Welcome to SS Mary & Michael's News Page

We are once again planning to hold the Easter Egg Raffle this year to help raise funds for Cafod. As you can imagine it is a hugely popular event with the children. If you are able to donate an Easter Egg for this raffle we would be very grateful. Tickets will be on sale in school very soon (10p each) and the raffle will be drawn during the last week of this term.

Easter Services

You are welcome to join us in school for the following services:

Tuesday 30th March - 2:30pm Holy Thursday Mass KS2

Wednesday 31st March - 2:45pm Good Friday Celebration

Thursday 1st March - 9:30am Easter Sunday Celebration

Schoolfunds Reward Scheme

Our current total is 2,853 points! Thanks to the Schoolfunds scheme we have recently been able to 'buy' £220 of art supplies for use across the school, so a big thank you to everyone who has bought online via this site - for every 10,000 points earned school can buy £50 worth of goods - all at no extra cost to you when you puchase goods online! See below for more information on the scheme, which earns the school points for purchases you make over the internet, at no extra cost to yourself - new retailers are being added all the time so it's worth checking back if a particular retailer wasn't listed previously. We are always looking to boost our points total, so remember to visit the Schoolfunds website first when shopping online, then select the required website from the links - don't forget to choose our school first so that the points you earn can be awarded to the correct school.
*UPDATE - Mrs Bisby is compiling a shopping list of art supplies, for use across the school, which she will be able to 'buy' with our Schoolfunds points.

School Association News

Casino Night - Thank you to everyone who supported our recent Casino Night. This was a really fun night and raised £128.52 for school. Thank you to the North West Children's Support Group for running the evening and making it so enjoyable. Also a big thank you to the parents who made a donation of £90 to school association funds on the night.
Talent Night - This takes place on Friday 19th March at 7pm. Tickets are now on sale - £4 per adult, child tickets £1 each. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Haiti Appeal - Thanks to everyone's generosity and support we made a fantastic £374, with money donated by Tots & Co toddler group this figure will rise to about £410. Special thanks to those Year 6 children who helped to run the stalls.
100 Club - Our successful 100 Club is now in it's fourth year. The draw takes place each month, with a cash prize for one lucky winner. The more numbers sold the bigger the prize each month. If you would like to join please see Mrs Georgina Inman or call into the school office for further details - we would like to sell as many numbers as possible to help us continue running the 100 Club each year.
100 Club Monthly Draw Winner - this month's lucky winner was Mrs Cath Hodson, number 53, who won £64. Congratulations!
Sales Board - One of our parents had a very good idea, which we are going to trial. There is to be a 'SALES BOARD' in the porch leading off the playground. If you have any items you wish to sell, or are looking to buy a particular item, you can use our new 'SALES BOARD'. The instructions and forms will be on display by the board. All you need to do is fill out a slip and stick it on the board. In buying or selling via our board you agree to give 20% of any sales to the School Association. Please read the instructions by the board carefully if you decided to use it.
Hopefully it will provide a useful service to parents (and children who have old toys etc to sell) as well as raising funds for our School Association.
Discount vouchers - We have just registered with a new website called www.ptalocal.co.uk. Visit this website and find our school by entering the postcode PR3 1RB and clicking our school on the map. There are vouchers for top tourist attractions to download, holiday discounts and creative ideas. New vouchers will be offered throughout the summer.

Safeguarding

Please can we remind you that access to the school building for the children is via the playground door. Parents requiring access to the school building for whatever reason, either before or at the end of the school day, should use the main entrance. For health and safety reasons we will ask all visitors to sign in at the main reception should they be intending to remain on the premises for any length of time. Should your child arrive at school after the bell please bring them to the front door. Parents will be asked to fill in our late arrival book, with a reason for lateness, for registration purposes. Many thanks for your help in this matter.

Goal Posts

Many thanks to Mrs Higham who assisted our after school football club in acquiring grant funding for much needed portable goal posts for use on the field. The funding covers half the cost of the posts and the club successfully matched the funding through their recent 'penalty shoot out' competition. Well done everyone. Many thank also to Mr and Mrs Winstanley who made a donation to the 'goal post fund' on Philip's transfer to high school last summer, and to volunteer helpers who assist with after school football club who offered their much needed advice as to which goal posts to purchase!

Preston Mega Dance Festival

School has signed up to Preston's Mega Dance Festival at the Charter Theatre on Wednesday 31st March 2010. The festival will see 21 local primary and secondary schools performing their routines on the given theme of 'JOURNEYS', and will involve an afternoon rehearsal and evening performance. Those children involved have been notified seperately. Tickets are now on sale through the Charter Theatre box office on 01772 258858 at a cost of £3. Please do come along and support if you can. The children and Mrs Wilkinson are very excited about taking part in the project......a little daunted, but very excited!

Sainsbury's Active Kids Vouchers

We are once again collecting the Sainsbury's Active Kids Vouchers (available in store 17th February - 8th June) to help us raise enough for the fantastic sports equipment that Sainsbury's are offering. Please start collecting the vouchers and bring them into school as soon as possible!

Cafod Lenten Fundraiser

We have joined Cafod's 'give it up! this Lent' campaign and have already talked in assembly with the children regarding the theme. With this week's newsletter was a sponsor form with more details. The date on the bottom right hand corner of the information letter is when we require the money to be returned to school. On that day the children will be encouraged to 'customise' their school uniform in some way as a visible celebration of their achievement in turning 'sweets into bees'! For any further information or should you have any questions please talk to a member of staff. Thank you.

Wyre in Bloom

Back in the summer term 2009 our school successfully achieved a silver award in the schools category of the annual local Wyre in Bloom competition. This award was in recognition of the extensive grounds development work carried out in the school playground and woodland area, which has included; a revamp of the planters on the playground, woodland paths leading to the school field, an outdoor stage and theatre area, mini fruit tree orchard, vegetable patch, new outdoor prayer space and a small pond. (photos available on our Environment page.)
It is hoped that the prayer space will be blessed and officially opened in the summer term by Bishop Michael during an outdoor mass, and that the pond will be ready for use by the children in their curriculum studies in the same term. Mrs Wilkinson, accompanied by Tom Turner and Beth Singleton, visited the Mayor's Parlour at Poulton's Civic Centre to receive the award from the Mayor and Mayoress of Wyre. Many thanks to all those who have supported and continue to support our grounds development work; Mr Singleton and Myerscough College, Mr Wood and LCC, Wyre Borough Council, Houghton's Garage and Mrs Walbank who regularly helps with gardening club activities. It is hoped that the club will recommence in the summer months. Congratulations to all for making our school grounds an attractive and valuable resource that continues to enhance the creative curriculum in the classrooms.

School Dinners

Our school dinners continue to be a great success with those children taking a hot meal on a regular basis enjoying a varied choice of three meals, cooked by our wonderful kitchen staff. We urge you to consider our school meals as an option on either a full week or a part week basis. We do ask however, where at all possible, that you allow us some notice if you are considering changing your child?s lunchtime arrangements and that arrangements stand for at least the half term. This allows the smooth management of the ordering of stock in the kitchen along with the dinner registers and payment of meals in the school office. The children who have a hot meal can still socialise with their friends on packed lunches and so dinner times remain a pleasant and relaxed occasion. We also take this opportunity to remind those children bringing packed lunches of the healthy choices that they can make when filling them at home...a balanced lunchbox may contain the occasional treat? just not too many! Thank you.

Car Parking

Can we please remind parents that parking alongside the school building, both by the front door and outside Mrs Parker's and Mr Parry's classrooms and the school kitchen, is reserved for school staff. Parents are asked to remain considerate and not use these spaces please. Thank you. There are still one or two passes available to allow parents to park on the Church Inn car park. Call into the school office if you are interested.

When dropping off children in the morning and collecting them at the end of the day, can we please ask you to park sensibly and vacate the car park as soon as possible. We share the parking area with church and Hummingbirds and would appreciate consideration for all car park users to make the best use of our limited space at peak times. Arrangements have been made to use the car park at The Church Inn. The landlady has kindly agreed to allow our parents to park there for half an hour at each end of the school day 8.30-9.00 am and 3.15-3.45 pm, Monday to Friday. You need to register your car with school so that a 'badge' can be issued to display on the dashboard. We have a few spare disks available which will be issued on a first come first served basis. Call into the school office if you would like to use this facility.

If you live outside Garstang, then Wyre Borough Council has a permit scheme to use the High Street Car Park at the start and end of each day to allow you to drop off and pick up your children from school. The form is available from the school office to enable you to apply for a permit.

Morning Start

School begins at 8.55am and we ask that you make every effort to be punctual and arrive in good time for the start of school. It can be very disruptive for classes if children arrive after lessons have begun. Parents are welcome to wait in the school yard with their children, but we ask that you remain on the yard and allow the member of staff on duty to see the children into school, avoiding over congestion of the corridors. Should you arrive at school after the start of the school day please enter the school building through the front entrance so that registers can be amended and kept up to date for health and safety reasons. Whilst many staff members are available on the school yard at the beginning and end of the school day, should you wish to speak to someone at length, please visit the school office via the front entrance and make arrangements through Mrs Gibbs to see the member of staff concerned at a mutually convenient time. Thank you.

Medication

We would like to remind you that in line with revised guidance regarding medication in school, with the exception of inhalers for asthmatics and other long term medication for diagnosed individuals, medication will not be administered to children by school staff during school time. This includes painkillers, antihistamines, antibiotics and the application of any creams etc. Parents are welcome to call in to school should they need to administer a regular dose of antibiotics to a child, but as a general rule if a child is poorly and on medication then they really should remain at home until they are well enough. Should you wish to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Wilkinson.

Nut Allergy

We would like to bring to your attention that we have two children in school with a nut (and kiwi fruit) allergy. In order to minimize the risk to these children, could you please refrain from sending your child into school with nuts or products containing nuts. Thank you.

Water Bottles

Children in school are encouraged to bring a bottle of water with them each day which they are able to drink from throughout the school day. The children get very thirsty, especially following PE, and at present we are not using the water fountain in the library area. Please make sure your child's bottle is clearly named to avoid confusion.

Name Tapes

Can I please remind all parents that it is very important that all the children's school clothes, especially sweatshirts, jumpers, cardigans and coats, are clearly marked with their names. This is very important for all children in our school and would greatly help cut down on the amount of lost property that accumulates.

Head Lice

Please remain vigilant. Head lice are small parasites that live close to the scalp. Nits are the empty egg cases which stick to the hair and are harmless. Your child only has head lice if you find living moving lice (not a nit). It is the head lice that must be treated. Ask your GP, pharmacist or the school nurse (607225) which lotion or liquid to use. It is available on prescription. Nits can be removed by combing the hair when wet with a nit comb. A Plastic Detector Comb (available from your pharmacist) is essential to detect live head lice. The best way to stop infection is for families to check all family members? heads regularly using detection combing. If you do find moving lice ask your pharmacist, GP or school nurse for advice immediately. With regular checks and any necessary treatment we can eliminate this problem.

Personal Notes & Party Invites

We would like to ask parents who are issuing children's party invitations/thank you notes via school to distribute as many as possible via parents on the school yard rather than through your child's class teacher. This would help the teachers greatly at the end of the school day! Thank you.

Guitar and Keyboard Lessons

Guitar lessons are now held every Tuesday and Keyboard lessons every Friday for children in Year 2 and above. If you would like your child to have lessons then forms are available from the school office.

Discovery Vine After School Club

We would like to make parents aware of our excellent after school club facility, Discovery Vine, which operates five afternoons a week from 3.25 to 5.45 pm in the Castle Lane Community Centre. The club offers a wide range of exciting activities, snacks for the children, outdoor and indoor play, games, competitions and much ore. With a slight fall in the number of children on roll in school, the numbers at after school club has also taken a fall and we are keen to maintain this excellent service for our families. Please, please use the facility or we will lose it! Should you be interested in using the club on any afternoon during the week, or would like more information regarding costs etc, please contact Discovery Vine on 07500600891/01772 731808 or through the school office.

Should your child already be booked in at after school club, please contact Discovery Vine directly should you not require your child to be collected from school, for whatever reason, so that they are clear as to who they are collecting and taking across to the community centre. Many thanks.

School Attendance

School was recently visited by a newly appointed attendance consultant who carried out an audit regarding policy and procedures around pupil attendance. A report will be written and received in due course, but some of the points raised will require your help! When a child is absent from school we are required to telephone home on the first day of absence to ascertain a child's whereabouts. Of course if the parents telephone school first thing then this will not be necessary. A record of such telephone calls will be logged in an absence book along with any incidences of lateness. This is required legally in line with safeguarding and health and safety policies. On the child's return to school written confirmation of their reason for absence is required. Any request for leave from school must come to the attention of the headteacher via a request for leave form, which must be completed in all instances. The attendance officer will review our annual target for attendance and will look to help us meet them on a regular basis. It is advised that attendance rates of below 95% should be carefully monitored and procedures followed should this rate decline. We cannot meet our targets without your help. Should you require further information please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Wilkinson. Many thanks for your continued support.

Recycling - Printer Cartridges & Mobile Phones

We have a box in the Library area in school for collection of old laser and inkjet cartridges and mobile phones. Empty inkjet cartridges should be in suitable protective packaging before being placed in the box, batteries should be included with mobile phones. No Epson inkjet cartrideges or compatible cartridges please. All funds raised will go towards the hospice at Lostock Hall in Preston.

Telephone Calls from School

In school we have two phones which can make outgoing calls - 603023 and 600075. Only one of these , 603023, can receive incoming calls. We may try to contact parents from either number and will always try to leave a message. If 600075 appears on your phone, please be aware that it is school trying to contact you, and to return the call you must ring 603023.

Garstang Cars Ltd - the Premier Taxi Company

Garstang Cars (01995 607777 - www.garstangcars.com) have very kindly offered to sponsor our newsletters by making a generous donation to school funds. In future if you book your taxi through Garstang Cars and quote booking code SSMM 304, 5% of every booking will be donated to school funds. Garstang Cars are available for booking 24 hours a day and offer return journeys to Manchester and Liverpool Airports from only £90.

Schoolfunds Rewards Scheme

www.schoolfunds.co.uk provides extra educational equipment for schools through online shopping. The Schoolfunds Reward Scheme involves all the leading online retailers including Argos, Tesco, Boots, Amazon, Comet, Debenhams, Littlewoods, Dixons, Woolworths, Currys and hundreds more, with the list growing all the time. By simply using the schoolfunds website to select online retailers, reward points are collected for every purchase, points can be exchanged for educational equipment for school. Log on to the website www.schoolfunds.co.uk, select the 'School' tab at the top right, select 'North West', then 'Lancashire', scroll down and select SS Mary and Michael Catholic Primary School. Add the site to you favourites or make it your home page. Anything you would normally purchase online, CDs, insurance, electricals, holidays etc., check first to see if you can link to the site you are using from schoolfunds to earn points for school at no extra cost to yourself. Points are updated every Monday so we can all see how many points have been earned.

e.g. online purchases from Next earn 2 points per £

book a holiday online with Portland Direct and earn 2 point per £ spent

car insurance with Direct Line earns 7,000 points

purchases from YellowMoon earn 7 points per £ as well as 25% cashbook for school

buy CDs, DVDs etc online at HMV earns 6 points per £, WHSmith is 7 points per £ etc, etc, etc!

There are hundreds of ways to earn points by simply shopping online as you normally would, just remember to go to schoolfunds.co.uk first and click on the link to the website you wish to visit from Schoolfunds homepage.

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