GIFFARDS PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Volume 11 Dear Parents / Carers No 10 June 2018 A big well done to all the Year 6 children for all their hard work during SATs week and to all staff and Governors that helped out too. We hope you all had an enjoyable half term break, it is unbelievable that we are in the last half term of another school year. We welcome a new teacher, Miss Szczcgiel, to the school. She is looking forward to meeting all of the children. Absence Please can we stress the need for parents to be honest about the reason their child is off school; we have had a number of calls from parents recently telling us a child is ill but then we discover the family has gone on holiday. Saying your child is ill or making up an excuse to avoid a fine is not acceptable, it puts children under immense pressure as they know it’s wrong to lie. It also causes embarrassment for us and you when we ring to confirm the reason. Children inevitably share with their friends that they are going on holiday and a ring tones abroad is very distinctive! We are obliged to stick to the law regarding not taking holidays during term time and the school statistics are constantly reviewed by the Department for Education, hence the vigilance around phone calls. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Reading Gladiators Another big well done goes to our amazing Year 4s who were crowned Reading Gladiators champions on Tuesday 5th June. We are officially the best readers in Thurrock if not .

PSA The PSA have been hard at work this year raising funds for the school. All of their hard work and your support has enabled them to kindly donate £5000 to the school. This is greatly appreciated and will go towards the cost of 60 new IT tablets in KS1 as well as new lunch trollies in KS2. Thank you to everyone involved . Please do continue to support the PSA by attending and supporting their fund raising events as well as helping out when you can.

Attendance Diary Dates Here is a breakdown of the school’s attendance so far this  19th June—Yr 2 to Chafford Gorges year  21st June—FS and KS1 Discos 2KM—96.79%  25th June—SRE Meeting for Yr 5 and 6 parents Absent 6SHo— 96.76% 4.29%  27th June—Sports Day (12/07 reserve date) 1MA— 96.62%  28th June—KS2 Disco 6NJ—96.46% 95.71%  2nd July—Yr 6 children to their respective secondary schools for the week 3SHa—96.26%  2nd July—Yr 4 parent meeting 1VP —96.22% visit 2019 2CC—96.01% This equates to 95.71% attendance  9th –13th July—Giffards Transition Week 5EB—95.80% for the whole school, which is just  10th July—Junior Music Festival rehearsal and 4EC—95.68% above the Government target as well Festival 2CMc—95.63% as the school target of 95.5%.  11th July—Display Evening  12th July—Reserve Sports Day 3KS—95.41%  13th July—Reports out to parents 4LR—95.30% Congratulations to 2KM for  17th July—Yr 6 Giffards Got Talent remaining the best attendees RJV—94.52%  19th July—Year 6 BBQ so far this year! RHW—94.17%  20th July—Break up for summer 5DR—92.47  4th September—INSET Day  5th September—Back to school Green = classes above target Red = classes below target Useful Contact Numbers Please contact outside clubs directly on the following numbers:

Youth Creation 07788 278280 (Jodie) All Years 07974 008293 (Shannon) Yoga for Kids 07811 152513 (Valeria) All Years Phoenix Karate 01268 681927 All Years Evans Dance 07393 395161 (Miss Evans) FS/Y1/Y2

School Uniform:

Little Sprogs Company 07803 002325 or www.littlesprogscompany.co.uk . Little Sprogs have moved, contact details are still the same and you will still get the same amazing customer service. Please do call or go online if you wish to order or have any queries Tescos - http://www.clothingattesco.com/icat/embschoolwear Make sure when checking for Giffards you enter the Local Authority as Thurrock and not Essex. Please note that although Tesco Direct is closing on 9th July 2018 you will still be able to buy our uniform from them using Tesco.com.

Class and Team Photos Children had their class photos taken on Thursday 14th June. Sports teams were also photographed. As soon as they arrive we will let you know so you can order copies if you wish. Thurrock Resident Account Health and Safety Requests ‘My Account’ is a new way to access a range KS1 Steps of services provided by Please can we ask that when dropping off and including: collecting children from KS1 and waiting for the gate to open that you do not allow your children  Manage your Council Tax to play on the steps. There are increasing amounts  Apply for and manage benefits of children playing on the steps again and we are very concerned that there is going to be a bad  Apply for a school place accident Please therefore don’t be offended if a  Check entitlement to Free School staff member who notices a child playing on the Meals steps asks them to stop.  Check entitlement to free Medication education/childcare for 2 year olds If your child needs any medication, including  Report fly tipping/littering issues anything for chapped or dry lips please do go to the  Book with the Register Office office to complete a medication form. The children  Book a bulky waste collection are not allowed to keep medication of any kind with them: Once you have been in, staff will look To sign up go to: after and administer medication as necessary. https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/account Thank you for your support in both of the above If you have a child currently in Year 2 they requests will no longer be able to automatically access a free school meal once they are in Year 3. If you haven't already done so please do apply to make sure your entitle- Y6 Transition Week ment carries over into Key stage 2. 2nd-6th July 2018 As a school we would be very grateful if These dates have been confirmed by Gable Hall, St everyone could take the time to check Clere’s, Hassenbrook and Grays Convent. your Free School Meal entitlement as Giffards Transition Week this makes a real difference to the is confirmed as the week starting 9th July. The school’s funding which in turn gives your children will meet their new teachers and work in child access to more support in school. their new classrooms every morning that week.

Schedule of Fundraising Events

The fundraising team have been busy organising some exciting events for the children (and parents!)  Tues 12th June - Father’s Day wrap  Friday 15th June—Quiz Night  Thursday 21st June—FS and KS1 discos  Thursday 28th June—KS2 discos  Saturday 15th September- Summer fete The team are also planning other events, dates to be confirmed so please watch this space.

If you have any concerns about your Online Payment System child then please pop in to our Just to clarify that when you use the online payment system, although your payment gets taken immediately, Inclusion Team Drop in we do not see the credit for a couple of days. Therefore we ask that if you receive letter from us asking you to

make payment but you have made the payment in the Every Wednesday 8.30-9.30am previous day or so that you do not take offence. As soon enter via the KS2 office area as payments made are notified to us we credit your account in full. However if you receive a letter and have Who can I see? any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

GDPR Mrs General Data Protection Regulations are now in force. Anyone who has not given permission for us to share Holdsworth can help you with any your contact details will no longer be receiving BEHAVIOURAL concerns that you may have. groupcalls. If you change your mind you can give/withdraw permission at any time. We will no longer be sending out the contact sheets for Mrs Teager can help you with any worries you to update every year. Instead we will be sending concerning ADDITIONAL NEEDS. you out details of a new app that you can download to enable you to amend your contact details online. Watch this space for more details!

Year 5 trip to

On the 11th June we went to Hanningfield Reservoir. It was so much fun. First of all we did some pond dipping, we caught lots of different species however my group caught about 15 waterboatmen. My favourite animal that I caught was a baby newt. Then we did some woodland exploring. We were given a jar and had to try and catch some animals inside it. We also were given a net and had to go in the long grass and see what we could find. I caught a damsel fly! It’s a it like a dragon fly but when it lands it brings it’s wings in, a dragonfly doesn't. Overall the day was amazing and I would love to go back there. Penny

When we went to Hanningfield Reservoir we all had lots of fun. We did activities such as pond dipping, mini beast hunting and caterpillar games. All were really good games to play, either in a group or independently . We also learnt many things, how creatures move in and out of water and what colours and textures they have. There was a nice lady that was teaching all of the main facts we need to know. We saw a picture of a creature and the lady talked about how it moved and its features. Overall everyone enjoyed it and I would love to go there again. Ben