Dear Parents/Carers,
New Reception Foyer at the front of the school
We would like to let you know that building work will commence on the new reception foyer from the 24th October. These significant works will create new office space, a new waiting room, a new learning support room, a covered area and overall improve our ability to welcome and work with parents, whilst keeping children safe and secure. This work will however take an approximate 14 weeks and during this time our usual front entrance will be closed. This will obviously cause some disruption to normal school life but will be well worth it in the end.
We will publish our temporary access plans in our next newsletter.
We would like to invite parents and carers to stay after the assembly on Monday to have a look at the plans / drawings for the new build (and have a cup of tea/coffee).
Online payments
We are delighted to announce that we are now in a position to offer the facility for parent to make payments online for school activities such as school dinners, school trips and school book bags and photos etc!
There is an immeasurable amount of valuable time spent on collecting and keeping track of what payments have been received for the numerous events that take place. This, combined with the burden that you may endure in either finding the correct change or writing a cheque to pay for your child’s activities can at times be frustrating.
The new Schoolmoney.co.uk facility will allow for both parties to experience a more streamlined, cost-effective and efficient payment collection system in a secure and safe environment.
If you do not have access to a bank account or on-line facilities, payments can be paid by paypoint – please contact the school office for further details.
From time to time you will receive a text message from the school inviting you to access a website as an option to make a payment for an activity. We would appreciate your support in this matter.
To ensure that we all experience maximum benefit from this service, we would ask all parents to notify us if you have recently changed your mobile number and/or email address.
You will receive a welcome text from school money with details of how to log-on and your unique password.
The on-line payment facilities will go live from Saturday 15th October.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Safe Internet Use
Recently we have had to deal with some serious internet related issues in school. It has been incredibly worrying that children have created fake email accounts and pretend to be other classmates. The police have been supporting us in investigating these issues and have asked us to remind all parents of the importance of parents monitoring children’s internet use. We are running additional E-safety sessions in school and will share more useful guidance in next week’s newsletter.
Free financial entitlement community event - Friday 21st October
A special free event will take place at HWV The Gatehouse Centre, Hareclive Road, Bristol, BS13 9JN on Friday 21st October from 10.30am to 12.30pm to give local residents the opportunity to sit down over a cup of tea and talk with some of Bristol’s financial experts about entitlements.
Experts will be there from organisations including Bristol Citizens’ Advice Bureau, South Bristol Advice Services, the Department for Work and Pensions, WE Care and Repair and Bristol Credit Union, to answer any questions and to guide people through that whey need to know.
Governing Body Vacancy
As I am sure you are aware, all schools have a Governing Body who support the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team in their endeavours to make this school an outstanding establishment where all children thrive.
We now have a vacancy on our Governing Body for a Parent Governor. All parents are eligible to apply for this voluntary role and we would ask you to contact the school office if you would like your name to be put forward.
Currently, the vacancy will be to support the work of the Staffing and Resources sub committee which will meet termly in addition to the Full Governing Body meetings which are also termly. Meetings will run from 3:30 to 5:30. An interest in the school and finding out more about the way that the school is managed is the first consideration and if you have any specific skills with budgets or experience with staffing issues you would be particularly welcome.
If you would like further information please speak to Miss Roberts in the office who will either be able to help you or will put you in touch with the Clerk to the Governors to answer any specific questions.
We look forward to hearing from you.
St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School
If you wish to apply for a place at St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School on religious grounds, you will also be required to send evidence of your faith commitment to the school by 31st October 2016. If, after reading the Admission Policy, you are not sure of the evidence required please call Mrs Nunnerley at the school on 0117 377 2050.
Headteacher Award - Effective Participator
Each week we will be having a special focus for our Headteacher Awards. This week, our focus is Effective Participator.
Headteacher Awards for Monday’s Assembly are:- Aaliyah (R), Chloe P (Y1), Ellis (Y2), Evie-Rose (Y3), Ruby (Y4), Mia (Y5) and Lacie-May (Y6)
Bikeability Training Presentation
Also in our Celebration Assembly the following Year 5 children will receive their Bikeability Certificates: Esther M (Y6), Matty, Finley, Dean, Riley-James, Salvatore, Dylan, Lily-Grace, Lily, Naomi, Abigail, Mia, Logan, Bintou, Keron, Malachy, Nicola, Djibril, Elly and Chad.
Chaplaincy Team Presentation
Our new Chaplaincy Team were commissioned by the Bishop last week at Clifton Cathedral. The team will be receiving their certificates in next week’s Celebration Assembly: Esther M (Y6), Alfie He (Y6), Kyle (Y6), Esther A (Y6) and Ellie (Y6).
Attendance
There have been no classes this week with attendance over 97% this week:
Primary School Admissions
Reception admissions for September 2017 are now open on www.bristol.gov.uk/schooladmissions. Children born between 1st September 2012 and 31st August 2013 must apply for a school by midnight on 15th January 2017
Year 6 to apply for a Secondary school place
Parents/carers need to apply for a secondary school place for their child in Year 6. The website is now open on www.bristol.gov.uk/schooladmissions. Secondary school choices need to made by midnight on 31st October 2016.
Key dates for Diaries
- 21st October - End of Term 1
- 24th October - Building work starts on the new Front Foyer
- 31st October - Start of Term 2
- 18th November - Feast of Christ the King Mass
- 7th December - Year 1 and Year 2 trip to Colston Hall
- 16th December - End of Term 2
- Term 3 - 3/1/17 - 10/2/17
- w/c 8th May 2017 - Y6 SATs week
- 6th January 2017 - Y6 to visit Create Centre
- 10th January 2017 - Y3 trip to Bristol Old Vic to see The Snow Queen
- 9th - 12th June - Year 6 camp to Manor Adventure
- Term 4 - 20/2/17 – 7/4/17
- Term 5 - 24/4/17 – 26/5/17
- Term 6 - 5/6/17 – 21/7/17
Yours sincerely,
Matt Condon, Headteacher
