Newsletter w/c 4th January 2016 Published Thursday, 17th December 2015

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Well done to the children and staff in Year 3 & 4 for a fabulous Carol Concert on Thursday night. We had really positive feedback from all the people who came along and it sounded like parents would like this to become part of our annual programme.

Well done to Liz Martin and the kitchen staff for a fantastic Christmas Lunch yesterday and well done to all the children who came in non-uniform and made a big effort with their Christmas Jumpers. Liz goes on maternity leave from tomorrow and we wish her all the best for her forthcoming event. Caroline McDonald will cover Liz during her maternity leave.

It’s been a busy time and staff and children are all ready for a break with several of the staff fighting off the winter lurgies to keep school running.

Here are a few photos from the past few days

We have a small group of children who have been working in a new facility in school called Evergreen. This is providing very specialised nurture and support for children from breakfast sessions, to class teaching to lunchtime groups. They celebrated yesterday with their own puppet nativity which had been made by the children and staff and was shown to parents. They did brilliantly and all the staff and children should be very proud of their achievements.

Other Special Events

We have talked in assembly about the big event of the week – the Soyuz launch and Tim Peake’s arrival at the International Space Station. It’s sometimes difficult to explain it all in school. Children know who Neal Armstrong is, but they don’t always understand when the moonwalk happened (that he was American) and how significant Tim’s achievement is, being the first British man in space. I would encourage parents to make the most of Newsround and anything else to learn from this event and I have shared some space- related apps on Twitter. The best of these is Skyview which allows you to see star constellations, planets and even the International Space Station (day or night).

Thanks to governors, PTA, parents and particularly to staff & children for their work and support this year. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very happy 2016. Carl Lewis

WATER ORTON PRIMARY SCHOOL Attleboro Lane, Water Orton, Birmingham, B46 1SB

Website: www.waterortonprimary.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter @WOPrimary

Tel/Fax: 0121 747 2851

Headteacher: Carl Lewis

COMPETITIONS: The local churches/ Open the Book Team have today given us information of a competition for a local Christmas Card design. Forms are available from the office and need to be returned by the end of NEXT WEEK (27TH November).

COMPETITIONS

After Noah Cunliffe winning the local Christmas Card Competition, we must now congratulate Rosie Molloy who was a runner up in the competition to choose MP Craig Tracey’s Christmas card design. Well done to Rosie whose design appears with the other runners up on the back of Craig’s card (one of which will sit on The Prime Minister’s mantelpiece!) THE DOGS TRUST

We have done well with competitions this year. The latest one I have Received is for The Dogs Trust. If children would like to enter, they need to: Write a creative story about a Dogs Trust dog that has been on an amazing adventure! The story can be short, long (max 500 words), based on real events or completely fictional! It can be based in the past, present or future and can be set in any location! It really allows for each child to use their own imagination and ideas in creating their exciting story! I will share the details of when to send it in and the deadline after Christmas.

The prize is an exclusive VIP “behind the scenes” tour of rehoming centre near Kenilworth for themselves and a friend/family, and other Dogs Trust goodies.

CHRISTMAS PARTIES and PTA FUNDRAISING

Thanks to the PTA for all their work this year and for funding the snacks and party items at the Christmas parties. After Christmas we are hoping to start to see some new areas and activities being created in the playground for Palm and Beech Classes. Just a reminder, that if you have practical skills or a building or landscaping background, we could really do with a bit of help sometime. If you’re willing and want to make a difference, please get in touch with me through school email or direct message on Twitter. NOTE TO PARENTS IN PALM AND BEECH CLASS

Please note that Mr Beasley will be taking children in Pine and Beech classes for a short session of outdoor activities each Friday morning from after Christmas. Please ensure your child has suitable wellies and outer clothing to keep them warm and dry (but which may get a bit wet or muddy from time to time).

NOTE TO PARENTS IN PINE CLASS

Please note that Miss Reynolds will be increasing her time in Pine Class after Christmas as Mrs Bick will be working with Evergreen for some of the time that she is in school. Miss Reynolds will be in Pine class every day and Mrs Bick will now only take the class for Science and ICT each Wednesday afternoon.

SCHOOL BANK

Just a reminder to ensure you close your child’s School Bank account and arrange for the money to be transferred. If anyone has any information on contacts in high street banks, please do let me know if you can find a good alternative bank that we can use in school.

ABSENCE AND LATENESS WELL DONE TO ALL THE CHILDREN THAT ARE STILL GETTING GOOD or OUTSTANDING ATTENDANCE.

As we approach the end of term, I am writing to parents of children who have significant absence. Whilst I appreciate that the closure of Water Orton Bridge affects some parents, we do have a small group of parents whose children are STILL arriving at school LATE NEARLY EVERY DAY. We also have some parents who are regularly late in collecting children after school. We are not unreasonable about occasional lateness, but please do not abuse the good will of staff. If you can’t collect at the proper time, please consider after school childcare. I UNDERSTAND THAT WATER ORTON BRIDGE WILL BE REOPENED FAIRLY SOON, (I’m not sure if that accurate) but let’s all set a new year’s resolution to get to school on time.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS Please note that the CLUB LETTER for next term was sent home LAST Wednesday. Parents have had until TODAY to get their replies/ request in. Rachel Stowe’s club letter will come out after Christmas.

Texts/ emails will be sent out to parents in the first week back confirming places for clubs. Parents will then need to pay before the clubs start in the 3rd week (school clubs).

Please note that places will not be reserved for children if this term’s club fees have not been paid. COLLECTION FROM SCHOOL, TREEHOUSE AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

Please can parents/ carers make sure they let School and Treehouse know if you are collecting children early and the children are not doing the usual after school club or Treehouse. It’s really important we all know what the arrangements are so errors are not made at home time. Thank you.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK As we break up tomorrow, please make sure that:

Any monies that are owed are paid.

Please make sure you send you club replies back to school.

Please check the lost property table by the US Hall, which will be out today and tomorrow.

Make sure that your child takes home their PE kit TODAY and water bottles and other belongings TOMORROW (Friday).

Please make sure you arrange to collect your child at 2PM TOMORROW.

Please also note the arrangements for Tree House to close at 5pm.

Please remember that the first Monday in January (4th) is a training day and children return on the TUESDAY 5th January.

Children can bring board games to play tomorrow – Nothing precious or expensive please! LOST PROPERTY, UPCYCLING OLD CLOTHES, TOYS AND GAMES

We raise money for a charity each term. This term it has been The Poppy Appeal and Children in Need. Next term will be for The Midlands Air Ambulance. We will be taking delivery of a clothing bank just after Christmas so if you are replacing old clothes with new ones in the sales, please store your old clothes, fabrics and footwear in a black bag and save it until the clothing bank arrives in the first week back. The school will also get a small income for each tonne of clothing recycled. It would be great to also save any unwanted (but in good condition) toys, games or stationery after Christmas and we will hold a ‘bring and swap’ type event early in the New Year. We also have a link with a school in Malawi and anything small and light may be sent to support these children. If you have items for this, please think of us before you have a clear out. UNIFORM

Please can I remind parents to ensure children have the correct uniform for their children after Christmas? Please ensure:

Girls’ skirts are the appropriate length and they do not wear fashion boots, but proper black shoes.

Please ensure boys do not lead you into buying trainers as school shoes. We are tolerant of trainer-type shoes

with Velcro straps, but these must have NO LOGOs and MUST BE ALL BLACK. Clarks and other fitted

shoes are always a better for children than fashion brands.

Please do not put school in a situation where we have to ask you to take footwear back as it isn’t suitable.

CLARKS

EXPENSIVE?

About £40

SUITABLE? -

YES √

NIKES

EXPENSIVE?

VERY (£100)

SUITABLE?

NO x

CLARKS SWERVE

EXPENSIVE?

REASONABLE

SUITABLE?

NO x

TK MAXX

EXPENSIVE?

NO (£20)

SUITABLE?

YES √

DIARY DATES TO KEEP HANDY: Please check your child’s diary for Term Dates etc.

Please check if you have children at Solihull or Birmingham schools - do not assume dates are the same.

DECEMBER 18th Break up at 2.00pm JANUARY 4th Warwickshire Schools Training Day – School closed to pupils 5th School reopens for pupils 15th Closing date for children starting school in September 2016 22nd Water Orton Final Training Day – School Closed to pupils

Inspire workshops – Please book time off to come and work with your child. Workshops start at 9am and will finish by 10.30am

o Mon 25th Jan – Beech Class

o Tues 26th Jan – Willow Class o Wed 27

th Jan – Palm Class

o Thurs 28th Jan – Rowan Class o Fri 29th Jan – Elm Class o Tue 2nd Feb – Ash Class o Wed 3rd Feb – Hazel Class o Thurs 4th Feb – Pine Class o Tues 9th Feb – Oak Class o Wed 10th Feb – Chestnut Class o Thurs11th Feb – Hawthorn Class

Mother’s Day Assemblies are on FRIDAY 4TH MARCH 2016 Juniors in the morning Younger children in the afternoon

If you need to request leave of absence for a holiday, you MUST complete a form available from the office. Please be aware that unauthorised absence can result in legal proceedings. For further details read the school prospectus/attendance policy on the school website.

DINNERS: w/b 4th January 2016: Menu Week 1

Please remember that all dinners should be paid for on the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK Payment can be made on

School Gateway or by cheque (payable to WOPS-WCC). NO CASH THANK YOU

PLEASE REMEMBER DINNERS ARE NOW £2.20 PER DAY OR £11.00 PER WEEK.

It would help staff if you write your child’s choice of meal on the front of the envelope with their name and class.

HEALTH ISSUES:

IMPORTANT: We have a child in school undergoing specialist health treatment.

Please inform the school office immediately if your child develops chickenpox or shingles or has contact with anyone with these illnesses either inside or outside school.

During school holidays, please telephone the School Nurse on 01827 722983

The weather is changing - please ensure your child has a coat, hat and gloves on these chilly mornings. Children will go out to play unless the weather is very wet.

ATTENDANCE Well done to: Beech, Palm, Willow, Hazel, Ash, Hawthorn and Evergreen classes who met or exceeded our attendance target of 96% last week.

Evergreen achieved 100% - Well done!!

Rowan, Elm, Pine, Chestnut and Oak only just missed their target. It would be great to get all classes to get at least 96% next week if we can.

Every day counts!

WELLIES

Our Reception and Year 1/2 Classes would really appreciate any old wellies that your child has grown

out of for outdoor play. Can you help please?

CLUBS – w/b 4th January 2016

BREAKFAST CLUB runs every morning from 8.30am in the Upper School Hall

NO CLUBS THIS WEEK – MORE DETAILS AFTER CHRISTMAS

Thank you to Paul Tullett and all the members of Open the Book for their contribution to school.

Please note that everyone is welcome to:

The Christmas Services at St. Peter & St. Paul Parish Church, Water Orton

Sunday 20th December 6:30pm Candlelit Carol Service

Christmas Eve 5pm Christingle Service

Christmas Eve 11:30pm Midnight Mass

Christmas Day 10:00am All Age Communion

From the 3rd January, we will have an 11am service every Sunday with Sunday School suitable for children of primary age.

Please contact the Vicar Paul if you want to know more paulofwaterorton@hotmail.co.uk

0121 730 2081

Wishing you all a very happy and blessed Christmas - Paul

A Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year from your Admin Staff

Thank you for the lovely cards and we hope you have a lovely, relaxing break and we will

see you back on the 5th January 2016

Jackie, Roni and Emily