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Branksome Heath Middle School
May 2010 Newsletter
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
I hope you have seen the reports in the Daily Echo congratulating our sporting champions this term. Ms Gillingham has managed the coaching sessions tremendously well and the girls football team beat
St Michael's Colehill in the County Final at Ferndown.
Two days later, Year 6 took two teams to Lytchett Minster Rugby Club for the Poole Tag Rugby Festival organised by the Dorset Police. For the first time in many years we became champions and the team represented Poole at the South West Regional Finals in Sherbourne.
At this event they were one try away from the Final Playoffs! Both teams have been great Ambassadors for the school.
WONDERFUL WRITERS
We are delighted to be able to tell all parents that the Year 5 children have not only taken part in the "Write a mini-saga" competition, but 40 of them will have their work published nationally! Following last year's success, this is a great indicator of our writing improving and promises better levels in National Curriculum Assessment in the future.
AROUND THE SCHOOL
Year 4 have been away to Springhead, walking miles uphill!! Strange that the children never mention the downhill! Two nights away from home is always exciting and thanks to all staff for providing this opportunity.
While some were away from school, lots of great work was done by the children in school where the Pirate Theme has been greatly enjoyed and provided us with some super displays.
Year 5 have produced high quality writing with their fables and work on 'The Highwayman'. It has been good to see the children involved in role play, art work and script writing as they explore the story in detail.
Year 6 have had the stresses of their SATs. Thanks to all our families for their support in preparing everyone for these tests. They have had a great experience in their Victorian Day and it was fantastic to see so many in costume. Now they can enjoy their well deserved Activity Week!
Year 7 have welcomed Miss Nash who is covering Madame Forbes' class while she is on maternity leave. I have been impressed to see the children producing their pages for a French scrapbook written totally in French. They will soon to able to test their spoken French as they go to Cherbourg in June
PARENT VOICE
I would like to thank all the parents who came to our first discussion group forum where we looked at ways to improve our Behaviour Policy. As a result of the evening, we will be revising a variety of aspects and look forward to having more evenings like this when parents can have access to senior staff to air their views.
SPORTS DAYS -
Year 4 Monday 21 June
Year 5 Tuesday 22 June
Year 6 Wednesday 23 June
Year 7 Friday 25 June
AWARDS EVENING
All children achieving above 50 merits or having 100% attendance will be invited to our Annual Awards Evening on Thursday 22 July. We will have the Year 4 & 5 children start at 6.30pm and Years 6 & 7 will start at 8.00pm.
SUMMER FETE
Our biggest fundraiser of the year will be held on Friday 18 June from 5.00pm - 7.15pm. All children will bring home 2 books of raffle tickets which we ask all families to sell to friends, family and work colleagues. If we can sell all tickets we will achieve over £1,000 for school funds.
Please come along on the night and enjoy the many stalls and sideshows, watch the Go Kart race and this year you will see every class selling items for their mini enterprise projects.
RACE NIGHT
Our last fund raising event for the year, (but the first time we have held one), will be a Race Night. We invite groups of 8 to book a table and enjoy an evening with food from our cookery club and refreshments from the bar, which will cater for all tastes.
More details of the Fete and Dance Night to come.
HOT SCHOOL MEALS
Hot School Meals are currently available to all children in our school but only a small percent are having them. Our school governors have decided that in order to try to promote these meals (currently priced at £3 a day), from September for the Autumn term only, we are going to trial the meals for £2.50 a day to try to encourage more families to take advantage of this facility.
GO FOR IT
For this financial year only, we have been given government money to help children on free school meals or children in care to access out of school activities free of charge. Letters were sent home earlier this term and we would like to remind all these parents to return their registration form with £1. Go for it scheme will pay for any other costs involved which may include the purchase of equipment or uniform for the specified clubs. If you have lost your form, please ask at the school office. This money is to be used for this financial year only. If the money is not used, it will be taken away from us, so please take advantage of this offer.
NEWSLETTERS
We are thinking of changing the way we send out our Newsletters in the future. We would like to text all parents when a Newsletter is available to see on our website instead of sending it out in paper form as we are aware that not all parents receive them. Please could you let us know on the slip below if you are unable to access our website from home. We would like to see how many parents would require a paper copy. If we do not receive a slip from you we will assume you have a computer at home and will be able to access the newsletters from our website www.branksomeheath.co.uk
UNIFORM
As the warmer weather approaches, can we remind parents/carers that the uniform is black/grey tailored trousers or skirt (appropriate length please), or summer gingham dress (yellow/white or red/white), black sensible shoes, (flip flops, open toed sandals and high heels are not appropriate). Plain white, black or grey socks. This term, some children like to wear long tailored shorts (just above knee length). These are acceptable as long as they are not sports shorts or brief shorts.
INHALERS
Please can we remind you that if your child needs an inhaler in school, they may keep an inhaler with them at all times, but we would also require a spare one to be kept in the school office.
FIRST AID COURSES FOR PARENTS
To help build and develop parent partnership, a company has approached us offering a course of First Aid for parents.
Parental knowledge, education and having an understanding of basic paediatric first aid protocols will ensure parents and carers are equipped to deal with life saving situations with children. The course is delivered by an approved Health and Safety (HSE) Instructor and the content meets the current legislative requirements and guidelines. The session would be for 2/3 hours. We could hold it in the school hall either during an evening or on a Saturday morning. We can have up to 15 parents at a cost of £16 a person. If you would be interested , please fill out the reply slip below with your £16 and we will organise a date during the Autumn Term.
And finally ... you may have seen in the local press that the council had decided where to spend the money given from the government. So many projects had been planned but not all could be given funding and unfortunately, they voted to "not pursue the proposals for Branksome Heath Middle." Although a set back, we will continue to transform the learning for all children, but with fewer projects and within our own budget.
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Branksome Heath Middle School Newsletters
I am unable to access the internet from home and would require a paper copy of all newsletters.
Name of Child .......................................................................... Class .........................
SIGNED .................................................................................. Parent/Carer
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Fist Aid course for parents - Branksome Heath Middle School
I would be interested in taking part in a First Aid Course for Parents during the Autumn Term and enclose £16 cheque made payable to Branksome Heath Middle School. I would prefer a weekday evening* or a Saturday morning* (please delete where appropriate)
Name of Child ............................................................................ Class .....................
Name of Parent ..........................................................................
SIGNED ...................................................................................... Parent/Carer
