Thursday 15 December 2011

Newsletter No 14 14th December 2011

As we come to the end of another term I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the school’s success:
• the continued support of parents and carers
• the continuing good behaviour of our pupils
• a stable, committed and hardworking staff team
• the improved attendance
• the improved assessment outcomes across the school
• the high attendance by parents at school events including parents evening, workshops, Eid presentation, Cultural Diversity Events, Coffee Mornings, the Year 3 performance.
• the PTA pantomime
• the link and support of our Zambian partner school
• the commitment of our governing body
• the improved reputation of the school within the local authority.
• the volunteer programme

I would like to thank all parents who attended the coffee mornings and gave us honest feedback. As a staff team we are committed to responding to the feedback and addressing issues raised, and I will be organizing another such morning early next term.

Staffing Update Sadly, we will be saying a fond farewell to a key member of the senior staff team, Alison Dreese, assistant headteacher. After careful consideration, Alison will be taking early retirement from January 2012. I am sure you will join me in thanking her for the great contribution to the school, especially to Early Years and the development of young teachers. Her departure leaves a huge gap within the school. On behalf of all pupils, parents, staff and governors, I wish Alison all the very best for the future. She will continue her contact with the school as a consultant, and the carer of the 2 guinea pigs she has given to our Early Year pupils.

We will also be welcoming back Safiyyah Ikram from maternity leave. She will be providing cover and support across Years 1-5 on 3 days a week.



Attendance Figures for Last Week
RB 83.7% RG 89.7%
RR 75.2% RY 90%
Yr 1B 84.8% Yr 1G 93%
Yr 1R 92.3% Yr 1Y 92.3%
Yr 2B 95% Yr 2G 98.6%
Yr 2R 95% Yr 2Y 84.8%
Yr 3B 95.3% Yr 3G 93.7%
Yr 3R 96.2% Yr 3Y 94.4%
Yr 4B 97.3% Yr 4G 90.3%
Yr 4R 92.4% Yr 4Y 94.3%
Yr 5G 98.3% Yr 5R 95.9%
Yr 6B 93.7% Yr 6Y 93%

Attendance The class with the highest percentage is Year 2 Green with 98.6%! Well done Year 2 Green! The overall percentage for the whole school was 92.1%. PLEASE work with us to improve this to at least 95%.
Please make every effort to ensure your child attends school punctually and regularly.

Cranbrook Parenting Course We would like to invite parents and carers to take part in a 5 week parenting course at Cranbrook Primary School. The course will start on Thursday 12th January and will run for 5 weeks until Thursday 9th February from 9.00am – 11.00am. Parents will have the opportunity to meet other parents, explore new ideas for managing behaviour, raise children’s confidence and develop new skills and techniques. A certificate will be awarded to all participants and free refreshments will be provided. If you would like to enrol please come into the office to put your name down on the waiting list or contact Beverley the school’s parent support adviser for further information.

Reminders— Early Years (Nursery and Reception) performances to parents are tomorrow Thursday 15 December as follows:

Nursery AM, RB and RY will be at 10am.
Nursery PM, RG and RR will be at 2pm.

KS1 Christmas parties tomorrow.

Early Years parties on Friday.

Please take PE bags and lunchboxes home.

After School Club Please note there will be no After School Club on Friday 16th December.

Class Information Sessions Please make a note of the relevant dates for your child’s information session. These sessions will start at 9am.

Thank you for all the cards, presents and good wishes and a wonderful Christmas to you all.
Happy New Year!

Have a restful and enjoyable break. We look forward to seeing you all on January 3rd.

15th Dec Early Years Christmas Performance
15th Dec KS1 parties from 1pm
15th Dec Year 1 Red to Kenneth More Theatre
16th Dec Nursery and Reception Christmas Parties
16th Dec Last day of term
3rd Jan School re-opens

Class Information Sessions
Thurs 5th Jan Year 6 (please note change of date)
Tue 10th Jan Year 5
Wed 11th Jan Year 4
Thu 12th Jan Year 3
Fri 13th Jan Year 2
Mon 16th Jan Year 1
Tue 17th Jan Reception
15th Jan Deadline for Reception Applications Forms for September 2012 to be submitted

Monday 12 December 2011

Newsletter No 13 7th December 2011

PTA Christmas Pantomime All the children saw the Pantomime on Monday and a great time was had by all. We raised £150.00 from the donations you kindly gave. A big thank-you to the PTA committee members for organizing this event.
School Christmas Dinner This is taking place this Friday 9th December. If you haven’t returned your meal choice and money, please provide a packed lunch for your child.

Attendance Figures for Last Week
RB 88.8% RG 96.5%
RR 91.1% RY 94.4%
Yr 1B 94.8% Yr 1G 90%
Yr 1R 89.7% Yr 1Y 95.8%
Yr 2B 91.7% Yr 2G 92.2%
Yr 2R 95% Yr 2Y 91.8%
Yr 3B 95.8% Yr 3G 100%
Yr 3R 97.4% Yr 3Y 100%
Yr 4B 92.1% Yr 4G 97.4%
Yr 4R 88.4% Yr 4Y 94.2%
Yr 5G 94.2% Yr 5R 98.3%
Yr 6B 94.2% Yr 6Y 97.1%

Attendance The classes with the highest percentages are Year 3 Green and 3 Yellow with 100%! Well done to both classes! The overall percentage for the whole school was 94.2%. PLEASE work with us to improve this to at least 95%.
Please make every effort to ensure your child attends school punctually and regularly.

Car Park I am increasingly concerned regarding the despicable behaviour and dangerous parking of some parents. Just this morning, a car whose registration is LN10 ZWD drove in the car park the wrong way, over a curb breaking a plant and squashing a bollard! I would urge those guilty of this to show more consideration in future.

Holidays during term time In line with school and local authority policy please note I will not be authorising any holidays, and you will be fined if you decide to go ahead.

Applications for Reception 2012 For parents applying for a place in Reception 2012 a system has been set up so that parents are able to complete their applications using the online eAdmissions system. The system is very quick and easy to use. The link to the eAdmissions page on Redbridge-i—www.redbridge.gov.uk/eadmissions.

School Meal Price Increase Please note that with effect from 3rd January 2012, school dinners will cost £1.99. Please make sure you send in dinner money in advance and in an envelope (not loose) marked clearly with your child's name and class.
No Money = No School Dinner ISS, the catering company will no longer provide a dinner for children whose parents are in arrears. PLEASE ensure you pay in advance, so that we don’t have children going hungry.

Christmas Parties Party clothes can be worn to school on the day of your child’s Christmas party. If children wish to bring in party food, please send in 1 carton of drink, 1 packet of crisps and 1 other item ONLY, in a bag labelled with your child’s name and class.
Wednesday 14th Dec—KS2 parties at 1.30pm
Thursday 15th Dec—KS1 parties at 1.00pm
Friday 16th Dec—AM—Nursery,
PM—Nursery and Reception


Christmas Performances Year 3 performance to parents is Thursday 8th December at 2.15pm (tomorrow).

Early Years (Nursery and Reception) performances to parents are on Thursday 15 December as follows:
Nursery AM, RB and RY will be at 10am.
Nursery PM, RG and RR will be at 2pm.

Class Information Sessions Please make a note of the relevant dates for your child’s information session, as these will take place in the second week after Christmas.

Christmas Card Post Box Children are invited to post their cards in the boxes available on each floor, so that Year 5/6 pupils can deliver them. Please make sure the class name is on the envelope.

Cranbrook Parenting Course We would like to invite parents and carers to take part in a 5 week parenting course at Cranbrook Primary School. The course will start on Thursday 12th January and will run for 5 weeks until Thursday 9th February from 9.00am – 11.00am. Parents will have the opportunity to meet other parents, explore new ideas for managing behaviour, raise children’s confidence and develop new skills and techniques. A certificate will be awarded to all participants and free refreshments will be provided. If you would like to enrol please come into the office to put your name down on the waiting list or contact Beverley the school’s parent support adviser for further information.

End of Year Coffee Morning We would like to invite all parents and carers to come along to our end of year coffee morning. This will be held on Tuesday 13th December from 9am – 10.30am in the small hall. There will be free refreshments, free beauty treatments, a free raffle and a chance to meet other parents, along with some of the staff and to have some fun. Under fives are welcome too! We look forward to seeing you there!

8th Dec Year 3 performance
9th Dec School Christmas Dinner
12th Dec Year 1 Green to Kenneth More Theatre
13th Dec Year 1 Blue to Kenneth More Theatre
13th Dec Year 5G to Redbridge Museum
13th Dec Coffee Morning 9am-10.30am
14th Dec Year 1 Yellow to Kenneth More Theatre
14th Dec KS2 parties from 1.30pm
15th Dec Early Years Christmas Performance
15th Dec KS1 parties from 1pm
15th Dec Year 1 Red to Kenneth More Theatre
16th Dec Nursery and Reception Christmas Parties
16th Dec Last day of term
3rd Jan School re-opens

Class Information Sessions
Mon 9th Jan Year 6
Tue 10th Jan Year 5
Wed 11th Jan Year 4
Thu 12th Jan Year 3
Fri 13th Jan Year 2
Mon 16th Jan Year 1
Tue 17th Jan Reception
15th Jan Deadline for Reception Applications Forms for September 2012 to be submitted

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Newsletter No 12 29th Nov 2011

Change of Morning Routine Thank you for your support with this change of routine. Overall, the start of the day is much improved. However, I would like to clarify that the school times have not changed. We are simply addressing the issues of congestion, bad weather, punctuality and the pressure on the car park. The gates will not open any earlier than 8.45am. Please also help us by sending in money for trips or arrears in envelopes that are clearly labelled with your child’s name and class, so that these get to the correct collection box and can be handed in to the senior member of staff on duty at the gate and/or doorways.

Attendance Figures for Last Week
RB 88.3% RG 99.3%
RR 86.8% RY 87.9%
Yr 1B 94.8% Yr 1G 93.3%
Yr 1R 87.6% Yr 1Y 88.6%
Yr 2B 96.7% Yr 2G 94.1%
Yr 2R 91.3% Yr 2Y 96.9%
Yr 3B 96% Yr 3G 94.7%
Yr 3R 93.6% Yr 3Y 95.2%
Yr 4B 96% Yr 4G 98.9%
Yr 4R 88% Yr 4Y 92.7%
Yr 5G 95.5% Yr 5R 95.1%
Yr 6B 98.3% Yr 6Y 97%

Attendance The class with the highest percentage is Reception Green with 99.3%! Well done to Reception Green! The overall percentage for the whole school was 93.6% which has dipped for the last 2 weeks. PLEASE work with us to improve this to at least 95%.
Please make every effort to ensure your child attends school punctually and regularly.

Basketball Tournament 4 Children from KS2 represented Cranbrook at the Redbridge Basketball Tournament. They won their opening match and continued to play in a sporting and competitive manner throughout. Well done to Santana, Sana, Arnas and Andrea!

Christmas Performances Early Years (Nursery and Reception) performances to parents are on Thursday 15 December.
Year 3 performance to parents is on Thursday 8th December at 2.15pm

PTA Christmas Pantomime The PTA have organised and paid for a Christmas pantomime as an end of year treat for all pupils. This will be held on Monday 5th December 2011 and will also be a non uniform day with a fancy dress theme. A voluntary donation of £1 for each child would be kindly appreciated for future such events for the children. The following changes will take place on the 5th. Nursery will be closed for the whole day and both am and pm children will be invited to attend the pantomime in the morning from 9.45am – 11am, where they will watch the pantomime with all key stage 1 pupils. Key stage 2 pupils will watch the pantomime in the afternoon from 1.45pm – 3.45pm and school will finish at 3.45pm (for key stage 2 pupils only). The extra curricular after school clubs (i.e. cricket, tennis and netball) will be cancelled and parents will be reimbursed all payments for that day. The Cranbrook after school club will operate as normal. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the PTA for organising and paying for this end of year event for all pupils.

Cranbrook Parenting Course We would like to invite parents and carers to take part in a 5 week parenting course at Cranbrook Primary School. The course will start on Thursday 12th January and will run for 5 weeks until Thursday 9th February from 9.00am – 11.00am. Parents will have the opportunity to meet other parents, explore new ideas for managing behaviour, raise children’s confidence and develop new skills and techniques. A certificate will be awarded to all participants and free refreshments will be provided. If you would like to enrol please come into the office to put your name down on the waiting list or contact Beverley the school’s parent support adviser for further information.

End of Year Coffee Morning We would like to invite all parents and carers to come along to our end of year coffee morning. This will be held on Tuesday 13th December from 9am – 10.30am in the small hall. There will be free refreshments, free beauty treatments, a free raffle and a chance to meet other parents, along with some of the staff and to have some fun. Under fives are welcome too! We look forward to seeing you there!

2nd Dec Year 2 Maths Workshop 9am
5th Dec PTA Christmas Panto
8th Dec Year 3 performance
9th Dec School Christmas Dinner
12th Dec Year 1 Green to Kenneth More Theatre
13th Dec Year 1 Blue to Kenneth More Theatre
13th Dec Year 5G to Redbridge Museum
14th Dec Year 1 Yellow to Kenneth More Theatre
15th Dec Early Years Christmas Performance
15th Dec Year 1 Red to Kenneth More Theatre
16th Dec Last day of term
3rd Jan School re-opens

Class Information Sessions
Mon 9th Jan Year 5
Tue 10th Jan Year 6
Wed 11th Jan Year 4
Thu 12th Jan Year 3
Fri 13th Jan Year 2
Mon 16th Jan Year 1
Tue 17th Jan Reception
15th Jan Deadline for Reception Applications Forms for September 2012 to be submitted

Newsletter No 11 23rd Nov 2011

Change to the start of the school day from Monday 28th November In order to ensure a smooth start to the day, address the issue of congestion in the playground and reduce the pressure in the car park, from Monday all children can come straight into their class from 8.45am. Teachers will no longer come down to collect the children but will be ready in class to receive them. The aim of this is to ensure a steady flow through the car park, avoid delays on the part of the teacher, get children into a warm environment and improve punctuality. Designated staff will be appointed to the doorways to ensure security and safety. Teachers will bring the class down at the end of the day as usual. I would ask for your support in ensuring that this goes smoothly next Monday onwards.

Attendance Figures for Last Week
RB 91.7% RG 98.6%
RR 84.2% RY 83.1%
Yr 1B 98.6% Yr 1G 95.1%
Yr 1R 93.3% Yr 1Y 88.3%
Yr 2B 92.7% Yr 2G 93.1%
Yr 2R 96.9% Yr 2Y 95.2%
Yr 3B 97.2% Yr 3G 93.3%
Yr 3R 95.5% Yr 3Y 100%
Yr 4B 96% Yr 4G 86.7%
Yr 4R 89.9% Yr 4Y 90.3%
Yr 5G 96.5% Yr 5R 98%
Yr 6B 94.7% Yr 6Y 97.9%

Attendance The class with the highest percentage is Year 3 Yellow with 100%! Well done to Year 100%! The overall percentage for the whole school was 93.6%.
Please make every effort to ensure your child attends school punctually and regularly.

Primary Transition Workshops for Parents of Children in Nursery If you are a parent whose child attends Cranbrook Nursery then we would like to invite you to a form filling session to help you to apply for a Primary School for your child. The workshop will take place on Tuesday 29th November 2011 and there will be two sessions available. The first will take place in the morning from 9am – 10.30am and the second will take place in the afternoon from 2pm – 3.30pm in the small hall. Please note that the deadline for the submission of all Primary School applications is Sunday 15th January 2012. Applications can also be completed online by logging onto www.redbridge.gov.uk If you have any further enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Beverley who is the schools’ parent support adviser.

School Telephone Number Would parents/carers please make sure they dial the correct telephone number when contacting Cranbrook 0208 518 2562 and not the lady whose number has the same digits, but not in the same order.

Reading Recovery Team Cranbrook volunteer programme Volunteers are required for the Cranbrook reading recovery team. A good understanding of written and spoken English will be required for these positions for at least 2 afternoons per week. Please submit a request for volunteering form which is available from the school reception if interested.

Christmas Pantomime The PTA Christmas pantomime will be taking place on Monday 5th December for the whole school. This will require some small changes to the school day, please see next weeks newsletter for further details.


29th Nov Primary Transition Workshop
29th Nov Yr 5 Red to Redbridge Museum
29th Nov Yr 2B/2R Trip to Fire Brigade Museum
2nd Dec Year 2 Maths Workshop 9am
2nd Dec Yr 5 Green to Redbridge Museum
12th Dec Year 1 Green to Kenneth More Theatre
13th Dec Year 1 Blue to Kenneth More Theatre
14th Dec Year 1 Yellow to Kenneth More Theatre
15th Dec Year 1 Red to Kenneth More Theatre
16th Dec Last day of term
3rd Jan School re-opens
15th Jan Deadline for Reception Applications Forms for September 2012 to be submitted