🗞 Newsletter 9.2.2024

Online Safety

Safer Internet Day took place on Tuesday, 6 February 2024. This special celebration, which takes place in February of each year, aims to raise awareness of a safer and better internet for all, and especially for children and young people.

This is something I know I have found difficult as a parent to navigate and I am sure many parents do. There are so many things that we didn’t come across when we were their age and they are often way ahead of us when using technology.

Here are some ideas of how we can best help our children to stay safe online…

Talk little and often

Having a regular open dialogue with your children about their favourite apps, the games they enjoy, and their online friends, will help create an environment where chatting about online experiences becomes a normal part of family life.

Stay proactive

As a result of discussions with your children about their online activities, take time to research the apps they’re using, the accounts or channels they’re following, and the games they’re playing, to get a better idea of what they’re experiencing and what your thoughts are towards it.

Seek support

Knowing where to get help is essential. Each app or platform will have its own safety guidelines and reporting features, and having knowledge of how to use these will ensure you can make a report, seek help, and support your child to get the best out of the services they’re using.

NEWS AND UPDATES

As parents, it’s never an easy task to keep you children safe online. There are many different ways we can do this as this video shows the importance of keeping children safe online.

Parent Portal

Use this for updating contact details, child medical information, permissions, payments and seeing your child’s reports.

Click here to log in

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Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late.

🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late. 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

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Good Attendance Draw!!

Don’t forget, for every week that your child has an attendance of 96%+, they are allocated a digital ticket for a draw that will take place every half term. The more weeks with an attendance of 96%+, the more chances to win!

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Services and Events

Parish Sung Eucharist Sundays 10am - 11am

Sermon, music and Holy Communion

Place of Welcome Thursdays 10am - 12pm

Time for a brew and a chat

More information from Father Andrew can be found here

Click here to visit the church website

Messy Church

It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables.

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Community News and Support

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World Festivals and Celebrations

Chinese New Year - 10th February

Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year) marks the start of a new lunar year and falls in January / February. In 2024 Lunar New Year begins on 10 February.

It is celebrated with gifts, fireworks and dragon and lion dances and culminates on the 15th day with a lantern festival. The festival is also celebrated in many other east Asian countries.

Find more out about Lunar New Year with your child here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdumpajxciY

We would like to wish any of our families celebrating Lunar New Year a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Trust - This term’s Value for Life

Look at all the things we have got up to this week…

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Article 3: Adults must do what’s best for me

Article 3 is one of the most important articles in the UNCRC, and many other articles are related to it. It says that the interests of children and young people should be thought about at all levels of society, and that their rights should be respected by people in power.

In other words, it says adults should think about the best interests of children and young people when making choices that affect them.

With lots of new things learnt, learning more about Internet Safety Week, starting the week with an assembly led by Year 6 teaching us how to be safer online and seeing the Year 6 children design and make (with the help of Mrs Tierney!) their own 3 course menus for some lucky members of staff throughout the week (to be continued next week and we can’t wait!) - it really has been another eventful week. Seeing EYFS children enjoy learning more about Chinese New Year and writing the most fantastic stories about their magical train rides; listening to children tell me about how their confidence has grown and celebrate their achievements and progress made this year so far. It has been a week of lots of highs.

We also got our SIAMS Report this week, which you should all soon receive. We are so proud of our school and our children and families. I can’t thank all of the staff enough for all they do EVERY day to make our school what it is for the children. Thank you also to the parents who took time out to come to speak to the SIAMS Inspectors about our school.

Next week you will be able to book your next Parents’ Meetings for after half term. Please make sure you log onto Arbor and book your appointment to see your child’s class teacher.

I hope that you have a safe and peaceful weekend.

Mrs Flatman

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🗞 Newsletter 2.2.2024

Keeping Mentally Healthy…

Next week is Children’s Mental Health Week and we will be looking at how we can keep and be more mentally healthy throughout the week in class and in Assemblies.

It is also Safer Internet Day next Tuesday, which I think often ties in with our mental health.

Being in touch with people through social media can often be a great comfort and support but it is so important that we make sure that our children stay safe online as it can also, unfortunately, at points cause harm.

Talking to your child about being safe online and what is and isn’t ok to do online is a MUST!

Making sure that your child knows you are there to talk to if they have seen or experienced anything that may have upset them or worried them online is so important too.

We talked this week in assembly about trusted adults and Article 3 - making decisions in the best interest of a child.

All of the modelling we do for our children every day will hopefully help them to be more mentally healthy now and in the future.

NEWS AND UPDATES

We all have times when we need some support. With My Family Coach, you get all the help you need. We’re with you through the tough times, inspiring you with new ideas, and sharing practical tips to make parenting that little bit easier.

Parent Portal

Use this for updating contact details, child medical information, permissions, payments and seeing your child’s reports.

Click here to log in

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Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late.

🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late. 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

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Good Attendance Draw!!

Don’t forget, for every week that your child has an attendance of 96%+, they are allocated a digital ticket for a draw that will take place every half term. The more weeks with an attendance of 96%+, the more chances to win!

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Services and Events

Parish Sung Eucharist Sundays 10am - 11am

Sermon, music and Holy Communion

Place of Welcome Thursdays 10am - 12pm

Time for a brew and a chat

More information from Father Andrew can be found here

Click here to visit the church website

Messy Church

It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables.

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Community News and Support

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World Festivals and Celebrations

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple - 2nd February

2 February

In the Eastern and Western liturgical calendars the Presentation of the Lord falls on 2 February, forty days (inclusive) after Christmas. In the Church of England it may be celebrated on this day, or on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February.

When the parents brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required, Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God: “Now, Lord, you have kept your promise, and you may let your servant go in peace. and bring glory to your people Israel.”

Trust - This term’s Value for Life

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Article 3: Adults must do what’s best for me

Article 3 is one of the most important articles in the UNCRC, and many other articles are related to it. It says that the interests of children and young people should be thought about at all levels of society, and that their rights should be respected by people in power.

In other words, it says adults should think about the best interests of children and young people when making choices that affect them.

Staff News…

Many of you may have noticed that Mrs Marsden will soon be leaving us to have her first baby (she will be coming back, don’t worry!). We are all very excited for Mrs Marsden and wish her a happy last couple of weeks with us. She will be starting her Maternity Leave after half term and I am sure you will all join me and all the staff in wishing her all the best.

To cover Mrs Marsden’s Maternity leave, there will be some changes in staff. See below for more details:

Nursery - Mrs Tennant (Monday - Wednesday) and Miss Caveney (Thursday - Friday)

Year 1 - Mrs Bloor

Year 2 - Miss Nulty

Mrs Percival will be working in Year 2, 3 and 4 throughout the week also.

Another busy week, but in the busy way that I love the most. I have had the pleasure of reading so many of the Year 6s Autobiographies this week and it has been so fantastic, not only to see the effort that has been put into them, but also for them to tell their story - they have been a real highlight to my week!

I have also had the opportunity of reading and sharing so many other wonderful pieces of learning this week from throughout school.

Seeing the children so proud of their learning and showing off (in the nicest possible way) how far they have come and what they have learnt is so rewarding and why we do it. Celebrating all achievements, however big or small and encouraging children to recognise their own and their peers achievements. Our Celebration Assembly each week plays a big part in this.

Year 1 say goodbye to Miss Sowe today. Miss Sowe has been on her final placement with us since October and we have loved having her. We thank her for all she has given to the children in Year 1 and wish her all the best as she finishes her degree and starts her career as a Teacher. Thank you Miss Sowe.

I hope that you have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Flatman

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🗞 Newsletter 26.01.2024

Year 5 and 6 Football

Well, we had some fantastic games against St Wilfred’s this week who hosted us for both a boys and girls football tournament.

The reports back from staff were all about how good, not only their playing was, but their sportsmanship too.

This made me really pleased as it is such an important quality and one that isn’t always an easy thing at times when not winning.

We try to teach the children, in so many ways, the importance of experiencing both winning and losing; to be compassionate in the winning and show good sportsmanship in the losing.

The fact that they all came back with such big smiles, so proud of what they had achieved spoke volumes to me (even if not winning this time).

It was great to hear their match reports in assembly too.

I think their positive attitude and perseverance really did shine through.

NEWS AND UPDATES

We all have times when we need some support. With My Family Coach, you get all the help you need. We’re with you through the tough times, inspiring you with new ideas, and sharing practical tips to make parenting that little bit easier.

Parent Portal

Use this for updating contact details, child medical information, permissions, payments and seeing your child’s reports.

Click here to log in

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Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late.

🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late. 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

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Good Attendance Draw!!

Don’t forget, for every week that your child has an attendance of 96%+, they are allocated a digital ticket for a draw that will take place every half term. The more weeks with an attendance of 96%+, the more chances to win!

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Services and Events

Parish Sung Eucharist Sundays 10am - 11am

Sermon, music and Holy Communion

Place of Welcome Thursdays 10am - 12pm

Time for a brew and a chat

More information from Father Andrew can be found here

Click here to visit the church website

Messy Church

It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables.

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Community News and Support

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World Festivals and Celebrations

Holocaust Memorial Day - 27th January 2024

National

This is a remembrance day for all the different categories of people who suffered at the hands of the Nazis during the second World War (1939-45). It aims to keep fresh in the mind the memory of those who suffered and died at that period, and to help ensure that no such atrocity happens again. The date was chosen as the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, but for many it is appropriate to remember others who have been victims of subsequent acts of genocide elsewhere in the world.

Holocaust Memorial Day remembers especially the millions of people who were killed in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. More than a million people were killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a Nazi death camp in German-occupied Poland, during World War Two. The majority were Jews and the former extermination camp has become the world’s largest Jewish cemetery; but the site was also the death place for many people who did not fit into the Nazis’ view of their world: Poles, lesbians, homosexuals and the disabled were amongst those killed here.

11 million people were killed during the Holocaust (1.1 million children). 6 million of those victims were Jewish. Other groups targeted by the Nazis were Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, disabled people, and Roma. Two-thirds of Jewish people living in Europe at the time of World War II were killed by Nazis.

Trust - This term’s Value for Life

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Year 4 Visit to a Hindu Temple

Last Wednesday, year 4 visited a Hindu Temple to learn more about the religion. The children were exceptionally behaved and really enjoyed the teachings around Hinduism.

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Article 18: Responsibility of parents

Article 18 of the UNCRC says that a child or young person’s parents will normally have the main responsibility for bringing them up. They should both do this, both share responsibilities, and both be concerned with the best interests of the child or young person in their care.

If a child or young person only lives with one parent, their other parent should provide them with support. The form this support takes will depend on what that child or young person’s best interests are. Children and young people shouldn’t be discriminated against if their parents aren’t married or never were.

When it isn’t possible for a child or young person to be brought up by their parents, they should be cared for. Article 20 of the UNCRC details rights around going into care.

Government responsibilities

The UK has a responsibility to assist parents where they can, and this responsibility is carried by people employed by the State who are involved in a child or young person’s upbringing. These people include:

- people who run playgroups or youth clubs

- school guidance counsellors

- school nurses.

The UK Goverment should review how their employees assist parents, to make sure they are keeping their human rights promises to children under this article of the UNCRC.

Seeing the children so settled into the Spring term this week has been fantastic. With 2 football tournaments going on and lots of excited children returning to tell me all about it, it really did make me so proud of them all. Thank you so much to all of the staff involved in making this possible.

A new lunch time award has become the talking point of many when I pass them in the corridors and it was extremely hard for the lunchtime staff to choose this week. It was the infants this week that pipped everyone to the post with Year 2 winning Class of the Week and they will get their treat on Monday lunchtime - well done Year 2! I wonder who it will be next week?

You will soon see our carpark and entrance start to develop and change. We met with contractors this week as we work on making our carpark and entrance safer for children and visitors. We look forward to sharing more information on this very soon.

You will have all received an email this afternoon with a letter from Mrs Wadsworth, our Chair of Governors, regarding Mr Sharp’s absence from school. I know you will all join me in wishing him well and a healthy return to school as soon as possible.

I hope that you have a lovely weekend and look forward to seeing you all next Monday.

Mrs Flatman

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🗞 Newsletter 19.01.2024

Early Help

So often we don’t want to tell people if we are struggling. We may try to solve things as much as we can on our own.

As a school, we can support with so many things, and some that you may not think we can support with.

In school we have a range of pre-loved uniform that is always available and if we don’t have anything, we will always try to help where we can.

We also still have access to a number of devices that we can loan to families to support home learning - if you are interested in this please don’t hesitate to get in touch at the school office.

We can also access support from other agencies for a range of things such as:

- support with finances

- support with mental health

- support with housing issues

- support for any additional needs

- support getting your child into school

We are always on the other end of the phone and if we can help we will!

If you do feel we may be able to support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Mrs Flatman or Miss Caveney through the school office.

NEWS AND UPDATES

We all have times when we need some support. With My Family Coach, you get all the help you need. We’re with you through the tough times, inspiring you with new ideas, and sharing practical tips to make parenting that little bit easier.

Parent Portal

Use this for updating contact details, child medical information, permissions, payments and seeing your child’s reports.

Click here to log in

---

Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late.

🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late. 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

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Good Attendance Draw!!

Don’t forget, for every week that your child has an attendance of 96%+, they are allocated a digital ticket for a draw that will take place every half term. The more weeks with an attendance of 96%+, the more chances to win!

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Services and Events

Parish Sung Eucharist Sundays 10am - 11am

Sermon, music and Holy Communion

Place of Welcome Thursdays 10am - 12pm

Time for a brew and a chat

More information from Father Andrew can be found here

Click here to visit the church website

Messy Church

It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables.

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Community News and Support

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World Festivals and Celebrations

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - 18th - 25th January 2024

Christian

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an ecumenical Christian observance in the Christian calendar that is celebrated internationally. It is kept annually between Ascension Day and Pentecost in the Southern Hemisphere and between 18 January and 25 January in the Northern Hemisphere. It is an octave, that is, an observance lasting eight days.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is annually coordinated by the World Council of Churches, with participation by its member Churches, which include the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Old Catholic Church, the Moravian Church, the Lutheran Churches, the Anglican Communion, the Mennonite Churches, the Methodist Churches and the Reformed Churches, as well as the Baptist Churches and the Pentecostal Churches. The Roman Catholic Church, which is an observer in the World Council of Churches, celebrates the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Trust - This term’s Value for Life

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Article 17: Access to Information

Article 17 of the UNCRC says children and young people should be able to access information, particularly from the media. They should be able to get information from many places— from their country and beyond.

This Article applies to all kinds of media, including:

- print media― such as newspapers or magazines,

- electronic media― such as websites, and

- audiovisual media― such as radio and television programmes.

Information and education

Information from the media should form part of a child or young person’s education. Because of this, it should help them learn about the things listed under Article 29 of the UNCRC. These include:

- respect for human rights and freedoms,

- respect for their parents, cultural identity and language,

- respect for the values of where they live, where they’re from and the other countries of the world

- respect for the natural environment, and

- preparation for a responsible life where they treat other people with tolerance.

The media should also provide young people with information about their health. It should show young people in a positive light, bringing attention to the good things that young people do and taking care to show people who might be marginalised – such as women and those with disabilities – in a way that is not degrading.

Everyone should have access to the media

Article 17 applies to all young people, and special efforts should be made to make sure everyone has access to the media. This includes:

- young people whose freedoms are limited― such as those in young offenders’ institutions, and

- young people who may find the media difficult to access, such as some of those with disabilities or for whom English is not their first language.

To help young people who may find the media difficult to access, media should be translated into multiple languages where this is possible. Media should also be available in formats that are possible for young people with disabilities to access.

Protection from harmful media

Article 17 also says that children and young people should be protected from media that would be harmful to them. This includes:

- pornography,

- media that depicts graphic violence, and

- media that promotes irresponsible drug use.

Our Values Tree - with this term’s Value for Life - Trust

Well… It has been a very eventful week with lots to celebrate and lots of experiences: playing in the snow was a highlight at the start of the week for the children and although very cold, there were lots of smiles as snowmen were being built all around!

Year 4 then went on a Visit to a Hindu Temple on Wednesday and had a fantastic time learning more about Hinduism and Mr Hogan came back singing their praises with lots of positive reports about how the children were so well behaved and respectful on their trip. These trips are such good opportunities to learn more about the world we live in.

We then had our visitors come on Thursday. I was very proud to show them our school and our fantastic children. The children showed that they live out our vision every day and really did shine when talking about our school, their learning and their achievements.

We ended it today with out Year 3’s class assembly. The class assemblies are always a highlight for me as I am always in awe of how much they learn in such a short space of time. Seeing the children thrive in all areas of the curriculum always makes me smile!

I hope that you have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Flatman

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❄️ Newsletter 12.01.2024

Happy New Year

This week we started the week with an assembly about the Epiphany, which was celebrated by Christians on Saturday 6th January.

We talked about how God didn’t want to leave anyone out and how he invited the poorer Shepherds as he invited the Wise Men who could bring more riches.

We also talked about the fact that God did not discriminate by where people were from, as he invited the Jews as he did the Gentiles, who would have not have normally mixed in those days.

I think that this is a really powerful message. It is a message of togetherness and inclusion. It is a message of love, respect and compassion.

I believe this message teaches us a lot about how we should be today and act as an example of the way we should treat each other.

I do hope that everyone had a peaceful Christmas and enjoyed their time with family. As for the gifts that the children received, we have heard lots about them.

The Epiphany also gives us the opportunity to reflect on what ‘gifts’ we can give back - they don’t have to cost a thing - kindness, caring for others and sometimes just a smile is all someone needs.

It always warms my heart when I witness these little gifts from the children to another each day.

I hope they continue to use their gifts to create a kinder more peaceful world.

NEWS AND UPDATES

We all have times when we need some support. With My Family Coach, you get all the help you need. We’re with you through the tough times, inspiring you with new ideas, and sharing practical tips to make parenting that little bit easier.

Parent Portal

Use this for updating contact details, child medical information, permissions, payments and seeing your child’s reports.

Click here to log in

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Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late.

🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late. 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

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Good Attendance Draw!!

Don’t forget, for every week that your child has an attendance of 96%+, they are allocated a digital ticket for a draw that will take place every half term. The more weeks with an attendance of 96%+, the more chances to win!

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Services and Events

Parish Sung Eucharist Sundays 10am - 11am

Sermon, music and Holy Communion

Place of Welcome Thursdays 10am - 12pm

Time for a brew and a chat

More information from Father Andrew can be found here

Click here to visit the church website

Messy Church

It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables.

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Community News and Support

Scroll through the items below

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World Festivals and Celebrations

BIRTHDAY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA - 12th January 2024

Born Narendra Nath Datta in 1863 in Calcutta, he was an Indian Hindu monk who became the chief disciple of the 19th century saint Ramakrishna. Vivekananda, as he became known, was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and helped to develop Hinduism during the latter part of the 19th century to the stage where it held the status of a major world religion. He died in 1902. He pioneered the development of the Ramakrishna Mission and the creation of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre movement first in India and then throughout the world, travelling widely and emphasising the devotional and social aspects of the teaching and practice of his beloved Guru, Ramakrishna.

Trust - This term’s Value for Life

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Article 16: Protection of Privacy

Article 16 of the UNCRC makes it clear that children and young people have the right to privacy, just like adults do.

This means that:

- they have the right to a private family life,

- they have the right to a private space where they can go to be alone, even if they’re in an institution, and

- they have the right to keep their phone calls and emails private.

The right to privacy may not be respected if it puts someone in danger. For example, the police may look at a young person’s emails if someone who isn’t who they say they are is contacting them.

I hope you have had chance to see our gorgeous new display in the Hall window - our Values Tree. Mrs Tierney has been very busy this week bringing it to life and I hope that it brings a smile to people’s faces as they walk by as it certainly has brought a lot of smiles to mine seeing it develop as the week has gone on - thank you Mrs Tierney!

It was so lovely to welcome all of the children back on Monday and hear about their holidays. Whether they themselves have celebrated Christmas or spent time with family and friends, it is always so nice to hear about what they get up to during the holidays.

Already, only 5 days in, I have seen so many amazing pieces of learning. Walking around the classrooms and seeing the children settle so quickly into their learning is always a treat to see and what I enjoyed the most was seeing some of our Year 6 children praise and celebrate some younger children’s pieces of work.

It always amazes me how much we can get into a week and then how quick they fly. Next week we look forward to welcoming some special visitors to our school and I can’t wait to show them what our amazing children can do.

I hope that all those who were lucky enough to get tickets from our raffle and are going to FC United this weekend to watch their Women’s team have a great time - thank you Miss Caveney for organising it.

I hope that you have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Flatman

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❄️ Newsletter 22.12.2023

Reflections and Aspirations

Well here we are at the end of the first term of the school year. It is always the longest one, and with the start of Winter, everyone is certainly ready for a well-deserved break. It has been a term with many successes and also some challenges too.

Going right back to the end of August and the immediate action needed to close the hall because of RAAC was certainly an added pressure that wasn’t expected. I get a warm feeling going into the hall at the moment and seeing dance, P.E., assemblies, presentations, parents’ meetings, clubs, meals, nativity etc. We really missed having everyone together, and my virtual assemblies were a poor substitute to the real thing.

I would like to thank everyone again for the amazing teamwork, effort, flexibility, patience and hard work that has gone on to get back into the hall, and I think to only lose two months was really impressive. Sadly, some children in other schools are still out of their buildings and with more disruption to come.

As I have mentioned previously, the RAAC issue has delayed other projects and the Spring term is going to be very busy as we catch up on work needed on our building and grounds before the end of the financial year in April. I’m afraid I will need another great effort from everybody, but please be assured that by the end of this school year, we will have an even safer, healthier, more efficient and inviting school than before.

NEWS AND UPDATES

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Parent Portal

Use this for updating contact details, child medical information, permissions, payments and seeing your child’s reports.

Click here to log in

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Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late.

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Please be aware that our gates are locked a few minutes after 8.50am, which is the latest time one of our classes starts the school day. If your child arrives at 9am, then they are already between 10-15 minutes late. 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

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Good Attendance Draw!!

Don’t forget, for every week that your child has an attendance of 96%+, they are allocated a digital ticket for a draw that will take place every half term. The more weeks with an attendance of 96%+, the more chances to win!

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Services and Events

Parish Sung Eucharist Sundays 10am - 11am

Sermon, music and Holy Communion

Place of Welcome Thursdays 10am - 12pm

Time for a brew and a chat

More information from Father Andrew can be found here

Click here to visit the church website

Messy Church

It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables.

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Community News and Support

Scroll through the items below

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Free behaviour support resources for schools and families

Have you heard of My Family Coach? It's an incredible free platform for schools and families for help and support with all areas of behaviour, school and family life.

The platform includes over 50 hours of free support content from the experienced team here at Team Teach. There's articles, podcasts, videos, ebooks and quarterly online parent classes that you and the families you support can attend and watch on-demand as well.

It's all available 24/7 and completely free!

FIND OUT MORE

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World Festivals and Celebrations

Christmas Day 25th December - Christian (see also 6th January 2023 Orthodox and Rastafari)

Christmas Day Celebrates the birth of Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the son of God. The words of St John’s Gospel (Chapter 1:1-18) are read in many churches at this time; these speak of ‘the Word made flesh’, pointing to Christian belief in the Incarnation (God ‘made flesh’, or human).

Gifts are given as reminders of the offerings brought to the infant Jesus at Bethlehem, and Christmas carols, plays and evergreens are associated with this time, while nativity sets are displayed in many churches and in some homes.

Some of our festive celebrations this week:

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Article 15: Setting up or joining groups

Article 15 of the UNCRC makes it clear that – like all people in the world – children and young people have the human right to freedom of association. This means that they should be free to:

- meet individual people and groups of friends,

- set up an organisation,

- join an organisation, and

- take part in peaceful protest.

The right to freedom of association is relevant when children and young people act as human rights defenders.

Nursery Trip to the Z-Arts Centre

I was absolutely delighted that the Nursery children had the opportunity to go out on a visit to the Z-Arts Centre this week. It can be daunting taking the youngest children out of school, but the staff have planned and managed the trip really well, and the children really enjoyed the show.

The children went to see Twinkle Twinkle, which is a heartwarming, adventure in melody and light, made especially for very young audiences for Christmas by an award-winning team of artists. The show features brilliant puppetry, magical interaction and a gorgeous original score.

Well done Nursery on your first trip of many to come!

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Farewell to Mrs Beck

Sadly, we are saying goodbye to Mrs Beck today as she is moving to a new career.

Mrs Beck has worked with us in Early Years for 5 years, and made a huge contribution to the progress of many children. She will certainly be missed by the children, and definitely by the staff as well. She has always been very positive and supportive of us all in school, and I know our loss is someone else’s gain.

Thank you Mrs Beck, and we wish you all the best for the future.

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Email Mr Sharp

When we return, there will only be 4 weeks before we reach the middle of the school year. When I look back at the newsletters since August, I am so proud to reflect on all the children’s (and staff’s) achievements, and excited about what is to come in 2024.

Some highlights for me this term:

• The happy greetings I get from the children when walking around school

• Being proud to show visitors around

• The hard work and commitment of the staff

• Improvements in punctuality

• The heartwarming reasons for children receiving Merit Awards

• Going through 2 boxes of Head Teacher Award gold stickers

• The care children are taking with their learning and the standard of work

• Going back into the hall

• The many trips and visitors

• Kickstarter workshops with parents in Early Years

• The generosity shown in helping other people less fortunate than ourselves

• Class assemblies

• Children wearing the new P.E. uniform

• The work of the Pupil Chaplains and Urban Crew

• Links with other community organisations and events

• Learning more about other beliefs and cultures

• Welcoming new families to the area and our school with new housing opening

• Welcoming new members of staff to the school

• School building improvement work

There will obviously be more highs and lows in 2024, but so many reasons to be hopeful and positive.

Have a wonderful break whatever your plans, and for those celebrating Christmas, have a merry one with lots of happiness and cheer. For those people where this might be the first Christmas since losing a loved one, our thoughts and prayers are with you. I have been through it a few times, and it isn’t quite the same as before, but I hope you can have many moments of joy and know that things do get easier in time.

Thank you to everyone in the All Saints Family, it is so humbling to be the Head Teacher of this lovely school community and I am very much looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday 8th January 2024 at 8.45am.

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