Dear Parents and Carers
The benefits of a school pool have really made themselves known this week and it has been brilliant to see the improvement in water confidence and swimming skills in a very short time. As I am currently in charge of pool maintenance, I am discovering the effects of a number of children not wearing hats for their swims – remains of shampoos and shed hair add massively to the contamination in the pool – so from Monday, swimming hats will need to be worn (as detailed in my newsletter of 8th June). Please also ensure that, if your child is unable to take out their own earrings, no earrings are worn in school during the swimming season.
On a related matter, we test the swimming pool every two hours while the children are swimming, also checking water temperature and depth. At the end of each day, other basic maintenance tasks need to be completed and at least once a week, vacuumuing of the pool (therapeutic but can take up to an hour) and cleaning of the various filters need to be carried out. If you would like to learn a bit about pool maintenance, useful for anyone who has one of the large paddling pools or more, I would be very pleased to teach you the basics in exchange for lending a hand with the school pool.
We are still fully in the swing of sporting events both in school and with other schools. Today, Katie and Rose in Year 6 will be competing at County level in the 600m and 150m races in Bournemouth; next Friday Years R, 1 and 2 will be going to St Gregory’s School in Marnhull for the mini Olympics (Please note, as there is a later start than originally anticipated, we have arranged for a coach to take the children there and bring them back, so bring them to school as normal on Friday), and on the following Friday we will be taking children to the Year 4 and 5 Swimming Gala at Riversmeet in Gillingham – invitations will follow.
Our own Sports Day is set for the last Thursday of term, 19th July. I am pleased to invite you to join your children for lunch at 12:15pm prior to the races starting at 1:00pm. I would be grateful if you would sign and return the slip below so we can keep track of the children who have a family member joining them for lunch. Access to the field from 12:15pm will be via the playground gate which will be manned to ensure the children are safe.
The Wind in the Willows
Children in Key Stage 2 have received a letter outlining the costumes we would like them to wear for their part in the whole school Summer Play. Children in Year R, 1 and 2, each of whom has a vital part in the show, will also need costumes. In Reception and Year 1 they need to wear browns and greys, while children in Year 2 need to wear party clothes (preferably with a 1920’s style). If you have any difficulty locating items of costume, or would like some advice, please don’t hesitate to contact me or Mrs Heasman.
We are also collecting donations to make up a food hamper as a draw prize on the night.
PTFA News
You will be sorry to learn that Guy Gilding, our chair of PTFA will be standing down from the post at the next AGM in September. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Guy for all he has done for the school over the years, bringing his enthusiasm to a wide range of events and activities, and keeping the PTFA as a thriving organisation. If you would be interested in joining the committee, or indeed, offering your services as the next Chair, we would love to hear from you, and I’m sure Guy would be happy to talk through the role with you. If you have any questions before putting yourself (or anyone else…) forward, please get in touch either with me, or contact Guy direct on 01747 838271 or email guygilding@hotmail.com.
This Week’s Star Pupils
This week, the following children have been chosen for putting extra effort into their learning:
Conkers: Logan for not giving up when playing a game.
Acorns: Leo for supporting his friends.
Chestnuts: Georgia for developing friendship skills.
Oaks: James for showing a responsible attitude towards all his peers.
Well done to all the children.
With best wishes
James Stanford