Richmond House School


NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE 7 February 2008 Dear Parents Year 4 Parent Consultations take place on Tuesday 19 February. Mr Oldham and Mrs Phair will be in their own classrooms. Reception and Year 1 Parent Consultations take place on Thursday 21 February. Miss Sedgwick and Mrs Bentley will see parents in their own classrooms. Mrs Broadbent will see parents in the Library, with 1B’s books out in her own classroom. Miss Joyce will see parents in the 2W classroom with 1J’s books out in her own classroom. Although we do wish to be flexible for our After Care Provision, these evenings will be particularly busy for Mrs Dent and her team; therefore we would be grateful if numbers attending for these evenings were indicated as soon as possible, please. Specialist Teachers As mentioned in an earlier newsletter, specialist teachers will be available on Thursday 28 February to see any parent who has a specific concern or issue to discuss with a teacher who is teaching subjects to children not in their own form, further up the school. If there was anything which needed to be discussed, this would have been passed on from specialist teachers via your consultation with form teachers, so please do not feel obliged to attend. If, however, you do wish to speak to a specialist teacher, please inform the office during the first week back that you will be attending and who specifically you wish to see. There will be no appointments necessary on this evening, which will run from 3.50 – 5.15pm, but if you were intending on talking to more than one teacher, it would not be advisable to arrive after 4.30pm. Unfortunately, Madame Phillips is not available on this evening. If you have a particular query for her, please feel free to put it in writing so that she can respond to you. Chess Our chess players did themselves proud in their match against Froebelian School on Monday. Although the team did not win overall, the reserves won their games and, more importantly, the children conducted themselves in a pleasing and sensible manner throughout the fixture. Visits Many of our children have had trips this week, and all have had an enjoyable and stimulating time. Year 1 went to Thwaite Mill: “I liked looking at the water wheels” – Dan Houlton “I liked the cogs and the grinding stones” – Felix Kirkby “I liked the river and the canals” – Sam Laljee “I liked the big wheel turning” – Theo Petrault “I liked the big wheel going round” – William Mandondo “It was exciting when we went into the machine room” – Molly Ellis Year 2 visited the West Yorkshire Playhouse: “My favourite thing was when we played the warm up game with lots of stopping and clapping” – Akpo Ashaka “My favourite part was making the soundscape with the instruments” – Megan Bulmer “I liked it when we did a show of Rapunzel” – Jessica Ducker “It was fantastic! I liked dressing up best” – Matthew Cogan Year 4 went to Bombay Stores: “It was a really good trip. I enjoyed watching the sari demonstration and looking around the store” – Aidan Holmes “When we went to Bombay Stores, we were split into groups and had a look around the shop and there were lots of jewellery and saris and then we had a sari demonstration” – Louise Marsden “I particularly liked the sari demonstration” – Samuel McKay “At Bombay Stores, I loved all the food. It was super spicy, the girls in my group loved the shoes and the bangle. Will bought some genie shoes” – Jack Sheehy Uniform Shop Just a reminder that our uniform shop is open each Thursday in the Red Brick Pavilion between 2.00 and 5.00pm. The shop is manned by Frank Harrison staff. Mrs J Godsave Acting Head “THE LAST ROLO” The School Council has organised “The Last Rolo” event to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This will be held on Friday 29 February and children will have the opportunity to buy the Rolo Promise (a Rolo to be delivered to the recipient of their choice carefully wrapped, tied with a ribbon and card in the shape of a love heart) for 50p, during the week leading up to the event. Parents are welcome to buy Rolos too! Mr P Oldham Assistant Head AFTER SCHOOL CARE The school has been reviewing the after school care provision in order to continually improve the offering for the children, efficiently manage the service whilst maintaining the flexibility for parents. This covers the booking process and the food provision and will take effect from Monday 18 February after half term. After School Teas New improved menus will be in place comprising Starter veggie sticks Main examples being beans/spaghettis on toast, pasta meals, sandwiches cheeseboard and crackers, soups, bagels etc Dessert examples being fruit, jellies, cereals, pancakes/crumpets etc Booking The booking forms will be on the notice board outside 3M classroom, by the front door and will run for a week at a time. Hopefully no queuing in the office any more! Parents of children who regularly attend can book weekly in advance by phone or written message to the Office. * Tick to say if you require after school care * Indicate Y/N whether your child / children will be staying for tea (shortly after 4.45pm) * If you are unable to book in person, phone before 1.00 pm on the day This is imperative in order to ensure children benefit from the new menus and we can cater effectively. Emergency after school care will continue to operate but we will not be able to provide tea. These changes are being made following parent and staff feedback so please do let us know what you think of the new operation. School Lunches Two main changes will take effect from Monday 18 February: 1. Following a menu review, pasta will be reduced from five to three days a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This is an added incentive to the pasta lovers to take the main meal on offer or the salad bar 2. Beef is back! By popular request and following a review of the situation, beef will be back on the menu after half term. All of our meat is “Three Dales” meat which is sourced locally and can be traced back to its origins. Three Dales is a high quality local family wholesale butcher supplying beef, pork and lamb from Rowland Agar Ltd of Ilkley. A leaflet is on the notice board outside 3M classroom for your information. We have a record of all vegetarians but if you do not wish your child to have beef, then can you please notify the Office in writing by Monday 18 February. We will review this new approach at the end of term. LONDON TRIP What a fantastic visit! I would like to congratulate all the children on their exemplary behaviour which was commented on by the staff at the hotel, members of the public at the theatre, and also passers by in the motorway service station. Obviously, the itinerary itself made the visit, however, the blue skies and sunshine added to our pleasure. Hopefully this trip can be repeated next year. My thanks to all the staff and parent helpers. Miss V Lloyd Director of Music CRIMINAL RECORDS BACKGROUND CHECKS I am in the process of updating our list of volunteers. I currently have a list of parent volunteers, but many of these are now out of date (over 5 years). If you wish to continue to be a volunteer at school and you are unsure whether your check is still in date, please pop in to see me after half term and I will confirm whether or not it is necessary to do another check for you. Mrs Maureen Young Director of Administration Services PERIPATETIC MUSIC LESSONS Mrs Matathia will be changing her teaching day to Tuesday after the half term holiday. If your child currently has lessons with Mrs Matathia on Fridays please ensure your child attends school on Tuesday 19 February with his/her instrument and music. Any child who wishes to stop lessons must give half a term’s notice by Friday 14 March – lessons will continue during the notice period until Summer Half Term. New forms can be collected from the office for any child wishing to start instrument lessons which will be £16.00 per half hour. Parents of children who take peri lessons are invited to attend their final lesson of the term during the week before we break up for Easter. As we break up on Thursday 20 March, for children who have a lesson on Friday, their parents are invited to attend the Friday before. Please let the Office know if you are able to attend. Mrs S Pattinson School Secretary TRIPS Year 4 will travel to Murton Park for Danelaw on Thursday 21 February leaving at 9.00am and returning to school for the end of the day. Year 6 also travel to Murton Park for Home Front Day on Friday 22 February. Individual and family photographs were taken this week. Please return any orders with payment to the School Office by Tuesday 19 February. Thank you. SPORT Matches After Half Term Ten pupils will be representing Richmond House School in a badminton match against Leeds Grammar School (away) on Monday 18 February. Pupils will travel by minibus, leaving at 3.35pm and returning at approximately 5.30pm. These pupils must ensure that they remember their PE kit, tracksuit and racket on their return from the half term holiday. On Wednesday 20 February, the U11A and U11B mixed hockey teams will travel by minibus to Ripon Cathedral Choir School for a match which starts at 2.30pm. These players should return to school at about 4.30pm. Our U10 and U11 footballers are at home on Friday 22 February against Silcoates, starting at 3.40pm. These players may be collected from the pavilion at 4.45pm. Good luck to all these teams! Match Results “I never thought we would win when Westville scored the first two goals straight away at the start, but then things brightened up and just got better and better, and we won 10-5” said Emily Pawley about the U10 hockey match. “It was really close in our U11 hockey match. The score was 3-2, 3-3, 4-3 and so on and we drew 5-5 with Westville in the end.” The Richmond House School U9 netball team had another excellent match, beating Moorlands 5-2 with some super goals from Emily F and Louise. Well done to all the girls. Our U9 football team were unlucky to lose 1-2 to Moorlands despite having had numerous chances to score and being on top for most of the match. Health and Fitness Week The week 10 to 14 March is Health and Fitness Week at Richmond House School. After half term, more details will be given about the vast number of activities organised to promote health and fitness. As part of this week, we are registered with the British Heart Foundation’s Jump Rope for Heart programme. This programme recognises the important role that regular physical activity plays in maintaining and improving health, and introduces pupils to the massive potential of skipping and its associated health benefits. Part of the Jump Rope for Heart is the organisation of a jump off. This sponsored event will take place during our Health and Fitness week. Money raised will go toward the work of the British Heart Foundation, the country’s heart charity, to fund pioneering research into the causes and treatment of heart disease, lifesaving cardiac equipment, BHF nurses and health education; and 25% of the money raised will be retained by the school. Every pupil has been given a sponsor form so that they can have plenty of time to collect sponsors. All pupils who take part in the jump off will be given a badge or certificate and pupils raising over £50 will receive a rucksack or a record bag, dependent upon their age. Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers Our school is taking part in the Sainsbury’s Active Kids Campaign again this year. It runs from 14 February to 4 June and we would be very grateful if you would collect the vouchers and place them in the box in reception. Last year, we collected over 15,000 vouchers and exchanged them for sports and playground equipment, street dance workshops and new football team kit. We are hoping to collect just as many vouchers this year and are grateful for your help in enabling us to do this. Mrs A C Milne Games/PE Co-ordinator PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION Fundraising Just a note to advise that all the events held in the Autumn Term raised a total of £4,114. This includes money raised through sales of the joke book and through Phoenix cards as well as the discos and Christmas Fair. Many thanks to all of you who contributed to our events. We have so far agreed to fund the purchase of some additional outdoor equipment for children in lower school together with a storage shed and we have also agreed to purchase a digital camera for each year group. We are still looking at further projects for the remainder of the academic year. Spring Ball A reminder that the Ball will be on 10 May so please put the date in your diaries now! Mrs Helen Handy Chair

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

7 February 2008

Dear Parents

Year 4 Parent Consultations take place on Tuesday 19 February. Mr Oldham and Mrs Phair will be in their own classrooms.

Reception and Year 1 Parent Consultations take place on Thursday 21 February. Miss Sedgwick and Mrs Bentley will see parents in their own classrooms. Mrs Broadbent will see parents in the Library, with 1B’s books out in her own classroom. Miss Joyce will see parents in the 2W classroom with 1J’s books out in her own classroom.

Although we do wish to be flexible for our After Care Provision, these evenings will be particularly busy for Mrs Dent and her team; therefore we would be grateful if numbers attending for these evenings were indicated as soon as possible, please.

Specialist Teachers As mentioned in an earlier newsletter, specialist teachers will be available on Thursday 28 February to see any parent who has a specific concern or issue to discuss with a teacher who is teaching subjects to children not in their own form, further up the school. If there was anything which needed to be discussed, this would have been passed on from specialist teachers via your consultation with form teachers, so please do not feel obliged to attend. If, however, you do wish to speak to a specialist teacher, please inform the office during the first week back that you will be attending and who specifically you wish to see. There will be no appointments necessary on this evening, which will run from 3.50 – 5.15pm, but if you were intending on talking to more than one teacher, it would not be advisable to arrive after 4.30pm. Unfortunately, Madame Phillips is not available on this evening. If you have a particular query for her, please feel free to put it in writing so that she can respond to you.

Chess

Our chess players did themselves proud in their match against Froebelian School on Monday. Although the team did not win overall, the reserves won their games and, more importantly, the children conducted themselves in a pleasing and sensible manner throughout the fixture.

Visits

Many of our children have had trips this week, and all have had an enjoyable and stimulating time.

Year 1 went to Thwaite Mill:

“I liked looking at the water wheels” – Dan Houlton

“I liked the cogs and the grinding stones” – Felix Kirkby

“I liked the river and the canals” – Sam Laljee

“I liked the big wheel turning” – Theo Petrault

“I liked the big wheel going round” – William Mandondo

“It was exciting when we went into the machine room” – Molly Ellis

Year 2 visited the West Yorkshire Playhouse:

“My favourite thing was when we played the warm up game with lots of stopping and clapping” – Akpo Ashaka

“My favourite part was making the soundscape with the instruments” – Megan Bulmer

“I liked it when we did a show of Rapunzel” – Jessica Ducker

“It was fantastic! I liked dressing up best” – Matthew Cogan

Year 4 went to Bombay Stores:

“It was a really good trip. I enjoyed watching the sari demonstration and looking around the store” – Aidan Holmes

“When we went to Bombay Stores, we were split into groups and had a look around the shop and there were lots of jewellery and saris and then we had a sari demonstration” – Louise Marsden

“I particularly liked the sari demonstration” – Samuel McKay

“At Bombay Stores, I loved all the food. It was super spicy, the girls in my group loved the shoes and the bangle. Will bought some genie shoes” – Jack Sheehy

Uniform Shop

Just a reminder that our uniform shop is open each Thursday in the Red Brick Pavilion between 2.00 and 5.00pm. The shop is manned by Frank Harrison staff.

Mrs J Godsave
Acting Head

“THE LAST ROLO”

The School Council has organised “The Last Rolo” event to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This will be held on Friday 29 February and children will have the opportunity to buy the Rolo Promise (a Rolo to be delivered to the recipient of their choice carefully wrapped, tied with a ribbon and card in the shape of a love heart) for 50p, during the week leading up to the event. Parents are welcome to buy Rolos too!

Mr P Oldham
Assistant Head

AFTER SCHOOL CARE

The school has been reviewing the after school care provision in order to continually improve the offering for the children, efficiently manage the service whilst maintaining the flexibility for parents. This covers the booking process and the food provision and will take effect from Monday 18 February after half term.

After School Teas

New improved menus will be in place comprising

Starter veggie sticks

Main examples being beans/spaghettis on toast, pasta meals, sandwiches

cheeseboard and crackers, soups, bagels etc

Dessert examples being fruit, jellies, cereals, pancakes/crumpets etc

Booking

The booking forms will be on the notice board outside 3M classroom, by the front door and will run for a week at a time. Hopefully no queuing in the office any more! Parents of children who regularly attend can book weekly in advance by phone or written message to the Office.

* Tick to say if you require after school care

* Indicate Y/N whether your child / children will be staying for tea (shortly after 4.45pm)

* If you are unable to book in person, phone before 1.00 pm on the day

This is imperative in order to ensure children benefit from the new menus and we can cater effectively. Emergency after school care will continue to operate but we will not be able to provide tea. These changes are being made following parent and staff feedback so please do let us know what you think of the new operation.

School Lunches

Two main changes will take effect from Monday 18 February:

1.

Following a menu review, pasta will be reduced from five to three days a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This is an added incentive to the pasta lovers to take the main meal on offer or the salad bar

2.

Beef is back! By popular request and following a review of the situation, beef will be back on the menu after half term.

All of our meat is “Three Dales” meat which is sourced locally and can be traced back to its origins. Three Dales is a high quality local family wholesale butcher supplying beef, pork and lamb from Rowland Agar Ltd of Ilkley. A leaflet is on the notice board outside 3M classroom for your information.

We have a record of all vegetarians but if you do not wish your child to have beef, then can you please notify the Office in writing by Monday 18 February.

We will review this new approach at the end of term.

LONDON TRIP

What a fantastic visit! I would like to congratulate all the children on their exemplary behaviour which was commented on by the staff at the hotel, members of the public at the theatre, and also passers by in the motorway service station. Obviously, the itinerary itself made the visit, however, the blue skies and sunshine added to our pleasure. Hopefully this trip can be repeated next year. My thanks to all the staff and parent helpers.

Miss V Lloyd
Director of Music

CRIMINAL RECORDS BACKGROUND CHECKS

I am in the process of updating our list of volunteers. I currently have a list of parent volunteers, but many of these are now out of date (over 5 years). If you wish to continue to be a volunteer at school and you are unsure whether your check is still in date, please pop in to see me after half term and I will confirm whether or not it is necessary to do another check for you.

Mrs Maureen Young
Director of Administration Services

PERIPATETIC MUSIC LESSONS

Mrs Matathia will be changing her teaching day to Tuesday after the half term holiday. If your child currently has lessons with Mrs Matathia on Fridays please ensure your child attends school on Tuesday 19 February with his/her instrument and music.

Any child who wishes to stop lessons must give half a term’s notice by Friday 14 March – lessons will continue during the notice period until Summer Half Term. New forms can be collected from the office for any child wishing to start instrument lessons which will be £16.00 per half hour.

Parents of children who take peri lessons are invited to attend their final lesson of the term during the week before we break up for Easter. As we break up on Thursday 20 March, for children who have a lesson on Friday, their parents are invited to attend the Friday before. Please let the Office know if you are able to attend.

Mrs S Pattinson
School Secretary

TRIPS

Year 4 will travel to Murton Park for Danelaw on Thursday 21 February leaving at 9.00am and returning to school for the end of the day.

Year 6 also travel to Murton Park for Home Front Day on Friday 22 February.

Individual and family photographs were taken this week. Please return any orders with payment to the School Office by Tuesday 19 February. Thank you.

SPORT

Matches After Half Term

Ten pupils will be representing Richmond House School in a badminton match against Leeds Grammar School (away) on Monday 18 February. Pupils will travel by minibus, leaving at 3.35pm and returning at approximately 5.30pm. These pupils must ensure that they remember their PE kit, tracksuit and racket on their return from the half term holiday.

On Wednesday 20 February, the U11A and U11B mixed hockey teams will travel by minibus to Ripon Cathedral Choir School for a match which starts at 2.30pm. These players should return to school at about 4.30pm.

Our U10 and U11 footballers are at home on Friday 22 February against Silcoates, starting at 3.40pm. These players may be collected from the pavilion at 4.45pm. Good luck to all these teams!

Match Results

“I never thought we would win when Westville scored the first two goals straight away at the start, but then things brightened up and just got better and better, and we won 10-5” said Emily Pawley about the U10 hockey match. “It was really close in our U11 hockey match. The score was 3-2, 3-3, 4-3 and so on and we drew 5-5 with Westville in the end.”

The Richmond House School U9 netball team had another excellent match, beating Moorlands 5-2 with some super goals from Emily F and Louise. Well done to all the girls.

Our U9 football team were unlucky to lose 1-2 to Moorlands despite having had numerous chances to score and being on top for most of the match.

Health and Fitness Week

The week 10 to 14 March is Health and Fitness Week at Richmond House School. After half term, more details will be given about the vast number of activities organised to promote health and fitness.

As part of this week, we are registered with the British Heart Foundation’s Jump Rope for Heart programme. This programme recognises the important role that regular physical activity plays in maintaining and improving health, and introduces pupils to the massive potential of skipping and its associated health benefits. Part of the Jump Rope for Heart is the organisation of a jump off. This sponsored event will take place during our Health and Fitness week. Money raised will go toward the work of the British Heart Foundation, the country’s heart charity, to fund pioneering research into the causes and treatment of heart disease, lifesaving cardiac equipment, BHF nurses and health education; and 25% of the money raised will be retained by the school. Every pupil has been given a sponsor form so that they can have plenty of time to collect sponsors. All pupils who take part in the jump off will be given a badge or certificate and pupils raising over £50 will receive a rucksack or a record bag, dependent upon their age.

Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers

Our school is taking part in the Sainsbury’s Active Kids Campaign again this year. It runs from 14 February to 4 June and we would be very grateful if you would collect the vouchers and place them in the box in reception. Last year, we collected over 15,000 vouchers and exchanged them for sports and playground equipment, street dance workshops and new football team kit. We are hoping to collect just as many vouchers this year and are grateful for your help in enabling us to do this.

Mrs A C Milne
Games/PE Co-ordinator

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Fundraising

Just a note to advise that all the events held in the Autumn Term raised a total of £4,114. This includes money raised through sales of the joke book and through Phoenix cards as well as the discos and Christmas Fair. Many thanks to all of you who contributed to our events.

We have so far agreed to fund the purchase of some additional outdoor equipment for children in lower school together with a storage shed and we have also agreed to purchase a digital camera for each year group. We are still looking at further projects for the remainder of the academic year.

Spring Ball

A reminder that the Ball will be on 10 May so please put the date in your diaries now!

Mrs Helen Handy
Chair