A few uniform reminders!

Please make sure that your child wears correct school uniform each day, including shoes not trainers nor boots .
If your child has long hair please make sure it is tied back with a plain, simple hair band or ribbon. Keep the frilly, sparkly hair decorations for outside school!

Your child needs your help to help them improve their reading!

Thank you to parents who do this already!
It is really important at that your child, whatever their age and ability, reads regularly at home. Every day is best but even a couple of times a week, just for 10 minutes, reading to an adult at home will help your child's confidence and ability. Those children who read the most are usually the best writers and achieve well at school and in later life.

Please read with your child at home

If you would like any advice with this please speak with your child's teacher. Thank you to parents who come in to school to read with the children. Your time and commitment is appreciated. If you would like to help in school please contact your child's teacher.

FOOTBALL RESULTS

Congratulations to our football team after their excellent 4-0 victory over Merstham School this week. Our team included Thomas, Ashton, Daniel, Josh, Steven, Dougie, Sam, Terry, James. Thank you to Mr Rhodes and to parents for their support for the team and commitment to practices and matches.

Sports for All

Last Friday a team of children from Years 5 and 6 represented St Matthew's at the annual "Sports for All" event at Donyngs. The children completed against schools from across Surrey in a variety of activities. Well done Jenni, India, Kayleigh, Doroti, Natalie, Dougie, Steven, Terry, Lawrence, Sean, Nikos, Marie, Wisdom, Courtney, Joshua, Tade, Sam, Sophie, Chloe, Abigail . Thank you to Mrs Dunt for enabling our children to have this opportunity.

Welcare spring programme

The Welcare spring programme of activities includes activities in both Redhill (at Welcare House, Warwick Road) and Merstham. Lots of parents and children at St Matthew's have found Welcare to be a great help to them. Don't miss out!

Activities include:

• Parenting Puzzle- useful in helping in our parenting role
• Young Parents group
• Skippy Roos - play, music and stories
• Legal advice surgery

Please contact Welcare 01737 780884 for more information or to book an appointment. Leaflets are also available from our school office.

Children's birthdays

A couple of parents have asked for clarification about giving out sweets or cakes etc to classmates to mark their children's birthdays. Whilst appreciating that it is a kind and well-meaning gesture we do not give out sweets etc at school for several reasons including:

• Encouraging healthy eating
• Several children have allergies
• Some parents do not want their children to have sweets

Pressure is then put on other parents to bring items for the whole class when it is their children's birthday

We do mark the children's birthdays in other appropriate ways and enjoy celebrating with them.

INSET days

We are waiting for confirmation of this term's inset day when school will be closed to children. The likely date is either Monday 15th March or Friday 19th March. We will confirm this as soon as possible but thought advance notice of the provisional date would be helpful to parents. On this day school staff will receive further training in first aid and in child protection procedures.

The summer term inset day is Friday 28th May.

As our school is used as a polling station please note that we will also be closed to pupils on election days, one of which is expected soon.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY