NEWSLETTER Issue: 2.07

HEAD'S VIEW
It is hard to believe that half term is here and just thirty four school days ago we were returning to school with a summer glow and an exciting year in front of us. I would like to congratulate all the staff, children and parents for coping so well with the many changes, building disruption and an inspection thrown into the mix. Not a single grumble has come my way, which bears testimony to your understanding or my declining levels of hearing!

We are looking forward to the new hall opening in the week beginning 19th November and the library part of the Learning Resource Centre opening in January 2008. The library is a huge project and we are indebted to Mrs Le Butt and a team of parents who are giving up every Thursday until Christmas, carrying out the massive task of checking every single book in the school, as well as preparing to set up a library which will place books at the very heart of our school. The ICT part of the Learning Resource Centre is now up and running, and being used by classes across the school.

I suspect you may be wondering about the ReNewbridge funds and what is happening. Believe me spending is the fun part of fund raising! As stated at the very beginning of the venture these are our priorities for use of the ReNewbridge funds and we are now starting to spend these funds, as well as the additional £20000 SEED funding, on the following:
Furnishing the new library
Substantial investment in new books for the library and across the school
New and extensive mobile staging that can be used in both lower and upper school halls
Stage lighting for assemblies and plays
Multi media system for the new hall
Outdoor classroom
Adventure / fitness trail
Laptop computers sufficient for whole class use

At last we are able to go ahead with the Link Building. Work starts in earnest over half term and life will be tricky for a while in terms of access. Once again I will have to ask for everyone’s understanding. It would take too long here to explain all the details but instead we will be out on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after half term at the beginning and end of school to show you what is what. However, with perfect timing, the path around the school is going to be tarmac surfaced over half term making it much easier for buggies etc. The expected completion date for the link building is 25th April 2008. At that point I wish you all a happy and relaxing half term.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY w/b 29/10/07
Wednesday 31/10/07 - First day of Term 2
Thursday 01/11/07 - Individual photographs
Reception parents meeting – Blue Room 2.40pm
Friday 02/11/07 - Years 1 and 6 Cake Sale

HEALTHY EATING
One of our aims is to encourage our children to lead healthy lives through promoting healthy eating in school. Therefore, we ask for your support in providing only fruit and vegetables as a mid-morning snack for Key Stage 2 children. Also, from now on every child who has a packed lunch will be provided with water. Please do not send any other drink to school. Thank you.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
Individual photographs will be taken on Thursday 1st November in school. Don't forget your hair brush and your sunny smile!

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX APPEAL
As in previous years we are again supporting this charity. For those of you who have not been involved before, this is an appeal run by a Christian organisation called Samaritans Purse. The completed boxes are given unconditionally – to very needy children in the developing world, some of whom will never before have received any gifts. If you would like to take part in this, the enclosed leaflet explains the details of how to prepare and fill your shoebox, then return them to school before the 13th November. If you would like to know any more details please speak to Mrs Teresa Bateman – TA in the lower school.

STOP PRESS!!
Don't buy your Christmas cards just yet as again this year we will be producing School Christmas cards. Each class will have their own design, with every child's design used. Watch this space!

DINNER MONEY
All dinners must be taken on a weekly basis. The cost of dinners is £8.50 per week. Please send the money in on a Monday morning, in an envelope with your child’s name and class on it. All cheques to be made payable to B&NES please.
Dinner money for the coming term is as follows:

Oct 1 day @ £1.70 = £ 1.70
Nov 22 days @ £1.70 = £37.40
Dec 13 days @ £1.70 = £22.10
TOTAL - £61.20

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 'STARS OF THE WEEK'
Years 1 and 2
Hugo, Sophie
Coco, Kirstie, Jacob
Years 3 and 4
George, Alice
Oscar, Chloe
Years 5 and 6
Isaac, Matthew, Max
Katie, Joe, Aliyah
PPA Music
James, Sammy
PPA Art
Poppy, Abi, Jay
PPA PE
Beatrice, Ella, Megananne

NPSA CHRISTMAS FAIR
DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, THE DATE OF THE CHRISTMAS FAYRE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO THURSDAY 6TH DECEMBER FROM 5.00 -7.00PM.

CAKE SALE!!
Don't forget, there is a cake sale on Friday 2nd November (first Friday after half term). The cakes will be generously provided by families of children in years 1 and 6 and all proceeds go towards ReNewbridge. The sale will take place in the spare classroom after school. For those parents/carers of children in years 1 and 6, please bring your cakes in on Friday morning to the spare classroom in the lower school. Helpers are still needed from year 6 and class 1HO on the day ~ please put a note in the NPSA tray in reception or see Jackie Ainsworth if you can help. Thank you.

SUNDAY FUN FACTORY
Bouncy castle, worship and tea. For under 8s and their families on Sunday November 4th at Emmanuel Church in Apsley Road from 4.00 – 5.30pm. Everything is free!!

TED'S BIG DAY OUT
Well done to all the children and staff who took part in Ted's Big Day Out and brought their teddies to school. We raised £390 for the Royal United Hospital and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in particular. Thank you so much. (Once again, a fantastic response).

NEWSLETTER Issue: 2.06

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Each day just before we start lunch in the Dining Hall, we would like one of our older children to read out a brief 'Thought for the Day' to help everyone think about other people and matters.
We would like the ideas to come from the children so we are asking our girls and boys to have a think about this at home and then present them on A4 paper, either word processed, or in your best handwriting and decorated. Please include your name.
All entries will be kept in a special folder in the Dining Hall.

FOOTBALL MATCH REPORT
On Tuesday 9th October the girls' football team played Southdown. Newbridge got off to a good start with good chances. Then Southdown conceded a penalty, which Frances missed, but she smashed the rebound in. Then Romany kicked the ball and it rebounded off a Southdown player and went in. Then Ellie blasted two in to make the score 4 – 0.
In the second half I put one away and Tish slotted another in. Sydney took a penalty but unfortunately the keeper tipped it over the bar. Ellie scored two more and then Southdown conceded another penalty. This time Keira took it and slotted it between the keepers legs. The match ended with a final score of 9 – 0 to Newbridge.
We would like to thank Miss Newton and Miss Donnelly for coaching and supporting us. By Franny, Ellie and Keira.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Wednesday 17/10/09 – Book Fair
Thursday 18/10/09 – Elm Assembly – 2.45pm
Parents' Evening
Saturday 20/10/09 – Year 5/6 Football Tournament

PLEASE NOTE
If you child is suffering from sickness and diarrhoea it is imperative that they do not return to school until 48 hours after the last bout. Many thanks for your co-operation in this matter.

WANTED
The Green Club is in need of a supply of manure. If you can help please contact Miss Simpson or Miss Barratt. Thank you.

YEAR 6 FRENCH BREAKFAST
Year 6 will be having 'Le Petit Dejeuner' on Friday 19th October from 9.10 – 10.55am.
Any confident French speaking adults are invited to join the fun! Please let Miss Simpson know if you can join us.
If anyone has a set of Boules that we could borrow for the morning, please see Miss Simpson. Thank you.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 'STARS OF THE WEEK'
Years 1 and 2
Summayyah, Adam
Cameron, Harry, Isaac
Years 3 and 4
Samuel, Molly
Louis, Harry
Years 5 and 6
Ellie, Jeorgia, Joe
Iona, Eloise, Callum
PPA Music
Martha, Ashley
PPA Art
Elizabeth, Thomas,Yasmin
PPA PE
Katrina, Ross, Joe

TRAVEL PLAN QUESTIONNAIRE
We realise that you have had rather a lot of questionnaires recently but we are asking for your help once more. This will be the last for a while!
One of the conditions behind our planning approval for the new building on site is the need for an updated travel plan. In addition, we all have an interest in making sure that the journey to and from school is as risk-free and as healthy as possible. To this end your assistance in completing and returning the attached questionnaire by next Friday 19th October is greatly appreciated.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT BUS TRAVEL TO SCHOOL?
Did you know that many of the buses that our secondary school children take to and from school are:
Overcrowded?
Unreliable?
Slow?
Overpriced?
This may not be an issue that affects your family yet, but it will do before too long! If you are concerned about it, please join our campaign. It's quick and easy to do and it will make a real difference – the more support we have, the more effective we can be.
Background
A group of parents is trying to get permanent, positive solutions to the problems facing our children as they travel to and from school by bus.
Following a meeting held at Ralph Allen School on 1st October 2007 with First Buses, BANES officers and councillors, Don Foster MP, parents and school students - which led to some temporary improvements to the hardest hit routes plus a commitment from First to undertake reviews on pricing - we are now planning what to do next in order to get some positive and permanent changes. The news that BANES has just been granted over £50 million to improve transport in the city gives us a real opportunity to lobby for our children to be taken into consideration as part of the spending process.

Our 1st action is to collect a list of everybody who is concerned about this issue:
a.So that we can see how many people are concerned: the more support we have, the more notice BANES and First Buses are likely to take.
b.So that we can let you know what our next action will be.

What you can do?
1. Join our campaign.
All you need to do at this stage is register your concern by joining our online campaign group on Facebook.

There are two ways of doing this:
a. Join direct by visiting:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5333043278
b. Ask us to send you an invitation to join the Facebook group by sending your email address to:
bathschoolbus@googlemail.com
The online group will be a quick, easy and cheap way for us to keep everyone up-to-date with what’s going on and to ask you to do something if there’s an action planned: eg sign a petition, contact your councillor etc.

2. Spread the word.
Although it started there, this campaign – like the issue - isn’t limited to Ralph Allen. Parents at other secondary schools are equally concerned, so please tell your friends and neighbours about our campaign and ask them to join in.

3. Tell us if you have particular skills that you’d be prepared to use for the campaign. Please contact us, putting "Skills in the subject line, at:
bathschoolbus@googlemail.com

Thank you for your support.
Susie Wright Newbridge Primary School & Ralph Allen School parent

NPSA NEWS
Following the last meeting of the Newbridge Primary School Association (NPSA) on Monday 24th September 2007, we can now confirm the list of officers and class reps for 07/08. An enormous thank you goes out to outgoing officers from last year, Ally Richardson, Anna Whitson and Jonathan Whitehead. Stephanie Massie has thankfully agreed to continue in her role as Treasurer – one big job with all the ReNewbridge monies flowing in – thank you Stephanie for all your hard work.
As you can see we are still in need of Class Reps for 1HO, 4P, 6B, 6N, 6S. If you are interested in this important role and would like to know what it involves, please drop a note with your name and contact number in the NPSA tray at the Main Reception. You can share the job with another person if you like. Your school needs you!
The 2007/2008 NPSA committee is made up of the following people:
Chair - Jackie Ainsworth
Vice Chair - Sarah Webb
Secretary - Jo Stevenson
Treasurer - Stephanie Massie
Class Representatives
Willow - Lucy Hanney and Theresa Weston
Elm - Tracey Fielding and Emma Pickard
1HO - ?
1H - Cabi Grosvenor
2S - Amanda Vowles
2RB- Pauline Sparrow
2GB - Julie Tolley
3C - Anna Whitson
3H - Lesley Waters
4P - ?
4A- Sarah Lyne
5D - Jo Stevenson
5W - Anne Thomas
5C - Ally Richardson
6B, 6N and 6S - ?

NPSA Upcoming Events
Auction of Promises - Friday 23rd November - look out for further info on this cracking fundraising event in upcoming newsletters.
Christmas Fair - Friday 7th December. This annual event takes place all around the school campus and is a firm favourite for the children as well as an important fundraiser. This will run from 5-7pm with numerous stalls and entertainment. We need helpers! The more stalls we can run, the more fun we have, the more money we raise! If you can spare some time, even if it is just half an hour, please fill in the form below and return to your class rep (listed above) - if your class hasn't got a rep yet, please hand it to the class teacher and it will be collected. There will be a Christmas Fair planning meeting next Monday 15th October at 8pm at the Boathouse pub. Your company and contribution would be greatly appreciated.
Cake Sales - These happen every term on a given Friday and are run by parents from 2 different years - the first one for this year is on Friday 2nd November and will be managed by Years 1 and 6. All parents/carers from those years will be asked to donate cakes to be sold and there will be help needed on the day to shift the goodies.

NEXT NPSA MEETING
TUESDAY 13TH NOVEMBER AT 7:30PM IN THE BLUE ROOM. If you haven't been to a meeting before, please come along – your thoughts and ideas are always welcomed - and we will supply wine and nibbles and a laugh or two.

Reception Classes Letter

Dear Parents/Carers

We hope your child has enjoyed their first few weeks at school. It has been a very exciting week with both groups meeting for the first time.

We will be holding an informal meeting on Thursday 1^st November at 2.30pm in the Blue Room on the Upper School site to give you further information on the Foundation Stage.

We have enclosed an information pack of support materials which we will discuss further at the meeting. We hope you find these useful. If you have any queries about the pack there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the meeting.

As we move forward in the induction process we would like your support with the following points:

• Cloakrooms
  We have noticed that the cloakrooms are very hectic and crowded in the mornings. It would really help the children if you could say goodbye to your child, and encourage them to be independent by organising their belongings themselves. As space is tight we would appreciate it if each child is accompanied by only 1 adult. Thank you for your help with this, it will make mornings much more enjoyable for the children.
  
• Reading Books
  The children have really enjoyed sharing books at home and we have appreciated your comments in the Reading Record Books. We will be changing reading books on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. However please feel free to come into class at the end of the school day to change books yourself if you wish to change on other days. If your child is ready to change their book and you have written a short comment or indicated that you have read the book, please remind your child to put it in the basket in the cloakroom. Reading Record books need to remain in book bags on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that staff can write in them if necessary.
  
• Raincoats
  As we go outside in all weathers your child will need to wear or bring a suitable raincoat. You may wish to buy one of the school’s reversible fleecy jackets or alternatively have a cagoule-type jacket which you can keep in your child’s book bag.
  
• Names
  Can you please ensure that all school clothing, shoes and equipment are clearly named. We have already found unnamed items which have been put in lost property as with so many identical items it is impossible to know who things belong to. Can you also check drinks bottles regularly as the names do get washed off. Naming the lid is also useful so children can identify their bottle quickly.
• Hair
  Please can we remind you that for health and safety reasons (head lice!!) long hair should be tied back at all times.
• Illness
  If your child is unwell please ensure they are fully recovered before returning to school. In the case of sickness and diarrhoea children can return to school 48 hours after they stop being ill. We would really appreciate your support with this as it is extremely easy for an outbreak to affect the class.

We hope your child enjoys the rest of the term and we look forward to seeing you at the meeting next term.

Mrs Margaret Harrison and Ms Di Rhodes
Reception Class Teachers

Parents'/Carers' Evening Letter

Dear Parents/Carers

Parents'/Carers' Evening is being held on Thursday 11^th and Thursday 18^th October 2007. We ask that you attend on one of these evenings to meet your child’s new teacher and to discuss how well your child has settled at the start of the school year.

All parents/carers are welcome to visit their child's classroom and look at their child's work prior to the consultation. Consultations will then take place, at the time you have signed up for, in either the Lower School Hall or the Blue Room/Resource Centre in the Upper School, depending on where your child's classroom is situated. There will be a waiting area inside the Lower School main entrance for parents and in the Blue Room.

Mrs Skinner (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) will be available on both evenings and will be based in Mrs Kennaugh's office in the lower school.

This time we are asking that parents sign up for their preferred slot. In this case, class lists and timings will be displayed in the Blue Room on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week for you to access. Thank you for your help in this matter.

We look forward to seeing you.

Yours sincerely

Gill Kennaugh
Deputy Headteacher

Kilve Court Letter

Dear Parents/Carers

Following tonight’s meeting where we have outlined the Year 5 visit to Kilve Court and the activities we intend to do, we are now inviting applications for the trip. Two groups will participate in the trip being held between 25^th and 29^th
February 2008.

Brief details of this visit are as follows:

• Two and a half days based at the Kilve Court Centre, Kilve, Somerset.

• The cost of the trip will be £95 exclusive of children’s personal spending money (more details of this at the final meeting in February).
  

We plan to use this as an ACTIVITY WEEK. The two and a half days that the children are in school will be used to prepare for the activities and follow-up work carried out whilst at Kilve.

To secure a place on the trip a deposit of £25 is required in the first instance, either by cash or a cheque made payable to Bath & North East Somerset Council by 31st October 2007.

A payment book will then be issued and this will act as your receipt. Payments can be made at any time. We do need to ask that full payment is made by 31^st January 2008.

If you would like to seek advice regarding financial assistance, please make an appointment to see myself.

Please reply even if your child does NOT intend to take part in the visit.

Yours sincerely

Gill Kennaugh
Deputy Headteacher

NEWSLETTER Issue: 2.05

HEAD'S VIEW
One of the reasons that I really love my job is that it is never boring! This week, in particular, has been 'interesting' with the comings and goings of Ofsted inspectors on Tuesday and Wednesday.

What I was never in doubt about was that the children, staff, governors and parents would rise to the challenge. All come out with great credit and I would like to thank the staff for their huge skill and commitment, the children who were singled out for praise for their behaviour, manners and attitudes to learning, the governors for their support behind the scenes and our parents who showed their support for the school with an incredible response to the parental questionnaire.

I am not at liberty to divulge any details of the report, which will be issued in about three weeks, but suffice to say it reflects our view of where we are at in terms of building a new school. In a recent Headteacher's Report to governors I likened the stage we are at to climbing a mountain. We have been putting strategies, systems and resources in place to make a successful climb. Base camp has been established and we are in the process of striding onwards and upwards. I cannot wait until the inspectors come back at some point in the future! Well done to you all.

Our charity fund raising up until Christmas is aimed at supporting the Royal United Hospital and that day we all love has come around again – yes, of course, it is 'Ted's Big Day Out' next Friday! Please see details below of the theme etc but just remember, girls and boys, all the money we bring in next Friday will support the work of our local hospital. Teddies at the ready! I hope you all have a relaxing weekend.

TED'S BIG DAY OUT

This year's big event takes place on Friday 12th October. The theme for this year is 'Child’s Play!' If you would like to join in the fun why don’t you dress up your teddies in baby clothes, or anything else you can think of on the theme of 'Child’s Play'! There will be small prizes for the children who can come up with the most original or eye-catching ideas. Don’t forget to bring in your £1 donation to help raise funds for the Royal United Hospital.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Week Beginning 8/10/07:

Tuesday 9/10/07 – PACT Meeting
Thursday 11/10/07 – Parents' Evening
Friday 12/10/07 – Ted's Big Day Out

CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE – SEPTEMBER
At the end of every month each class teacher has a very difficult decision to face. They have to choose the one person from their class to receive a Certificate of Excellence! The person they choose has to consistently be the best that he or she can be either in effort and attitude, achievement, behaviour or citizenship. Sometimes it can be very difficult deciding as all of the children at Newbridge seem to work so hard! The people with their names up here this month deserve congratulating. It is not easy to be awarded a Certificate of Excellence and they have done extremely well!
Lower School
1HO – Lily

1H – Jarrel
2GB – Johan
2RB – Lauren

2S – Ella

Upper School

3C – Daisy

3H – Charles

4A – Veronika

4P – Rebecca

5C – Emma

5D – Mille

5W – Finlay

6B – Georgia

6N - Caroline

6S - Tasharna

SCHOOL COUNCIL
Well done to the following girls and boys who have been voted by the children in their class to be their voice on the School Council this year:
Lower School

1H – Rosie

1HO – Tommy

2GB – Daniel, Lucy

2RB – Kasiem, Lucy
2S – Ben, Alice
Upper School

3H – Megan

3C – Joe

4A – Katie

4P – Aisling

5C – Isaac

5D – Hannah
5W – Harrison
6B – Joe, Frances
6N – Caroline, Cassius
6S – Danny, Darcy

SCHOOL HOUSES FLY HIGH!
Choosing the names of our school houses is not a matter to be taken lightly. This week's vote, involving all the children in the school, resulted in the following house names:

• EAGLES
  
• FALCONS
  
• KESTRELS
  
• OWLS
  

It was a landslide vote and the children have chosen names which could last for generations! All the children will be allocated a house and they will be informed of this immediately after half term. We are introducing a house points system so that our children will earn points for excellence (personal excellence of effort, achievement or behaviour) so that not only are they recognised individually but their points also go towards their house total. Brothers and sisters always belong to the same house, as do children, grandchildren …….. we are planning for the future!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 'STARS OF THE WEEK'

Years 3 and 4
Daniel, Sinead
Charlie, Jake
Years 5 and 6
Tom, Mark, Chris
Erin, Charlie, Chakhila

PPA Music
Marlena
PPA Art
Daniel, Zoe
PPA PE
Raphaela, Paige

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 contact us so that we can obtain a CRB form before the end of this term (Friday 19th October.) Thank you.

NEW BABY

Congratulations to Edward in Willow Class on the birth of his new baby sister.