CTK Newsletter
29th Sept
2017
Dear Parents/Carers,
A Great Week of Attendance!
Thank you to all parents and carers for helping us improve attendance and punctuality. The teachers have noticed a real difference this year as almost all children are in school on time, ready to learn, and are in school as much as possible. It’s making a real difference!
All classes had good attendance this week and well done to the following classes for achieving 97% or more attendance:
- Reception - 99%
- Year 2 - 98%
- Year 4 - 97%
- Year 5 - 99%
- Year 6 - 98%
Last week we announced a non-uniform day for Reception and Year 3 on Friday 6th October due to great attendance last week. Because of our Harvest Mass Reception, Year 3 and Year 5 will all have a special non-uniform day on Wednesday 4th October. Another day for Reception will be planned for later this term
Child supervision at the start of the day.
We have noticed recently that some younger children have been left alone, outside of school, before the school opens at 8.40am.
Can I remind all parents that younger children need to be supervised by a parent or carer until they are safely in school. Before 8.40am, unless they are in Breakfast Club, we cannot offer supervision and all younger children should be supervised by a responsible adult. We thank you all for helping us to keep our children safe.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Parking
Please be considerate when parking your car to drop off or pick your child up from school and do not park in driveways of local residents.
CHARACTERS Stage School at St Brendan’s College
New Performing Arts club for your younger children aged 7-12!
TRY FREE Thursday 28th September OR Thursday 5th October
Characters Stage School continues its partnership with St Brendan’s Performing Arts Academy and their dance teacher Leanne Copley, running on THURSDAYS from 4.00pm-6.00pm in the dance studio.
In these exciting new classes in Acting, Singing and Dance, children have fun creating characters, learning musical theatre numbers and dance routines, and working towards performances in the theatre here at St Brendan’s. We offer competitive fees as Characters is not a franchise but an independent company.
Limited places left - to book yours or try FREE Call Moira asap 07932 785807 or email moira@charactersstageschool.com
For more detail about Characters in general visit www.charactersstageschool.com or find them on Facebook.
After School Clubs
More clubs will be starting after the half term break. More details soon.
Parent Helpers for School Trips
We would like to create a small team of parents who are available to help out with school trips. We would offer some simple training and a full DBS clearance to ensure safety. Parent volunteers would not necessarily be on trips with their own child’s class but would have a great opportunity to support the school and our children. Please contact the school office if you are interested.
Prospective Parents Tours
There will be tours for prospective parents for September 2018. The dates are:
- Wednesday 27th September at 2.30pm
- Wednesday 4th October at 10am
- Tuesday 10th October at 10am
- Thursday 19th October at 2.00pm
Planning Cultural Celebrations
At Christ the King we are very lucky to have families from such a diverse and rich background. To celebrate this we would like to plan, with parents and the wider community, events which enable us to share and learn together. We are keen to plan opportunities where parts of the community come into school and share their heritage and culture.
If you have an idea for such an event, please come and see me or contact the school office.
£1 coins
The old £1 coins go out of circulation in October and we will no longer be able to accept them after next Friday - 29th September.
Stranger Danger
Following recent concerns in the local community, we are sharing the stranger danger message with children in school:
- Be aware of stranger danger and stay safe.
- Never go off on your own with a stranger, take things from them or get in a car with them.
- Make sure you tell your parents where you are.
If someone scares you, or makes you feel uncomfortable, go somewhere safe, which could be your home, your school or a police station. Remember to tell someone what has happened straight away.
If you would like to discuss any other policing matters please contact your local policing team on 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
Please talk to your child and make sure they know the Stranger Danger rules.
Safer Internet Use
This term children are learning about how to use the internet safely at home and in school. Please visit the UK Safer Internet Centre for more information for parents and carers -
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers
Parents’ Evenings
Our first Parents’ Evenings of the new school year are on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th October. Please contact the school office to book an appointment.
Macmillan Cancer Research Coffee Morning
A big thank you to parents and carers who joined us this morning to raise money for cancer research. 
Overall we raised an amazing £446 towards cancer research!
Primary school admissions
Reception Admissions for September 2018 is 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 2018.
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 2017
Transfer from KS1 to KS2 - hot school meals
There are a number of children in year 2 currently eligible for Free School Meals. To ensure these children receive a free school meal in September 2017 when they enter Year 3, parents/carers need to apply for free school meals to Bristol City Council. Our preferred method of application is online which is quick, easy and secure to use: https://efsm.bristol.gov.uk.
Parents/carers will be able to make online applications within 7 weeks of the child starting Year 3 in September.
If you do not have access to a computer then the school office will help you with your application.
Holidays and Long Weekends - a reminder!
It is highly unlikely that the school is able to authorise an absence due to holiday. Absences can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.
Due to government guidance, the school is expected to take action when children have 8 or more unauthorised sessions (4 days). This would normally be in the form of a fine of £60 per child per adult.
So where children have been on holiday in the current year or the previous year, or their attendance is low, it is likely that we will issue a fine if there are more than 8 unauthorised sessions.
Can I remind you that children should not be taken out of school on Mondays or Fridays for long weekends (unless there are exceptional circumstances and it has been agreed in advance).
Headteacher’s Awards
The following children will be receiving the Headteacher’s certificate in Monday’s Celebration Assembly:
Tianna (Y1), Taylor (Y2), Ellis and Rubyleigh (Y3), Summer (Y4), Zimra and Ben (Y5), Abigail (Y6).
Matthew Tree Project
This year, in the run up to our Harvest Mass on October 6th, we will be collecting food for The Matthew Tree Project. This charity supports people in the Bristol area who are struggling to afford food for themselves and their families. They have premises on Filwood Broadway.
Your child will be bringing home a leaflet with suggestions for items that can be donated.
There will be a crate in each class between now and October 6th. After Harvest Mass, the food collected will be donated to The Matthew Tree Project.
Please do not send in fresh or chilled food, just packets and tins.
If you have any questions please contact Mrs Higgins in school. Thank you for your support.
Key dates for Diaries
- Wednesday 4th October - Reception, Year 3 and Year 5 special non-uniform day
- 13th October - Year 6 to Create Centre
- Tuesday 17th October - Parent’s Evening
- Wednesday 18th October - Parent’s Evening
- Friday 20th October - Year 5/6 trip to Bristol Hippodrome
- 30th October - Year 3 Rock Wow Day in school
- 3rd November - School Photographer
- 13th December - Christmas Lunch
- 31st January - 2nd February - Year 5 Camp to Dean Field Centre
- 14th May - 18th May - Year 6 SATs week
- 8th June - 11th June - Year 6 Manor Adventure Camp
Monday 9th July - INSET Day (school closed)
- Friday 20th July 2018 - End of school year for children
- Monday 23rd July - INSET Day (school closed)
- Tuesday 24th July - INSET Day (school closed)
Yours sincerely,
Matt Condon
Headteacher
