9 Jan 2008 - Newsletter 09/01/08

Dartmouth Primary School and Nursery

 

Milton Lane , Dartmouth

, Devon . TQ6 9HW

 

  

Headteacher:  Mr. Rik Meek

 

 

            Phone:   01803 833521      Fax: 01803 835163

 

E-mail:      admin@dartmouth-pri.devon.sch.uk

 

09/01/08

 

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Dear Parents,

 

 

Welcome back, and a happy new year to you all.

 

 

Lollipop Ladies

 

  

You may be aware that at the moment there is not a lollipop lady on either of the crossings on the way to and from school. Please encourage your children to take extra care and, if anybody is interested in filling the post, please contact the school.

 

 

RNLI

 

  

We have formed a good relationship with the new Dart lifeboat station. In a couple of weeks, all children will have the opportunity to visit the lifeboat in its station, to take part in lifeboat themed activities, and to help raise money for the RNLI. Further details will follow soon.

 

 

 Fun Maths course

 

  

You may remember that, at the end of last term, I sent out information about a course for parents who wanted to know more about how maths is taught in school, and how they could help their children. The course is free and due to start at the end of January, in school, on Friday afternoons. Free childcare will also be available. Unfortunately we do not yet have enough people to allow the course to run. If you would like to join up for this opportunity, or to find out more, please speak to Liz Young or myself as soon as possible.

 

 

Attendance

 

  

As a school, we are concerned that our attendance figures are consistently less good than similar schools. Clearly, if children are not in school, then they are missing out on valuable learning experiences. This is particularly so for our youngest children, in the Nursery. However, if children are really not well enough to be in school, then obviously they  shouldn’t be here.

 

 

Could I please encourage you to let school know if your child is not able to attend school, on the first day that they are absent. You can do this in writing or verbally, but we do, legally, require a written explanation for any absence from the main school, so a follow up-letter will be needed if you phone. Could I also remind you that registration starts at 9.00am and children will be marked as late if they arrive after that time.

 

 

PTO

 

 

We have agreed to do a number of things to promote good attendance and punctuality in Dartmouth Primary School and Nursery.

 

 

• Each term we will give certificates to all children with attendance of 98% or above,

   

• Each week, the class with the best attendance will be celebrated in Friday’s assembly,

   

• We will let you know your child’s attendance three times a year, through parents’ evenings, reports or letters,

   

• Liz Young, our family support worker, will contact the parents of any child with an unexplained absence, on the first day a child is not at school,

   

• I will continue to authorise up to 10 days holiday absence during term time, for children with satisfactory attendance – authorisation needs to be requested in advance,

   

• We will contact the parents of any child who is persistently late arriving at school.

   

 

I am sure you understand how important this is, and will be able to support us in improving attendance at school. Thank-you.

 

 

Best wishes,

 

 

 

 

 

Rik Meek