NORTHWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER NO 8
Happy New Year! Hope you all had a fantastic holiday and enjoyed spending time with
your family and friends. Spring term is traditionally a busy term, this year especially as
it is so short. After all of the additional excitement of Christmas I am delighted to see
how well the children have settled back to school.
Staff News
A huge welcome to Mrs Wassell (Y3-Y6 Assistant Head Teacher), Miss Chapman
(Nursery Teacher), Mrs Bratley (Y1 Teacher) and Mrs Heaviside (Support Assistant)
who have joined the staff team from January. Mrs Wassell is the smiley faced lady you
will have noticed at the top gate welcoming you in on a morning.
Mrs Ruse has begun her maternity leave now and the whole school gave her a huge
round of applause during assembly to wish her well during this special time.
Uniform and PE kit
Thanks to all of you who ensure your children come to school wearing the correct
uniform. I really believe it makes a huge difference to the success of the school and
the safety of the children if they are all wearing the right clothes and footwear. A
small minority of children are still not following the school’s expectation and continue
to wear inappropriate footwear, clothing and accessories. I am asking you to support
the school’s request and remind all parents that the rules around uniform are part of
the Home School agreement which you have all signed. The teachers have also asked
to remind you all to make sure that your children bring their PE kits back after the
holiday-some children still have not brought this back in. Thank you.
Attendance
Attendance for last week was 94%
The best three attending classes were 1GR (Mrs Gowland and Mrs Ruse), 4L (Ms
Lillystone) and 3O (Mrs Osborne).
62 children were late for school last week.
You all received your termly traffic light letter regarding your child’s attendance.
Attendance really does matter and I have a statutory duty to inform you all of your
child’s current attendance figures. If the school can support you in any way regarding
this, please do not hesitate to contact me.
This week the children with attendance above 95% have all had a reward session with
Mr Beadle. The children have had a great time engaging in team building games and
problem solving games. Well done to all the children who have had the opportunity to
attend this exciting event.
2015-2016 Term times and holiday dates
Some parents have been asking about next year’s dates so they can plan their holidays
in order to avoid taking their children out of school during term time. Please see the
chart below for this information. It is also available on the school website at
www.northwoodprimary.org.uk
Dates (Holiday and assessment dates) 2015-2016
School Holidays 2015-2016
Holiday
Closing Date
End of Afternoon Session:
Re-Opening Date
Thursday 3rd September 2015
Staff Training Days
Tuesday 1st September &
Wednesday 2nd September
2015
Autumn Half Term
Staff Training Day
Monday 2nd November 2015
Friday 23rd October 2015
Tuesday 3rd November 2015
Christmas
Friday 18th December 2015
Monday 4th January 2016
Spring Half Term
Staff Training Day
Monday 22nd February 2016
Friday12th February 2016
Tuesday 23rd February 2016
Easter
Thursday 24th March 2016
Monday 11th April 2016
May Day
Friday 29th April 2016
Tuesday 3rd May 2016
Summer Half Term
Staff Training Day
Friday 27th May 2016
Thursday 26th May 2016
Monday 6th June 2016
Summer 2016
Wednesday 20th July 2016
NB SATs Please note also the END OF KEY STAGE SATS for Year 6 are to be
confirmed. Key Stage 1 (Year 2) test usually run throughout the month of May. Year
1 phonics screening will take place in June 2016(to be confirmed). This period is also
the time when the other year groups are tested. Please avoid this period if making
arrangements for holidays in term time.
Please make a note of these dates for future reference.
Y6 Extended Tuesday
The vast majority of Y6 children are staying at school until 4.30pm on a Tuesday
evening to engage in reading, writing and maths activities. The first one last week was
super and the children have all told me they can’t wait for the next one.
Chloe said ‘It was great. I loved all the games, especially SPAG bingo.’ Joshua said ‘I
really liked the games, but thought there would be some more maths to do.’ (I’m sure
there will be Joshua!)
The Year 6 children are also being taught literacy in a different way on a morning. The
boys are being taught by Mrs Coates and Mr Cooke and the girls are being taught by
Mrs Howlett. I am thrilled by all the positive feedback that I have received from the
children about this new arrangement. I definitely know it has been extremely
motivating for all the children. Mrs Coates couldn’t wait to show off some of the boys’
writing that they had produced linked to the story of the Demon Dentist by David
Walliams.
Fundraising
Before the holidays the school was busy raising money for charity. Through all your
generosity the school has raised £230.96 to be shared between Save the Children and
NSPCC. The school has received certificates from the charities who are extremely
grateful.
Dates for your diary
Tues 27th January 2015
Wednesday 28th January 2015
Y1 visit to Bowes Museum
Y4-Y6 Student Council visit to the
Holocaust Memorial Ceremony
Y3-Y6 Poetry Festival at the Civic Theatre
(4 children representing the school)
Thursday 29th January 2015
Y4 visit to Beamish Museum
Friday 30th January 2015
Y3 ‘Woman from the Past’ experience in
school
Thank you for your continuing support
Zoe Beach
Head Teacher