NEWSLETTER 10th May 2012

Tel: 0116 272 0401 email: office@woodlandgrange.leics.sch.uk www.woodlandwideweb.org.uk Many thanks go to the staff members who supported our Yr 5 Redridge and Yr 3 Beaumanor residential trips. Having run and supported many such trips myself, I know just how much energy they take up - you feel like and you are, on duty 24 hours a day for the duration of the trip. I am glad we have the kind of dedicated staff members who recognise the value of such trips to your children and who are prepared to give up so much of their own time to make them such a success. Thank you if you took the time to express your appreciation to these staff members.

Next years term dates over page

Jubilee Celebrations
To mark 60 years of the Queens reign we will be celebrating the Queens Diamond Jubilee in school on Thursday 31st May. Working with the Friends of Woodland Grange (FoWG) we have planned a range of activities for this special occasion. We intend to have a whole school garden party with a theme of Red, White & Blue. Children can come to school in non-school uniform matching this theme. The children will be entertained by a Punch & Judy show and there will be bouncy castles to inject a party feel into the day. We will have a special Jubilee dinner (menu to be provided)- hopefully outside (available to all pupils not just those who normally have school dinners - a letter to follow). HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? Just like we have parents come in to support the build up to Christmas with our decorations day, we need YOU to come into school on the morning of Tuesday 29th May if your child is in Yr 1 or Wednesday morning, 30th May if your child is in the FS, Yr 2, 3, 4 or 5 in order to help us get ready (there are decorations to be made and food to be prepared!) Please let your childs class teacher know if you can come in to support in the morning of these days. Your help will be greatly appreciated and it should be good fun. We will provide tea, coffee and biscuits to all that help out. Each pupil will receive a special Jubilee memento from the FoWG.

Important Dates
Tues 15th May Thurs 24th May Fri 25th May Fri 25th May Mon 28th May Tues 29th May Tues 29th May Weds 30th May Weds 30th May Thur 31st May Fri 1st June Mon 4th -8th June Mon 18th June Mon 25th June Weds 27th June Weds 27th June Class photos - extra smart today! FS Induction for new Parents 7-8pm Yr 1 Family Assembly 2.15pm FoWG - Indulgence evening 7-10pm Saffron Lane Athletics 4-5pm 10am -3pm Listening Bus at School (see article over page) Jubilee preparations morning (Yr 1) (see article above) Yr 1 to Curve Theatre Jubilee preparations morning (FS, Yr 2-5) (see article above) Whole School Queens Jubilee Party SCHOOL CLOSED - BANK HOLIDAY HALF TERM BREAK Book fair all week after school FS Sports day 9.30am Sports day KS1 9.30am, KS2 2.00pm Mrs Major & new Headteacher from Manor High School to give talk to Parents of our Yr 5 children Teddy Bears picnic for children new to FS next year Saffron Lane athletics finals SUMMER FAIR School Reports home this week Yr 5 Leavers performance 7-8pm Yr 5 Leavers performance 2-3pm Yr 5 Leavers Disco Last day of school Year

Leaving Woodland Grange?

If your child is in Years FS to Yr 4 and is leaving at the end of this year it is important to let us know in writing so we can begin to plan our classes for the next academic year.

Parlez-vous franais?
As Mrs Fletcher is teaching full time at the moment in Yr 4, I am glad to be able to inform KS 2 parents that we are thrilled to have Mrs Marquet teaching our Junior children on a Tuesday. As well as being a qualified teacher she is also a French national and the children are loving her accent!

Arabic & Urdu Language Club

Starting from next week (14th May) Mr Ebrahaim Panchbhaya will be running this club each evening, Monday to Friday, from 4.15/4.30 pm to 5.15pm in the School Library. An email has gone out to parents about this. More details can be obtained by contacting him on: 07748 953062 or 0116 271 3121. Each session is just 2.00.

Fri 29th June Fri 29th June Sunday 1st July Mon 2nd July Weds 4th July Thurs 5th July Weds 11th July Friday 13th July

Do you tweet?
For those of you who havent noticed, we now have a Twitter feed on the home screen of our web site. The most up-to-date news/information can now be posted via Twitter direct to the website but to get it even more immediately to your phone why not follow woodland_grange. You may not have considered using Twitter up to now but this may be reason enough!

FoWG News
Whilst the sun has not exactly been shining, Frozen Fridays have begun. There is locally made ice-cream and a variety of lollies available from the outdoor classroom every Friday after school. Why spend at the ice-cream van? Have a treat at a bargain price and benefit the school too!

Free School meals & Free clubs!

One of the ways in which schools are now funded is, in part, via a Pupil Premium. This is an additional amount of funding paid for each pupil entitled to free school meals. I am aware that there may be some families who could be entitled to free school meals but choose not to claim them perhaps because their children prefer packed lunches. I urge all families to claim what they are entitled to. Apart from receiving free school meals, entitlement in this and the next year will also enable children to attend a free club all year, half price trips and residentials and possibly even subsidised music lessons. Which families are eligible for Free School Meals is kept confidential at all times. We wish to ensure that we gain the highest possible funding level for school and I would ask you to claim your entitlement to free school meals if you are in receipt of any of the benefits below: Income Support Income based jobseekers allowance An income-related employment and support allowance Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 Child Tax Credit (provided not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income that does not exceed 16,190 as assessed by HMR&C The guarantee element of State Pension Element To apply for free school meals, either go on-line and download the application form by going to www.leics.gov.uk and searching for free school meals (copies also available from the School Office) or you can apply over the telephone by calling 0116 3057093, 0116 3056588 or 0116 3056409. You dont have to wait for the start of a year or term to apply - claim now!

SUMMER FUN DAY Sunday 1st July midday - 2pm

MORE DONATIONS REQUIRED We usually get some fantastic donations for our Summer Fun Day raffle as well as for the tombola stall. Please send in any donations you can make. Spring bedding plant orders to be in by May 15th please, ready for a 24th May delivery to school.

The Listening Bus

The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) is the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. Their listening bus is visiting Woodland Grange on 29th May between 10am and 3pm. Any parent/family member who has a hearing impaired/deaf child (at this school or not) may come along and visit. Please just contact the school office to let us know when, approximately, you would like to come. The information road show features a wide range of information on childhood deafness. Come and have a look at the latest equipment designed to assist in communication and learning and find out what services NDCS can offer. We would like to express our appreciation to the parents and grandparents who have supported swimming throughout the year. Without this support it would be so much more difficult to organise. Thank you.

Many thanks to the: Tailor family for their donation of furniture to school; Barkan family for all the paper and card; Bolsover family for their donation of stickers & labels and; Mistry family for the huge amounts of ribbons, tape and fringing. All such resources are hugely appreciated. Does your company have any resources they are getting rid of: card, paper (any size or type), pens, pencils, labels (in fact any stationery type items) or art/craft resources? Recycle them and benefit your school too!

Term dates for the next 3 years can be found on our school website under the Our Office section 2012/13 Academic Year
AUTUMN TERM School opens Thursday 30th August 2012

FILM CLUB Mr Arnolds club has proven to be a great success this year. Initially starting with 14 members, the club is now 26 members strong with many more wishing to join. To date the children have watched 24 films and written 293 reviews. The films have ranged from classics from the 1930s all the way up to more modern offerings. They have included documentaries, short films, slap-stick comedy, political satire, musicals and many more genre to provide a range of different insights to and perspectives on, the world of movies. Following each screening the children write reviews on the FILM CLUB website and each week a reviewer of the week is chosen. At the end of each term the winners of the reviewer of the week go into a prize draw for a set of family tickets for the cinema. Well done to Jennah Mohamed and Tara Kirk who have both won such a prize.

Mid Term Break Monday 22nd to Friday 26th October 2012 School closes Friday evening 21st December 2012 SPRING TERM School opens Tuesday 8th January 2013 Mid Term Break Monday 11th to Friday 15th February 2013 School closes Friday evening 22nd March 2013 SUMMER TERM School opens Monday morning 8th April 2013 May Day Monday 6th May 2013 Mid Term Break Monday 27th May to Friday 31st May 2013 School closes Friday evening 12th July 2013