Newsletter 13 3/12/10 Queen Boudica Primary School Tel: 01206 844654

1. Newsletter 13 3/12/10 Queen Boudica Primary School Tel: 01206 844654 Email: admin@qbps.essex.sch.uk Web: www.qbps.essex.sch.uk Snow Closure Thank you for your understanding at this difficult time. Making a decision to close the school or operate a reduced opening is a great challenge for any school and not one made lightly. We fully appreciate the impact and inconvenience that a closure has, particularly for working parents. The fact that so many Essex schools were closed this week is, I think, testimony to just how bad the weather has been and I sincerely hope that this winter does not prove to be a bad one. We will always do our best to get the school open. Many factors have to be taken into account when the weather is this bad. Can children, parents/carers, visitors and staff get safely to and from the school and in time to start as we intend to? Is the forecast for improved weather or for further snow and freezing conditions ? What advice are police and road agencies providing to the public ? Do we have enough staff to operate efficiently and ensure an adequate quality of education ? Are we able to provide school meals and is the school adequately heated ? I had serious concerns about all of these issues this week and that is why the decision to close was made. Your support with such decisions is much appreciated, and we hope that the level of communication provided (through the website updates, school answer phone messages and radio station announcements) gives you enough time and notice to make the necessary arrangements. School Meals Following the closure of the school, all pupils who had booked a school meal will receive a credit. We hope to send home a credit balance today (Friday) if the school is open. Menus for the four weeks commencing Monday 8th December have been printed and we hope to send these home too. If you would like a sneak preview – they are on our website under the ‘News’ Tab and there are many new recipes to try, including Hearty Sausage Casserole and Mrs Saywell’s Crispy Cottage Pie – just the thing for this wintery weather! For those of you who pay for your meals each MONDAY, please send in your payments on (Monday 6th December for week commencing 10th December. Cheques payable to Essex County Council. There is a copy of the order form and new menus on the school website under ‘News’. School Journey – Chestnut Class only You should all have received your Payment Cards with deposits noted by now. Please send a further instalment in before the end of term, so that you can spread your payments out in time for the final amount to be paid by 31st March. This is when we have to pay Mersea Outdoors Centre. I am sorry that I am writing this at home, so I am unable to remind you of the payment pattern. 1 WEEK UNTIL OUR CHRISTMAS FAIR!

2. EYFSWe have enjoyed playing in the snow this week and trying to catch snowflakes on our tongues!  Next week we will be starting our Christmas theme, thinking about celebrations and the story of the Nativity.  We will also be finding out about the seasons and weather (how appropriate!)  We will be learning to write the letters ‘m’ and ‘b’ so bring in any objects beginning with these sounds.  We look forward to seeing many of you at our Christmas Production on Tuesday and Wednesday. Music Lessons We currently offer music lessons to children in KS2 (Willow and Chestnut Class) in guitar, violin, woodwind and singing. We may be able to source a keyboard teacher if there is any interest. All tutors are employed by Essex Music Services, part of Essex County Council and have all been CRB checked as part of the ECC Safer Recruitment Policy. If your child would like to learn a musical instrument next term, on a one-to-one basis, please email or write in to the school office. There are ten lessons per term, and the fees are £80.00 per term, payable in advance. Parents on certain benefits (similar to Free School Meal entitlements) may be eligible for some assistance with the fees. Willow Class music We have just purchased 32 ¾ sized guitars with our Music Grant, and Mr. Vidler will be teaching guitar to Willow Class next term. We’re sure there willl be some beautiful music floating up from the corridor! Dates for your diary Ash, Oak, Elm & Birch Class Christmas productions are on 7th & 8th December at 2pm (no children on the 8th) We still have some tickets available from the school office-£1 per adult. 10th December is the Christmas Fair 14th December KS2 Christmas parties in the classrooms. More details to follow Whole school visit to the Pantomime on 15th December 16th December Foundation & KS1 Christmas classroom party. More details to follow 17th December is the last day of term. Our Christmas assembly will be at St. Michael’s Church at 9.30am. Children will also have their Christmas Dinner on the 17th - don’t forget to send in a Christmas cracker for your child! 5th January Spring Term begins for the children Wow!!  The response to our Guinea Pig Pin-Ups Calendar has been fantastic and we have had more orders than we anticipated.  So a huge "thank you" to all who bought one.  Calendars will remain available to order until the end of term.  If your child would like to use one of the "Pins-Ups" as a screensaver at home, we are making these available via email, for 50p per image. Simply complete the order form below and send in with your payment. Name of child…………………………..………. ……… Class….......……… Month of the image you would like……………………...……………………… Email address……………………………….………………………….……………