'Reaching Up, Reaching Out' - St Bernadette's

St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School
‘Reaching Up, Reaching Out’
Weekly News 19th December 2014
www.stberns.com
Issue No. 14
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have had a very busy and happy last week of term. The children have been amazing with their hard working attitude at such
an exciting time.
Chestnut Tree House Hospice Fundraiser
Thank you for your support of this fundraiser organised by the School Council Social Justice Committee. The Cake Sale raised
£51.42 and the wearing of tinsel/ Christmas hat £30.07 making a grand total of £81.49.
Violin and Ocarina Concert
Children learning the violin and the advanced ocarina were given the opportunity to perform to a packed hall on Tuesday. I was
delighted by our musicians who played so well. Congratulations to all our performers and a big thank you to Miss Cooper and
Mrs Carballo. Thank you to all who were able to come to support the children.
Christmas Dinner
Christmas Dinner on Wednesday was another very happy day. We had the largest number of children ever having the cooked
lunch and they really enjoyed their meals. The children loved pulling their crackers and singing along to the Christmas songs. All
the adults were very impressed by our beautifully behaved and well-mannered children – they are a credit to you. Thank you to
Mrs. Rowan who always manages our lunchtimes so well, and to Julie and Sue our cooks for organising and cooking such a lovely
dinner. During the morning the children enjoyed a visit from Father Christmas and were given gifts bought by the PTA. Thank
you to all the parents who came to help at the Christmas dinner and a very big thank you to our wonderful Father Christmas.
The Argus Appeal
The Christmas presents that you so kindly donated to The Argus Appeal will be collected on Thursday afternoon. Thank you
very much.
Winners of the Small Schools’ League
St Bernadette’s football team beat Coldean 3-0 on Friday and were confirmed as Champions. They have won the Small Schools’
League. Many congratulations to our football squad for this fantastic achievement: Thomas K, Justice, Ozan, Kyle, Ross and Jem
in Year 6 and Tomas, Baptiste, William, Luca, Franklin, Thomas H, Conal in Year 5. A big thank you to Mr Bond our great coach
and to Miss Freeland.
Mary Reynolds Retirement
As some of you will know Mary Reynolds is the Director of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton and she
retires tomorrow. Mrs Reynolds has been passionate about developing the ‘whole child’ and in ensuring excellence in Catholic
schools. She has been a wonderful supporter of St Bernadette’s. I have passed on our great thanks for her work and wishing
her a very well deserved retirement.
Staffing News
Mrs Sanchez is leaving us at the end of this week to take up the Headship of St Philip’s Catholic Primary School in Uckfield.
Mrs Sanchez has taught successfully at St Bernadette’s for four years in Year 5 and in Year R. Her work as Deputy Head has
included developing our work in maths and science, helping staff with their professional development and supporting
disadvantaged children at school. She has also kept us all safe by being responsible for our risk assessments. I will never forget
her in her bright pink ski jacket when she was running the football club! I personally have appreciated her knowledge on current
thinking in teaching and learning and her support in times of challenge. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs
Sanchez for her contribution to St Bernadette’s and wish her all the very best in her new role. She will be very much missed.
We are fortunate that we will still see her as a parishioner of St Thomas Mores.
I am pleased to let you know that Mr Kirwan has been appointed as Acting Deputy Headteacher from January.
Curriculum Meetings
Curriculum Meetings will take place during the week beginning 12th January. They are all held in your child’s classroom and start
at 2.45 pm.
Monday 12th January: Year 1 and Year 3
Tuesday 13th January: Year 5
th
Wednesday 14 January: Year R and Year 4
Thursday 15th January: Year 2 and Year 6
Carol Service 2014
I hope to see many of you at our Carol Service tomorrow at St. Mary’s Church. Please remember to pick your child up from
St. Mary’s Church and not the school at 3.00pm. Staff will walk The Bees Club children back to school.
Good News
I was delighted to receive an email from the Department of Education this afternoon informing me that St. Bernadette’s has
won a Pupil Premium Award 2015. To find out more about the awards, go to www.pupilpremiumawards.co.uk. As you can imagine I
am delighted to be recognised for the work we do at St Bernadette’s and I am very grateful to my hard working staff. I would
like to acknowledge all of our parents too for the great contribution to our home school partnership ensuring our school is the
happy and successful place that it is. I am incredibly proud to be the Headteacher of St. Bernadette’s.
Thank You
Finally I would like to thank you on behalf of myself and all the staff for your lovely cards, gifts and good wishes. I hope you
have a very happy and restful Christmas and I look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year.
With very best wishes for a joy filled and peaceful Christmas,
Best wishes,
Jacqueline Lance
Important Announcement: Cashless Payment System from January 2015
Just to remind you that from the beginning of the Spring term we will no longer be accepting cash and cheques for
trips/workshops/swimming, the Breakfast and Bees clubs, and the after school activity clubs. The only exceptions will be:
events asking for a charity donation such as Children in Need, or events such as the Year 6 Sale where children are buying
items; this year’s Activity Week for Year 6. Also The Governors Fund cannot be paid online.
So if you are not currently a user of Parentpay and you need your activation details, or you are experiencing problems with it,
please come to the office or email us ([email protected]), so that you can get set up ready for the new year.
School Clubs
The letters have now been sent home next week offering your child a place(s) for the club(s) they would like to do. Please
return the form to accept the place as soon as possible; payment should be made on Parentpay or at Paypoints. If a club is
oversubscribed your child will be placed on the waiting list. If you have any queries please see Mrs Costello in the office.
Children starting school September 2015
Although applications are made online, please remember to collect your Supporting Information form that needs to be
completed by you and your Parish Priest, from the school office. The application deadline is 15th January 2013, at 3.00pm.
PTA
It's been a busy term for the PTA - thank you to everyone who organised or helped at events, and thanks too to everyone who
came along and supported us.
Auction of promises: In March we will be running a new event - an Auction of Promises evening on Friday 6 March 2015. An
Auction of Promises is a real auction where promises rather than items are auctioned to the highest bidder. Information on this
fun new event was sent home in book bags a few weeks ago and we have already had a number of 'promises' donated. We need
as many promises as possible to make this a great night. Some examples could be donating an hour of football tuition, a night of
babysitting, dog walking, pet sitting, a haircut, baking a cake, play music at a dinner party, wash a car, ironing, spring cleaning a
room, beauty treatments, use of a holiday home…… and so many more. Or perhaps you prefer to donate a prize which we can
package up as an auction item - cinema tickets, booze, meal voucher etc. Or maybe you know of a 'celebrity', football team or
organisation who might consider helping in some way? Please do have a think over the holiday period - any idea will be really
gratefully received. (Donations can be anonymous too if preferred). If you are willing to donate a promise then simply email the
PTA at [email protected] or text/call 07801 470561.
Sainsbury’s 4%. Information on a new scheme being run by Sainsbury's was sent home in book bags last month. If you regularly
shop at Sainsbury's and if you use a debit card then please let the school office know. We are considering piloting a scheme
with Sainsbury's whereby the PTA would receive 4% of your total shopping bill - at absolutely no extra cost to you. Sounds too
good to be true - that's what we thought too but we have researched.
Diary Dates: Spring Term 2015
(*** indicates date change)
Date
19th December
Event
Carol Service at St Mary’s Church, 2.00pm. (Children to be collected from St Mary’s at 3pm, The
Bees Club children will be walked back to school)
5th January 2015
6th January
8th January
w/c 12th January
14th January
27th January
INSET Day
Children return to school for Spring Term
Year 3 swimming starts
Curriculum meetings
PTA meeting, 7.15pm, all parents welcome to attend
KS2 Holocaust memorial assembly led by Year 6
PTA Film Show – details to follow
Brighton and Hove School Games, 2.30 – 4.45pm
Parents’ consultations 3.30 – 6.15pm
Year 2 Assembly, parents welcome to attend
Parents’ consultations 5.15 – 7.30pm
Half term
Break up for Christmas
28th January
10th February
12th February
13th February