6 Nov 2009 - 6th November 2009

The teachers had a great day on Friday 23^rd October—they attended a conference on Philosophy For Children with colleagues from most of the local primary schools.  The guest speaker, Will Ord was truly inspirational and he has given us all a lot to think about and reflect on.  While most of us were at the conference, Mrs Hurley and the LSA staff were working hard here in school on assessment strategies that can be used daily.  In the afternoon, Mrs Clark led an ICT session for LSA staff.

 

 

There was a lot of work in school last week, despite the building being closed.  Dohertys came and effected repairs to many of our pavements and kerbs.  Blakes Electrical installed new smoke detectors throughout the building and staff from Camargue ensured that all doors are up to standard in terms of fire safety.  The most noticeable piece of work is undoubtedly the new wider section of pavement and railings that have been installed outside the school.  The governors and I listened carefully to parental concerns about the narrow pavement and we have worked closely with Essex County Council to secure funding for this project.  The next phase will be to install a new pedestrian gate that will open onto the middle section of the newly widened pavement.  We are currently bidding for funding for the new gate and opening.  I would like to pay special thanks to Rob Lillis, one of our Parent Governors, who has been working relentlessly behind the scenes to make all of this happen.  The new pavement means that parents will no longer need to come onto the playground in the morning as there is much more room outside the fence.

 

 

School has been very busy this week.  On Tuesday, Celia Ebrahimi our School Improvement Partner (SIP) from Essex County Council came in for a meeting with Miss Walker and me.  Each school in Essex has a SIP and the focus of this visit was to set targets for 2011 SATs in Year 6.  She also delved into progress we have made since the OfSTED inspection and took time to meet with two of our governors who were also in school for a focused visit.  Celia is very happy with the direction the school is taking and she made judgements based on the new OfSTED framework which came into effect in September.

 

 

Nikki Williams and Rob Lillis visited the school as part of the Governors’ schedule of termly monitoring visits.  They specifically looked at Assessment For Learning throughout the school, but were also free to make observations and comments on other aspects of school life.  They both ate with the children, sampling the new menu from Savills Catering.  They were impressed with the quality of the food, as we all have been—I ate with the children on Wednesday and my cottage pie was one of the nicest I have ever sampled (but don’t tell Mrs O’Kane that).  Mrs McAnulty our cook and her assistants Mrs O’Connor and Mrs Saliba deserve our thanks for the way in which they have handled the transition from TCS to Savills.

 

 

I attended a BATIC (local schools) headteachers’ meeting on Tuesday afternoon when many important issues were discussed.  Many of the local schools are exploring the possibility of forming a legal entity known as a Trust that would be responsible for all admissions and processes currently undertaken by Essex County Council.  The Trust would also own all land and school buildings.  As a Catholic, Voluntary-Aided school we are already in Trust with the Diocese of Brentwood and could not enter into any new Trust arrangements with local schools.  However, this will not exclude us from having views and opinions about the Trust in this area and how the schools within the Trust work with Holy Family and other agencies.

 

 

All governors and I were in school to well past 10.00pm on Wednesday evening for the first Full Governing Body meeting of the new school year.  The minutes of the meeting will be available on the school website (governors’ section) when the Clerk to the Governing Body has published them.  I would like to thank all governors for their hard work and commitment to the school and the children.

 

 

Mrs Hawkins and I attended a very informative autism training seminar on Thursday.  We are both looking forward to part two of the training in the coming weeks.

 

 

Other members of staff have been busy too, doing far more than simply teaching their own class.  Mrs Hurley welcomed two senior teachers from Our Lady of Ransom, Rayleigh into school this morning.  They are keen to learn from the good practice and methods of assessment used at Holy Family.

 

 

Parking I hate having to moan—I don’t enjoy conflict with parents or children, but there is a minority of parents who are causing a great deal of friction within the school community through their SELFISH, INCONSIDERATE parking.  On one morning this week, I had to ask two mothers to move their cars off the footpaths that they were blocking—one was also on the double yellow lines at the corner as well! When you block a footpath you force other families to walk in the road—every action has a consequence. Some other parents have told me that they have had enough and will begin publicly naming and shaming the culprits.  They will be contacting Essex FM and will have the registration numbers of the offending cars read out on air.  Whilst I cannot condone or approve such actions, I can fully understand the anger, resentment and frustration that the bad driving and parking by a few causes for the rest of the school community.  The same group of parents is going to approach the owner of the unmade road to see if he will erect a gate as they are seriously concerned about the dangerous reversing that occurs in this area. 

 

 

Family Mass We hope to see as many of you as possible at Family Mass on Sunday.  The children will be bringing up Poppy Prayers as part of the offertory procession.  I know many of you appreciate being able to participate in a collective act of remembrance at Mass on Remembrance Sunday.

 

 

Mass Times Fr Jean-Laurent has asked me to inform you of new Mass times that will take effect in Holy Family Benfleet and St Thomas More Hadleigh from Advent onwards.  They are as follows:

 

Saturday 6.00pm, Holy Family Benfleet; Sunday 8.15am, St Thomas More Hadleigh; Sunday 12.00pm, Holy Family Benfleet.  Please keep a close eye on the PARISH NEWSLETTER/WEBSITE for confirmed dates.

 

 

Top 20 Hymns  Liz Pozsar (nee Keeble) hopes to organise a concert of the Parish’s Top 20 Hymns. There are boxes available at the back of Holy Family and St Thomas More churches for parishioners of all ages to deposit their ballot form!  Liz is extending the deadline by two weeks—the closing date will now be Sunday 15 November.   

 

 

Term Time Absences The governors have asked me to reiterate the school’s policy on absences during term times: Holy Family School will not authorise any holiday requests during term time unless in the most exceptional of circumstances.  Family birthdays, grandparents’ wedding anniversaries etc are NOT exceptional and do not require children to have a week or more off school.  The new OfSTED framework will lead inspectors to judge the school’s attendance figures quite harshly.  I have also been instructed by the Education Welfare Officer (EWO) to issue penalty notices to parents who choose to take their children out of school for unauthorised holidays.

 

 

Reception Class Admissions 2010 Essex County Council has sent Mrs Faux a list of parents who have applied for Reception Class places for 2010.  There are a number of Catholic families that we know of who are currently not on the list.  I would urge all parents wishing to apply for a place for September 2010 to submit their ESSEX COUNTY forms immediately—online is preferable to beat the postal chaos.  The ESSEX COUNTY form must be completed and submitted to Essex Council before the end of November.  The SIF form that comes to us and the Priest’s Form that Fr Jean-Laurent needs to deal with can be deferred to later, but without an ESSEX COUNTY form, your child’s application cannot be considered. If you have a friend whose first child is due to start school next September, please pass on this message.

 

 

Stolen Bicycle One of our children sadly had his bicycle stolen from within the school grounds one evening this week.  If your child brings a bike to school, could you please supply them with a bike lock or chain and padlock.  It is a sad sign of the times that opportunistic thieves would stoop so low as to pinch a young child’s bike.  The stolen bike is a red and black BMX style bike for a 7—8 year old.  If you have any information about this please contact the school office.

 

 

Reading Afternoon Don’t forget that Mrs Moon invites you all to attend a Reading Afternoon at 1.30pm on Wednesday 11^th November.  I have seen her notes for Wednesday and I can promise you a very informative session.  Mrs Moon will explain how reading is taught in school and will share strategies that can be employed at home.

 

 

Parental Contact Evenings These will take place on Tuesday 17^th November, 3.30—6.00pm and Thursday 19^th November, 5.30—8.00pm.

 

 

Operation Christmas Child/Love In A Box Alan the local organiser will come to collect our boxes on Monday 30^th November.  In order for the collection to take place we need to have a minimum of 50 boxes.  I know that we have always exceeded that number at Holy Family and I thank you for your generosity towards others less fortunate.  Please note that this year Samaritan’s Purse are asking for a donation of £2.50 towards transport costs.  Thank you to those of you who have already sent in your boxes.

 

 

Christmas Bazaar Thank you for all the Jackie’s Jollies that have come into school so far and to those of you who have already returned your ticket stubs and monies.  Tickets for the Children’s Raffle will be on sale next week.  The next meeting of the Development Fund will be on Monday at 8.00pm in the church hall—new members are always welcome.

 

 

Parentlineplus “Less shouting, more cooperation.” Parentlineplus is running a free six week parenting group, from Wednesday 4^th November to Wednesday 9^th December at Endway House, The Endway, Hadleigh, SS7 2AN.  The group will meet between 7.00pm and 9.00pm.  To book a place, contact Mary on 01702 554782 or email: MaryCo@parentlineplus.org.uk 

 

 

Morning Prayer All are welcome—parents, children and grandparents in the Art Room each day—8.40am—8.55am.  Please do try and come along for 10—15 minutes each morning.  November is a special month of Remembrance for Christians, so there will be opportunities to pray for family and friends who have died.  I am reliably informed by one of our governors that Wednesday’s turnout for Morning Prayer was huge—thanks to Mr Watson for leading the thoughts and prayers on that day.

 

 

Morning Sports Club All children are welcome to attend the SUFC sports clubs on Monday and Wednesday mornings.  The clubs begin at 8.00am (7.55 drop off) and are a very reasonable £1.00 per

 

child.

 

 

Fundraising Curry Fest Julia Jacobs is organising a curry night at the Tandoori Parlour on Tuesday 24^th November, 7.30pm.  The evening is being run to raise much needed funds for Finlay Fairs, a small boy who has cerebral palsy.  Finlay’s parents have to buy a special swivel car seat at great expense.  Tickets are priced at £12.00 for a buffet meal, disco and karaoke.  These evenings are always great fun, so please try and come along.  Julia can be contacted on 07968 198002.

 

 

ParentMail If you have not registered yet, please do so.  You can be sent e mails and text messages from the school at short notice e.g if a club has to be cancelled because of bad weather.

 

 

Would you like to run in the 2010 London Marathon? Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society has bond places for runners in the 2010 LONDON MARATHON – SUNDAY APRIL 25th. If you are an experienced runner or someone who would value the opportunity to participate in this renowned event please contact Sarah Kendall at the Society’s office – Tel no. 01268 784544- skendall@childcareuk.org it is an excellent way to raise much needed funds for the Diocesan Children’s Society and perhaps achieve an ambition!

 

 

 

Thought for the week “At the going down of the sun and in the morning
we will remember them.” Extract from For The Fallen by Laurence Binyon, poet and art critic.

 

 

Saints of the week Sunday 1^st November was the feast of All Saints.  This month of November is traditionally the time when we remember all those who have gone before us.  Although we can all name some famous saints such as St Paul, St Peter and Our Lady, we should remember that all good people who have died in Christ are saints.   

 

 

 

Diary Dates

 

Sunday 8^th November                                        Family Mass 11.00am Holy Family Church

 

Monday 9^th November                                       Development Fund Meeting 8.00pm

 

                                                                             St John Bosco Hall

 

Wednesday 11^th November                               Reading Afternoon for Parents

 

Wednesday 11^th November                                Governors’ Finance Meeting 7.30pm

 

Thursday 12^th November                                   Governors’ Curriculum Meeting 4.30pm

 

Tuesday 17^th November                                     Parent Contact Evening 3.30 – 6.00 p.m.

 

Thursday 19^th November                                   Parent Contact Evening 5.30 – 8.00 p.m.

 

Wednesday 25^th November                              

Y3 Road

Safety Walk

 

Thursday 26^th November                                   Governors’ Personnel Meeting 3.30pm

 

Friday 27^th November                                        Children’s Cake Sale & Raffle

 

Saturday 28^th November                                   Parish/School Christmas Bazaar

 

Friday 4^th December                                          Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal

 

Monday 7^th December                                        Christmas Concert—Parishioners

 

Tuesday 8^th December                                       Christmas Concert—Parents & Relatives

 

Wednesday 9^th December                                  Christmas Concert—Parents & Relatives

 

Thursday 10^th December                                    KS2 Concert— Holy Family Church

 

Monday 14^th December                                       Children’s Party/Disco Afternoon

 

Monday 21^st December—Friday 1^st January    Christmas Holidays

 

 

 

Peter O’Kane

 

(Headteacher)