Despite the worries of the last few weeks, the sun came out just in time for the AFA picnic. Thank you to all the families who joined us for a relaxing and sociable time.

Summer Term Newsletter No 3                                                          Wednesday 9 May 2012

Dear Parents

New School Building: Plans are continuing for our exciting new building!! Printed overleaf are the details of the public consultation meetings next week which parents are very welcome to attend. Neighbours and other members of the public will also be attending and so it is important that parental voices are heard too! Please come along if you can when large scale plans will be displayed and any parental questions can be answered.

Sex & Relationship education policy review: We review all school policies every two or three years but this policy recently raised a lot of debate amongst school governors. We are keen to seek parental views before finalising our policy and the teaching resources we use. Parents of children in Years 4, 5 & 6 will have recently received a school letter via Royal Mail. We wanted to ensure all parents got these letters and hopefully returned their reply slip to the school office. If you did not get this letter please call into the school office to get a copy. We hope to see as many parents as possible in the coming days to view and discuss the DVDs we use with our older classes (see below)

Watoto choir: I am very pleased to announce that we are hosting an internationally famous children’s choir from Africa. The Watoto project provides care, education and a peaceful village life to orphaned children aged 2 to 12 years (many orphaned by war or disease). Villages consist of a house mother and 8 children per dwelling. Other adults in the village/project ensure the young children’s needs are met and a prosperous adult future can be planned for them. The choir’s unique mix of contemporary gospel music and traditional African rhythms should be a colourful and vibrant spectacle for our children! We are keen to support the project financially and although there are tough times for UK families at present, we hope you will find it possible to make a donation to this worthy cause. Our collection starts now and will continue until the end of term (1^st June). Please make any donation you can in a sealed envelope labelled “Watoto” & pass this to your child’s class teacher. We hope to record the performance so that parents and our 4 younger classes can watch our recording at a later date.

Reminder of School dates

Thurs 10 May                          1.30 and 7.00pm SRE resources viewing for parents of Y4 children

Fri 11 May                               3.15pm AFA Jubilee Picnic event in school grounds

Mon 14 May                            1.30 and 7.00pm SRE resources viewing for parents of Y5 children

Mon 14 – Fri 18 May               SATs week for all Y6 & Y2 pupils

Mon 21 May – Fri 1 June       Assessment weeks for all classes Year 1 to Year 5

Thurs 24 May                          Watoto choir perform to Years 2 to 6

Mon 28 – Fri 1 June                Walk to School week (more details to follow)

Wed 30 May                           Years 4 & 6 watch Bristol Old Vic Shakespeare production in school hall

Fri 1^st June                             AshcombeSchool celebrates Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – children wear red, white & blue and enjoy variety of activities related to the Jubilee

Mon 4 – Fri 8 June                 School closed for holidays

Mon 11 June                          INSET day 5 – school closed for pupils (reopens Tues 12 June)

Sat 16 June                             6.00-8.00pm Ashcombe Swimming Gala open to all key stage 2 pupils

Mon 25 – Fri 29 June              London 2012 Olympics week to include sports days (details following)

Yours sincerely

Peter Turner (Headteacher)

Summer Term Newsletter No 2                                                          Monday 30 April 2012

Dear Parents

Class Teachers for 2012-13: I have recently finalised which teachers will be teaching which classes next year. Due to the building works & likely OFSTED inspection, it is largely status quo. However with Mrs Alexander reducing her working week and Mrs Wotton’s return from maternity leave, the plans are as follows:

Foundation Stage:       Jayne Dale                            RachaelHayward             + New teacher (tbc)

Year 1:                          Mrs Harper                             Mr Trewern

Year 2:                          Mr Burditt                               Mrs Wotton & Mrs Biddlecombe (shared)

Year 3:                          Mrs Evans                              Miss Crump

Year 4:                          Mrs Plested-Ferris                  Mrs Rose (& Mrs Bond Mondays only)

Year 5:                          Mrs Withers                            Mr Goodhand

Year 6:                          Mrs Hutchinson                      Ms Brown

During May I will be asking the staff and children for their preferences in which children should stay together in class and which should be separated. If any parents have particular preferences with reasons for requesting their child to be with a particular teacher or with/separate from a particular child, then please let me know by writing a brief note to me before the end of term (Friday 1 June) or by visiting my office at the start or end of the school day.

Praise for Mrs Hale & her kitchen team: We were recently visited by the local food and safety officer who examined all aspects of the kitchen. As a result we have been awarded the highest possible rating of 5 stars, something many commercial restaurants and hotels do not achieve! This is great news for our hard working team who produce excellent breakfast and lunchtime food at reasonable prices. Please continue your support of our school kitchen.

Nearly New uniform: In these difficult financial times nearly new uniform is a great way to ensure your child looks smart for school on a limited budget. We currently have a good stock of items for all ages starting from just 20p for white polo shirts, 30p or 50p for other items with some coats in excellent condition for just £2!! If your child has grown out of any high quality items please wash them and send into school for us to offer to other families. Recycling at its best!

AFA news: Printed overleaf are details of the Forthcoming Jubilee picnic. We hope you can attend!

Summer Term clubs: These will start on Monday 23 April for 10 weeks. Final places are being allocated in the next few days & any late requests for places should be returned as soon as possible.

Reminder of School dates

Mon 30 April–Fri 4 May          Year 5 residential visit toMorfaBay

Mon 7 May                             Bank Holiday Monday: School closed

Mon 14 – Fri 18 May               KS2 SATs week for all Y6 pupils

Mon 21 May – Fri 1 June       Assessment weeks for all classes Year 1 to Year 5

Mon 28 – Fri 1 June                Walk to School week

Mon 4 – Fri 8 June     School closed for holidays

Mon 11 June              INSET day 5 – school closed for pupils (reopens 8.50am Tues 12 June)

Yours sincerely

Peter Turner (Headteacher)

Summer Term Newsletter No 2                                                          Monday 30 April 2012

Dear Parents

Class Teachers for 2012-13: I have recently finalised which teachers will be teaching which classes next year. Due to the building works & likely OFSTED inspection, it is largely status quo. However with Mrs Alexander reducing her working week and Mrs Wotton’s return from maternity leave, the plans are as follows:

Foundation Stage:       Jayne Dale                            RachaelHayward             + New teacher (tbc)

Year 1:                          Mrs Harper                             Mr Trewern

Year 2:                          Mr Burditt                               Mrs Wotton & Mrs Biddlecombe (shared)

Year 3:                          Mrs Evans                              Miss Crump

Year 4:                          Mrs Plested-Ferris                  Mrs Rose (& Mrs Bond Mondays only)

Year 5:                          Mrs Withers                            Mr Goodhand

Year 6:                          Mrs Hutchinson                      Ms Brown

During May I will be asking the staff and children for their preferences in which children should stay together in class and which should be separated. If any parents have particular preferences with reasons for requesting their child to be with a particular teacher or with/separate from a particular child, then please let me know by writing a brief note to me before the end of term (Friday 1 June) or by visiting my office at the start or end of the school day.

Praise for Mrs Hale & her kitchen team: We were recently visited by the local food and safety officer who examined all aspects of the kitchen. As a result we have been awarded the highest possible rating of 5 stars, something many commercial restaurants and hotels do not achieve! This is great news for our hard working team who produce excellent breakfast and lunchtime food at reasonable prices. Please continue your support of our school kitchen.

Nearly New uniform: In these difficult financial times nearly new uniform is a great way to ensure your child looks smart for school on a limited budget. We currently have a good stock of items for all ages starting from just 20p for white polo shirts, 30p or 50p for other items with some coats in excellent condition for just £2!! If your child has grown out of any high quality items please wash them and send into school for us to offer to other families. Recycling at its best!

AFA news: Printed overleaf are details of the Forthcoming Jubilee picnic. We hope you can attend!

Summer Term clubs: These will start on Monday 23 April for 10 weeks. Final places are being allocated in the next few days & any late requests for places should be returned as soon as possible.

Reminder of School dates

Mon 30 April–Fri 4 May          Year 5 residential visit toMorfaBay

Mon 7 May                             Bank Holiday Monday: School closed

Mon 14 – Fri 18 May               KS2 SATs week for all Y6 pupils

Mon 21 May – Fri 1 June       Assessment weeks for all classes Year 1 to Year 5

Mon 28 – Fri 1 June                Walk to School week

Mon 4 – Fri 8 June     School closed for holidays

Mon 11 June              INSET day 5 – school closed for pupils (reopens 8.50am Tues 12 June)

Yours sincerely

Peter Turner (Headteacher)

Sitting outside on a blanket might not be on top of our priorities’ list with the current weather but let’s be positive and hope that by Friday 11th May, Spring will have decided to return to the UK.
Come and join us straight after school near the bus for a relaxed picnic. The AFA will provide free teas, coffees & squash, you bring the rest. Don’t forget your blankets or folding chairs (and suncream…one can always dream).

www.ashcombeatmorfabay2012.blogspot.co.uk

Summer Term Newsletter No 1                                                          Monday 16 April 2012

Dear Parents

New school update: Welcome back! As you will have seen today, preparatory work has started on expanding the Children’s Centre during the school holidays. Please make sure your children stay well away from the working areas throughout the exciting building periods. Our reduced car parking for staff does mean that parents dropping children to ABC after 8.00am will need to park outside on the road. Your help in this is appreciated. Remember ABC now opens its doors at 7.45 and there is plenty of parking available for parents at that time.

AFA news: Printed overleaf is the latest AFA newsletter, please take time to read the details.

Summer Term clubs: These will start on Monday 23 April for 10 weeks. Final places are being allocated in the next few days & any late requests for places should be returned as soon as possible.

School dates for the next two terms:

Mon 16 Apr-Fri 18 May          No family holidays authorised for children in Year 6 during this period

Tues 17 April                           7.00pm Meeting for parents of Y5 children going toMorfaBay

Tues 24 April                           First swimming session for Year 3 classes (12 sessions)

Wed 25 April                           Class group and Y6 leavers’ photographs taken

Mon 30 April–Fri 4 May          Year 5 residential visit toMorfaBay

Mon 7 May                             Bank Holiday Monday: School closed

Mon 14 – Fri 18 May               KS2 SATs week for all Y6 pupils

Mon 28 May–Fri 1 June         Assessment weeks for all classes Year 1 to Year 5

Mon 28 – Fri 1 June                Walk to School week

Mon 4 – Fri 8 June     School closed for holidays

Mon 11 June              INSET day 5 – school closed for pupils (reopens 8.50am Tues 12 June)

Sat 16 June                6.00-8.00pm School Swimming Gala at Hutton Moor

Mon 18 June              4.00pm and 7.00pm Meetings for parents of new reception 2012

Fri 29 June                  Celebration of Learning Day for all classes – Families invited to visit during day

Sat 7 July                    AFA Summer Fayre

Mon 9 July                  3.15pm Annual reports & SATs results go home to parents

Thurs 12 July              4.00-6.00 Parent-teacher interviews

Tues 17 July               Last swimming session for Year 3 classes

Wed 18 July               Year 6 Leavers’ Service (9.30am) & Leavers’ Party for Year 6 children (6.00pm)

Thurs 19 July              School closes for holidays (3.15pm)

Mon 3 Sept                School closed for staff In-service training day 1

Tues 4 Sept               8.50 School re-opens for 2012-13 academic year

Please note: In Olympic year we are looking at doing something different for Sports Day which may mean the previously published dates/times may change – more details to follow soon!

Yours sincerely

Peter Turner (Headteacher)

Spring Term Newsletter No 10                                                           Tuesday 27 March 2012

Dear Parents

New school – Its official!!

At last I can confirm that North SomersetCouncil have agreed to rebuild our school at a total cost of £4.8M. The building work will be in two phases. First phase will hopefully start this May when the Children’s Centre building will be extended to allow us to accept 30 extra foundation stage children in September 2012. An extra classroom and more internal teaching space will be created to ensure that Jayne and her team can continue to provide an excellent start for every child new to the school. If you would like to see the plans visit the hall today at 3.15 or 6.30pm.

Phase two will build a complete new school for 420 pupils comprising 14 classrooms, large hall, kitchen, offices, staffroom and other spacious flexible learning spaces. The new building is likely to be sited where the scout & guide hut sits currently and will cover the new KS2 playground, adventure playground and some of the field.  Once completed the six temporary Elliott classrooms will be demolished to create more play spaces (grassed or tarpaved) but the two main school buildings will be retained for us to use the existing hall and classrooms for breakfast & after school clubs, music lessons, and to set up new classrooms for extra pupils if needed. It is also hoped the scout and guide groups will have a new base in the current main building. Plans will be shared when they are more advanced. We face a tricky year ahead with building works on site but it will be worth it when our new school opens in September 2013.

As a result of the new build projects, my availability to see parents is being significantly reduced! I would ask all parents to see their child’s class teacher or teaching assistant with any initial concerns about their child. If families are needing support to deal with sensitive family issues, Mrs Light and Mrs Francis are usually available before or after the school day or by telephone. Parents wishing to see myself are likely to need to make an appointment through Mrs Brand or Mrs Driscoll in the school office. I will then contact you by telephone or meet in person during the evening or weekend. Your understanding at this very busy but exciting time is appreciated!

Summer Term clubs:

Accompanying tonight’s newsletter is a summary of our after school clubs next term. If your child would like to join any of these clubs return the slip to your child’s class teacher immediately. You will then be given further details about the individual club and asked to return a form with your payment. Confirmation of club places will happen after the Easter holidays.

St Paul’s Easter holiday club: Details are printed overleaf for 3 days of school holiday fun!

Reminder of School dates for this term:

Tues 27 March               2.30 and 6.30pm Planning Consultation for extension to YR provision

Thurs 29 March               Ashcombe’s Got Talent Grand Final 2012 – parents of contestants invited

Fri 30 March                    AFA Easter event and School closes for holidays at 3.15pm

Mon 2 to Fri 13 April        School closed for Easter holidays (reopens 8.50am Mon 16 April)

Fri 6 April                         Live Music night at Scally’s in aid of Ashcombe Music/Dance studio

Tues 17 April                   7.00pmMorfaBaymeeting for parents of Year 5 children

Yours sincerely

Peter Turner (Headteacher)

Only a few days left before the AFA Easter Fayre & the famous Ashcombe Easter Bonnet Parades. Come along on Friday 30th March and watch our children showcase their amazing creations (Yr 1 & 2 at 2.20 pm & Reception at 2.45pm).

For Yr 3,4,5 & 6, please bring your entries for the cakes/Easter biscuits competitions on Friday morning to your class. Prizes for every year group.

The hall will be opened from 2pm for refreshments and local trader stalls (jewellery, cards, veggie boxes, etc) and from 3.15pm there will be games for the kids & their families. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, the draw of the GRAND EASTER RAFFLE at 3.45pm.

Please come along to have fun and support the AFA fundraising efforts for our school. See you there.

From Monday morning, AFA members will be selling tickets for the Easter Grand Raffle (2 top of the range scooters to win) by the school gates and in the reception playground. Alternatively you can still return the form you received to order them through book bags. If you would like a new flyer/order form, email afa@ashcombeprimary.co.uk
Thank you

Spring Term Newsletter No 9                                                             Friday 16 March 2012

Dear Parents

Music/Dance Studio Update:

This exciting project has been delayed as the building which is being donated to us has not been released by Weston hospital. We are hopeful it will be released during the Easter period and work can start on installing it on top of the grass mound between the Children’s centre and KS2 playground. Once completed all classes would use the room for their weekly music lessons and peripatetic teachers would give lessons to individuals or small groups. It would also give us another indoor PE space suitable for drama and dance, leaving the main hall free for gymnastics and indoor games (especially in the winter weather).

We are very grateful to our friends from Scally’s bar in town who have organised a great Easter Egg raffle and a live music evening with all proceeds going towards the school’s new studio. The live music evening will be on Good Friday 6^th April with local band Crawfish performing rock n roll and blues style music. Entrance (for adults only) is £2.00 each on the door with the band starting at 9.15pm. We hope that many parents are able to support the event and take along their family and friends.

The manager of Scally’s, Dawn has also donated a large selection of delicious Easter eggs with two very special chocolate creations that most families would love to have!  We will be selling raffle tickets every morning and afternoon next week. Tickets will be 20p each or £1 for the strip of 5 tickets. The draw will be held on Good Friday evening in Scally’s bar. Any winners not attending on the night itself will be contacted on Easter Saturday morning to collect their prize from the school office so the chocolate can be enjoyed on Easter Sunday!!

Free Computer trolleys:

Years ago we used to have our school computers on trolleys in the classrooms. We no longer use these as we have other furniture or fixed benches for computers to sit on. If any family has a computer and printer at home which is needing a tidy up and special space to set up for it, the trolley could be very useful. We are happy to give two of these away free but the receiving family would have to collect. The trolleys are in good condition but they are quite large so you will need a large space to put them in. Please view the trolleys outside the hall/school offices and talk to office staff if you would like to have one.

Reminder of School dates for this term:

Mon 19 March                 Year 3 Roman Day

Tues 20 March                Year 5/6 dance group perform at Weston Playhouse (tickets from box office)

Wed 21 March                Year 4/5 Shakespeare Club perform at Winter Gardens (parents welcome)

Thurs 22 March               Year 6 children and parents visitUniversityofWestofEngland

Tues 27 March                Year 4 classes visit St Nicholas Priory inExeter

Tues 27 march                2.30 and 6.30pm Planning Information Meeting for extension to YR provision

Thurs 29 March               Ashcombe’s Got Talent 2012

Fri 30 March                    AFA Easter event and School closes for holidays at 3.15pm

Mon 2 to Fri 13 April        School closed for Easter holidays (reopens 8.50am Mon 16 April)

Fri 6 April                         Live Music night at Scally’s in aid of Ashcombe Music/Dance studio

Tues 17 April                   7.00pmMorfaBaymeeting for parents of Year 5 children

Yours sincerely

Peter Turner (Headteacher)