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Newsletter 9 - 13th November 2009

Despite ending the week with a rather miserable day (in terms of the weather!), we have had another busy time at school. Year 4 had a marvellous few days visiting Chiddingstone Castle – and I know thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the Egyptian artefacts collected there – as well as the most important part of any school trip – visiting the shop….. 6U have continued their art experience at Knole and have created the most wonderful Tudor portraits and frames.

TMrs Wade and I were lucky enough to visit the Infant School and have a guided tour around all the classes – and what happy, engaged learning we saw going on. Ms Morgan and Mrs Buxton made a return visit on Tuesday and the Junior School children were delighted to see them

On a less positive note we have had several instances this week of children using inappropriate language around the school. Please could you reinforce the message at home that we do not accept bad language at Woodlands. Thank you.

Remembrance Day

We started the week with a thought provoking and moving Assembly with a 2 minute silence. We were very impressed by the mature way the children responded.

Breaktime Snacks

Thank you so much for your response to the Breaktime Snack Survey. We had an overwhelmingly positive response and so, from Monday 16th November, we will be returning to our original policy. To remind those of you who may have forgotten, the children may bring in:

• Fruit or vegetables (dried or fresh)
• Cheese
• Rice Cakes
• Oat Cakes
• No cereal bars, please.

Thank you very much for helping us promote healthy eating for our children.

Dangerous Driving

I have had many complaints this morning about dangerous and unnecessary parking in Higham School Lane (the hill that leads up to the front entrance to the school). I, myself, saw cars turning and parking dangerously at the top of the hill – and children being dropped and encouraged to walk up the drive to school. Could I remind everybody that we do not permit the children to use the main school entrance before and after school - as this means that they have to walk unaccompanied through a busy and congested car park.

Please, please drive and park responsibly – it concerns me that despite regular newsletter appeals over the last three years, we still have problems with this.

Y6 Residential Trip

As you know, we have a long and successful tradition of taking our Y6 children away on a 5 day residential trip in their Summer term. The children benefit hugely, both educationally and socially, from this visit and we are committed to keeping this tradition going. However, we do ask that parents make regular contributions over the four years the child is in the Junior School in order to make the cost a little easier to meet. There never seems to be a good time to ask parents for money, but please could I encourage you to continue making regular contributions – some find it easier to pay a small amount on a weekly basis. If you would like another copy of the target payment dates, please let us know.

Charity Stall

Congratulations to Izzy, Megan, Emily, Shannon and Jess from 4W. They raised an impressive £21.16 for the World Wildlife Fund.

Friends’ Association

The Friends would like to thank all those who have offered to help at the Christmas Fair. They will be in touch with you shortly with further information. More help is still needed, however, so let the office know if you are able to offer assistance.

Own Clothes Day

A reminder that children can come in their home clothes on Friday 20th November in exchange for providing something for the Christmas Fair:

• Y3 : Money Envelopes
• Y4: Small gift items in the provided red or gold paper
• Y5 : Sweets or chocolates
• Y6 : Non-alcoholic bottles of drink

Children In Need – Friday 20th November

As the children will already be out-of-uniform on this day, we will have buckets in school to make collections for this very worthwhile charity – should you wish to donate. There will also be collection buckets at the disco.

School Disco

Just to remind you that tickets are on-sale at lunchtime next week in the school library.

Book Fair

Our Autumn Book Fair will be held during week commencing 23rd November. Details as follows:

If you would like to buy a book with your child, please visit the Book Fair between 8.30 and 8.55 on the Tuesday morning. This session is only for those children who are accompanied by an adult. If you are unable to come with your child, they will have the opportunity to buy with their class. Please refer to the leaflet being sent home tonight.

Book Fair Helpers

Thank you to those parents who have offered to help with the Book Fair. We would really appreciate one more helper on each day, so if you can lend a hand, please contact the School Office. Thank you.

Parent Consultations – Term 4

Just to give you plenty of warning, we have had to alter the dates of our Parent Consultations to Wednesday 3rd March and Thursday 4th March 2010. I hope that this doesn’t cause any inconvenience.

Year 3 Footballers – ERROR!

Unfortunately in last week’s newsletter we made an error in the contact e-mail address. If you are interested the person to contact is markpayne123@hotmail.co.uk.

(Tonbridge Junior Football Club is holding 2 open days for Y3 children only on Saturday 14th and 21st November 2009 with a view to recruiting new players. They train on Tonbridge Racecourse Ground on Saturday mornings and would welcome new boys and girls of all abilities.)

Missing Kit

One of our Y5 children has had a Manchester United kit bag go missing with an expensive pair of school shoes in it. We are sure that someone has probably taken it home by mistake. Can you please check at home to see if it has made its way to your house?

We often lose named sweatshirts from school. I know from experience that these can end up at the wrong home and are not noticed! Could you please check the labels in all your children’s uniform and send back to school any items that have arrived home by mistake. Thank you.

And Finally….

Have a lovely – if wet! – weekend and don’t forget to wear your wellies when puddle-jumping.

Mary Priestley
Headteacher

Term & Diary Dates 2009/10

Academic Year 2009/10

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