Messages From The Head Teacher

Click the date below to go directly to the respective newsletter.

14th May | 7th May | 23rd April | 26th March | 19th March | 5th March

Older newsletters in the archive (see left hand column for index by year)

Focus on....

The school was inspected in October 2009.

Click here to visit the Ofsted page and view the report.

Dates For Your Diary

This is the school calendar.

Days shown in Blue are Events and days shown in Yellow are Holidays.

Click the calendar and then roll the mouse over a date to see a brief description of the day or click the day for the full listing.

For a comprehensive list of school holiday dates, Click Here or use the menu to select "Holidays" from the "For Parents" choices.

-v-------- Newsletter 14.5.2010 --------v-

Breakfast Club – New Provision

New times from Monday 7th June: 7.40am to 8.40am.

New (reduced) prices: £2.00 per day for one child. £3.00 per day for two or more siblings (includes breakfast and activities)

To tie in with our new gate opening times we are now able to offer places at our Breakfast Club from 7.40am to 8.40am. Those receiving tax credits can claim up to 70% of the cost of a breakfast club, you need to contact your tax office on 0845 300 3900 and give them the school's unique reference number which is 114574.

Information is also available on their web site www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredithelpline.

If you would like a place for your child or require further information please speak to Mrs Kennedy at Breakfast Club or leave a message at the school office.

Walk to School Week 17th – 21st May

Next week is Walk to School Week and as part of this our Walking Bus will take place every day. If you would like your child to walk with the "bus" please be at Falaise car park at 8.35am.

You can come along every day or choose the days you want. The "bus" is organised by Mrs Friedlander with volunteer helpers. If you think your child would like to join the "bus" next week please leave your name at the office or tell Mrs Friedlander. Thank you.

Walk to School Day is on Wednesday 19th May. We would like as many children as possible to try to walk all or part of their way to school on that day as a contribution towards reducing traffic and pollution. Please join in if you can! Thank you for your support.

Change of Menu – Tuesday 18th May

There is a different menu for school dinners on Tuesday 18th May for "Walk to School Week". The menu will now be Hawaiian or Margherita (V) Pizza Wedge served with half a jacket potato, peas, baked beans and grated carrot & sultana salad, with chocolate and apricot brownie with vanilla sauce or fresh fruit bowl for dessert.

Creative Partnership Dance Show Years R, 1 and 2

These classes will be performing their dances for parents to watch on the morning of Friday 21st May, time to be confirmed. We are very fortunate in being able to use Hastings Museum and Art Gallery as the venue for this event. Further information to follow.

Thank you for your continued help and support. Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs J. Smith

Head Teacher

-v-------- Newsletter 7.5.2010 --------v-

Bishop Kieran's Visit

We were delighted to welcome Bishop Kieran to our school last week. Bishop Kieran met all the children and answered their questions about his role in the Church, why he became a priest, how many people he is in charge of, and has he met the Pope.

Bishop Kieran also spoke in response to children's questions about how he maintains his relationship with God and what his favourite Bible story is (The road to Emmaus).

His visit was a perfect link to our recent Here I Am theme of "Special People" and our current topic, "Messengers and Witnesses". The children really enjoyed Bishop Kieran's visit and he has promised to visit us again later in the year.

May, the Month of Our Lady

As May is Our Lady's month we would like all the children to bring a rosary to school from Monday to use in assembly and in class. If you do not have a rosary they may be bought from the shops in either Holy Redeemer or St Thomas of Canterbury churches. Alternatively please let the school office know if you would like us to arrange for your child to get a rosary. Many thanks.

Reminder of Key Dates

Mass for Pentecost -

All classes will be attending Mass in the church of St Thomas of Canterbury on Thursday 20th May at 10.00am.

May Procession in Honour of Our Lady -

Our annual May Procession will take place starting at school at 9.10am on Thursday 27th May.

We ask that all pupils bring a plant to place at Our Lady's statue during the procession. These will then be planted out around the school grounds. All families are warmly welcomed to both the above events.

Thank you for your continued support. Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs J. Smith

Head Teacher

-v-------- Newsletter 23.4.2010 --------v-

Welcome Back

A warm welcome back to (almost) everyone in our school community and our sympathies to those affected by the volcanic activity. We look forward to an exciting and busy summer ahead in our school!

The building work is nearing completion and should be finished around the end of May. Thank you for your continued patience with the current arrangements and for your support with fundraising for the project.

We are looking forward to Bishop Kieran's visit on Thursday 29th April. He will be visiting each class and answering the children's questions about his role in the Church. We also have our annual May Procession, sports events and educational visits as well as continued work on our Creative Partnership programme to look forward to. A list of key dates will be with you shortly.

You will also be receiving a curriculum programme for your child's class. Please ensure that you read with your child every day and record this in their record book. Only Year 6 pupils and pupils working at Level 5+ have a different system and your child's teacher will inform you of this when appropriate.

Sierra Leone Friendship Group

Year 6 has been delighted to receive letters and photos from our link school, Regmel Primary, in Hastings, Sierra Leone. They also received seeds in exchange for the ones sent from us so we will be trying to grow African herbs and vegetables as part of our link project.

After School Clubs

These begin again next week including "Holiday Spanish for Adults" with Mrs Rubi. Please note that clubs will NOT be cancelled because of bad weather. If they do need to be cancelled for any other reason we will always endeavour to give you as much notice as possible.

School Uniform

Summer uniform is optional between now and the end of Term 5 on Thursday 27th May. From Monday 7th June all pupils should wear full summer uniform. Only girls in Year 6 may wear a polo shirt and navy skirt.

All other girls should wear a navy (not light blue) and white checked dress. We have quite a large stock of second hand uniform available. Please ask a member of the PTFA or school office staff for further information.

A small number of boys are not keeping their hair short in line with school policy. Boys' hair should be in a short style above the collar. Our policy is in line with that of St Richard's Catholic College. Thank you for your help and co-operation in keeping our children smartly dressed.

Thank you for your continued help and support, Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs J. Smith

Head Teacher

-v-------- Newsletter 26.3.2010 --------v-

Masses for Holy Week and Easter

All families are warmly invited to attend our Masses for Holy Week and Easter. Mass for Holy Week takes place on Tuesday 30th March at 9.30am in the school hall.

Our Mass to celebrate Easter and the new term takes place on Thursday 22nd April at 10.00am in St Thomas of Canterbury Church.

Global Citizenship

As part of our Global Citizenship work we would like to have a world map on display showing any family connections our children and teachers have with other countries as a talking point for all our children to enjoy.

We would be grateful if parents could complete the slip below (paper copy) or alternatively send in a photo of their child with the country they are connected with written on the back. Many thanks.

School Discos

Thank you to the PTFA for all their work in organising the discos for both Infants and Juniors. Particular thanks to Mr Chandler for providing the disco entertainment, which was greatly enjoyed by all present!

A profit of £290.00 was raised towards building costs so a huge thank you to the PTFA, parents and children for your support.

An Appeal from Reception Class

Reception Class are in need of scrap paper to use for their writing area and for drawing those all important pictures for Mum! If you are able to donate any paper please contact Mrs Audis. Many thanks.

Gate Opening

Thank you to everyone who has returned the reply slip about the new gate opening time. The response has been overwhelmingly in favour and I will report this back to the Governing Body.

A reminder that we break up for Easter on Tuesday 30th March and school re-opens on Monday 19th April.

Thank you for your great support. Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs J. Smith

Head Teacher

-v-------- Newsletter 19.3.2010 --------v-

Thank You

Mrs Tadros leaves us today after teaching Year 3 over the past year.

On behalf of the Governors, staff, parents and pupils I would like to thank her for her hard work and dedication. We will miss her and wish her happiness in her new post at St Richard's Catholic College.

Year 6 Residential Visit

We waved goodbye to an excited Year 6 this morning at 7.00am. They will be staying at Chateau du Tertre in southern Normandy and their trip will include visiting Fougeres market, the D Day Landing Beaches and Arromanches Museum and cinema.

We wish the pupils and staff an enjoyable and memorable trip. Thank you to everyone who supported their fundraising events over the past few months.

Ball Skills

There will be NO Ball Skills club next week as Mrs Holmes will not be here.

Lateness

A number of parents are regularly expecting school staff to supervise their children after school.

Parents must collect their children on time, that is 3.15pm for Years R, 1 and 2 and 3.20pm for Years 3,4,5 and 6. It is not the responsibility of school staff to mind children after school and we can only do so in emergency situations.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Zig-Zag Lines

A (thankfully) small number of parents are still dropping their children off on the zig-zag lines with some even parking in the middle of the road.

Even one person doing this is risking our pupils' safety. There are plenty of spaces further down Magdalen Road, so please walk. Those ignoring this request will have their registration numbers forwarded to the police.

Thank you for your support. Have a good weekend.

Mrs J. Smith

Head Teacher

-v-------- Newsletter 5.3.2010 --------v-

Hastings Music Festival Choirs

Congratulations to both our Junior and Senior Choirs! Our Junior Choir achieved First Place in the Under 9s category and was awarded the Sir Henry Coward Shield plus £25 for the school.

Our Senior Choir achieved Second Place with Special Merit in the Under 12s category and was only 1 mark behind the winners. A huge thank you to Miss Adams for all her hard work with both choirs, both of whom were complimented on their high standards. Thank you also to Mrs Enid Graham our accompanist and to all the parents who gave their support through walking with us and cheering us on!

Hastings Music Festival Recorder Classes

Our school has also enjoyed great success in the Recorder Classes. In the Under 12s group congratulations to Katie Gray (Y6) for achieving First Place and winning the Music Challenge Bowl and to Maeve Ginnaw and Phoebe Veness (both Y6) for achieving Third Place.

Congratulations also to Lewis Tweedie and Joshua Mendoza for their high score of 83 marks each. Anna O'Meara (Y5) gained First Place in the Beginners Class and in the Under 11s Charlotte Auld achieved Second Place.

Congratulations to all our pupils - we are very proud of you!

Reception Class Prayer 'Assembly

This is on Wednesday 10th March at 9.30am in the school hall. All families are very welcome to join us. Once you have dropped your child off please come into school via the small blue gate/temporary office and make your way to the hall. Many thanks.

Year 5 Class Mass

Year 5 will be joining the parish for Mass at St Thomas of Canterbury Church on Wednesday 10th March at 10.00am. All welcome.

Talent Show

A reminder that our Talent Show in aid of Haiti is on Friday 12th March. We ask for a voluntary contribution of 50 pence per child to watch and £1.00 per group to take part. All classes will be watching and I understand that the celebrity judges are still available to be there too!

Thank you for your continued help and support. Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs J. Smith

Head Teacher