Headteacher’s Newsletter – 23rd May 2025
Dear Parents and Carers
Sean Woodcock MP
We were visited by our local MP today to discuss our plans for the new nursery. Mr. Woodcock was very impressed with our school and development ideas. If you know anyone coming to the area or considering a school for their child we would be more than happy to show them around St. Mary’s.
School Photos
We thought we’d try something different today so class photos were taken outside, on the school field. We have such beautiful school grounds. I’m sure they will look lovely when they are produced.
Piano Lessons
Piano lessons are now available with a music teacher during school hours or lunch breaks, with rotating times each week so children do not miss the same class regularly. A fun and flexible way to build confidence and learn piano-perfect for beginners. Lessons are 20 minutes long and cost £12.50.
If your child would be interested in this, please leave a message at the office for Mrs English.
iRock Thursday 10 July at 9.30am
We are inviting parents and carers of those children that have just started their iRock sessions to come along to a small concert, where the children would like to show you what they have been learning. If any other parents were thinking of signing their child up for next year, please join us too.
Multiplication and Maths End of Term Reward
Do you want your child to enjoy ice-cream and a bouncy castle treat for learning their multiplication tables? An afternoon of fun is on offer at St. Mary’s.
By the end of next term, your child will receive this reward if they:
- Reception – know doubles to 10 (1+1, 2+2, 3+3 etc)
- Y1 – can count in 2s, 5s and 10s
- Y2 – can multiply by 2, 5 and 10
- Y3 – know their 2,3,4,5,8 x tables in under 6 seconds
- Y4, Y5 and Y6 – know ALL of their tables to 12 x 12 in under 6 seconds.
If your child has already received a certificate, their name will already be on the treat list. If you are concerned that your child has SEN but you have been trying hard at home regularly, this will also be recognised by the class teacher as they will have had the data for TTRockstars across the year.
St Mary’s Unplugged – 24 hours
A child told me the other day that he had so many sponsors. I responded with a very well done. The child told me that his parents and family didn’t think he could survive without technology for 24 hours. He said to me, ‘I can do anything I tell myself, even giving up my Xbox!’
So, who else is taking up the challenge? It doesn’t have to be a lot of money but the fact you complete the challenge is so important.
Athletics achievements
Our athletics team were fantastic on Wednesday. They all
competed in the 75m sprint, 300m run, long jump and howler throw.
We unfortunately didn’t win overall but we had some amazing performances, notably from Annabel, Ellie, Alfie Lee and Ethan for coming first in their long jump event! Every child in our team managed to come 1st, 2nd or 3rd in at least one event!
Mr Buzzard and Mrs Eaglestone were very proud. Thank you for representing St Mary’s so brilliantly!
Attendance
Thank you to all those parents who supported us this week in bringing their child to school on time. Even with all of the mayhem at the beginning of the week, the lates this week has reduced significantly. If you received a letter last week, we will be monitoring this on a weekly basis.
| Class with overall best attendance | EYFS – 99.05% |
| Overall school attendance | 95.14% |
| Unauthorised attendance | 2.62% |
Staff changes
Miss Gardner will be leaving us at the end of the summer term to fulfil her dream of being able to walk to work. I would like to thank Miss Gardner for her lovely whole school events at the Church and her fabulous face painting on VE day. We wish her all the best with her new adventure.
With Miss Gardner leaving us, we will be recruiting for a new class teacher. Please find more information on the DFE and OCC jobs website.
We are also recruiting 3 teaching assistants. We are able to offer two permanent and one temporary contract. If you or anyone you know is interested in this position, please contact me for an informal chat. You would be joining a happy, motivated team who work hard to give the children of St Mary’s the best every day.
Once the recruitment of all staff has been made, classes and their teaching assistants will be announced.
School Lunches
Thank you to those parents and carers who completed the school lunch questionnaire last week. We listened very carefully to your responses. The process of school and packed lunches have not changed for a number of years. The school has also been subsidising those families who pay for their meals for many years too. However, this has had a detrimental effect on the choice of meals on offer. I stated in a previous letter that we will be increasing our charges from September. We have just been informed that
our current provider will now make this change after half term. However, we feel this is too short notice and will continue to subsidise this increase as well.
From September, we will be looking at a different company, who will provide us with a range of choices that you will be able to pre-book. The increased choice, quality and ease of booking will come at an increased cost and we will unfortunately be unable to subsidise this.
We will keep you informed about all of this next term and thank you for your continued support.
Parent Workshops at St Mary’s – creche available
Please join us for a CAMHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST) Parent Workshop – Introducing ‘The Brief Incredible Years: Empowering parents to manage and understand their child’s behaviour. Part 1 & 2.
Save the date:
Part 1: Tuesday 17 June 2025 from 3.00pm – 4:30pm
Part 2: Tuesday 1 July 2025 from 3.00pm – 4:30pm
The workshop ‘Brief Incredible Years’ is based on the book ‘The Incredible Years’ by Caroline WebsterStratton. This program focuses on positive parenting strategies that support emotional and social development in children. The book is available for purchase (though not required for the workshop), or through Audible and some schools may lend copies. This is a parent-only workshop.
Please let the office know if you would like to attend so that we organise staff to look after your children.
Dates for your Diary
Have a lovely half term holiday and we look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 30 May 2025.
Kind regards,
Mrs McQueen
