Newsletter June 2008

Branksome Heath News June 2008

ASDA DESIGN A UNIFORM

Asda's challenge is for children to design a school jumper which incorporates our school and what it means to the children.

The prize is a £10 voucher to buy uniform for the new school year for every child in the class.
Entry forms are available from the school office. When completed, entries must have name, age, address and school and should be brought into the school office.

POOLE PARENTS' VOICE

The Local Authority have representatives from every school to discuss issues that effect both our school and all schools in Poole. They meet at the Civic Centre between 7.15 and 8.30pm once a term. If you would be interested in representing the school, please contact Mr Fox through the school office.

COMPETITION FOR JULIA'S HOUSE

Dorset Lettings are organising a competition to draw a picture of 'Your Dream Home'. They will select 12 entries to create a calendar to be sold for Julia's House, Dorset's only hospice dedicated to children with life-threatening conditions.

The competition is split into 2 age categories—under 11 and 11-16. The best picture for each age group will win a new iphone for the older category and a new bicycle with accessories for the younger group. The other 10 winners will have their picture mounted and framed. Entry forms are available from the school office.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Year 6 girls and Year 5 Kwik Cricket Teams who are going to the County Finals in July at Bryanstone

Congratulations to Dan Bush, Zoe George and
Jack Dickson who are taking part in the Gifted and Talented Multi Skills course at Rossmore Leisure Centre on Friday nights.

DATES FOR THE REST OF THE TERM

All sports days start at 9.30 on field
30 June Year 4 Sports
1 July Year 5 Sports
2 July Year 6 Sports
3 July Year 7 Sports
3 July Open Evening for all parents 3.30-5.00
8 July Rossmore Pyramid Transfer Day
9 July Meeting for Parents of New Year 4's
  Summer Concert
15 July Awards Evening Yrs 4/5 6—7pm
  Yrs 6/7 7.30—8.30
16 July Yr 7 Bugsy Malone Performance—tickets   only
21 July Final Assembly for House Scores 11am
22 July Yr 7 Leavers Service 11am at St    Clements Church
22 July End of Term 1.30pm

OPEN EVENING—3 JULY

We invite all parents to come to school between 3.30 and 5.00pm to see children working at a range of activities with the staff. There will be activities in class, in the specialist rooms, the hall and on the playground. Parents will have the opportunity to watch and take part in some of the many opportunities given to children at Branksome.

SUMMER FETE

This year on Friday 20 June between 5 and 7.30pm we will be holding our annual fund raising event. We hope all families will be able to come and enjoy a fun evening. There will be many games to play, stalls and entertainment throughout the evening. Entry fee is £1 for adults and 50p for children with 3 prizes for the lucky programme given on entry.

It isn't too late to volunteer to help!

Please sell as many Raffle tickets as possible. All money raised will be going towards the development of a 'fitness trail' around the outside of our playground to be used at break, lunch and in lesson time.

Non Uniform Day—Wednesday 18 June
To help stock our stalls, we ask children to come in non-uniform on Wednesday 18 June. Instead of the usual 50p we ask for a carrier bag with tins/packets (in date please), books or a toy/game that has all parts included. Please do not include glass objects, bottles, jars etc or other items other than books, toys, games.

CASH CROSSWORD

Mrs Bojang has organised a prize crossword as part of our summer fund raising. It costs £1 to take part and all winning
entries will be put into a hat and 3 prizes awarded.

1st prize— 20% off all entry fees
2nd prize—10% off all entry fees
3rd prize— 5% off all entry fees

The bigger the entry, the bigger the prize!!
Collect your competition form from
Mrs Bojang

PHOTOGRAPHS

Thursday 12 June are school class photographs. Super smart uniform please!

YEAR 5 AND THE 'CHERRIES'

We are delighted to have a group of our Year 5 children working at the Bournemouth football club's learning centre on Tuesday evenings. This follows a Year 6 project earlier in the year and they are working on a number of tasks that will include producing an animated film.

SHINE WEEK

We are taking part in a National Festival to celebrate the talents of children around the country. During the week 30 June—4 July we are asking children to bring a photo of themselves performing their talent or a photo of something they have created eg painting, model etc.
We will then put them in 'plastic pages' to cover our Hall wall for the Friday Photograph which will be sent to the National website as well as our own. I hope that you will be able to find a photo for this display.

EURO 2008

England may not have made it through but we will be organising a full competition at lunchtimes starting on 17 June and running over the next 2 weeks.

We need 16 teams and all will be playing a minimum of 3 games. The top 2 teams in each group will continue to the quarter finals.

It will be a 6 a side competition with boys or girls able to choose their own 6. A team can be a mix of any year group and boys/girls. All players must wear shin pads to play and we ask for trainers not studs.

To help raise money as part of the Summer fund raising as well as covering costs of winners prizes, we ask each player to pay £1 each.

Each team will need to complete one entry form and hand it into the office with the £6 fee.

EURO 2008 Branksome Heath Middle School

Name ................................................... Class ..............

I enclose fee of £6.00

Results from Questionnaires:

Many thanks to all who completed the recent questionnaires. We have analysed the results and found that the children believe:
They are expected to do their best (95%)
They get regular information about how well they are doing (90%)
They feel safe at Break and Lunch (81%)
They have to set targets for themselves (85%)
There are plenty of activities at Lunch and after school (81%)
They do have a person they can talk to if they have a problem (83%)
They get help in class if they find work difficult (83%)

Their concerns are:
The school not being clean and tidy- Toilets (38%)
Other children distracting learning (54%)
Work not being very interesting (33%)

The Parents replies have found:
The school had high expectations of staff and pupils (99%)
The school is a safe place (86%)
Standards are high in most areas (92%)
Visitors are made to feel welcome (88%)
The school is well thought of in the community (75%)
There is a broad and varied curriculum (81%)
Pupils get support to do their best (81%)
There is good leadership (85%)
The school actively encourages involvement of Parents and others (89%)
They get enough information to help their child (89%)

The concerns are:
Vandalism and graffiti (23%)
Pupils being well behaved and well mannered (15%)

The results from the staff and Governors were very positive with the two concerns being:
Vandalism and graffiti (33%)
Pupils being well behaved and well mannered (38%)

Having considered all of the results, we are very pleased to have so many positive aspects but, we are aware that the concerns can detract from the improving work at Branksome Heath.

We have put plans into action for:
School redecoration on a rolling programme with toilets taking a priority.
Working with staff and children to review our Behaviour Policy and taking particular note of politeness, manners and the way children speak to each other and adults.
Extend our Pupil Services area to enable more children to be given support when they are finding working in mainstream classes difficult.