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Headteacher: Mrs Melanie Cripps Tel: 01822 840 410

Administrator: Mrs Marianne Shirlow admin@berealston.devon.sch.uk

www.berealston.devon.sch.uk B

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y Dear Parents and Carers,

We are drawing near to the end of the term and I do hope you will be able to join us next week for our Easter

Assembly on Thursday at 9.00am.

I would like to remind you that Mrs Rooke-Bruce will be our acting head of school at Bere Alston from next term. Mrs

Rooke- Bruce will be the teacher in Year 4 and Mrs Warren will teach the children for some of the afternoons to

enable release time for the head of school. Mrs Warren will also teach Year 2 with Mrs Gray next term.

For your information the main leadership of the federation is as follows:

Mrs Melanie Cripps Executive headteacher of the federation

Mrs Rooke-Bruce acting head of school of Bere Alston School

Mrs Tanya Clark acting head of school at Lifton School.

Please note that head of school is not a headteacher in this instance and is often the preferred name given to deputy

heads/assistant heads in a federation of primary schools.

On another note, I understand that there has been talk on Facebook that I will be changing the school uniform of the

school. I will NOT be changing the school uniform of the school. I will however send out a list of the current uniform

so that parents who wish to purchase any new uniform have a uniform list to help them. Please do ask at school if you

have any questions regarding school procedures or expectations.

Best wishes

Have a lovely weekend

Melanie Cripps

Spring Week

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21.03.18

Achievement

Stars of the week chosen by the children

Olivia in year 6 nominated by Ebony for always being by her side and working hard

Darcie in year 5 nominated by Millie for being a good friend and working hard

Jacob in year 4 nominated by Gracie for being a good friend and working hard in class

Harry in year 3 nominated by Joe for being a good friend

Iris in year 2 nominated by Ferne for being a good friend and working hard

Skye in year 1 nominated by Lola for helping her settle into school

Jack in Foundation nominated by Samuel for good rhyming

Star Learners

Year 6 –Joe for asking good questions when we had a visit to the P.I.E.T.Y Centre

Year 5 –Ella for confidence in PE

Year 4 –Joe for listening and answering questions

Year 3—Samantha for an excellent effort in maths

Year 2—Dylan for good progress in maths

Year 1—Lottie for always doing what she is asked with a smile on her face

Foundation—Lexi-Leigh for super work on rhyming

Maths awards

KS1—Ollie-Jay for brilliant progress in maths

KS2—Christopher for good progress in maths

Head teacher’s award

Lacey for answering questions when the Hindu faith speaker came in to visit the class

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Attendance last week

Whole school 97.7%

Elm Foundation—97.3%

Oak Year 1 - 95.7%

Hop Year 2 - 97.2%

Ivy Year 3 - 98.1%

Fir Year 4 - 97.5%

Ash Year 5 - 99.3%

Yew Year 6 - 97.7%

Well done Year 5 Children.

99.3% attendance

Diary Dates

Weds 21st Mar Yr5 visit Synagogue

Fri 23rd Mar Tempest—Class photos

Disco

Tues 27th Mar Easter Bake

Weds 28th Mar Open the Book Easter Assembly

Cross Country event—3.15pm

Thurs 29th Mar Easter Assembly. 9am

Fri 30th Mar Bank Holiday

Mon 2nd Apr Bank Holiday

Tues 3rd Apr Easter Break

Mon 16th Apr Back to school

Weds 25th Apr NSPCC assembly

Callington College open eve

Fri 27th Apr Yr6 Transition visit—Tavistock College

Tues 1st May Yr2—Wembrey Beach

Fri 25th May Disco

Thurs 21st Jun Dartmoor Aspirations Day—Yr4

Fri 13th Jul Disco

Class Photos

The Tempest photographer will be in school to take class photos on:

Friday 23rd March

Please make sure that children are wearing school uniform.

If you do NOT wish your child to be included in their class photograph please return the slip below to

the office on Monday morning.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----

I do not wish my child to be included in the class photograph.

Child’s Name …………………………………… Class…………………………………

Signed …………………………………… Date …………………………………

Year 6 Visit P.I.E.T.Y Centre

Last week the children in Year 6 were visited by a Muslim speaker who cam to share his

knowledge on the Islamic

faith which was then

followed by a visit to the

P.I.E.T.Y Centre the next

day.

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Social Media

Please be aware of safeguarding guidance, ‘Keeping

Children Safe’ Paragraph 117 - Parents/Carers

using Facebook, Twitter and other social media to

make derogatory remarks about staff is not ac-

ceptable under the prohibition on reporting and

publishing allegations about teachers in section

141F of the Education Act 2002.

Schools across the country are reporting issues

relating to the misuse of social media sites.

If any such abuse of these sites regarding

Bere Alston School takes place,

appropriate action will be taken.

Free school meals

pupil premium funding

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 automatically get univer-

sal free school meals. However, parents and guardians are en-

couraged to apply for free school meals as this attracts addi-

tional ‘pupil premium‘ funding to the school to support learning.

Please ensure that you register as this attracts additional money

to our school which can have a great impact on the children's

learning.

If you do not register we do not get the extra

funding in school.

If you receive any of the following benefits please apply via the Dev-

on County Council Citizen Portal which will result in an instant deci-

sion.

Income Support

Income-based Jobseekers Allowance

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working

Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than

£16,190)

Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop

Art and craft club made beautiful dreamcatchers During our after school artwork club we had a wonderful time making 'dream catchers' and thought we

would share the idea with you all? Perhaps you could have a go over the Easter holidays?

You will need: 1 paper plate, Coloured wool, Felt tip pens/paint, whole punch, feathers and some beads.

How to: Cut out the centre part of the paper plate Decorate the edge of the plate Using a whole punch place evenly spaced wholes around the edge of the plate Thread the coloured wool through the wholes made. Cut two pieces of wool and thread beads and feathers on them. Make a final whole at the bottom of the plate and tie on the two threads

Have fun and enjoy.

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Reminders and Information

Dinner money

Please pay any outstanding dinner money to the school office. Dinner money must be paid in advance. Please do

not allow arrears to build up.

Late arrivals

If your child arrives late they should be brought to the school office and be signed in.

If your child has an appointment and will be arriving late to school please call ahead so that the class teacher can

be informed and lunch ordered if necessary.

Visitors

All visitors should report to the school office where they will be asked to sign in and given a visitor badge.

Mobile phones should be left in the school office.

Prams and pushchairs should be left in the reception area.

Meal Time Assistant required

– start date 16th April

We currently have a vacancy for a Meal Time

Assistant for 5 days per week.

Duties will include:-

supervising children whilst eating their

lunch and clearing away

playground supervision

promoting positive relationships between

children

communicating with teachers and school

support staff

The post will be for 38 weeks per year for 1

hour 10 minutes daily between 12.10pm and

1.35 pm depending on Key Stage.

The hourly rate is £7.78 per hour and will be

paid in 12 equal monthly payments over the

year

If you are interested please contact school

01822 840410

Breakfast club staff required

We are planning to open a

breakfast club next term

If you are interested in working in the school

to help run the club

please enquire at the school office for more

details and collect an application form.

(A basic food hygiene certificate would be an

advantage).

Job Vacancies

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people,

and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

An enhanced DBS check will be required for all posts.

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Please come along to the Carnival Committee Bingo being held at

Bere Alston Parish Hall This Saturday 24th March at 7.00pm

Eyes down at 7.30pm

No 12, Hairdressers Easter Competition

No. 12 Hairdressers are holding a competition for the children of Bere Alston

for the best decorated Easter card. All entries should have your name and a

contact number on the back to be handed into the salon in

station road, Bere Alston, by 4pm

on Tuesday 27th March.

The prize is a free haircut and a surprise gift.

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 28th March.