06 January 2012
Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians
Happy New Year to you all and I hope you had an enjoyable holiday. On behalf of myself and all the staff, many thanks for your good wishes, cards and gifts at the end of term.
Welcome
I would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to Mrs Janet Stride who is the Acting Headteacher of The Southwater Junior Academy. We are sure that our close working relationship with the Junior Academy, for the benefit of all our children, will continue under her leadership.
Proposed Free School, Southwater
It is our understanding that Horsham Churches Together and The Oasis Trust have been communicating directly with parents and residents of Southwater about establishing a Free School in the Village.
At this stage it is not clear exactly what type of institution, educational provision, or the nature of the admission criteria being proposed. Like you we have been invited to a meeting to hear about the proposal in more detail early next week.
At this point in time we do feel that the consultation process has been very short over the Christmas period, the timing and pace of this, does not allow informed choice. The implications of this are that we have not yet had the opportunity to fully appreciate the consequences of a Secondary School in Southwater in terms of location or provision. Naturally we appreciate that any proposal that could be linked to housing is a very sensitive issue to the residents of Southwater.
Please note that there is a Public Consultation Meeting at Beeson House on January 19th at 7pm.
If appropriate, we will share more information when it becomes available.
School Grounds
You may have noticed that the playground markings planned to go down at the end of term have not yet appeared! This is due to the bad weather preventing the application of thermo plastics to the surface of the playground. We are hoping this will be rectified in the next few weeks. However, we have installed a new sandpit under the large canopy in the playground. This will double up as a stage area for the children to perform on! Also, we have installed a larger gate to reduce the amount of congestion for parents and children leaving the playground. Block paving is due to be laid within the next two weeks so that this area can be opened up to you all.
Christmas Performance Donations
Congratulations to all the children and staff for their dazzling Christmas performances at the end of term. I am sure you will agree that the singing, dancing, speaking and acting was of a very high standard across all the year groups and the costumes were amazing. Many thanks to all of you for attending and for your generosity to our collection for The Chestnut Tree Hospice. I am pleased to report that we raised a wonderful £427.75.
Reception Applications and Junior Transfer Forms
We would like to remind Year 2 Parents that the deadline for applications to transfer to the Junior Academy is fast approaching and should be completed by 15 January 2012. Also if you know of anyone who has a child who is due to start school in September 2012, the deadline for applications to the Reception year group is also the 15 January 2012.
Infant Academy Calendars for 2012
We have some calendars for sale at a bargain, knock down price, of £2.50. The calendar contains lovely photographs of every class across the school and the staff team. If you would like to buy one, please contact the school office.
Please find attached the event list for the Spring term and term dates for the Summer term. Please keep this in a safe place; as usual there is a great deal happening!
Yours sincerely
Mrs Sue Winn
Headteacher
