NEWSLETTER Issue: 1.01

HEAD'S VIEW
Welcome back to one and all! It seems that most have had a tremendous summer's break and not been too daunted by our glorious weather. Ella (Year 1), in our first assembly, made us all laugh when she told us that she had been away for two weeks with the family. "It rained," she said "and it rained. I mean it rained every day, Mr Croker………… EVERY DAY!" It is great to see everyone again and we are really excited about this coming year. If our first week back together is anything to go by, we are in for a vintage year!

We welcome all our new Reception children who have settled in very well this week, and also Jackson who has started in 2C. Our best wishes go to all of them and their families who are new to Newbridge. I hope that this is the start of a very special time in their lives. The same wishes go to several new members of staff who have joined us. Mrs Sue Woods, a former pupil of the school, comes from teaching at a school in Hereford and joins us a Reading Recovery teacher. This is a new post at Newbridge and an exciting opportunity to use this much lauded programme to ensure all our children reach the standards of reading and writing of which they are capable. Mrs Woods will be working specifically with Year 1 children who would benefit from intensive one to one support in reading and writing. Mrs Lesley Houston, already very well known to many of us as parent of Ella and big supporter of the school, joins us as our PPA music specialist. I have no doubt that Mrs Houston, working alongside Miss Amies, will take music at Newbridge from strength to strength. Mr Tony Day, again very familiar at Newbridge as parent and through school involvement with Larkhall FC, joins us as librarian and Learning Resource Centre manager; another new post at Newbridge and one which will enable our children and families to make best use of these facilities and resources. Last but not least, we welcome Mrs Louise Hill, who is our SENCO while Mrs Skinner is on maternity leave. Mrs Hill brings a rich experience to the role and she has worked closely with Mrs Skinner to ensure continuity through this period. I am sure that our school will benefit hugely from the work of these four members of staff and I hope that in turn they will quickly feel very much part of the Newbridge family.

Things have been moving at the school during the holidays. Quite literally in the case of the double mobile where the Year 3 classes were sited. It has gone! We now have an open and grassy space which, in time, will be well used by the children. Bike racks, as noted in our Travel Plan, have been installed at the back of the Learning Resource Centre and they are now ready for use. More details of the Travel Plan in the near future. Several areas of the school have been redecorated including children's and staff toilets, the lower school foyer and office area, and the music room. The playground markings on the lower school playground have been repainted, as has the boat which has been lovingly restored by Terry Cross. As you have also no doubt discovered, the pedestrian gate is now on an intercom which helps make the site secure and our children safe.

On a final note, there will be a letter coming out with the Newsletter next Friday requesting parental permission for use of the internet, photographs etc. In the meantime, we have just agreed to our school being featured in an ITV programme entitled 'No Place Like Home' being shown in November and December. The camera crew and team will be in next Tuesday morning for about an hour. The crew will follow a family, returning from living in Australia, being shown around our school with a view to their child possibly starting here in the future. There is a letter attached which only the parents of Reception children coming on Tuesday will need to complete and return by end of school Monday. For all other children in the school, I request that any parent who does not wish their child to be involved in the programme to contact the office by end of school on Monday.

Exciting times! I hope the sun shines on your weekend and, to leave you on a very high note, we bring news that Mrs Skinner has a lovely baby girl named Nancy, born on 15th August. Our congratulations go to her and her family.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY W/B 15/09/08:
Tuesday 16th September
2.00 – 2.30pm 'Getting to Know You' meeting for Y1 parents
2.30 – 3.00pm 'Getting to Know You' meeting for Y4 parents
Wednesday 17th September
2.00 – 2.30pm 'Getting to Know You' meeting for Y2 parents
2.30 – 3.00pm 'Getting to Know You' meeting for Y5 parents
Thursday 18th September
2.00 – 2.30pm 'Getting to Know You' meeting for Y3 parents
2.30 – 3.00pm 'Getting to Know You' meeting for Y6 parents

EXTRA CURRICULAR CLUBS
Please note that extra curricular clubs will start the week beginning Monday 22nd September and finish for this term the week ending Friday 12th December. To avoid any mix ups, the start and end dates of clubs for the whole year are detailed in the school calendar (copy attached and found on the website).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ……..
+ Please see the school calendar attached which details important events throughout the year. This will be put on the website and updated at regular intervals. Please see future newsletters for news of other additions and amendments.
+ Every child has been given a 'Literacy Link' book to use at home and school. This replaces the old Reading Record book. The main emphasis is still on reading and encouraging a written dialogue between home, the child and school around the child’s reading. It is important that this book is looked after and completed with pride and care. There are some additions which are self-explanatory as well as a communications box for Years 1 to 6. This box is for important messages between home and school. The onus will be on the child to present the book to the teacher or parent/carer if there is an important message.
+ With this Newsletter, we are sending home a 'Curriculum Overview'. This has been introduced this year and its purpose is to inform our families, in broad headings, of what each child will be learning for that term. There will be six issued each year at the end of the first week of term. We hope you find this useful.
+ As was highlighted at the end of last term, 'Getting to Know You' meetings have been introduced this year. They are being held next week (see 'Dates for Your Diary') and will take place in your child's classroom. During this meeting, the class teacher will run through a variety of routines and procedures so that our parents & carers will know what the day to day routines and expectations are like for their child. For those coming to the 2.00 to 2.30pm sessions, there will be coffee afterwards in the Blue Room while you wait for home time at 3.15pm. Again, we see this as another positive step in bringing home and school together in supporting our children.
+ There has been a mix up over the new school book bag and our apologies for any inconvenience caused. From 1st October, Scholars will be selling the new bag and this will cost £4.00. In the meantime, for any families who do not have one at present, we do have some old ones available in the office free of charge.
With this newsletter, you will find a clubs letter from Mr Cumpson who is our Extended Services Coordinator. There are a number of new clubs on offer and we are very pleased with the range of opportunity available. The closing date for club requests is next Wednesday. Clubs run by school staff are free of charge and for these a slip, which is attached to the clubs letter, should be completed and returned. For all clubs run by outside coaches there is a charge and all details of each of these clubs are on separate letters. These letters were handed out today to those children who expressed an interest. Copies of all these letters, as well as club info, are available in the office.
+ You will see on the Clubs letter that, on Monday and Fridays, starting the week beginning 22nd September, the Learning Resource Centre will be open for family use from end of school to 4.30pm. Mr Day will be there to supervise proceedings and there must be an adult accompanying a child or group of children. The aim of these sessions is to enable our families to perhaps read together, find out information for homework, do some research using the books or computers – the list is infinite. Due to the possibility of being ‘swamped’, we will have to restrict use to one year at a time and ask you to sign up in the office in advance if you wish to use the LRC (see timetable below). At this point, books cannot be taken out of the library as there is still a great deal of work to be done. However, we hope to open the library for withdrawals after half term. More details on the library will be out soon.
+ Please note that there is an Information Evening for all parents on Thursday 2nd October starting at 6.30pm in the Upper School hall. This is a chance to find out about how the school is moving forward in a number of ways and to bring you all up to date with Newbridge developments.

Timetable for family use of the Learning Resource Centre (library and ICT suite)
w/b 22nd September Monday & Friday Year 3
w/b 29th September Monday & Friday Year 5
w/b 6th October Monday & Friday Year 2
w/b 13th October Monday & Friday Year 4
w/b 20th October Monday & Friday Year 1
w/b 10th November Monday & Friday Reception

Please note that Year 6 children can use the LRC at any of these times and do not have to be accompanied by an adult.

WANTED:
If anyone has any children's football boots, trainers or football kit that they no longer need we would be very grateful. Please let Mr Cumpson know if you can help. Thank you.

FRUIT SCHEME
Please sign up to help with the fruit scheme in the dining hall. Help is needed both mornings and afternoons and takes about 10 minutes. Many thanks.

NEWBRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
Invites you to a Cheese and Wine Evening on Thursday 25th September at 7.30pm

The association is a great fun way to get involved in our children's school and help provide those extra things that can really make a difference to school life. We organise entertaining and fun fundraising events and work closely with teachers to provide support for the School in practical ways.

Over the past year the NPSA has helped fund:

1. New musical instruments;
2. Library books for the new library;
3. Trips to the Roman Baths and American Museum;
4. Netball bibs and hockey goalkeeping kit;
5. “Storybox” Theatre performances in school;
6. A new stage for the main hall.

We are always in need of extra support from parents. Every bit of time you can contribute is greatly appreciated and helps make the NPSA a successful part of Newbridge School.

All Newbridge parents are automatically members of the NPSA and we invite you to a cheese and wine evening to meet other parents and find out more about how we support the school.

Date: Thursday 25th September
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: The Blue Room