This Term's SAMS News
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SAMS News 23rd February 2012
SAMS NEWS
Electronic Registration
We are now taking an Electronic Register each day. Any children who are now late must ensure that they enter the school through the front door ...
Posted 24 Feb 2012 05:14 by J Green
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9th February 2012
SAMS NEWS
St David's Day Competitions
This year we will be running a St David's Day home competition for each class. The children should complete the competition over ...
Posted 22 Feb 2012 10:30 by J Green
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2nd February 2012
SAMS NEWS
Joint School Council event
Last Friday Vice-chair person Catrin Lewis and Secretary Chloe Roots represented our School Council in a Joint School Council meeting at St Cyres ...
Posted 1 Feb 2012 07:42 by A James
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26th January 2012
SAMS NEWS
Healthy Lunchboxes - no sweetsWe have noticed recently that a number of children have sweets or chocolate in their lunchboxes. Please make your child's lunchbox as healthy ...
Posted 26 Jan 2012 06:37 by J Green
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19th Janaury 2012
SAMS NEWS
Parking drop off zoneThis week we have
been monitoring cars entering and leaving the drop-off zone in the bus lay by. This
lane is not for ...
Posted 19 Jan 2012 05:13 by J Green
Archived editions of SAMS News for previous terms can be found here: SAMS News Archive |
posted 24 Feb 2012 03:36 by J Green
[
updated 24 Feb 2012 05:14
]
Electronic Registration
We are now taking an Electronic Register each day. Any children who are now late must ensure that they enter the school through the front door and report to Mrs Green or Mrs Davies to ensure that they are marked as present. May we remind parents that school starts promptly at 8.50am and any children who are not in their classes when registration starts will be marked as late. Punctuality is a life skill that perhaps a few parents could brush up on!
Reading Help Required
The Reception class are looking for some reading helpers to come into school and share some of our lovely library books with them. If you are able to spare an hour each week please see Mrs Green or Ms Shalom.
PTA 100 Club
Due to a lack of support we are not able to proceed with the 100 club. Your children will be given back the envelopes to bring home. Thank you to those parents and staff who did support this fundraising scheme.
Lost Uniform
Elliot Healan in Y1 has lost a black St Andrews Coat and a sweatshirt. Please can you check at home if you child has brought home the wrong clothing and return them to school urgently.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
1st Mar St David's Day
8th Mar World Book Day
12 Mar Open Morning
20 & 27 Mar Parents Evening
21st Mar Dance Club performance at Barry Memo
28 Mar School Council visit to Senedd
29th Mar Dance Club performance at Sherman
5th Apr Easter Worship (parents welcome)
5th Apr Easter Eggstrravaganza and Easter Bonnets
5th Apr Last day of Spring Term
23rd Apr Summer Term begins
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Ash Wednesday
The whole school (except Nursery) walked to St Peter's Church on Wednesday this week to take part in the Ash Wednesday service. Thank you to all of the parents and grandparents who helped us to walk through the village.
Weekly Talk Topic
This week's talk topic is "The most famous person you have ever met". Enjoy!
St David's Day
We will be celebrating St David's Day next Thursday with a carousel of welsh themed activities. Children are invited to dress up in their welsh costumes. Don't forget to return the competition entries for judging early next week.
Folk Dancing Club
Miss Gardner will be starting Folk Dancing Club next Monday 27th February after school. The club will run to 4,30pm.
Early Years News
Nursery - The first week back has been extremely busy preparing for St David's Day. We have also been lkearning about where milk comes from - not the supermarket! Our welsh topic is colours - ask us if you can "Pa lliw" (what colour?) We are working hard on writing our own names and using the correct formation. Please give me a chance to practice.
Reception - Welcome back - Full steam ahead prepairng for St David's Day. Thank you to those who have done their shields - come on the rest get creative! Pancake day was a big happy flop! We made, raced and ate them -yum yum! Comments were made about how well the Reception class behaved during our Ash Wednesday service - we were so proud! Please look at our class page on the website for some fun web games.
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posted 9 Feb 2012 07:01 by J Green
[
updated 22 Feb 2012 10:30
]
St David's Day Competitions
This year we will be running a St David's Day home competition for each class. The children should complete the competition over the half term holiday and return them to school on Monday 27th February ready for judging. This year's home competitions are as follows:
Nursery Children to decorate a wooden spoon with a welsh theme
Reception Children in reception class are designing a Knight's shield in a Welsh theme
Year 1 Children are to make a Welsh dragon out of household junk
Year 2 Children are to design a Welsh love spoon collage that symbolises why Wales is special to them
Year 3 The children in Year 3 will be decorating a leek in a Welsh theme.
Year 4 Children are to draw a Welsh landscape that is special to them
Year 5 The Welsh rugby team need a new kit! The children in Year 5 need to design a new Welsh rugby kit for the national team to wear during the 6 Nations
Year 6 The children need to make a famous Welsh person out of vegetables. The vegetables should eb decorated with accessories and framed in a shoebox.
All entries will then be judged and points awarded toward the Eisteddfod. Let the competition commence!
Year 5 Class Worship
Year 5 will be holding their Class Worship on Thursday 23rd February. Parents and Grandparents are invited and there will be refreshments afterwards.
Lost Property
Our Lost Property box is overflowing so if you are missing any items of uniform please come and check. May we also remind parents to label EVERYTHING!
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Comenius Visit
Mrs Lewis, Mrs Walker, Mrs Green and Barnaby Bear arrived safely back from their trip to Italy last week. They spent an enjoyable day last Thursday in the our partner school where the children had prepared a fantastic presentation made up of songs, poems and music. All of the children were eager to practice their English on our staff and Mrs Walker and Mrs Lewis taught the children to sing Heads, shoulders, knees and toes in welsh. Our staff presented gifts to the children, Headteacher and Mayor at an official reception in the medieval town of Fara Sabina, a short distance from Rome.
From Friday onwards the trip went slightly awry! The first snow in 26 years caused chaos (good to see it's not just us!). All the schools in the region closed which meant that our meeting with our partners had to be conducted in Mrs Green and Mrs Walker's hotel room! Trains, buses and taxis were not able to operate which meant that our intrepid three were stranded in their hotel for 2 days! The planned trip to Rome had to be abandoned for a game of cards! Luckily we were able to reach the airport on Sunday to return home!
Despite the trials and tribulations of the weather we had a fabulous day at the School and it was a real privilege to meet such enthusiastic children.
Our children are now working on a range of activities that we will be sharing with our partner schools over the next two years.
Inset Day
Don't forget our Inset Day on 20th February after the half term break. School reopens on Tuesday 21st February.
Fruity Friday
Don't forget your 30p for Fruity Friday tomorrow!
100 Club
Many thanks to everyone who has joined our PTA 100 club. There is still time to join so please send your application and cheque to school as soon as possible. Don't forget the 100 club is open to parents, grandparents, staff and friends. Extra forms are available from the PTA section of the website. |
posted 1 Feb 2012 06:58 by J Green
[
updated 1 Feb 2012 07:42 by A James
]
Joint School Council event
Last Friday Vice-chair person Catrin Lewis and Secretary Chloe Roots represented our School Council in a Joint School Council meeting at St Cyres Secondary School along with other primary schools in the Dinas Powys and Penarth area. They contributed to the event by giving a prepared talk on the role and achievements of the School Council at St Andrews.
The event was so successful that joint meetings are planned for each half term. Further topics to be discussed at the next meeting include the Anti-bullying Code and playground designs.
Well done Catrin and Chloe – we are very proud of you both!
Spring Term Curriculum News
We hope that many of you have been able to read our SAMS news each week on the school website. As from last Friday all the class teachers have ‘posted’ their Curriculum News page on the website. If you would like a paper copy of the booklet ‘Spring Term Curriculum News 2012’ which also contains dates for this term and a full clubs list, they are available in the school entrance foyer and from the school office.
Cold weather – please dress up warmly!
We are in the midst of a very cold snap so please send your child with a thick, warm coat, gloves & hat. A thin fleece is not sufficient for temperatures not much above freezing.
Please could girls in Year 2 (Thursdays) and Year 1 (Fridays) bring an extra pair of joggers to put under their school uniform for extra warmth when learning out doors. Thank you.
Dinners – changes to next week’s menu
Due to the fact that enchiladas and chicken pasta bake were not popular Tuesday’s and Thursday’s menu will be as follows ~
Tuesday – Spaghetti Bolognaise & Garlic Bread, Bakewell Tart
Thursday – Chicken Fillet, Potatoes, Vegetables and Gravy, Steamed Sponge
Baguettes are coming!
SNAG have surveyed all the children in KS2 for trialling Baguettes instead of Jacket Potatoes. The overwhelming response has been to replace Jacket Potatoes with the following Baguettes and popular fillings after February half term.
Monday – Tuna
Tuesday – Ham
Wednesday – Cheese
Thursday – Sausage
Friday – Cold Meat (from Roast of the Day)
All will be served with salad, and the dessert of the day.
We hope you will all give this a try.
Fruity Friday
New choices this week are melon, grapes, apples and cucumber. Please remember your 30p.
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PTA Valentine Discos
next Thursday 9th February
Thank you to those of you who have already signed up to help at the discos next week. The PTA could do with some more help please – so if you can spare an hour, either from 5.30 to 6.30 pm or from 6.45 to 7.45 pm please sign up in the entrance foyer. Thank you.
Comenius Project – Visit to Italy!
As part of our Environmental Project with schools in Italy, France and Belgium, Mrs Lewis, Mrs Walker and Mrs Green are spending the next few days in Italy near Rome. The staff members from all schools meet together to share pupils’ work and further plan joint activities in our 4 countries. Already our children have a better understanding of life and culture in these countries. We wish our staff well and look forward to the next phase of this exciting 2-year European project.
Got some good ideas?
Want to be more involved in Fundraising?
SAMS PTA needs you!
Every class needs a class rep to act as a point of contact for parents wanting to pass information or ideas back to the PTA and to communicate forthcoming PTA events to parents in their class. It won’t take up much of your time and is a great opportunity to make a difference and become more involved in decision making. We are currently asking interested parents to put their names forward to their child’s class teacher. Thank you
Early Years News
Nursery children are learning about the colours of the rainbow in English and Welsh. We are also learning a Welsh song about the colours of the rainbow. We are still hard at work practising our numbers up to 5 and our new sound ‘m’ for marvellous.
Reception children have been looking at the book ‘The Rainbow Fish’, and we've been thinking about all the different friends we have. We have also been making friendship bracelets to show how much we care! We are currently learning two new words - transparent and opaque. Please bring book bags and reading record books back to school.
High Frequency words this week are
got up mum
Tag Rugby
On Friday 10th February Mr Mottram will be taking the Y5/6 rugby squad to St Davids, Colwinston for the afternoon. Selected players' parents are kindly asked to help with transport if they can. 12:15 departure from the school gate.
Forthcoming Events
9th Feb PTA Valentine Disco
13-17 Feb Half Term
20th Feb INSET CLOSURE DAY
1st Mar St David’s Day
8th Mar World Book Day
12th Mar Open Day
20th Mar Parents Evening
21st Mar Parents Evening
5th Apr Last Day of Term |
posted 26 Jan 2012 06:29 by J Green
[
updated 26 Jan 2012 06:37
]
Healthy Lunchboxes - no sweetsWe have noticed recently that a number of children have sweets or chocolate in their lunchboxes. Please make your child's lunchbox as healthy as possible - plenty of fruit/raw vegetables and reduce the inclusion of crisps to once or twice a week. Sweets or chocolate bars are not permitted.
Whole School Talk TopicThe whole school talk topic of the week is "Two good things about our school are ....". Enjoy your discussions!
Education SundayWe warmly invite you all to join us this Sunday 29th January at St Peter's Church, Dinas Powys at 10.30am. All the classes have been preparing for this service, including dance, singing, readings, drama and prayers. Please invite your family and friends.
Refreshments will be served after the service. Please join us.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS27th Jan Fruity Friday! 29th Jan Education Sunday 9th Feb PTA Valentine Disco 13 - 17 Feb Half Term 20th Feb INSET Closure Day 1st Mar St David's Day 8th Mar World Book Day 12 Mar Open Morning 20 & 21 Mar Parents Evening 5th Apr Last day of Spring Term 23rd Apr Summer Term begins | Change of Menu Please note that the curry due to be served for next Thursday's dinner is unavailable due to problems with the supplier. Mrs Rego will serve Chicken pesto with pasta instead.
New Books in the LibraryWe have taken delivery of an exciting range of new reading material in the library up to and including the yellow level. Just a reminder that you are all welcome to come with your child and change books at 8.30am every morning and between 3.30pm and 4pm every afternoon.
Curriculum NewsThis term's curriculum news will be available on the class pages by Friday 27th January. Have a look at what your child will be studying this term. If you would like a printed copy of Curriculum News please as in the school office.
Early Year NewsNursery -We have been learning all about farm animals and their babies, very interesting! We have also been talking in We have also been talking in Welsh, particularly asking "sut wyt ti?" and "pwy wyt ti?" Perhaps you could ask!
Reception - Another lovely week! We have carried out experiments to see what floats and what sinks! We have made our own lava lamps. We will be practising taking 1 away - oooh! Don't forget you can change your child's book in the library whenever you wish and keep practising the high frequency words. This weeks are him his not
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posted 19 Jan 2012 05:13 by J Green
Parking drop off zone
This week we have
been monitoring cars entering and leaving the drop-off zone in the bus lay by. This
lane is not for parking or waiting in your vehicle – it is only for dropping
off in the mornings & picking up at the end of the school day. School staff
and governors have been very concerned at the traffic congestion and have had
to move cars on to keep the road clear. Please observe this to keep all
children safe!
We are currently
consulting with the police and the Vale Road Safety personnel to make this zone
safer and will keep you informed. I
would also like to reassure you that we are also continuing to work with the site
foreman of the new housing development to keep the gravel area as clear as is
possible in the mornings and afternoons at critical times. Please can parents also refrain from parking on the grass opposite the staff entrance to the school - we have received complaints from the Community Council and local residents that the bulbs and planting in this area be being damaged by inconsiderate parking. Education
Sunday 29th January – please come along!
We warmly invite
you and all your family to join us for a special service at St Peter’s Church
at 10.30 am on Sunday 29th January to celebrate Education Sunday.
The school choir will be singing two special songs and the service will include
children taking part in drama, dance, prayers and much more!
Please put this
date in your diary. Fruity
Friday
Please send in 30p with your child
this Friday.
This week the children have a choice
of:
* apples
* oranges
* grapes or
* cucumber
If
you order fruit please make sure that you bring 30p tomorrow!
FORTHCOMING EVENTS29th Jan Education Sunday 9th Feb PTA Valentine Disco 13 - 17 Feb Half Term 20th Feb INSET Closure Day 1st Mar St David's Day 8th Mar World Book Day 12 Mar Open Morning 20 & 21 Mar Parents Evening 5th Apr Last day of Spring Term 23rd Apr Summer Term begins
New Improved WebsiteWe have been making some changes to our website in order to make information more accessible. Please have a look at www.standrewsweb.com and let us have your comments. Our thanks to Mr Andy James for his tireless work on our website and staff training! | Lateness
Punctuality is a
life skill that is encouraged at St Andrews. The school
closely monitors attendance and we are concerned about children who regularly
arrive at school after 8.50 am. We expect the children
to leave the playground promptly at 8.50am every morning with their teacher and
registers are taken within a few minutes of entering their classroom. At 9 o’clock every morning worship or teaching
begins.
A child is marked late if they arrive at
school after registration closes and their absence is marked as unauthorised if
they arrive after 9.15 am. In St Andrews we want all pupils to develop a routine of
punctuality. We are asking for
your full support in making sure that your child is in the school playground
between 8.40 and 8.50 am every day. Thank you.
ECO
committee thank you for your support
I am very
grateful to Mrs Angela Green and Mrs Borges (Eleri and Cerys’ grandmother) for
joining ECO committee. This week we met to plan exciting activities for ECO
recycling week in March and to put into action many of the children’s ideas.
Look out for further news!
After-school clubs
We apologise that the following
clubs were omitted from the clubs list circulated last week:
Judo Club (Y2 to Y6) every Tuesday
(all term), run by Dave Spetti - PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO JUDO NEXT TUESDAY 24TH JANUARY.
JAFFA (Jesus is Friend For
All) (Y3 to Y6) every Wednesday (all term), run by
Matt Lewis Please note that Folk Dancing will not be run for the foreseeable future.
Receiving SAMS Electronically Thank you to everyone who has signed up to receiving their SAMS news via email. We were able to print 140 fewer copies last week and this week hope to print only 100! This is a massive saving not only to the environment but also to our budget! Early Years NewsNursery - This week we have been very creative and have made colourful numbers to 10 and been sewing with wool. We have also been learning how to do "carding". Reception: What a busy week! We have developed our under the sea role play area and have enjoyed making lots of sea creatures and thinking about with one is our favourite! In order to further develop our topic we would be grateful for donations of the following" Small plastic bottles Snorkels, flippers and goggles Any unusual sea things that you may have at home eg starfish! This week's high frequency words are and get big |
posted 12 Jan 2012 03:23 by J Green
Weekly Talk Topic - 16th to 20th JanuaryIn order to further raise standards in oracy, each week we are informing you all about a whole school discussion topic that will take place in every class and around the school. This week please talk to your child over the weekend about THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!
Education Sunday - Change of DateYou and your family are warmly invited to join the whole school on Sunday 29th January (not 5th February at St Peter's Church at 10.30am.
After School and Lunchtime ClubsClubs will begin this term next Monday 16th January. A full list of clubs available this term are available and will either be sent out via Parentmail or with SAMS news.
Forthcoming Events29th Jan Education Sunday 9th Feb PTA Valentine Disco 13 - 17 Feb Half Term 20th Feb INSET closure day 1st Mar St David's Day 8th Mar World Book Day 12th Mar Open Morning 20 & 21 Mar Parents Evening 5th Apr Last Day of Spring Term 23rd Apr Summer Term begins
| Christmas Card RecyclingThank you to all the families who have sent in Christmas cards so far this term. Please remember to send them in a bag with a label on the outside giving the number of cards and your child's name. Thank you.
A New Baby for Mrs DayWe are delighted to announce the safe arrival of a beautiful baby boy, Evan, born last Sunday morning. Mother and baby are doing well. Congratulation to Mrs Day, her husbank and two daughters.
Fruity FridayPlease send in 30p with your child tomorrow. This week the children have a choice of apples, oranges, grapes or cucumber.
Early Years NewsNursery: We are enjoying our new topic about "farms". We have created a farm shop in the classroom and have made salt dough food to sell. We have also been learning about where wool comes from and eggs! We are having a very busy time!!
Reception: What a lovely week! We have all been thing about our school's value "Responsibility". The children are now responsible for certain areas of the classroom, especially at tidy up time! Our topic "Through the Keyhole" is well under way and we've been thinking about where we live and writing our addresses. Please can all PE kits be brought in and can all book bags with library book and reading record books be brought in every day.
High Frequency Words this week:
dad had back
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posted 5 Jan 2012 07:26 by A James
[
updated 5 Jan 2012 07:32
]
Our value focus this half term is: Responsibility As part of our ‘Values Education’ each half term, over a three-year rolling programme, our school is focussing on a particular value. Through whole school collective worship, activities in each class in PSE and Religious Education and in all aspects of learning and the life of the school, the children will explore what it means to be responsible. Please talk to your children about this. Thank you. Competition! Thank you for the many suggestions given to me at the end of last term for a new name for the new development of housing near the school, currently called St Andrews Grange. I have submitted these to the site manager and we will inform you of the result as soon as this is announced. Mrs Jordan Extra Curricular Activities Apart from Judo club next Tuesday 10th January and Sherman Dance club for Y5 & Y6 on Friday 13th January, all other clubs will begin this term on Monday 16th January. A full list of clubs available this term will be sent home with your child next week Wanted: parent representative on ECO committee The ECO committee meets once a half term at lunchtime to action ECO activities in working towards gaining our first Green Flag. There are representatives from Y2 to Y6 and like all our pupil councils, the children are very enthusiastic and take increasing responsibility for our school becoming environmentally friendly in every way. If you are interested in joining the Committee, please see Mrs Jordan or Mrs Green. Thank you. Home/School Communication Thank you to all parents who have returned the Parentmail Data Capture forms. Some of you have received the activation email from Parentmail and others will receive this over the next couple of days. Please note that you do not have to sign up for text messages at a charge. The school will send texts for urgent messages only and will of course bear the cost for those text messages. If you have any queries please see Mrs Green. PunctualityMay we remind parents that school starts are 8.50am. Too many children are arriving late every day which causes delays in preparing for the day’s learning. Lateness also causes anxiety in some children.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS5th Feb Education Sunday Service 13-17 Feb Half Term 20th Feb INSET Closure day 5th April Last day of the Spring Term | Parking and Safety! Parents have expressed concern about parking on the zigzag lines to drop off children in the mornings. We are very concerned that drivers will not see children running into school between the vehicles. Please park on the gravel area opposite the school or further up the road towards the tennis club and bowling club. We also ask parents to use the school’s main entrance and not to walk through the staff car park to bring children into school in the mornings or to collect them at the end of the day. Thank you. ‘Fruity Friday’We are beginning ‘Fruity Friday’ again this week so please send in 30p with your child this Friday. The children have a choice of: * apples * oranges * grapes or * cucumber Early Years NewsNursery: Happy New Year! All the children have settled well back into School life. We have been busy already making crowns for Epiphany, recapping our sounds and numbers and singing some of our favourite songs. Reception: All settled back well! We learnt about the Three Kings journey to Bethlehem and made our own journey to Church to see Rector and the Kings in the Nativity display (with our own crowns, of course!) Amelie brought in some lovely Epiphany bread to help us celebrate. Please can you send in PE kits promptly. Also please recap the high frequency words that we have done so far – new ones will be given next week! a an
as
if
in
is
it of off on Christmas Card recycling We will taking part in the Vale of Glamorgan’s Christmas Card recycling competition again this year so please send in your Christmas cards with your child’s name and the number of cards. Dinners Dinner Money for the half term is £55.10. Menus are available on the school website or from the school office. Please remember that dinner money needs to be paid on Monday morning for the week ahead. Don’t forget that payments can also be made online via the Vale of Glamorgan website. Mrs Rego has informed us that the Turkey and Veg Pasta bake in creamy sauce has now been replaced with Chicken, veg, pasta and gravy. School Calendars We still have a small number of School calendars available at a price of £5.00 from the School office. Additional Inset Days According to Welsh Assembly guidelines the school has up to three more inset days to take this academic year. Monday 20th February will be a school closure day. The remaining two inset days will only be taken if the school does not have to close for bad weather. These have been provisionally booked for Friday 1st June and Monday 11th June. We will keep you informed should these dates be changed. |
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