The Federation of Winklebury
Infant and Junior Schools
Willoughby Way, Basingstoke, Hants RG23 8AF
Head of Federation: Mrs C.A. Clayton
Tel/Fax Infant: 01256 325303 Tel/Fax Junior: 01256 323244
E-mail: adminoffice@winklebury-inf.hants.sch.uk
E-mail: adminoffice@winklebury-jun.hants.sch.uk
Monday 13th May 2013
Newsletter no. 10
Dear Parents
Bikes
We are getting an increasing number of families cycling to school which is good news for a healthy lifestyle and the
problems of parking at the start and end of the school day. We are looking into providing improved cycle storage
facilities but until then, thank you for your patience over our current arrangements. A reminder – please make sure
all bikes and scooters left on school premises during the day are removed at the end of the school day. Bikes
left overnight are a security hazard and although Mr O’Dee, our Site Manager, endeavours to ensure they are as
secure as possible, we cannot take responsibility for them when left overnight. Thank you for your co-operation.
Smoking
We have received a parental complaint about parents smoking at the school gate and I am therefore asking you to be
reminded that if you wish to smoke please move well away from the school entrances thus ensuring that adults
and children making their way to and from school do not have to walk through a smoky atmosphere. Smoking
is not allowed on the school premises and we apply this to the areas immediately outside the school entrances and
exits. Thank you for your co-operation. I have written about this in a previous newsletter and would urge you to
please let me know if you experience any further issues with this so that I can approach people individually. Thank
you.
Start and end of the school day
Could I please ask parents to leave the school premises immediately after dropping their children off in the
mornings. The school site is a good place to meet friends for a quick ‘chat’ but we are finding that some groups of
parents are remaining on site for sometimes up to 15 minutes after their children have gone into school. This can be
distracting for teachers and children in the classrooms and we also need to lock the gates to make the site secure.
Similarly, in the afternoons please be aware that groups of parents outside the classrooms can be distracting,
especially if an adult is raising their voice or a younger sibling is making a lot of noise. Please keep well away from
the classroom windows whilst you are waiting for your child at the end of the day, do not attempt to attract any
child’s attention in the classrooms, keep your voices low and do not allow younger children to cause a
disturbance – we expect them to remain with you and wait quietly. Please also be aware that we will not allow your
child to communicate with you outside – they need to be tidying up or listening to end of the day instructions. Thank
you for your co-operation.
Headlice – junior school
We have had repeated cases of headlice in Year 5 at the junior school and would appreciate all parents checking their
children’s hair, including brothers and sisters, and treating with either a lotion or the wet combing method if you need
to. Thank you.
Uniform
As we (hopefully!) move towards the summer months can I please remind you that if you wish your child to wear
shorts, they must be tailored grey school shorts, not any type of fashion short. This applies to boys and girls and
we expect shorts to be worn with socks. Girls should not wear shorts with tights as this is a current trend in
fashion and is not suitable for school.
Junior toilets!
We had some brilliant news over the Easter holiday – the Local Authority has agreed to fund the refurbishment of the
pupil toilets in the junior school. This is something we have had as a priority for the past two years but have not had
the funds to undertake. The refurbishment will be done over the summer holiday this year and plans are already well
underway.
Stay and Read sessions
A reminder that you are invited to our weekly Stay and Read sessions:
Year R – Mondays 8.40 to 9.00am
Year 1 – Tuesdays 8.40 to 9.00am
Year 2 – Wednesdays 8.40 to 9.00am
Year 3/4 – Tuesdays 8.35 to 9.00am
Year 5/6 – Wednesdays 8.35 to 9.00am - NOT THIS WEEK DUE TO YEAR 6 SATs
Please be aware we do not expect parents to use their mobile phones during these sessions. The sessions are provided
to give you time to share a book with your child and should be considered as a ‘special’ time in which you can give
your child your undivided attention, often very difficult with all the demands parents have on their time. If you have
any questions about the sessions please do not hesitate to ask your child’s classteacher.
P.A.W.S.
A reminder of upcoming P.A.W.S. events:
* Book and Cake Sale – Thursday 16th May 2.30pm in the infant hall
* Fathers Day Sale for the children – Thursday 13th June. Please send any donations you may have for the sale
into either school by Monday 10th June.
The second hand uniform sales continue to be a success – please send in to either school office items of clean uniform
which are in good condition at any time of the school year. Thank you.
Watching over the schools
We are very pleased that after the installation of the improved security gates and the clearance of the undergrowth and
shrubs around the boundary, the problem with litter and people using the schools as a thoroughfare has dramatically
reduced. However, we would still ask that you inform us of anything you see which you feel to be inappropriate use
of the school site e.g. people congregating by the site and leaving their rubbish for us to clear up, people throwing
items into the bushes around the edges of the site etc. The local police have been asked to monitor a group of youths
who had started using the wall at the front of the school as a place to meet, but the most effective watchful eye is the
eye of our neighbours. Thank you to those who live very locally, we always welcome the information you give us.
Opportunities
We have the following information in the schools – if you would like a leaflet please pop in to collect one or ask us to
send one home with your child:
* Stagecoach Theatre Arts – two week taster sessions – go online at www.stagecoach.co.uk/andover for further details
Dates and times
- school finishes at the usual time for the May half term holiday Friday 24th May 2013
- both schools are closed for a staff inset day Monday 3rd June 2013
- school opens for the children for the second half of the summer term on Tuesday 4th June 2013
A reminder all children must be in school ready for registration:
Infant school – 8.55am
Junior school – 8.45am
Yours sincerely
Mrs C.A.Clayton
Head of Federation
THIS DOCUMENT CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS
ON REQUEST TO THE SCHOOL