Christmas Market

Last year Mr Harvey, Community Deputy Headteacher, along with his Young Apprentices, reintroduced the Christmas Market at Charters. Last Saturday it took place for the second occasion and was a terrific success. There was a range of super stalls and activities run by business people, staff and students. We were both pleased to pick up some impressive photographs produced by our ‘A’ level students from Mr Holmes’ stall and jam from our BTec Vocational students’ stall. We know that many other people were able to secure some lovely Christmas presents, so everyone was a winner as the initial calculations show that this event has raised £4,000+ for the school.

Many thanks to all of you who attended and made the event such a success, and a particular thank you to Mr Harvey, Mrs Marson, the Young Apprentices and all those members of staff and parents who gave up their time to help on the day.

Winter Concert

The high standard for musical events continued at Charters with the joyous Winter Concert last night. As ever, vast swathes of singers and musicians took part producing a performance for everyone, with some traditional Christmas songs and challenging orchestral pieces. The various musical groups and ensembles who have rehearsed together this year were able to showcase their work. Also, several musical awards were made to students whose attitude and commitment to music has inspired those around them.

It was a great evening, a particular highlight being the performance by Phoebe Wright and Anthony Keen who serenaded Mr Bull at his last Charters’ musical concert. Congratulations to all the performers and, in particular, our dedicated Music Department: Miss Fulleylove, Miss Crocker, Ms Foakes, Mr Bull and Mr Stephenson.

We would also like to thank Mr Stephenson and the Choir for their superb singing at the turning on of the Sunningdale Lights last Friday.

Unit Examinations January/February 2012

Most Sixth Form students are taking some unit examinations in January 2012. Their subject teachers have been setting revision tasks and timed essays to ensure students are aware of what is required of them in the forthcoming examinations. The students must spend time over Christmas revising. I would like to remind parents and students that we will be operating our usual policy on study leave:

• if students have an afternoon examination they are allowed to take study leave in the morning if they wish
• if students have a morning examination, they may take study leave the day before, if they wish
• students are expected to attend their lessons in the afternoon following a morning examination. The only exception to this is when examinations take place on a Monday morning; we expect the students to attend all their lessons on the previous Friday
• Normal timetabled lessons will be running throughout this period.

Progress Reports

The second Year 12 and 13 Progress Reports will be sent home next week. Please do not hesitate to contact the Sixth Form team if the grade or attendance information concerns you. We do, however, expect the attendance grade to be over 90%; please be aware that 75% attendance may look acceptable but it actually means that a student has missed 1 in 4 lessons which ultimately will have a huge impact on their final grades.

Sixth Form Applications – September 2012

Could we remind the parents of students in Year 11 who wish to apply for the Charters Sixth Form for September 2012 that they need to submit their applications online before the deadline of Friday 16 December 2011.

Mobile Phones

We have had a number of instances lately where problems have arisen due to text communications during the school day between students and parents. Occasionally, parents are sending texts to their children to which they expect replies, and sometimes, students are texting parents telling them they are ill and asking them to come into school to collect them. If your child is taken ill at school, they will be assessed in our Medical Room and parents will be phoned by our Receptionists. You will appreciate that it is essential for this procedure to be followed.

Whilst we appreciate that parents sometimes like their children to have a phone with them in order to make after-school pick-up arrangements for example, we would like to remind you that students must keep phones switched off and securely in their bags during the school day.

Lost Property

We currently have a lot of unnamed lost property in school. If your child has lost any uniform, or other items, please ask them to go to the School Shop to check for any belongings before the end of term as after this time it will be disposed of. Could parents please ensure that all belongings are named, which will allow items to be returned to students.

School Shop

The School Shop are always looking for parent volunteers to help in the shop during its opening hours of 1.30 - 2pm each day. If you can spare 1 hour per week, every week, and would like to get involved, please contact Wendy Finch on fincw006@rbwm.org or telephone the main school number, ext 755. Thank you.

Tirabad Clothing Range

The new outdoor clothing range released for Tirabad which includes hoodies, T-shirts, water bottles and beanie hats is now available from the Tirabad shop in Wales, prices starting from £4.99.

Cycle Marking – This Saturday

A reminder that the school has arranged with the Community Wardens at RBWM Community Safety Unit, for cycles to be marked at Charters School on Saturday 10 December between 9.00 am and 1.00 pm. The wardens will be located in the front car park, adjacent to Charters Road, on the left hand side at the canopy area (marked as Disabled Persons vehicle parking). Please complete the form which is on our website, click here, and bring it with the cycle(s) that you wish to be marked (one form per cycle). There is no charge for this service.

Free School Meals - are you missing out?

There are over 19,500 children in Windsor & Maidenhead schools, but only 1,335 children are currently eligible to have a free school meal. We think there are many more children who could be eligible for Free School Meals. We would like to help families whose children may be entitled to get free school meals to apply for them. At Charters with our SmartCard system of paying for meals, every SmartCard looks the same, so students entitled to free school meals are not identifiable in any way to other students.

Click here to find out whether you are entitled to free school meals which are worth £2 a day, and may also allow you to claim financial assistance for trips or activities.

Dyslexia Research

We have been contacted by a researcher, Ms Sharon Wignall, from Brunel University who is carrying out a research project and would be interested to talk to parents/carers of children with Dyslexia. If you have an interest in how your child can be best supported to read, Ms Wignall would be very grateful if you could consider contributing to her research. She would like to carry out telephone interviews with interested parties.

Your experience and advice as a parent/carer would be very helpful in developing a website resource to centralise information relating to the screening, assessment and provision of coloured filter glasses for young people with visual stress (primarily with a diagnosis of Dyslexia). If you would like further information about this project please click here. If you then wish to participate, or have any questions, please email Ms Wignall at om10sew@brunel.ac.uk with your preferred contact telephone numbers and she will then contact you to arrange a convenient time for a telephone interview, and to arrange the completion of a consent form.

Lunchtime Controller Needed

Cookham Dean CE Primary School is looking for a dedicated and hard working lunchtime controller to join their friendly team. The hours are 11.50am to 1.20pm daily during term time only. They are looking for someone to start ASAP, if you are interested or would like further information on the position please email: cookhamdean@rbwm.org.

Forthcoming Events

Tuesday 13 December  Carol Service  7 pm at Holy Trinity Church, Sunningdale  Retiring Collection

Thursday 15 December  Presentation Evening (by invitation)  7 pm in the Main Hall

Friday 16 December  Last Day of Term 2  School finishes at 1 pm

Tuesday 3 January 2012  Return to School  School commences at 8.35 am

Thursday 19 January  Year 8 Parents’ Evening  5 pm (Sixth Form TBC)

Wednesday 1 February  Charters Unplugged  7 pm in the Drama Studio

Thursday 2 February  Year 10 Parents’ Evening  5 pm (Sixth Form TBC)

Wednesday 8 February  G&T Chamber Concert  7 pm in the Main Hall

Friday 10 February  Last Day of Term 3  School finishes at 3 pm

Monday 13 – Friday 17 February  Half Term

Monday 20 February  Return to School  School commences at 8.35 am

Martyn Parker and Richard Pilgrim
Co-Headteachers