This Week’s News and Dates                        May 18th 2012

Whole School Information

KS2 Concert  Mrs Cooper will be holding a concert on May 30^th at 3pm; this is an opportunity for the children to show what they have been working on this term. More details next week. Three children will also be performing a trio that they have practiced at home.

New parents meeting  for parents of children joining us in reception in September. There will be a meeting with the teachers at 4pm on May 30^th.

Swimming Lessons will start on Monday 28^th May. Teachers will let you know which day each class is swimming, but if in doubt make sure your children always have their swimming kit with them. Swimming trunks for boys are much preferable to baggy shorts. All long hair will need to be tied back.SwimmingRota2012Enrolment2012

Class photographs  Braiswick photographers will be in school on 24^th May to take class photos.

Nicki  Shoesmith   will be back on Monday following her maternity leave. She will be working in classes 1, 2 and 3.

Year 6  Please note the new date for  the leavers’ party. This is because of a clash with cricket fixtures for several children.

Resuscitation  Please remember to attend one of the resuscitation sessions so that you can be included on the parents rota for after-school swimming. The alternative is paying an opt-out fee.

Jubilee Lunch  There will be a special lunch to celebrate the jubilee on Thursday 24 May 2012. Please return the attached form if your child/ren would like to order a lunch.Queen’s Jubilee Lunch

Wild Garden  Vicky Aldous has kindly volunteered to give the wild garden some TLC. I’m sure she could do with another volunteer to make the job a more sociable one.

Pre-School  If you are collecting pre-school children at lunchtime, please do not take your school children into the mobile with you. It makes it difficult for our lunchtime supervisors, and is very unsettling for the children as they often want to go home with you afterwards.

Half term Sports Camp  Alex Minei is running activities at half term. Please call in for a leaflet if you are interested.

PTA News

FINAL CALL for Swimming Club enrolment forms. If you want to be included on the supervisor rota, please make sure your form is in the PTA box by 4pm on Monday 21st May. Forms handed in after then will need to include the opt-out fee as part of the payment. Copy of enrolment form and rota attached.

Dates for your Diary

May 19                                   Working Party 1-5pm

May 21                                   Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

May 30                                   KS2 Concert 3pm

                                                New parents meeting

                                                Football v Meridian (a)

May 31                                   Kwik cricket heat

June 1                                    Jubilee street party (in the grounds)

June 4 – 8                              Half term

June 19                                  Y4 athletics festival

June 29                                  Sports day  9:15am

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 atWest Road7pm (Y5 please keep this evening free)

July 11                                    KS2 Play  5:30pm

July 12                                    KS2 Play 7pm

July 19                                    Y6 Leavers’ Party 6pm

July 20                                    Leavers’ Assembly/ Last day of term

This Week’s News and Dates                        May 11th 2012

Whole School Information

Class 2 Teacher  Last week we appointed a new teacher for Class 2 for September. She is called Deborah Clark and at present is teaching in an English school in Dubai. She will be back in England in July, so she will be visiting the school before the summer holidays. Farah McPhee, the new headteacher, was also involved in the interviews.

Year 6  Please note the new date for  the leavers’ party. This is because of a clash with cricket fixtures for several children.

Resuscitation  Please remember to attend one of the resuscitation sessions so that you can be included on the parents rota for after-school swimming. The alternative is paying an opt-out fee.

Jubilee Lunch  There will be a special lunch to celebrate the jubilee on Thursday 24 May 2012. Please return the attached form if your child/ren would like to order a lunch.Queen’s Jubilee Lunch

Church news  THIS SUNDAY (13^th May) at the church in Coton – a service of All Age Worship to celebrate the Ascension.  Don’t know what this is? …come along and find out!  11am – 12 noon; families welcome.  And bring a bell (optional!)

 Wild Garden  Vicky Aldous has kindly volunteered to give the wild garden some TLC. I’m sure she could do with another volunteer to make the job a more sociable one.

Pre-School  If you are collecting pre-school children at lunchtime, please do not take your school children into the mobile with you. It makes it difficult for our lunchtime supervisors, and is very unsettling for the children as they often want to go home with you afterwards.

Coton Brownies  First Coton Brownies are having a cake sale to raise money for Endangered Animals to tie in with their ‘Friends to Animals’ badge.  The sale will be held on Wednesday 16^th May, 6.00pm at Coton Village Hall.  We hope you will come along to support us.  Thank you.

PTA News

Swimming Club: Thanks to everyone who has already posted their enrolment forms into the PTA box. Please can all remaining forms be in by the end of the day on Monday 14th so that the supervisor rota can be drawn up. REMINDER: if you want to supervise at the club sessions or at private hire sessions, please attend one of the two resuscitation training courses at the school, either Tues 15th at 7pm or Mon 21st at 9am.

Dates for your Diary

May 14                                   Class 1 visit to Linton Zoo

May 14-18                             SATs week for Years 2 and 6 and assessments for other classes

                                                Please do not take your children out of school this week unless it is an emergency

May 15                                   Class 3 visit to Duxford

May 15                                   Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 19                                   Working Party 1-5pm

May 21                                   Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                              Half term

June 19                                  Y4 athletics festival

June 29                                  Sports day  9:15am

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 atWest Road7pm (Y5 please keep this evening free)

July 11                                    KS2 Play  5:30pm

July 12                                    KS2 Play 7pm

July 19                                    Y6 Leavers’ Party 6pm

July 20                                    Leavers’ Assembly/ Last day of term

Whole School Information

Working Party  We are planning a joint school/PTA working party on May 19^th at 1pm, to do a few jobs around the school. We have jobs to suit everyone, whatever your skills! If you are happy to help but can’t make 19^th May, most jobs could be tackled at other times. Just let us know when you are available. Example jobs are painting the wood around the swimming pool, trimming the willow and planting the trimmings, weeding the beech hedge, sticking up ceramic tiles in the sound garden.

Wild Garden  Vicky Aldous has kindly volunteered to give the wild garden some TLC. I’m sure she could do with another volunteer to make the job a more sociable one.

Year 5  There is a letter attached for Year 5 parents about the opera they will be taking part in later in the term.Network 11 – July 3 Opera Letter to Parent

Class 3 will be visiting Duxford on May 15th as part of their ‘Britain since 1930’ project. A letter will be sent out next week. Year 4 will be taking part in an athletics festival on June 19^th; again, letter to follow.

Class 1  They are desperate for spare clothes in Class 1, including underwear. Also Class 1 parents, will you ensure that your child has a change of clothes at school, especially in this wet weather.

Pre-School  If you are collecting pre-school children at lunchtime, please do not take your school children into the mobile with you. It makes it difficult for our lunchtime supervisors, and is very unsettling for the children as they often want to go home with you afterwards.

Community Events

Beetle Drive Coton Village Hall is another Beetle Drive on Sunday 5th May at 2:30 pm. Admission is £1 per adult and 50p per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult and refreshments will be available. If you have never played before, Beetle is played in pairs and the aim is to throw the dice and draw the beetle before your opposition. It promises to be an afternoon of fast hilarious fun entertainment for all the family with prizes!!!! Further information is available from Karen Easey on 01954 211095.

PTA News PTA News

Bookfair: Many thanks to those who helped with the Bookfair and to everyone who bought books. We took just over £425, so the school earned more than £200 in commission to spend on books. Please do let us have your feedback on the Bookfair – is it something that you value and would like to see again next year?

Swimming Club Forms: These have been sent home in Bookbags today. Please return completed enrolment forms and payment to the PTA box in the School Foyer by May 14th. Please adhere to this deadline as it allows time for the Supervisor Rota to be drawn up before sessions begin.

Dates for your Diary

May 7                                     May Bank Holiday

May 14-18                            SATs week for Years 2 and 6 and assessments for other classes

                                                Please do not take your children out of school this week unless it is an emergency

May 15                                  Class 3 visit to Duxford

May 15                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 19                                  Working Party 1-5pm

May 21                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                              Half term

June 19                                  Y4 athletics festival

June 29                                  Sports day  9:15am

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 atWest Road7pm (Y5 please keep this evening free)

July 11                                   KS2 Play  5:30pm

July 12                                   KS2 Play 7pm

July 16                                   Y6 Leavers’ Party 6pm

July 20                                   Leavers’ Assembly/ Last day of term

This Week’s News and Dates                     April 27th 2012

Whole School Information

I think this has been the wettest week in all my 24 years at Coton School! We do try to get the children outside if at all possible, so please make sure your child/ren have suitable footwear and clothing.

Hilltop  There are still a few second deposits outstanding. Please ask at the office if you are not sure whether you have paid or not.

Parent Governors  A letter has been sent out separately with details of the upcoming parent governor vacancies.

Favourites Week  There will be another favourites week in May for those of you who like to have school dinners occasionally. Please return the form sent out last week to the office by 1^st May.

Resources  Mrs Baker has a request for donations of the following materials for use in art lessons: old wrapping paper, newspaper, brown paper, wallpaper, fabrics, wool. Please take items straight to Mrs Baker in Class 3.

KS2 Play  I can confirm that the dates for the KS2 play are 11^th and 12^th July. As a change from the usual timings this year the Wednesday performance will be at 5:30 to fit with Mrs Cooper’s other commitments. Thursday’s performance will be at 7pm.

Cookery Club  Please let Mrs Spencer know if you are able to help this term.

Working Party  We are planning a joint school/PTA working party on May 19^th at 1pm, to do a few jobs around the school. We have jobs to suit everyone, whatever your skills! If you are happy to help but can’t make 19^th May, most jobs could be tackled at other times. Just let us know when you are available. Example jobs are painting the wood around the swimming pool, trimming the willow and planting the trimmings, weeding the beech hedge, sticking up ceramic tiles in the sound garden.

Wild Garden  We are also desperate for someone to ‘adopt’ the wild garden and take on the maintenance of it. We have had very dedicated parents in the past who have kept it in excellent condition, but it will quickly become very wild if it is not maintained.

Class 3  Despite the weather, Class 3 children had a very good time at Mepal and enjoyed all the activities.

Class 3 will be visiting Duxford on May 15th as part of their  ‘Britain since 1930’ project. A letter will be sent out next week. Year 4 will be taking part in an athletics festival on June 19^th; again, letter to follow.

Class 1  They are desperate for spare clothes in Class 1, including underwear. Also Class 1 parents, will you ensure that your child has a change of clothes at school, especially in this wet weather.

PTA News

Scholastic Bookfair: Books will be on sale in the School Hall today (Friday) from 3.30 – 4.00pm, and again on Monday and Tuesday, 3.30-4.00pm. It’s going to be a wet weekend so some new reading material might come in handy! Please come along and support the Fair – the school will be able to buy books for the Library using the commission earned.

Plant orders: Please pick up your plant orders after school on Tuesday 1st May. They will be left in named groups at the front of the school.

Swimming Club: Details of this year’s Swimming Club and enrolment forms will be sent home in bookbags next week. Fees remain unchanged from last year and represent fantastic value for the amount of pool access that membership of the club provides.

Home Club activities in May

We’re creating a rain forest on the wall this month, so there’s lots of cutting out and colouring of tropical flowers and animals, and creating and dressing people living in and exploring the forest. Other creative projects this month will be mask making, fridge magnet decorating, making windmills, necklace making and basket weaving. As always there will be lots of opportunities to play outside, cook and bake, and play on the wii. Some very groovy moves have been spotted in Home Club since the arrival of the wii dance game!

Home Club annual survey

Home Club’s annual survey is now accessible online: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/79KPV79
We’d love to hear what you like (and dislike) about the after school and breakfast club. Also, we’d love to know about any new activities or equipment you or your children would like to be available at Home Club. So, follow the link to the survey and let us know what you think. There are some quick tick boxes, if you just want to spend a minute giving Home Club a score. If you have a bit more time, there are various optional comment boxes. If you can, please also encourage your children to add their comments. Thanks very much in advance for helping to improve Home Club.

Dates for your Diary

May 7                                     May Bank Holiday

May 15                                  Class 3 visit to Duxford

May 15                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 19                                  Working Party 1-5pm

May 21                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                              Half term

June 19                                  Y4 athletics festival

June 29                                  Sports day  9:15am

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 atWest Road7pm (Y5 please keep this evening free)

July 11                                   KS2 Play  5:30pm

July 12                                   KS2 Play 7pm

July 16                                   Y6 Leavers’ Party 6pm

July 20                                   Leavers’ Assembly/ Last day of term

This Week’s News and Dates                     April 20th 2012

Whole School Information

This week the school governors appointed Mrs Farah McPhee as the new headteacher. At the moment Farah is acting head at Newnham Croft School. Farah and I will work closely together to ensure a smooth handover, and I know she will be looking forward  to getting to know you all as soon as possible in September. 

Resources  Mrs Baker has a request for donations of the following materials for use in art lessons: old wrapping paper, newspaper, brown paper, wallpaper, fabrics, wool.

Cookery Club  There is a letter attached about this term’s cookery club.20.4.12 cookery letter

Favourites Week  There will be another favourites week in May for those of you who like to have school dinners occasionally. Please return the attached form to the office by 1^st May.Favourites Week Lunch

After School Clubs  This term multisports will continue for both key stages and football.  In addition Luke will be running an athletics club on Mondays. Please see letters which are either attached (KS2 multisports and football) or in book bags. (KS1 multisports and athletics). I think there will probably be some cricket coaching later in the term.Coton Football Club LetterMultisports

KS2 Play  I can confirm that the dates for the KS2 play are 11^th and 12^th July. As a change from the usual timings this year the Wednesday performance will be at 5:30 to fit with Mrs Cooper’s other commitments. Thursday’s performance will be at 7pm.

Class 3  On Monday Class 3 will be going to Mepal for 2 full days of activities and one exciting night away from home! The coach is leaving at 8:30am on Monday and they will be back at approximately 5:30 on Tuesday.

Year 4 and 5  Ms Hayesmore has asked me to remind you that the second payment is due for Hilltop later this year.

PTA News

Scholastic Bookfair: There will be a great range of books for sale in the Hall after school on Friday 27th April, Monday 30th April and Tuesday 1st May. Please come along and take a look at the books with your children – hopefully there will be something for everyone’s taste and budget. Every purchase earns commission for the school which will be used to buy more books for the new library. If anyone still has their World Book Day token, these can be used in part-payment.

Plant Orders: These will be delivered to the school on Tuesday 1st May and can be collected from the front of school at the end of the day.

Bag2School: Many thanks for the fantastic response – a huge pile of bags once again!

Dates for your Diary

April 23 and 24                    Class 3 residential trip to Mepal

May 7                                     May Bank Holiday

May 15                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 21                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                              Half term

June 29                                  Sports day  9:15am

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 at West Road 7pm (Y5 please keep this evening free)

July 11                                   KS2 Play  5:30pm

July 12                                   KS2 Play 7pm

July 20                                   Leavers’ Assembly/ Last day of term

This Week’s News and Dates                     March 30th 2012

Whole School Information

Mrs Spencer  will be retiring at the end of this school year, after 20 years at Coton School. She will be greatly missed by both staff and children, but we all wish her a happy retirement. There will be celebrations and opportunities to say goodbye next term.

We have begun the process of appointing a replacement teacher and I will keep you informed.

Sports Relief    We raised a total of £239. Thank you!

Easter Assembly   The whole school went to the church on Wednesday for our Easter service led by Rev. Alison Myers. There was lots of audience participation and lovely singing accompanied by our brand new electronic keyboard which has been purchased courtesy of a grant from EMI. We have also recently taken delivery of recording equipment, which has been paid for by the PTA.

Church News  A flier is attached with information about events at church during Easter.

Moshis  We feel they have run their course at school. Can we please ask you to keep Moshis at home after Easter?

Lost Property  We have some unnamed, unclaimed items of clothing. These will go in the Bags2School collection if still unclaimed by 20^th April.

First day of term  School starts again on 17^th April. Please be back, ready to start work – classes will be starting new units of work on the first day.

Sports Day  See the date below.

KS2 Play  Subject to confirmation by Mrs Cooper the dates for the KS2 play are 11^th and 12^th July.

PTA News

Easter Bingo: A very big ‘THANK YOU’ for all the fantastic donations of prizes for last night’s Easter Bingo. As usual, the children really enjoyed themselves and it was a great fun way to finish off the term.

Bag2School: Bags have been sent home with the children this week, so please have a sort-out over the holiday and help raise money for the school. In addition to clothing, you can include sheets, blankets, curtains, soft toys, shoes, belts and handbags.The collection will be on Friday 20th April. For more information about Bag2School visit www.Bag2School.com

PTA dates

PTA Bag2School 20th April

Dates for your Diary

April 17                                 Summer term starts

May 7                                     May Bank Holiday

May 15                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 21                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                              Half term (one week later than usual to incorporate the Queen’s Jubilee)

June 29                                  Sports day  9:15am

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 at West Road 7pm (Y5 please keep this evening free)

July 11 and 12                      KS2 Play

July 20                                   Leavers’ Assembly/ Last day of term

Whole School Information 

Sports Relief    Thank you for your donations for Sport Relief which we will add to the money from the wristbands. We collectively walked/ran a total of about 115 miles today.

Easter Assembly   On Wednesday we will be going to church for our Easter assembly at 10:10. There will be some room for parents if you would like to join us.

Face Britain    Next week we will be uploading all our portraits to the ‘Face Britain’ website. If you have not returned the permission slip, we will not be able to upload your child’s portrait. Please send the forms in on Monday if possible. (see newsletter from 20^th Jan for more details – available on the school website)

Library   Our library will be open for the children to borrow non-fiction books as soon as we have scanned them all into the system. We will need a computer in the library area to enable us to check the books in and out. If you, or your company, have an old computer that might be suitable we would be very grateful. We will be getting a new one but are waiting to hear about a grant application.

PTA News

Easter Bingo is next Thursday (29th) – poster attached. Many thanks for the prizes donated so far. We need LOTS MORE to make it a fun night for the children so please bring in any Easter eggs or other Easter/Spring-themed prizes early next week. Boxes for donations are in the cloakrooms. As the children really enjoy dressing up for Spooky Bingo, it would be great to see lots of Easter Bunnies, Spring Chickens or Easter Bonnets at this event!Easter Bingo

Plant Orders need to be sent off before we break up for Easter, so please let us have any remaining orders early next week (PTA box in reception).

Cake Sale – this raised a fantastic £111. Many thanks to everyone who donated cakes, bought cakes and helped on the stall. There are still a few containers at the front of the school waiting to be claimed.

PTA dates

PTA Plant Order Forms 26th March

PTA Easter Bingo 29th March

PTA Bag2School 20th April

Dates for your Diary

March 27                              Easter Lunch – remember not to send a packed lunch if you have ordered the school meal.

March 30                              Last day of term

April 17                                 Summer term starts

May 7                                     May Bank Holiday

May 15                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 21                                  Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                              Half term (one week later than usual to incorporate the Queen’s Jubilee)

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 at West Road 7pm (Y5 please keep this evening free)

Whole School Information 

Science Week  We have had some very exciting activities this week which will culminate with our mixed year group science challenge this afternoon. The school has been buzzing with science talk – I hope your children have been telling you all about it. I’m sure the excitement of holding a python and a giant millipede was discussed around many tea tables yesterday.

Health and Safety    THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT

• Please do not use the gate into the car park on your route to and from school.  The safe access for pedestrians is via the footpath down to the green gate. It is not safe to walk through the car park – cars may be reversing and many children are too small to be seen in the mirror.
• Car drivers, please do not turn at the bottom of the drive. It is a danger to pedestrians. Drive on and turn beyond school. There is a turning circle atSilverdale Avenue.

I nearly collided with a child on a scooter using the side gate earlier this week. We need to stop children getting into the habit of using that gate.

Flowers for the bank  Dawn, our caretaker, is keen to plant flowers on the bank facing the road to commemorate the Queen’s jubilee. It will create a long lasting feature that can be enjoyed by the whole village. She would appreciate donations of snowdrops in the green, primroses, cowslips or violets. She will be starting planting on Saturday and would be glad of help if anyone is interested – just bring a trowel. Phone Dawn on 01954 210061 to check the time.

Classes 1 and 2  I have agreed to allow a research student from the university to carry out some research in school. Parents of children 6 years and under will have received a letter explaining the research and asking for permission. There is no obligation to say yes.

Sports Activities:

Easter Sports Camps   A form is attached with details of camps at Cambourne and Hardwick.

Various sporting activities at Comberton Leisure during the Easter holidays. Please call at the office for a leaflet.

PTA News

Spring Cake Sale today after school – many thanks for your support!

Plant Orders – please keep these coming in to the PTA box in reception. We’ll be collecting them until 25th March. (See last week’s Newsletter for details of the plants available).

Easter Bingo – Thursday 29th March (less than 2 weeks away!) There will be boxes in the KS1 and KS2 cloakrooms next week for donations of Easter eggs or spring-themed prizes.

Bag2School collection – 20th April. Bags will be sent home soon to give you plenty of time to start collecting, or you can start right away using your own bags.

PTA dates

PTA Plant Order Forms 26th March

PTA Easter Bingo 29th March

PTA Bag2School 20th April

Dates for your Diary

March 27                                Easter Lunch (still time to order if you have not done so)

March 30                                Last day of term

April 17                                  Summer term starts

May 7                                      May Bank Holiday

May 15                                    Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 21                                    Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                               Half term (one week later than usual to incorporate the Queen’s Jubilee)

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 atWest Road7pm

Whole School Information 

Science Week  starts on Monday. The theme is ‘Move It’. Many activities have been planned including a visit from the Quantum Theatre Company for the whole school, a visit from Zoolab with a variety of animals, a whole school science challenge, a science quiz for Class 4 against other Network 11 schools and other activities in each classroom. We need to ask for a £3 contribution per child to cover the cost of the activities. The PTA has made a generous donation to keep the costs down. Please send your contribution to the school office or classroom in a named envelope labelled ‘Science Week’.

Easter Lunch  A booking form is attached for the Easter lunch which is on Tuesday 27^th March.Easter Lunch

World Book Day   We have had a good response to our request for ‘Your favourite book’. It is interesting to see the selection and the reason each person chose their book.

Special Project  Don’t forget to bring back your poster for the special project. The deadline is 15^th March. (See email on 10^th February for more details)

Term dates  Dates were attached last week. You can also find them on the website in last week’s newsletter.

Community Events  Our adult choir is growing. We still need more members, some men’s voices would be nice.

We meet at 7:30 every Tuesday in the school hall. All welcome.

Health and Safety 

• Please do not use the gate into the car park on your route to and from school.  The safe access for pedestrians is via the footpath down to the green gate. It is not safe to walk through the car park – cars may be reversing and many children are too small to be seen in the mirror.
• Car drivers, please do not turn at the bottom of the drive. It is a danger to pedestrians. Drive on and turn beyond school. There is a turning circle atSilverdale Avenue.

Design a Flag  A poster is attached with details of a competition to design a flag for the 2012 School Games.Design a Flag

PTA News

We are looking forward to the Spring with this half-term’s activities!

Order forms for bedding plants have been sent home with the children today. We have used this supplier previously and have always been pleased with the quality of the plants – see colour leaflets attached and on notice boards. Orders and payment to the PTA box in the school reception by Monday 26th March, please. Plants will be ready for collection from the school after the Easter break. See attachments.

 Next Friday (16th) there will be a Spring Cake Sale after school – donations of small or large cakes can be left in the Food Tech room in the morning or brought to the stall from 3.15pm onwards.

And the ever-popular Easter Bingo will be on Thursday 29th March to round off the term – mark the date in your daries and put a few extra Easter Eggs in your shopping trolley! Look out for messages from your Class Reps asking for helpers/donations.

PTA Spring CakeSale16th March

PTA Plant Order Forms 26th March

PTA Easter Bingo 29th March

PTA Bag2School 20th April

Home Club news

 Ways to save money on Home Club fees

The link explains how to gain support in payment for childcare costs- for registered schemes-  either by Child Tax Credits (generally if the household income is under £40,000) or by purchasing tax free childcare vouchers in the form of a salary sacrifice. Definitely worth a look if you are currently paying the full cost of out of school care.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/childcare-costs

 
Home Club activities in March

We’ll be making things for Mothers Day: Pot decorating, Flower painting, Tissue paper flowers, Flower biscuits, Cards.

And of course there will be lots of Easter things to make and do: Egg decorating, Egg and spoon races, Cress heads, Easter tree and garden, Bird feeders, Den building, Easter egg hunt, Pom pom animals, Easter nests and biscuits, Cards.
As always, there are lots of opportunities for construction, playing Wii and other games, watching films, dressing up and outdoor exploration.

Breakfast Club EGM
An EGM on the future of Breakfast Club was held on Wednesday. Attendees will have received the minutes already. If anyone else would like to see the minutes, please e-mail me on henriettewillems@hotmail.com.

Thanks very much,

Best wishes,

Henriette

Dates for your Diary

March 12 – 16                        Science Week

March 10-11                           Tree planting at Coton Countryside Reserve. All welcome

March 30                                                Last day of term

April 17                                  Summer term starts

May 7                                      May Bank Holiday

May 15                                    Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 21                                    Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                               Half term (one week later than usual to incorporate the Queen’s Jubilee)

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 atWest Road7pm

Whole School Information 

Parent Consultations  We were very pleased with the new format  and I think all the parents were impressed that we ran almost exactly to time on both evenings. From our point of view, it was easier to manage and was certainly better from the point of view of security. We wish we had done it years ago. I think most parents managed to attend; if you did not make it please make an appointment with the class teacher.

Easter Lunch  A booking form is attached for the Easter lunch which is on Tuesday 27^th March.Easter Lunch

World Book Day   As part of World Book Day, members of staff have brought in their favourite children’s book to display in the entrance hall.

Over the next week, we would like the children to also share in this by bringing in a particular favourite story, with one or two sentences giving the reasons for their choice. If they wished they could also bring a relevant ‘prop’ e.g. a slipper for Cinderella or a wand for Harry Potter.

Special Project  Don’t forget to bring back your poster for the special project. The deadline is 15^th March. (See email on 10^th February for more details)

Term dates  Dates for the next school year are attached. Term Dates

Football kit  Following last week’s match we are short of 3 tops and shorts. Please check whether you still have some at home, or whether your child might have them hanging on a peg. Because we had so many substitutes and swapping of shirts, I have no idea who ended up with kit.

Big Pedal   It is a year since the last ‘Big Pedal’ when we were the regional winners, so it is time to get out your bikes and scooters again, not just children but parents too. See Mrs Baker’s letter for details of how Coton can win again.Big Pedal

Tree Planting  Class 3 will be helping with tree planting at Coton Countryside Reserve next Friday. There will be more planting at the weekend (March 10-11) if any families want to get involved.

Sporting Activities  We have been sent details of the following clubs and coaching opportunities -:

• o        Athletics and Netball during the Easter holidays at Impington
• o        Girls Football with Comberton Crusaders
• o        Karate – 4 week introductory course for beginners

Please call in at school or email for a leaflet, if you are interested.

Community Events

• ·         Beetle Drive in the village hall. Sunday 4^th March, 2:30pm. The children have been learning how to play ‘Beetle’ in school.
• ·         Disco in the village hall. Saturday 10^th March. See posters outside school.

That Old Chestnut!  The nag of the week is to please put names in your children’s clothes. We are getting quite a pile of lost property, which is all unnamed – ballpoint pen on the label is the easiest way to do it.

Dates for your Diary

March 12 – 16                        Science Week

March 10-11                           Tree planting at Coton Countryside Reserve. All welcome

March 30                                                Last day of term

April 17                                  Summer term starts

May 7                                      May Bank Holiday

May 15                                    Parents’ Resuscitation session 7pm

May 21                                    Parents’ Resuscitation session 9am

June 4 – 8                               Half term (one week later than usual to incorporate the Queen’s Jubilee)

July 3                                      Opera performance by Year 5 at West Road 7pm