Dear Parents,

Community Travel Plan

We would like to thank all those who attended the traffic meeting on Tuesday evening from both schools.  There were also representatives there from local councils and the police.

 Many issues were raised and from the discussion, a community travel plan will be drawn up, which will include a number of ways to try to make our schools safer for pedestrians. 

 The next step is to call another meeting to discuss the community plan with police, highways and road safety officers from the local authority.

 Enforcement

This was a popular solution and the police have asked parents to inform them of the registration numbers of the cars belonging to people who persistently park on the zigzags.  The zigzags are “no parking areas” they are designed to keep the area safe for children. The near misses in recent weeks have been caused by people who park on the zigzags and then reverse before pulling away. I have seen that happen this morning from my office window.

 If you do park on the zigzags you need to be aware that the tide of public opinion is turning against you and your registration number will be given to the police. A letter from the police will follow soon supporting and explaining this action.

 Road Layout.

A number of options are being considered and will be discussed at the next meeting with the authorities who would need to approve them.

 Life Style Changes

A number of solutions are being discussed, such as supervised drop off, supervised walking from car parks, car share arrangements, improving safe walking routes to school. We will send a questionnaire to parents to gauge your support for these before we try them.

 Finally ….The D

When we closed the D on the snowy days we all realised that this made the front of the school safer for pedestrians. There is limited parking on the D and it is illegal to park on the zigzags – please do not do it.

Yours sincerely,

 Lynn Bartlett

Liz Andrews

Dear Parents and Carers,

What an eventful start to the year with the bad weather and unfortunate school closures.  Thankfully, our school blog site has proved to be an invaluable means of communication.  We really appreciate your patience and support. Please take time to read the separate traffic letter which contains very important information.

 Ski Trip

We had a fantastic time at Le Corbier and thankfully have all come back in one piece!  It was an invaluable experience for all of us, and one which we hope to repeat.  The pupils were congratulated by Easy Jet staff and passengers for their excellent behaviour and attitude on the plane, and also their patience during our airport delay.  Well done to all our skiers for helping to make this such fantastic trip.

 Can you help?

The Rector has asked once again if there is someone who would be willing to take on the role of Clerk to the Governors.  This involves taking minutes at our half termly meetings and the governors’ annual meeting for parents. We urgently need someone to take over from our current clerk who wishes to retire.   There is a small annual payment to help towards personal costs and time given.  If you are interested and want to find out more please contact me for further information.

 Bag2 School

 Once again we are asking you to support our Bag2 School fundraising scheme by recycling unwanted clothes, bedding, curtains, shoes, soft toys, belts and handbags The collection day is Tuesday 26^th January at 9:00 a.m. so you can bring your bags in on Monday.

Family lunch invitation

After half term we will be inviting parents, grandparents, etc to join us for a roast dinner / vegetarian alternative and pudding.  We will send out invitations with a menu and a Wednesday date for your year group. We hope you will join us, and your children, for a delicious meal.  We have had very favourable feedback from family members who have joined us in the past.

Fairtrade

The children are joining schools across Wales to make the ‘World’s Biggest Fairtrade Table Cloth’.  We have been asked to design a section of the cloth to demonstrate our awareness of Fairtrade.  Mrs. J. Williams has put a design sheet together for everyone who wants to enter the competition.

Lunch time and after school clubs will recommence on Monday 25^th January.

(Please remember that gardening club will start again after February half term).

Please see overleaf for this term’s dates and events.

Dear Parents/Carers,

Thank you so much for your support at our Christmas Fair which raised £1,185.  The children had a lovely week making items to sell.  A big thank you to all parents (and grandparents) that helped organise the raffle, prizes and refreshments and set up and run the stalls. A very big thank you to the Cooperative who very kindly donated the first raffle prize and also all the hotdogs, batches etc for the refreshment stall. 

We are putting the money towards the developments of the Wildlife area and saving for our ICT suite.

The top 3 raffle prizes were won by:-

£75 Cooperative Travel Voucher-Sophie Sims.

Family ticket to Chester Zoo-S.L. Collins

2 course meal for 2 at the Hawarden Brasserie-Dominic Hunt.

School Choir

We were so proud of our choir at the William Aston Hall, Wrexham, this week when they performed their track from the Nightingale House Charity CD.  Their performance was excellent.  We were also very pleased to be told that Rector Drew were the most well behaved and polite children that had ever been to the Glyndwr recording studio.

MOBILE PHONE REMINDER

If your child walks to or from school without an adult and needs to bring a mobile phone in for security reasons it MUST be given to the class teacher at the start of the day.  We do not allow pupils to use their phones during the day, or keep them in their bags.

 Christingle

The Rector thanked the Year 5 pupils for making the Christingles for the service and praised the children for their wonderful singing.

 Christmas Information Letter

Earlier this week we sent out a letter with details of next week‘s events, times and arrangements.  If you have not had a copy of this letter please ask your child to bring one home or see our school blogsite (www.rectordrew.net) on the office page.

 Dates for your diary

Monday 14^th December-Carol Service Rehearsal in Church (Coats needed).  All musicians to bring their instruments.

Wednesday 16^th December-Whole school trip to Pantomime (See previous letter for more details)

Thursday 17^th December-Carol Service at 1.30pm and 6pm in St. Deiniol’s Church.  All musical instruments needed for both performances.

Friday 18^th December-School Closes

Monday 4^th January-TRAINING DAY

Tuesday 5^th January-School opens

 Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

Carol Services and Practices:

We will be practising in church on the following days so please ensure that the children have a suitable coat for the walk to church and back.

Friday 11^th December              9.30 a.m.  Seating Rehearsal

 Monday 15^th December            Whole School practice during the afternoon. Pupils will be back in time for the end of the school day.

Thursday 17^th December

Carol Services to be held at 1.30pm and 6pm. Pupils will walk back to school following the afternoon Carol Service.

Since the evening service is always full to capacity, we recommend that where possible, family members attend the afternoon service.  Only 2 seats are available per family for the evening Carol Service.  Year 3 and 6, the school choir, readers and any instrumentalists meet in church.  Year 4 and 5 meet at the Tithe Barn ready to process into church.  All pupils should arrive by 5.45 p.m.  Pupils, who need to assemble at the Tithe Barn, can be met by parents there after the service.

Musicians will need their instruments and music for the rehearsal on Monday 14^th, Tuesday 15^th and Wednesday 16^th for practices in school and on Thursday for the Carol Services.

 At the end of each service there will be a collection plate at the back of the Church.

 Pantomime

The children are allowed to take 1 small packet of sweets to the Pantomime and a small plastic bottle of water with a sportscap.

Please note the following arrangements for the collection of children following our whole school trip to the Pantomime on Wednesday 16^th December.  We are asking ALL parents to collect their children at 5.00pm from their classroom. Please make sure that when you collect your child you sign the register in the classroom, so that we know each child has been collected.. The buses need the ‘D’ to be kept traffic free and for Cross Tree Lane to be as clear as possible so the buses can drop off the children safely.   The children will then be escorted back into school before parents arrive.  We have informed the police that we will be late back and that we have requested parents not to start parking early to get a space. All outstanding payments and form B’s are now urgently required.

Dear Parents/Carers,

Thank you all for supporting the BBC Children in Need Appeal.  We raised £300 on the day with a further £88 to come from sponsorship activities.

Christmas Lunch Thursday 3^rd December

If your child would like a Christmas dinner and has not yet ordered, please make sure they see Mrs. T on Monday with their payment.

 D.T & Maths Week

Just a quick reminder that the children will need to wear their own clothes (old clothes nothing new or designer) next week as they will be engaged in practical activities every day.

 Christmas Fair Friday 4^th December 3.30-6pm

Thank you for the offers of help that have come in so far, we still need a few extra to help with stalls for part of the Fair.

 Carol Service-DATE CHANGE

Please note that the afternoon and evening Carol Services have been changed to Thursday 17^th December at 1.30pm and 6pm as the Rector is away for our original date and does not want to miss this special occasion. Please can ALL pupils attend both services even though they may usually have an evening commitment. Year 3 will be wearing costumes from different Countries (Y3 parents please see separate letter).

Dates for your Diary (Reminders)

No Uniform Day

Thursday 3^rd December.  Children to bring in items for the tombola as follows:

Y3/4 Chocolates

Y5/6 Bottles

 Christingle Service 10am Sunday 6^th December at St. Deiniol’s Church.  All are welcome to join us at this family service.  Our school choir will be singing.

 Community Tea: 2pm Wednesday 9^th December in the school hall.  A warm invitation is given for all senior residents and family members. Tea/Coffee and seasonal refreshments will be accompanied by our children singing.

 School Discos

Children may come to school in their own clothes on the specific day of their disco.

Y3/4 Disco-Tuesday 8^th December 1.30pm-3pm

Y5/6 Disco-Thursday 10^th December 1.30pm-3pm

 Whole School Pantomime Trip

Wednesday 16^th December. We will be leaving school at 12.00 and returning at approximately 4.45pm.

Further information will be sent out nearer the time.

 Dear Parents / Carers

Thank you so much to everyone who supported the MOCOCO jewellery party last Friday.  It was a lovely social event and the organiser was really pleased with everyone’s enthusiasm for the selection of jewellery.  We raised £175 from the entrance price, raffle and 10% donation of the takings. Thank you to Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Lockett and Mrs. Nield for their involvement in organising the event.

 Christmas Fair  Friday 4^th December

Just to remind you that the Fair will take place from 3.30 p.m. until 6 p.m.  Each class will be making items to sell at the fair and there will be various other stalls, including a cake stall and adults’ and children’s tombola.  Tea, coffee, juice, hot dogs, crisps and biscuits will be served in the hall.  Two books of raffle tickets will be sent home with each child early next week at 50p per ticket.  Please will you return any sold / unsold tickets and money to school as soon as possible and by Friday 4^th December at the latest?  As usual we will hold a non uniform the day before the Fair and ask for donations.  Please will year 3 and 4 bring in selection boxes or chocolate Xmas tree decorations and year 5 and 6 bottles of wine etc?  A covering letter will also be sent with the raffle tickets asking for helpers on the day and on the stalls at the fair. 

 School Photographs

All orders need to be returned by next Friday 20^th November.

 Shoe Box Collection

Our Samaritan’s Purse shoe boxes will be collected from school next Thursday 19^th November.  Thank you very much for your support so far.

 BBC Children in Need – Friday 20th November

This year the children have decided to wear their own clothes back to front (excluding shoes!!).  As an extra option children can wear Pudsey or ordinary bandanas in a creative way. There are some ideas on the BBC Children in Need website and each class has an ideas sheet. Once again, Mrs. Allen, our cook will be making Pudsey Bear cakes. Please will all pupils bring a donation of £1 or more which will include a Pudsey cake at break time?

 RDS School Choir

Our choir went to Glyndwr University sound studio today to record a track for a Christmas Charity CD. We are very excited about this and will send further details out about the release date, price and possible launch concert at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham, as soon as we have the details.

 Sporting events

We played chess against Sandycroft last week.  Our team played well but were just beaten.

The football and netball teams went to Queensferry CP yesterday.  Well done to the football team who won 4-0. Due to a slippy surface on the court, the netball was unfortunately cancelled.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you to the parents who attended our FORDS AGM this week.  We are looking forward to another productive year.  We have organised an informal get together for all interested parents, grandparents and friends of the school next Wednesday 30^th September at the Fox and Grapes.  We have booked the side room for 7.45 p.m. so please try to join us to put forward your ideas for family and social events this year.

Book Fair

Thanks to your fantastic support you helped us raise £1123.40 towards new books for our school.  A big thank you to Mrs. Carr and Mrs. Steele for all their help in manning the afternoon sessions.

 Harvest Service

Please remember that you are invited to join the whole school at St Deiniol’s Church on Monday 5^th October for our Harvest Service which starts at 2 p.m. Pupils usually bring harvest gifts of fruit, vegetables, tins and packets etc. which they will carry to church themselves and place near the altar. The gifts are sent to Poor Claire’s Sisters at Ty Mawr Ddu. Please also ensure pupils have a suitable coat for the walk to church in the event of inclement weather.  All pupils will return to school after the service. We also hope you will be able to join us at the parish Harvest Service at St. Deiniol’s on Sunday 4^th October at 10 a.m.

 Tesco Vouchers

Thank you for the excellent response to last year’s voucher scheme.  We have been able to purchase wildlife habitats for our developing pond area, various items of P.E. equipment for outdoor games, and P.E. mats for gymnastics.

 Reminders:-

Healthy Snacks / Drinks

As part of our continued commitment to Healthy Schools please send only healthy snacks such as fruit or raw vegetables etc. for break times. We try to follow the rule – it must come in a natural wrapper!  We only allow crisps, biscuits, cakes etc. if they are part of a packed lunch. We encourage pupils to bring water into the classroom in suitable sports bottles to keep hydrated throughout the day.  Juice is not suitable because of potential spills. Please do not send in frozen drinks as the condensation on the outside of the bottles drips onto the desk and children’s work

P.E. / sports kit

We do not allow pupils to phone home for forgotten kits as we try to keep phone bills to a minimum. We have made a few exceptions as it is the beginning of term.  By now all pupils should know which days their PE and sports clubs are held.  Please note that pupils must remove earrings for all sports activities or tape over them with micro pore tape.  This is recommended by Flintshire L.E.A. and endorsed by our school.  Only small studs are allowed.  Large studs and hoops are not safe for school.

Thank you for support with these matters as it makes our school routine much easier.

 Ski Trip

Please remember that all pupils need a current E111 medical card for the trip.  All outstanding balances must be paid by Monday 12^th October.

Our pupils were congratulated for their excellent participation and behaviour today by the cast of Image Theatre Productions following their performance of ‘The Jungle Book at school.  8 pupils participated in a workshop and joined in as cast members.  The whole school joined in with songs and actions.

 (Wake Up Shake Up dance club will commence in October with Mrs. D. Jones)

Friday 4th September 2009

Dear Parents and Carers,

May I wish you all a very warm welcome to the start of a new school year.  I hope you all had a good summer despite our British weather!  The children all returned looking refreshed and ready for the year ahead.  Welcome to all our new year 3 pupils and parents, and to the new families that have joined other year groups.For new parents who are not used to our newsletter system, you will receive a newsletter each fortnight on a Friday starting this week.  Additional newsletters are sent out occasionally for further information of events etc.  Newsletters can also be found on the Office page of our school Blogsite – rectordrew.net

DINNER LISTS

We will be sending out dinner lists every alternate Friday, as the 3 week County Rota is rather confusing.  Please ensure your child’s dinner list is sent in on time for Mrs. Taylor.  Envelopes should be clearly marked with the child’s name and class.  All cheques must be made payable to FLINTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL.  School meals are £1.80 per day.

SCHOOL BOOK FAIR

Once again we will be holding our school Book Fair – from Thursday 17^th September to Wednesday 23^rd September. We will be sending a separate letter out with more information. We would also be very grateful for help with the Book Fair during the afternoons if you can spare some time between 1.00 p.m. and 4 p.m. Please fill in the attached proforma if you are available.

COFFEE MORNING – Friday 18^th September at 10 a.m.

We are organising a coffee morning for parents and family members of year 3 pupils and our other new pupils across the school so that you can find out more about our school and have an opportunity to have an informal chat.  We will also share examples of our learning support programmes for maths and reading. Please complete the attached proforma so that I can organise the refreshments.

DEVELOPMENT OF OUR POND AREA

We have been working with Hawarden Infants and Sarah Jones, Pondscapes projects officer from NEWWildlife to redevelop the pond area. Work was done with Sarah and a willing team of volunteers to lay the pond liner and start to develop the planting area.  Our Eco committee will be working with Mrs. J. Williams to continue the development of the site.  Mrs. J Jones, Hawarden Infants will also be working on this exciting project between the two schools.  The gate to the enclosed area is kept locked for health and safety reasons.

Yours sincerely

E.P. Andrews

Head teacher

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Please return this slip to school by Friday 11^th September.

Pupil’s  name………………………………………………………….Class………………………

• I / we can attend / cannot attend the coffee morning.

•  I am able / unable to help at the school Book Fair.

Please state the afternoon and time available……………………………..

Signed……………………………………………………………………

governors-annual-report-for-2006-2007.doc

RECTOR DREW SCHOOL HAWARDEN

Re: Photographic and Video Images

Dear Parents,

In school we sometimes find it useful to take photographs or videos of children during various curricular activities.  We use these for display purposes in school and to help the children evaluate their own work.   We now have our “blog site” up and running and feel it would be nice to have photos of friendly faces, children working, special projects, match photos, sports day etc, on display on the site to further celebrate their achievements.  As we feel that internet safety is a priority we will endeavour to use only group photographs on our site in order that individual children cannot be recognised, and children in photographs will not be named.

We would like you to return the proforma below indicating if you agree to this or not, to your child’s class teacher by Monday 8^th October.

Yours sincerely

Mrs. E.P. Andrews

Headteacher

___________________________

PHOTOGRAPH & VIDEO CONSENT

Please sign one of the statements below to confirm whether you are happy for your child to be photographed / videoed for school use.

Child’s Name:……………………….  Class:…………

I agree to my child to being photographed or videoed for school use.

Signed:………………………………….Parent/Guardian

_______________________________________

Child’s Name:…………………………..  Class:…………

I do not agree to my child to being photographed or videoed for school use.

Signed:………………………………..  Parent/Guardian

If you would like to download a form in WORD format please click on the link below.

photo-and-video-consent.doc