One World Week 2015: Dress-Up-Day

The children have had a fantastic week finding out about different customs and cultures from around the world. It was lovely to see all of the children wearing their costumes, yesterday, as a part of our ‘Passport Day’. Each year group set up their classroom as the country they have been studying -decorating it with artefacts, souvenirs and art work. All pupils moved between the ’countries’, got their passports stamped and then listened to a class presentation.

Other highlights included Hinduism workshops, skipping sessions led by the Small Earth Games Company and research into world issues. Please keep an eye on our website gallery for lots of photographs from the last few days:

http://www.st-marys.hillingdon.sch.uk/

Friends of St Mary's

We have been fortunate to receive two offers to volunteer to be our Chairperson and Treasurer.  Now we need to appoint committee members, therefore a meeting has been arranged for Monday 9th November at 6.30 p.m. in the school hall.  If you are willing to help out please come along to this meeting, alternatively if you are unable to attend the meeting please let Mr Briggs or Mr Ellis know, particularly if you would like to volunteer for a committee or indeed offer services.  Thank you to the volunteers and all Friends of St Marys for your support and assistance.

Signing-in Late

It is a legal requirement that pupils are in school by the published time of 8.50am. Any parent arriving late with their child needs to sign them in at the school office (stating the reason for their lateness). Recently, we have witnessed a few children who have been left alone at the front entrance so that they have to make their own way to the office to sign themselves in. This is a safeguarding issue and the school will pass any concerns onto the Hillingdon Safeguarding Officer. 

Hair in School

Please see the statement below – taken from our Uniform Policy 2015:

‘St. Mary’s School does not permit children to have extreme haircuts, or styles that could serve as a distraction to other children. This includes brightly coloured hair (which is not of a natural colour). Pupils are not permitted to come into school with very short, shaved hair (this includes hair shaved across the entire head at Grade 1 or below, and hair shaved in part at Grade 0). Similarly pupils should not come into school with letters/numbers/patterns shaved in their hair.

Pupils should only wear plain coloured hair bands, beads and hair clips that are in keeping with the school uniform colours (green, black or grey). For health and safety reasons we ask all children with long hair and beads to tie their hair back.’

Groundwork Trust

On Tuesday 3^rd November the Groundwork Trust (based in Denham Country Park) will be visiting school to lead some Victorian Brick Making Workshops with Years 4 and 5. Every pupil will get the opportunity to make two clay bricks and will then complete a follow up workshop in class. It would be helpful if pupils taking part could bring in an old pair of shoes (on the day) – to prevent them from getting clay on their school shoes. They may also like to bring in an old, large t-shirt to wear over the top of their uniform (although we will have lots of spare shirts to wear).Thank you in advance.

Years 2 and 5 Mass

On Wednesday 4^th November (first week back) Years 2 and 5 will walk to Church to attend the 9.30am Mass. If you are able to accompany the children to and from Church, please let your child’s class teacher know as soon as possible. Thank you.

Year 5 Swimming

Year 5 will continue their swimming lessons during the first week back after the half term break. Their last swimming lesson, for this academic year, will take place on Wednesday 25^th November.

Curriculum Open Afternoon

On Tuesday 17^th November, from 2pm, we will be holding our Curriculum Open Afternoon. This will consist of a tour of the school, information about ‘Assessment Without Levels’ and will end with a coffee afternoon in the hall. We will send home a separate letter, with further details, nearer to the date.

Pupil Premium – Registering for Free School Meals & Early Years Funding

Please could you contact the school office if your financial circumstances have changed and you are receiving Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance or Child Tax Credit (with no working tax).  Not only could you be eligible for Free School Meals but the school also attracts a funding to purchase resources to assist the learning of eligible pupils.  If you have any questions please contact Mrs Taberer in the school Office.  This information will be kept in the strictest confidence. 

Staff Car Park

It has come to our attention that a few parents/guardians have been using the staff car park to drop off or collect children.  We must remind you that this is a health and safety issue and also this is private property and does not have insurance cover.  Therefore we would be grateful if you could please refrain from using this car park, whilst we do appreciate the constraints over parking at the moment.

Half Term Break

Due to our staff INSET Day tomorrow, we finish today for the Half Term Holiday. We hope you have a safe and relaxing break and look forward to welcoming all pupils back to school on Monday 2^nd November.

Diary Dates – Autumn Term 2015

See below for the main events taking place this term. For a complete list - please refer to the calendar on our school website:

http://www.st-marys.hillingdon.sch.uk/

Date	Time	Event
Friday 23rd October	All day	SCHOOL CLOSED: TEACHER INSET DAY
Monday 26th to Friday 30th October		School Closed: Half Term Holiday
Monday 2nd November	8.40am	All pupils back to school
	10am	Groundwork Trust Assembly
Tuesday 3rd November	All day	Years 4 and 5 Victorian Brick Making Workshops
Wednesday 4th November	9.30 – 10.30am	Years 2 and 5 Mass (Church)
Wednesday 11th November	9.30 – 10.30am	Years 3 and 4 Mass (Church)
Monday 16th November	All day	Start of Friendship and E-Safety Week
Tuesday 17th November	2pm – 3.30pm	Curriculum Open Afternoon
Monday 23rd November	3.30 – 4.30pm	Last Week of Chelsea Football Clubs
Wednesday 25th November		Year 5 – Last Swimming Lesson
Monday 30th November	All day	Test Week (all pupils)
Wednesday 2nd December		Year 6 Carol Concert – Westminster Cathedral
Tuesday 8th December	5.30 – 6.30pm	Pavilion’s Carol Concert
Wednesday 9th December	2 – 3pm and 6 – 7pm	Early Years and Key Stage 1 Christmas Productions
Friday 11th December	8.30am	Last Kent and Early Bird Maths Groups
Wednesday 16th December	2 – 3pm and 6 – 7pm	Key Stage 2 Christmas Productions (Years 3 to 5)
Thursday 17th December	9.30 – 11.30am 6 – 7pm	Mother Goose Pantomime (Whole School) Year 6 Carol Service (Church)
Friday 18th December	9.15 – 10.30am	End of Term Mass
	1.30pm	School finishes for Christmas
Monday 4th January	8.30am	All pupils return to school