St Thomas of Canterbury Junior School

May 12th to May 16th is the annual test week for all children in the junior school. Year 6 children especially will be preparing themselves for this special week! I hope everyone will be making sure that they get to bed early and stay healthy! However, if your child is feeling unwell, it is particularly important to contact the school as early as possible (8.30am please) during this week. Children in year 6 are not allowed to re-sit the tests at different times so we will need to make arrangements.

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Cheques are better than cash!

Our office takes a lot of parents' contributions each day and it is extremely hard when the money comes in the form of cash. So, where possible, please send cheques with your child's name and class written on the back and what the cheque is for. If you need to send cash, please place it in a sealed envelope and again, please write your child's name and class on the envelope with details as to what the money is for.

We prefer to only handle cash on Wednesdays. Thank you.

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Walking Bus Update

Buses are now running every day from the Brentwood Centre, St George's Church and Brookes House. Please do get on board - collect a form from the office. It is Walk to School week from 19th to 23rd May and we wil be giving Golden Housepoints to the House with the most children using the service!

Also remember: Everyone using the Walking Bus can walk through Sawyers Hall College.

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Summer Uniform

Now that we are in the summer term (amazing but true!) the children are now allowed to wear white polo shirts with the school badge on. These are available from Red Oak Roller or our PTA 2nd Hand Uniform Shop. Girls can wear green check dresses. Of course they can also continue to wear the ties and shirts if they wish. Whatever you decide: top buttons must still be done up and shirts must be tucked in!

Please, please, please make sure that, whatever your child wears, it is labelled clearly with their name!

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Homework

All children have homework every day! Every day they are expected to read and practise their spellings and times tables. Lower School children should take about 15 minutes per night. Upper School children should take a little bit longer. Once or twice a week children may come home with extra work to do. We also like to hear that children are regularly playing board games with their family, playing outside and attending clubs occasionally.

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Your Assistance Please

I am still looking to recruit more Midday Assistants. If you are interested please let me know. It is a great way to help the school, improve lunchtimes for children and earn money.

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Mobile phones and

We are going to continue the "texting" service until the end of the year. Our school ofice will be sending messages to parents by text. Please let us know how you are finding this services. If you are not receiving messages then perhaps we do not have an up-to-date number.

This is proving to be a great way to keep in touch with quick messages; e.g. "football club is cancelled" and so on. It is also a way of quickly sending you reminders to get in touch if your child is ill. Similarly, you can let us know where your child is; e.g. "doctor's appointment - we will be late!" by sending us text messages.

A reminder: Children are not allowed mobile phones in school. Please do not let your children bring them. Any child using a phone on the school premises will have it confiscated.

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School Nurse

Having trouble with your GP? Want to get a second opinion? Need to get referred to a hospital or to see a consultant? Why not try our School Nurse? Teresa O'Dowdall is running drop-in sessions at school on the first Friday of every month. Next drop-in is in 2nd May. No appointment necessary, but if you want to contact her in advance try: teresa.o'dowdall@swessexpct.nhs.uk.

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Letton Hall

A meeting for parents to hear all about the exciting trip ahead! 7th May at 3.30pm in the School Hall.

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On your Bike!

Forms for year 6 children to take part in two Cycling Proficiency courses have been sent home by the Road Safety Officer - Christine Wilcox. Two courses will definitely run and Christine will lead the first one and supervise the second. The second one will be led by a parent. We need helpers on both courses. If we have more people willing to be trained in leading the course, then we will be able to run more courses and more children will be able to take part. If you are interested please get in touch! thehead-teacher@hotmail.co.uk

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Fun Run T-Shirts

I know a lot of you now have wonderful St Thomas of Canterbury Green T-shirts. This idea was that those of us that did the run could have the t-shirt for free. I have heard that some people have somehow got hold of one WITHOUT RUNNING! If this is you....please would you consider giving a donation for the t-shirt? We spent £5.25 for adults and £4.50 for children.

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Got a Voucher?

Have you recently been given a voucher by Tesco's or Sainsbury's? Don't forget to pass them on to us! They are really valuable in terms of school equipment. They make a massive difference! Please send them before the end of May when the scheme stops and the vouchers become worthless!

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Child not coming to school?

Please remember to let us know by 9.30am if your ch ild is unwell. You can 'phone the school office any time after 8.30am or send a text: 01277 223 651 or 07797 801419.

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Parking

I am sure that you realise more than me how hard it is to park in Sawyers Hall Lane. Wherever possible please park elsewhere and walk to Sawyers Hall Lane - why not try the walking bus?! I have been asked to remind you that when you do need to park in Sawyers Hall Lane to please:

- Park in designated bays and not on yellow lines in any circumstances;

- Stay our of private car parks;

- Do not block the Ambulance Station.

I would also like to remind you to not use the school car park for dropping off or picking up your children.

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To swim or not to swim?

As a general rule, if a child is well enough to come to school then they are well enough to swim.

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40th Anniversary

Did you know that it is almost 40 years since the school opened at this site? We are planning to celebrate this at this year's Summer Fayre, at the Summer Music Concerts and in our Eucharists. We are also looking to hold an exhibition and are looking for artefacts from the past that relate to our school. Do you have anything that would make an interesting exhibit dating back to before we moved here or from 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s? Please get in touch! thehead-teacher@hotmail.co.uk or speak to Mrs Gowland (Head of History), as she is going to compile the exhibition.

April 2008

Testing Times

Cheques are better than cash!

Walking Bus Update

Summer Uniform

Homework

Your Assistance Please

Mobile phones and

School Nurse

Letton Hall

On your Bike!

Fun Run T-Shirts

Got a Voucher?

Child not coming to school?

Parking

To swim or not to swim?

40th Anniversary

Don't Forget!

Testing Times

Cheques are better than cash!

Walking Bus Update

Summer Uniform

Homework

Your Assistance Please

Mobile phones and

School Nurse

Letton Hall

On your Bike!

Fun Run T-Shirts

Got a Voucher?

Child not coming to school?

Parking

To swim or not to swim?

40th Anniversary

Don't Forget!