20^th July 2010

Dear Parents,

A final reminder that we break up for the Summer Holiday tomorrow, Wednesday 21^st July at 3 o’clock.

The year has been memorable in so many ways. We have, as a school, won many trophies and prizes. Our children have performed academically as well as any other and in most cases better. We have been well supported by our parent body as a whole and by our Circle of Friends organisation. As a school community we have supported many needy cases in this country and around the world. You have been exceedingly generous. When you are in school you should see the letter of thanks from a child in Zimbabwe – it is by the main office door. I am privileged to be headteacher of such a strong school. Thank you for all that you do to enable our work to be so successful.

I do hope that you have a lovely summer and I look forward to meeting your children again on Thursday 2^nd September at the normal time. I wish all our Year 6 leavers much fortune and happiness in the years ahead and hope that they all go on to great things. Good luck also to those parents who are leaving the school.

The next school year will be a significant one in the history of our school and I am looking forward to another year of high achievement, many happy times and a further strengthening of our caring nature.

With my best wishes,

FG

Newsletter from Mr. Gulley, May 2010

I thought that I would keep you up to date with a number of news items about our school:-

• The building of our new classrooms is making good progress and we should be able to take possession sometime in June. The development will be a really useful asset as well as solving a major problem we have had with heating and insulation in this part of the school for a number of years. The field will be restored as part of the work. Thank you for putting up with all the inconvenience.
• Our school took part in the recent boycott of the SATs tests. Twelve schools in all in Southend took part. I wrote to Year Six parents to explain my reasons. Basically we know our children and their ability really well. The tests were not always a true reflection of their ability. The assessment techniques used here are as strong and professional as anywhere else. The tests had become superfluous and were restricting our concentration on making as much academic and personal progress as possible. I look forward to their total abolition by the coalition government.
• I have been working closely with the Committee of our new Circle of Friends. They are eager, enthusiastic, hardworking and imaginative in what they do – raising funds for all our children. They have planned an excellent Summer Fair and we should have a really successful day. BUT they and we need many more helpers to make it so. This work is vital and highly appreciated. I would be so pleased to hear that volunteer numbers had increased. If you wish to help, drop a note in the COF notice-board by the Main Office. Most of the teaching and support staff are helping. Please join us.
• I wrote to you recently explaining that we were going to run a Sponsored Event to assist our funds for Swimming this year. Given that we have already reached half-term and many people are saving up for holidays I have decided to delay the Event until the Autumn Term.
• A reminder of some dates:-
• Friday 28^th May – Break-up for half term
• Monday 7^th June – Return after half term
• Friday 11^th June – Teacher training day
• Saturday 26^th June – Summer Fair
• Week commencing 5^th July – Sports Days –
• 5^th – Key Stage One
• 6^th – Year 5
• 7^th – Year 6
• 8^th – Year 4
• 9^th – Year 3
• 21^st July – End of School Year
• 2^nd September – Start of 2010-2011 School Year

Best wishes from Mr. Gulley

Letter from Mr. Gulley, March 2010

Dear Parents,

Please find below a reminder of some important dates:-

Thursday April 1^st, 3 o’clock,   End of Term

Tuesday April 20^th Start of the Summer Term

Monday May 3^rd May Day

Week Commencing May 10^th Key Stage Two SATs Tests

Week commencing May 31^st Half Term

Friday June 11^th Teacher Training Day

Friday June 26^th Circle of Friends Summer Fair

Monday July 5^th Key Stage One Sports Day

Tuesday July 6^th Year 4 Sports Day

Wednesday July 7^th Year 6 Sports Day

Thursday July 8^th Year 5 Sports Day

Friday July 9^th Year 3 Sports Day

Friday July 9^th Annual Reports Issued to Parents

Wednesday July 21^st End of the School Year

I have some very good news:-

• 15 children passed the 11+ this year, including children with some of the highest marks in Essex
• Several other children were very close indeed to a pass mark
• Our school was awarded the trophy for Best Primary School in South East Essex at the South East Essex Art & Design Competition, the third time we have won it in the last four years, several classes winning gold awards
• One Year 6 Class won the Special Award for work in textiles, something open to  Secondary Schools also
• Our Netball Team won the League comprehensively and finished runners up in the Cup, our Second Team finishing third,  out of sixteen participating teams
• You, the children and the staff contributed £1140 to the Haiti Appeal, a quite remarkable achievement

I would appeal for some support for our Circle of Friends. We unfortunately had to cancel our Quiz Night due to a lack of response and the Committee tells me that we have only had three volunteers so far to assist with the Summer Fair. This is an important aspect of our work as a school and I would be so pleased if this eager group should receive more offers of help. Thank you.

One other piece of serious news is that the school, along with many other institutions I suspect, has challenging budget problems to face in the financial year ahead. We shall be trying to maintain all that we do but we have to be inventive in the ways we raise money for the school. One of our largest expenditures each year is our swimming pool. It costs well over £20000 a year to run. This year I shall be asking you to help us by supporting a sponsored event we shall be holding early in the summer term. I shall write to you early next term with details. I shall not, therefore, be seeking donations as we normally do.

Do enjoy the Easter Holiday and let us hope that the weather improves. It has been such a long and miserable winter! Our children have kept us all enthusiastic throughout it and have achieved much.

Best wishes.

Mr. G