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Dear
Parents and Children,
This
is the last newsletter of the academic year and, as always, I find it
difficult to write it as it is one that says farewell to a number of
excellent characters.
The
new term starts on Tuesday 31st August when staff only should attend
for training. All pupils in Years 1 - 6 should be on the yard at
8.55am on Wednesday 1st September ready to start the new school year.
Foundation 1 and 2 children will be informed by separate letter about
the arrangements for the start of the new term.
Attendance
and holidays in term time:
1. I am being told the school does nothing in the last three days of
term, at least nothing that the children can learn from. All of the
staff are upset by this attitude of a small minority of our parents.
Who decides what is valuable either socially, emotionally, physically,
morally or intellectually. I can assure all parents and children that
you will be registered for school on these 3 days and you will be
given the very best education that we can provide. Obviously you need
to be in school to get it!!!
2.Any
holiday, from half day to six months, MUST be requested in writing to
the Head teacher. Please note it should be in the form of a request
and not "I'm going on holiday because …." This is a LEGAL
REQUIREMENT. Any child found outside of school in term time without a
permission slip or letter can be cautioned and even taken to court.
This information has been the same for the last 10 years and each year
parents are reminded of this.
3.
The school has resisted pressure from the Education Welfare Officer to
impose a fine of up to £100 for any unauthorised holiday taken in
school time. However, from September, this will come in to effect in
our school (it's already in effect in many school nationally.
Laser
Schoolwear in London Road is the official supplier of uniform to
St Sebastian's School. If you decide to go elsewhere for your uniform
please ensure that it is right - school logo on the jumper/cardigan
etc… please call in to the school office if you need advice
regarding school uniform. If you are able, get your new uniform as
early as possible as the queues tend to get very long towards the end
of August.
All
money owed to school, Levy, Dinner, Trip, milk money etc should be
paid in before Wednesday 21st July so that we can close our books. If
you are experiencing difficulties please speak to Mrs Turner in the
school office, in confidence, so that a mutually acceptable
arrangement can be made. Please note if you owe money in July and do
not pay it you will still owe this money in September and we will take
measures to collect it.
Summer
Splash: Monday 26th July to Friday 20th August, 10am - 3pm each
day at a cost of £5 per child per day. If you require breakfast club
this is available each day between 9am and 10am at a cost of £1.80
per session. A separate Splash Letter will be sent out detailing all
of the fantastic activities taking place and containing a booking
form.
There
will be a Soccer Camp on site from Monday 23rd August for one week -
details will be sent out in a separate letter.
To
the Year 6 of 2009/2010
Your final assembly showed us all what a talented, gifted and special
group of young people you are. It has been our privilege, along with
your families, to see you grow and develop over a number of years.
there has been some great laughter and some tears but you have always
been honest with us and, for the most part, have always given the best
you have which is a credit to the characters you have become. You have
followed and maintained the fabulous reputation of St Sebastian's
School from the Big Sing at the Echo Arena to The Individual Speech at
St Georges Hall and all done to an excellent standard, enhancing the
reputation of your school. It becomes harder and harder to do
something that no other Y6 class has done before but you did not
disappoint us. Always looking for a challenge or opportunity to show
your positive attitude and abilities. The school was the first in
Liverpool, perhaps nationally, to be inspected on SEAL both as a
school and with families (a first). Liverpool Tag Rugby City Champions
(a first), the first winners of the Colin Semple Memorial Trophy for
the best overall (Boys and Girls combined) Catholic Primary school for
athletics. These wonderful achievements are on top of some excellent
SATs results that show your fabulous academic prowess.
As you move on remember "once a St Seb's child always a St Seb's
child! If you ever need support you or your family need only ask for
it. We are a family and want everyone to help us to continue to help
the Parish build up a strong community spirit. I hope that you have
all had many great experiences that will not only make you smile and
bring back happy memories but also help you to do exceptionally well
in your next school and future life. We have really high expectations
of you all and expect you to achieve those ambitions you have set for
yourself. You can feel extremely proud of yourselves because we are so
proud of you all. May Jesus bless and protect you and we all wish you
health, success and happiness in the future.
Mrs
Buckley: Retirement.
After 38 years devoted service to your children and our school we wish
Mrs Buckley a long and healthy retirement. Mrs Buckley is an ex pupil
of ours and will soon be an ex teacher. She has been a dedicated and
conscientious member of our school community and will be greatly
missed. It was fantastic that her incredible service was acknowledged
by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, by Fr Kelly and Fr Mark and by the
National Healthy Schools Co-ordinator with another award yesterday.
Mrs Buckley has been a loyal member of our staff and helped the school
to achieve 3 Outstanding Ofsted reports - only a few can claim this
unique position as well as helping the school to be named as one of
the top twenty Outstanding Primary Schools. She is quality and like
cream always rises to the top. Thank you Kathy, as often with the work
you do, your reward will be in heaven. Please take with you our best
wishes and our heartfelt thanks for a job (to steal an expression)
"exceedingly well done!"
Final
Assemblies: International Day (World Cup) & Y6 Assemblies:
At the end of a full year to see two fantastic assemblies was a credit
to the children and staff - well done to everyone!!
The theme for International Day was flying to all different locations
around the world with the cabin crew to assist. The children's
performance later in the day was inspired by what the staff had done
in the morning and they produced a great show.
The Y6 assembly was again a marvellous production full of creativity
and imagination that allowed all the children a significant role.
Again to have the teachers as role models has enabled Y6 children to
perform with talent and flair. It was a fitting end to a brilliant
year.
Fun
Afternoon - What a wash out!
In true St Sebastian's Spirit we made the most of a bad situation and
tried hard to enable the children to enjoy themselves. I did hear of
moans and groans and even a complaint that we hadn't sorted out the
weather!!! To see the staff and PTA working their socks off in such a
bad situation was inspiring - that people were prepared to do so much
for OUR CHILDREN. The children tell me they had a great time in spite
of the weather. Thank you to the staff and children for putting a
smile on the situation. Well done and I hope this will encourage
parents to join the PTA.
The
Staff of the Federation of St Cuthbert's and St Sebastian's.
There are some significant changes in the next academic year
and there have been some adjustments following a skills audit of all
the staff. Miss Carney from St Cuthbert's will be working in the
Foundation Unit at St Sebastian's. Miss Bridges and Mrs Carmichael
will working in Y1 at St Cuthbert's. Miss Hardiman will be working
across the federation and Extended School. Mrs Hagan has decided to
take phased retirement so she will no longer be deputy head teacher
and will not be in school every day. Miss Davies will be the new
deputy head teacher and effectively take on most of the duties
previously carried out by Mrs Hagan. Miss Davies, as all staff, will
be supportive of the aims of the federation. Miss Knox will be
assistant head teacher across the two schools. Miss Brough will be
working closely with the staff of both Foundation units to help us
improve even further.
Sadly we are saying goodbye to Mrs Copeland who, with her family, has
decided to return to Ireland. In her short time at St Sebastian's she
has always done her best and given our youngest children the very best
of starts,. I thank her for her support and kindness and for the
smiles she has shared with us all. Good luck Laura.
Miss Grady, our LEA Modern Foreign Language Advisor who helped us to
establish our school as a Centre of Excellence for Spanish, has taken
early retirement and is going travelling around South America. Thank
you Sheila and good luck for the future - Hasta Luego!
Weekly
coffee morning - every Monday morning.
Thank you to all those parents, grand parents, Parents of ex pupils,
carers and friends who have supported the coffee mornings. They meet
each week for a chat coffee and toast and by doing this raise money
for the Holy Communion Celebrations each year. Thank you to everyone
but most especially Margaret Wyke.
Have
a good holiday
Have a great holiday, come back refreshed and eager to learn and ready
to surprise us with your enthusiasm and energy. On your behalf I'd
like to give a MASSIVE THANK YOU to all the staff of your school who
give so unselfishly of their energy and time. I count myself
privileged to work with such a generous, talented and committed group
of people who want to give your children the best they can (as
demonstrated by the washout yesterday). We can all count ourselves
lucky here at ST Sebastian's with the staff from Extended Schools and
Field of Dreams - I don't think we could get better.
Have a great holiday all of you.
End
of Year Award Winners:
Sports Girls of the Year: Tammi Kapu and Jessica Bennett
Sports Boy of the Year hernick Grove
Liverpool John Moores Citizenship Award: Casey Quinn
Father Kelly's Community Award: Ean Rodrigo
Dennis Hardiman Award for Commitment & Generosity: Alicia Conroy
&
Curtis Reah
The Spirit of St Sebastian's Award: Emily Chappell
Sports
Kit - must be returned by tomorrow
There is a lot of sports kit (mainly football) that has gone home and
not been returned. We are now looking at hundreds of pounds of missing
kit and I have to say that it must be returned by tomorrow or
individual children will be charged for it.
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