From the Head

 

5^th September 2011

 

Dear Parents,

 

I am delighted to welcome the children back to school today.  I have been back in school since 11^th August and it does not quite seem right without our excellent children in the school.  I am very excited at the prospect of another year together, continuing to build on what we achieved last year. It is imperative that staff, pupils and parents work together to ensure our children become highly educated and outstanding young people.  All pupils should come prepared to school, bringing the correct equipment with them at all times.  These include those items listed below but, in addition, instructions of tutors and class teachers must be followed:

 

Your school planner

Pen, pencil, rubber

Ruler

A calculator (Y7-Y11 needs to be scientific.)

Angle measurer

A pair of compasses

 

A reminder on times:  School starts at 9.15am (all children should be brought to school by this time).  School Finishes at 4.30pm (parents should not come for their children before 4.25pm).

 

I detail some information on other key issues below:

 

UNIFORM SHOP

 

My apologies for the late opening of the school shop and also for the fact that one or two items have not yet arrived. I can only reiterate our determination that these will be nothing more than teething problems and that in future your purchase of uniform will be much smoother.  I am pleased that the uniform is now available to parents more readily, however, and at a much more reasonable expense.  Until the summer dress is in (next week) I will allow the new Primary School (Years 1 to 6) pupils to wear their PE kit to school.  As soon as the dress is available it must be purchased and worn properly.  In the past many students wore their own white polo shirts.  As soon as you are able I would urge you to buy the polo shirt with the school logo (which is considerably cheaper than at El Corte Ingles).  When the wearing of summer uniform resumes in April, we will not accept the wearing of polo shirts without the badge.

 

HATS- pupils must only wear the school hat into school.

 

WATER BOTTLES- All children must bring in a school water bottle.  The water bottle should be labeled with the pupil´s name.  This is now available at the school Reception, but will move to the school shop next week.

 

 

NEW STAFF

 

We welcome some outstanding new staff to the school.

 

Mr Stefan Rumistrzewicz-Deputy Head and Head of Primary

 

Mr Ewen McIntyre- English and French

 

Mrs Sherie Fellows- Music, Drama and ICT            

 

Mrs Louise Rumistrzewicz- Year 3 Red

 

Mrs Bianca Shaw- Year 2 Red

 

Mrs Samantha Ward-Campbell- Year 1 Red

 

Miss Rachael Summers- Reception Yellow

 

Miss Laura Segovia Lopez- Spanish

 

Mrs Asli Silk- Librarian

 

CLASS PRESENTATIONS/MEET THE TEACHER

 

Parents are invited to meet their child´s teacher and/or listen to presentations on the following dates:

 

Tuesday 13^th September at 4pm- Pre-Nursery and Nursery- in Early Years classrooms

 

Tuesday 13^th September at 4pm- Secondary (Years 7 to 11)- introduction by Head- School Dining Hall

 

Wednesday 14^th September at 4pm- Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6)- in Primary classrooms

 

Tuesday 20^th September at 4pm- Reception and Key Stage 1 (Reception, Years 1 and 2)- In Reception and Key Stage 1 classrooms.

 

There will be Spanish translators on hand for all presentations.

 

LIBRARY AND TEXTBOOKS

 

I am delighted that Mrs Asli Silk has started as our librarian.  She will be getting the library up and running over the next month.  We have invested a huge amount in this facility and it is imperative that all pupils look after the books and IT equipment.  In this spirit, all children will now have a record of the books loaned out to them (both textbooks and library books) and any lost or damaged books will have to be paid for by the pupil/parent concerned.

 

LETTERS TO PARENTS

 

You will know of my ambition to send out letters/information by electronic communication only.  However, I am aware that not all of you have been receiving letters by this method yet and, with this in mind, until we are absolutely certain we have all the correct email details of parents in our system we will revert to sending out all letters to parents in paper copy, as well as by email.

 

INFORMATION IN THIS PACK

 

Please read through the information in this pack.  Please also be aware that we are trying to improve on much of what we do and if and when we do change policies and procedures, we will inform you.  Lastly, on this note, the calendar is a very important document.  Please ensure you keep a close eye on it so you know what is taking place in school.  You can also find the calendar on the website.

 

There are curriculum outlines for all years, except for those doing GCSE/IGCSE in Years 10 and 11.  You will have access to the Options Booklet, which you may have seen before.  In the meantime, while you await a GCSE booklet being prepared by Miss Harrison, please do look at the examining board website www.edexcel.com

 

I look forward to seeing many of you on the school gates in the mornings and on your visits to the school.  For new parents and pupils, I am delighted to welcome so many of you to our excellent community.  I will continue to write to you weekly to update you on a whole range of issues.

 

Best wishes

 

Robin Silk