Dear Parents and Carers,

Scouts

Recently, Kate from Knowle West Scout Group visited the school and spoke to children about the amazing opportunities that Scouting offers. Here are the updated timings:

Tuesday: Scouts (10.5-14 years) 7.00-8.30

Wednesday: Beavers (6-8) 5.30-6.30 and Cubs (8-10.5) 6.30-8.00

Tuesday: Scouts (10.5-14 years) 7.00-8.30

Wednesday: Beavers (6-8) 5.30-6.30 and Cubs (8-10.5) 6.30-8.00

Meetings take place at The Salvation Army on Padstow Road.

Attendance – Holidays and Long Weekends

Can I thank you all that attendance is beginning to improve.

Earlier this week, Mr Coyne and I attended a briefing where Bristol City Council clarified the Government’s policy on attendance.

It is highly unlikely that the school is able to authorise an absence due to holiday. Absences can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.

Due to government guidance, the school is expected to take action when children have 8 or more unauthorised sessions (4 days). This would normally be in the form of a fine of £60 per child per adult.

So where children have been on holiday in the current year or the previous year, or their attendance is low, it is very likely that we will issue a fine if there are 8 unauthorised sessions.

Can I ask that as the weather begins to improve, children should not be taken out of school on Mondays or Fridays for long weekends (unless there are exceptional circumstances and it has been agreed in advance).

I promise that we do not want to issue fines, but will have no choice where authorised attendance falls below the expected level.

Smoking Outside School

Can I please ask parents to not smoke whilst waiting next to the school gates. This area is very busy with children and health is affected by smoking. Thank you.

Lifeskills Van

The Lifeskills van is coming to school next week on 17^th and 18^th March. Please come and visit the ‘Life Bus’, next Friday morning.

Dropping Off Children

Our local traffic warden has commented that congestion is being caused by parents stopping their cars in the road to let their children get out. Can we ask parents to avoid this as it causes congestion as well as putting children at risk. Again, thank you.

Celebration Assembly

The next Celebration Assembly will be on Monday 14^th March at 9am, where the following children will receive their Headteacher's Award:  Cody C (YR), Theodore (Y1), Zachary (Y2), Kuzi (Y3), Ruby M (Y3), Cameron (Y4), Esther A (Y5) and Maddison B (Y6).

Attendance! Attendance! Attendance!

Well done to the following classes who had attendance at over 97% this week:

·         Year 2 with 97%

·         Year 5 with 99%

This means Year 5 will have a special non-uniform day on Friday 18^th March.

Dates for Diaries

Tuesday 15^th March                              -           Y6 Bugsy Malone performance at St Brendan’s College

Thursday 17^th March 8, 2016                 -           Lifeskills Van in school

Wednesday 23^rd March at 9.30            -           Easter Mass (now in the morning)

Thursday 24^th March                             -           Y6 Old Vic Day

Thursday 24^th March                             -           End of Term 4

Monday 11^th April                                -           Start of Term 5

Monday 9^th May                                  -           Start of Y6 SATs week

Thursday 26^th May                               -           INSET DAY

Friday 27^th May                                    -           INSET DAY

Friday 27^th May                                    -           End of Term 5

Monday 6^th June                                 -           Start of Term 6

Sunday 26^th June                                 -           First Holy Communion

Friday 22^nd July                                    -           End of Term 6

Thursday 1^st September                        -           Start of Term 1

Yours sincerely,

Matt Condon

Headteacher