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Byron Primary School

29 Jan 2010

Number 9 - 29th January 2010

ICT week
A big thank you to all the staff for their willingness to try (and patience with!) lots of new programs and ideas during ICT week this week. I have been really pleased with what has been going on around the school and the children have, as ever, amazed us with what they can do when using a computer or a piece of technical equipment!

We now have budding animators in Year 6, film stars and movie editors in Years 4 and 5, improved writers in Year 3, scientists that can look at specimens through computer microscopes in Years 1 and 2 and extremely enthusiastic beebot drivers and interactive whiteboard users in Reception!

Look out for some photos of children and pieces of ICT work which should be appearing on the website shortly!
AnneMarie Sayers – ICT Subject Leader

Parking
We have reports from concerned parents about parents parking and turning round outside the school gate at the beginning and end of the school day. Please do not drive up to the gate or park along the zigzag lines. We do appreciate that it makes it easier to pick up and drop off children especially if you have a baby or toddler in the car, but it is dangerous for our parents and children using the pavements. If you do see someone being unsafe please can you note down the number plate and hand it into the school office. We will then pass this on to the traffic enforcement officers. Help us to keep your children safe.
 
Healthy Eating and ParentPay
Parents are still invited to join us for school lunch every Wednesday. Just call the school office to let us know you are coming. The adult lunches cost £3.00. I have attached a copy of the current menu for you to see the meals that are currently being served. Please do take advantage of the ParentPay facility to see the food that your child is choosing to take each day.

We are noticing that some children eating packed lunches are not eating their sandwiches or finishing their lunch. Please do check with your child that they are eating what you have given them.

School Council
Our School Council meetings this term have been looking at language used by everyone around our school community. The children are concerned about the type of language that is being used and are in the process of planning an assembly and a letter to go out to all families about language used at school. Please help us to support their work by discussing the letter with your children.

Attendance
The attendance for the last two weeks:

Class	Week ending January 22nd	Week ending January 29th
Reception	98%	96%
Year 1	92%	98.5%
Year 2	93%	94%
Year 3	95%	94%
Year 4	99%	98.5%
Year 5	95%	96%
Year 6	99%	97%

Please can I remind parents about taking holiday during term time. The taking of leave during school time is not a right and can only be taken with the permission of the Governing Body. All applications must be received at the school no less than 3 weeks before the intended leave of absence. We can only authorise holiday absence if a child’s attendance has been above 93% in the last 12 months. Please ask for a copy of the Byron Attendance Policy to clarify the situation regarding leave of absence.

Really Good School Dinner Campaign
This week Byron has been taking part in the 'Really Good School Dinner Campaign'. This is organised by the School Food Trust which has teamed up with the United Nations Food Programme and Byron has pledged that for every school meal taken this week we will donate 10p to this campaign. The money raised will be used to support school children in countries such as Cambodia, Kenya and Guatemala to provide pupils with a nutritious meal, for many children this is their only meal of the day. We will be sending a donation to support this worthwhile campaign in respect of the meals served this week.

Clubs
In the last Newsletter we provided information about clubs being run after school. If your children would like to go to any of these clubs but you have difficulty collecting an older or a younger child as it is difficult for you to come up to school twice please do let us know as we do not want any child missing out on a club that they would like to attend.

Family Reading Afternoon
Don’t forget our next Family Reading Afternoon at 2.30pm on Thursday 11th February. This is an opportunity for you to come and read with your children in school in the classroom. Please do join us.

Help Haiti
Friday the 5th February 2010 we will be holding a mufti day to raise funds for the victims of the Haitian earthquake disaster.  Children can wear their own clothes for a donation of £1.00 or more.  If you would like to send in more money with your child this will be of course be very welcome.  (Any donations already received will cover ‘mufti money’).

Suggestions Box and Feedback
We have a suggestions box in the reception area outside the school office and would welcome positive input and ideas from you or your children (anonymous or attributed!) for matters relating to the school or school activities. 

We have also included a tear off slip at the bottom of this newsletter if you would like to make any comments or suggestions for Byron. Please return these to the school office.


Clare Wingrave