Fairway Primary School

21 May 2009

Dear Parents/Carers

Half way through the Summer Term (what summer, I hear you say), this year seems to have gone so quickly. This newsletter gives dates for activities/events that are happening next half term, so please keep it in a safe place.

Getting Ready for the Temporary Accommodation (Primary School only)
As you are aware, we shall be moving into temporary accommodation whilst our new school is being built. Preparations need to be done before the temporary accommodation is put in place. Works will start next week, over half term.
When we come back to school there will be a few alterations. There will be changes to how you and your children go into the playground. You will need to enter and exit the school through the pedestrian gate by the staff car park gates. You will then need to walk through the car park (this will be fenced off so it is safe) across the front of the building and then enter the school building through the staff entrance. There will be a new door opposite this so that you can go straight into the playground (please see diagram below). These arrangements will stay in place until the end of term.

There will be a new entrance from ‘The Fairway’ for the heavy goods vehicles. All works carried out will be under the strictest safety rules. Safety hoardings will be erected around the site needed for the temporary accommodation. Obviously there will be some disruption during this time but we hope it will be kept to a minimum. The actual temporary buildings will arrive during the summer holidays.
If you do encounter any difficulties please come into the school office and let us know. I shall be meeting the Project Manager regularly so will be able to feed back any comments that have been made. Thank you for your co-operation during this time. It will be worth it in the end.

No Jewellery
As from after half term no jewellery will be allowed. Advice has been sent to me by the Health & Safety Executive (‘Health & Safety Bulletin 200) which recommends that no jewellery at all should be worn for physical activities. In the past I have asked you to take responsibility if a child is hurt by jewellery but this bulletin advises me not to do that. If you are planning to get your child’s ears pierced in the future, please arrange for this to happen at the beginning of the summer holidays. They will then have six weeks to heal and can then be taken out for school in the September. If your child does come to school wearing jewellery and they cannot remove it themselves, they will not be able to take part in PE lessons or go out to play. Thank you for your co-operation regarding this.

Head Lice
Head lice can be a nuisance as we all know. We now have DVD’s available for you to borrow giving you information on all aspects of head lice e.g. prevention, treatments and myths about them! If you would like to borrow a copy, please come to the office.

New Parent/Carer Governors
We have two new governors. Mrs Rebecca MacArthur (April - Yr 1 and Matthew - Nursery) and Mr Matthew Chow (Elliott - Reception Class). They are in school dropping off and picking up most days so please approach them about Fairway matters.

Two of our children performed at The Royal Albert Hall
Sophie and Elenar Kong performed an exciting 60’s dance routine with their dance group. Their costumes were fantastic, very colourful and matched the era perfectly. Some staff went along and really enjoyed the evening. Well done girls.

Staffing
Mrs Brimson (Yr 5 two days a week) will be leaving us at the end of this term but I’m pleased to say only for a year. We look forward to her returning in September 2010. Miss Claire Mann (a very experienced teacher) will replace Mrs Brimson but will teach dance and drama to a range of classes. Mrs Emily Ben Ze’ev will be replacing Mr Hirani (not necessarily in Yr 3 for the next academic year!). She is also a very experienced teacher and comes with a wealth of knowledge. We have also appointed Miss Rebecca de Rivaz as a Foundation Stage Teacher and she will teach the nursery class from September. She, too, comes with many talents, one being an artist! I’m sure you will make them feel welcome at Fairway.

Barnet Summer Uni Warm Up Week Started on Monday 26th May
Barnet Summer Uni Warm Up week will be running in the 2009 Summer half term break. It is an opportunity for young people to get a taster of the sorts of brilliant courses that are going to be available throughout the summer holidays.
Between 26th and 30th May a series of free courses are being provided at a range of venues across Barnet. Courses are being held in subjects including fashion design, film making, cooking and origami as well as a range of sports. They are open to all young people aged between 8 and 19 (up to 25 with disabilities).
The full range of courses is now live on the Summer Uni London website. To view or apply for any of the activities please log on to www.summerunilondon,org and click on the Barnet section of the website. Young people can enrol on courses up until 20th May. Once they have enrolled, their course place will be confirmed along with the course details via email.

Hats, Sun Protection and Sunglasses. (Primary School Only)

Although most of you are sending your child/children in with hats, some aren’t and it is a shame for them to miss play because they haven’t got a hat. All hats must be named and it is a good idea to keep these at school for the whole of the summer term. Wearing them is particularly important at this time of the year as the sun’s intensity is high even with low air temperatures.
Suntan lotion is also a good idea. The long lasting one that is put on once a day, before the children come to school, is the most convenient. If they bring suntan lotion to school your child/ren will need to apply it themselves. We do not like children to wear sunglasses. However, if your child needs to wear sunglasses for medical reasons please write to me.

Dinner Money (Primary School Only)
The cost for the next half term is £68.00 or £10.00 per week. Please make cheques payable to Fairway Primary School, thank you.

Dates for your diary

Monday 1st June                                               Yr 3 Verulamium Museum
Tuesday 2nd June                                              Yr 6 Copthall Stadium (sports practice)
                                                            Yr 4 To Sunnyfields School to practise
for Music Festival
Wednesday 3rd June                                         FPS cricket team to Old Elizabethan’s Cricket Ground tournament
Thursday 4th June                            Primary School closed for Elections
Friday 5th June                                                  Prospective parent/carer tour 9:10am
Tuesday 9th June                                               Yr 2 assembly
                                                            Yr 5 Bude School Journey meeting 7:00pm
Tuesday 16th June                                             Whole school photo
Wednesday 17th June                                       Yr 4 assembly
Thursday 18th June                                           Yr 6 Fundraiser (children to bring £2
to spend at fair)
Friday 19th June                                                Borough Sports at Copthall Stadium for
some junior children
Yr 3 and Yr 5 Archaeological dig lay out
Tuesday 23rd June                                             Yr 3 assembly
Wednesday 24th June                                       Yr 3 Archaeological dig
                                                            Yr 5 Mill Hill Public School
                                                            Yr 4 Music Festival at Artsdepot North Finchley
Thursday 25th June                                           Yr 5 Archaeological dig
Monday 29th June                                             Yr 1 transition meeting 3:30pm
(more info. to follow)
                                                            Yr 5 Secondary Transfer Meeting 6:00pm
                                                                        (more info. to follow)
Thursday 2nd July                                              Yr 1 Shoeburyness with Yr 1 at Courtland
Friday 3rd July                                                   Prospective parent/carer tour 9:10am
                                                                        Infant activity day am
                                                                        Junior activity day pm
Monday 6th July – Friday 10th July                    Barnet Celebrates Achievement Week
                                                                        Fairway ‘Take One Picture’ Week
                                                                        (more info. to follow)
Tuesday 7th July                                                Yr 1 assembly
Thursday 9th July                                              New Reception class meeting 6:30pm
Friday 10th July                                     End of Year reports to parents/carers
                                                                        Yr 5 & Yr 6 Shared Futures with Rosh Pinah
Saturday 11th July                                             Fun Day at Fairway Nursery & Children’s Centre
11am – 2pm
Wednesday 15th July                                        Yr 6 End of Term Production for
parents/carers 7:00pm
Thursday 16th July                                            Yr 6 Goodbye FPS celebration evening and Production for past staff and Governors