NEWSLETTER Issue: 2.01

HEAD'S VIEW
On Tuesday we enjoyed a very auspicious start to our year with a whole school assembly on the lower school playground. In glorious sunshine set in a clear blue sky we welcomed back our children and staff after their summer holidays. The occasion was even graced by a family of wasps (Newbridge types of course) and a local cat, neither of whom wanted to miss out on such an event. We heard some interesting stories about holiday happenings and we also congratulated Miss Skyner, now Mrs Boyle, on her marriage over the summer. We gave a big welcome to our new children Hannah Powell, Thomas Tafireyi, William King, Oliver Lifely and Tom Parfitt while we look forward to the opportunity to do the same to our new Reception children who have started this week in some style. We also welcome five new members of staff: Miss Roanna Newton joins us from her previous post in Gillingham, Dorset and will be teaching in Year 6. Miss Carolyn Donnelly, previously teaching in North Yorkshire, will be taking a Year 5 class while Miss Palmer is away on maternity leave. Mrs Beth Skinner, who has taught here at the Junior School from 2000 to 2002, returns as SEN Coordinator. Mrs Ruth Poole is teaching Reception as PPA cover for one day a week and Mrs Jill Rutland will be teaching mostly music from Year 2 to Year 6, again as PPA cover, for one and a half days a week. We are also delighted to see Mrs Hilary Walsh return to full time teaching with us, albeit for one term, as cover for Mr Cumpson while he is away on sabbatical. I know I speak on behalf of the whole Newbridge community when I extend my very best wishes to all our newcomers.

I hope you all had an excellent summerbreak with your family and friends and that everyone is looking forward to an exciting year ahead of us. I have much to tell you about in the coming weeks but for now I will bring you up to date with what has happened over the summer. The painters have now finished redecorating the exterior of the upper school, some interior areas and rooms, as well as the windows in the lower school. Our building contractors, Biggs, have made very impressive progress in six weeks as regards the new build. What was the junior dining hall has been refurbished and is now ready to use as a multi-purpose area. The kitchens have been transformed to a learning resource centre which will house both ICT suite and library. We expect the ICT suite to be up and running in days while the library will take longer with the need to plan and buy furnishings, audit our existing book stocks, purchase more books and generally set things up. We plan to open our new library at the beginning of January at the latest. The contractors are currently working feverishly on the hall extension. We hope to use our new hall for the first time in mid November. The kitchen for the whole school is based in the lower school and this has been refurbished with new equipment. Our new lunchtime arrangements have started this week in a very positive fashion. As for the planned link building, we are currently in negotiations with Biggs who will be building it, and we hope that work will start on this shortly. I will, of course, keep you up to date with what is happening. In the meantime, your understanding and patience regarding the disruption on site is much appreciated.

In this newsletter, you will find a calendar of events for this year. We will keep you updated of any changes as they happen. I would ask you to take particular note of holidays and INSET days over the year.

CLUBS
Please note that clubs will not start until the week beginning Monday 24th September.

STAFF VACANCY
We have a vacancy for an SMSA (School Meals Supervisory Assistant) in the Upper School.
Hours: 12.10pm – 1.25pm five days a week.
Pay: £5.93 per hour.
Duties: To include playground and dining hall supervision.
A knowledge of First Aid would be useful but not essential.
Application forms available from the School Office.
Closing date Friday 14th September.

PARENT/CARER HELPERS
If there are any parents/carers who would like to help in the School over the next academic year, could you please obtain a CRB form from the School Office before the end of September. Thank you.

ABSENCES
If your child is going to be absent from school could you please notify the School Office on the day by telephone no later than 9.30am.
Many thanks.

Please see Calendar for Provisional Dates for the Year.