Dear Parents/Carers,
The dusting of snow over school on Tuesday morning this week was a reminder of the Christmas events that took place last year. Despite the snow in December the pupils still managed to perform a fantastic nativity ‘A midwife crisis’ and ‘well-done’ to the understudies who had to fill in where necessary. We also managed to enjoy our full range of traditional Christmas activities prior to the holidays including a fabulous Christmas lunch. Thank you to all the staff and helpers who made this run smoothly and supplied us all with an amazing plateful of food. Thank you also to the Blockley Picture Playhouse whom gave the pupils a cinema experience of ‘Sing’ including a tasty treat!
Pupils returned from the Christmas break with a good attitude to learning and have studied hard this term and enjoyed a range of enhanced learning opportunities. The forthcoming half term break will be an opportunity for pupils to have a well-earned break and return ready to enjoy the range of activities planned for Term 4.
Our value this term is Courage, as Nelson Mandela said ‘“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to overcome that fear’. We celebrate this value through the awarding of Courage Value Certificates during our weekly sharing assemblies and pupils have the opportunity to write courage prayers for our prayer tree located outside the Head Teacher’s office.
Sharing Assembly
After Friday 9th February, when Class 1 will lead the assembly, all classes have been able to show their parents/carers the work they have been doing at school and demonstrate their talents. Credit to all of the pupils who spoke with confidence to their peers and adults, a demonstration of our termly value of courage for many who find this a challenge.
Galleries of Justice
Class 5 have the theme of Crime and Punishment for this term. They are learning about this through the ages as part of their history and cross-curricula work. As part of this topic they had an enjoyable day out to the Galleries of Justice in Nottingham. The inspirational visit used authentic courtrooms, objects and archives to help pupils gain a practical understanding of the law and justice system.
Church Visit
After waiting for a rain storm to clear, Class 1 and 2 walked to church to learn more about the village church and items within it.
Bikeability
Every year we offer our year 6 pupils the opportunity to complete a cycle training course. This is administrated by the Department of Transport and is about gaining practical skills and understanding how to cycle on today’s roads.
There are three Bikeability levels, each designed to improve cycling skills, no matter what is known already. Levels 1, 2 are offered to our Year 6 pupils. The participating pupils brought their bikes into school and, after having the bikes checked for safety, they were able to complete the course. The pupils did very well in various weather conditions to pass with flying colours.
As car users, please be mindful of our children on the roads and ensure that you leave the recommended distance of 1.5m when overtaking a cyclist and more when a cyclist is passing a parked car in case a door is opened.
Dance Competition
Class 2 entered into a local KS1 dance competition at St James, Chipping Campden. They competed against other local schools and danced a successful independent dance. All pupils performed brilliantly but weren’t placed this time.
Bishops Visitor
We enjoyed welcoming our Bishops Visitor, Sue Padfield, to school on Thursday, 1st February. She was able to look at the lovely displays of pupil work and school values and talk to the Class teachers about the events happening in school, as well as visiting classrooms to see pupils enjoying their learning.
Gym and Dance Day
Pupils enjoyed a day of gym and dance this week. A great opportunity for some end of term fun linked to many curriculum areas. Pupils were divided into mixed class groups, giving older pupils a sense of responsibility and an opportunity to help 
their younger peers. Sessions relating to Yoga, Line Dancing, Gymnastics and Kangaroo dance intermixed with dance related art and maths puzzles were enjoyed by all – staff and pupils!
Cross-Country
Well done to the 19 pupils who volunteered to run in the North Cotswold Cross County Competition this week. A cold but sunny day for a lovely run at the Fire College, Moreton-in-Marsh. Cheered on by parents and staff all did well to complete the course with a place secured for the county finals by Wilf.
Paralympic Hero Event
We are very excited to be part of a Sport for Schools programme that links Paralympic heroes to schools to inspire pupils to discover and pursue their passions in life. The pupils have been introduced to our hero this week and will meet them in person on the 22nd February. They will visit school to talk to the children and lead a fitness circuit. This will be a sponsored event to raise money for school equipment and for Great British athletes. Please look out for further details in your child’s bag and on ParentPay.
Dance Festival
KS2 have an opportunity to show their dancing talents at two Dance Festivals in February and March. The pupils will travel to Cirencester and Cheltenham to demonstrate their skills and compete against other schools. Thank you to those supporting the pupils in these events on weekday evenings and weekends.
World Book Day
Looking ahead we will participate in World Book Day again this year which is scheduled for 1st March. We are planning a ‘dressing up day’ and look forward to seeing some fantastic costumes again and inspiring all to read widely. Reading is a vital part of your child’s education. Research by the Reading Agency has shown that ‘reading for younger people has been shown to increase knowledge of the self and other people, which can also lead to greater levels of social interaction and increases in social and cultural capital. Other research has shown improvements in imagination, focus and flow, relaxation and mood regulation for those children and young people engaging in more recreational reading.’ Reading can help inspire our young people, give them understanding of the wider world and deepen understanding in all areas of the curriculum. Parents/carers can provide vital support by encouraging reading at home, with trips to the local library and demonstrating a love of reading themselves through the reading of newspapers and books.
Inspiration for this year? World Book Day 2017
Music Sing Day
On the 14th March the school will be participating in a ‘Music Sing Day’. This will be a themed dressing up day to celebrate music and singing. Look out for the letter on ParentPay that will give more details.
Healthy School
We promote healthy eating within school at break and lunch times. KS1 and Reception pupils are provided a fruit or vegetable snack through the Fruit in School Scheme. If you wish to send your child into school with a snack could you please ensure that this is a healthy snack and not crisps, chocolate or sweets. We also ask that nuts are avoided due to the risk to pupils with allergies. We also encourage healthy packed lunches for those not having school dinners, to fuel the afternoons’ learning!
Morning Start time
Can we remind all parents/carers that school opens at 8.40am and pupils line up to enter school at 8.50am. Please can parent/carers leave the school site at 8.50am to encourage quiet and sensible lining up. Between 8.40am and 8.50am staff will be on duty in the playground to supervise pupils. If you need to drop your children off before 8.40am they will need to be booked into Before-School Care. Please make sure your child arrives to school on time, ready to be registered at 8.55am or you will be required to complete the late book. Thank you.
Parents evening
It was lovely to welcome parents/carers to school for parents evening on Monday and Tuesday and for staff to share pupils’ achievements and highlight any areas where they may need extra support.
School Term Dates 2018-2019
Our term dates and Inset days have been set by Governors for 2018-2019. These are now available on the school website. Please ensure family holidays are booked during school holidays. Many thanks.
SATs
Our year 6 pupils are aware that they have their SATs this year. Amongst the extra-curricular activities they are currently consolidating their learning and gaining familiarity with the style of papers to ensure that the test week runs as smoothly and stress free as possible. The tests run on during the week 14th-17th May.
Our KS1 SATs will be administrated to our year 2 pupils throughout the month of May 2018.
Enjoy the February Half Term.
Blockley School Staff
Class 1 having fun with Forest School activities. 