Dear Parents/Guardians

A very warm welcome back to everyone - pupils, parents and staff alike. Everyone seems to have settled in well so far even our youngest pupils in the Reception class (Dosbarth Coch)!

BESLAN , RUSSIA

I'm sure that you were as shocked and horrified as the staff, about the massacre in Beslan in Russia last week. Pupils have expressed their feelings of sympathy and have been asking how they could help. Therefore, we will keep the victims, their families and neighbours in our prayers. Prayers are a precious gift and at present offer the best way of us ‘helping out' in this tragedy. We will write to the Russian Embassy to express our horror at the events and offer our ‘help' in thought and prayer.

PARENT GOVERNOR

The post of Parent Governor is due for election from 26 th September 2004 . Any parents interested please complete the attached form and return to me as soon as possible. Please note that the forms explain how to apply. However, if you have any queries please feel free to contact me at any time. All applications must be returned by Monday 20 th September 2004 .

BREAKFAST CLUB

The Breakfast club, which ran daily between 8.15 am and 8.45 am , was a great success last year and now it's back and it's better than ever!!! Daily voluntary donation is 50p. All pupils and parents welcome.

PILL OUT OF SCHOOL CLUB

Unfortunately, the Pill Out of School Club has finished at St Michael's, at least for the time being. This Club has been in existence for a number of years and has been very successful. However, the Club has been unable to find suitable staff to continue to run this after school service. The Governors would like to thank Mrs Sue Anslow and Ms Pauline Glover who ran the Club last year. They would also like to thank all those parents, staff and organisations (eg. GAVO) for their time, dedication and commitment to child care in the Pillgwenlly area.

PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP

Our parent and toddler group meets at the school in the Community Room every Thursday afternoon between 1.30 and 3.30 am . So why not join with your pre-school child and enjoy an afternoon with other parents and toddlers. All are welcome.

FEAST OF ST MICHAEL'S

Mass will be at Church on Monday 29 th September 2004 at 9.30 am . This will be a double celebration - Welcome to the new academic year and the Feast of St Michael's. All parents, grandparents and friends of the school are very welcome.

MRS H FOSTER - SCHOOL CROSSING PATROL

Mrs Heidi Foster, School Crossing Patrol, will be finishing on 1 st October 2004 . Mrs Foster has cared for our pupils, parents and grandparents for a long while, ensuring that it has been safe to cross Marion Street which has become increasingly busier over the years!! We would like to thank her for her commitment, dedication and friendship and wish her well for the future.

INFANT GATES

Please note that there have been several changes to the landscape around St Michael's and there are more in the pipeline. Therefore, we have introduced a staggered exit from the Infants. Reception Class will lead out first as in previous years, while Dosbarth Gwyn and Oren will follow.

This has been introduced for safety reasons with the children foremost in our mind. Therefore, please could you bear with us. We will endeavour to get the children out on time but this is not always possible. Therefore, we request a little patience!!!

Also, when you have collected your children please could you move away from the gate as it can become a bottleneck and it is difficult for staff to see if parents and guardians are there to pick children up.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Peter Ellis (Photographers) will be in school on Thursday 7 th October to take photographs of individuals, family groups etc.

AUTUMN TERM DATES

Term Begins – 2 nd September 2004

Half Term Begins – 25 th October 2004

Half Term Ends – 29 th October 2004

Term Ends – 17 th December 2004

SCHOOL CLUBS

Tuesday - Rugby

Welsh Country Dancing

Wednesday - Netball

Thursday - Line Dancing

Friday - Football (lunch time)

Other after school clubs will be starting soon. Further information to follow ….

‘LAUNCH PAD' HOMEWORK CLUB

Mrs Barnes will continue to run her Launch Pad Homework Club which is funded through Newport Library & Information Service ‘Out of School Activities' bid from the New Opportunity Funding.

The aim of the service is to provide extra help to 10 nominated children in Year 6 with their homework plus other activities – i.e. using computers, craft work, reading books etc., for 1 ½ hours on a weekly basis after school finishes.

The club, which is free of charge, will run on Thursdays – 3.30 – 5.00 pm and will start on 9 th September 2004 .

Information will be sent out to the parents of the nominated children.

ANNUAL PARENTS CONSENT FORMS

Attached to this Newsletter are the ‘Annual Parents Consent Forms' for Local visits to parks/library etc and for photography for display purposes. Please make sure you complete and return them to your child's class teacher as soon as possible.

SCHOOL DATABASE INFORMATION

Your child will receive a ‘ DATA COLLECTION SHEET' soon, please check the information, amend if necessary and return to school as soon as possible.

PLEASE RETURN THE SHEET EVEN IF THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS!!!

This information is kept confidentially by the school and is very important so that we have up to date contact information for your child in an emergency.

SCHOOL MEALS

Please note that as from the 2 nd September 2004 school meal costs will be as follows:-

Infants £1.45 per day (£7.25 per week)

Juniors £1.55 per day (£7.75 per week )

Your child's dinner money must be sent in on MONDAYS ONLY (unless your child is absent) in a SEALED ENVELOPE with their NAME, CLASS, AMOUNT OF MONEY ENCLOSED AND THE DAYS THEY WISH TO STAY.

UNIFORMS

Please make sure that your child's name is written inside all clothing . We always have problems with children taking the wrong sweat shirts etc home. As you can imagine it is a nightmare trying to match up children to their clothes when they are not named! Any queries regarding purchasing new uniform, please see Mrs Barnes.

Please note that unclaimed items of clothing collected from last year will be displayed in the Hall on Thursday and Friday this week. Anything not claimed will be given away.