Dream Believe Succeed

DREAM…BELIEVE… SUCCEED

October 21st 2016 Dear Parents/ Carers,

Y6 Cycling Proficiency Congratulation to Y6 on passing your level 1 and 2 cycling proficiency to ensure you are now safe when cycling on the roads.

Can we take this opportunity to remind everyone who cycles or scoots to school that helmets should be worn and to check carefully when crossing roads. Please be aware of other road and pavement users.

House captains and vice-captains After some very well written and thoughtfully presented speeches from a number of our Y6 children I can now announce that the following children were voted to be captains and vice-captains by their houses.

Well done to everyone who put themselves forward.

House Almond Beech Maple Poplar Captain Luca Gabriella Anna Vaughn Vice-captain Caitlyn Alfie Owen Elanur

Clubs updates Our netballers took part in a Hi-5 competition this week and managed to come 4th out of 22 competing teams – a huge success. This is a tough tournament where the girls have to play in all the different positions and they adapted extremely well.

A group of Y6 children took part in a basketball tournament this week using all the skills they have been learning in PE this half term. The competition was very high but they did very well.

Thanks to Mrs Vaites for taking them along.

MacMillan Coffee Morning A huge thank-you for your support last week with our fundraising for this charity. We have raised £225. Well done!

Free School Meals Funding for individuals – particularly Y3 Your children may have been missed as being eligible for FSM funding due to the government scheme for Infant Free School Meals over their time in KS1. Please look into whether you meet the criteria for this support even if your child has packed lunches and does not want school dinners as they could be entitled to just over £1300 in school to support their learning, clubs, activities and resources. Check on our website or speak to Mrs Cobb, Mrs Power or me for further information.

Happiness Friendship Determination Cooperation Responsibility Independence Perseverance Successful Achievers School Dinners Please make sure that school dinner accounts are up to date as we are unable to offer dinners when there is a debt. In case of hardship and therefore difficulty in making payments for this, or any other paid activity, please contact the school.

Killer Clowns I know you will be aware of the craze that is currently sweeping the nation and a number of children, particularly those who have secondary school aged siblings, have been talking about this in class and on the playground. We are dealing with this in school on an individual or small group basis as situations arise. We are NOT talking to the children as classes or as a school as we do not want to alarm our children. The advice from the NSPCC and police in managing your children’s worries about this are as follows: The NSPCC is advising children who are concerned about creepy clowns to: 1. Talk to a parent or a teacher or trusted adult 2. Contact the police if they are threatened by a creepy clown in the street 3. Call Childline if they want to discuss their worries or get advice and support 4. Block and report abusive messages from people posing as clowns on social media.

“Our advice I imagine would be for parents to ensure they are monitoring what their children are watching on social media, use the necessary safeguards on those platforms to prevent them from engaging with or viewing unsuitable media.” “We advise parents to know where their children are, stay together in groups, have a phone ready to call police if need be.”

Website www.markyate.herts.sch.uk

Winter Uniform Please be aware that after half term children are expected to wear their winter uniform. This means that the children will need to be in long trousers, skirts or skorts but not short trousers please. Girls may not wear their summer dresses from after half term until Easter. This is because shorts and summer dresses are not suitable for the colder weather.

Please make sure children’s hairstyles are within our school policy – no extreme haircuts, cut ins, grade 1 cuts or colours and long hair to be tied back. No jewellery, make up or nail varnish to be worn.

Thank you for your support with our uniform policy.

A wall of Dreams Those of you who have been in school for assembly, Harvest or coffee may have seen our whole school display of dreams at the back of the hall. If you get a chance to pop in to school please feel free to have a look. Our children have the most amazing dreams, some of them are:

 I dream of being big and strong.

Happiness Friendship Determination Cooperation Responsibility Independence Perseverance Successful Achievers DREAM…BELIEVE… SUCCEED

 I dream of making a gingerbread house in a bakers.

 I dream of being an equestrian vet.

 I dream of being a famous footballer.

 I dream of being a clothes designer.

 I dream of being a famous writer as I am good at writing.

 I dream of being a cat.

Parents’ Evenings Please make sure you sign up for parents’ evening through the school office. If you are unable to make the allocated times please speak to your child’s teacher to see if you can arrange a mutually convenient time. Parents of Y1/2P – we have been very fortunate that Mrs Godbold has agreed to hold parents’ meetings with you as this is not part of a supply agreement. As she is only available in the daytime please speak to her to see if she can arrange alternative times and if not please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you in another way.

If you have any feedback to give to school please use the comments box in the main reception – don’t forget to tell us what we are doing well too! If you have any concerns, questions or issues to raise please see your child’s class teacher in the first instance. Yours sincerely, Sally Esom

Happiness Friendship Determination Cooperation Responsibility Independence Perseverance Successful Achievers