13th September 2019

Autumn Term

Newsletter St. Francis Catholic Primary School London Road, Maldon, Essex CM9 6HN

Executive Headteacher: Mrs S. Ginzler-Maher

Telephone: 01621 856698 www.stfrancismaldon.co.uk

Email: admin@st-francisrc.essex.sch.uk Charity No. 276312

Jesus said ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. St Francis School is a loving community, respecting every child and adult and

caring for God’s world, as we help each other to do our best and grow

together in Christ.

Mrs S. Ginzler-Maher EXECUTIVE HEADTEACHER

Dear Parents/Carers

A warm welcome back to the beginning of a new academic year.

Please make note of the academic dates which have been sent out to you this week. The new term

has started well, children and staff have returned refreshed after the summer break. Thank you

for your adherence to the school uniform policy, children look very smart and are rightly proud to

be seen in the St. Francis School colours.

Mrs Peear and I welcomed Father James Joseph to our school. We are pleased to have Father

James as an active member of the school community. He will be visiting the children very soon and

will celebrate the Feast Day Mass on the 4th October.

We warmly welcome Mr London (Year 6 Class Teacher), Mrs Willsher (Year 1 Class Teacher) as well

as 28 Reception Class children!

We also welcome Mimi d’Ancona and Jaiden Ketley to Year 1 and Harry Nathan and Ocean-Snow

Smith to Year 5. We wish all these children the very best of starts to their schooling and hope

their experience here at St. Francis School is not only enjoyable but academically and personally

rewarding.

Esmée Ancona Louis Bakhshi Wren Bannon Lola Basing

Freddie Bennett Olivia Berry Jace Bray Jessica Budd

Ayla Burton Rex Clarke Logan Claydon-Cressey Betty Fenlon

Dylan Greene Minnie Kingsford Luke Langer Ivy Marshall

Elsie May Devon Nutt Hollie O’ Reilly George Page

Ethan Peear Oliver Pilgrim Vienna Randall Charlotte Russell

Joshua Taylor Erone Topacio Oscar Unwin Kezia Walters

Initial Parent Meetings

It is extremely important that each child is represented at these

meetings with the Class Teacher. These meetings are designed to

give information directly to the parents regarding the curriculum

and other expectations for the year ahead; an opportunity for

parents to hear from their child’s class teacher, to ‘put a face to a

name’ and to briefly chat to the class teacher if needs be. One of

the most important factors (if not the most important) in children

making the most of their potential in their schooling, is the proper

interest of parents in their child’s conduct and academic progress.

All meetings will be held in classrooms or the school hall.

Rec 23rd September 4.30pm

Year 1 23rd September 5.30pm

Year 2 24th September 4.30pm

Year 3 24th September 5.30pm

Year 4 25th September 4.30pm

Year 5 25th September 5.30pm

Year 6 26th September 4.30pm

Penalty notice fines for missing

school

Every lesson in school matters and

frequent absence from school

results in gaps in children’s learning.

The current law does not give any entitlement to parents to

take their child out of school during term time. The Education

(Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

prohibits Head Teachers granting leave of absence to a pupil

except where an application has been made in advance and the

Head Teacher considers that there are exceptional

circumstances relating to the application.

A reminder that from the 4th September 2019, if a holiday is

not authorised, and is taken without permission, the case will

be referred to the Local Authority who may issue a penalty

notice to each parent of £60 for each child to be paid within

21 days. If the penalty is not paid within the time scale the

penalty will increase to £120. If the higher penalty is not paid

within 28 days, the Local Authority will then institute legal

proceedings against you in the magistrate’s court under

Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for failing to ensure

your child attends school regularly.

A penalty notice may also be issued if your child has 10

unauthorised absence sessions which have occurred during a 10

week period (each school day is made up of 2 sessions) or 6 or

more unauthorised sessions due to a holiday taken during the

first two weeks of September.

For the vast majority of parents the information given will

have little relevance but where parents insist on taking term

time holiday which cannot be authorised they will need to be

aware that from September the Local Authority will issue the

set penalty notice.

Thank you in anticipation of your full support and co-operation.

Our school attendance target

this year is 96.5%.

The up to date yearly

attendance table is listed below.

Year Attend %

6 100

4 99.26

3 98.57

5 97.62

R 97.45

1 96.43

2 96.06

Whole School 97.94

Attendance

96% - 98% Good

91% - 95%

Needs Improvement

Below 90%

Unsatisfactory

99-100% Excellent

Considerate Parking

Please ensure cars are parked

responsibly when dropping off or

collecting children from school and

clubs.

There are no parking spaces at the top

of the school driveway. These are

reserved for visitors during the school day. People living near

the school, especially Highlands Drive and Dykes Chase, should

be able to enter their property safely. This cannot be achieved

with parents parking hazardously beyond the gates.

Thank you in advance of your full support and co-operation.

This week’s Attendance Trophy

was won by Year 6 with 100%.

Well done Year 6.

We’ve had some exciting

deliveries this week! Many

thanks to all those who

have already sponsored a book for the new library

or sent one via Amazon. It’s not too late to do so

if you would like to!

Please use the link below to view the Wishlist

compiled by the children.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wish l ist/

ls/20FZBH96LP31D/ref=cm_go_nav_hz

Many thanks, Mrs Scudiero

Shine Night Walk

On the 21st September I will be taking part in the Shine Walk for cancer, lighting up the streets

of London raising as much money as possible. Together with friends, I am walking 26 miles to

support the fighters, admiring the survivors, honouring the taken and never ever giving up. It's a

night to beat cancer, a night to shine. If you have a moment take a look at our Just Giving page,

any contribution would be welcomed and appreciated. Thank you so much for your contributions and

support.

Mrs Leech

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/the-real-women-of-essex1?utm_campaign=pfp-

share&utm_content=The-real-women-of-

Essex1&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_source=Facebook&utm_term=4xM7dq4Bn

Jeans for Genes Day - Friday 20th September

Children are invited to wear jeans or a denim skirt

to school with their remaining uniform - shirts,

blouses, ties and school footwear. Each child is

asked to donate £1 to the charity which supports

the 1 in 25 children in the United Kingdom who

are born with a genetic disorder. The donation

will support children and their families. Further

i n f o r m a t i o n c a n b e f o u n d o n :

jeansforgenesday.org.

Thank you for your support.

We would like to thank everyone from the bottom

of our hearts for all the flowers, presents,

vouchers and cards. We were completely

overwhelmed with the kindness and most beautiful

words, said and written to us, at the end of last

term.

We were both so proud to be part of St. Francis

and were able to take away the most precious gift

of all, the memories of such wonderful times

helping your lovely children and working with such

amazing colleagues.

We wish you and your families nothing but the

best for the future.

Mrs Barrett and Mrs Tyrell

Secondary School Applications

As you may be aware, the new Secondary

School admission round opened on

Thursday 12th September 2019, for

parents of current Year 6 children to

apply for a Secondary School (Year 7)

place for September 2020.

The statutory national closing date for

applications is 31st October 2019.

Applications can be made online via:

www.essex.gov.uk/admissions.

(Luke 15:1-32): Forgiveness The tax collectors and the sinners were all

seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and

the scribes complained. “This man,” they said, “welcomes sinners and eats with

them.” So he spoke this parable to them: “What man among you with a hundred

sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after

the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take

it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and

neighbours? ‘Rejoice with me,’ he would say, “I have found my sheep that was

lost.’ In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one

repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of

repentance. Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she Iost one,

light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And

then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? ‘Rejoice

with me,’ she would say, ‘I have found the drachma I lost.’ In the same way, I tell

you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.” Jesus

also said: “A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, let me

have the share of the estate that would come to me.’ So the father divided the

property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together

everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money

on a life of debauchery. When he had spent it all, that country experienced a

severe famine. So he left the place and went back to his father. While he was

still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the

boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. And they began to

celebrate. Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he

drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the

servants he asked what it was all about. ‘Your brother has come,’ replied the

servant, ‘and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got

him back safe and sound.’ He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father

came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I

have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered

me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But for this son of

yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property - he and his women

- you kill the calf we had been fattening.’ The father said, ‘My son, you are with

me always and all I have is yours. But it is only right we should celebrate and

rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost

and is found.’”

Please continue to pray for those in our school community in need of our prayers.

ALLERGENS Ce = Celery, Cr = Crustacean, E = Eggs, F = Fish, G = Cereals containing Gluten L = Lupin, Mk = Milk, Mo = Molluscs, Mu = Mustard, N = Nuts, P = Peanuts Se = Sesame Seeds, So = Soya, Su = Sulphur Dioxide

Parent Lunch

Autumn Term 2019 (Tuesday)

Year 6 24th September

Year 4 1st October

Year 5 8th October

Year 3 5th November

Year 2 12th November

Year 1 19th November

Reception 26th November

A reminder that you are invited to dine

with your child’s class and should

therefore leave the dining hall when you

and your child have finished dinner.

Please go directly to Reception and sign

out and do not enter other parts of the

building or playground during your visit.

Please note we unable to accommodate

younger siblings during the meal.

Thank you for your support and co-

operation.

Catering News

Welcome back everyone!

In order to keep our information up to date, please can I

remind parents to inform me of any special dietary

requirements for your child(ren) including allergies,

intolerances, packed lunches, and fish Friday.

Please ask your child(ren) to submit any new ideas for school

lunches which they would like to see on the winter menu and

encourage your children to tell me their favourite meals.

There is a form on the catering pin board in the school hall.

During the colder months we will be offering jacket

potatoes instead of the school packed lunch, which is

currently available. This will ensure children selecting a

school dinner will have a hot meal.

Tasty Tuck next Friday for Reception and

Key Stage 1 children will be either cheese

and biscuits or fruit pots. These cost 50p

each.

Mrs Stainer, Catering Manager

Week 2 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Mozzarella and

Tomato Bake or

Macaroni Cheese

(E,G,Mk)

Chicken and

Sweet Potato

Curry

Roast Chicken,

Stuffing Yorkshire

Pudding & Gravy

(E,G,Mk)

All Day Breakfast

with Sausage and

Bacon

Picnic Day

Lunch

Baguettes

Egg, Tuna or

Cheese

(E,G,Mk) Vegetable

Curry

Roasted

Quorn Fillet

(G,Mk)

Vegetarian

All Day Breakfast

(G,Mk)

Garlic

Bread(G,Mk) Salad Bar

Rice (G) Naan Bread

(G,Mk)

Roast Potatoes

Carrots &

Garden Peas

Hash Brown

Tomato

Baked Beans

Salad Bar

Ice Cream

Pots (Mk) Lemon

Cheesecake

(G,Mk)

Cheese and Biscuits

(G,Mk) Chocolate Sponge

Finger

(E,G,Mk)

Fruit Pot

Milkshake

(Mk)

Independent Learning

Parents are welcome to attend the

Independent Learning Sessions

which start for Year 1-6 on

Tuesday 24th September

9:00am - 9:20am

Red = Religious

Black = General

Green = Sports

Blue = PTA

September Dates

16 Reception children start staying for lunch

17 Year 6 Cyber safety Workshop

18

18

1pm, Year 5 Swimming

Year 6 Bootcamp

23

23

23

23

Reception children start full time

Operation Xmas Child Assembly

EYFS Initial Parents Meeting 4.30pm

Year 1 Initial Parent Meeting 5.30pm

24

24

24

24

Independent Learning starts Years 1-6

Year 6 Parent Lunch

Year 2 Initial Parent Meeting 4.30pm

Year 3 Initial Parent Meeting 5.30pm

25

25

25

25

25

9.30am, Ski Trip meeting at St. Joseph's

Year 5 & 6 parents

1pm, Year 5 Swimming

Year 6 Bootcamp

Year 4 Initial Parent Meeting 4.30pm

Year 5 Initial Parent Meeting 5.30pm

26 Year 6 Initial Parent Meeting 4.30pm

30 NSPCC Assembly and Workshops

October Dates

1

1

1

Month of the Rosary

Year 4 Parent Lunch

Year 5 Royal Observatory

2

2

1pm, Year 5 Swimming

Year 6 Bootcamp

4 Feast of St Francis - Whole School Mass

7 Whole School Flu Immunisations

8

8

Year 5 Parent Lunch

3.40-4.00pm, Parent Drop ins

9

9

Year 5 Swimming

Year 6 Bootcamp

November Dates

4

4

Children return to school

9.30am, Parent Forum

5 Year 3 Parent Lunch

6

6

Year 3 Portal of the Past

5-8pm, Parents Evening

7 4-7pm, Parents Evening

10 Remembrance Sunday

12 Year 2 Parent Lunch

14 Year 6 and Year 3 Class Mass - Church

19 Year 1 Parent Lunch

21 9.30am-11.30am Open Morning

26 Reception Parent Lunch

28 Year 5 and Year 4 Class Mass - Church

30 PA Christmas Fayre - Provisional

October Dates continued….

15

15

Year 1 Toy Workshop in School Hall

Year 2 Hanningfield Reservoir Trip

16

16

1pm, Year 5 Swimming

Year 6 Bootcamp

17 Whole School Assembly - Essex Fire

Service

Half Term

Monday 28th - Friday 1st November