4. Archive Newsletter 09.10.19
OCTOBER
Thursday 10th
Year 1 Trip to The Vine – 9.00am-12.00pm
Parent Council Meeting – Staffroom – 2.00pm-3.00pm
Parent Volunteers Induction with Miss Durkin (Deputy Head Teacher) – 5C – 2.30pm-3.20pm
Monday 14th
Year 3 Environment Day
Tuesday 15th
1A, 1C, 4B, 4A swimming
Thursday 17th
KS1 Harvest Festival – Main Hall – 11.15am-11.40am (please see details below)
KS2 Harvest Festival – Main Hall – 1.20pm-2.15pm
(please see details below)
Kent Test Results to Parents/Carers
LAST DAY OF TERM 1
Friday 18th
INSET DAY – NO CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
Monday 28th
FIRST DAY OF TERM 2
Foundation Stage & Year 6 Parent Consultation Week – Classrooms/Group Rooms
Tuesday 29th
1A, 1C, 4B, 4A swimming
Foundation Stage & Year 6 Parent Consultation Week – Classrooms/Group Rooms
Wednesday 30th
Whole School Flu Vaccination Programme – all day
Year 4 Trip to Crofton Roman Villa
Foundation Stage & Year 6 Parent Consultation Week – Classrooms/Group Rooms
Thursday 31st
Foundation Stage & Year 6 Parent Consultation Week – Classrooms/Group Rooms
Dear Parents/Carers,
The last newsletter of the first term has fallen to me and what a term it has been! In the last few weeks alone, we have had a visiting author, Harriet Goodwin, as part of the Sevenoaks Literary Festival, a Year 5 trip to the Science Museum, a Creative Education visit for Years 3/4 and our first Open Morning for potential new parents. Our Year 5/6 tour guides were great ambassadors for the school.
I had the pleasure of joining Year 6 on their residential trip at Blackland Farm, last week. It was lovely to see them using their team-building skills and having fun. There were many golden moments, highlighting children’s support for one another and their humour and resilience. I particularly enjoyed chatting with children on the night hike, in the rain and mud!
Our family learning sessions got off to a good start this week, with a number of parents attending, ‘An Introduction to Mental Health and Wellbeing’ as well as our Parent Induction sessions for volunteers. We will be organising more sessions going forward based on our Curriculum, First Aid and Wellbeing – watch this space!
Wishing you all a good week and a half as we head towards the end of Term 1.
Best wishes,
Miss Durkin
Deputy Head Teacher
Harvest Festival – Thursday 17th October 2019
This year’s Harvest Festival will continue along the traditional route whereby children are asked to donate dry/long-life groceries. These will be donated to the Loaves & Fishes Foodbank Charity, operating from St John’s Church Hall in Sevenoaks. The list of suggested donations is as follows:
Priority:
Tinned vegetables (preferably peas/carrots/green beans/sweetcorn)
Tinned meat for hot meals (e.g. minced beef & onion, stew/casserole, chicken in white sauce)
Tinned fruit
Breakfast cereal
UHT milk / fruit juice (long-life) / fruit squash
Baked beans / tinned spaghetti /custard / rice pudding
Coffee / tea / hot chocolate
Honey / jam / marmalade
Toothpaste / toothbrushes / tissues / kitchen roll
Sauces for rice dishes: curry / sweet & sour
Tomato ketchup / brown sauce / mayonnaise
Spaghetti / baked beans with sausages
Tinned meat for cold meals (e.g. ham, luncheon meat, corned beef)
(We still have large stocks of pasta and tinned soup)
The Loaves & Fishes Foodbank charity is currently supporting up to 40 families in need, with young children, by giving them a large bag of non-perishable food every week of the year. The families in need are recommended to the charity by local churches, Head Teachers, Social Services, other Local Government Agencies and Spring House, an organisation offering help to families with young children. Loaves and Fishes Foodbank is an HMRC registered charity – XT36605, with Father Robin as one of the trustees.
On the day, may we ask that Phase 1 (Foundation Stage and Year 1) children bring their goods into class to be sent to the Main Hall during registration. Phases 2 & 3 (Years 2-6) can bring their donations directly to the Main Hall, via Playground 3 (next to Bradbourne Park Road), as they arrive in the morning, prior to entering their designated playground.
If there are any parents / carers who are able to help transport the donations from school to St John the Baptist Church on Quakers Hall Lane, please could you let the School Office know.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Miss Durkin
Deputy Head Teacher
School Uniform Shop
Our fantastic School Uniform Shop will be open on the following days:
Friday 8th November 2.45pm-3.15pm
Monday 18th November 9.00am-9.30am
Friday 6th December 2.45pm-3.15pm
Saturday 30th November Christmas Fair 12.00pm-3.00pm
Singin’ in the Rain! 
Autumn is well and truly upon us. Please ensure your child comes to school with a suitable coat to keep them warm and dry!
Staff Update
It is always sad to say farewell to colleagues, especially those who have been with the school for many years and who are fond friends. Mrs Eves has been a teacher at SPS for 20 years – in that time, she has become an integral part of the school community, being an inspiration for children and staff alike. Rachel is taking on a new challenge at Valence School in Term 2; we are sure you will join us in wishing her and her family all the very best. You will be missed, Mrs Eves!
If you hear a jangling of keys, it is sure to be Mr Gadd approaching! Mr Gadd, our popular Site Manager, is moving to Weald of Kent Grammar School to take on a new post. Starting as Caretaker in the year of the London Olympics, 2012, Mr Gadd then took over the role of Site Manager from Mr Calvert. Staff, children and parents/carers will miss Mr Gadd’s friendly and helpful approach and we wish him the best of luck in his new role.
We are sad to say goodbye to two of our Teaching Assistants, Mrs Dobson and Mrs Gwinnell. Mrs Dobson has been a member of staff at SPS for well over a decade – her caring manner is well-known and we hope that her tutoring work outside school continues to go from strength to strength. As well as being a popular Teaching Assistant, Mrs Gwinnell is also our fantastic Tennis Coach and, although she is leaving SPS, we are pleased to say that Mrs Gwinnell will continue to run our Tennis Team and Club. 
Finally, and importantly, you will have probably seen Mr Chatfield, our new Caretaker, around the school. Ian joined us earlier this year and is already a familiar face! Additionally, we look forward to welcoming Mr Ingham to Year 1, at the beginning of Term 2. Mr Ingham, an experienced teacher, will be teaching Class 1A during Miss Hawes’ maternity cover. Please look out for Mr Ingham next term and be sure to give him a warm, SPS welcome!
Sevenoaks Primary School Vacancies
- Early Years Foundation Stage 1-1 SEN Teaching Assistant (full-time)
- Site Manager (full-time)
Closing date for both positions - 9.00am on Monday 14th October. Interviews w/c Monday 14th October.
- Midday Supervisor: two vacancies available
- Breakfast Club Assistant: maternity cover (up to 1 year) - 4 mornings per week, term time only
Details of all vacancies and application forms can be found on Kent-Teach.com.
Previous applicants need not apply.
Canterbury Cathedral Chorister Scholarships
Canterbury Cathedral is holding auditions for Choristers on Saturday 9th November 2019. This is open to boys currently in Year 3.
For details, please contact David Flood on 01227 865242 or at david.flood@canterbury-cathedral.org
A short video is also available here
Secondary School Information Updates
‘Tis the season for Open Days!
Please take a look at the Transfer to Secondary School - Sevenoaks Primary School page on our school website for updates on forthcoming open days/taster days at secondary schools.
Blackland Farm: Lost Property!
We have a collection of unclaimed, and increasingly smelly, items leftover from Blackland Farm!
If you think your child is missing anything from last week, please have a look through the two black trugs located just outside the School Office.
Any unclaimed items will be disposed of this Friday 11th October.
