With best wishes Tonnie Simpson Headteacher Name Role Tonnie Simpson Headteacher Catherine Salvadori Assistant Headteacher David Blott Assistant Headteacher/Year 5 Teacher Lesley Alexander Inclusion Manager Vera Chan Senior Admin Officer Christine Lilley Admin Officer Jackie Pagal Assistant Admin Officer Mo Sumah Premises Manager Natasha Smith Family Support Advisor Amy Waterston Nursery Teacher Cristina Agostinho Nursery Nurse Michaela Primus Reception Teacher Sara Curd Nursery Nurse Zeita Holmes Foundation Stage Classroom Assistant Frances Jenyns Year 1 Teacher Mandy Smith Year 1 Senior Teaching Assistant Antonia Williams Learning Support Assistant Clare Skelton Year 2 Teacher Sandra Hammond Year 2 Teaching Assistant Lauren McElwee Learning Support Assistant Ed Marston Year 3 Teacher Jacqueline Williams Year 3 Teaching Assistant Wendy Turner Learning Support Assistant Chris Stapley Year 4 Teacher Natalie Hammond Year 4 Teaching Assistant Angie Ares Learning Support Assistant Jeanette Fournillier Year 5 Teaching Assistant Bec Beatty Year 6 Teacher Izzy McLean Year 6 & Music Teaching Assistant Victoria Edwards Spanish Teacher Stuart Frobisher Music Teacher Corann Malcolm Interventions Teacher Linda Marsden Lunchtime Supervisor St Mary Magdalene Newsletter Monday 12th September 2011 Issue: Autumn 1-11 General News... Dear Parents and Carers A very big warm and wonderful welcome back to all our children, parents and carers. It is always nice to see new faces joining the school, so a special welcome to all our new pupils and their families. As always, the beginning of the new school year offers so much excitement as we look ahead to what this year will bring. I feel such pride in being the Headteacher of what is proving to be a truly amazing school, with incredibly enthusiastic children. We as a staff, promise to do all we can to ensure that the school continues to go from strength to strength. We hope you join us by supporting the school with your presence at events and trips. If you have any suggestions that could help to improve the school, we welcome all ideas. On behalf of the TEAM here at St Mary Mags, we would like to say a big thank you for your generosity at the end of the summer term. Building Works... Once again, the summer holidays were taken up with various improvements to the school taking place. I am sure you have already seen the amazing grass area in the playground, which has been a real hit with the children. They enjoy both sitting and playing in this area now. The Nursery now has a new shelter, so they can enjoy outdoor learning all year round and in all weather. Nursery, Year 3, Year 5 and Year 6 have had new lighting fitted, this has really helped to brighten up the classrooms. We have taken one more step towards ensuring the safety of our pupils. Every door leading into the school is fitted with a security chip and can only be accessed by authorised adults with fobs. Parent Governors... Our Parent Governors are Rachel Hurford (left)and Jacqui Showell (right). Rachel’s children are Myrtle (Y5), Scarlett (Y3) and Spike (Y1). Jacqui’s child is Carmen (Y2). If you have any questions, please feel free to speak to them. PTA... The PTA continue to do such a wonderful job organising events and fundraisers for the school. If you would like to know more about the PTA, speak to Jude Lawrence (Chair) who will be more than happy to explain how it all works. Jude’s children are Jacob (Y4) and Dylan (Y2) Dates for the Diary... Autumn Term Dates.... 12th Sept - Clubs Begin 12th-16th Sept — Keeping Myself Safe Week 16th Sept — Secondary Transfer Parents Meeting 19th-26th Sept — Parents Open Afternoons 22nd Sept - Year 6 Class Assembly 3rd—7th Oct - Black History Week 7th Oct — Jeans for Genes Day 13th Oct - Year 1 Class Assembly 18th Oct — Harvest Festival in Hall 20th Oct — International Evening (4-6pm) 24th-28th Oct — Autumn Half Term 3rd Nov - Year 4 Class Assembly 10th Nov - Year 3 Class Assembly 14th-18th Nov — Anti-Bullying Week 16th Nov - School Photographs (Individual/Family Portraits) 17th Nov - Year 2 Class Assembly 21st Nov - Reception Class Assembly 29th Nov - Whole School Advent Service in Hall 29th & 30th Nov — Parents Evening 3rd Dec — Christmas Fete 7th & 8th Dec — Nativity 14th Dec — KS2 Christingle in the Hall 15th Dec — Pantomime 17th Dec — Non-Uniform Day 17th Dec — End of Autumn Term (School finishes at 1.30pm) Coffee Morning Timetable... Please note that coffee mornings will now be held on Wednesday mornings in the school hall. Please look out for a timetable of events. Natasha Smith our Family Support Advisor organises the events. If you have any suggestions for future events, please do not hesitate to speak to her. Updates & Reminders... General... From the Office.... School begins promptly at 9am and Finishes at 3.30pm. Please ensure that your child is in school on time and collected promptly at 3.30pm. Office opening times are Monday to Friday 8am— 1pm. The office is closed in the afternoons, except for the purchase or collection of uniform on a Tuesday. Clubs start back this week — Please see Natasha Smith for details. You can buy and collect uniform from the office on Tuesday afternoons. All children must bring their PE kits in to school on Monday and take them home to be washed on Friday. Unfortunately, the price of school dinners has risen to £1.80 a day or £9.00 per week. Please ensure that school dinners are paid for on a Monday. Homework is usually given out on Fridays and should be handed in to the class teacher on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Please read your child’s class letter as there will be more information. Have you labelled your child’s uniform... ...it’s a brand new term, with brand new uniform, that all looks the same. Please label every item of your child’s clothing, including shoes!! Breakfast Club... We run a breakfast club for those parents who need the school day to start that little bit earlier. Breakfast club starts at 7.50am. Your child will be given a healthy nutritious meal from a variety of choices, such as, beans on toast, cereal, porridge, yoghurt, fruit. If it is not on the menu, we will try to accommodate them. The cost of the club is now £1.00 per day. If you would like to use our club facilities, all you need to do is register your child by completing a form from the school office. Once your child is registered, they can access breakfast club as little or as many times a week on a pay as you go basis. Breakfast club is open to every child at St Mary Magdalene, from Nursery to Year 6.