Dear Parents,
Dates for your Diary
Monday 30th May - 3rd June Half Term
Friday 27th May Year 11 Prom
Thursday 16th June GCSE Art Exhibition - 6.30-8.00pm
Thursday 30th June 12.45 pm early closure due to Open Evening
Friday 1st July Sports Day
Thursday 21st July End of Term - 12.45pm early closure
Monday 5th September Start of Autumn Term - Year 7's only - 8.50am
Tuesday 6th September Year 8/9/10/11 to return to school - 8.50am
Awards Evening - 12th April 2005
Guest of Honour, Hampshire cricketer, Allan Mullally presented awards to students in years 7, 8 and 9 before a large invited audience of parents at the Hampshire Rosebowl. Congratulations to all the young people on their fantastic achievements which include citizenship and community service.
100 students took part. The school jazz band and soloists performed music during the evening. P.E. colours awards were presented for football, cross country, netball, hockey, athletics, rugby, basketball and, of course, cricket.
Final Countdown Dance Performance
GCSE Dance students performed before an audience on Friday 29th April. The programme included set pieces, experimental work and choreography by the students themselves.
Computers
Toynbee has been successful in obtaining a government standards fund grant to purchase new ICT equipment. We have now replaced all our computers in four rooms with the latest technology. This is very good for students and staff and will enable us to deliver high class teaching and learning in ICT and across the whole curriculum. We already had 13 interactive whiteboards and will be purchasing more of these as part of our modernisation plans.
Design Technology
Refurbishment in this area is long overdue and begins this July. Two rooms are to be stripped out and new CADCAM equipment installed in order to make Toynbee up to date with the latest processes. We have been working closely with Hampshire County Council who are funding and managing the project and the LEA Inspector for Technology.
Multi-purpose Hall
Our Capital build project for specialist school status is making good progress. The plans for a fitness, dance and gymnastics space for school and community use has been part funded by sponsorship, Eastleigh Borough, Chandlers Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee and Hampshire County Council with a grant from the Department of Education and Skills. The new building will complement our facilities and provide a much needed second indoor space.
Landscaping Project
On 10th May the County Landscaping team are visiting again to present their findings to the Landscaping Steering group involving parents, students and staff. The Toynbee Parents' Association has already pledged support for this scheme and we look forward to improving outdoor facilities, possibly with a scheme to provide shelters for outdoor use.
Changes to Free School Meals
We have received notification from the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) of an addition to the free school meal eligibility criteria which becomes effective from 30 April 2005 .
From this date parents/guardians who are in receipt of the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit will also be entitled to free school lunch benefits for their children.
The DfES have advised that parents who receive the 'Guaranteed' element of State Pension Credit should be asked to produce their 'Pension Credit M1000 Award Notice' as proof of entitlement.
Full eligibility criteria details plus additional information are given below:
Revised Free School Meal Eligibility Criteria:
From 30 April 2005 , children whose parents receive the following support payments are entitled to receive free school meals:
• Income Support.
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance.
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by the Inland Revenue, that does not exceed £13,910.
• Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit.
Finally....
Changes to pupils' contact/address details
To enable the school to keep up-to-date records, please can you notify the school admin office of any alterations to address/telephone contact details for your son/daughter.
D Jones
Headteacher
