Junior Newsletter, September 2008

What a fantastic start to the term!  All credit to the girls because they seem to have really taken to life in the Junior School.  All the girls have been most impressive in the manner in which they have settled into life at the High School, especially those who have just joined us, especially to those in Form One.  All of them move around the school with great confidence, as if they had always been a part of the school.  We are grateful to their previous schools, as they have been prepared so well for their transfer to their new school.  It really has been one of the smoothest starts to a new school year - well done to everyone!  I hope that you have received your copy of the school calendar.

At the beginning of the term, your daughter had her photograph taken along with the rest of her form and her form teacher.  The photograph's are now on display in the form room and your daughter can order one for 50p.  Please send 50p to your daughter's form teacher by Friday 19 September at the latest.  We will be unable to take any orders for form photographs after this date.

Now the children have settled in, I know that you would like to know more about the topics and areas of study that your daughter will be studying throughout the year.  We are currently updating our curriculum information for each year group and as soon as it is available, a copy of your daughter's curriculum for the year will sent to you. The girls are also settling into their new routines and very busy getting to their extra-curricular activities.

If your daughter is in Lower 3 and is interested in becoming involved in the Environmental Club, please see Mrs Copp or click on the link for further information.

The weather is still quite changeable at the moment, but on the hot days we do get, your daughter may prefer to come to school in her summer uniform.  White socks may also be worn with both the summer dress and the kilt until the October half term.  Following the half term holiday, all the girls will be expected to return to school in the winter uniform of the kilt and blouse with blue or black socks or tights.

It was good to meet many of you at the Meet and Greet afternoon where you had the opportunity to meet with your daughter's form teacher and to catch up with each other after the summer holiday. It was also good to see some of you at the New Parents' Evening last Thursday where you were able to meet with new parents from the Senior School as well as meeting members of the Senior Managements Team of the High School.

A huge thank you for all the Sainsbury's and Tesco's vouchers you sent in to the school last term.  We collected over 14,000 Sainsbury's ‘Active Kids' and over 11,000 Tesco Computer Vouchers.  Digital cameras and new equipment for the playground has been ordered which will be delivered later this term.

Parking

This is a continual plea but I am asking once again for parents picking up from Adelaide Square not to park on the double yellow lines especially before the end of school. Parents who park on the double yellow lines prevent other parents from pulling in to collect their daughters.  The school wants to encourage and promote road safety, and we can't if we have to ask your daughters to walk between parked cars because people are parked on the double yellow lines. The flow of traffic is helped enormously if you pull in and stop only when you daughter is ready to be collected.

Late Room

Please don't forget that the supervised Late Room operates from 4.00 pm until 6.00 pm. Your daughter may go there at the end of school. You are able to park in the Senior School playground and go to the Reception where your daughter will meet you. You do not need to book into Late Room and there is no charge for this service.

There are many events coming up this term. For further information, the calendar on the school's website should contain all the dates and times of the events that are coming up. For the school calendar click the weblink  http://www.bedfordhigh.co.uk/calendar.html

We have several trips and events coming up including ‘Girls Go Green', an Environmental Awareness Day, the Harvest Festival and the school's Open Day.

Please click on the links for further information regarding the following trips:

Upper 2  - Imperial War Museum, Duxford;

Upper 2 - Randall's Farm, Stewartby;

Lower 3  - Natural History Museum;

Upper 2 and Lower 3 attending a performance of Romeo and Juliet in Wellingborough;

Harvest Festival and Open Day.

As you can see there is lots going on during this half term and I hope this newsletter as well as the school calendar will help you know in advance as to what is happening during this busy term.

With best wishes
Corinne Royden
Headmistress of the Junior School