Dear Parents and Carers

Another busy week in school began on Monday when we welcomed Miss Wood back to visit our reception class.  We had a visit from an officer from the Local Authority who spent the morning looking at all aspects of our Early Years Provision in readiness for any future Ofsted Inspection.  She expressed how much she enjoyed her visit and produced a thorough report.  We were extremely pleased with the outcome and a response from a senior officer in the Local Authority which read   ‘Mr MacAreavy, this reads very well indeed’.  I think that just about says it all, other than to thank everyone involved in our Early Years Team. 

Our Book Fair was delivered on Wednesday and we have enjoyed two very successful sessions after school in the school hall.  A special thanks to everyone who has attended and particularly our children from Year 6 who have organised this event.   The Book Fair will be available on Monday and Tuesday and access is through the Family Room located at the front of the school.

Our girls football team performed extremely well last Friday at the Chesterfield Sports Partnership Tournament held at Goals in Netherton.  They reached the semi-final and came home rather annoyed at being denied a place in the final by some rather dodgy rereferring.   Apparently, everyone felt the same.  Nevertheless, well done girls, as they now look forward to playing some real games on our school football pitch.

We are delighted with how our Year 4 class are embracing their swimming lessons and I must say that I am proud of the way they are behaving in public, as well as the effort that they are putting into their swimming.  Stacy their swimming coach is full of praise for each child. 

Yesterday, all the classes enjoyed a visit from Jamie Carragher’s Foundation.  Each class took part in a 40-minute skills and football lesson and again everyone enjoyed themselves. 

This week saw the opening of our brand-new school library.  Once again, thanks to the mum’s who helped bar code the books, as well as help tidy up as they went along.  You know who you are.  Our librarians have been chosen from Year 6 and Frankie and Sophie have done an amazing job and are now trained to use our computer software and scanning equipment that allows the children to take a book and return it.  The software records all the details and stores them next to the child’s name and I have been extremely pleased that we have been able to allocate a new library book to all our junior children.  Some of them have even finished their first book and have returned it and taken out a second.  Once again you know who you are children and well done to you.  We shall invite our infant classes to the library next week and I ask that you share their excitement and read their new book with them as the gift of reading gives everyone a head start in life.

This afternoon a team of children from our Year 4 class are competing in the local Dodge Ball Competition.  I know that the boys and girls will support each other and represent our school impeccably. 

I intend to prune one of the trees at the bottom of our school field and anyone who can help is asked to meet me this Sunday, 13^th March, at 11.00am in the school car park.  If you have saw, this may help speed up the process as all the branches will be used by our children in their den making area.  I expect this will take about an hour if four or five of us are available. 

Red Nose Day is next Friday, and can I remind you that any donations should be paid through Iris Parentmail, an account should be available for each pupil.

I wish you a happy and peaceful weekend and once again please spend a moment to pray for the people in Ukraine.

Yours sincerely

Mr D MacAreavy - Headteacher