WICKFORD JUNIOR SCHOOL
Market Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AG
Tel: 01268 733071
Fax: 01268 570214
wickfordjuniorschool.uk
Headteacher – Mr T. Flitman
16th September 2016
Newsletter 617
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Year 3 Welcome Tea
It was good to see so many of you on Wednesday evening. If you do still have any questions regarding the start your child has made with us or procedures in school please contact us and we will be pleased to help. Remember too that the school website may well have the answers to any questions you have. I am delighted to report that the children have made a very encouraging start to their Junior School life.
Start of the school day
Please note that we shut the quad doors promptly at 8.50 a.m. as the teachers on duty have to get to class. They don’t see you coming and close them on purpose.
Nut products
The school has a strict no nuts policy for snacks and lunch time. Please respect this.
Catch –Up Club
As you will be aware all our teachers set children early morning work which the children do between 8.50 and 9.00 a.m. This is usually spellings or number work and is important in securing children’s knowledge of the basics. Where children are late they miss or fail to complete this task. We therefore introduced catch-up club last year so children who were late had the chance to complete this work. Whenever children arrive late they are therefore now required to attend the club at 12.15 for ten minutes to catch up on their missed learning. Given that we are giving the children a chance to catch up on missed learning please do not tell them they do not need to attend.
Water bottles
We encourage children to bring in a sports water bottle so they can have access to a drink during class time – please note however that children may bring in WATER only – not squash, fizzy drinks or milk.
Clubs
We have been snowed under with applications this week for clubs and have tried to accommodate as many children as possible. Inevitably, though some children have not been able to get a place on their chosen activity. We apologise for this but we cannot have unlimited numbers attend sessions and maintain the quality of the provision and pupil safety. Children who did not get their chosen place will be put on the waiting list.
Reminder on club payments: New clubs commence next week. Unfortunately, due to a high number of parents not paying on time, if your child turns up for a paying club and the office, or the club teacher/coach, have not received payment your child will not be able to attend the session and you will be contacted to collect your child and your child will lose their place at the club.
School football – Please note that school football club will now not start until Tuesday 27th September and not next week as advertised. Apologies for but this is due to a school football tournament taking place next week. The children taking part in the tournament have already been informed and letters to their parents are going out today.
Clubs with spaces - We only have spaces left in the following clubs: Karate, Futsal, Homework, Recorder and Massage.
The Newsletter
Reminder: The newsletter comes out every Friday and goes onto our website, on the parent’s board outside and we have spare copies in reception if needed. It is our main way to communicate with parents. Please read it – every week we have children turn up at clubs that have been cancelled or parents unaware of a trip or special day because of failure to read it. Any letters that have gone out during the week are also mentioned under ‘Letters/Events’. We try and ensure that all letters that are sent out are put on the website.
Swimming
Reminder: Fees for this term are £15.40 for Year 5 and £13.20 for Year 6.
Earrings
The Department for Education rules are very clear that schools must insist on pupils removing earrings for PE regardless of the activity. If children are unable to remove their earrings they will not be able to take part in the activity and miss out on part of their learning. Please ensure that your child can remove their earrings – we are not able to make exceptions to this ruling.
Bikes/Scooters
If children wish to bring bikes into school I must have a permission letter from their parents. Children must wear helmets and still be accompanied to school by their parent. Year 6 may ride unaccompanied with written parental consent. Bikes and scooters are not to be ridden on school grounds.
Library forms – Year 3
If you received your library form back today, and your child does not have a card, this needs to be taken to the library by parents so they can issue your child a card.
Letters/Events
Year Group letters outlining what children will be learning this term went out on Wednesday/Thursday.
Year 4 Anglo-Saxon Day – Monday 3rd October (A letter was sent home today)
(Please check the school website for further information)
Parent Lunches
Please arrive at reception by 12.10pm. Both parents and children are to order school dinners. The children’s can be ordered on the day. However, as we have to pre-order food we cannot take parents orders after the dates shown. We do give plenty of notice of when parents are invited in. In order to ensure the safeguarding of pupils, parents are asked to stay in the hall and not to walk around the school.
3W – Thursday 6th October – Parents orders and payment must be in by Thursday 22nd September.
Class Assembly
Assemblies start at 9.00 a.m. and last around half an hour, including time for a cup of tea or coffee.
5W – Friday 30th September.
Achievements
Congratulations to the following children:
Max Martin (3W) Achieved Stage 3 at swimming by covering 50m.
Hayden Waite (6F) was awarded ‘Most Improved Player’ for Wickford Cricket Club under 11’s in his first season at the club.
Jamie Phillips (6W) has been competing in a 6 month Tennis Tour at Lake Meadows. Jamie has finished in the top 4 which has placed him in the grand final to be held in October.
Have a relaxing weekend.
Mr T Flitman
Headteacher
Working For Everyone