CMPS Newsletter 5th April 2019

This is a communication from Combe Martin Primary School for parents and carers only.

View this email in your browser

Our Newsletter Archive

CMS Newsletter

Thank you to all of our parents and carers for their support over the past term. We finish the term with some sad fairwell messages. Nina in the kitchen and Tiddlers Samantha Sweetman are both leaving us for pastures new. We wish them all the very best for their future adventures.

I need to let parents know that provision in Y5 will slightly change after Easter. Mr Hookes has asked, for family reasons, to reduce his working week by one day. Mrs Peters will teach in Class 5 for the Friday morning to ensure that curriculum continuity is maintained. Mrs Peters did a fantastic job covering for us previously and I hope all parents will support her in the teaching role. Mr Hookes retains class responsibility.

Miss Edwards will be having an exciting holiday and returning to us as Mrs Dennis. We wish her the very best for her wedding and all the very best for her future!

We are now 2/3 of the way through the school year and I have been delighted with the quality of outcomes from learning, sporting achievements, productions and experiences our children have produced.
As you know from past newsletters, we are developing our curriculum. Our approach to writing as been proven to be very successful and the quality of work produced has been consistently (so far) some of the best that our Trust schools have provided. The teachers all work together to look at the quality of writing and discuss what can make our teaching even more effective. A real plus from working with other schools very closely.

We are very keen to get the views of parents about the curriculum our community school provides. On Wednesday 24th April we will be holding a 'Curriculum Evening' - Parent Voice special. This is so that we can discuss what you, as a parent, want from your child's education. The meeting will begin at 6pm. All you need to bring are yourselves and some ideas about what you value in education.

We are looking at developing our school curriculum in 5 main directions to support the National curriculum; sport, creativity, performing, volunteering and membership and the world of work. Our Year 3 and 4 children have set a fantastic example in their production of 'Oink'. They performed magnificently and all I have spoken to were blown away by the children's confidence. A Big Thank you to all the teachers, TAs and parents who have supported with all aspects of the play!

The membership aspect is greatly supported by our outdoor curriculum. The Y5 children recently started the Sir John Muir Award for conservation at the Pinkery centre. This outdoor experience adds a different context and complements the work we do in Sea School. Our mission to learn about the ecology of our community and conserve our environment is an excellent base for learning with real purpose in school.

All children take part in Sea School sessions completing projects and studies which are linked into their classroom learning. Please keep an eye out for messages from the teacher as 'Sea School' is not something that happens every week now. The children may have a weekly slot for a while but there may also be a longer term project, depending on the curriculum the children are undertaking. Your teacher should be letting you know what they are learning about at the start of each term.

If your child really enjoys Sea School and has aspirations to be a 'Sea School Rangers' then they must show their passion and enthusiasm in lesson time. Sea School Rangers is for children who would like to develop their passion and help with our Sea School provision, giving up their own time to support the school. Sadly, there are a limited number of spaces and children are invited to join when there are spaces.

The picture below is of the Y5 children taking part in a river study at the Pinkery.

As we finish for this term the children should be bringing their mid-term report home. Please have a look back to the 'Assessment Special' in the newsletter archive to see how best to use this information to support the learning of your child.

Over the holidays there are lots of valuable home learning opportunities! Please have a great rest! Maybe have a go at my story cubes! Have a lovely walk on the beach and ask the children about the environment. Do lots of reading and most of all... have lots of interesting discussions!

Have a great Easter and see you on the 23rd April.

Clubs@CMPS

Parent Voice - Wednesday 24th April
Main School Class Photos - Thursday 25th April
Meet the lifeguards talk - Friday 3rd May
PTFA Summer Fayre - Friday 28th June 6pm to 8pm
Sports Day 10th July (final confirmation after Easter)
Reserve Sports Day 18th July
Year 6 leavers Disco - Friday 19th July
Year 6 leavers Assembly - 22nd July

CLEANER WANTED

An enthusiastic honest and reliable individual with effective timekeeping and attendance is required to start ASAP to join our team of Premises Staff.
Salary Scale A.1 @ 11.15hrs per week
You will work under the direction of the Caretaker and Site Manager.
If you are interested in joining our hardworking and professional team we would like to hear from you!
Please email: recruitment@alumnismat.org.for an application pack.

Please do not drive up Hangman Path and use the loading bay or the pavement outside the Staff Car Park to park when you drop off your children. This is a safety risk as well as not allowed in our agreement with the Parish Council. We do get complaints from local residents. The Parish Council have been very keen to support us in regards to limited 'free parking' at Kiln Car Park for Parents/Carers who drive their children to and from school. Free of charge parking for up to 40 minutes in the morning and afternoon within set times are permitted.

Morning: 8.30 - 9.10am
Afternoon: 2.55pm - 3.35pm

Please be aware, that parking outside of these times without paying, a parking ticket will be issued!

We would also like to reiterate that under no circumstances, parking being allowed alongside the kerb outside of school. This is extremely dangerous for you, other road users, parents and pupils coming in and out of school. Rews close is privately owned, and no parking is permitted.

Thank you.

Tempest Photography will be in school on Thursday 25th April to take Traditional class photos. Please ensure your child is in full school uniform on this day.

SHARK SLEEPOVER - YEAR 2
We now have the Final cost and dates for the up and coming Residential 'Shark Sleepover'

This residential is available for our Year 2 pupils and will take place at the National Aquarium in Plymouth.
Thursday 20th June - Friday 21st June 2019.
The trip is a little cheaper than anticipated @ £60.00
I have amended the visit to this cost. If you have paid the full £70.00, a refund has been given back to your pre-payment account.
If you wish your child to go on the visit, please pay a deposit of £20.00 to secure your place.
Instalments can then be paid as and when up to departure.

Barton Hall has proved a very popular Residential Weekend this year! All 20 spaces that were allocated to us have now been booked, with first deposit paid.
If you have missed out on this opportunity, please leave your name with the School Office, in case anymore spaces become available or cancellations made.
The total cost of the visit is £180.00. Second instalment is due 5th April 2019 £45.00.

Year 2 will be joined by some Year 5 & 6 for swimming next half term.
The cost will be £20 for the half term which can be paid by Scopay from now.
If your child is due to swim you should have received a letter with more details.

Tennis & Gymnastics clubs Summer Term

The Devonshire Tennis Academy will again be running both Tennis and Gymnastics clubs at school during the Summer Term. Both clubs will be open to all children.
Tennis club will be on Thursdays from 8am - 8:45am and will cost £25 for the first half term (5 weeks)
Gymnastics will be on Fridays from 3.30pm - 4.30pm and will also cost £25 for the first half term (5 weeks)
There are discounts for both siblings and multiple classes.
For more information please pick up a letter from Reception. All correspondence and payments will be made direct with Mr Cook from The Academy

School Uniform
As previously informed, you may now order directly from our supplier for your school uniform and accessories. We believe this will be a more quicker and convenient service for you.
We will continue to stock only a SMALL selection of SWEATSHIRTS ONLY in each size. Cardigans, book bags, PE bags, T-Shirts and Polo Shirts with logos can be ordered only from the shop retailer. You will not be able to order these items now on Scopay.
Plain white Polo shirts & PE-shirts can be bought at a selection of retailers including your local supermarket!

Please visit their shop at the address below.
Express Embroidery
Tracey Stantiford
3 Moxham Court
EX32 8HR
(By Barnstaple Bus Station)
Your may also email your uniform order directly to them wathen528@aol.com
Thank you

Spaces are still available for all clubs. All clubs are available to book online via scopay.
A timetable is below and on the school notice board.

Comic Book Club has now moved to Monday lunchtime and Photography & Animation Club continues on a Thursday lunchtime.
These clubs are free of charge but you need to sign up on Scopay.

We would like to advise you of the services for which childcare vouchers/tax free childcare can be accepted as payment in our school.
Breakfast Club
After School Care
After School Extra-curricular activity clubs (if delivered onsite at school)
Regulations state that the vouchers can be used to pay for onsite and out of school hours childcare. We regret to inform you that this rule prevents us from accepting childcare vouchers, as payment for school lunches, educational visits or residential trips, despite what some voucher companies are advertising to parents on their website.
Thank you

A child in Class 4 has lost their coat. It is named and is dark blue with a hood and a furry lining.
Two jumpers have gone missing from Class 1, both are named.
A pair of stormtrooper wellies in a named bag and a grey hoodie with NY on the front are also missing.
A child in Class 6 has lost her coat. It is green/grey in colour and is named.
1 x Sweatshirt, named Willow Lawton.
A child in Class 1 has lost a pair of Black & Pink Sketchers.
A child in Year 5 has lost an A4 size tupperware box.
Please could you check your child's belongings. .
If you have found any of the lost property above, please let the admin office know.
Thank you

We still have an amount of consent forms outstanding for your children to do activities off-site both on foot and for short bus journeys. Without this consent form we will be unable to take your children off-site.

We have distributed another form for the children who are outstanding.. Please fill out asap so we can include your children in our outside learning local visits.

We are losing Sam today and she will be missed greatly. She has been a fantastic addition to our team and we wish her every success in her new venture.
We will be welcoming Sophie McLaughlin to the team after Easter and we can't wait to have her as part of the Tiddlers Team. Welcome Sophie and Good luck!!

If you think you may be entitled to either 30 hours childcare or 2 year old funding or you would like to find out more information please go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If you have a golden ticket please see Debbie or the Tiny Tiddlers team as soon as possible so that we can book your child in.

Places are booking fast for the Summer term. If you would like your child to start attending Tiddlers or Tiny Tiddlers please see one of the team as soon as possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support from all of us at Tiddlers.

Term Dates 2018 - 2019

Last day of Spring term is Friday 5th April.

Easter Half Term - Monday 8th February - Tuesday 23rd April.

Summer term begins on 23rd April.

School closed for Bank Holiday 6th May.

Summer Half-term 27-31st May.

Last day of the Summer term is Monday 22nd July.

Term Dates 2019 - 2020

Non-pupil day on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd September.
School starts on Wednesday 4th September, 2019.

Autumn Half-term 21-25th October, 2019.

Last day of Autumn term is the 20th December, 2019.

Non-pupil day Monday 6th January.

Spring term begins on Tuesday 7th January, 2020.

Spring Half-term 17-21st February, 2020.

Last day of Spring term is Friday 27th March, 2020.

Easter Half Term - Monday 30th March - Monday 13th April.

Non-pupil day Tuesday 14th April.

Summer Term begins on 15th April, 2020.

School closed for Bank Holiday 4th May.

Summer Half-term 25-29th May, 2020.

Non Pupil Day - Monday 29th June.

Last day of the Summer term is Tuesday 21st July, 2020.

Combe Martin School is part of the Alumnis Multi-Academy Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 11409631