8 June 2018

Dear Parents

Please note that at the end of this week's newsletter and photographs is a very important letter from Mr Andy Haynes regarding the election of Parent Academy Committee Representatives.

I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing half term week. It is hard to believe that we are now only six weeks from the end of the school year - and what busy weeks they are going to be! In addition to this weekend's First Holy Communion Mass we are looking forward to the Summer Fayre , CTA swimming gala and Sports day. We also have our KS2 production of 'Mary Poppins'! The children are very excited about this and although we have short time in which to produce this play I am sure they will rise to the challenge.

As you are aware on May 25 new legislation came into force regarding data protection, GDPR. Every parent received information and forms to be signed and returned to school. It is crucial that we receive these forms with separate forms to be signed by each parent. If you have not yet done so please return them by Monday morning. Thank you to everyone who has returned the forms already.

Yesterday our Year 6 pupils spent the morning taking part in the Young Citizen's Challenge. As in previous years the children were taken through a number of scenarios and had to make decisions that would keep them safe. This was a very enjoyable and worthwhile morning and I am sure our Year 6 children are now better informed and more able to deal with the many challenges they face as they leave the security of our Primary School and move on to High School.

On Monday,to launch their new topic, World War Two, Year 5 took part in an evacuation day to discover what it had been like for evacuated children during World War Two. The children came dressed in costumes and parents waved them off as they left for Bewdley Museum. At the museum, they learnt about what life was like during the War and then they walked to Bewdley train station. There they caught a steam train to Highley, where they played with toys that children growing up in the 1940s played with and to end the day, they caught the steam train home. It was a wonderful day and the children really impressed the museum staff with their excellent behaviour and impeccable manners. Well done Year 5

Year 1 have been learning about the Great Fire of London as part of their topic "Bright lights, Big City". For homework the children have worked incredibly hard creating their very own Tudor houses and then built their own City of London from 1666. The children were able to explain how closely these houses were built and the impact this had when the fire took hold. From this the children are able to explain what improvements have been made from for buildings following this catastrophe. Well done to all of Year 1.

This morning today, Fr Richard was in school to say Mass for Year 6 and also for our Year 3 children, to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This Sunday at 11.30am Mass , nineteen of our Year 3 children will receive their First Holy Communion. This as you know is such an important day in the spiritual life of the children so please remember them in your prayers. We ask that they are supported by their school friends with a strong choir. There will be plenty of space in the church as they are a small group and it is a lovely opportunity for the parish and school to celebrate together as a community..

Next week will continue to be busy as Year 1 children take part in statutory testing as they complete their phonics screening check. As the children are used to their routine of daily phonics lesson they will unaware that this is anything different. It is crucial that all children have full attendance and arrive at school promptly in order for them to achieve to their full potential in these assessments. I am sure the children will all perform well as they are so enthused in their Read, Write Inc lessons and are reading so confidently. Well done Year 1!

This Tuesday 12 June we will be having our whole school photograph to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of our school opening in 1978.We ask that the children wear full winter uniform on Tuesday. Please ensure you have returned all your GDPR forms signed by both parents as your child cannot be included on the photograph if we do not have permission in line with the new legislation. Thank you for your support.

On Wednesday 27 June we are holding our annual New Intake Evening for parents of children starting at St Wulstan's in September. Even if you already have a child in school it is important that you attend this meeting as this will be an opportunity to give you information and for you to ask any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing many of you then.

As you are no doubt aware at the end of this term we will be saying a fond farewell to both Mrs Warnett and Mrs Harris as they start their maternity leave and a very well earned rest. I am pleased to say we have appointed a new member of staff to cover Mrs Warnett's absence next year, Mrs Freitas. The children will meet their new teacher on 'move up' morning in July. We are now in a position to share with parents the staffing structure for the next academic year which is as follows:

We hope you have a lovely weekend and please remember our Year 3 children in your prayers on Sunday. It will be a separate Mass at 11.30am so it would be lovely to see many of you there . We would welcome as many children as possible to come and sing in the choir.

KE Savage

Friday 8th June 2018

Dear Parent

PARENT ACADEMY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES REQUIRED

St Wulstan's Catholic Primary School has two vacancies for parents to join its Academy Committee. All parents have the opportunity to nominate, stand as a candidate and vote.

Our school is part of the Saint Nicholas Owen Catholic Multi Academy Company. Typically, there are two meetings held each school term.

To be eligible, you must be a parent of at least one registered pupil of the school at the time of the election and you are asked to serve on the Academy Committee for four years (unless you resign the post in the interim).

However, any parent who is an elected member of the local authority or employed at the school for more than 500 hours in any twelve consecutive months is not allowed.

For the purposes of election, the term 'parent' applies to any person who has (or has had) parental responsibility, or cares (or has cared), for a child currently at our school. Grandparents are not allowed to be nominated.

A nomination form is available now to download at the school website (or from the school secretary) and it must be returned to the school by no later than 12 noon on Wednesday 20th June 2018.

Should only one or two nominations be received by this official closing date and time, the candidate(s) will be duly elected unopposed.

If there are three or more nominations an election will take place between Thursday 21st June and Tuesday 3rd July 2018 (closing at 12 noon). Information on voting arrangements, if necessary, will be sent to you at a later date.

If you are selected as a Parent Academy Representative (PAR), you will also need to agree to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Your appointment will not be valid until a satisfactory disclosure has been obtained.

The Education Act 2002 requires the PAR's to be elected by the parents of registered children at our school and should you wish to be nominated, you will require two proposers.

Patrick Kennedy (Chair of St Wulstan's Academy Committee), Angela Randle (Vice Chair) and myself will be available in the school on Friday 15th June. If you would like to meet with us to find out what the role is likely to include, please just turn up in the afternoon at the school between 3.30 and 4pm.

We look forward to receiving all nominations.

Yours sincerely

Andy Haynes

Returning Officer

Foundation Governor

St Wulstan's Academy Committee