Newsletter

February 2010

Have you changed your telephone number?  If so, please don’t forget to inform the School Office so they can update your child’s records in case of an emergency.  Thank you.

Attendance

The school has a target of 94% attendance, so we are asking parents to support us by sending their children to school regularly and not booking holidays during term time.

Thank you

Debbie Allen, Head Teacher

 

New Appointments

We would like to welcome a new teaching assistant.  Catherine Courtney will start on Monday 22^nd February and will be working in Monkeys class with Mr Brown and Joyce King.  Monkeys also have a new lunchtime supervisor, Gail Grogan – also welcome to her.  Our thanks to Marie Stokes who has been temporarily covering these posts.

Children who are Absent or Late

If your child is going to be absent from school due to an appointment, the school office need to see a copy of the hospital / doctor’s letter / card. 

Children who come into school late (overslept, not ready for the bus etc) will be given a late mark.  Registration closes at 9.20am so if your child comes in to school between 9.20am – 9.30am, your child will be given the attendance code ‘L’.  After 9.30am your child will be given the attendance code ‘U’, which is unauthorized and depending on the number of late marks your child has, the Educational Social Worker will become involved.  This does not apply to children who have medical appointments in the morning, however, we will need to see proof that your child has attended a medical appointment.  Thank you for your co-operation.

Parents Evening

Thank you to all those parents that attended parents evening on Monday 8^th February – we had a 72% attendance, despite the cold weather. Thank you.

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

Week beginning 8^th February, we have had language week.  The children have been enjoying a wide range of activities that are based around Spain and Spanish speaking countries.  On Wednesday morning, the children showed things that they had made, this ranged from flags and fans to maracas and dream catchers.  We also saw some beautiful pictures that were done in the style of famous Spanish artists and heard some of the Spanish language.  On Thursday, the children tasted a wide range of Spanish foods and on Friday afternoon we will be holding our own Eurovision / Dame Ellen’s Got Talent show.

We will be introducing Spanish into the curriculum for Upper School in the very near future, so a week was planned to introduce a foreign language for the children in a fun and exciting way.  There has been a buzz of excitement around school and the children have enjoyed sharing what they have been learning.  Adios!

Medical Appointments

Could all parents / carers please ensure that if their child has an appointment during the school day, that they inform school prior to the appointment date.  Ideally, parents / carers should be sending in a copy of the appointment card / letter.  If you have informed the school office that your child is only out of school for the morning but then due to circumstances is going to be absent from school for the whole day, you must telephone us to let us know, as a lunch could have been booked.  Many thanks.

Swimming

The pupils are really improving their swimming skills now that we take them from a younger age.  We currently have 18 pupils who can now swim 10m or more.  Swimming also improves pupils skills and Lions class who go swimming every Wednesday are now able to independently manage themselves - fantastic!

Haiti Disaster

A big thank you to you all for your donations.  We raised a whopping £483.35 to send to help the survivors of this horrific disaster. 

Reading Recovery

We are very pleased to have been chosen as the only special school in Birmingham to train a Reading Recovery Teacher.  The program is now into its second term and the children that have been involved have made some very good progress.  The teacher works with a child for 30 minutes every day and encourages them to develop their reading and writing skills.  In addition to the training that the reading recovery teacher is undertaking, 3 more teachers have received training in developing children’s early reading and writing skills which has already had a significant impact on the reading and writing levels of all the children involved.

Active Kids Vouchers

We are again collecting the Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers.  Please ask your family, friends and colleagues to help save them and send them in with your child – the more we collect the more equipment we can get! Thank you for your help.

Healthy Schools

In line with Government guidance, we ask parents not to send pop or squash into school.  Pupils have free access to water during the day, and at lunchtime.  If you child brings a packed lunch, we ask that you send pure fruit

juice, milk or water (flavoured is fine).  Please be aware that cartons that say ‘fruit juice drink’ is still squash.  Please look out for ‘pure fruit juice’ on the carton.

We encourage our pupils to eat healthily and for this reason children are encouraged to eat healthy snacks at playtime, such as digestive biscuits or fruit.  If you would like school to supply these snacks, please send in £1.00 a week class fund (also known as snack money).  However, you do not need to send in any money if you provide your child with a healthy snack from home.  Please remember that it is a long time from your children having breakfast at home until lunchtime.  A snack will not be provided for your child if you do not send in any money to cover this. Thank you.

         

We have now set two priorities for healthy school enhanced status.  The first priority is to increase pupils and parents participation in good quality exercise.  We have introduced extra activity sessions such as wake up shake up.  The dance club will start again soon. We have a ‘cheerleading’ club at lunchtimes and in the summer the older children will be offered ‘bikeability training’ (the old cycling proficiency). The second priority is to increase pupils self-esteem through a variety of in and out of school activities. These include Saturday and holiday clubs, after school clubs and residential visits.

                      

Lunchboxes

We encourage parents to supply their child with a healthy lunch box.  Please try to avoid sending in chocolate and crisps.  If you wish

to try a healthier crisp, try Quavers or French Fries.

Spring Half Term 2010 – Short Breaks

Springfield Environmental Centre is holding day visits on the 15^th and 16^th February and 7^th and 21^st March 2010.  Transport will be provided from Birmingham City Centre.  Children can touch the rabbits, cockatiels and chickens, go on nature walks, bird watching and lots more outside activities.

There are also some short break Residentials at Bockleton House where a child with special needs can stay with their parent.  Transport and meals included.

Bell Heath Study Centre is also offering day visits and residential stays.

For more information on any of the above, please contact school for an information /  booking form.

Cooking With Schools

Flora products are again printing cooking with schools vouchers on their products.  If you, your family or your friends use Flora

products, please send in the vouchers to enable us to buy more cooking equipment for the children.  Thank you.

Educational Visits

Classes have been involved in a number of educational visits this term.  Meerkats, Lions, Tigers and Hedgehogs all spent a day at Springfield Environmental Centre where they looked at animal skeletons and how bodies work.

Caterpillars spent a day at Woodgate Valley Country Park and Monkeys at the Nature Centre.

 Road Safety

We had a theatre company come into school to do a workshop with the younger children  on being safe on the road.  We also had some trainers come into school to talk to years 5 and 6 about road safety, which included ‘on road’ training in the local area.

 

Safeguarding

Our Fire Liaison office – Nigel – has been coming into school to work with the children on fire safety.  We have an assembly arranged for the older children about railway safety and I am also in touch with the RNLI regarding a visit from someone to talk about ‘beach and water’ safety.

                    

Every Child Matters Questionnaire Analysis 2010

75 pupils were surveyed from 121.  All but 4 pupils said they feel happy.  All but 7 pupils said that they liked school. Of those that do not; one said he doesn’t like literacy and maths and would rather stay home and play on the computer, another said that he didn’t like hard work!  All but 2 pupils said that adults listen to them.  All but 3 pupils said that children were kind to them. All the children said that adults were kind to them.  When asked if they had friends, all but 2 children replied yes.  When asked if there was anything they didn’t like about school a few children complained about being bullied.  Each of these children have been spoken to individually and staff informed of any issues.  9 children said they liked everything about school and 3 children said they like school so much, we are not to change anything!  When asked if the children felt safe in the classroom, all but 2 of the children said yes.  8 pupils said they did not feel safe at playtime; 2 of these said they were worried that they would fall over.  8 children said they did not feel safe in the toilets, of these 2 said that they were worried that they would fall over.  When asked who would you tell if someone hurt you?  70 pupils said they would tell an adult, 4 did not answer and 1 said he would tell his friend.

Aston Villa Football Club

Dame Ellen is still involved with Aston Villa and some of our team have been put forward for the Villa Special Team, which will involve training on a Friday evening.

Triple P – Positive Parenting Provision

Letters going out soon for parents to attend Triple P sessions, starting after Easter.

 

Dinner, Milk & Class Fund

Money

Please note that dinner money from Monday 22^nd February to Thursday 1^st April 2010 is £50.75 for the term or £8.75 per week. 

Cheques should be made payable to ‘Citiserve School Meals’.

Milk money will be £3.48 which will give your child milk from 22^nd February to 1^st April.

Class fund is £1.00 per week.

All money should be sent in an envelope marked with your child’s name, class and

a breakdown of what the money is for.

                

 

Debbie Allen

Head Teacher