20th April 2005

NEWSLETTER NO 12

Dear Parents

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter break and the relatively good weather we were lucky enough to have.

The Summer Term is always the busiest (please see the 'Dates for Your Diary' list ) and perhaps the most exciting time in the school year. All the children seem rested, over their colds, flu and various other nasty viruses and have been eager to get started and focussed on this term's work.

School Topics for the Summer Term 2005

Reception/KS 1

Science: Health and Growth/Ourselves (Miss Andrews/Mrs Woodman)
ICT: Representing information graphically (pictograms )/Labelling and classifying
History: Seaside holidays in the past
Geography: Going to the Seaside
RE: Friends, family and community
PE: Games
Art/Design: Picture this!
Design Technology: Eat more fruit and vegetables/vehicles
Music: The long and short of it

KS2

Science: Changing materials/electricity
ICT: Yrs 3 & 4 - modelling effects on screen, Yr5 - using the internet to search databases, Yr6 - multimedia presentation
History: What was it like for children in WW2?
Geography: Rivers and coasts
RE: Writings
Art/Design: Painting
Design Technology: Pop-up books (paper engineering)
Music: Exploring rounds

Clubs

This term's clubs and starting dates are as follows -

Mondays KS 1 Dance (KS2 classroom) Miss Andrews 3.30-4.l5pm - 9th May 9th May - 27th June

Tuesdays KS2 Rounders Mrs Woodman 3.30-4.l5pm - 19th April 19th April- 27th June

Wednesdays KS2 Pottery Workshop Mr Tomlinson! Mrs Hobhouse 3.30-4.30pm 11 th May _ 8th June

Wednesdays Yr 2 - 6 Athletics Mr Scotney 3.30-4.30pm 15th June - 13th July (date change)

Thursdays KS2 Dance Miss Andrews 3.30-4.15pm 12th May - 30th June

Fridays Yrs 2-6 Gardening Mrs Theobald Ms Williams 3.30-4.30pm 13th May - 1 st July

Thank you, on behalf of the children, to all parents, community members and teachers who are running a club/clubs.

Please note the following club lists (dates and times above with some amendments from 'Diary Dates') and return the attached permission slip by Friday 29th April 2005. Without a returned slip, your child will not be able to start clubs.

Dance Club (KSl)
Adam Abigail Emily Ffion George Ila Katie Liam . Richard

KS2 Pottery Workshop Ashleigh Bethany T Edward Jack Kayleigh Lauren Matthew Rosie

Athletics Club Ashleigh Bethany M Bethany T David Edward Ffion Finn Ila Jamie Karl Kayleigh Lauren Liam Lauren Lucy Matthew Victoria

Dance Club (KS2) David Edward Jadie Karl Kayleigh Kim Louis Lucy Matthew

Rounders Jessica Lauren Kayleigh David Victoria Matthew Jadie Jack Bethany Kim Lucy Finn

Gardening Club Edward Finn Grace Jack Jamie Lani Lauren G Lauren T Penny Rosie

Parents of Reception Children starting at Ashill School in September 2005

Parents of the new September intake will be receiving all school newsletters for the Summer Term. Would you please note that the induction dates and the Parents Evening are included on the 'School Term Dates for your Diary' . A School Prospectus for 2004-2005 is also available from Cathy for any new parent who does not have one.

Key Stage 1 Ensemble (Strings and Things)

Strings and things will be starting on Thursday 28th April 2005, from 3.30 to 4.30pm with Mr Timms and is for all children in Year 1 and 2 and the KS2 string players (Penny, Sophie and Bethany M). Please could children taking part bring all instruments including recorders. Children without instruments will be provided with percussion. All parents are welcome to come and join in!

Years 5 and 6 Vocal- Manor Court

Years 5 and 6 will be attending Manor Court Primary School on Tuesday 24th May 2005 from 9.30am to 2.30pm for a Vocal Day. The 'English Pocket Opera Company', based in London, will lead what should prove to be a very exciting day.

Village Hall

The school will not be undertaking any activities in the village hall until the village hall committee sorts out the problem it is having with the hall insurance. .

Red Nose Day/Cedric the Dragon

Thank you for your Red Nose Day support. The children had a great time and were fully focussed on raising lots of money after finding out how this money would be used in our morning assembly. Consequently, we raised a fantastic £126.09.

Our next fund-raiser will be in May when we will be supporting the NCH (the children's charity) by giving the children a chance to take part in a sponsored game.

Holiday Requests in Term-Time

The Local Education Authority has issued the following guidance for schools and parents. The intention is to promote the highest possible level of school attendance for all Somerset school children. This school is committed to adopting this approach.

. The LEA recommends that schools refuse to authorise 'leave' requests for holidays in term-time when-

. They are not for the sole family holiday AND there are no exceptional and compelling reasons for this holiday being taken during term-time i.e. 5 to 10 days duration

. The holiday exceeds 10 days for such a purpose in any school/academic year

The timing of the holiday is critical to the pupil's educational progress eg preparation for exams or SA Ts/actual exams or SA Ts; beginning of a new academic year; the first year in a new school.

When the pupil has a poor attendance record which includes exclusions

AND

When 'leave' is not requested well in advance

All schools are being asked to apply the 'exceptional circumstances' criteria to any holiday requests being made during term-time.

Cheap holidays would obviously not fall into the 'exceptional circumstances' category. Further, there is NO entitlement to any family taking 10 days term-time holiday as some kind of allowance.

Unless Headteachers are very persuaded by the 'exceptional circumstances' of the holiday request, they are required not to sanction, and therefore register, (where any pupil takes time out regardless) the absences as 'U nauthorised' .

A Request from the Pentagon Schools Children's Council

There is a competition to design a logo for the Pentagon Schools, which comprises Ashill, Buckland, Combe, Neroche and Winsham. If you are interested then please put your designs on an A4 piece of paper using pencil and crayons, and hand it in to Mr Scotney by no later than Monday 25th April 2005.

School Conservation Area Competition

The above is nearing its completion and the organisation and layout has already attracted interest and some very favourable comments from the Education Authority. Please find attached information about a competition to design a sign for the borders and pond areas.

Music

Any parents interested in instrument tuition for their child (Years 2 to 6) should sign up on the music notice board stating their choice of instrument. Please also sign up if you are planning to stop tuition.

Music CD

On Friday 27th May, KS2 will be spending the day at Winsham School where they will record songs for a music CD jointly with Winsham.

Year 6 SATs

The Year 6 children will be taking their SA Ts in the drawing room of Ashill House this year. A big thank you to Mrs Read for allowing us to use such a quiet and tranquil setting.

Deposit for Kilve Court

Could all the outstanding permission slips and £10 deposits for the Kilve Court residential trip in July please
be paid by Monday 25th April 2005, and not Friday 2nd July as wrongly stated at the bottom of the permission slip.