Also joining us this term Josh Thompson, from Australia, who is teaching Maths and PE and Caroline Midwood teaching Maths in the secondary department. We have appointed Patrick Organ to teach Science from the summer term. At the end of last term Fiona Peck (science teacher) retired but she has kindly returned this term to teach science for two days a week. We have advertised for a new Assistant Headteacher in the Primary Department and hope to make an appointment soon.

THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY – HARROGATE BRANCH

I am attaching some information regarding Autism Alert Cards which are FREE and are designed to alert the police and emergency services that the person carrying the card has autism/Asperger Syndrome and may require special attention.

Regular support group meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at Bilton Community Centre, Bilton Lane, Harrogate 10-12 AM.

MENCAP

Mencap have advised school about a forthcoming wills and trust seminar being organised in July. This is a FREE information session where you can find out
more about setting up Wills and trusts for the benefit of someone with a learning disability. If you are interested please call Mencap on 020 7696 6925

FAMILY FUND

The Family Fund organisation have sent details to school regarding improvements to the grants they are now able to make to severely disabled children from 0-18yrs. The scheme gives grants to lower income families with severely disabled children to meet the additional needs of caring for a severely disabled child, such as holidays, driving lessons, specialist toys, computers and hospital visiting costs. If you would like more information please contact them on 0845 1304542. Or write to Family Fund, 4 Alpha Court, Monks Cross, York YO32 9WN. www.familyfund.org.uk

CONTACT A FAMILY LEAFLET

I am enclosing a leaflet from an organisation called Contact a Family, which you may wish to keep for future reference. It contains a lot of very useful information, including financial help and contacts. This organisation also offers a free helpline for parents.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Fri 13th Feb – School Closes for half term
Monday 23rd Feb – School Opens
Thurs 26th March 1.45pm - ’Chitty Chitty Bang Bang‘ Secondary Performance (more details to follow)

TEACHERS 2 PARENTS

We are just about to start a month long trial of this system which enables us to text parents and carers with important information. We have been searching for a solution to the difficulties that we had in communicating with you all when we had the emergency closure of theschool due to the snow in December. ‘Teachers 2 Parents’ is a web based system that enables us to text you with important or urgent information or reminders. We are trying this out for the month of February and will be sending a trial message in the week beginning 2nd February. To help this system work, please could you make sure that we have your current mobile telephone number. The system generates a report so we will be able to identify any failed messages and contact you by another route.

LOST PROPERTY

We still have two pairs of children’s spectacles in the school office, and an MP3 player. Please contact the office if you can reunite them with their owners!

YOUNG PERSON/TEENAGE AUTISM SESSION

Harrogate Borough Council are continuing to run the holiday session for teenagers who have Asperger Syndrome/Autism. This session is aimed at young people who find accessing youth provision difficult. The session caters for age 10 years upwards, and is to be held at Fairfax Community Centre, 4.00pm – 7.00pm. The cost is £5.00 and includes a cooked meal. Usual activities include pool, sports, games, computers, and arts and crafts. Please contact Danielle Barker on 01423 556719 or email danielle.barker@harrogate.gov.uk to book or for further information.

SIGNING CHOIR

Two professional musicians from Wales are currently visiting school on a weekly basis, along with two volunteers from the ‘Hands and Voices’ choir. Several pupils from Class 2 through to Year 10 are involved, along with 10 Year 4 pupils from Knaresborough St Johns School. The group are learning new songs, along with a song that has been composed by our Year 11 students. This will culminate with a performance on 31st March in Harrogate. The venue has yet to be confirmed.

PRIMARY SIGNING GROUP

The first primary parents signing group was held recently and was very successful. Thanks to all the parents and staff who attended. The session gave parents the opportunity to practise signs to use at home, meet the speech therapy team, and other parents from school. We plan to hold a similar event each term, and details of the next meeting will be sent home.

MONICA UDEN
HEADTEACHER