Fortnightly Review
Skill of the week for next week
Working hard to overcome challenges in class to make accelerated progress.
Learning Highlights
Over the last two weeks there have been some amazing learning opportunities in school.
On Monday 9th December the children took part in a fantastic Aspirations Day organised by Mrs Gibbs. The day began with an assembly and a number of workshops run by local Transformation Coach, Sarah Bramall. She talked to the whole school about the importance of being resilient even when times are tough and then worked with each class in Key Stage Two about areas that they could improve in their own lives.
In the afternoon, 22 visitors from a variety of careers and backgrounds joined the children in the hall to talk to them about what they do day-to-day and how the children could achieve their own goals. There was an officer from the British Army, a midwife from the NHS, the owner and chef of The George Street Canteen, the owner from a local performing arts academy, a digital sports journalist, an emergency ambulance technician and many more. Even Key Stage One had their own exciting afternoon. They took part in workshops run by Phoebe Shergold-Willis, owner of a local Performing Arts School. The children had great fun!
Back in the classrooms, the children were involved in thinking about their dreams for the future and how they could achieve these. In the school there are aspiring police officers, swimming teachers, artists, musicians, café owners, army officers, footballers and many more. The children enjoyed the day enormously and all of the visitors enjoyed attending too.
On Monday 2nd December the children in Year 2 Emperors were involved in an African themed day to consolidate and extend their learning about life in Africa. The following Monday the children also had the afternoon with our Vice-Chair of Governors, Val Male, sharing resources and stories about her experience of life in Kenya. Opportunities such as these are fantastic and enjoyable for the children.
On Tuesday 10th December we had our first Spelling Bee Celebration Assembly for the year. It was great to see so many children achieving their personal best in order to make good progress in spelling.
I have also had the opportunity to visit a number of classes over the last 2 weeks to complete observations of Teaching Assistants. Being in the classroom regularly gives me a good insight into what is happening in every class. I have been very pleased the see the children putting a great deal of effort into the challenges they have been given.
Special events
On 19th and 20th November Ofsted visited the school. A copy of the inspection report and letter to parents has been sent to families today and will also be available on our school website. Ofsted will publish the report on their website on Friday 20th December.
Thank you to our hardworking PTA for organising a fantastic Christmas Film Slumber event last Thursday night. It was a nice way to lead into our Occasional Day. Today we have the Festive Fun event taking place in the school hall after school.
Year 1 Moonbeams and Year 6 Monarchs have also had their rescheduled Parents Evening. Thank you to those families who made the effort to attend their appointment. Thank you to the class teachers (Miss Saunders and Mrs Rigarlsford) for preparing for these important updates for families.
Year 2 Emperors also had their Family Fortnight class workshop yesterday which was very well attended. Thank you to the families who were able to attend this.
This morning after Celebration Assembly a working group of parents met to look at the some changes to statutory guidance, policy and resources for Relationships and Sex Education. There will be some changes next academic year which I will communicate with the wider community closer to September 2020. Thank you to those parents and governors who were able to attend this important meeting.
Reminders
The school day has been concluding at 3:15 pm and clubs have been concluding at 4:15 pm for the past half term. The staff and children are benefiting from the regular communication between one another to plug gaps in children’s learning in order to plan for the next day. Thank you to the families who consistently arrive on time to collect their children from school at the end of the day in order to make this happen.
Precious Little Seeds have been very helpful in accommodating care for children who may have been collected late for a range of reasons. They have commented positively on how well-mannered and polite the children are. If parents collect their children from Precious Little Seeds it is essential they cover the cost of the care they provide in a timely manner. The cost for after school care if parents are running late is £5.
Our Christmas Concerts are taking place next Wednesday 18th December at 2:30 pm and 6:00 pm. Parents are welcome at both. It is essential that children return to school at 5:45 pm, meeting at their own classrooms through the outside doors in order to start promptly at 6:00 pm. Please wear Christmas Jumpers to school on Wednesday and keep these on for the evening performance.
Big Up Your Book
Elliott in Year 2 Emperors recommends “I Know a Rhino” by Charles Fuge.
The story is about a little girl and her teddies. She imagines that the teddies are real African animals and she does lots of different things with them. It rhymes and the illustrations are really good. Elliott recommends the book for children in every class.
Learner of the Week
Firetips (Reception) – Sam
Moonbeams (Year 1) – Millie
Emperors (Year 2) - Duchess
Tortoiseshells (Year 3) – Scarlett
Cardinals (Year 4) – Issa
Admirals (Year 5) – Arlen
Monarchs (Year 6) – Nikola
Playground Star of the Week
Firetips, Moonbeams and Emperors (Early Years and Key Stage 1) – Zara
Tortoiseshells, Cardinals, Admirals and Monarchs (Key Stage 2) – Zander
Golden Expectations Award
Firetips, Moonbeams and Emperors (Early Years and Key Stage 1) – Jay
Tortoiseshells, Cardinals, Admirals and Monarchs (Key Stage 2) – Rosieann
Give Me Ten
25 times
Emperors (Year 2) – Coralie and Alexis.
50 times
Moonbeams (Year 1) – Ilyas
Tortoiseshells (Year 3) – Sofia H and Zahra.
Admirals (Year 5) – Mehmoon
Monarchs (Year 6) – Louis
75 times
Firetips (Reception) – Gisele, Becca and Zaheera.
Moonbeams (Year 1) – Adam, Jay, Max, Niamh, Millie and Kayden.
Emperors (Year 2) – Alyssa, Evie, Drake, Teah, Stanley, Aizah, Duchess, Zaki and Anaya.
Tortoiseshells (Year 3) – Sofia T, Ruby, Amal and India.
Cardinals (Year 4) – Sebastian, Tia, Morgan, Rosa, Sofia, Kiya and Roma.
Admirals (Year 5) – Subhan, Akeem and Oscar.
Monarchs (Year 6) – Isaah, Nikola and Aleeyah.
Terrific Times Tables
Tortoiseshells (Year 3) – Layton and India.
Cardinals (Year 4) – Finn, Kiya, Chloe, Rosa, Issa, Hannah and Amber.
Admirals (Year 5) – Shane.
Monarchs (Year 6) – Rosieann, Oyedapo, Hila, Aleeyah, Sadia, Summerm Chloe and Nikola.
House Point Winners
Whitlock Whites
Active Travel Award
Cardinals (Year 4)
Attend to Achieve!
We need the support of all families in school to achieve our ambitious attendance targets. Unauthorised time off school results in missed learning across all areas. Let’s work together to improve attendance and punctuality!
Firetips (Reception) = 95.6% this is below our school target. It would be great to see this improve next week.
Moonbeams (Year 1) = 95.8% this is below our school target. It would be great to see this improve next week.
Emperors (Year 2) = 96.9% keep this amazing attendance going!
Tortoiseshells (Year 3) = 94.7% this is well below our school target. A toast party with Mr Johnston will be awarded if everyone in the class is in school for the whole week.
Cardinals (Year 4) = 97.5% - WOW!
Admirals (Year 5) = 97.4% - WOW!
Monarchs (Year 6) = 93.8% this is well below our school target. A toast party with Mr Johnston will be awarded if everyone in the class is in school for the whole week.
Dates for your diary
DECEMBER
Tuesday 17th – Foundation Stage Christmas Production, Swimming Celebration Assembly.
Wednesday 18th – Christmas Dinner and Christmas Jumper Day, Christmas Concert
Thursday 19th – Whole School Pantomime
Friday 20th – School Closes at 1:30 pm
JANUARY
Tuesday 7th – Children return to school at 8:40 am
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our families a happy and safe Christmas.
Mr Johnston