It is always a pleasure writing to you each week and keeping you up-to-date with school life and the things that we are working on.

This week, we have looked at the 5 respects that we are implementing into our school behaviour policy.  Since lockdown, we have seen a decline in the way we speak to one another, treat each other, treat the environment.  So as a school, we have decided to work with staff and pupils to combat this and create our 5 respects.  These are:

1. To speak respectfully
2. To behave respectfully
3. To respect the school environment
4. To have respect for my learning
5. To have respect for other pupils’ learning

The children have had input into the first two during my assembly this week and they have worked as a class council to think about the school environment, which they will feedback via the school parliament.

Once these have been worked on, they will be displayed around the school and on our school website to help pupils and staff remember our 5 key respects.

We will run a small competition for some artwork to complement these.

Stars of the Week

Housepoint Winner

Our winning house is: St. Andrew

Our whole school attendance this week is: 94.2%;

Our whole school attendance to date is: 94.7% this is 1.5% outside the National which is currently 96.2%.

In other news...

The governing body met on Thursday night to look at the School Development Plan, how pupils have returned to school, the school budget, and complete the statutory aspects at the start of each academic year.  I can now confirm the following:

Chair of Governors: Michelle Horrobin

Vice-Chair of Governors: Joanne Vickers

Safeguarding Governor: Jenny Cantellow

SEND Governor: Jenny Cantellow

Pupil Premium Governor: Rhian Cockwell

Link governors for the following areas:

English: Michelle Horrobin

STEM: Emily Gravestock

The Arts: Joanne Vickers

Humanities: Emily Gravestock

Harvest Festival

Thank you for all of your contributions towards our Harvest Festival, we are collecting for Swindon Food Bank who have asked for alternatives rather than food; so thank you for supporting us again.

We are hoping to go Live on our Facebook page (private group) as our Y4 children will be performing and all our children will be singing some harvest songs.  This all starts at 13:00.

Year 6 Class Assembly

Thursday 7th September sees our Y6 children perform their assembly.  We are hoping to invite Y6 parents into this assembly.  I am just checking current information.  At the moment the protocol will be that you will need to wear a mask to walk through the school and into the hall.  Once in the hall, you can remove your mask.

The door will be open for ventilation.  We ask, that only 2 adults per household attend the assembly please to minimise the risk to our pupils, staff, and yourselves.  If you have any symptoms before the day, please do not attend the assembly - thank you.

National Poetry Week

Next week starts our national poetry week.  Why not take your child out and read poems out and about.  If you take any photos or videos, please send them to school - we can share them on our Reading page on the website.

Imagine reading Walt Whitman's poem 'O Captain! My Captain!' by the waters edge somewhere.  Or Shakespeare's Sonnet 18: 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day.' in a field on the Ridgeway. Or just before bedtime:

I Love You All, My Family by Shayla S Randolph

When monsters lurked beneath my bed
And scary dreams ran through my head, 
When thunder growled those sounds I dread, 
There you were, 
My father.

When scuffed up knees made me cry, 
Soft hankies wiped my sad eyes dry, 
Coaxing me each time I tried.
You were always there, 
My mother.

Who held my hand when I was scared? 
Ate candy that he should have shared?
The things I did because you dared, 
My brother.

In times of trouble, times of need, 
I feel such strength surrounding me, 
Without whose love, I can't succeed.
I love you all, my family.

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/i-love-you-all-my-family

I hope you have a lovely weekend, even though it seems to be raining the entire time and I will see you on Monday morning.

Best Wishes

Mr A