A NEW HEAD TEACHER FOR OUR SCHOOL
On December 6th the school appointed a permanent Head teacher who will take up her post after the Easter holiday. Mrs S. Levy is currently the Deputy Head teacher at Dogsthorpe Junior School.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
We intend to add a range of after school clubs to our present list. From Monday 28th January the days will look as follows: -

Monday	- French for years 5 and 6 run by Mrs Howard (To begin after half term) - Board games for years 2 and 3 run by Miss Parkinson and Miss Hopkins
Tuesday	- Homework club for KS2 will continue with Mrs Gollings - Lunchtime drawing club for KS2 run by Mr Reynolds - Dance for all ages will continue with Miss Swan and Miss Porter - Art and craft for years 1 and 2 with Miss Flitton and Mrs Hornshaw
Wednesday	- Drama for years 5 and 6 with Mrs Locke and Miss Hainsworth
Thursday	- Football will continue with Miss Robinson - Sewing and knitting for years 3 and 4 with Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Waring
Friday	- Film animation for years 4, 5 and 6, so that we can enter the POSCARS, run by Mr Davey

All clubs, with the exception of the Drawing Club, will run from 3.15 to 4.15 when all children under 10 years old must be collected by an adult. Letters for the new clubs will be sent out next week, to be returned with parental signature. Places are strictly first come first served and I presume some will have waiting lists.

CHANGES TO OUR BUILDING
The builders are in! You will have noticed that we have a new gate and replacement railings at the front entrance on London Road. Work has begun on extending the hall storage to make the space safer. This development will also include additional caretaker storage and an air conditioned computer suite for Foundation and Key Stage 1. All should be completed by the end of February.

CYCLES TO SCHOOL
We ask that all children who usually come to school on a bicycle leave them at home until the workmen have finished as they cannot access a safe place to leave their cycles during the day.

PTA
You may remember in a previous newsletter we introduced two parent governors who were forming a new Parent Teacher’s Association for school. Many people spoke to Mrs Pugh and Mrs Ross. They will be hosting their first PTA meeting on Tuesday 29th January at 2.45pm in the school hall. If you are a working parent, grandparent representatives are very welcome.

CAR PARKING AND ENTRANCES TO SCHOOL
We do our utmost to keep your children safe on the school site. To this end we ask that they either enter the premises via the gate on London Road or the pedestrian entrance on St Margaret’s Road. Having spent several days as traffic warden last term I was amazed to discover how many children and their accompanying adult considered it safe to walk through the staff car park or wished to drive into the car park to drop off their children. The narrow path to the side of this car park is for drivers who have parked their cars to walk through the single gate. The double gates at both ends of the car park are for emergency services to get their ambulances or fire engines as near to the school building as possible. So we ask once again, please do not walk through the car park and please park in either St Margaret’s Road or in the High Street.

STAFF CHANGES
As you are aware Miss Mangieri is very ill we doubt that she will be able to return to school during this academic year. Therefore we have appointed Mrs H. Gaulbourne to share the teaching of the class with Mrs Wilson.
At the end of last term we said goodbye to Mrs Basketter who had been unwell for some time.

AGE GROUP CLASSES
The change to teaching classes in their age group is very popular with the children. I have spoken to each class and have received positive responses from all.

RESIDENTIAL TRIPS IN FEBRUARY
Most of Year 5 will be travelling to Burwell House on Monday 4th February and will be back in school on Thursday 7th. Their teacher, Mrs Howard, has liaised with the staff at Burwell and organised that the activities they will take part in support and enhance what they are studying in the classroom. There will be a meeting for Year 5 parents next week. Please watch your children’s bags for the information on time and date.
After half term Year 4 will go on their residential trip to Grafham Water. They leave on Wednesday 20th February, returning on Friday 22nd.

IT’S THE PANTOMIME SEASON
A theatre group will visit school on the afternoon of Friday 8th February. They will perform the tale of Sleeping Beauty.

DATES TO REMEMBER
Just to remind you that the school nurse is in school from 2pm to 3pm this Thursday to offer support to anyone who is trying to give up smoking.

The children break up for half term on Friday 8th February.
Teaching staff return of In Service Training (INSET) on Monday 18th February
Children return to school on Tuesday 19th February.

Y L Waring
Head teacher