Livingstone Primary & Nursery School WK3 OCT 2022

Friday 21^st October

Year 6 School Journey to the Isle of Wight

One of the highlights of the year for Year 6 is always School Journey to PGL. Needless to say, the children have had the time of their lives this week. They have worked incredibly well as a team and demonstrated a huge amount of courage and resilience when taking part in all the activities.

Ms Breen, Mr Madle, Mrs Armstrong and Mrs Church have been really impressed with the children's determination and fantastic attitudes this week and all agree the children were exceptionally well behaved. School Journey would not be possible without the staff happily agreeing to lead this trip so a big thank you to them for making it happen.

Everyone had a spooktacular day on Thursday at the PTA's Spooky Adventure and it was so lovely to see so many ghoulishly great costumes. Usually, we hold our annual event in the pond area but due to the poor weather, we held it in the main hall. Although this was a last-minute change of plan, the PTA worked effortlessly to ensure the hall was decorated just as spookily as it would be the pond area. Pupils enjoyed the frightfully fantastic activities organised for them and were spoilt for choice when deciding which of the enchanting goodies to buy. A big, big thank you to our PTA and all our families who helped to make this event possible and really fun!

ATTENDANCE:

Giovanna Phelan – Headteacher

Jackie Scott, Carrie Lowin & Austin Scott – Reception

Laura Blackaller – Year 1

Charlotte Gosling – Year 2

Melisa Gosling – Year 3

Kate Orr – Year 4

Shelley Farmer – Year 5 and Kingfisher

Paula Falco – Year 6

APOLOGIES – Megan Atkinson – Nursery

Jackie Scott - Reception

This is our first parent representative meeting of the school year. We would like to welcome our new reps, Carrie Lowin, Austin Scot and Jackie Scott for Reception and Charlotte Gosling our Year 2 rep.

The school year has got off to a great start with positive feedback regarding communication.

Nursery

Question: Re Birthdays. Understand children cannot bring in sweets or chocolate but can they bring in individually wrapped cakes/biscuits?

Answer: We have asked that sweets and birthday cakes are not brought into school for birthdays as many parents/carers have asked that they are not given to their children and because some parents/carers are looking to replicate elements of parties in school.

We do have cakes and biscuits in school because they are routinely given as part of school dinners and parent/carers include them in packed lunches. Pupils get to bake cakes and biscuits as part of the curriculum and the PTA include them in events. This is done in moderation, however, if parents/carers would prefer their children not to have these, they should speak to the class teacher and the office and where possible, we will try to find suitable alternatives.

Year 2

Feedback: Parents are happy with SATS homework being posted in the newsletter and the useful learning objectives emailed rather than being a lost piece of paper.

Question: In Year 2, parents have reported that some days fruit hasn’t been available for their children during break times.

Answer: The school has recognised this and reassures parents it is purely down to delays in deliveries, for example when we had a bank holiday or a late delivery. Fruit is available, apart from the odd day when the delivery is late. Please do not send crisps or sugary snacks as a substitute.

Year 3

Feedback: Parents have asked for notice when bringing the recorder home to practise.

Answer: Letters will come home in future alerting the parents of this.

Year 4

Question: The pupils are off swimming for the next two weeks and there are concerns from parents about children drying their hair properly.

Answer: Mr. Boucon and the accompanying teachers will do their best to make sure the hair is as dry as possible, they do recommend that children bring a hat to walk the short distance back to school.

Question: Holiday camps in school have been requested.

Answer: This is a great idea and we have tried it in the past but sadly we are a small school and without high numbers attending, even with subsidies, the costs are too much to run for the amount of pupils that would attend. Staffing would be a problem too, as many members of staff have other commitments during half term. There are alternatives locally such as ALL SORTS, which is close to Livingstone school and sometimes clubs and activities are promoted in the newsletter.

Mrs Kelly will send out a survey in the new year and see if there is a demand for a Half-Term or Easter School

Year 6

Question: The Year 6 parents are requesting a return to a recognisable musical like Aladdin or School of Rock please for next year.

Answer: Mrs. Phelan will pass this on to the Year 6 Team and let’s hope it’s not as hot as last year!

General

A request for blended school lunch/pack lunches has been put forward. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible because of food planning and the school is very conscious of food waste. The food is ordered in advance, and this means pupils have to be school dinners or packed lunches.

For any child who wishes to do more homework please visit the VLE or look in the back of the reading diary. There are lots of learning websites with logins for you to access. Also, Brain Boosters are back at the end of this half term to keep you busy and creative.

Our school internet is struggling, so over half-term we are having an internet re-vamp. This will hopefully sort out any problems we have had, like the computers in the cabin not working properly.

At the heart of our school, we have a fantastic PTA community, and we value it positive ethos. We hope this year more new and old parents will join in with our events. The proceeds the PTA make at school events, go towards the children extra-curricular learning activities. We have raised money for new playground equipment, a minibus and much more. More information for help needed coming soon…

Finally, we had lots of questions from Reception Parents which will be responded to at consultations and this will be followed by an 'Impact' meeting for all parents/carers outlining the EYFS Curriculum.

Don’t underestimate the importance of good attendance. Even one day missed can have an effect on learning. We must all work together to ensure that our children have the best education possible.

Reminder - now we are post COVID, pupils taken out of school for holidays or returning late will be subject to a local authority fine!