Lead Encourage Aspire Respect Nurture
Dear Parents/Carers,
The staff and governors have been pleased to welcome Mr Pudifoot back to school as the Full Time Head Teacher following his successful heart operation. Mrs White returns to her position as the Deputy Head Teacher and will also continue to be available to speak with parents/carers as necessary.
Thank you for all your support this term, especially the Year 6 parents/carers. Your children have worked really hard and it was amazing to see how they were able to focus and apply their knowledge. We are very proud of them. The hard work continues into term 6 as we look at other aspects of the curriculum. Hopefully we will experience some good weather for summer sport and learning outside.
We are looking forward to a busy summer term with plenty of additional learning opportunities; class visit, residential, sports day, life learning and the KS2 play. We will be focusing on the value of truthfulness which underpins everything we do and is fundamental to creating a happy learning and working environment.
Therapy Dog
We are enjoying seeing Margo when she visits on a Thursday morning. She brings an important dimension to our learning environment and allows pupils to express themselves more easily. A very popular addition but we are also mindful of those who are not comfortable around dogs so she is based in a room away from the pupils. This room is currently decorated with a fantastic image of ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and ‘Matilda’ is in progress with more mural work planned.
The Dogs Trust
We had a visit from a lady employed by the Dogs Trust at the beginning of the term. She was able to show how we should behave safely around dogs and how to be a responsible dog owner.
Sharing Assemblies
We hope you have all enjoyed seeing a snapshot of your children’s work during the sharing assemblies. The growing confidence of the pupils is evident as they progress through the year and we value this opportunity to share the excellent work they produce. We are looking forward to the opportunity Class 1 will have this coming Friday.
Training
Staff have been on moderation training this term to ensure work is marked consistently across schools and attended sessions relating to the new Ofsted Framework.
Governors
Governors are looking forward to a further Governor in School week next term when they can see how the school has developed throughout the year.
Gloucestershire Young Photographer Competition
Congratulations to Amelie, Thea and Alice for their photographs being selected as part of Gloucestershire Young Photographer and Cheltenham Camera Club’s annual exhibition. There were 330 entries from 21 Primary Schools this year, 17 of which were from Blockley. The 3 judges were greatly impressed with our entries and would like to thank those children for taking part. Entries can be of any subject and must be the child’s own work should your child be interested in entering the competition next year.
Chedworth Roman Villa
As part of their topic work, Class 3 will be visiting Chedworth Roman Villa on Monday 10th June. They are all looking forward to their topic work being bought to life. More details to follow. Thank you to FOS for paying for the coach for this visit.
Panathlon Games Final
The Panathlon Games final will be held on Thursday 13th June at Hartbury College. We will be taking our gold medal-winning team of Blockley Pupils in an attempt to try and return triumphant once again. The team comprises: Bea, Reece, Finley, Charlotte, Vinnie, Alfie, Tommy, Seb, Emma and Oscar.
Life Caravan
We will have another visit from the Life Caravan in the middle of June. This is a mobile classroom run through Coram Education that runs life skills sessions in an age appropriate, interesting and accessible way. The programme is aligned with the National Curriculum and covers all of the Key Stages. Children’s experience of Coram Life Education’s sessions is fun, engaging and memorable. Children meet Harold the Giraffe puppet (‘Healthy Harold’), and friends, have discussions and watch short films about personal behaviour, development and welfare and how choices and behaviours can affect dreams and aspirations. Parents will also have the opportunity to visit the classroom and speak with the staff member.
Reception 2019
We are looking forward to welcoming our new reception pupils and their families during term 6. We have a new reception parent evening booked for 11th June (6.30pm) which we encourage all reception 2019 parents/carers to attend. They will be able to find out more information about starting school at Blockley. Home visits will be booked during this meeting and the reception pupils will be invited to taster days in July.
Early Years
Parents/carers with young children may find the following website helpful relating to aiding language development in Early Years children.
https://small-talk.org.uk/3-5-years/
Longborough Opera
Longborough Opera’s education team will be visiting school to work with Class 5 on 19th June. A fun and inspiring workshop that brings opera to life.
Sports Day
This year our Sports Day will be held on the school field. It is proposed that this will be held on Friday 21st June (weather permitting). It will be rolled over to the following week (28th June) if the weather is not favourable. More details to follow but please plan to watch some traditional races and have a picnic lunch on the field (between 10am and 2pm).
Key Stage 2 Play
Key Stage 2 pupils (year 3, 4, 5, 6) will have the opportunity to demonstrate their dramatic prowess during the production this year. This will take place at the beginning of July with evening performances to parents/carers on 3rd and 4th July (from 6.30pm). Further details will follow but family admission numbers will be limited due to the size of the school hall. Get ready to set sail for swashbuckling pirate adventure on the high seas with the ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’. Pupils can choose to audition for parts in the play during lunchtime on 5th and 6th June. They will be asked to sing ‘Life is a Wonderful Thing’ and read a short extract from the play. Good luck!
Residential
Our year 6 pupils are looking forward to finishing their time at Blockley School by visiting Hooke Court in Dorset in July (10th -12th July). They will have plenty of learning opportunities outside of the classroom, be able to build their confidence in readiness for their transition to secondary school and have a lasting memory of time with their primary school friends. We are sure it will be a special end to the year.
Year 6 events
To celebrate the end of their time at school the year 6 pupils will be also be having a leavers assembly and a rounders match after school. There are also plans to visit the church and vicarage for a transition to secondary school session. More details regarding these events will follow in term 6.
Beginning the School Day
Please remember that pupils file into school promptly at 8.50am. Unless pupils are booked into Morning Drop off Club (which begins at 8am) pupils should not be dropped off before 8.40am as there is no staff supervision in the playground prior to this time.
During the nice weather pupils in Morning Club may be enjoying the fresh air so if there is no answer at reception please be aware that they may be found on the playground or school field.
Open Evening
We will be pleased to welcome current parents/carers into school on Tuesday 16th July when you will be able to see your child’s work and look around the school. The school will be open from 2.30pm until 5.30pm.
Staffing
We are pleased to announce that Mrs Yuhong Meads will be joining the school team at the beginning of June to run the Academy finances. Although she will be a back office member of staff and therefore not deal with parents/carers directly she will still be located in the main office. Jane Harwood will continue to deal with reception matters and parental enquiries. We are looking forward to welcoming her and the expertise that she will bring.
We hope you have an enjoyable break and we look forward to welcoming pupils back to school on Tuesday 4th June. Term 6 will end at 2pm on Friday 19th July and a reminder that clubs will finish on Tuesday 9th July.
Blockley School Staff