Newsletter 1
3 September 2015
Headteachers: Alison Tugwell & Sally Johnson
01242 515778 www.holytrinity.gloucs.sch.uk
WELCOME BACK TO ALL: A very warm welcome is extended to the 31 new pupils who will be joining us in Reception. We hope that everyone has had a wonderful summer and is feeling refreshed and raring to go for another busy term. It has been a joy to see the children so eager and smart as they begin the new school year. Thank you for all you have done in helping to prepare the children for their new classes. Partnerships between school and home are hugely important in ensuring the very best education which is what we all want for every pupil at our school. We therefore look forward to working closely with you over this new school year. Our whole school value this term is
GENEROSITY; a sheet of suggested activities for you to complete at home, should you choose to do so, has been issued with this newsletter.
HEADTEACHERS: The working arrangements for the Headteachers this term are as follows. Mrs
Tugwell will be in school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Mrs Johnson will be in school on
Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday. As always, as Headteachers we will work very closely together so please feel free to approach either of us about any issue at all.
NEW APPOINTMENT: We are delighted that the following appointments have been made:
- Mrs Heather McCarthy has joined our staff team as a teaching assistant in Year 4. She has a wealth of experience from various school settings and we are certain that she will quickly become an asset to our school.
BUILDING WORK: The school has been improved in many ways over the holidays. As you know keeping children safe is always our top priority. We have made improvements to our door security system with the introduction of a swipe card system on all external doors. The drainage system at the front of the school has been repaired and new tarmac has been laid. We are hopeful that as a result there will be no more pools of water after heavy downpours. Watch that space! The bear has been relocated to his permanent home on a safe surface on the field and we have no doubt that the children will enjoy using the new outdoor tables. Huge thanks to Mr Burrows who has yet again done an excellent job in getting the school spick and span and in excellent order for the new term.
PARENTAL CONSENT FORMS: Accompanying this letter are several forms which need completing and returning to the school office as soon as possible but no later than Wednesday 9 th September.
These include the following for all children in Year 1 to Year 6. Medical forms, offsite permission forms, photo permission forms. Additionally parents of children in Year 3 (as they are moving into
Key Stage 2) are required to complete internet permission forms. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
CLUBS: These begin during the week commencing 14 September. A letter detailing the activities on offer has been issued today. We are very grateful to staff who commit a tremendous amount of time, energy and expertise beyond what is normally expected in order to offer the range of clubs to our pupils. Please ensure all forms are returned no later than Wednesday 9 th September.
ORCHESTRA: Orchestra club will commence Thursday 17 th September. However, please can children bring in their instruments on Thursday 10 th
Worship.
September in order to play in Collective

THANKYOU: Mrs McMurray would like to thank everyone for their warm wishes, kind words and gifts which were received at the end of last term.
LOST PROPERTY: All items left in school at the ends of last term have been bagged and stored.
Please see Mr. Burrows if you have anything to reclaim by Wednesday 9 th September. Please note anything remaining in lost property from last academic year will be recycled on Friday 11 th
September.
SWIMMING: Lessons at Cheltenham Recreation Centre for children in Y3 and Y4 will start on
Wednesday 16 September. A letter about this has already been issued.
MUSIC LESSONS: Music lessons will be starting next week. Woodwind lessons will be on
Wednesdays. Strings pupils will be informed as to when their lesson will be and when their instrument should be in school accordingly. For those that have hired instruments, these should be arriving in school soon. If you haven’t ordered an instrument yet, please do so as soon as possible – forms were issued before the end of last term and are available from the school office. Some music tuition invoices have been issued today and woodwind will be issued next week. Please arrange to pay promptly – thank you.
PARENT HELP: We are always grateful for parent help, both on a regular or occasional basis.
Becoming a volunteer is rewarding and helps our pupils enormously. If you are interested in coming into school to assist in any way (or perhaps you have a particular skill or talent which you would like to share) please see your child’s teacher.
NEW CATERING: School meals are now provided by Caterlink. The new menu has been sent home.
All parents are politely reminded to pay for meals before children receive them, preferably by
Parent pay.
HEALTHY EATING: We are a healthy school and actively promote lifestyle choices that will encourage the children to lead a healthy lifestyle. We thank you for your support with this and would ask that children are given healthy snacks for playtime, ideally fruit.
BIRTHDAY BOOKS: We are introducing a new initiative to mark children’s birthdays in School in place of sharing out sweets at the end of the day. Should parents choose to do so, they can purchase a book for the school library and bring it into school. This will be shared during collective worship on a Thursday and we shall place in the front of the book the name of the child and the occasion for which it was presented.
PRAYER MEETING: The next meeting will be at school on Wednesday 16 September at 2.30pm. All welcome. Please see Karen Masters (parent of Abigail and Lydia) should you wish to find out more.
JEANS FOR GENES DAY: On Friday 18 September children are allowed to wear denim to school in exchange for a donation for Jeans to Genes. There is no suggested amount for the donation; a collection pot will be in each class. School polo shirts, sweaters, shoes etc should be worn along with either jeans or denim skirt.
WALKING HOME ALONE: Please complete and return the slip at the end of this newsletter if you wish to give permission for your child to walk home alone. As you are aware children are dismissed safely at the end of the day to those who have authority to collect. Should there be any changes in pick up arrangements, please let the school office know. Children will not be released unless we have authorisation to do so. Likewise children without written permission to walk home alone will not be allowed to do so.

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS:
 Mrs Evans will be speaking to parents of children in Year 1 on Monday 14 September at
2.30pm in the School Hall. She will explain the transition from Reception to Year 1 and talk parents through the systems in place in Year 1. A letter with further details will be issued to parents in Year 1 next week.
 Mrs Hewson will be speaking to parents of children in Reception on Tuesday 6 October and
Tuesday 13 October at 9.00am in the School Hall. They will explain how phonics and reading are taught in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and an introduction to Forest School.
 Mr Gilpin, the Headteacher at Pittville School, will be leading a meeting for parents on
Monday 28 September 3.30pm in our School Hall.
 Mr McNiffe, the Headteacher at All Saints Academy, will be leading a meeting for parents on Tuesday 6 October 3.30pm in our School Hall
These two events are primarily aimed at parents of children in Year 5 and Year 6 but there is an open invitation to any Key Stage 2 parents who would also like to find out more about these Secondary Schools.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
 11 September - PCSOs will be in the playground after school
 14 September – Parental Termly Overviews sent home this week
 14 September – Clubs start this week
 14 September – 2.30pm meeting for Y1 parents in the School Hall
 16 September – Prayer meeting at school 2.30pm
 16 September – Swimming begins for Y3 and Y4
 18 September – Jeans for Genes Day
 22 September – Y6 visit to Steam
 23 September – Joiners service for Reception children at Trinity Church
 24 September – Year 5 visit to Chedworth
Yours sincerely
Alison Tugwell & Sally Johnson
Headteachers
WALKING HOME ALONE PERMISSION FORM
Name of child:___________________________________ Year ____________
 I give permission for my child to walk home unaccompanied daily.
As such, I authorise the school to allow my child to leave the school premises alone at the end of the school day.
OR
 I give permission for my child to walk home unaccompanied on the following days.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday (please circle individual days)
As such, I authorise the school to allow my child to leave the school premises alone at the end of these school days.
Signed: ________________________________Parent/Guardian Date ______________