Information from Mrs Driver

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. 

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. All lessons will start week commencing 9th September with Recorder – Monday, Guitar – Wednesday, Brass – Thursday and violin – Friday. Please ensure, children have their instruments in school. All brass, recorder and violin lessons take place in school time. Beginner’s 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. We are also looking to set up a Samba Band in the new year. There will be more information about this in September. 

Mary Poppins
Those of you who came to Mary Poppins 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 £541.47 which some of our pupils will take to The Garden House Hospice in September. 

Economically challenging world
We all appreciate that we are living in an economically challenging world and there may be things we are offering as a school that you feel you cannot afford for your child to do. PLEASE come and talk to me on an individual basis. We have access to clean, nearly new uniform and PE kits and also funding for certain activities. All conversations will be treated with the utmost confidence. 

A challenge!
We have worked hard this year to keep you all up to date with e-safety advice! I have a challenge for you all. I would like you to send me a photograph of you and your children doing something which doesn’t involve technology at all! Let’s all have time away from our screens and let me know what you choose to do instead! 

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.

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. 

Festival of Languages day
We are hoping to arrange a Festival of Languages day on Friday 27th September but at the moment we do not have enough parents offering to get involved. Considering so many families want to get involved in the cultural display I was expecting lots of you wanting to take part! The children love this day and it would be such a shame to cancel it again. Please make contact with Mrs Hall at j.hall@wransom.herts.sch.uk if you think you could help.

Website
We are in the process of designing a new website! Look out for this in the new school year. We will be keeping our web address as www.wransom.co.uk so keep up to date with what is happening over the summer! 

Hello summer
We look forward to welcoming the pupils back to school on Tuesday 3rd September. I trust you all have an enjoyable summer break! 

Yours sincerely
Mary Driver