Dear Parents,
It has been great to see all the children back from the summer break this week. They all look very smart and have returned with enthusiasm and are excited about the start of the new school year.
As we move into the new academic year, we would like to take this opportunity to say that our commitment to our pupils and families is as strong as it has ever been. It is our priority to ensure that Mead pupils continue to receive an outstanding education. I can assure you that staff will know your child personally and will ensure that we meet their needs fully. We will work tirelessly so that all of our pupils can achieve in their academic, creative, personal, physical, moral and spiritual success and above all make sure that they are happy to attend school each and every day.
It is humbling to come to work everyday with an amazing team of staff who work their hardest to provide your children with magical experiences and your continuous support and commitment is as always very much appreciated.
It is really pleasing to come back to a much improved environment. The corridors and stairwells in KS2 have been freshly painted and new flooring laid and the upstairs classrooms redecorated. We have new windows in the classrooms downstairs in the KS2 building, in our KS2 hall and in the school kitchen. Work has started on the installation of a new play area for our year 1 pupils-We are really looking forward to it’s completion within the next 2 weeks as are our children who are desperate to get out there.
As you may/may not be aware we have some structural problems with the outside wall of the KS2 hall and are waiting to hear from the L.A, as they are planning to do some remedial work in the near future. It is likely this will mean we won’t be able to use the hall for up to 12 weeks which may impact on forthcoming events. I will ensure relevant information in this regard is shared in my weekly newsletters.
SLT - Senior Leadership Team
I am delighted to inform you of the names and roles of the Senior Leadership Team for Mead this academic year. As Headreacher I am ably supported by;
Mrs Alison Pidgeon - AHT -Primarily responsible for EYFS & KS1
Miss Anna Caltz who is our AHT- Inclusion(SEND, EAL, More Able)
Mrs Laura Leggett (nee Highton) who has been appointed interim AHT responsible for KS2 and curriculum.
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have. We will be on the gate every morning for you to speak to in person and to help you with any enquiries.
New Staff
We are delighted to introduce our new members of staff to you.
Mrs K. Boxall, who is the lead practitioner in our Nursery.
Miss R. Bloom who is a year 1 teacher in New Zealand class.
Mr C Cash who is a year 4 teacher in Greece class.
Miss C. Miklaucich who will be working alongside Miss Rolph in Madagascar class.
Miss K. Bush who will be working alongside Mrs Hillyear in Scotland class.
And Miss R Hircock who will be working alongside Miss Doherty in Canada class.
I know you will join us in warmly welcoming them all to the Mead team.
Pupil Jobs and Homework Expectations
For our established parents you already know that we accept only the best at Mead. We achieve this by working together with our families and emphasizing some key values. Pupils are expected to:
1. Turn up every day on time
2. Do their best in every lesson
3. Be kind and polite to everyone that they meet
Parents and carers are expected to:
1. Ensure that our children arrive on time for school and ready to learn:
a. Will have provided our children with a healthy breakfast
b. They will have warm clean clothing
c. Will make sure they have the right equipment for school (book bag, reading record, PE kit)
2. Parents/Carers are expected to support their children’s learning at home through:
a. Reading regularly
b. Helping them to practise their spellings and mental maths
c. Encouraging them in their interests
3. Will model politeness and kindness to every-one
We will ensure that our staff are professional, approachable and focused on making sure that every child in their care achieves their full potential. Working together we can continue to deliver outstanding results for our pupils so that they have every chance of going on to succeed at the next stage of their education.
All pupils are expected to continue their learning at home. Over years 1-6 there are three core elements for this:
Pupils must read every night 15 mins (this may involve an adult reading them a bedtime story)
Pupils must practise their spellings for 15 mins ready for the test on Friday
Pupils must practise their times tables for 15 mins a night
Shared mailboxes and communication
Don’t forget that you can contact staff using the shared mailboxes. They are checked daily and can be used to ask questions, pass on information or check details:
eyfs@mead.havering.sch.uk
year12@mead.havering.sch.uk
year34@mead.havering.sch.uk
year56@mead.havering.sch.uk
If you would prefer an appointment with your child’s class teacher then please call into the office to fix a time.
Newsletters
The weekly newsletter can be accessed on the school blog and Facebook page every Friday. It will provide you with lots of information about school events/dates etc.
Key Dates for the 1st half of Autumn Term 2019/20
Parents Evening 1- Monday 14th October
Parents Evening 2- Tuesday 15th October
Last day of half term -Friday 18th October
Monday 28th October -Pupils back to school
INSET Dates for 2019-20
Please note the school closure dates for this academic year.
INSET day 1 -4th September-
INSET day 2 -3rd April
INSET day 3 -20th July
INSET day 4 -21st July
INSET day 5 -22nd July
Please note that the final day of the summer term for pupils will be on Friday 17th July, 2020.
Term Dates 2019-20
https://www.havering.gov.uk/downloads/file/2023/term_dates_2019-2020
Parents Calendar
All dates are available on the calendar from the school website. The calendar label at the top of the front page will direct you straight to the electronic calendar.
All of the dates are published on our weekly newsletter which can be accessed via the school website, twitter feed or facebook page. Or alternatively you can request hard copies or email versions from the school office.
Havering Catering Services
Week beginning Monday 9th September is week 2 on the Havering catering services menu. All meals are served with unlimited salad and vegetables and cost £2.20.
Please be reminded to top up your child’s catering account as we cannot provide dinners for pupils whose accounts exceed a debt of £10.
Havering catering Service now provide a breakfast club for Mead pupils. For £1.50 your child can have a Bacon or Sausage sandwich or beans on toast with cereal or toast or fresh fruit or yoghurt plus a drink.
We will also have speciality days when other items such as pancakes and muffins will be available.
In order for you to book a place you will need to deposit the money in advance in your Squid account.
Please do not send your child to school to attend breakfast club if there are no funds in your account as they will not be admitted.
Uniform
Whilst we were pleased to see our pupils looking smart in their full school uniform, we want to use the opportunity to remind you what the appropriate uniform is:
Black/ grey trousers, skirts (Plain black/grey joggers in Nursery)
White polo shirt with a bottle green jumper or cardigan
Black shoes or plain black trainers (no knee high boots). A number of children are wearing trainers with stripes/emblems on-Whilst we are not expecting parents to have extra expense we do ask that when your child next needs footwear you purchase plain black shoes/trainers for school.
Children will not be permitted to wear Hoodies.
Only plain school coloured headbands can be worn- no over-sized bows.
Only studs and watches can be worn in school.
Please ensure children do not have makeup on or acrylic/painted nails.
Attendance
Our weekly Attendance target is 96%
Don't forget at Mead we do not only reward 100% attendance but if you keep attendance above 96% you become part of the 96%+ club and earn yourself extra bouncing time on 'Go Bonkers' day in the summer term.
At the end of each term, the class with the highest attendance earns a class trip to Jump Evolution!
If your class gets 100% attendance for a whole week you could earn a cupcake party.
I hope you all have an amazing weekend.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs L. Smith
Headteacher
