12th October 2018
Dear Parents and Carers
This has been another busy week for the children, with a full range of activities to add to their learning in the classroom. They have been hard at work designing their Christmas Cards, the proofs of which should be with you just after half term – please keep an eye out for them and make sure you return your order by the specified date.
On Tuesday, the children were treated to an assembly and workshops provided by Wessex Water. With ideas about saving water (shorter showers, rather than none…), information about how the water gets to our taps, and a hands-on ‘Make your own sewage’ demonstration, this varied morning taught the children a great deal about a resource we all take for granted.
On Wednesday, the Tag Rugby club played their first fixture of the season, an away match at St Mary’s. Although we came second, it was a very close match and our players showed fantastic teams skills and spirit, and brilliantly put into practice the skills they had been taught.
Also on Wednesday, we held this term’s Parent Forum. I apologise for the short notice for this meeting which included discussions about the progress the school has made over the last 12 months, about priorities for the coming year, and future plans for the school. In a bid to expand the remit of the forum, we would be very pleased to receive items for the agenda from you, the parents, for the next meeting, and ideally invite a parent or group of parents to take on the running of the Forum. If you would like to know more about how to be involved, please do not hesitate to contact either me or Vanessa Lucas, Chair of Governors, via the school e-mail. In order to give you more notice, our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 13th February, 3:30pm.
Rotary Club Shoe Box Appeal
Please make sure that any shoe boxes for the appeal are brought into school on Monday. While we can still forward any late arrivals, it would be good to present them all at once.
Shaftesbury and Gillingham Round Table Competition
This year they will be hosting their annual firework and bonfire display. You are invited to build a ‘Guy’ for the fire. The guys will be judged by the Chairman of the Round Table and the winning school will receive a £100 cash prize. The theme this year is ‘Farmer Guy’ and the Guys MUST be made by the children. All Guys will be placed on the bonfire at the display on Saturday 3rd November at the North Dorset Rugby Club.
Stars of the Week
Congratulations to: Gilbert, Esme and Ella for their work this week.
Revised Auction List 2018 (sealed bids can be left at the office)
- Days labour by Steve Wattridge (builder) –
- 3 bed Cottage (sleeps 6) in Stour Provost for a weekend
- James Rose – 2 dumpy bags of logs
- Racing at Wincanton
- Hand Made Cold Frame by Vale Sheds
- Dorset Ugly – Emma Mauger
- The Crown Hotel, Blandford – Double Room for the night
- Hand and Foot Manicure by Nikki
- 1 Osteopath session with Frances Henry
- Half an hour flying lesson with Matt Whitfield
RAFFLE PRIZES – £5 per strip (available from the office)
Virgina Haywood Hamper Christmas Wreath
12 Piece white dinner set Neal’s Yard Hamper
Bottle of Conker Gin Udder Farm Shop – Breakfast Voucher
Next week, children from Oak Class will be going on their residential visit to North Devon for three days of climbing, abseiling, street surfing and team-building activities. I am sure they will have a fantastic time and, as we are due to arrive back just as the half term holiday starts at the end of school on Friday 19th October, they will join all the other children in enjoying a well-deserved break.
With best wishes
James Stanford
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s)
Parent Governor Vacancy – Your school needs you!
We have vacancies for two parent governors, which we need to fill as soon as possible. Stower Provost Primary School is committed to a partnership with parents, which undoubtedly brings great benefits to the children. One of the most significant ways you can help in promoting this aim is to volunteer to be a parent governor.
The governing board’s main tasks are:
- To ensure that the school has a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- To hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
- To oversee the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Parent governors are welcomed as valued members of the team and play a vital role in ensuring the governing board is aware of the views of parents and the local community. We feel sure that there are parents prepared to take on this important role and give their time and commitment to helping us to continue to improve the school’s performance.
In looking to fill these vacancies the governors of the school have identified the following skills, experience and attributes that they feel would help strengthen the governing body:
- An interest in helping the school in its journey to being good or better
- Enthusiasm
- Creativity
- Able to help with data analysis
- An interest in health and safety or risk assessment
Training and support will be available to help you develop into the role. This will include in-house mentoring and support as well as access to external governor training. We have five full governing board meetings a year and these are currently held on a Wednesday at 6p.m.
OFSTED review the effectiveness of our governing body when reviewing school leadership. To get our school to “good” at our next visit we need two parent governors to join our committed governing body.
If you feel you have the skills and passion to support your school please feel free to talk to us or contact the school office by Friday 2nd November 2018.
Please note that for the protection of children all governor appointments are subject to a DBS check.
If there are more applications than vacancies, we will hold an election and you will be sent a voting paper in due course. You may return the ballot paper either via your child or by post.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Vanessa Lucas
Chair of Governors