Newsletter 18

1st February 2019 01983 857449 www.stfrancisventnor.co.uk

Dear Parents

Another week has passed and today reminded me how lucky we are to live in such an idyllic place as the snowy views from my window were stunning. I would like to thank you all for getting your children here to school despite the icy conditions.

As always we have had an action packed week here at St Francis. The Maths team competed at the Ryde School Maths Challenge on Thursday and were amazing, they competed against many different Island schools taking part in several different challenges. The year 3 and 4 football team played Gurnard twice this week and showed amazing character in both games. I would like to congratulate all children for representing the Academy in such a positive fashion. It is great to see so many children taking part in the rich and diverse range of clubs that we offer, and as always I am very proud of all of them.

From our recent training with Pivotal, I asked staff and children to come up three consistent behaviours we want to happen throughout St Francis. As a collective group we have decided upon: wonderful walking, hands up for attention and playtime bells, cryptic I know, but please see if you can spot the adults using these routines when you visit. The routines will form one part of a blue print that will apply to everyone within St Francis Academy and support us on our journey to becoming a positive beacon of excellence for behaviour.

Please note that next week we will be having a big push on uniform. Any children who are not wearing the correct uniform will be provided with a suitable replacement from our stocks, this includes shoes, whilst you sort a replacement.

I hope that you all have a great weekend and enjoy the start of the Six Nations.

Alex Augustus

Update from Egret Class

In Egret class this week the children have been up to their wrists in dough, learning how to make bread.

As part of their Design Technology and Science studies they have discovered how to combine ingredients which will react with each other (such as yeast and warm water), why flour is sifted to add air and how that can make a smoother dough. The children were able to identify how the bread recipe needed solids, liquid and gases to combine effectively.

The children had great fun learning how to knead the dough using the heel of their hands and their knuckles and were amazed when it doubled in size in a warm cupboard before cooking. Once baked, the children could see how the bread had gone through an irreversible change…there was no way back to raw dough !

Warm bread rolls, straight from the oven, were irresistible and everyone soon tucked in to their creations. Well done Egret bakers !

PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE SCHOOL CAR PARK

FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN

5 Stars Rating Inspection

The Kitchen was recently inspected by Environmental Health and we have been rated at

5 Stars.

Congratulations to Maria and her team who provide us with such amazing food!

Update from Kingfisher Class

Kingfisher had a wonderful experience of handling a rabbit, guinea pig and hamster in class on

Wednesday of this week. Pets at Home kindly came into school and shared with the class the

animals. Pets at Home taught us how to look after the animals, the diet they need and how to

handle them. We all enjoyed a stroke and cuddle from the animals. A big thank you to Holly

and Ellie for bringing in the pets.

School Uniform

A reminder that the uniform at St Francis is:

Grey trousers/skirt/pinafore

White Polo (with logo if possible) Years R, 1, 2

White button through shirt/blouse and tie Years 3456

School Sweatshirt/Cardigan with logo

Grey socks/tights

Black School Shoes (not trainers)

PE Kit is:

White Logo T Shirt

Navy PE shorts

Plimsolls Years R, 1, 2

Trainers Years 3, 4, 5, 6

Hair longer than shoulder length should be tied up at all times and hair

accessories should be subtle (no big bows/ ribbons please).

We are proud of our school and its uniform, please help us to keep

looking smart.

School Uniform

You will have noticed that the list of correct school uniform is posted on the newsletter each

week. This is because it is so important that the children look their best at all times.

From next Tuesday 5th February I will be introducing a system whereby if your child is not in

school with the correct uniform on, they will be loaned the correct item of uniform whilst parents

sort a replacement. The loaned item will then need to be checked back into school. Teachers

will be vigilant on this and your co-operation is much appreciated.

I respectfully ask that if your child wears boots to school, that they change into their school

shoes upon arrival at school and then they can change again back in to their boots for their

journey home.

Booking System for Twilight and

Breakfast Club from 8th January

2019

This is now in place and has worked

really well this week. You will now need

to book and pay in advance for any

twilight sessions in advance. Payment

is as usual through the School Money

system.

Outstanding debts for will need to be

paid for prior to your child being booked

for new sessions at Twilight and

Breakfast.

If you need a new password for School

Money, please ask at the school office

for one to be sent to you. If you want

the office staff to book places for your

child onto the computer, please let them

know.

We still have over £1000 outstanding in

twilight and dinner money payments.

Our Twitter handle is @StFrancisAcad

Breakfast Club

If you need your child to attend Breakfast Club one

morning, please bring them along. There is no need

to book in advance (unless you are aware of the

dates required).

Save the children Christmas Jumper Day—we

raised £119.41

Thank you to

everyone who

donated!

Request from Reception class Mrs Scarpato has asked that if you giving your children grapes in Wren class as a snack, please can you cut them in half at home. Thank you.

Online Payments—School Money

There appears to be some confusion about the online payment system. It can be accessed

through www.eduspot.co.uk—you then go onto the schoolmoney parent log in - from there you

enter in the details indicated below. It will give you access to what dinners/twilight/breakfast

clubs your child has attended and if you need to pay for any after school clubs/ school trips/

uniform. If you need a new password, please contact the office for

one to be sent to you. If you have difficulties gaining access to it,

please check with the office that your correct email/mobile

details are uptodate.

Year 4 Residential trip to Kingswood

A reminder that the final instalment is due by 25th

February. This can be paid online through the

School Money system.

Phonic Screen Workshop Year 1

Kingfisher

Parents of children in Year 1 Kingfisher class are invited to come to a Phonics Workshop on Wednesday 13th February 1.45-2.45pm to understand what the Phonic Screen is about and how you can help your child prepare for the test which

Prayer of the week:

Dear God

Let us have love in our hearts so we can care for

our family and friends.

Let us have courage to persevere when we think

we can not succeed.

Let us show friendship to our class mates and

neighbours.

Amen

By Georgia, Goldfinch

Upcoming dates

13th February 1.45pm -Year 1 Phonic

Screen Workshop

6th February—Kingfisher Trip to Amazon

World (this can be paid online through

School Money)

REVISED Development Days

22nd July & 23rd July

Attendance this week:

Wren: 92.86%

Kingfisher: 94.05%

Chaffinch: 97.28%

Goldfinch: 90%

Egret: 96.27%

Cormorant: 93.51%

Heron: 92.86%

Buzzard: 98.05%

Kestrel: 87.5%

Kite: 91.76%

Whole School: 93.34%

Please remember to send in an absence note if your child has been off from school or the absence

will remain unauthorised.

Sports Round Up

Good luck to the Year 3/4 football team

who are playing at home against The

Bay on Wednesday.

Hand Hygiene

There has been an increased level of sickness this

week so please can you remind your children of

the importance of hand hygiene at all times.

Thank you.

What we have been reading in school this week: Wren—Jack and the Beanstalk

No Hockey Club Wednesday 6th

This afterschool club will be cancelled

on Wednesday 6th February due to a

Football match.

TERM DATES FOR 2019—2020

We will produce a calendar in the usual format in due course, but

wanted parents to be aware of the term dates for the new Academic

Year 2019—2020.

Development days:

30/8/19—Children start back at school on Monday 2nd September 19

2/6/20 3/6/20 4/6/20 5/6/20

Term Start date End date

Autumn Term

30 August 2019 -20 20th December 2019

Half term

21 October- 1 November 2019

Spring Term

6 January 2020 3 April 2020

Half term

17 - 21 February 2020

Summer Term

20 April 2020 24 July 2020

Half term

25 May – 1 June 2020

Please remember to label ALL your child’s

uniform, PE kit, lunch boxes, water bottles, coats,

hats and gloves as many children have complained

they have lost items.

Cycling/Scootering to school

Well done to Arran who had

the Golden Lock on his scooter

this week !

Recycling clothes and shoes

Your child will come home with a collecting bag for any donations of unwanted clothes and

shoes. Any donations are gratefully received and should be put in the bag, tied up and placed

into the collection box which is in the car park. The school then receives money depending on

how much is collected!

Thank you for all your donations

so far—you can put clothing/shoes

into the collection box at any time

as long as they are in tied up bag.