As another academic year draws to a close I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the support and involvement you have given the school this year.
An amazing year!
Once again we have had an amazing year! There have been a number of ‘special event’ days and some fantastic work done in school. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this possible, to the SPA for their amazing work in raising funds and to all members of the school community for their part in these events.
We have ended the year on a high; our end of key stage results exceeded both Herts and National percentages and all school results show everyone is doing well! Thank you to all the staff for their tireless work on behalf of the school and for helping to make William Ransom what it is.
Does your child have an inhaler?
If your child has an inhaler or any other prescribed medication which is kept in school please ensure it is taken home for the holidays and that it is returned in September with an appropriate shelf life!
Please collect any other medicines from the school office by the end of today.
Music lessons
Peripatetic music lessons will start again in September. Violin will start on Friday 7th, and the other instruments the following week. Recorder – Tuesday, Guitar – Wednesday and Brass – Thursday. Please ensure, children have their instruments in school. All brass, recorder and violin lessons take place in school time. Beginners guitar is in school time with intermediate players having lessons after school. A more detailed timetable will be issued by the teachers once the groupings have been fully established.
Wearing a watch
You will remember that from September 2018 we are going to allow Key Stage 2 children to start wearing a watch to school to assist them in learning to tell the time. They must be analogue watches with no ‘extra sounds’! Smart watches may not be worn. This is optional and we suggest a cheap, durable watch.
Peter Pan
Those of you who came to Peter Pan last week will have seen the remarkable talent many of our pupils have on the stage. Their performances were outstanding and we were really proud of all of them.
I am delighted to be able to tell you that we raised £683.63 towards purchasing an AED defibrillator.
Miss Barnett
Today is Miss Barnett’s last day. I am sure you will all join me in wishing her well in her move to her new school in Oxford. Next term we welcome Mrs Barrett to join our team.
Baby news
I am delighted to tell you that Mrs Tite is expecting a baby in December. I am sure you will all join me in congratulating Mr & Mrs Tite on this exciting news!
A reminder about school uniform
As we are approaching the end of the school year and the holidays may be a time when you are purchasing new uniform, I thought this would be an ideal opportunity to give you a reminder of what we expect with school uniform:
Boys
White shirt
Classic styled grey trousers or shorts (Not cut offs or combats)
Red tie / Striped tie KS2
Black or grey shoes (not trainers)
Red Jumper
Dark socks
Girls
White blouse / shirt
Grey skirt or pinafore dress
Red cardigan / jumper
Red tie / Striped tie KS2 (optional)
Sensible shoes / sandals (no raised heels or soles, not open toed, must have a strap to secure fastening) in grey, red or black
Dress in red and white check in conventional school style
Classic styled grey trousers (optional)
White socks – not trainer socks
All of these items can be bought through the uniform shop at school at competitive prices and the jumpers and cardigans will all have the school logo on them. If in any doubt, please ask before you buy.
Hair should be clean and neat and cut in a reasonable style. ‘Hi-fashion’ styles are not allowed. Girls with long hair should tie this back for safety. Hairbands should be plain and in the School colours. Boys’ hair should be kept short and not longer than the base of the shirt collar. Please use the summer break as an ideal time for children to have their hair cut!
Indoor PE kit should include shorts and short sleeved t-shirt in red and/or white. Plimsolls are needed for walking to and from the hall and certain activities. These should be kept in a small drawstring bag.
Outdoor PE kit should include tracksuit bottoms and a sweatshirt/tracksuit. They need a change of socks and trainers, plimsolls are used for indoor lessons. All of this outdoor kit should be in school colours, but we include black as this is relatively easy to purchase. The children will work outside in cold and damp weather so these items of clothing need to be warm and they need to fit. If pupils are going out representing the school they will be expected to wear appropriate clothing. We are selling school sweatshirts and tracksuit bottoms which would be ideal.
Due to the severe shortage of space in our cloakroom areas we ask that large bags are not sent to school for any reason, including those for holding games kit. The smallest and most pliable bag suitable for items children regularly carry is the ideal.
All possessions, especially clothes and shoes, should be clearly marked with the owner’s name. This is vital. It is impossible for items without a name to be returned to the children and it wastes an enormous amount of our time.
A waterproof art apron is required for art activities. Elastic in the cuffs is advisable with Velcro at back.
The Health & Safety advice to all schools is that NO body jewellery should be allowed in school because of the inherent dangers to personal safety and also the safety of others. The medical advice to us is that pierced ears are perfectly safe to be left, without earrings, during the day and can be fitted with them on return home. Additionally we are advised that if any girl is going to have her ears pierced, then it is recommended that this is done at the beginning of the summer break to allow time for healing. I should add that there will be no exceptions to this rule.
We look forward to welcoming the pupils back to school on Tuesday 4th September. I trust you all have an enjoyable summer break!
Yours sincerely
Mary Driver