Muskham News
January 2010
Welcome Back to the Spring Term and a cold, snowy start to 2010! Thankyou for your patience with school closures and the snowy and icy conditions. When possible, the children enjoyed playtimes outside in the snow and were a credit to the school when they had to stayb inside. It was good to see the Year 6 pupils playing games with younger children and talking to them about their interests.
We are into the season of coughs and colds and have quite a few absences at present. Please do keep your children at home if they are unwell as this minimises the spread of illnesses at school.
Thanks to all who returned the reply slip sent as part of the last news letter before Christmas. There were lots of positive comments about the learning experiences and behaviour and ethos of the school. We will also discuss which of the suggestions and comments could be put into place. Some extra curricular activities have already begun and more will be restarting soon when the nights are lighter and the weather improves – we do review these in light of parent and pupil comments.
Welcome to Julie Hatton, who has begun working with us this term as a cleaner in school and is enjoying getting to know pupils and staff. We wish her well and hope she will enjoy being part of Muskham School and its community.
The term is now fully underway and the children are enjoying their new topics as part of their personalised learning programmes.
Class 6 have a super rainforest display emerging
Class 5 are investigation rivers (and mountains –yr 4pupils)
Class 4 are delving into space and making model planets
Class 3 are investigating teeth and eating
Class 2 have begun a pirate topic, exploring the Blackbeard legend
Class 1 are learning about sound and looking at musical instruments
Foundation Stage now has 30 full time pupils, with another 6 attending part time. They are exploring shape and colour, supported by their teacher Mrs. Tansley and main teaching assistants Mrs. Chase and Mrs. Payne. Mrs. Todd also works in foundation as part of her learning.
Haiti - the School Council had planned 'Crazy Hair’ Day to help raise funds for the school/ However, in light of the earthquake in Haiti, the pupils and staff felt it was important to move this date forward (to 26.1.10) and raise money for the people of Haiti, helping us to focus on the tragic circumstances they are facing. Pupils have found out more about this disaster in assemblies and classes.
D.A.R.E. - all year 6 pupils graduated from the DARE programme on Friday 22nd January. They gave a fantastic presentation to parents and members of the community, informing then of the knowledge and skills they have developed. They have thought carefully about future decisions they may need to make. Thanks to North Muskham Parish Council for supporting this programme and to PC Graham, staff and parents for supporting the pupils in this valuable area of their learning.
Family Learning - following previous parents’ forums where parents expressed an interest in finding out about the curriculum, there is an opportunity for the school to offer ‘family learning sessions’. These would e held in school either in school hours or after school, depending on preferences. Some parents have already expressed an interest in finding out more about maths, which could be a focus for these sessions. We could also offer information on e-safety and using the internet. Please let me know if there are any areas for the curriculum from foundation stage to year 6, you would like to learn about with a group of parents. The sessions are practical and informal, aimed at developing confidence and knowledge.
’Friends’ - the Friends of Muskham School continue to work hard supporting us. Thanks to all who helped make the Christmas productions such successful evenings. The sale of mulled wine and raffle tickets all helps us to provide new and improved facilities for the pupil. We are currently looking at updating the Library computers and stereo system for the Hall, as well as smaller projects. This term, a disco and Beetle Drive have been arranged (see Calendar). The Friends next meeting is Tuesday 2nd February, 7.30 pm at the Muskham Ferry - as always , ALL ARE WELCOME.
Dropping off/picking up/parking - please remember there are CAR PARKING facilities at the Rural Community Centre and The Muskham Ferry. Thanks to all who continue to use these spaces and walk with their children to and from the car parks at the start and end of the day. Please AVOID PARKING along or on the pavement on Nelson Lane or Main Street, as this causes a lot of congestion and obviously puts parents, carers and pupils at greater risk of injury. Parents and residents have commented on this – please help to keep our children and community safe.
To support this, we have reviewed the one-way system of dropping and picking up. Please continue to drop your child off at the front entrance in the morning and collect from the playground at the end of the day. We do, however, appreciate that some of you wish to leave school via the Front Entrance at the end of the day and so will revert to using the back gate and front door as exits after school.
Vigilance required - one parent has had a laptop stolen from her car whilst parked at the Rural Community Centre at the end of the school day. Please ensure all belongings are out of view to avoid opportunists breaking into vehicles. We have informed the community Centre committee and the local police are aware of this and our PCSO will be making visits around the site.
Students - we continue to have work experience placement students throughout the year and Mrs. Raynor has an ex-Muskham pupil in her class last week to find out more about teaching and education. We also hosted GTP pre-interview days for students from Bishop Grosseteste before Christmas and feedback from students has reinforced the message that we are a welcoming, friendly and caring school, providing a range of stimulating and challenging activities for out pupils. Staff involved said how useful it was to participate in professional development and to have a chance to reflect on our own practice.
We welcome back Mr. Peers in February, who will be working in Class 4.
School Dinners - The school menu has changed this term and includes different meal choices as well as increased vegetable portions, inline with guidance from the LA and government. Our Cook Supervisor is reviewing the meals choices to meet the agreed guidelines yet provide meals which the children enjoy and are healthy options for them. The kitchen staff continues to provide healthy, hot and nutritious meals for pupils who opt to have a school dinner. However, we appreciate that these changes will affect how pupils and parents feel about school meals. We aim to respond to pupils’ and parent feedback which has highlighted the need to ensure that school meals are continually reviewed. There have been positive comments from pupils, amidst concerns, and we will keep you informed as to further changes.
Midday Supervisors - as mentioned previously, Mrs. Todd is now the Senior Midday Supervisor, working with the other MDSAs to provide and enjoyable and safe lunchtime. In addition to Mrs Morris retiring, we said goodbye at Christmas to Mrs, Gregorick, who has taken up an administrative post at Tuxford primary School. Consequently we are now looking for expressions of interest for any parents or members of the community who would like to become Midday Supervisors, with a view to staring in the Summer Term. In the meantime, we can offer the chance to work as a relief midday supervisor in the second half of the Spring Term, to find out more about the role, prior to advertising the post.
Finally - This is a shorter yet busy term and the pupils will be involved in on-going assessments and tests as happens throughout the year. Please note the dates for Parents’ Evenings later this term and look out for dates of future meetings. The School and pupils appreciate the support and discussions which you have with your children and the involvement of the local and wider community to aid everyone’s learning.
C. Greatwood – Head Teacher.
Quick Links
Notes
Sainsburys Active Kids
From the 17th frebruary we will be collecting Sainsbury's vouchers for Active Kids. Please support us by collecting the vouchers and putting them in the box in the library.
Forms
Printable Holiday and Medicine Administration forms now available on the letters page.
