newsletter

Newsletter 9
Friday 12th March 2010

THANK YOU TO…
Tracey Banks, Vivienne Mackay-Hope, Dave Pope, Katherine Holder, Veronica Sadler, Alison Barry, Mark Durston -Sweet, Sara Haberfield, James Flynn and John and to everyone else who gave their time last Friday (and since) to create our wildlife garden in the school field. A lot of work was done; we now have a pond area, old tyres have been turned into planters and we are about to have a path put in. I’m sure there were a lot of aching limbs last Saturday! We are really looking forward to seeing the area become established; our plan is for groups of children to use it as a study area.

BUILDING PROJECT
You may well have noticed the planning application notice that has been posted on the school gates this week for the installation of Velux roof lights above the hall.
The Governing Body has been keen to provide more space for group teaching. In our budget allocation, we have money that can only be spent on building projects to enhance the school environment. We have gained funding to enable us to have a mezzanine over the hall, replacing the store room with a flexible group space. The construction of this building project will start at the beginning of Term 6 so that it can be ready for the new school year in September.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ‘CLEVER’?
We are thinking about how we create the climate for learning for our children so that they feel secure and confident to learn. We are looking in particular at fixed and growth mindsets (more information about this to follow.) School Council met following Class Council meetings and discussed what it means to be clever. This is what they said:

Is being clever the same as being good at something?
Everyone is clever in different ways and good at different things
You are not a good learner if you find everything easy
Being clever is about trying hard
You practice a lot to do something well
It’s not about just knowing a lot
You are clever if you get support from other people
You are clever if you are confident
You are clever if you can ask for help when you need it
You can use different strategies to help you
Clever people don’t boast or put people down

DR BIKE SESSION
On Thursday 25th March, Jim Immeson from the ‘Bike It’ project is coming into school for the morning with a bike mechanic to work with Years 1, 2 and 3. They will talk about the different parts of bicycles and the general maintenance of them. Jim will also discuss the correct height of saddles and handlebars and the importance of a good fitting cycle helmet. Your child can bring in their bike to have it checked by Dr Bike on this day.

PARENTAL ADVICE FOLDER
We have a blue folder in the lobby called the Triple P (Positive Parenting Programme) file which is full of advice, strategies and tips for every stage of parenting. For example, there’s a really good section on raising resilient children.
If you would like to borrow the file, please sign it out from the office and take it home to have a read through! Sign it back in to the office when you return it. You are very welcome to photocopy any pages that you are interested in, but please do not remove any from the file.

LEARNER OF THE WEEK
Each week, every class votes for someone who they feel has tried really hard in an aspect of their learning. This week’s stars are:
Class One: Amelia
Class Two: Ruby
Class Three: Morgan
Class Four: Katie

CVS QUIZ NIGHT
On Wednesday 24th March, Chew Valley School is hosting a Quiz Night in Chew Valley School Hall. Doors open 7.00pm, quiz starts 7.30pm. Tickets are only £7.00 to include a delicious Ploughman’s supper. Wine, beer and soft drinks for sale. Order your tickets from School reception ASAP - Tel 01275 332272. Don’t delay! Advance tickets only – no ‘on the door’ tickets available.

MOVIE NIGHT
Friends will be holding a Movie Night for children on Friday 19th March between 6.00-7.30p.m Classes Three and Four can vote for a PG film on the night, and children in Classes One and Two will watch a U film. Tickets will be £3.00.

CAKE/SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE…
…will be taking place on Friday 26th March. Any donations of (preferably homemade) cakes from Class Three families would be gratefully received.
If you have any second hand school uniform or Rainbow/Brownie uniform that you are happy to donate for sale, please bring in beforehand by 25th at the latest.

Dates for your diaries:

Easter Egg Hunt in school hours £1.00 per child on Thursday 1st April
Children's Hawaiian/Beach-themed Disco - Friday 18th June, Old School Rooms
May Fayre, Sat 22nd May
Upcoming 80s night - date TBC
Next Friends meeting, Weds 31st March, 8.30 in the Queens Arms, if anyone fancies coming along, all welcome.

YEAR TWO SATS MEETING…
…will take place in Class Two on Thursday 25th March at 3.30p.m. There will be a crèche available.

SCHOOL ACTION GROUP
I am still looking for more new parent members to join the School Action Group; we meet once every couple of months to discuss different aspects of education and our school. If you are interested in finding out more, and could make a meeting on a Wednesday afternoon, please contact me. Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday 21st April.

POP ‘N’ GO
Pop 'n' Go would like to thank everyone for supporting their new business. From next week, for two weeks only, Pop 'n' Go will be hiding golden tickets in randomly selected Pop 'n' Go bags. If you find one of the golden tickets, come to Class Four and you will receive a special prize! Prizes include: free popcorn for a day, two days or even a week or a VIP visit to Pop 'n' Go Headquarters to have a go at making some popcorn with the Pop 'n' Go team .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Amelia (5) Cameron (11) Mollie (8)

Best wishes, Annie Spencer

10 things you can do to help your child learn

1. Give your child confidence through lots of praise and encouragement.
As a parent, you have tremendous power to strengthen your child's confidence - and confidence is vital to learning.
Provide specific praise that focuses on a particular aspect of their work. Comments such as "I like the way you have..." is more effective than "You're clever!".

2. Read to, and with, your child as much as possible.
As part of the National Year of Reading the Government is encouraging parents and carers to read to children, hear them read, or encourage them to read to themselves for at least 20 minutes a day.

3. Encourage children to observe and talk about their surroundings.
Even young children can be helped to read notices and signs, for example, and understand what they mean.

4. Make use of your local library.
Look out for special events and services for children.

5. Visit museums and places you think your child might find interesting.
Children now have free admission to major national museums and art galleries.

6. If your children like watching television, watch it with them sometimes and encourage them to talk about what they have seen. They will get more out of the experience.

7. Try to set time aside to do "homework" activities with young children.

8. Wherever possible, try to provide a reasonably quiet place for children to do homework (or help them to get to other places where homework can be done).

9. Encourage your child to discuss homework with you, including feedback from teachers and explaining the task to you and the strategies they have learned in school to do it.

10. Try to help your child to see the enjoyable aspects of homework.