6. Archive Newsletter 19.12.17
DECEMBER - JANUARY DIARY DATES
Wednesday 20th
LAST DAY OF TERM 2
10:00am Years 3&4 Carol Service at St John’s Church
2:00pm Years 5&6 Carol Service at St John’s Church
Thursday 4th January
INSET DAY. NO CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
Friday 5th
INSET DAY. NO CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
Monday 8th
FIRST DAY OF TERM 3. CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL
3:45pm Football league at Knole Academy for selected yr 5&6 pupils
Tuesday 9th
1A, 1B, 5A, 5B swimming
Monday 15th
CLUBS START
Tuesday 16th
1A, 1B, 5A, 5B swimming
Friday 19th
6:30 – 8:30pm Key Stage 2 Disco
Tuesday 23rd
1A, 1B, 5A, 5B swimming
Monday 29th
Year 3 Ancient Egypt Day in main hall
Tuesday 30th
1A, 1B, 4A, 4B swimming
Year 5 trip to Southwark Cathedral
Dear Parents/Carers,
2017 has been quite a remarkable year for Sevenoaks Primary School.
We have moved from our home of over 50 years to the new building and been congratulated by KCC on our outcome achievement (read: test results) for the year.
We have enjoyed unrivalled success in both sporting and academic achievements, to name a few. We are now the South of England Hockey Champions and won the Kent School Games Basketball Finals. One of our (now) year 4 pupils reached the final of the Sevenoaks Partnership Bake Off competition and a year 6 pupil reached the top 37% of the National Primary Maths Challenge. The Gym competition squad won gold medals at the South East Key Steps Competition and our Chess Club enjoyed success at the UK Chess Challenge and National Primary Schools’ Competition Semi Finals. This is just the tip of the iceberg of our achievements.
If that were not enough, OfSTED decided to give us an early Christmas present in the form of an inspection! So, all in all, just another normal quiet year in the rollercoaster life of SPS!
It is hard to believe that this time last year we were still in the old building and the new SPS was merely foundations. Roll on 12 months and I am sitting in my new office and the view from the window has changed beyond recognition.
We are all delighted with the new school. There have been many changes to the fabric of the building but the spirit of SPS has remained. This has been evident over the past few weeks and particularly during the recent OfSTED inspection. It is never an enjoyable experience but I am incredibly proud of the latest inspection report.
It is official – Sevenoaks Primary School continues to be GOOD! Despite the various challenges, we have maintained the quality of education since the last inspection. It has been very much a team effort, with everyone pulling together, and it is this spirit that continues to make this school so successful. Please click the link below to read the full report:
Sevenoaks Primary School Ofsted report December 2017
I would like to take this opportunity, in the last newsletter of 2017, to thank you all for your support throughout the year and during the inspection process. Parental, staff and children OfSTED questionnaires revealed very positive feedback with the overwhelming majority of the parents stating that they would recommend the school.
We require heavily on parental support and it is through your engagement that we are able to foster a ‘true family feel.’
I would especially like to thank the Governing Body. I have been at the school for 17 years now and have always been fortunate to have a passionate, knowledgeable and supportive Governing Body. They work tirelessly to improve the school for the benefit of your children. It is a voluntary position and they receive little acknowledgement for their efforts. I would like to redress the balance somewhat and thank them on behalf of the children, staff and other stakeholders at the school.
A school is only as good as the staff that works there and I would not swap our team for any other. Their dedication, commitment and loyalty to this school is second to none and this was particularly evident during the inspection. Staff came into school even if they had not been timetabled to do so because they wanted to help and prepare to show the school in the best possible light. To quote the report: ‘all staff have a shared vision for excellence, and teamwork is strong.’ To all of the staff, a huge thank you from the children and myself – we all think you are fantastic!
Last but not least, I would like to thank the children. They have been brilliant this year, both in terms of coping with the transition from the old to the new building, and particularly, during the inspection. They were superb ambassadors for the school, and I am incredibly proud of them all.
We are now exhausted but elated and in need of a well-deserved rest! I would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
I look forward to another action packed year in 2018!
Best wishes
Alan DuffyKeeping to the paths
Please could we ask for both pupils and parents/carers to keep to the pathed areas around the school grounds.
A landscaping company spent considerable time and energy creating planted areas and tending to the grass seedlings. We would like to give them a fighting chance of growing!
Many thanks for your cooperation.
Midday Supervisor vacancies
The school has midday supervisor vacancies available. The hours are 1.5 per day, term time only.
To apply, please contact the school office on: manager@sevenoaks.kent.sch.uk or drop by the office for an application form.
Gerald’s Reading Army – additional volunteers required!
Would you like to volunteer in school, regularly supporting our children with reading? We are looking for additional members to join our Reading Army – this is an enjoyable and rewarding role.
To find out more details, please contact Mrs Holmes, one of our Year 6 teaching assistants.
Thank you!
Admission to Primary School – September 2018/19
If you have a child who was born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 and, therefore, due to start in September 2017, you will be able to apply for your child’s place in primary school from 6th November 2017. The application period will close on 15th January 2018. If you would like some help with your application, please contact Mrs Doleman, our Admissions Officer, in the school office to arrange an appointment.
CALLING ALL SIBLINGS
If the child you are applying for has a sibling currently at Sevenoaks Primary School, please use the following link to submit your child’s details: Calling all Siblings
Mrs Williams’ Cookery Group news
On Monday, our Cooking Group decorated Christmas yule logs well as transforming them into trains! All the children (and adults) had such fun making them.
As you can see from the photos, they were very creative!
STONEPITTS CHRISTMAS TREES
Stonepitts, a farm local to the school, would like to offer a £2.00 donation to the school for every Christmas tree bought by families, friends and staff.
If you would like to participate in this generous offer, simply produce a copy of this newsletter article when buying a tree and this will count towards the final donation to the school. If you are unable to print one off, call into our office for a copy from Mrs Sermon.
Additionally, Stonepitts are continuing their custom of making a donation for all trees sold to Help for Heroes, to whom they donated £1,350 last Christmas.
For further details including directions, please see their website: Stonepitts Farm
Many thanks to Stonepitts Farm for donating the Christmas tree in our main reception area!
