Newsletter No 1 6th Sept 2012

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.

Staffing Update New class teachers: Julie Currey (RR), Claire Button (1B), Aine Finnegan (2R), Preeti Jangali (3Y), Rizwan (4Y), Deidre Blaney (4R) and Katriona Walsh (5B)

HLTA: Brian Molley

Graduate teaching programme student: Sam Wilkes (Year 1)

New midday assistants: Zamia Mahmud, Enibokun Adeleye, Meenakshi Kaushal and Nadia Abbas

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our new pupils, parents and staff a happy and successful time at Cranbrook.

Staff Changes As you may know Mark Hemsley, deputy head teacher, was seconded to Wansted Church of England Primary School in April as an interim Headteacher. He has since taken up the post of substantive Headteacher and will not be returning. I am sure you will all join me in congratulating him.

Congratulations also to Clare Tapper who got married during the summer break and will now be Clare Shaw.

Congratulations to Aaron Butterfield-Singh (2Y) for achieving his gold award. Unfortunately, his name was not announced in assembly at the end of last term.

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. Uniform can be purchased from Rupens (98/100 Meads Lane, Seven Kings, Essex IG3 8QN).

School Values On our return to school on Tuesday we had a very productive staff training day where we received training on Health and Safety, Child Protection, Behaviour Management and revisited our school values and motto. Can I remind all parents to continue providing their invaluable support to promote our school values (which are listed below).

Respect, Excellence, Equality, Friendship,

Courage, Determination & Inspiration

School Improvement Priorities We have had many successes in 2011-12 and we hope to continue this in 2012-13 by focusing on

1. Personalised learning

2. Developing people

3. Building the community

We have many exciting plans to celebrate the school’s five year anniversary and a number of other events, so watch this space!

Year 5 Swimming Pupils will be beginning swimming lessons this term. Two classes will be going this term, one in the spring term and the last class in the summer term. A letter will be sent to parents shortly. I would like to remind you that swimming lessons are an entitlement for every child and no one can be withdrawn from these lessons.

Year Group Information Sessions These sessions 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 the main hall. Please enter through the car park entrance near the school reception. I hope that you will take the time to attend.

Please make a note when it is your child’s year groups’ turn.

Dinner Money Please note this is £2 a day or £10 per week. All monies must be paid in advance at the beginning of the week to the school office. Envelopes for dinner money are available from the school office which must be clearly labelled with your child’s name and class.

If your child’s account is in arrears from last term, your child will not be able to have a school lunch. It is your responsibility to ensure that you send your child to school with a packed lunch until full payment of the arrears have been made.

Attendance and Punctuality Please ensure that all children in Reception to Year 6 arrive in the school by 8.45am when they can go straight to class where their teacher will be in attendance. 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.

Clubs A letter will be sent out next week advising you of the provisions available and when they will be starting.

Year 6 Transition Booklets These booklets will be sent home to Year 6 parents next week.

Breakfast/After School Childcare Provision We have places available for this paid facility to support working parents. If you are interested, please contact the school office.

Clothes Recycling Please could you to have a root around your wardrobes and pop any clean unwanted clothes into our recycling bin which is located just inside the main entrance to the school.

By donating some of your old summer clothes you could make some money for the school!


Key Dates

26th Oct Eid (school open)

29th Oct-2nd Nov Half term

5th Nov School re-opens

13th Dec Year 1 to Kenneth Moore Theatre

14th Dec Year 1 to Kenneth Moore Theatre

18th Dec Year 1 to Kenneth Moore Theatre

21st Dec Last day of term

24th Dec– 7th Jan Christmas Break

8th Jan 2013 School re-opens

15th Feb Inset (school closed to pupils)

18th- 22nd Feb Half-term

25th Feb School re-opens

17th - 22nd Mar Year 6 residential trip to Glasbury

29th Mar -12th Apr Spring Break

15th April School re-opens

6th May Bank Holiday

24th May Inset (school closed to pupils)

27th -31st May Half-term

24th July Last day of term

25th July Inset (school closed to pupils)