My personal thanks, at the end of a very busy year,  to all the pupils and families who have supported the school wholeheartedly this year;  to the PTA (Friends of St. Andrew’s) for organising events throughout the year to raise funds, as well as the opportunity to socialise;  to all the staff with their many different skills and talents, who always give their very best;  to the Governors of St. Andrew’s who willingly find the time to support and lead the school.  Everybody’s contribution has allowed our school to grow in popularity within our community and beyond and enabled it to go from ‘strength to strength’.  I think we should all be very proud!

My best wishes for a safe and enjoyable summer break and I look forward to our return on Thursday, 2^nd September, when the autumn term for the children will begin.

                                                           Maria Trappitt

• Work on the new Pre School building begins on Monday, 26^th July and will continue throughout the holiday and into the autumn term.  We hope to see Acorns Pre-School in their new building on or before the end of the autumn half term (middle to late October).
• Butler Class will be repainted in the holidays

We are applying for planning permission to remove the old outside toilet block at the front of the school for more car parking space and hope to erect an outdoor canopy outside Butler Class for ‘free flow’ inside and outside use.  This work should take place later on in the year.

Year 6 finished today with a lovely Leavers Service in St. Andrew’s Church.  All of our children this year will feed into Hedingham School in September.  Our very best wishes go with them for a very successful and enjoyable secondary school career. We will miss them all!

What an amazing show!!!  Congratulations to all our children for their enthusiasm and commitment to the show which, according to many visitors, was the best ever.  A special thank you to the drama club, who on all 3 presentations were ‘word perfect’ and ‘did everybody proud’.  Not to forget a well done and thank you to Mr Hart!  Thank you too for your contributions of money, at the end of the show, which goes back into future performances for ‘props’, lighting etc. 

'Maidens'

On Friday, the non-pupil day, all staff were involved with moving to their new class bases in readiness for meeting their new pupils for September.   Clearing out classrooms of old, unwanted resources and re-organising the classbases kept us very busy for the day.  Children across the school will be spending the morning getting to know their new class teacher and their new class base, for September on Tues 20^th July.

Year 6 will be presenting their leavers service to the school, parents and community at St Andrew’s Church (with Rector Keith Holloway)  on Thursday 22^nd July at 11.00am.

We hope they have an enjoyable day!

 Butler will being visiting the Brightlingsea to support their learning around their Summer topic of ‘Seasides’.

We wish them a sunny and a happy day!!

Gardening Club will have to be cancelled on Tuesday, the last week, due to the Hawaiin Disco.  Throughout the day Mrs Bowden and Ms Trappitt will pick any vegetables that need to be taken home and they will be given to the gardening club children.  Thank you!

Due to some year 6 leavers there are places now available, to start in the Autumn term, for guitar, piano or violin.

Please let the office know if you are interested.   There is a charge for this provision!

Tickets will be £2 (available from the School Office) and include refreshments.  Mrs. Lowe will be organising the request slips for Year 6, so they can choose some of their favourite songs – as its their leaving party as well!  We have disco lights and decorations to go with the theme.  We hope you can make this final disco of the year!!!

 Wednesday, 14^th July and Thursday, 15^th July at 7.00pm

Matinee performance:  Wednesday, 14^th July at 1.30pm

Tickets are now available from the School Office

All pupils should attend every show.  Drama Group should arrive from 5.45pm for the evening performances and the rest of the cast promptly at 6.30pm.  Thank you.

First day of Autumn Term                  Thursday, 2^nd September

Non pupil day                                      Friday, 22^nd October

Half Term                                            25^th-29^th October

End of Autumn Term                          Friday, 17^th December

First day of Spring Term                     Wednesday, 5^th January 2011

Half Term                                            21^st-25^th February

Easter break                                       11^th April – 25^th April

First day of Summer Term                 Tuesday, 26^th April

Bank Holiday                                      Monday, 2^nd May

Half Term                                            30^th May-3^rd June

Non pupil day                                      6^th June

Non pupil day                                      15^th July

Last day of term                                  Friday, 22^nd July

Do you remember that last year we offered ‘Family Mathematics’ which was attended by parents and held at St. Andrew’s?  In September we have been offered ‘Family Literacy’ sessions.  Today we have sent home ‘Family Literacy’ flyers from Essex County Council for more information.  There is free child care for the sessions and if you have a child at school, they will join you for part of each session.  The sessions are ‘fun’, interactive and a chance to learn more about how your child is taught literacy as well as gaining a qualification for yourself.  If you are interested, please complete and return the form on the flyer before the end of term so we can book the session for September.  If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

WEDNESDAY, 14th JULY & THURSDAY, 15th JULY at 7.00pm.

Matinee Performance: WEDNESDAY,14th JULY at 1.30pm.

Tickets will be available from the school office from Wednesday, 7th July, with limited numbers for each performance.

We are very pleased to report that St Andrew’s came joint third at the District Sports which took place at Hedingham School on Thursday, 1st July.  Many individuals receved 1st, 2nd & 3rd places in a range of activities.  Well done to all the children that took part and a special thank you to Mrs Bowden for loaning us a ‘pop-up’ gazebo, which keep the children shaded, on a very hot day.

• There will be swimming after school on Mondays until the end of term
• Gardening Club will take place on Tuesdays as normal until the end of term.
• The last football session will be Thursday, 8th July.
• The last Drama club will be Friday, 9th July.
• The last Young Yeldham Explorers will be Thursday, 8th July
• All other clubs have finished for the Summer term.

As usual children are expected to attend the parents evenings and be part of the discussions about their progress and achievements for this year and their next steps on the learning journey.

As you are aware Mrs Gallagher will be retiring at the end of the Autumn Term 2010 and therefore we have taken the opportunity to re-organise classbases and teachers across the school from September.  Parents will be informed of their child’s new classbase and teacher at the parent’s evenings on the 6th & 7th July.

On the 20^th July, in the morning, all pupils will meet with their new classteacher in their new classbase for September.

Sadly, somebody has decided to ‘help themselves’ to one of our monkeys and 3 cushions (which were designed and made by Butler Class), from the African Hut.  They seem to have been taken on Friday last week.  This theft is a great disappointment to the children, who have been taking the greatest of care looking after these items and are missing their use.

If you happen to discover these items anywhere, i.e. in somebody’s home or garden would you please remind them that they belong to the school and we would like them returned asap, please, or let the school know.  Thank you for your co-operation and vigilance in this matter!