From time to time, it is useful to clarify school procedures and on this occasion we would like to make it clear that children's belongings are not checked by staff. On the very rare occasions that this occurs, this is done as a whole class with each child emptying their own bag to look for items that may have accidentally been misplaced.

F Bates
Deputy Headteacher

Special Points of Interest

A reminder that school closes today for the half term holiday and re-opens on Tuesday, 23rd February. Monday 22nd February is a non-pupil day.

The next class assembly will be on Friday, 26th February and will be 3/4AM. Parents and friends are welcome to attend from 9am.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday this week to

Zoe Lloyd, Billy Saunders, Josie Sutton, Lacie Miles,

James Reason, Jamie Mullard, Chloe Brown,

Olivia Burton, Ashton Harley, Lucy Swallow,

Bailey Golding, Caroline Riley, Louise Jeffries,

Zak Curley, Joshua Harrod

Mother's Day

Mums. So that you have enough notice to book a day off from work - please note, we are having a Mother's Day lunch on Friday, 12th March. Mothers (and grandmothers if mums are unavailable), will be invited to join us (one per family). More details to follow after half term.

Half Term Activities

STREETLIFE

FREE

for ages 8-18

Break dancing workshop on Tuesday, 16th February, 2010

at Grays Baptist Church Hall, Hathaway Road, Grays, RM17 5HH

for young people aged 8-18. 10am-1pm for ages 8-12

and 1.30pm-4.30pm for ages 13-18

Contact Kat on 07779 781574 or

streetlifearts@yahoo.co.uk

Thurrock Play Rangers

Arts crafts and play activities

Inflatable Games

Gladiator duel, bungee run

and football shootout

11am-1pm 5-8 years

1.30pm-3.30pm 8-12 years

4pm-7pm 13-19 years

Tuesday, 16th February

Stanford Youth Development Centre

Hassenbrook Road, Stanford le Hope SS17 0NS

Wednesday, 17th February

Riverside Youth Development Centre

Quebec Road, Tilbury RM18 7RA

Thursday, 18th February

The Culver Centre

Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon RM15 5RR

No need to book, just turn up

Enquiries 01375 413037

www.thurrock.gov.uk

100% Attendance

Congratulations to the following pupils who have achieved 100% attendance for the period September to February 2010. Pupils who achieve 100% attendance for the whole school year are rewarded with a trip to Adventure Island. Keep up the good work.

Years 3/4
Bradley Scott, Holly Adams, Ethan Ansell, Brea Bennett, Cole Byrne, Toni Case, Oliver Coles, Alice Edwards, Thomas Edwards, James Flux, Charlotte Gibbons, Emma Gray, Jake Griffin, Harry Prothero, Spencer Watling, Olivia Sharpe.

Years 5/6
Symone Adeyemi, Thomas Ansell, Devon Bennett, Jake Brown, Harry Byrne, Lucy Dighton, Madeleine Flux, Olivia Hall, Emily Gibbons, Chloe Harper, Jake Nickels, Jamie Reason, Tegan Stock, Victoria Umoren, Lauren Westpfel, Georgie Whiteaker.

TOP CLASS ATTENDANCE THIS WEEK WITH 95.8% IS CLASS 5/6SD AND CLASS 5/6AW. WELL DONE TO BOTH OF YOU.

Chinese New Year Assembly

To coincide with our Chinese New Year meal today, the children also enjoyed an assembly by Mr. Gao and Miss Catchpole from St. Clere's School. We learned about the celebrations that take place in China, that the Festival is two weeks long, why red is worn and why firecrackers are set off. Our thanks to Mr. Gao and Miss Catchpole

Dinner Menu

This weeks Dinner Menu is Week One as follows:

Monday
Sausage & mash with broccoli
Pasta bake (veggie option)
Ice cream roll

Tuesday
Meat Pie

Wednesday
Roast dinner with carrots and cabbage
Lentil pie (veggie option)
Jelly

Thursday
Meat pie with mash and broccoli
Jacket potato (veggie option)

Friday
Fish fingers with chips and beans
Chocolate sponge with custard

Fresh homemade bread, a salad bar and water are available every day. Also fresh fruit salad and yoghurts are alternative desserts.

Playground Zones

This week we have 'zoned' the playground to make it fairer for all. The children now have access to a range of activities throughout the week in their year groups but are still able to meet up with their friends from different year groups in the free zones.

Special Points of Interest

PLEASE NOTE: 5/6SD's class assembly will be on Wednesday, 10th February at 9am.

There will be no football club on Monday due to an away match.

The class with top attendance this week is 3/4TL with 98.5%.

The next Parent's Forum slot is at 2.30pm on 5th March, 2010. Please feel free to come in and discuss any issues about which you have concerns, or if you need clarification of school policies etc.

Thank you to those parents who attended the Stakeholders' meeting Thursday evening.

A reminder that Parents' Evening takes place on Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th February next week from 3.30pm-6pm. Appointments are required.

Sporting superstar Jamie Baulch will be visiting school on Thursday 11th February to meet with the children. For those participating this will be a non-uniform day.

We have been asked by the Community Police Officers to stress to parents that they are NOT allowed to park on the pavement that runs in front of the Memorial car park as it is detrimental to children's safety.

A reminder that school closes for the Half Term holiday on Thursday, 11th February and we return to school on Tuesday, 23rd February.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday this week to:

Lara Jo Harris

Alfie Pacey

Joe Edwards

Amber Bridle

Harry Green

Merit Awards

Merit Awards were presented this week to:

3/4AM - Gabriel Krasniewski - Beautiful painting and always trying hard in everything
3/4GM - Harry Prothero - Fantastic art work sketching Ancient Egyptian artefacts
3/4HW - Samantha Goodman - Great big writing
3/4LC - Asa Gregory - Working hard to find out about Ancient Egypt
3/4TL - Josie Sutton - Making good improvements in Maths
5/6AR - Patsy Porter - For working hard in numeracy
5/6AW - Jake Nickels - Good work in gymnastics
5/6ME - Whole class - A very good, well performed class assembly
5/6PD - Sam McInally - Setting a good example in PE
5/6SD - Ellie Bell - Working hard in literacy

Thurrock Cross Country Finals

Congratulations to Leah Mann, Amy Springham, Rosie Howes, Georgie Campbell, Aimee Langridge, Daina Baker, Carmen Field, Charlotte McGaughey, Macy Swaby, Darcy John, Lucy Grover and Samuel Barella who will be representing the St. Clere's family in theThurrock Cross Country Partnership Final on 11th February. More information will be given to the children about times and locations of the race once the final arrangements have been received from the Sports Partnership team.

Mrs. Garbo Miller

PFA News

The PFA are looking for a new Treasurer. If you are good with figures and would like to be involved in raising money for a very worthy cause, please let the Junior School office know and they will pass on a message.

The PFA are always looking for new volunteers - at present we only have one parent representing the whole of the Junior School.

Dates for your diary

1st March 5.30pm - PFA meeting in the Infant School (everyone welcome)
12th March at 3pm - Mother's Day Sale in the Junior School Hall (all donations welcome)
21st May at 3.15pm - Summer Bounce (up to Year 9)
19th June - Forum Fun Day (we would like to have some stalls but desperately need volunteers)
16th July - Year 6 Leavers' Disco (World Cup theme)

East Tilbury Community Sports Hall AGM

The AGM of the East Tilbury Sports Hall will be held on 11th February, 2010, 7pm at East Tilbury Junior School.

Agenda

1. To receive a report of the Sports Hall use.
2. To receive accounts
3. To agree a new constitution.
4. To elect a new committee and officers

The ET Community Sports Hall is managed by a committee of representatives from the Infants School, Junior School, sports hall users and representatives of the local community. The first AGM of the sports hall will be in the Junior School hall. All staff, parents, residents and hall users and invited to attend.

Brian Martin, Chairman, Community Sports Hall Committee

Dinner Menu

This weeks Dinner Menu is Week 2 as follows:

Monday
Spaghetti bolognaise with broccoli
Cheese flan (veggie option)
Choc ices

Tuesday
Chicken curry & rice with peas and sweetcorn
Pasta bake (veggie option)
Rice pudding

Wednesday
Roast dinner with carrots and cabbage
Cheese & egg (veggie option)
Jelly

Thursday
***Mystery Meal***

Friday
Breaded cod with chips and beans
Sponge with custard

Fresh homemade bread, a salad bar and water are available every day. Also fresh fruit salad and yoghurts are alternative desserts.

Special Points of Interest

Congratulations to Class 5/6PD who achieved 99.7% attendance this week.

Parents and friends of 5/6PD are invited to attend their class assembly on Friday, 5th February at 9am.

We have been asked by the Community Police to stress to parents that they are NOT allowed to park on the pavement that runs in front of the Memorial car park as it is detrimental to childrens safety.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday this week to:

Lucy Gray

Derry Mager

Ryan Wilden

Rio Stock

Facebook

It has been drawn to our attention that pupils from this school are using Facebook (the minimum age for which is 13) as a means to insult, intimidate and threaten other pupils.

This can become a matter for police involvement and we suggest that you monitor your childs use of Facebook very carefully if you are allowing them to use it.

Bike Security Marking

We will be arranging with the Community Police Department to come in for one day in the near future for bike security marking. Please check the newsletter for confirmation of the date.

We are the champions!

Four pupils from East Tilbury Junior School took part in the area heat of the Junior Inter-School Quiz Championship 2009/2010 at Leigh on Sea on Tuesday, 26th January.

Erin Raif, Holly Butcher, Marney Dobson and Rebecca West played against four other teams and scored a massive 2270 points (265 points more than the runners up!).

They will now go forward to the next stage of the competition to be held later on this term. It was a true team effort and they are all to be congratulated.

Mrs. Dorrington

Merit Awards

Merit Awards were presented this week to:-

3/4AM - Rebecca West - Excellent team work in Quiz Club competition
3/4GM - Billy Saunders - Good work and explanation in ICT
3/4HW - Holly Butcher - Excellent team work in Quiz Club competition
3/4LC - Emma Diss - Improving her sketching in art
3/4TL - Alice Edwards - Using adjectives and similes in big writing
5/6AR - Natalie Anne Jones - Good pictures in big writing
5/6AW - Sam Green - Beiong a good role model
5/6ME - Chloe Knowles - Applying herself in maths
5/6PD - Sophie Gully - Good responses in Circle Time
5/6SD - Erin Raif - Excellent team work in Quiz Club competition
Marney Dobson - Excellent team work in Quiz club competition
Leah Mann - Excellent effort in Cross Country