Being the best we can be for

ourselves and God’s world

NewsletterNo.13

13thJuly2017

DearParentsThankyousomuchtoeveryonewhoworkedsohardtomakeourSummerFairsuchafantasticsuccess-weraisedjustunder£1800andallofthatmoneywillbegoingdirectlytoyourchildrentoprovidethemwithadditionalexperiencesand/orresourcesthatwewouldnototherwisebeabletoaffordfromourschoolbudget.WewillbeusingthefundsraisedtowardsleasingaminibussothatchildrencanattendeventsduringschoolhourssuchasGiftedandTalentedeventsandsportingactivities. SomanypeopleputinanenormousamountoftimeandeffortandIwouldliketosayafew'thankyous'.IapologiseifIhaveforgottenanyoneandwillbeveryhappytothanktheminafutureeditionofthenewsletter.CaraHoleandLarisaFay,whoareteachingassistantsatStMartin’s,workedmanylonghoursandtheirorganisationcertainlypaidoff-theyhadthoughtofeverything-thankyou!LeahDavisandKimHopkins,whoareStMartin’sparents,gavealotoftheirtimeandalsoworkedhardduringthefair-thankyou.

Thank you to everyone who provided musical entertainment - the St Martin’s Choir, theCranbrookChoirandourownstaffband-youwereallfabulous.A massive thank you to Chris Wilson He provides 'sound services for live events'(www.chrisw.me.uk)whodidall the sound for themusicand themusicand sound for thedisco - it made such a difference. The barbecue was a fantastic success and we owe anenormousdebtofgratitudetoMark,themanageroftheCo-opandhis teamwho includedhisDad!NotonlydidMarkarrangefortheCo-optogiveusallthesausages,burgers,bunsandonionsbuthealsoturneduponthenighttoslaveoverahotbarbiewithhiswonderfulteam-thankyousomuch.Thankyou toeveryoneelsewhocontributed in somanyways - thereare somanypeoplewhogavesogenerouslyof their timeandalsothankyoutoeveryonewhocamealongandenjoyedtheSummerFair-youmadeitthewonderfulsuccessthatittrulywas. Wealreadyhaveplansforfutureeventsandifyouwouldliketobeinvolvedinhelpingouteitherbeforeorduringtheeventthenjustgiveyournameinattheofficeandwecanpassitonforyou-wewouldlovesomemorevolunteers.

It is such a shame that the weather stopped play for Sports Day but the children thoroughly enjoyed sports week - they started each day with a whole school aerobic work out and enjoyed a variety of sporting experiences throughout the week. In the absence of Sam Payne, our PE Subject Leader, Cara Hole and Larisa Fay have taken on the organisation of Sports Week and Sports Day between them - thank you so much! We are now hoping to hold Sports Day on Friday 14th July, we are hoping for lots

of sunshine to dry up the field and a lovely sunny day on the 14th.

We look forward to seeing lots of Parents/ Carers there at 12:45pm.

SPORTS DAY

Lots of parents have been signing up for parents’ evenings - thank you. If you don’t come into school please Dojo your child’s class teacher to arrange an appointment. The parents’ evenings are being held over 2 weeks starting on the 3rd July. We would love to see you to talk to you about how your child has done this year, what their next steps are to get ready for transition to a new class in September and to discuss with you how you can support your child at home. Working in partnership with parents is very important to us and when school and parents work in partnership it makes such a difference to the outcomes for children.

PARENTS EVENINGS

Youshouldhaveall receiveda letter informingyouaboutwhichclassyour childwillbe in forSeptember2017andwhotheirnewteacherwillbe.WewouldliketoinformyouaboutsomestaffchangesthatarehappeningforSeptember. Unfortunately,duetobudgetcutswearenolongerabletoemployasmanyteachingassistantssosomeofourwonderfulteachingassistants,whose contract was due to end in August 2017, will not be coming back to St Martin’s inSeptember.WewouldliketothankeveryonewhohasmadeapositivecontributiontotheStMartin’steamandwishthemalltheverybestinthefuture.IknowlotsoftheparentsandchildrenofWillowclasshavebeenwaitingfornewsaboutMissGolding,unfortunately,afteraperiodofill-health,MissGoldinghasdecidedtoleaveStMartin’s.Wewishherwellinthefuture.StaffLeaving:MissJenkinMrsWadeMissGoldingMissPhillipsMissDanielsMrsSmith(previouslyMissHorgan)MrsFaulknerMrsMetheringhamMissSaskiaSmithMissCowlingMrsClementsMrsGunninghamLisaEdgecumbeWearedelightedtobewelcomingMrsPaynebacktotheStMartin’steamafterhermaternityleave.MrsPaynehasbeencominginforafewkeepingintouchdaysanditislovelytohaveherbackinthefold.Wehaveappointed somewonderfulnew teachers forSeptember2017. MrsMilnerandMissMcGuirk,whoarecurrently student teachersat StMartin’s,haveboth impressedus somuchandwehaveofferedbothoftheseteachersajobforSeptember.Wehavealsoappointedtwonewteachers,MrsHarryandMissGarwood,bothoftheseteacherswereappointedfromaverystrongfieldandwerestunningatinterview-weareveryexcitedtobewelcomingall thenewmembersofstafftoourteam.Youwillhavetheopportunitytomeetthenewmembersofstaffontransitiondayandwewillaskthemtowavehelloat thefirstCelebrationofLearningCollectiveWorshipsof theAutumntermsothat,evenifyourchildisnotintheirclass,youknowwhotheyare.

StaffChanges@StMartin’s

ImportantInformationforParents/Carers:

AdministeringofMedicineinschoolPleasecanallparents/carersbeawarethattheGoverningBoardhaveagreedthatschoolstaffcannowadministerbothprescriptionandnon-prescriptionmedicinetoyourchild.Theschoolwill only give your child/ren medicine after you have completed and signed the ParentalAgreementtoAdministerPrescription/Non-PrescriptionMedicineform.Formsareavailableintheleafletstandintheschoolentrancelobbyandfromyourchild'sclassteacher.Allmedicinesmustbeintheoriginalcontainerasdispensedbythepharmacy,withyourchild'sname,itscontents,thedosageandtheprescribingdoctor'sname.Non-prescriptionmedicinemustbeintheoriginalpackagingwiththeadvicesheet.Itistheresponsibilityofparents/carerstoprovidetheappropriatespoon/measuringsyringeforthemedicineandtoensurethatthesearecleanandreplacedasrequired.Whilstitremainstheresponsibilityofparentsandcarerstoensurethattheirchildrenhaveaninhaler with them in school if they require one, the school now has emergency salbutamolinhalers available for children who have a diagnosis of asthma or have been prescribed aninhaler,butwhoseinhalerinschoolisnotavailableorunusable.Parents/carersmustcompleteand sign the relevant sectionof theParentalAgreement formbefore the school canprovidethemwithanemergencyinhaler.The school's Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs policy has been amended to reflect theabovechangeandisavailabletoviewontheschoolwebsite,inthe'AbouttheSchool'section,under'Policies'.If youhaveanyqueriesaboutmedicinesbeingadministered in school,pleasecontactNennyWright,ourSENDCo.

ImportantMedicalUpdate

From September we are changing the way we do lunchtimes at St Martin’s - we want to make more of the time children spend eating together to ensure that they have the opportunity for conversations around the table and the opportunity to share and enjoy food with each other. Lunchtimes are a valuable part of the day for our children and we want children to sit at tables and have the food served to the tables, as it would be at home. This is called Family Service. Children will not queue up, they will be seated at tables and have the food served at the table. Younger children will be served by older pupils and older pupils will serve themselves supported by the lunchtime staff. We think that by having food on the tables, so that children can see what is on offer and take the amount that they want, meal times will be more enjoyable. This is also in line with the ethos of our approach to outdoor learning, where all children are often given the opportunity to try the food that they grow in the raised beds and the poly tunnel!

We will have a simplified menu and our focus is high quality, fresh, healthy food,

cooked and prepared by our qualified chef, Sam Watson.

School Meals are £2.20 per meal for Key Stage 2 children unless they qualify for free school meals and we hope to have an online payment system up and running by September to make life easier for you. Reception and Key Stage 1 children do not currently pay anything for school lunches as they are entitled to Universal Free School Meals. We would encourage all children to take up their free meal to ensure that they take advantage of our enhanced lunchtimes. Nursery children will continue to have their lunches in the nursery and children who bring packed lunch will continue to have their lunches in the hall with the children having a school lunch. We are hoping to extend an invitation to all parents and carers to come in and share lunch with your children once we have the system up and running and have ironed out any teething problems.

LUNCH CHANGES

FREE SCHOOL MEALS UPDATE

The free school meals service will be launching a new online self-service platform which will enable members of the public to access their school meal eligibility check.

IthasbeenanotherbusytermforthegovernorsofStMartin's.LastmonthOfstedcameintoschool(onthehottestdaysoftheyearsofar)toconducttheirinspectionandthegovernorswerecalledupontosupportstaffandtheschool.Thefinalreportwillbepublishedassoonasitismadeavailabletous.Governorsareabouttoconductaselfreviewtoevaluatetheireffectivenessandtoplanfortheyearahead.Airconditioninghasbeenprovidedforthekitchenstafftomaketheirworkingenvironmentmorepleasant.Thegovernorswillbereviewingtheschoolimprovementplanfor2016-17andsettingprioritiesfortheyearahead.ThankyoutoDianeRadfordandBrigidThompsonforsecuring£500fromtheHamiltonCharityTrustwhichwillbeusedtofundForestSchoolequipment.InSeptemberStMartin'sarelookingtoelectanewparentgovernor.Pleaselookoutforfurtherinformationaboutthis.CarenFlicker

UPDATES&IMPORTANTINFORMATION

FRIENDLIFEAPPFriendLifeisanappwhereyoucansharephotos,messageeachotherandstreamlivevideos.Unfortunatelyithasalsobeenusedtogroomyounggirls.OftenthecommunicationthenmovesontosnapchatandWhatsApp.Onsnapchatthereisanewfeaturenamedsnapmapwhichcontactsonyourlistcanviewyourlocation.Ondevicesusedbychildrenthislocationsharingcanbeturnedoffasfollows:Wheninphototakingmode,pinchthescreentoopensnapmapenteringforthefirsttimethescreenontherightappears.Otherwise:Touchthesettingstogatthetoprightcornerofthescreen.TapGhostModetoswitchofflocationsharing.HoweverphotosandvideospostedtoSnapchatspublic'OurStory'willstillbediscoverableonthemap.Skoutisanappwhichhasbeenusedtorequestinappropriatephotosfromchildren.Pleasemakesurethatyourchildisusingageappropriateapps.

FOODBANKVOUCHERS.Inthesetimesofausteritymanypeoplefindtimeswhentheyarestrugglingtocope.StMartin'snowholdfoodbankvouchers.PleasespeaktoCaren(familyadvocate)formoreinformation.

DatesfortheDiary

Sports Day – 14th July @ 12:45pm

Sports Day is now planned for 14th July 2017 (Fingers crossed for sunshine)

We hope to see lots of you there.

Last Day of Term – 25th July

Year 4 Residential – 19th to 21st July

Year 4 Heatree Residential

Phase 3 Summer Performance – 20th & 21st July Years 5 and 6 Summer Performance of Hoodwinked in the School hall at 1:40pm

Year 6 leavers Assembly

Time Changed

Do you want to tell your story of Cranbrook? How does Cranbrook make you feel? A research student from the University of West of England will be undertaking a study looking at how Cranbrook has developed over time. You can help in investigate the importance of how the community was built and links to mental wellbeing and happiness. Those wanting to take part will be asked to take photographs or provide photographs of Cranbrook that identify important parts of the town to you. These photographs will then be discussed with the researcher. Volunteers are also needed to help with some group discussions. Your contribution will be useful to help influence future housing development design. If you would like to take part please contact Andy on Andrew2.Netherton@live.uwe.ac.uk or phone 07917201061

AttendanceandAbsenceReportingAs youknowweplaceahigh priorityon the importanceof childrenbeing in school andeach termall thechildrenwith100%attendancehavetheirnamesput intoaprizedrawandthewinningchildisgivenapresent.Canwepleaseremindparent/carersthatregistrationisat8:30amifyourchildarrivesafterthistimetheywillneedtobesignedinattheofficeforsafetyreasons.AbsenceReportingIfyourchildisgoingtobeabsentfromschoolduetoillhealthcanweplease ask that all parents/ carers notify the school office not yourchild’steacher.YoucanreportanabsenceviatheAbsenceline24hoursadayanditisvitalthatweknowthewhereaboutsofourchildren.Thankyouinadvanceforyourcooperationinthismatter.

Important Reminder’s

SchoolPolicyonUncollectedChildren

Wewould like to letallparentsandcarersknowthat theGoverningBoardhasamendedtheschool'sSafeguardingpolicytodetailhowstaffmanagetheissueofchildrenwhohavenotbeencollectedattheendoftheschooldayorafteranafter-schoolclub.Thepolicywillnowstate:Whenchildrenarenot collectedat theendof the schooldayorafter anextra curricularclub,everyattemptwillbemadetocontactparentsorcarersoranyoneelseonthelistofapprovedpeople tocollect thatparticularchild. If the schoolhasbeenunable to contactanyonetocollectthechild/renby5pm,thenpoliceassistancewillberequested.Ifyouhaveanyqueriesregardingthis,pleasespeaktoMrsBeard.

Thankyouforyourcontinued

support!

WithBestWishes,Tania

CelebrationCollectiveWorship–SummerTerm2017

PHASE1 Classleadingasongandsharingwritingorpictures8.45am

OpenClassroomandMeettheTeacher-2.30pm

14.7.17 Ducklings SportsDay@12:45pm

21.7.17 AshowcaseoflearningfromacrossPhase1-allthechildrenwillsingyouasongandafewchildrenfromeachclasswillsharesomeoftheirlearning.

NoLearninginActionvisits

Phase2&3 Collective 14.7.17 SportsDay@12:45pm

21.7.17 Years5&6SummerPerformance@1:40pm

MEDIA CONSENT FORM REMINDER

Please can we remind everyone that if you wish to take Photos at any of the School Events you will need to have a Media Consent form. These can be

obtained by completing a form in the office.

This is a Safeguarding matter and non compliance will result in pictures needing to be removed from peoples devises.

Bouncy Castle Refunds Due to a technical hitch at the Summer Fayre we believe a few parents/ carers may have purchased tickets for the Bouncy Castle and been unable to use them. If you bring your unused ticket to the school office we will be happy to give a refund. Thank you