Cheshire Academies Trust Limited trading as Boughton Heath Academy. Registered in England and Wales 08108086. Registered office Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0PU.

NEWSLETTER October 2015

Cheshire Academies Trust

‘Together Everyone Achieves More’

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome back from half term. We have a long term ahead of us but what an exciting one. We have such a lot of wonderful activities this term to look forward to. There are lots of sporting competitions, day trips and not to mention the build up to Christmas. Last term was the start of the planned meetings between Trust staff and I am delighted to say that this has been groundbreaking in terms of the opportunities that they have had to work with other outstanding colleagues. It is really making a difference to the opportunities we can provide to our children at Boughton Heath. We have a new assessment system now which, along with Mill View and Kelsall, staff have received training and support in using beginning this term. Since September “levels” as we knew them do not exist anymore. The government made this decision primarily to give schools the opportunity to create their own. This isn’t without its problems. However, as a Trust we have developed our own banding system for each year group as follows: Below (The National Curriculum objectives for their year group) Emerging (Just beginning to demonstrate understanding of the objectives for their year group) Developing (Working on achieving the objectives for their year group) Working at (achieving the required age related expectations) Deeper Learning (Demonstrating the ability to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding) I am confident parents will have a lot of questions about how the school will track progress or how parents will receive information in the future. Rest assured this is a key priority. Parents must know where their children are up to (in order to help them) and what the children can or cannot do yet. Our system will support teachers in providing this information to you at key times throughout the year. This, at Boughton Heath, will be more than just parents’ evenings. We will be writing to you in the near future to invite parents to join us at school to further understand how this new banding system will be applied and how children will be judged at key times such as Year 2 and Year 6. I am delighted with the informal feedback from parents which has been universally supportive of the efforts of the teachers. I know how hard they work but it is lovely to hear this coming from parents. Please do tell teachers when things are going well with your children. Finally, what a delight it was to attend the Halloween disco. It was a real family event and I very much enjoyed seeing all of the scary and inspired costumes that had clearly taken a long time to prepare. The children adored the event and I would like to thank Ian and the rest of the members of the PTA for a wonderful event which was well organised and lots of fun. Thank you for your support. Our school continues to get even stronger and do even better. Please do read the section on the “Wish Tree” and I look forward to reading your responses. Please also note the change of date for the Junior Christmas Performance. It is now Tuesday 15 December.

Steve Ellis Principal

Cheshire Academies Trust Limited trading as Boughton Heath Academy. Registered in England and Wales 08108086. Registered office Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0PU.

ANTI BULLYING WEEK Children from each year group will work on various aspects of friendships, anti-bullying and our moral compass. Over the week beginning 16 November each class will create a poster to use in our final assembly where each class will be discussing what they have done and learnt... As a school we look at 3 distinct parts.

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

From September 2015 all pupils in the infants will be able to receive a school meal at no cost to the parent/guardian. We need to ensure that all parents/guardians that have a statutory entitlement to a free school meal complete this form. We will then be able to confirm whether the school is entitled to claim the pupil premium for your child. The Pupil Premium is extra money given to your child’s school to spend on resources such as one to one tutoring, music lessons, extra curricular clubs and school trips. For 2014/2015 this is £1300 per pupil. Funding is based on children registered for a free school meal, further reinforcing the importance of making sure all those who qualify are actually registered. Your child may be entitled to receive free school meals if you are entitled to receive one of the following: • Income Support • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 • The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit • Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190. It is really important that you complete and return this form to help make sure your child’s school is funded as well as possible.

Cheshire Academies Trust Limited trading as Boughton Heath Academy. Registered in England and Wales 08108086. Registered office Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0PU.

OUR WISH TREE The Boughton Heath “Wish Tree” is a concept we have created to get right to the heart of what parents want for their children. We would like parents to return the luggage tag with their wish for their child/ren while they attend our school. You can see some of the examples from Reception parents who have already filled out a tag.

CURRICULUM E NRICHMENT

Our new Learning Wheel Reception making scarecrows Year 2- Hilbre Island Seals

Year 1 visiting the Gruffalo in Delamere Forest

Year 5 science experiments on gravity

The start of our Anglo Saxon roundhouse

Cheshire Academies Trust Limited trading as Boughton Heath Academy. Registered in England and Wales 08108086. Registered office Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0PU.

PINK CARDS Positive character behaviours are extremely important to us at Boughton Heath Academy, which is why children have been earning “pink cards” by demonstrating a positive character trait such as honesty, cheerfulness and perseverance. I am delighted that children have been very keen to earn a card. What is so important is to teach children the values labelled on the reverse side of the cards and to celebrate when someone notices. Furthermore, we have been awarding children Principal post cards on Friday simply for friendship which was the value of the last half term.

PARENTS’ EVENINGS

We will be holding Parents’ Evenings for classes on the dates as follows: All Classes except Year Three

Tuesday 17 November- 3.30pm-6.00pm Thursday 19 November- 4.30pm- 7.00pm

Year 3: Mrs Woods will be splitting her appoints over 3 nights.

Tuesday 17 November- 3.30pm-5.30pm Wednesday 18 November 4.30- 6.00pm Thursday 19 November- 4.30pm- 6.00pm

During the 10 minute meeting, the teachers will discuss your child’s progress, development and targets for the next term.

Time is obviously limited, if you require additional time with the teacher, please arrange this during the meeting. Before parents evening we will send the banding levels schools use, to aid discussions regarding progress and attainment.

You will be receiving a letter tomorrow, Wednesday 04 November, to confirm which time slot/s you require. Please look out for it.

Cheshire Academies Trust Limited trading as Boughton Heath Academy. Registered in England and Wales 08108086. Registered office Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0PU.

HARVEST FESTIVAL Our harvest festival assembly will be held on 01 October, with Rev. Pendlebury who will be talking to children about growing and how this linked to specific character traits that were positive in a person. Each class showed some work they have completed, sung songs and leant about harvest and what it meant at that time of the year.

Cheshire Academies Trust

Cheshire Academies Trust 11 by 11 Entitlement Boughton Heath Academy- How will we do it?

11 by 11 Experience Year Group Additional Information 1. Visit London Year 6 Visit to the houses of parliament and link to curriculum.

2. Learn to swim and water safety

Year 3 (mop up swimming lessons Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6).

Water safety elements to be taught within swimming units.

3. Camp under stars, cook on a fire and look at the stars

Year 5 Year 3 Year 4

Year 5 to complete this entitlement while on their residential trip to Condover Hall. Sleeping in tents on the second night. To cook on a fire in the residential trip. To cook on a fire in the residential trip.

4. Learn First Aid Year 6 St John’s Ambulance IMPs programme

5. Do something for charity

Year 4 Selected charities each year will be supported. This year they include, Childline and Project Paddington.

6. Plant it, Grow it, Eat it.

Year 1 and Year 6 Year 1- Year 6

Will also deliver an extra to the 11 by 11 by sponsoring a pig from a local farm which is reared, slaughtered and then eaten by school children. Each class will have their own fruit or vegetable to plant grow and eat as follows: Reception- Strawberries Year 1- Tomatoes Year 2- Onions/Lettuce Year 3- Courgettes Year 4- Carrots Year 5- Beans and Peas Year 6- Raspberries and Blackberries

7. Learn the basics of cooking

Year 1- Year 6 Each year group will learn designate skills as follows: Reception- Hygiene- Cooking different breads Year 1- Crumble- Chopping Year 2- Measuring and Weighing Year 3- Rock Cake- Scaling with recipe ingredients Year 4- Converting- Bread Year 5- Chutney- Preservatives

Year 6- All Skills- Pumpkin pie

8. Perform on stage Year 1- Year 6 All year groups will have an entitlement to perform on a stage including:

Christmas Productions Choir End of Year 6 Productions Drama Club Chester Music and Drama Festival

9. Play a Musical Instrument

Year 1- Year 6 Each child will learn to play the recorder and this will be consolidated and progressively taught throughout school. Other lessons with children include curriculum music lessons and also individual lessons in piano, brass and woodwind instruments.

10. See the sea Year 2 Year 3

Visit to Hilbre Island for topic lesson. Wildlife, flora and fauna and sea observations. Residential Trip to Conwy. Canoeing up and down the Menai Straight.

11. Learn to ride a bike and road safety

Reception Year 5

Balance bikes and scooters to be used to teach children the art of balance. Bikeability programme taught in Year 5 which gives children the opportunity to ride their bike on the road once skills have been taught on the playground.

Cheshire Academies Trust Limited trading as Boughton Heath Academy. Registered in England and Wales 08108086. Registered office Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0PU.

REMINDERS SCHOOL P.E. KITS and Coats! Children are taking part in tag rugby and basketball at the moment. These are both outdoor games and as such children should have clothes to keep them warm enough. Use of a school jumper for P.E. is not acceptable. Please ensure all items are clearly named.

ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND PLANNING PERMISSION We would like to remind parents of the restriction in place due to the conditions within the planning permission. Children and parents are allowed to use the adventure playground only till 4.15pm after school and no children should be on school site during weekends or holidays

SAVE THE FAMILY- HARVEST FESTIVAL This year all the proceeds from our Harvest Festival will be donated to “Save the Family”. We will be collecting before and after half term with all the donations being sent on Friday 2nd October. Please give a can or dried food to this good cause.

USE OF THE SCHOOL CAR PARK Parents are reminded that the school car park is not to be used to stop and drop off children. It causes congestion and is unsafe for children to be walking across to reach school.

WAKE UP SHAKE UP Parents are reminded that this club begins at 7.45am at a cost of £1.50 There is no need to book in advance.

PARENT NOTICE- PLEASE READ It has become increasingly apparent that parents are using the school car park to drop off both in the mornings and after school. Parents are reminded that the school car park is extremely small and children should never enter the car park. Teachers have noticed when leaving children running across the car park and this is extremely dangerous. Please do not use it to pick up or drop off at any time during the day.

OUR ANGLO SAXON ROUNDHOUSE

We have started building an Anglo Saxon roundhouse behind the polytunnel. It should be big enough for 30 children and in the end have a thatched roof. Thank you to Mrs Gell and Mr Lucas for helping to get it started. We do need more help. In particular concrete and someone who can help thatch the roof once we have built it. Do you know of anyone who can help build the structure with us? IF so please give them our contact details. Thank you also to Jewson who supplied the school with a hole borer to help with the digging. We still need a 6 foot deep hole for the main central column. A mechanical digger would be nice!

Cheshire Academies Trust Limited trading as Boughton Heath Academy. Registered in England and Wales 08108086. Registered office Kelsall Primary School, Flat Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0PU.

DIARY DATES Diary Dates- 2015-2016 Additional diary dates will be provided throughout the term. N.B It is inevitable that changes may occur. We will endeavour to keep you informed as early as possible. Please visit our website www.boughtonheath.cheshire.sch.uk. Thank you

Date Event

Wednesday 2 September School RE-OPENS

Wednesday 9th September Year 2 visit Hilbre Island- Note late return to school 5pm

Monday 14th September Clubs Begin

Monday 14th September Year 3 and Year 4 circus day

Tuesday 15th September Meet the Teacher Reception: 5.30pm Year 1 and Year 3: 6.00pm

Wednesday 16th September Meet the Teacher Year 2 and 4: 5.30pm Year 5-6: 6.00pm

Friday 25th September 9.30 New Parent Coffee Morning to follow share learning

Friday 25th September 8.50-9.20 Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Wednesday 30th September Harvest Festival (Children only)

Monday 5th October Year 1 to Delamere Forest TBC

Tuesday 6th October Year 3 to Pizza Express

Thursday 8th October Year 5 to Jodrell Bank (Late return of 4pm)

Thursday 22nd October 9.15-11.45 and 1.15-2.45pm OPEN DAY (Prospective families)

Friday 23rd October Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Friday 23rd October School CLOSES for HALF TERM

Monday 2nd November School Closed INSET day

Tuesday 3rd November School RE-OPENS

Wednesday 4th November Year 3 and Year 4 trip to Liverpool World Museum

Wednesday 11th November Year 5 DT day- Making tree houses

Week beg: 16th November Anti-Bullying Week 2015

Tuesday 17th November- 3.30pm – 6pm Parents’ Evening

Thursday 19th November 4.30pm – 7pm Parents’ Evening

Monday 23rd November am Individual & Family Photographs

Monday 30th November Majority of Clubs Finish for Autumn Term

Friday 27th November Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Wednesday 9th December 10am and 6pm KS1 Christmas Production

Thursday 10th December 10am KS1 Christmas Production

Tuesday 15th December 9.30am 6.30pm KS2 Practice at Northgate Church and Performance

Friday 18th December School CLOSES for CHRISTMAS

Monday 4th January School Closed INSET day

Tuesday 5th January School Closed INSET day

Wednesday 6th January 2016 School Reopens 2016

Thursday 7th January Year 6 DT day

Friday 29th January Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Friday 12th February School CLOSES for Spring Half Term

Monday 22nd February School RE-OPENS

Friday 26th February Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Tuesday 1st March Year 1 DT day

Thursday 10th March Year 5 Class Assembly

Monday 14th March – Wed 16th March Year 3 Residential

Tuesday 22nd March – Thursday 24th March Year 4 Residential

Thursday 24th March Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Friday 25th March Good Friday- School Closed

Monday 28th March Easter Monday- School Closed

Tuesday 29th March 4.30pm – 7pm Parents’ Evening

Thursday 31st March 3.30pm – 6pm Parents’ Evening

Thursday 31st March Year 2 Class Assembly

Friday 28th March Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Friday 1st April School CLOSES for EASTER

Monday 18th April School Closed INSET day

Tuesday 19th April School RE-OPENS for SUMMER TERM

Tuesday 19th April Scholastic Book Fair in School

Friday 22nd April Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Friday 22nd April Year 4 DT Day- Making the Iron Man

Monday 2nd May CLOSED for MAY BANK HOLIDAY

Wednesday 4th May Year 4 Class Assembly

Monday 9th May- Thursday 12th May Year 6 SATs Week

Thursday 26th May Year 1 Class Assembly

Friday 27th May Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Friday 27th May School CLOSES for Half Term

Monday 6th June School RE-OPENS

Friday 10th June Tempest Class Photos

Thursday 16th June Year 3 Class Assembly

Tuesday 21st June Sports Day Infants- morning Picnic Lunch Juniors- Afternoon

Friday 24th June Share the Learning Open Morning 8.50 – finish at 9.15

Friday 24th – 26th June Y6 Residential to Robinwood Centre

Monday 27th June Year 2 DT day- Swing Bridges

Tuesday 28th June Reception Class- Design Technology day

Friday 1st July Reserve Sports Day

Tuesday 12th July 1.30pm and 7pm Year 6 Leavers Production

Wednesday 13th July 1.30pm Year 6 Leavers Production

Thursday 21st July School CLOSES