This week is the first week of advent and we started in style on Monday with a lovely Collective Worship led by Reverend Dianne Gamble. Our hall looks very festive with our advent wreath and the Christmas tree, enthusiastically decorated by our school council.
A quick reminder that next Wednesday evening (11th) we are having an Online Safety talk from our Police Liaison Officer Martin Powell. All parents and carers are welcome and I would urge you to attend if you can. The biggest safeguarding issue out of school for our children at the current time is their online safety. This week I also had a meeting with the Local Authority scrutinising our school’s attendance and lateness.
Generally, the picture is very positive with our attendance being broadly in line with national average, but there are some families who have children who are frequently arriving late or who have attendance below 90%, who are classed as persistently absent. These families will be receiving the standard Local Authority letters at the end of term. Term time holidays continue to be our biggest attendance issue and I would urge to avoid taking holidays in term time. We will also be celebrating those children with excellent attendance (over 97%) with special certificates at the end of term.
Year 2 parents and carers should have received a letter this week inviting them to be part of a Maths project, run by Multiply at North Yorkshire’s Adult Learning. It will last for 6 weeks and gives parents the opportunity to come into school and learn some Maths with their children with the aim of supporting them with their homework and helping them understand more about how Maths is taught in school. We look forward to welcoming you. Pre-school siblings are allowed to attend if childcare is an issue, but will be the sole responsibility of their parents.
We are also delighted to announce that from January to March the school is being used as a Community Wellness Hub for parents/carers through the Wellness Gateway in Ripon. The hub will offer parents monthly free, individual and confidential 45 minute face to face appointments with a support worker to support wellbeing. Please see attached flyer for more details.
And lastly, just a reminder that we are currently accepting nominations for the role of Parent Governor. Information was sent out via email, but if you missed this or have any questions, then please feel free to contact the school office or contact our Co-Chairs of Governors Jenny Crabtree and Kirstie Lowe at cog@dishforth.n-yorks.sch.uk The deadline for nominations is midday Friday 13th December.