Warden Park Primary

Sports Day – Friday 23rd June 2017 Our sports day this year will take place on Friday 23rd June - EY and KS1 will take place at 10.30am and KS2 at 1.30pm. Parents are welcome to bring a packed lunch and eat with their children at lunchtime. The PTA will be on hand to sell refreshments. This is always an excellent day for both children and parents and we do hope that many of you will be able to join us. The reserve date is Friday 30th June, should there be heavy rain on the 23rd. Summer Fair – Friday 23rd June 3-5pm This year’s summer fair will follow the sports day and will take place straight after school, between 3-5pm. The PTA will be organising a traditional summer fair with lots of fun games for the whole family, including a tug of war competition. More details will follow after half term. If you have any ideas for the fair, please contact a member of the PTA. The summer fair is our biggest fundraiser of the year – please help wherever you can. We hope that by having these events on the same day, this will make it easier for families and friends to attend and enjoy both. Sun Safety Please ensure as the weather warms up that the children bring a hat to school and that they are wearing the appropriate sun protection. We will ensure that the children have the appropriate access to drinking water and shade throughout the day. Staffing I am delighted to inform you that we have appointed Ms Angela Baxter as Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator from September 2017. As you will be aware, Shirley Gardner is retiring in July. Angela is an excellent teacher and is currently a SENCo at a primary school in West Sussex. There will be an opportunity for Ms Baxter and Mrs Gardner to work together during June and July to ensure an effective handover - this will include an opportunity for Ms Baxter to meet parents and children. Parent Class Representative We are hoping to develop the following initiative to strengthen communication and teamwork between the school and families. If you are interested in becoming a class representative, please complete the reply slip (sent home 26th May 2017) and return to school by Friday 16th June 2017. I will be in touch with all interested parties before the end of June. The Parent Representative serves a primary role in maintaining good communication between parents, while also being a valuable resource to the teacher and the class. The class reps also facilitate the social interaction among families in the school community. What is a Parent Representative? • The Parent Representative liaises with the parents in the class by keeping them informed of activities and events. • The Parent Representative is a “support resource” for times when the teacher may request resources or support. What specifically does a Parent Representative do for the parents? • The Parent Representative encourages the parents to volunteer when needed – either for activities and events when requested by the class teacher. • The Parent Representative passes on ideas/requests from the parents to the class teacher or teaching assistant. • The Parent Representative liaises with the school’s PTA and passes on information as appropriate. What specifically does a parent representative do for the teachers? • The Parent Representative, at the request of the teacher only, arranges assistance via the parent class body in a manner needed by the teacher. What specifically does a parent representative not do? • Class representatives are not to be used to help other parents express concerns about their own children. This should be done directly between the parents themselves and the teacher. Suggestions for ways to support the class and the teacher: (not always being actively involved but providing the link to other parents that may be able to help) • Communication with class parents • General ‘in class’ support as requested by the class teacher • Encouraging parents to support school and class events • Researching parents’ expertise - people with particular skills e.g. sewing, speaking a foreign language, interesting jobs… • Organising a working party for an outside area or ‘in class’ “tidy-up”