Welcome 2018 News Bulletin

Welcome to a new academic year and a particular welcome to our new reception pupils and those that have started with us further up the school.  We also welcome Mrs Furniss, as our Class five teacher, and Miss Hutt, teaching assistant.  We are all looking forward to an exciting year of new opportunities and traditional Blockley Events.   We are pleased to see all pupils in school with a positive and open outlook to learning following the summer break.  Thank you for your support to ensure your children are coming to school ready to learn.  Thankfulness is our value of the term.  We will be looking at this through our whole school assemblies and asking pupils to focus on not taking things for granted but being thankful and how we can all show our gratitude to others.

We will be showing our gratitude to pupils in school for their good behaviour though our new Golden Time initiative, as explained in more detail below.  In addition to Golden Time activities, Mr Jones commences the year as our ‘Sports Champion’ so he has a range of exciting events planned along with daily activities for all ages and abilities.  We start 2018 with a great deal to be thankful for.

Please find below new information and reminders.

Bulletin

We keep parents/carers informed about events that have happened in school and celebrate successes through our school bulletin.  For those that are new to our school, there are 7 bulletins issued a year.  This one, at the start of the year, followed by one at the end of each term.  These are placed on the school website and an email sent via ParentPay with the relevant link enclosed.  Please keep an eye out for these publications.  Dates of events happening within school are also placed upon our school website with letters regarding these events sent out via ParentPay nearer to the event.

ParentPay

As communications are sent out to parents/carers via ParentPay please could you ensure that your email address is kept up to date with ParentPay.  If you have any difficulties please do not hesitate to contact the school office.  Please remember to keep your account in credit or pay for items immediately. 

School Meals

Pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are eligible for Universal Free School Meals.  From Year 3 pupils are required to pay £2.30 per meal.  Please be aware if your child has moved into Year 3 that you will need to log onto ParentPay and pay for school meals.  We ask that all parents keep their children’s school dinner accounts in credit so that school funds do not have to be redirected to fund lunches. 

Drop-Off Club

Our Drop-Off Club is available for all pupils.  Pupils can be dropped off at the main entrance from 8am onwards.  We ask that pupils are given breakfast before they arrive and they then have the opportunity to participate in crafts and fun activities until they are taken into the playground at 8.40am to be with their peers.  Please pay the £2.50 via ParentPay and book via the sign in sheet in the main foyer.

After School Care

We have After-School Care available for all pupils to stay in school after the end of the school day.  This is split into two sessions, the first until 4.15pm and the second until 5.30pm (or after a school club).  Pupils can stay for one or both sessions.  The Care is located in Class 1, where the pupils can engage in various activities and spend time outside as well as having a healthy snack. This is charged at £4 per pupil per session.  Please book via the sign in sheet located in the main foyer.  Pupils can be collected from the door to the Class 1 corridor located near the Class 4 exit door.

Car Parking

We are lucky that St George’s Hall has a spacious car park.  The school has the use of the hall throughout the school day.  On occasion the hall is booked by other users in the afternoon and the car park is used for their event.   In these instances there can be congestion at the end of the school day.  We understand that many people have to drive to get into school, including the school staff, so car parking can be an issue on these days.  Please can all parents drive slowly with extra caution in the car park and along Park Road where children are walking to and from school.

To try and make the pick up on these days run as smoothly as possible the dates are listed below.  Where possible please car share or park elsewhere in the village and walk to collect your children. 

17^th September, 15^th October, 19^th November, 3^rd December, 18^th February, 18^th March, 15^th April, 20^th May, 17^th June.

Collecting Pupils

School finishes at 3.05pm for Class 1, 2 and at 3.10pm for Class 3, 4, 5.  The school gates will be open from 3pm for you to wait by your child’s classroom.  We ask that dogs are not bought onto the site but please tie them up well away from the school gates.  If you wish your child to be picked up by someone not on your data collection sheet then please let the teacher or school office know before the end of the day.  If this is someone that is not known to the class teachers then we use a password system and the relevant word can be passed onto the office staff/teacher for collection time. 

To aid Year 6 pupils with transition to secondary school we do allow them to walk home on their own if you give written permission for this to take place.

Messages

We value home school engagement and sometimes it is necessary for parents/carers to pass information onto the class teacher regarding their child.  In the first instance we have a message system in the main school entrance foyer.  There are blank message forms for you to complete and a brown message box to file them in.  The messages are collected and taken to the class teacher during the morning.  This is a useful way to let the teacher know changes to who is collecting your child for instance.

Data Collection Sheets and Paperwork

All pupils have been issued with a brown envelope at the start of term containing their data collection sheet and other information.  Please ensure all documents are signed and returned at the earliest opportunity so that we are able to contact you in an emergency.

Golden Time

Golden Time is an exciting initiative that will begin on Friday, 14^th September.   It is a whole school, weekly timetabled slot of 30 minutes which rewards good behaviour and celebrates those children who have followed the Golden Rules.  The Golden Rules are displayed in each classroom and are:

• We are gentle
• We are kind and helpful
• We listen
• We are honest
• We work hard
• We look after property

At the beginning of the week, all children start with their full entitlement of golden time. Children who follow the golden rules all week keep their complete allowance.  Should a child choose not to follow a golden rule, they are reminded of the rule, and given a warning.  If they continue with the negative behaviour they lose increments of 10 minutes of their Golden Time.  Children can earn back any lost time by showing that they are following the rule.

The children will be able to choose from eight different activities, details of which will be given in a forthcoming assembly. The children will be asked to sign up to one activity for half a term. This time scale provides sufficient time for children to develop their interest in a particular activity, develop new skills and complete projects.  The activities on offer have been taken from the children’s suggestions and these will change every half term.   

Class 1

The new Reception children have had their initial starter days. All went very well and we are looking forward to a fun term in Class One. Class One parents are reminded to look out for our daily information board which will be outside class 1 at the end of each day.

Please wander down and have a look at the newly painted fence in our EYFS outdoor learning area. It has really brightened things up. Class One children and staff would like to send a big thank you to Dave Miles (Husband of Sharon) who has kindly built us a new table for our outside area which we intend to use as a wet area/mud kitchen.

Key Diary Dates for Class 1

Some advance notice of events happening for parents/carers of pupils in Class 1.

Class 1 Open Mornings

Monday 28^th January – 9:00 – 10:00 – Literacy

Tuesday 29^th January – 9:00 -10:00 – Numeracy

Information and sign-up sheets will be available nearer the time.

Information Evenings

We are holding two information evenings to inform Parent/Carers of the Maths curriculum, how Maths is taught within school, and how you can help your child at home.  Please keep the date/s free in your diary and attend if possible.

KS2 Maths Information Evening – Monday 29^th October 2018 6:30pm

KS1 Maths Information Evening – Tuesday 30^th October 6:30pm

After School Clubs

Our after school clubs are due to begin next week.  A letter will follow to allow you to sign your child/ren up for appropriate clubs if they are interested.  Mr Jones will also run lunchtime activities if you child is unable to participate in after school clubs.

Swimming

Pupils in Key Stage 2 participate in swimming lessons offsite at Shipston-on-Stour swimming pool.  For a number of years each class has had a group of 10 lessons.  We are aware that many pupils already have swimming lessons outside of school so we have reformatted the lessons this year to ensure that those who can swim are challenged sufficiently and those who need additional support have time to strengthen their skills.  Initially Classes 3, 4, 5 will all swim for five lessons in a row with  further swimming opportunity for certain pupils being offered later in the year.  Class 5 will start lessons 19^th September.  Payment will be made via ParentPay.  Class 3 will swim from 7^th November and Class 4 from 16^th January.

Sports Champion

Mr Jones, our Sports Champion, will be running activities before school and during lunchtimes to encourage all to engage in fun activities.

His morning timetable for Term 1 is below.  Look out for Mr Jones on the school playground between 8.40am and 8.50am.

For half an hour during lunch time Mr Jones will be encouraging voluntary activities.  The Term 1 lunchtime plan is shown below:

Dance and Book Workshops

On Friday 5^th October we are welcoming a group of professionals into school to work with all classes combining literacy with dance.  All pupils will have the opportunity to investigate a book through dance with class workshops.  Classes 1 and 2 will look at The Gingerbread Man, Classes 3 and 5 are exploring Flat Stanley and Class 4 is studying Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  A fun and informative day.  Please ensure your child has their PE kit in school.

Parents Evening

Our first parents evening of the year will take place in October.  10 minute slots will be available between 3.30pm – 6.30pm on Monday 8^th October and Tuesday 9^th October.  Signing up letters will be issued nearer the time.

Music

We have a range of peripatetic self-employed music teachers who offer lessons to our pupils during the school day.  Woodwind, brass and violin are currently on offer and guitar lessons should be available shortly with a new teacher.  These lessons are offered as a private arrangement between the parents/carers and the music teachers and vary in cost.  If you are interested in your child having lessons please contact the school office.

Friends of the School (FOS)

We have a dedicated group of parents who give a great deal of their time to raise funds for the school to improve your child’s learning opportunities.  Please support their events when they are advertised or join in and offer a helping hand.  They are very friendly and would love the offer of further help and fundraising ideas.  Please contact the Friends of School Chair to find out more:
blockleyfoschair@gmail.com

Weather Station

The weather station, bought through FOS donations is now up and running.  Have a look on the school website front page to see what the weather is like at the moment.  The data collected from this machine will provide real and tangible data for the pupils to deal with and provide information for various areas of the curriculum.  So, thank you FOS!