Friday 30 September 2011

Newsletter No 4 28th Sept 2011

Dahlicious Dress Up Day This Friday 30th September, the children are invited to come into school dressed up as a character from any of Roald Dahl’s fantastic stories or simply wear his favourite colour—yellow. This will cost each child £1 donation and all the money raised will go to Roald Dahl’s Children’s Charity which helps raise money for children living with serious illnesses to make their lives a little bit better. We hope you will join in our Dahlicious Dress Up Day!
Attendance Figures for Last Week
Yr 1R 100 % Yr 1G 98.6%
Yr 1Y 97.5% Yr 1B 97.6%
Yr 2R 98% Yr 2G 94.3%
Yr 2Y 99.3% Yr 2B 97.6%
Yr 3R 95.4% Yr 3G 98.6%
Yr 3Y 97.9% Yr 3B 97.9%
Yr 4R 97.2% Yr 4G 99.3%
Yr 4Y 97.9% Yr 4B 94.8%
Yr 5R 95.5% Yr 5G 99.3%
Yr 6Y 100% Yr 6B 100%
Attendance The classes with the highest percentage are 1 Red, 6 Blue and 6 Yellow all with 100%. Well done to all classes! The overall percentage for the whole school was 97.7%.
Congestion in the Playground To ease the congestion in the mornings, we will ring a bell in the mornings at 8.50am, so that parents can stand back to let the children get to their class lines and the teacher.

Secondary Transition for Year 6 pupilsPlease ensure that you make the most of the opportunity to visit the secondary school of your choice on the relevant open days/evening. A full list of dates is printed in the secondary transfer brochure. We shall be holding a transition workshop on Thursday 13th October from 9am-10.30am for all year 6 parents who require assistance in completing their secondary school application forms. Forms can also be completed online by logging on to www.redbridge.gov.uk/eAdmissions. All application forms should be submitted to Lynton House by Friday 21st October 2011.

After School Club The after school clubs have proved very popular again this term and we have aimed to give everyone who requested a place by last Monday’s deadline a place in at least one of the clubs. There continues to be some spaces available in the following clubs and if you would like a place please ask at the main office to be added to the list. Spaces will be given ana first come, first served way!
oCricket (Years 4,5 and 6) Monday
oFootball skills (Years 3,4 and 5)

After half term we will be starting some further clubs such as the cookery club for Reception and we will send out further information closer to half term.

Timings of the school day Just a reminder to all parents the timings of the school day
Nursery AM 8.45—11.45 PM 12.30-15.30
Reception to Yr 2 9.00-12.00 13.00-15.15
Year 3 to Year 6 8.55– 12.20 13.20-15.20
Please support us by being punctual.

Parent Governor Vacancy We have vacancies for parent governors. All parents are eligible to apply and are requested to write to me outlining why you would be a good parent governor. Please be aware that this role is voluntary and unpaid. If you are interested please collect a form from the school office.

Diversity Week Our annual diversity week celebrations will take place week beginning the 17th October. This week was designed to raise awareness and involve pupils, staff and parents in promoting equality and diversity. A series of events will take place during this week. Parents will receive letters informing them of these events. We have invited an African singer, a Balkon music/dance group, a Bollywood dancer and Zulu Nation performers. Pupils will need to come dressed up on the day these events take place. We look forward to your support and co-operation.

Fire Evacuation The unscheduled/accidental evacuation earlier this week raised a few issues as it occurred at the end of the school day. I would ask all parents to ensure that if this happens again, you remain with your child and accompany his/her class lining up alongside them rather than crowding round, so that we can quickly check that all children are accounted for.
Reminder for Trips Please note the dates opposite for forthcoming trips.

Photographs Those children who were unable to have their photographs taken yesterday will be able to have them taken when the photographer is back in school on 18th October.
Parking It has been brought to my attention that the following vehicles, a dark blue Toyota Jeep EF56 XXK and a silver Lexus V409 MGU blocked the entrance to the main car park. Please be more considerate when bringing and collecting your children to school.

30th Sep Dahlicious Dress Up Day
4th Oct Yr 6 Trip to
Redbridge Museum
6th Oct Yr 1 Trip to National Portrait
Gallery
6th/7th Oct Year 2 to Redbridge Museum
11th/12th Oct Yr 3 Trip to Redbridge Museum
12th Oct Open School
13th Oct Secondary Transfer workshop for Yr 6 parents
13th/14th Oct Yr 4 Trip to Redbridge Museum
18th/19th Oct Yr 1 Trip to Redbridge Museum
18th Oct Bollywood Dance visit
19th Oct Balkan Dance visit
20th Oct Zulu Nation visit
21st Oct Year 5 Trip to RedbridgeMuseum
21st Oct Deadline for Yr 6 Secondary Transfer Forms to be submitted
24th-28th Oct Half term
31st Oct School re-opens
9th Nov Year 5 Trip to British Museum
11th Nov Yr 5 Eid Performance
16th Dec Last day of term
3rd Jan School re-opens

Friday 23 September 2011

Newsletter No 3 21st Sept 2011

Breakfast/After School Club This is becoming very popular. If you are interested in places, please contact Esther regarding the Breakfast Club and Wendy regarding the After School Club.

Smooth Transition Year 1 and 2 Parents please help by standing well back from the picket fence at the beginning and the end of the day.

WOW! Fantastic Attendance Figures for Last Week
Yr 1R 95.2% Yr 1G 98.6%
Yr 1Y 98.6% Yr 1B 97.9%
Yr 2R 98% Yr 2G 95%
Yr 2Y 99.3% Yr 2B 97.2%
Yr 3R 95% Yr 3G 96.2%
Yr 3Y 100% Yr 3B 100%
Yr 4R 91% Yr 4G 98.6%
Yr 4Y 97.9% Yr 4B 93.1%
Yr 5R 97.9% Yr 5G 98.6%
Yr 6Y 100% Yr 6B 100%

Attendance The classes with the highest percentage are 3 Blue, 3 Yellow, 6 Blue and 6 Yellow all with 100%. Well done to all classes! The overall percentage for the whole school was 97.4%.
Year 4R and 4B we need an improvement. REMEMBER Good Punctuality is as important as good attendance. Let’s all keep up the good work!
IF YOUR CHILD’S CLASS PERCENTAGE IS BELOW 95%, PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE HE/SHE ATTENDS REGULARLY.


Secondary Transition for Year 6 pupilsPlease ensure that you make the most of the opportunity to visit the secondary school of your choice on the relevant open days/evening. A full list of dates is printed in the secondary transfer brochure. We shall be holding a transition workshop on Thursday 13th October from 9am-10.30am for all year 6 parents who require assistance in completing their secondary school application forms. Forms can also be completed online. All application forms should be submitted to the school office by Friday 14th October. These shall then be submitted to Lynton house by the school on parents’ behalf. Alternatively, parents should submit their own application form to Lynton House by Friday 21st October.

Photographs Please ensure children are in full uniform on Tuesday 27th September for their individual and sibling photos. Siblings will only be photographed together if parents return their slips.

Photographing pupils From time to time we take photographs in school for displays and/or the school website. If you object to your child being photographed, please let us know in writing as soon as possible.


Open School 3.30-4.15pm 12th Oct Once again, parents are invited in to walk through the school and take a look at your child’s class books. Please make a note of the date.

Security/Safety Some parents continue to park dangerously and/or wedge the school gates open. PLEASE do not do this is it risks the safety of our children. Thank you to all who show continued support and consideration.

Volunteer Programme We would like to thank all applicants who have applied to volunteer at Cranbrook School. We have had a huge response and all applicants have now been placed on a waiting list and shall be contacted in due course. Due to a huge response the waiting list for volunteers has now closed. This shall re-open next term for those who wish to apply to volunteer in the New Year.

Zumba Classes Zumba classes will be starting at Cranbrook School from Thursday 22nd September from 4.15-5.15pm in the main hall. Classes will be held every Thursday at a cost of £5 per session. Discounts are available for block bookings. Zumba is a latin dance fitness programme combining salsa, meringue, soca, flamenco, bollywood and belly dancing. Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome to come along to keep fit and have fun!

27th Sep Individual/Sibling photographs
5th Oct Yr 6 Trip to Redbridge Museum
7th Oct Yr 2 Trip to Redbridge Museum
11th/12th Oct Yr 3 Trip to Redbridge Museum
12th Oct Open School
13th Oct Secondary Transfer workshop for Yr 6 parents
13th/14th Oct Yr 4 Trip to Redbridge Museum
18th Oct Yr 1G/1R Trip to Ilford Museum
18th Oct Yr 1B/1Y Trip to Ilford Museum
21st Oct Deadline for Yr 6 Secondary Transfer Forms to be submitted
24th-28th Oct Half term
31st Oct School re-opens
9th Nov Yr 5 trip to Britsh Museum
11th Nov Yr 5 Eid Performance
16th Dec Last day of term
3rd Jan School re-opens

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Newsletter No 2 14th September 2011

School Successes and Priorities Last year we achieved many successes that we are proud to share through our new letterhead. These include achieving the following:
• Healthy Schools award
• Sustainable Schools award
• Financial management Standards in Schools
• Olympic Get Set Go
This year our priorities for school improvement are:
1. Personalizing Learning
2. Building a Community
3. Developing People
Extra Curricular Clubs Please ensure that you return the reply slip by the end of this week, so that places can be allocated prior to the clubs starting during week beginning 26th Sept.
Breakfast/ After School Childcare Provision We still have a few places available for this paid for facility to support working parents. If you are interested, please contact the school office.
Yr 5 Swimming There will be a letter coming out regarding this tomorrow for Yr 5 parents. Please ensure that permission slips are signed and returned by the end of Friday. Please note, Swimming lessons are an entitlement for every child and no one can be withdrawn from these lessons.

Uniform Earlier this week I met with Mr Shah from ‘Rupens’, the shop that now sells our school uniform, to share parents’ concerns about the increase in cost. Unfortunately I was not successful in getting a reduction in price other than the white polo shirts, which he will sell 1 for £9.50 and 2 for £12. I remain committed to encouraging all parents to send their child to school in uniform, I would compromise on accepting that the white polo shirts without the school logo can be worn, along with plain grey cardigans/jumpers, so that our uniform colours remain in place.
Chicken Eggs Our chickens have now started to lay eggs. Staff have already tried these, and parents are invited to make a small donation and collect them as well. Please note, only adults can eat them.

Attendance Figures for Last Week
Yr 1R 85.2% Yr 1G 95%
Yr 1Y 89.7% Yr 1B 93.3%
Yr 2R 95.8% Yr 2G 93.1%
Yr 2Y 94.8% Yr 2B 94.8%
Yr 3R 94.8% Yr 3G 100%
Yr 3Y 96.6% Yr 3B 91.7%
Yr 4R 94.8% Yr 4G 91.7%
Yr 4Y 82.8% Yr 4B 93.1%
Yr 5R 100% Yr 5G 89.2%
Yr 6Y 96.6% Yr 6B 98.3%


Attendance The classes with the highest percentage are 3 Green and 5 Red with 100%. Well done to both classes! The overall percentage for the whole school was 93.6%
IF YOUR CHILD’S CLASS PERCENTAGE IS BELOW 95%, PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE HE/SHE ATTENDS REGULARLY.

Class Information Sessions Thus far, we have had a good turnout for each of these sessions. If you were not able to attend, please make a note of the curriculum overview that was sent out to all parents.
Open School 3.30-4.15pm 12th Oct Once again, parents are invited in to walk through the school and take a look at your child’s class books. Please make a note of the date.

Class Information Sessions
Thurs 15th Sept All Year 1 classes
Fri 16th Sept All Year 5 classes
27th Sep Individual/Sibling photographs
5th Oct Yr 6 Trip to Redbridge Museum
7th Oct Yr 2 Trip to Redbridge Museum
11th/12th Oct Yr 3 Trip to Redbridge Museum
12th Oct Open School
13th Oct Secondary Transfer workshop for Yr 6 parents
13th/14th Oct Yr 4 Trip to Redbridge Museum
18th Oct Yr 1G/1R Trip to Ilford Museum
18th Oct Yr 1B/1Y Trip to Ilford Museum
21st Oct Deadline for Yr 6 Secondary Transfer Forms to be submitted
24th-28th Oct Half term
31st Oct School re-opens
9th Nov Yr 5 trip to British Museum
11th Nov Yr 5 Eid Performance
16th Dec Last day of term
3rd Jan School re-opens

Newsletter No 1 8th Sept 2011

A very warm welcome back! I do hope that you had an enjoyable and restful summer break. It has been lovely to see the children return with such enthusiasm and energy.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our new pupils , parents and staff a happy and successful time at Cranbrook.
Staffing Update Mark Evans is currently on paternity leave till 19th September, as he is now the proud dad of Olivia. I am sure you will all join me in congratulating him and his wife.
Ian will also be returning on 19th Sept. Parents of class 5G, please read the letter that was sent to you today explaining his absence.
A letter has also been sent to the parents of 1G about John’s absence.
We hope to see all the above mentioned very soon.

School Motto Having spent time considering the feedback from parents and children over the past year, the staff team has worked together over the last 3 days and agreed the following as our school motto: ‘Our Children Today, Our Future Tomorrow’.

Given the recent riots that distressed all of us, I am sure you will support our belief that it is crucial for home and school to continue to work in partnership to ensure that our children grow and develop into responsible and respectful citizens of the future. The motto will appear on all future communication.

Cranbrook Values We have also spent time considering the Olympic Values and have adopted them as our own because they truly reflect what we hold dear in our daily work and are the values, which we would want all our children to adhere to:
Respect Excellence Equality Friendship Courage Determination Inspiration

These values will be the focus of many assemblies and class discussions throughout the year and I would ask you, as parents, to explore these with your children.

Uniform As always I would ask for your support in ensuring that children follow the school’s uniform policy each day and wear no jewellery to school.
Please note that uniform is no longer being sold via the school. I am aware that some of you have concerns about the price of Rupens, the shop that now sells our school uniform. Unfortunately the shop owner has put the cost in line with the other 22 schools that he sells for and as we have never raised our costs, I realize that this has come as a surprise to many, including us!, as we did not foresee such a steep increase.

Clubs A letter will be sent out on Monday 12th September. Clubs will begin week beginning 26th Sept.

Class Information Sessions These will begin on Monday and are an opportunity for parents to hear what is planned for the year group. The sessions will take place at 9-9.30am in a classroom of each year group. I hope that you will take the time to attend.
Please make a note of when it is your child’s class’ turn.
These do not apply to Reception and Yr 6 parents as they had meetings in the summer.

Dinner Money Please note this is £1.95 a day or £ 9.75 per week. Please send this in a clearly labeled, sealed envelope to the school office.
Attendance and Punctuality Please ensure that all children in Rec-Yr 6 arrive in the school by 8.50am. All absences must be reported to the school office via a letter or phone call.

As we have waiting lists at all year groups, children who take holidays during term time are likely to lose their place at Cranbrook.

Class Information SessionsMonday 12th Sept All Year 4 classes
Tues 13th Sept All Year 3 classes
Wed 14th Sept All Year 2 classes
Thurs 15th Sept All Year 1 classes
Fri 16th Sept All Year 5 classes
Tues 27th Sept Individual/Sibling photographs
5th Oct Yr 6 Trip to Redbridge Museum
7th Oct Yr 2 Trip to Redbridge Museum
11th/12th Yr 3 Trip to Redbridge Museum
13th/14th Yr 4 Trip to Redbridge Museum
18th Oct Yr 1G/1R Trip to Ilford Museum
18th Oct Yr 1B/1Y Trip to Ilford Museum
24th-28th Oct Half term
31st Oct School re-opens
9th Nov Yr 5 trip to British Museum
11th Nov Yr 5 Eid Performance
16th Dec Last day of term
3rd Jan School re-opens