Weekly Reminders for Final Week Published Thursday, 9th July 2015

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

Email: admin2618@welearn365.com

Website: www.waterortonprimary.co.uk

Tel/Fax: 0121 747 2851

Headteacher: Carl Lewis

MR LEWIS’S GOOD NEWS STORIES…

Thanks to the PTA who have bought school some new picnic benches for the children to use at lunchtimes. These were assembled on Monday by Mr Hann and Mr Hall. Thank you!

THE RAFFLE PRIZE FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL Sports Day HAS NOT BEEN CLAIMED. THE WINNING TICKET WAS. IF NOT CLAIMED, IT WILL BE USED AT MONDAYS LEAVERS PERFORMANCE. Thanks to Julie Langton and to Virgin Rail for the donation of two family rail tickets as prizes.

DON’T FORGET TO BUY YOUR CHILD’S DISCO TICKETS IN ADVANCE!

WEATHER ALERT

We may be in for some hot weather NEXT WEEK. There are a lot of children who were not wearing sun hats on sports day. PLEASE GET YOUR CHILD A CHEAP HAT TO AVOID HIM/HER BEING UNWELL.

We have THE WATER STATION with a constant availability of water at lunchtimes on standby. Concert Well done to Cassie and Thomas, who along with other the musicians performed at Bedworth Civic hall last night.

SPORTS DAY Thanks to everyone who came to our sports days this week. The children were great and we had some thrilling and entertaining races.

The photos are on Flickr. There are over 300 and you can’t put that many photos on Twitter. It’s not hard to see them, although you may be limited unless you join by creating a Yahoo account. There’s a few on the next page.

The weather was TYPICALLY BRITISH and the photos show blue sky at the start and black clouds and rain at the end. We did our best with a difficult situation and any children that missed any of their races will complete them in their Games lessons. PIT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE, THIS IS THE WEATHER

FORCAST IF YOU WERE HAVING SPORTS DAY IN JAPAN OR

EAST ASIA TODAY – TROPICAL STORMS AND TYPHOONS!!

Thanks to Mrs Stowe and Mr Beasley, our sports coaches and also to Miss North (and to Kimberley Smith on PA). Thanks also to Michele Henry and our midday supervisors who had a tricky job managing the lunchtime, but did a great job.

WELL DONE TO WAKEFIELD HOUSE WHO WON THE HOUSE

TROPHY!!!

Photo courtesy of Nichola Speers

SATS RESULTS

The school has secured some really great SATS results again this year. Year 2 children received this information with reports and Year 6 children will get this information soon. Please note that the schools results also show a comparison with LAST YEAR’S NATIONAL results. We do not have the National results for this year. Well done to all the staff that contribute to the school’s continuing improvement, but a particular mention those who teach Year 2 and Year 6 who have the additional stresses and pressures on performance, but who manage to keep children calm and happy. Next Year’s Residential Visits

Year 5 Cefn Lea – 13th - 17th June

The £50 deposit deadline for (Y5) Cefn Lea will be Mon 30thNovember 2015. (The cost this year was £199 and it is likely to cost a similar amount next year (however we cannot

give an exact quote at this time).

Year 6 Mill Rythe – 6th – 10th June 2016

The £50 deposit deadline for (Y6) Mill Rythe will be Wed 30th September 2015. (The cost this year was £340 and it is likely to cost a similar amount next year (however we

cannot give an exact quote at this time).

PLEASE PLAN AHEAD. IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE THE DEPOSIT AND CONSENT SLIP BY THE DUE DATES IN THE AUTUMN, YOUR CHILD WILL NOT GO. IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO MIGHT NOT READ THIS, PLEASE TELL THEM SO THAT THEY DO NOT MISS OUT – THANKS.

Important Events This Week:

TOMORROW – Assembly to present Success Booklets.

Monday 13th July – After school: Drop - In to new classes & Informal Parents Evening

Opportunity for parents who are in THIS YEAR’S NURTURE GROUP to visit new classes and chat to staff.

Monday 13th July – LEAVERS PERFOMANCES

2PM AND 7PM IN UPPER SCHOOL HALL. – YOU NEED A TICKET - 2 TICKETS PER FAMILY Spares will be offered on first come, first served basis. GET YOUR TICKETS THIS WEEK!!

Wednesday 15th July – Leaver’s Meal and Disco (see letters for details)

PTA school Disco (for Upper School) 7.15 pm in Upper School Hall Party for Lower School (1.30pm – 4.00pm)

Friday 17th July –

School Breaks up at normal time. Assembly for attendance and Best Boy/ Girl Some of my favourite photos from Sports Day 2015 (CL)

DIARY DATES TO KEEP HANDY: July Mon 13th 2pm Year 6 Leavers Performance 7pm Year 6 Leavers Performance Fri 17th Break up for summer holiday (normal time)

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 13th July: Week 2

HAVE YOU PAID DINNER MONEY? Please

remember that all dinners should be paid for on the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

If you have received an envelope with text or email reminding you about non-payment of school dinners, please make payment via the school gateway or by

cheque. NO CASH THANK YOU

Please can you help school by ensuring that all monies (including dinner money) are paid by the

date due?

Money paid for meals that are not taken remain on your child’s account.

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

Parents who repeatedly ignore reminders will be asked to provide sandwiches for their child.

PLEASE SEE NOTICEBOARDS FOR THE

WIMBLEDON TENNIS TOURNAMENT LUNCH TOMORROW, 10TH JULY

CLUBS – W/B: MONDAY 13th July

PLEASE CHECK THE CLUBS THAT ARE ON THIS WEEK AS SOME CLUBS HAVE FINISHED

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD AND TREEHOUSE KNOW IF YOUR CHILD IS ATTENDING A CLUB –THANK YOU

BREAKFAST CLUB runs every morning from

8.30am in the Upper School Hall

Monday Y5/6 Cricket – Lunchtime Y3/6 Athletics Y3/6 Gymnastics (Evolution) Tuesday Y3/4 Cricket – Lunchtime Y3/6 Rounders – 3.10-4.15 YR-2 Multi-Skills – 3.00-4.15 (Evolution) Wednesday Y1/2 Athletics – Lunchtime Y3/6 Tennis – 3.10-4.15 Y3/4 Dodgeball 3.10-4.30 (Evolution) Thursday Y3/4 Football – Lunchtime YR/2 Strikers Club (Racquet Sports) 3-4.15 Y5/6 Dodgeball 3.10-4.30 (Evolution)

HEALTH ISSUES:

Chickenpox and Shingles: Please advise school if your child develops or has contact with chickenpox or shingles (see box on page 3) Head lice – Please check hair regularly Norovirus and other tummy bugs – children should remain absent from school for 48 hours after the last episode of sickness or diarrhoea. Medicines in School – please complete a medication form (available from the office) authorising staff to administer medicines.

MEDICINES WILL NOT BE ADMINISTERED

UNLESS THIS PROCEDURE IS FOLLOWED

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

The treatment involves weekly injections and it is VERY IMPORTANT that school is advised if any children develop or have contact with CHICKENPOX OR SHINGLES as any contact will cause VERY SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS.

During school holidays, please telephone

the School Nurse on 01827 722983

OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PAID ALL DINNER MONEY AND ANY OTHER

DEBTS BY WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK.

(Or you may lose the ability for your child

to have meals or join clubs next term)

Health and Safety

When it’s sunny, please remember to apply sun tan lotion to children before they come to school and make sure that they have a hat to keep the sun off. We have a few caps in stock at the office and our uniform supplier should be able to assist. Parents – please remember that children are not allowed to play out the play equipment before or after school. Please actually watch your child. Some children are wandering off, or playing with sticks and I’ve seen very young climbing sticks built as a den at the end of the playground, which could easily collapse.

WE WILL ADVISE YOU OF MRS STOWE’S HEALTH NEXT WEEK

Traffic and Pedestrians

If you see someone displaying anti-social

behaviour, parking or driving dangerously, or

acting suspiciously, write down their

registration and any basic details and please

phone the Police immediately.

SEE IT; REPORT IT - MAKE CHANGE

HAPPEN!

REMEMBER - Do not leave items on view in your car. We have been informed of thefts from cars outside Warwickshire schools.

REQUEST FROM WATER ORTON PARISH COUNCIL and MR LEWIS

Young tree on the parish green.

PLEASE CAN PARENTS/ CARERS STOP CHILDREN

FROM CLIMBING AND SWINGING ON THE

NEWLY PLANTED TREE ON THE GREEN.

This is damaging the tree and is also extremely dangerous as children may slip and hurt

themselves on the stake supporting the tree. Please can we ask for parents support in

stopping children climbing the tree? Thank you

THANK YOU - MR LEWIS

WATER ORTON LIBRARY SUMMER READING CHALLENGE

This Year’s challenge starts on Saturday 11th July for all children.

Read 6 books during the holiday and receive a medal and certificate at the end.

There are rewards after every 2 books.

The library is open every Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm.

So come along and use your new library cards and join in the challenge!

SATURDAY 11th

July 3.00pm – 5.00pm WATER ORTON

METHODIST CHURCH (Opposite Tesco)

with the story tellers.

A new way of doing church as a family with

craft, song, story and food sharing. All Welcome!

IMPORTANT:

PLEASE RETURN YOUR REPORT SLIPS AND DO THE ONLINE

SURVEY ABOUT HOMEWORK

THANK YOU

Year 6 preparing for their Leavers Assembly – It’s looking good so far!!

GET YOUR TICKETS SOON! 2PM AND 7PM ON MONDAY

IN UPPER SCHOOL HALL

Well done to the children who took part in the Warwickshire Libraries Books Awards this week: Luke Morgan, Jodie Price, Millie Harding, Hadia Khattack, Jacob Wakely, Amaiya Marley, Dionne brown, Daniel Pollock, Michael Roberts, Haylea Wise, Antonia Rowley and Lauren Hartmann.

Thanks to Mrs Smith, Mrs Groves, Mrs Roberts and Mrs Harding for taking the children.

We say thank you and farewell to some of our staff next week: Mrs Ralphs who has done a splendid job working with Reception and some of our Year 1 children (see comments below). We wish her all the best as she moves on to a permanent position teaching Reception children Coleshill Heath.

Thanks to Mr Robinson (former pupil) who has taught all of the classes at some point in his capacity as cover teacher and who has also done a great job working with Mrs Davies in Larch Class. We wish you well also as you move onto a contract at St John The Baptist RC Primary..

Mrs Dyson moves on next week to Brays Road School in Birmingham after doing a super job working as both a mid-day supervisor and teaching assistant, mainly working with reception and year one children (as well as doing library books). We wish Mrs Pashaj all the best as she remains poorly and is unlikely to return until next term. Also, best wishes to Mrs Rea who is on jury service and will miss the end of term.

Miss Plant is currently poorly with very bad throat infection and will be absent for the rest of this week and Mrs Stowe was also unwell and will not return this week, meaning her Dodgeball club is cancelled.

Year’s Reception/ Year 1 Group Thanks to the parents who have taken time to send in comments on how this year’s group have done.

As a school we have some difficult decisions to make about classes, but all of us care about your children and we always do our very best to support your child by offering the best class or support that we can. When parents have a problem with a decision on classes, we will always consider their concerns thoroughly, but may not always agree or be able to change classes.

We have taken on board comments from a few parents that are not keen on the term ‘Nurture Group’ and we will find another way to refer to these children next year. We published some photos of children to reassure parents that their children were happy on Changeover Day and I would encourage all of our parents and children to approach the idea that all of us, as adults and our children are the same in many ways, but different in others and to be more understanding.

It is sad when parents feel that they are ‘judged’ by other parents; by their child’s ability, skills or disabilities. Perhaps it’s time that everyone took a long hard think to consider that everyone has something to offer our world and we should be tolerant and supportive of each other in doing the best for all of our children, regardless of their skin colour, race, gender, ability, disability or special need.

‘I must admit that I had a great deal of apprehension about the nurture group when I first found out about it, but for (my child), it’s been fantastic! I knew that it was the right decision for (my child) because he struggled with finding his/her feet and was such a young member of the class. I think my biggest fear was that (my child) would become separated from his/her peers and may become stigmatised. It is also a bit of a dent on a parents ego to think that their child is being ‘kept back’ – if we are honest we all want ourselves and our kids to be seen by their peers as being equal or even better!’ ..’As I said though, the Nurture Group has been wonderful for (child’s name) academic development. I would say to any worried parent that they should feel safe in the knowledge that their child will be getting the best of both worlds and they’ll be over the moon with how they grow and develop. I’m truly grateful that (my child) has had this opportunity – thank you!’ ‘The Nurture Group in my experience is a great idea. My son is one of the youngest in his year and was clearly not ready for year 1. Since being in Nurture Group he has made significant progress and at his last parents evening his teacher advised us that he is now on par with others in year 1. I was worried that he wouldn't get time to mix with his friends in year 1 groups but he did and plus made extra friends along the way. I made the decision for my son and what was best for him, not for what was best for me and by far was the best decision I've made. Parents should not be put off by this idea and if you’re thinking it would hold children back. In my experience, it's if anything made my son achieve more. My son will now be joining year 2 and having been given that extra time to grow and learn he's now ready to get stuck in’.

‘My (child) has come on leaps and bounds this year, the nurture group has massively helped build confidence and academically has done brilliantly we are very proud. I admit that I was worried this time last year when I was told (my child) would be in this group, though the teachers reassured me that it would really help him/ her progress- They were so right. I would like to thank all the teachers and staff that have taught and helped Lucas this past year (my child) is really looking forward to going into year 2 he told me all about his/her day yesterday and meeting his new teacher, Miss North’. Thank you once again to all the staff

Property Marking Events

ON

Saturday 18th July 2015 in

Water Orton

10am White City 12 noon Methodist Church car park

2pm The Green, Vicarage Lane

An opportunity to have your property marked from Laptops to lawn mowers, tools to bicycles for FREE.

Get lots of crime prevention advice and chat to your local Police Officers.

For Further Information contact Carol Cotterill Coordinator for Crime in the Rural Communities Tel 07787 151848 or carolcotterill@warwickshire.gov.uk

PC Vicki Newton or PC Jude Hood or PCSO Jane Owen nww.snt@warwickshire.police.uk

www.warwickshireruralwatch.co.uk