The Diocese of Nottingham s1

The Diocese of Nottingham ST JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC VOLUNTARY ACADEMY Alvaston Street, Alvaston. Derby DE24 0PA Telephone: (01332) 572154 Fax:(01332)784642 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.stjohnfisher.derby.sch.uk Headteacher: Dr E Field

18th July 2013

Dear Parents/Guardians

Thank you Attendance A huge thank you to all of our parents for their Thank you for your support re term time absences. support in so many ways. If you have not helped in Our attendance for this year is 96% which is up on school before, but think you may be able to spare an previous years; well done. As you are no doubt hour or so to help with reading, artwork etc. do aware, the Government is adamant that term time please consider doing so in the coming year. absences are not allowed except for very exceptional circumstances. PTFA Many thanks to the PTFA, who have worked so hard Are you entitled to Free School Meals? and bought our trim trail. The children really love it. If you think you may be entitled to Free School Special thank you to Kelly Hitchcock, who has Meals, please do apply by completing the relevant worked so hard as Chair over the last few years and form. These are available from either, the school is now stepping down. Thank you also to Mary Smith office, the school website or Derby City Council and Sarah Sawford who have also worked hard website. Thank you. supporting the work of the PTFA for many years and are also stepping down. The children have all E-Safety : I am sorry very few parents were able to benefited from your efforts. attend our E-Safety assembly. In this day and age E- Safety is an issue for all of us and very much a part Parent Council of the children’s culture. It has many positive impacts Thank you also to our Parent Council. They provide but can expose children to dangerous sites and a valuable line of communication between the school people if we are not careful. The following website and our parents, and play an important role in links provide useful guidance: ensuring parents views are taken into consideration http://www.kidsmart.org.uk in our policy and decision making. Thanks to the PC http://thinkuknow.org we now have traffic cones which make the school entry much safer in the morning and Belinda and Last word to the most important people- the Billy Bollards are on their way. children First of all, good bye to Year Six. On behalf of all the Parent Director staff I wish you all a happy and fruitful time at your Thank you to Michelle McGauran and Sue Lobb, next school. Remember that wherever you go you who, after serving on the Governing Body for many will always be Saint John Fisher pupils. Hold on to years, are stepping down. They have worked hard to those Gospel values that make Saint John Fisher ensure the school does everything in its power to pupils special: honesty; kindness; 100% effort in all provide the best education for all our children. you do, especially when the going gets tough; good manners, regardless of how others talk to you and Thank you to Mr Cumpstone and Mrs Hardy for service to others. Saint John Fisher pupils do not offering to serve on the board of Directors. We are ask ‘What can others do for me?’ but they ask, ‘What sending out a voting slip and their details. Please can I do for others?’ This will not always be easy and return your slip by September you will meet others, who will try and lead you on a wrong path, but you are Saint John Fisher pupils and you will rise above it. May God bless each one of you.

St John Fisher Catholic Academy Trust is an exempt charity and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England with Company Number 8172988 and has a registered office at Alvaston St, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 0PA And to all our other pupils Important Notice about entering school from You have worked hard and made excellent progress September 2013 this year. Many of you have become Star Students Due to building alterations, from September 2013 and will be able to work towards becoming Super the side path that the children normally enter by will Stars or even Super Students in September. I hope be closed. Children and parents will cross the car you enjoy a lovely break, make the most of the park and enter by the gate on the other side of the sunshine if it lasts! Stay safe: be sure to wear cycling car park that Years 5&6 currently come out of at the helmets; follow e-safety rules you have been taught end of the day. The cycle shed is also being and always ask your parents’ permission before relocated to the other side of the car park. The going anywhere. You all really do deserve a break, children have been remembering to walk their bikes but make sure you do the following at least 3 x a and scooters in and out of school and it will be even week: read, practice phonics/ spelling/numbers more important that they carry on doing so with bonds/times tables. That means that all your hard these new arrangements. work this year will get you off to a flying start in your Parents may walk their children around to the big new class. playground but no parents are to come on to the big playground. Parents are welcome to watch Library Fun – The Creepy House Challenge ‘Wake and Shake’ from the side but should not This looks great fun so do go down to your local join the line or hold children’s hands as they are library and join in! The Creepy House story provides going into class. Thank you for your co- the backdrop for a spine-tingling introduction into operation in this. books. It follows a gang of young detectives who are investigating clues and following a trail through Staffing different zones of the house in their quest to solve We welcome back Miss Saccone after her maternity the spooky whodunit mystery. There are three leave. Miss Saccone will be in Year 3 as from stages of the challenge. Each stage is set in a September. different area of the house - The Awful Upstairs, The We would like to say a big thank you to Mrs Frightful First Floor and The Sinister Cellar. Children Dimmick, Mrs Wroe, Mrs Phillips, Mr Dunworth, Mrs collect stickers to reveal the secrets of the Creepy Smith and Mrs Garbett who are leaving us; we wish House residents hiding there. them well for the future. All libraries are running a range of free fun Creepy House activities throughout the summer holidays for Diary Dates children taking part. These include themed crafts and quizzes, face painting and magic shows. Drop in 22 nd July – Sports Day sessions with free tea and coffee for parents and 23rd July – INSET DAY carers provide an Children return to school Thursday 5th September opportunity for children and their families to change their books, collect stickers and talk about their On behalf of all the staff reading choices. Look out for our special events featuring popular authors Damian Eilis Field Harvey and Shoo Rayner and storyteller Cat Weatherill. ‘Scream Street’ writer Tommy Donbavand returns with a new event called ‘Giant crabs ate my brain’ Get your face painted, return books, collect stickers, chat about your reading and have fun with colouring and activity sheets. Drop in at any time during the session. Free coffee and tea for parents and carers. Wednesday 24th July 10.30am to 12.00noon Allenton Library Wednesday 24th July 2.00pm to 3.30pm Pear Tree Library Thursday 25th July 10.30am to 12.00noon Allestree Library Thursday 25th July 2.00pm to 3.30pm Central Library Friday 26th July 10.30am to 12.00noon Chellaston Library

St John Fisher Catholic Academy Trust is an exempt charity and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England with Company Number 8172988 and has a registered office at Alvaston St, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 0PA