Newsletter - November 2003
We have reached the halfway point in this Autumn Term with quite a lot of accomplishments. At the centre were consultation meetings with offers of our education department and an outside consultation on the two options facing this school. On the evening of Monday 20th October I felt parents were overwhelming in support of our school changing its role but remaining open. No one spoke for closure. Some of the arguments by parents were very powerful and touched on their own distressing encounters with this education authority. We could have benefited from a bigger turn out of parents but I do appreciate that there are often other family demands that take precedence. However more meeting are planned. Why not attend the public meetings at:
St. Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, Chipping Campden, Monday 17th November, 7.30 – 9.00 p.m.
Tewkesbury School, Wednesday 19th November, 7.30 – 9.00 p.m.
Kingsmead School, Cheltenham, Thursday 20th November 7.30 – 9.00 p.m.
I will be there at all three so you won’t be alone. Hoping to see you and share the discussion. Don’t forget to fill in the yellow consultation form you have been sent and return in the addressed envelope. This term so far • Our Autumn Sale went very well at Tewkesbury Town Hall on Saturday 18th October. Thank you to all who sent in items to sell or helped on the day. We made a profit of £387.
• Our Harvest Celebration was enjoyable and we raised £58 for Save the Children Fund.
• Most people felt that the parent/teacher consultation evening on 17th September could have been held to better effect later in the term. Next year it will be a November rather than a September date.
• On Saturday 27th September Tewkesbury Town Band entertained us to great effect with a barbeque and bring your own drinks. We had a great evening. You will be pleased to learn that £224 was made for school funds. Annual Governors Meeting for Parents and Annual Meeting of the “Friends” Association May I remind you of these meetings which run concurrently on Thursday 13th November commencing at 7.00 p.m. The “Friends” look to parents to support their activities and plan for the coming year. They need your support, so please be there if you can. Christmas Draw Please keep selling the draw tickets and returning both money and counterfoils. Please remember that others can sell unsold tickets so don’t hang on to them. Mrs. Lodwig will supply more tickets on request. Money raised will buy additional resources and pay for extras on the school journeys next summer term. Dates for this half term Monday 17th November – for this week we are holding a healthy lifestyles week. We hope that pupils will join in the various activities and learn more about healthy living, eating and exercise.
Friday 21st November – Once again we will be celebrating Children in Need with a non uniform day, eats on sale and fun activities.
Wednesday 26th November – “Friends of AKS” are holding a Christmas Fair in school from 6.00 to 8.00 p.m. There will be a range of activities and attractions as well as the usual stalls.
Monday 24th November – Work Experience begins for year 11 students over a potential three week period.
Thursday 11th December – Junior/Middles, Christmas Carol Celebration
Sunday 14th December – Music Club pupils singing in Roses Theatre with Tewkesbury Town Band.
Tuesday 16th December - Juniors to Roses Theatre for the Christmas Pantomime in the morning followed by Junior Party in the afternoon.
Tuesday 16th December – Middle/Senior Disco in the early evening 6.00 to 8.30 p.m.
Thursday 18th December – Christmas Luncheon. I appeal to parents to purchase a Christmas Lunch at £1.55 for your child on this special day in our school year. Governors and guests are invited and it is very much a social occasion. Lunch is followed by the Christmas Draw.
Friday 19th December – School closes for the Christmas Vacation at 1.00 p.m. Please expect your child to be home that much earlier on this last day of term. School Journeys Details of school journeys for 2004 are being issued over this term for each group. If you can start paying and settling accounts on a regular basis this would help staff enormously. It will give them reassurance that you want your child to go away and you are supporting arrangements. Adult Helpers All responsible adults willing to help staff during the school day are welcome, Friends, neighbours, relatives are all welcome. This is primarily to assist in preparing materials or helping in practical lessons. If you can help please contact Mrs. Lodwig. Pupil Milk A reminder that milk for pupils in the junior phase has to be ordered at the end of term for the following term. Orders cannot be accepted once the new term has started. School Website – www.aks-glos.org.uk
If you have any items for our website please send them to Mrs. Hill or by email to [email protected]. Items are very welcome and help to keep the school profile high. News from Pupils and Staff
- The after school Music Club is going well. We are preparing for our ‘slot’ in the forthcoming Tewkesbury Band concert on 14th December. We hope to present Christmas songs with a Caribbean flavour. The club is on Thursdays 3.30 – 4.30 p.m. every week
- School Council is organising activities and non uniform day on the Friday afternoon of Healthy Eating week. All proceeds to Children in Need.
- Could all money sent into school be in a sealed and named envelope please. It does help any confusion on payments for various items.
- Games Lessons – Now that the weather has got colder, please ensure your child has got warm clothing for games lessons, navy jogging trousers and navy fleece are ideal to keep warm.
- If you have any margarine/ice cream containers with lids you no longer need, do send them into school where they will be put to good use.
- On Tuesday 21st October 13 pupils from the Primary Phase went to Ballyhoo in Cheltenham followed by chips at the Kingfisher in Tewkesbury. This popular evening activity was again funded by the Friends of Alderman Knight. The children and staff had a lovely time and all were very well behaved! Many thanks to the “Friends”.
- The year 6 pupils in the Primary Phase have been writing the beginning of a spooky story. They also word processed their work in the ICT suite.
Healthy Eating – Healthy Lunchbox Competition on Wednesday 19th November to be judged by Helen Sommerville, School Nurse.
In an effort to try to make your child’s packed lunch healthy, balanced nutritionally and appetising – here are some ideas which you may like to try.
- Sandwich fillings/roll/tortilla wrap
- Grated cheese and chopped onion/pickle
- Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion
- Egg mayonnaise/tuna mayonnaise
- Ham and tomato
- Chicken with salad
- Cottage cheese and pineapple
- Coleslaw/salad/cheese
- Sweet corn
Rice Salad – cooked rice with onion, mushrooms, peas, ham, peppers, sweetcorn, radish
- Pasta salad – cooked pasta mixed with tuna tomato and dressing
- Carrot sticks/celery sticks
- Hard boiled egg cut into quarters or sliced
- Crackers with cheese and grapes
- Cherry tomatoes
- Chicken drumsticks
- Soup in a small flask for cold days – leek & potato, vegetable, carrot, tomato
- Yoghurt
- Try to include some fruit in the packed lunch – grapes, banana, apple, kiwi fruit, mandarin or Satsuma
- Dried fruit – little packets of raisins or apricots
- A little container of mixed fruit salad, melon, mandarin, strawberries, grapefruit, grapes, blackberries. Use fruits in season where possible.
- Fruit juice
- Fruit smoothie
- Yoghurt drink
Recipies are available for the following:
- Banana Cake
- Fruit loaf/scones
- Flapjack – plain or with fruit
Jelly and fruit
- Tray bake – apple and sultana
To ensure the lunch is balanced include Carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice) Protein (meat, fish, eggs, cheese, Vitamins and minerals (fruit and veg. dietary fibre, fruit & veg. and whole grains. Outreach
A series of meetings have been held to support parents of S.E.N. pupils. This has been a multi-agency approach involving outside speakers. This week is the 4th meeting with speakers from Family Support. The final meeting is on Thursday 20th November which is to be presented by staff from St. Briavels, Monmouth which will discuss a range of therapies and techniques which have been used internationally.
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