newsletter dec2014pt1 copy · bluecoat ceva primary symn lane, wotton-under-edge, gloucestershire...

BlueCoat CEVA Primary Symn Lane, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7BD

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Staffing'News'Following(Mr(Jones’s(ascent(to(headship(

over(the(summer,(the(school(team(has(

remained(a(member(down(this(year.(

More(change(beckons(as(Mrs(Hawkins(

leaves(us(in(pursuit(of(carrying(out(a(

slightly(different(role(surrounding(special(

educa@on(needs.(We(thank(her(for(her(

hard(work(and(commitment(and(wish(her(

every(success(in(her(future(role. From(January,(we(welcome(Mrs(O’(

Shaughnessy(to(the(Blue(Coat(team(in(

her(role(as(Special(Educa@on(Needs(CoH

ordinator((SENCo).(She(has(been(mee@ng(

with(Mrs(Hawkins(so(as(to(pave(a(smooth(

transi@on(path(for(leadership(of(SEN.(

delighted(for(Mr(Clements(who(will(thrive(

in(this(future(role. Unfortunately,(Sharpness’s(gain(is(our(

loss(and(Mr(Clements’s(departure(aLer(

Easter(has(wider(impact(on(leadership(

and(the(teaching(of(Class(Drake.(We(are,(

of(course,(considering(our(op@ons(and(

will(be(begin(an(imminent(recruitment(

drive(in(the(new(year.(Parents(will(be(kept(

informed(of(the(outcomes(but(we(remain(

hopeful(and(determined(to(find(a(suitable(

replacement(to(fill(these(‘big(shoes’.(

Play'Ac1on'Under'Way'The(school’s(commitment(to(high(quality(

play(experiences(for(our(pupils(remains(a(

steadfast(priority.((Mrs(Murray,(the(

school’s(Play(CoHordinator,(has(been(busy(

in(the(background(preparing(the(

condi@ons(for(green(shoots(of(play(

development.(Most(recently(this(has(

taken(the(form(of(raising(parental(

commitment(to(join(a(Parents(for(Play(

team(for(those(willing(to(offer(their(

support(in(developing(the(school(site(in(

any(way(H(big(or(small.(The(Mud(Kitchen(

is(an(ini@al(site(area(we(are(looking(to

Part(of(this(process(will(be(the(SENCo(

mee@ng(pupils,(staff(and(parents(over(

the(coming(weeks(to(build(a(picture(of(

the(current(needs(and(priori@es(for(this(

area,(working(with(all(par@es(in(

championing(and(securing(the(best(

outcomes(for(a(poten@ally(vulnerable(

group(in(school.Mrs(O’Shaughnessy(also(has(current(

teaching(experience(in(Key(Stage(2(so(

pupils((might(get(to(see(her(in(

classrooms(not(only(when(working(with(

teachers(to(develop(SEN(teaching(

prac@ce(but(also(covering(the(odd(class(

on(occasion!Mr(Clements(is(THE(Blue(Coat(success(

story(that(Hollywood(would(want(to(

film.(His(rise(from(Teaching(Assistant(to(

Class(teacher(to(Key(Stage(1(Leader(

and,(more(recently,(as(Assistant(

Headteacher(of(Key(Stage(2(would(be(

enough(to(impress(any(overpaid(film(

director.(However,(his(latest(move(to(

Headteacher'of'Sharpness'Primary'School'underlines(the(success(of(his(career(thus(far.(We(are(both(proud(and

As'we'approach'the'fes1ve'period,'great'excitement'and'expecta1on'builds'in'school.'This'is'wholly'relevant'to'our'Chris1an'value'of'‘Hope’'this'term'G'something'which'we'have'reflected'on'and'will'con1nue'to'as'we'remember'the'true'meaning'of'Christmas'amongst'the'flurry'of'school'fes1vi1es.'In'addi1on,'much'has'been'going'on'behind'the'scenes,'par1cularly'related'to'school'sports'and'staffing'changes'for'the'new'year'(read'below).'In'the'mean1me,'on'behalf'of'the'Blue'Coat'team,'we'would'like'to'wish'you'and'your'families'a'Very'Merry'Christmas'and'a'prosperous'new'year!

Dec 2014 Pt.1

Eyes'on'the'Prize!'A(number(of(the(school’s(spor@ng(

achievements(last(year(have(been(

enthusias@cally(followed(up(by(our(Key(

Stage(2(pupils(this(year.(The(school(

website(draws(clear(a[en@on(to(the(

fact(that(both(boys(and(girls(have(been(

successful(in(qualifying(for(district(

finals(in(football.(We(wish(them(the(

very(best(of(luck(for(next(week’s(

tournaments(at(the(Oxstalls(Centre. Running(remains(a(Blue(Coat(strength(

with(a(large(number(of(our(pupils(

par@cipa@ng(in(Saturday(cross(country(

events(at(KLB(to(build(a(healthy(lead(in(

the(large(school(category.(Again,(we(

wish(them(further(luck(this(weekend(

before(the(exci@ng(final(in(January.(

Finally,(we(hold(high(hopes(for(our(girls(

and(boys(athle@cs(teams(at(Wycliffe(

College((16th(December(9.30H12.30)(H(

where(early(success(was(achieved(at(a(

recent(KLB(training. We(are(excep@onally(proud(of(every(

child(who(has(represented(the(school(

in(sports,(win(or(lose,(and(we(will(

con@nue(to(celebrate(their(

achievements(both(online(via(the(

website(and(on(paper(here.(

Eyes'on'the'(Mince)'Pies!'Focussing(on(an(altogether(different(

style(of(performance,(parents(will(be(

aware(through(ParentMail(

communica@ons(that(key(stage(

Christmas(performances(are(

approaching(and(@ckets(for(shows(are(

available(from(the(school.

As(ever,(these(promise(to(be(

entertaining,(energe@c(and(reflec@ve(

occasions.(We(would(just(ask(parents(

to(be(mindful(of(a(couple(of(points(

before(they(a[end.(Firstly,(we(ask(that(

parents(respect(the(decision(not(to(

film(video(and(distribute(images(

containing(other(children(on(public(

pages(such(as(social(media(sites(for(the(

protec@on(of(individuals(within(our(

school.(Secondly,(we(are(collec@ng(for(

2(worthwhile(childHcentred(chari@es(at(

our(performances:(the(Dagorec(

Corner(Street(Children(Programme(and(

The(Children’s(Society.(More(

informa@on(will(follow(at(the(

performances.(A(spare(change(

contribu@on(from(families(is(much(

appreciated,(as(always.

Our Christian Value in focus is ‘Hope’

BlueCoat CEVA Primary Symn Lane, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7BD

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the$impact$of$which$can$be$damaging$in$building$and$maintaining$home3school$partnerships.$These$are$partnerships$which$should$be$strong$and$always$focussed$on$the$best$interests$of$the$children$and$require$mutual$trust,$honesty$and$open$communica;on$to$be$effec;ve.We$would$advise$any$parents$with$a$concern$to$refer$to$the$school’s$Complaints$Policy$on$our$website$and$resolve$the$issue$through$the$procedures$contained$therein.$There$is$a$process$of$escala;on$which$parents$can$access$if$they$believe$that$their$concern$has$not$been$addressed$sufficiently$at$any$stage.$

Save%the%DatesDiaries$at$the$ready!6th%Dec:$Cross$Country,$10am,$KLB 6th%Dec:$Choir$@$Light$up$a$Life$service,$3pm,$St$Mary’s7th%Dec:$Choir$@Vintage$Christmas,$12.15pm,$Long$St9th%Dec:$Boys$Football$Final,$4.3036.30pm,$Oxstalls$Tennis$Centre

10th%Dec:$EYFS3KS1$Christmas$Plays,$9.45am$and$2pm,$School$Hall$ 11th%Dec:$EYFS3KS1$Christmas$Play,$9.45am,$School$Hall 11th%Dec:%Girls$Football$Final,$4.3036.30pm,$Oxstalls$Tennis$Centre16th%Dec:%Y5,6$Athle;cs$compe;;on,$9.30312.30pm,$Wycliffe$College17th%Dec:$School$Christmas$Lunch,$class$par;es,$Santa$pop3in?$(Sssssh$3$secret!)17th%Dec:%KS2$Christmas$Play,$6.30pm,$St$Mary’s$church 18th%Dec:$Pre3school$Christmas$Play,$9.30am,$School$Hall$18th%Dec:$KS2$Christmas$Play,$1.45pm,$St$Mary’s 18th%Dec:$KS1$enrichment$trip$to$see$‘Magic$Elves’,$12pm,$$Bristol 19th%Dec:$Christmas$Jumper$Day$(see$note)$End$of$term$3$early$close$2.30pm5th%Jan:%School$INSET$Day$3$3$no$pupils$in$6th%Jan:%School$term$starts$3$pupils$in$16th%Jan:%Class$Vasco$Worship,$11.40am 17th%Jan:%Cross$Country$Final,$10am,$KLB 25th%Jan:$Family$Forest$School/Tree$Plan;ng$session,$10am312pm,$Sch.$Field

(‘Play%Under%Way’%conAnued)%develop.$Any$parental$dona;ons$of$theitems$men;oned$in$previous$correspondence$from$Mrs$Murray$would$be$greatly$appreciated$by$us,$but$more$importantly$by$our$children$as$it$will$enrich$their$play. As$incoming$play$equipment$is$gathered,$the$need$for$increased$storage$becomes$cri;cal.$Our$exis;ng$shed$outside$key$stage$1$classes$is$not$adequate$on$its$own.$With$the$kind$

funding$of$PTA$monies,$the$school$is$installing$a$new$shed$alongside$the$exis;ng$one$over$the$coming$days.$The$children$have$all$been$engaged$in$a$survey$on$school$play;mes.$Informa;on$gathered$will$be$used$to$inform$the$play$project$and$will$be$an$ongoing$exercise$so$that$we$can$respond$to$the$needs$and$feedback$of$our$children.$

Our Christian Value in focus is ‘Hope’

Absence%&%School%Clubs%We$proudly$offer$a$range$of$ager3school$clubs$to$enrich$children’s$learning$experiences$at$Blue$Coat.$In$the$future,$we$would$like$to$extend$this$offer$to$include$a$greater$diversity$of$clubs$and$we$will$be$asking$pupils$and$parents$for$sugges;ons.$A$key$considera;on$of$our$clubs$is$that$we$are$able$to$run$them$safely.$On$a$number$of$occasions$children$have$not$ahended$clubs$and$the$school$has$not$been$informed$by$parents$that$their$child$will$be$absent.$I’m$sure$you$can$appreciate$that$this$quickly$leads$to$an$anxious$situa;on$where$the$school$are$trying$to$locate$the$child’s$whereabouts$in$the$absence$of$a$valid$

reason$for$why$they$have$not$remained$in$school.$Please$could$we$stress$the$importance$of$children’s$regular$ahendance$at$clubs$when$commiing$to$them,$but$also%where%there%is%genuine%reason%as%to%why%they%can’t%aKend%then%the%school%office%is%promptly%informed.$Thank$you.$

Busy%Bees%ConsultaAon%We$have$a$fantas;c$wraparound$care$facility$on$site$in$the$form$of$Busy$Bees.$Currently$they$are$seeking$parental$views$on$whether$an$earlier$opening$;me$of$7.45am$would$be$something$that$parents$would$wish$to$see.$If$so,$Busy$Bees$would$like$to$know$which$days$parents$would$like$to$use$this$new$arranged$;me.$If$you$have$an$opinion$

then$please$don’t$hesitate$to$contact$them$on$01453$525022$or$email$mrsjobell@b;nternet.comAll%Set%For%INSET%5$non3contact$days$are$allocated$to$every$school$each$year$with$a$clear$focus$on$delivering$professional$development$to$its$staff.$Monday$5th$January$is$our$third$INSET$day$this$year$and$we$will$be$using$it$to$focus$our$energies$on$designing$an$innova;ve,$broad$and$engaging$curriculum$capable$of$delivering$the$school’s$‘Future$Ready’$promise$to$our$pupils.$More$details$will$follow$as$it$is$designed$and$developed$throughout$the$remainder$of$the$2015$school$year.

Talk%to%Us…%please!%%According$to$the$large$majority$of$parental$feedback$we$receive,$both$formal$and$informal,$we$appear$to$be$a$school$that$parents$hold$in$high$esteem$such$that$they$would$recommend$us$to$other$parents$(thank&you!)$However,$we$recognise$that$despite$our$energy,$ambi;ons$and$best$efforts$we$can$always$improve$and$do$things$beher.$$ We$would$urge$parents$to$talk$to$us$if$they$feel$that$there$is$something$that$concerns$them$so$that$we$can$engage$in$a$dialogue$and$resolve$the$situa;on,$ideally$face3to3face.$$The$school$would$like$to$urge$that$parents

Dec 2014 Pt.2

avoid$sharing$concerns,$cri;cism$or$comments$of$a$nega;ve$nature$online$via$the$likes$of$social$media$sites$as$