Autumn Term 2 Newsletter

Monkton CEP School – “Everyone is Special” Term 1 Newsletter 2 17 September 2019

Dear Parents and Governors,

Church Harvest Festival

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St Mary Magdalene Church Harvest Festival service will take place on Sunday 22 September at 10:15am.

Everyone attending Monkton CEP School is welcome to join the congregation to celebrate Harvest Festival.

ow that everyone has settled into their new classes and the school routine. I thought it would be a good idea to send you another newsletter with the rest of the reminders and information for this term.

You will find attached to this newsletter a copy of this Academic Years Term Dates and on the reverse a copy of Term 1 and Term 2 Diary Dates. Please keep these on your notice board for future reference.

Further details regarding all items mentioned and extra class activities will follow as and when they occur.

Website Please use the website to check up on dates and what is happening regarding holidays, sports clubs and class activities:

In the week after the service, bags containing perishable goods will be distributed to the elderly residents of the village by staff and pupils from the school. All tinned and dried goods with be donated to the Thanet Food Bank.

Thank you in advance for your contributions.

Parking - reminder A neighbour contacted us at the end of last term to complain that members of the school community are parking in their residents’ car park.

www.monkton.kent.sch.uk School Money If you haven’t already done so, please sign up our new online payment system.www.eduspot.co.uk. Login using the “SchoolMoney Parent Login”. Remember to let Mrs Webb know if you change your email address.

Text Messaging Service We will continue to use the texting service this year, so please ensure you always keep Mrs Webb updated with your new mobile phone numbers.

Marsh View Cottages Carpark is a private car park and is therefore not available to parents and guardians to use.

Please remember not to park on the zigzags between the hours of 8.00-9.30 in the morning and 2.30-4.30 in the afternoon. There should be no stopping or parking on the bus stops between the hours of 7.00am and 7.00pm.

The zigzags and the lines for both bus stops outside school were redesigned during the modernisation specifically with your children's safety in mind. You are not supposed to park on either. This is to allow the Road Crossing Patrol person a clear view of the road and to keep cars as far away from your children when they are crossing the road as possible.

Please park considerately in our village Harvest Festival - Monday 23 September at St Mary Magdalene Church at 9:30am Harvest Festival Bags Your child has brought home a decorated Harvest Bag. Please fill the bag with suitable items i.e. fruit, veg, tins and packets and return it to school on the morning of Friday 20 September. Please ensure that all items are edible and in date. The bags are displayed in the church for our Harvest Festival and for the Sunday Harvest Festival Service.

School Harvest Festival Service Our Harvest Festival will take place at St Mary Magdalene Church, Monkton on Monday 23 September 2019 at 9.30am.

All parents and friends are welcome to join us. The Church is situated at the top end of the village. From Willetts Hill turn right and the church is at the far end of the village. From Minster drive past the school straight over the mini round about at Willetts Hill. (this is a no through road and is blocked off at the end). Please ensure that your child has a

raincoat in school on this day. Thank you

Walking Bus To avoid the problems above have you considered joining the Walking Bus? This is a ‘park and stride scheme’ you can drop your children off, or park up at the top of the village and walk down with your children. This means you do not have the hassle of trying to find a place to park outside school in the morning.

The Walking Bus is currently run by Catherine Arnell and a team of parent volunteers. There is plenty of capacity for pupils and parents to take advantage of this marvellous scheme, for more information or a trial run to see if it suits you please contact Catherine on: 07957641471 or pop into the office to collect information and Walking Bus Promise forms.

Our walking bus relies on us having enough adult volunteers to walk down to school with it. If you are using the bus, please consider if you could lend a hand and become a volunteer, please contact Catherine for details.

May I take this opportunity to thank Catherine and her helpers for giving their time and energy each morning to ensure our Walking Bus runs come rain or shine!

Inspired through sport GB Athlete Visit This year we have decided to raise money to back our GB Athletes. The Inspired through Sport programme supports athletes throughout the UK on their journey to the world championships and the 2020 Olympic games. The funding goes towards physio, kit, travel costs amongst other things.

Not all sporting areas are as funded as others so fundraising can really help an athlete.

Our athlete (name to be revealed) will be visiting school on Friday 4 October 2019. More details regarding their visit will be sent to you in a separate letter.

PTA As a parent of a child or children at Monkton CEP School you are automatically a member of the Parent Teacher Association. Please remember you do not need to be a committee member to come to meetings or to volunteer your help.

For new families, joining the PTA is a valuable way of getting to know everyone and feeling part of the school community.

Even if you cannot get to every meeting your help at parties, school performances and fairs is greatly appreciated.

The PTA are a fantastic group of people who make life special for your children at Monkton CEP School.

As well as fundraising to purchase extras for the children, they provided refreshments after our Class Productions and Carol Service.

They on occasions help provide us with extra ‘manpower’ throughout the year. The Staff and Governors truly appreciate their help, support and assistance in making Monkton CEP School welcoming and friendly. I would like to encourage everyone to support their work and volunteer to help at their events whenever you can.

PTA Annual General Meeting The PTA will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 7 November between 3:30pm and 4:30pm in the school. We have brought the time forward so that it is easier for you to attend. We are also offering crèche facilities for your children. Just register your children with the office if you would like them to attend the crèche. Please can you make every effort to attend and support the PTA.

New Entrants Can I encourage as many new entrants to join the Walking Bus, this helps keep your children healthy and keeps cars off the road at the beginning of the school day.

Car Engines – Clean Air! May I remind you not to sit in your car with the engine switched on when waiting to drop off and or pick up your children.

Siblings Can you please let Mrs Webb know of any younger siblings that you wish to enrol at Monkton CEP School. As you are probably aware siblings come at the top of our list only superseded by Children in Care. Please be aware if you are moving house you must move to a property that is the same distance or nearer to the school than your previous property.

Problems and Concerns If you have any traumatic events at home (bereavements, family break ups etc) I would be very grateful if you would let your child’s teacher, myself or Mrs Webb know. We care very much about the health and wellbeing of all the children. If we know they are experiencing problems we can give them the due care, consideration and support that they need.

If you have any school or class concerns regarding your child/children, please see your child’s Class Teacher in the first instance. If you would like to speak to me, please see Mrs. Webb and she will make the necessary arrangements.

Punctuality and timekeeping It is important that your child is on time each day for school. School starts promptly at 8:50 and all children should be on the premises and ready to learn at this time.

Arriving late in school interrupts the start of the day for both the child that is late and for their classmates.

Pickup Time We would appreciate all children being picked promptly at 3:10 from the playground. The Staff often have meetings and training to attend after school and therefore we are unable to take care of children in the Library/foyer after school on a regular basis. If you are unavoidably delayed due to traffic or other unforeseen circumstances there will always be staff here to look after your child until you arrive. If you are detained in this way please contact the office as soon as possible, especially if you are arranging for someone else to collect your child.

Breakfast Club There are still plenty of places on our Breakfast Club. Do give us a try. At this point there is no need to book in advance. Just pay as you go on the SchoolMoney App. Pop in to complete your enrolment form when you drop your child off in the morning. We look forward to welcoming your child/children.

Yours sincerely,

PTA Sports Day Refreshments

Head lice Fact: Lice can be caught at any time of the year, from close contact with anyone, on holiday, day care friends, sleepovers and cousins. Early detection and treatment is the best way to prevent their spread. Please would you check your child/children’s heads on a weekly basis. Follow the detection combing instructions on the leaflets previously provided by us. This advice can also be found on the NHS Choices Website: www.nhs.uk .

K A Wilson (Mrs) Head of School

Monkton CEP School Academic Year 2018/19