003

Yours sincerely,

Martin K Tibbetts

Headteacher

Yours sincerely,
Martin K Tibbetts
Headteacher