28th September 2015
No. 2
AUTUMN TERM
NEWSLETTER
Dear Parent/Carer
to cover Mrs Gardiner’s maternity leave which will
begin after the half term break.
There have been lots of exciting trips out and
visitors in to school already this term. Owls
have been to Bristol to visit the SS Great
Britain and sail on The Matthew, Woodpeckers
have visited Glastonbury Abbey and had an
archaeologist visit the class as well! With
many more enrichment events planned, please
read on to find out more…
OPEN DAY – Tuesday 6th October
If you know of anyone with children due to start
school in September 2016, please encourage them
to come along to our Open Day on Tuesday 6th
October from 1.30-3.00pm. All of our existing
parents are also very welcome to come along, have a
tour of the school and see the children at work!
Phonics Evening – Thursday 8th October
We would like to invite all parents of children in
Sparrows and Starlings to a reading and phonics
evening, here at Ashcott School on Thursday 8th
October at 6.00pm. The aim of this evening is to
share with you how we teach phonics and reading in
the infant classes and suggest ways in which you can
help your child to read and develop their love for
reading at home.
Archaeologist Visit
Woodpecker Class had an interesting day of
archaeology last Monday when they were visited by
Louise Mansbridge, a real archaeologist! The
children had the opportunity to dig for artefacts
from a range of historical periods, reconstruct a
face using a skull, as well as taking part in other
activities linked to archaeology. Thank you to SOAP
for funding this exciting visit!
School Photographs
On Tuesday 13th October the children will be
having their photographs taken by Tempest
Photography. If you wish to have a family photo, or
with siblings, please arrive at the hall for 8.15am.
Please make sure your child attends school on time
and is wearing their smartest uniform on this day!
SKYPE Meeting
The children from Owl Class took part in an exciting
SKYPE Meeting this week, communicating with our
Chinese link school ‘Yueyang Tower Primary School’
in Yueyang Province, China. Years 5 and 6 were able
to practice their Mandarin skills (which they have
been learning in class on Thursday mornings) and
the Yueyang children tried out their English skills.
The meeting went well and included an appearance
from the new Headteacher, Mr Xie Jianhua who has
replaced Ms Ruan Huiling after her retirement at
the end of term.
Harvest Celebration Assembly
We look forward to seeing as many parents as
possible at our Harvest Celebration Assembly on
Friday 16th October at 2.20pm in the school hall.
As usual we are asking the children to donate items
of produce for the Harvest display in the hall on
the Friday. Our GEMS leaders will be selling the
produce to parents at the end of the assembly to
raise money for our link school in Tigoi, Kenya.
Please bring your donations of produce to the hall
on the Friday morning. Thank you in advance for
your support!
Congratulations!
Some of you will have already heard the good news
that Mrs Gardiner is expecting a baby, due to arrive
in November 2015. I am sure you would like to join
us in wishing Mrs Gardiner well at this exciting
time! We are in the process of appointing a teacher
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ESFA Tournament
On Tuesday 20th October, the school football team
will be taking part in the English Schools Football
Association tournament at Strode College. Last
year Ashcott won this tournament and advanced to
the Somerset County finals where they were
runners-up after a goal in extra time! We wish the
team the best of luck once again and send them all
our support!
Money: Any money coming in to school should be
placed in a named envelope with the amount and
reason clearly written on the front. The envelope
should then be handed to the class teacher by your
child during registration (not given to the office
please), to ensure we are following the school
finance policy.
Thank you for your help and support with these
important safeguarding measures.
Sharing Assemblies
All parents are welcome to come along to our
sharing assemblies every Friday at 2.30pm in the
school hall. This is a great opportunity to share in
the children’s successes each week.
***Don’t forget to check the school website
regularly for news, photos and events! ***
www.ashcott.somerset.sch.uk
Thank you for your continued support
Richard Briar
Headteacher
SOAP NEWS
Next SOAP meeting (Supporters of Ashcott
Primary School) is on Thursday 5th November at
7pm in the Ring O’ Bells, Ashcott. All parents are
very welcome, so please try to come along!
Dates for your Diary:
October 2015
Thurs 1st – Mobile Library
Thurs 1st – Play Leaders to Glastonbury
Fri 2nd – Woodpeckers Sharing Assembly 2.20pm
Tues 6th – OPEN DAY 1.30pm
Tues 6th – Cross Country at Millfield Prep.
Thurs 8th – Phonics Evening 6-7pm
Tues 13th – School Photos Day
Fri 16th – Harvest Assembly 2.20pm
Tues 20th – BIBIC Bags2School
Tues 20th – ESFA football tournament (pm)
Tues 20th – Parents Evening 3.30-6.00pm
Thurs 22nd - Parents Evening 3.30-6.00pm
Thurs 22nd – Ashcott Apple Day
26th – 30th – Half Term Break
Easy Fundraising Reminder
Don’t forget to use the ‘easyfundraising’ website as
you begin to shop for Christmas presents on-line
and help raise money for the school as you do! See
the school website for further details.
Car Parking and Road safety
For the safety of all children and parents coming
into school, we must emphasise that the school car
park must not be used by pedestrians or cyclists.
Please do not come through the gate to the car
park or allow your child to do so. We also ask
parents not to park in front of driveways out of
respect for our neighbours, and not at junctions or
on the zigzag lines, for safety reasons.
November 2015
Mon 2nd - INSET Day – School Closed
Thurs 5th – SOAP Meeting 7pm @ Ring O’ Bells
Tues 10th – Cross Country at Collett Park
Fri 20th - Owls’ Sharing Assembly 2.20pm
Thurs 26th – Fri 27th – BOOK FAIR 3pm
Other Reminders:
Signing in/out: Please may we remind parents to
make sure their children are signed in at the office
if they are late in the morning, and signed out at
the office if they are picked up early for
appointments/illness etc. If children are picked up
early, please come to the office to collect them.
December 2015
Thurs 3rd – Starlings’ Victorian visitor
Tues 8th – Rec/KS1 Dress Rehearsal 9.45am
Thurs 10th - Rec/KS1 Nativity 1.30pm
Mon 14th – Mobile Library
Weds 16th – Christmas Church Service 1.30pm
Mon 21st Dec – Fri 1st Jan - Christmas Break
Collecting children: If your child is to be picked up
from school by someone other than the usual
person, please make sure the school are informed
beforehand (in writing if possible). We do not allow
children to go home with other parents or friends
unless we have been informed in advance.
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