Thursday 7th September 2017
We hope you had a fantastic summer break. It was lovely welcoming pupils back on Tuesday and also meeting all the new family members who have just joined our school community. We’re looking forward to a really busy term ahead with lots of activities for your children to enjoy including our Space Week, Pupil Voice Day, One World Week, class assemblies and productions. Please take a look at the upcoming diary dates below – a full list of events/term dates are also available to view on our school website:
http://www.st-marys.hillingdon.sch.uk/
Start of Term Mass
This will take place next Tuesday 12th September, at 2.30pm, in our school hall. All parents, carers and family members are most welcome to attend.
Revised Homework Policy
As a result of feedback from our Parent Survey, sent out last term, we have revised/simplified our Homework Policy for this academic year. All homework will now be sent home every Thursday and should be handed into class the following Tuesday morning. All pupils will be set one piece of Maths, one piece of written work (English, topic or RE) as well as spellings/times tables to learn. We also ask that you hear your child read every night (at least three pages) and that you sign their Reading Record book at least five times a week. Further information regarding Homework will be shared by teachers as a part of their presentations next week (please see dates/times below).
Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM)
We are delighted to announce that following on from an assessment visit at the end of last term we have been awarded the national Inclusion Quality Mark. This award demonstrates how our inclusive practice is enabling all our pupils to make good progress. Please visit the following link to our school website for the full report:
http://www.st-marys.hillingdon.sch.uk/page/?title=Inclusion+Quality+Mark+%28IQM%29&pid=80
Meet the Teacher Presentations
Throughout next week we will be holding our ‘Meet the Teacher Presentations’. These talks will cover information including class timetables, homework, curriculum coverage etc. This is a good opportunity to meet your child’s new teacher and to ask any questions that you may have. All meetings will take place in the school hall, at 3pm, on the following days:
|
Year Groups |
Date |
|
Nursery & Reception |
Fri 15th September |
|
Years 1 and 2 |
Wed 13th September |
|
Years 3 and 4 |
Mon 11th September |
|
Years 5 and 6 |
Thur 14th September |
PE
Every class has specific days for their PE lessons but we ask that PE kits come into school on a Monday and stay in school all week as we sometimes organise extra activities and sports coaching for the children. Thank you.
School Uniform
It has been fantastic to see pupils looking so smart in their new uniforms this week. Thank you for helping your child to dress according to our school’s Uniform Policy. Just a reminder that pupils should only wear small plain coloured hair bands and clips that are in keeping with the school uniform colours (green/white, black or grey).
For a full copy of our Uniform Policy please visit our website:
http://www.st-marys.hillingdon.sch.uk/page/?title=Policies&pid=23
Early Years/Year 1: Speech and Language Coffee Morning
We would like to invite you to our Coffee Morning, for parents/carers of pupils in Early Years and Year 1, on Thursday 28th September. We will be serving tea, coffee and pastries in the school hall from 8.40am – please feel free to make your way to the Hall after you drop your children off in the morning.
At 9am, we will be joined by our school’s Educational Psychologist (EP), Dr Natalie Moss, who will lead a short informal talk covering the following:
·Typical levels of speech and language development in children (Nursery to Year 1).
·How to support speech and language at home.
·What parents should do if they have any concerns.
We are really fortunate that Natalie has given up her time to attend and it would be fantastic to see as many family members as possible on the day. If you are a new parent to our school this would also serve as a great opportunity to meet other family members.
Asthma Friendly School Status
As part of a strategy to improve the management of all children with asthma, The Hillingdon Champions of Asthma have invited our school to participate in achieving ‘Asthma Friendly School’ status. To take part in this project we will have to submit monthly returns to the NHS Hillingdon Trust with details of pupils who have been absent with asthma/wheeze or are using their blue inhaler. We would be grateful if you could inform us by email or letter when your child has been absent as usual but also mention if it has resulted in asthma or wheezing. Many thanks for your support in this.
Teacher Training Day – School Closed
Our second teacher training day for this year will take place on Friday 29th September. School will be closed on this day for all pupils.
Dates for your diary
September
Monday 11th
Y3 & Y4 Meet Teacher Presentation 3:00 p.m.
Gymnastics sessions start this week 8:00 – 8:40 a.m.
Chelsea Football sessions start this week 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday 12th
Beginning of Term Mass 2:30 – 3:20 p.m.
Wednesday 13th
Y5 swimming lessons start 1:00 p.m.
Y1 & Y2 Meet Teacher Presentation 3:00 p.m.
Thursday 14th
Y5 & Y6 Meet Teacher Presentation 3:00 p.m.
Friday 15th
Early Years Meet Teacher Presentation 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday 19th
Pupil Voice Day
Early Bird sessions start 8:30 a.m.
Thursday 28th
EYs/Yr1 Speech & Language Coffee Morning from 8.40am
Friday 29th
INSET day – school closed for pupils
October
Monday 2nd
Individual and siblings photographs
Monday 16th
Start of One World Week
Monday 23rd – Friday 27th
Half Term Break
Monday 30th
INSET day – school closed for pupils
Tuesday 31st
Pupils back to school 8:40 a.m.
November
Wednesday 1st
All Saints Mass 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
At St Mary’s we do not authorise any holiday booked in term time as since September 2013 Government instruction has stated that no holidays in term time can be authorised.
School Fundraising Team
(PTA) Newsletter
7th September 2017
Welcome back!
We hope everyone
had a good holiday
and we all welcome
the new children and parents to our St Mary’s community
Hope you all had a good summer holiday and we would like to welcome all the new families to the St Mary’s community.
All parents automatically join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) when their family comes into the school.
A PTA is an organisation that aims to advance the education of pupils in a school by:
- developing effective relationships between school leaders, teachers, parents and the local community
- engaging in activities or providing facilities or equipment which support the school and children's education
In essence, we are here to have fun, fundraising for our child’s school.
Next PTA Meeting
Wednesday 13th September at 8pm Church Hall
Everyone welcome !
We need your help in organising events. We also need to grow the PTA team.
Refreshments provided but please bring nibbles to share.
2016-2017
Money YOU have raised so far:
Coffee & cake 30/09/16: £84.00
Coffee & cake: £101.35
Christmas Cards: £136.00
Christmas Fayre: £999.01
Make-up Master Class: £64.00
(offered by Kelly Doyle)
Bingo Night: £237.15
Family Party Night 22/04/17 £397.50
(organised Adriana, Orla, Sharon parents team)
Coffee & cake 28/04 £114.10
Cat’s Book Sale £170.00
Summer Fete £4,592.69
Sport’s Day £89.54
Total: £6,985.34
Well done, what a successful year we had in supporting our school
We are now looking forward to a new fundraising year! 2017-2018
