Newsletter 6th September 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

We’re so excited to welcome everyone back for a brand-new academic year, and a special warm welcome to the new families joining Tetsworth. It feels like summer flew by, and we’re already diving into another school year. I’m thrilled to step into my new role and look forward to the exciting plans we have for your children this year.

It’s been fantastic to see all the children looking so smart in their uniforms. As a gentle reminder, please ensure all items of clothing are clearly labelled with your child’s name. This really helps us keep track of everything!

This year, we’ve decided not to issue badges with year groups on them. Last year, only a handful of children wore them, and we understand it can be tricky for parents to remember to reattach them after washing uniforms.

Please ensure your child comes to school in the correct PE kit on their designated days. The kit should include blue or black shorts, a navy school PE t-shirt, navy/black jogging bottoms, a sweatshirt, and appropriate trainers. Don’t forget to tie back your child’s hair and ensure earrings are removed (or taped over if recently pierced).

Here are the PE days by class:

– Sapphire: Thursday

– Moonstone: Wednesday and Friday

– Amethyst: Friday

– Ruby: Monday (Swimming) and Tuesday

We know the playground has been busy during drop-off. After trying other systems, for now, we will return to our four-bell system:

1. First bell: Stand still

2. Second bell: Moonstone, Amethyst, and Ruby to enter

3. Third bell: Reception enters

4. Fourth bell: Nursery enters

Please note that parents should not enter the building at drop-off. If you need to speak to a teacher, you can either email the office to arrange a time or catch them before the bell rings. This helps us keep track of everyone for safety reasons. Additionally, children remain your responsibility until 8:45 am when they are handed over to us, so we kindly ask that they don’t run around the playground during drop-off.

When children leave school, please remind them not to ride bikes or scooters down the ramp. We’ve noticed some children speeding down the road, which can be dangerous. If your child is in Year 5 or 6 and walking home alone, please ensure you’ve sent written confirmation to the office. Let’s keep everyone safe!

If someone else will be picking up your child, please inform the school by email or phone to help us ensure their safety. In the coming weeks, Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Mann will be sending out paperwork to update consent forms. Please make sure all approved names for pick-up are included on these documents.

Year 5 & 6 children may leave independently if you’ve given permission. This helps ensure everyone stays safe at busy times.

Our Friday reading sessions will continue, but due to Sapphire class having music at 8:45, we’ve adjusted the timing slightly. Reading sessions will now start at 8:30 am and finish by 8:45 am. The first session will be on Friday, 13th September. I’ll review this arrangement over the coming weeks.

 We ask that children bring healthy snacks for break time, such as fruit or cereal bars, and not crisps or chocolate. Nutritious snacks provide steady energy, helping children stay focused during the day. In addition, we kindly ask that children bring only water to drink.

In Sapphire class, we kindly ask that children do not bring additional snacks from home, as we will provide fruit and milk. Miss Cook mentioned that the children have been really enjoying the variety of fruit available to them this week!

We will hold our Meet the Teacher sessions at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, 24th September. We’ll begin in the hall with a brief introduction, followed by time to visit your child’s classroom and meet their teacher. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the year ahead.

We’re delighted to welcome Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Roberts to the Tetsworth team as Teaching Assistants! We’re excited to have them on board.

As we experienced a sudden downpour at home time yesterday, please make sure your child comes to school with a waterproof coat. Let’s be prepared for this unpredictable weather, where has the sunshine gone!

Please remember that toys from home are not allowed in school. This ensures they don’t get lost or damaged, which can upset the children.

While we aim for a smooth, issue-free year, we understand that sometimes concerns arise, and you may need to speak with us. Please ensure that your first point of contact is your child’s class teacher. If you need to make arrangements to speak with the teacher or for any other communications, please contact the office at office.2456@tetsworth.oxon.sch.uk . Of course, if you feel the need to speak with me, my door is always open!

We’d like to say a massive thank you to the TPSA for purchasing new tables and chairs for the children! While they haven’t arrived yet, we’re looking forward to seeing them in use soon.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to a fantastic year ahead at Tetsworth!

Mrs Spencer