Author: Mary T McMillan (Head Teacher)

St Mary’s R.C. Newsletter 14th May 2015

What is happening NEXT WEEK?
Saturday 16th May—Whickham and District May Fayre starts at 12.00 in Chase Park. Races start at 12.30.
Mon 18th May	Bike it Ben sponsored ride for Year 4 pupils a.m. An opportunity to experience a judo lesson—all classes Year 6 leave for a residential trip to Knock
Tues 19th May	Yr 5 Cycling proficiency
Wed 20th May	Film Night Key Stage 1 pupils
Thurs 21st May	Film Night for Key Stage 2 pupils
Summer Half Term Break—pupils return to school on Monday 1st June / Year 2 children will be assessed during the week beginning June 8th

Film Nights
Children will have a hot dog, drink and popcorn while watching a film. Children should be collected at 5.30. The cost is £3 which should be brought into school on Monday in an envelope marked with ‘Film Night’, your child’s name and class.

Would you like to be a Parent Governor?
We currently have a vacancy for a Parent Governor on the Governing Body. If you are interested in this important role and would like put yourself forward for election then please see the attached documents. If you are interested and would like further information about the role then Mrs McMillan would be happy discuss it with you.

Weekly News

Year 6 Fundraising
The Year 6 pupils are organising a sale in the yard after school one night each week throughout June. They're hoping to raise funds towards a Yearbook which they'll help design and treasure as they leave St Mary's. They'll be selling cakes, books, unwanted uniform in good condition, and even the odd bike. They're providing their own goods to sell. The dates of the sales are as follows and they'll pop posters up to remind all parents. Please come along and grab a bargain!
Friday 5th June, 3pm
Friday 12th June, 3pm
Thursday 18th June, 3pm
Friday 26th June, 3pm

Bishop Seamus invites us to join in with: “Diocesan Prayer “Forward Together in Hope”
Glory be to the Father—in whom we live and move and have our being. Glory be to the Son—whose name we bear and who calls each of us to be his disciples; to build his Kingdom and to go out into the world and bear its fruit. Glory be to the Holy Spirit—pouring out grace and guidance, forming us and renewing us. Inspire us all in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle to live the Gospel, be open to change and move forward together in hope. Amen.

Dear Parent/Carer,
PARENT GOVERNOR ELECTION
I am writing to you to invite you to stand for election as a parent governor, or nominate another parent to do so. In our school we have provision for 2 elected parent governors and there is currently 1 vacancy.
The governing body, with the headteacher, has overall responsibility for the running of the school. Governing bodies have three core strategic functions:
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its
pupils; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
No special qualifications are needed and the most important thing is to have a keen interest in the school and be prepared to play an active part in the governing body’s work. Training is available for all governors and this governing body has an expectation that those new to being a governor attend free induction training.
The enclosed sheet summarises the circumstances under which someone cannot serve as a governor. In addition, parents/carers who have paid employment in the school for 500 or more hours per academic year or who are elected members of the Local Authority are not eligible to stand in these elections. Nominations must be from parents or carers with children at the school on the day that nominations close.
If you would like to stand for election please complete the enclosed nomination form and return it to the school no later than Monday 1st June 2015. You may also include a short personal statement to support your nomination, which should be no longer than 250 words. Self-nominations will be accepted, but if you are nominating another parent please seek their prior consent.
If there are more nominations than vacancies the election will be by secret ballot. If that is necessary, voting papers will be sent to all parents together with details of the ballot procedure.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs M.T. McMillan
Returning Officer

Personal Statement (maximum 250 words)
I wish to submit my nomination for the election of parent governor
I confirm (i) that I am willing to stand as a candidate for election as a parent governor and (ii) that I am not disqualified from holding office for any of the reasons set out in the School Governance Regulations.
Signature
(Date)
Completed nomination forms must be returned to the school by Monday 1st June 2015

St Mary’s RC Primary School - Nomination Form Parent Governor
Election of parent governor
Please enter IN BLOCK LETTERS the name and address of the person being nominated for election:
Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Address:
_________________________________________________________________________
Signature of person nominated: ________________________________________________
Signature of proposer (if different to nominee): ____________________________________
Name and address in BLOCK letters of proposer (if different to nominee):
_________________________________________________________________________

Qualifications and disqualifications to serve as a school governor
A governor must be aged 18 or over at the time of his/her election or appointment and cannot hold more than one governorship at the same school.
A person is disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office as a governor or associate member if he or she:
is subject to a bankruptcy restriction order, an interim bankruptcy restrictions order, a debt relief restrictions order or an interim debt relief restrictions order;
has had his/her estate sequestrated and the sequestration has not been discharged, annulled or reduced;
is subject to:
-a disqualification order or disqualification undertaking under the Company Directors Act 1986
-a disqualification order under the Companies Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 a disqualification undertaking accepted under the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 an order made under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (failure to pay under a county court administration order);
has been removed from the office of charity trustee or trustee for a charity by an order made by the Charity Commission or Commissioners or High Court on the grounds of any misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity, or under section 34 of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 from being concerned in the management or control of anybody;
is included in the list of people considered by the Secretary of State as unsuitable to work with children;
is disqualified from working with children or subject to a direction under section 142 of the Education Act 2002;
is disqualified from working with children under sections 28,29, or 29A od the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000;
is disqualified from registration under Part 2 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 for child minding or providing day care;
is disqualified from registration under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006;
has received a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than 3 months (without the option of a fine) in the 5 years before or since becoming a governor;
has received a prison sentence of 2½ years or more in the 20 years before becoming a governor;
has at any time received a prison sentence of 5 years or more;
has been convicted under section 547 of EA 1996 (nuisance or disturbance on school premises) or under section 85A of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (nuisance or disturbance on educational premise) during the 5 years prior to or since appointment or election as a governor;
is employed at the school for more than 500 hours per academic year if wishing to stand for parent governor at the same school;
is an elected member of the Local Authority (applies to parent and community governors only);
has refused a request by the clerk to the governing body to make an application under section 113B of the Police Act 1997 for a criminal records certificate
has been disqualified from holding office as a governor of this school due to failure to attend governing body meetings for a continuous period of six months