Newsletter: 19.12.14
Dear Parents and Carers
Christmas is finally upon us and the children and staff are filled with festive cheer and excitement! I would like to thank everybody for attending our school nativa… plays and sharing the children’s achievements with us. I am sure that you will agree that the standard of singing and acting in both the Infant and Junior productions was incredibly high. My thanks go to the children and staff for all of their incredible endeavours in ensuring that the standard of our plays was so high.
I would like to take this opportunity in thanking the Friends of Tithe Barn and Laurel Lane for our festive event on Monday. It was very well received and enjoyed by everyone who attended and I know that a great deal of work had been put into organising the event and all of the fabulous functions this term; Santa was exhausted too! Laurel Lane subsequently went on to carol sing around the Heatons and raised a fantastic £205 for Khensani, our link school in South Africa.
I would like to wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and thank you for your incredible support this term
Yours sincerely
Mr MJ Shaw
Headteacher
Staffing Changes
Today we say a sad goodbye to Mr Craven who is taking up a new position at Ashdene Primary School in Wilmslow. Mike has worked at Tithe Barn for just over three years and has made an enormous contribution to the life of the school particularly in the extra-curricular life of the school and music and his support in Years 2, 3 and 4 has been hugely appreciated by the teachers and children alike. We wish Mike the very best for starting at his new school.
This week we interviewed for a replacement for Mr Craven. The standard of the applications was extremely high and we were very impressed by the interviewees who taught some of our children in Year 4, met with the school council and were interviewed by the panel. In January, we will welcome Miss Natasha Daniels back to the school to work predominantly with Year 3 and 4. Some of you may remember that Miss Daniels supported Year 2 for a term last year.
Building Work in Reception Outdoor Classroom
If you have been dropping off and picking your children up from school in daylight hours, you will have seen the work progressing at the front of school. The work on the play equipment will be completed today and the path has also been finished. All the builders have left to do is to put in a new gate by the front entrance and then the path will be ready to use for accessing the school office and entrance.
Play DVDs
Many of you have ordered DVDs of the school nativities but unfortunately we have been unable to secure permission for all of the children who are featured on them. This will mean that we will be unable to sell them and any orders will be reimbursed. We apologise for this as it will be incredibly disappointing for anyone who was expecting a copy or two.
The Heatons’ Trio
This term, the three schools of Tithe Barn, Norris Bank and Mersey Vale have been looking at boys’ writing in the three schools and this week, the maths leaders in each school met to share ideas and discuss progress with the implementation of the new curriculum. Mr Donaldson reported that it was a very useful meeting and that the three leaders had enjoyed the opportunity to support each other. In the new year, the schools will be having writing training on 9th January.
Toast and Dinner Money
Toast money for the Juniors will be due at the beginning of term and will be £5.80. Mrs Jones will be sending out a text to let you know the cost of school dinners for the term.
Parking
Please could we remind parents that the school car park is not to be used as it is incredibly full and we have had a number of people stuck in the car park and requiring assistance to reverse their cars out.
Admissions Consultation for September 2016
The Local Authority published its annual Consultation on Admission Arrangements, in this case to take effect in September 2016. The documents can be accessed on the Council website www.stockport.gov.uk by inserting ‘Admissions Consultation’ in the Search box. Paper copies can be available on request if you do not have internet access.
It is of particular interest this year because, consequent on the determination from the Office of the School’s Adjudicator in November 2013 and the opening of the additional Key Stage 2 provision for St. Thomas’s at Peel Moat, it proposes to reduce the size of the Tithe Barn and Norris Bank catchment areas. It also proposes to add an additional admissions category for a temporary period for younger siblings of current pupils who live in the area affected by the proposed change.
The closing date for responses to the Consultation is 8 February 2015 and any final decision will be taken by April 2015. It is a public consultation, and individual parents and others can respond to the Local Authority.
The Governing Body will also be considering the likely impact on the School, and responding to the Local Authority in the new year. In order to help inform that response it would be helpful if any parental responses to the Local Authority could be copied to the Chair of Governors (mikefitzjohn@aol.com). Mike will also do his best to answer any questions.
In passing, I would remind parents/carers intending to apply for the admission of a child to Reception in September 2015 that the closing date for such applications is 15 January 2015. All relevant details are on the Local Authority website.
Key Dates for your Diary
Monday 5th January Term starts for Children
Friday 9th January In-Service Day – school closed
Monday 12th January Visit from Stockport Mayor
Wednesday 14th January Happy Puzzle Maths Workshops
Thursday 15th January Deadline for Primary School Applications for September 2015.
Recent Comments