May 2012 School Newsletter

Clarence Road,Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B74 4LD Telephone: 0121 308 5392 Fax: 0121 308 5061

Friday 4th May 2012 th

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

Mon 7 May Tue 8th May Wed 9th May Fri 11th May Mon 14th May

Tue 15th May Thur 17th May Fri 18th May Sun 20th May Thur 24th May Thur 31st May Fri 1st June Mon 11th Jun Tue 12th Jun Wed 13th Jun Thur 14th Jun Fri 15th Jun Mon 18th Jun Tue 19th Jun Wed 20th Jun Fri 22nd Jun Wed 27th Jun Fri 29th Jun Sat 30th Jun Sun 1st July

BANK HOLIDAY Class and Team Photographs Squirrels Class Assembly - 2.30pm Squirrels Class Assembly - 2.30 pm KS2 SATs WEEK School Council Meeting PTFA Meeting – 7.30 pm “Italian” Lunch Moles Class Assembly – 2.30 pm Moles Class Assembly - 2.30 pm PTFA Fun Run Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) Meeting for Year 6 Parents Hares Class Assembly – 2.30 pm Non Stop Cricket tournament for Cluster Schools at Hill West pm Hares Class Assembly – 2.30 pm BREAK UP FOR HALF TERM PUPILS RETURN TO SCHOOL SRE for Year Six – Life Line SRE for Year Six – Transition Parent Council Meeting - 2.00 pm SRE for Year Six – Body Parts SRE for Year Six – HIV Badgers‟ Class Assembly – 2.30 pm KS1 hall SRE for Year Six – Prejudices Badgers Class Assembly – 2.30 pm KS1 hall Year One Phonics Screening Test this week PTFA Meeting – 7.30 pm “Olympic” Lunch Netball Tournament at Four Oaks School - 4.00 pm Whole School Takeover Day New Intake Parents’ Evening – 6.45 pm Cluster Schools Athletics at Wyndley - 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm Olympic Torch arrives in Birmingham PTFA Summer Fayre

PTFA Fun Run The PTFA Fun Run will be held this month on Sunday 20th May at Sutton Park - Jamboree Stone at 10:30am. On the day entries will be £10.00 for the 10K run and £5.00 for the 4K run and will close at 10:15am. You may also pick up an entry form from the display stand outside the school’s office.

As yet the PTFA have not received many entries from school and so we are hoping to promote the event for them in assemblies over the coming weeks. We would love to see as many families there as possible as it is sure to be a very good morning. Please don’t feel you have to run, many of our families decide to walk the 4k course and everyone on completion gets a medal for participation. The children who take part really do feel a sense of achievement afterwards and we will celebrate this in assembly on Monday 21st May. Good luck to all those taking part! I hope to congratulate you all on the finishing line.

Why do we set homework at Hill West?

Homework is an opportunity for children to consolidate the learning they have been involved in at school. More importantly however it is an opportunity for you to work with your child to support and encourage their progress. We value the time you spend at home with your child completing homework tasks as this contributes to their overall academic achievement and work ethic in later life.

A reminder to parents DINNER MONEY

If your child is in Year 6 and you would like them to walk home alone you will need to put this request in writing.

We will not allow any child to walk home accompanied without your written permission.

Thank you to everyone who has already paid their dinner money for this term.

May we remind you that we collect this money on behalf of Birmingham City Council‟s Direct Services Department and that it should be paid in advance either weekly, half termly or termly. £10.00 per week £64.00 this half term £124.00 full term

Inclusion Focus Our mental well being is as important as our physical health. We are currently involved in an exciting project called TAMHS; Targeted Mental Health in Schools. This project has involved staff and children working on areas that can affect our mental health e.g. separation, bereavement and family breakdown.

This work will help children to become more emotionally resilient to such events. Two of our staff have attended a protective behaviours course and another two have attended the „Fun with Friends‟ program which we will be running for some of our children. The aim of the program is to provide social and emotional skills that will stay with the children for life. „Fun with Friends‟ will also support children to develop life long positive relationships in a fun way.

A big thank you to Sainsburys in Mere Green who kindly donated a very large amount of unsold Sports Relief merchandise to the school.

May we also remind parents that under Birmingham City Council policy, dogs MUST NOT be brought on to the school premises. This is to safeguard all children.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER The School Photographer will be visiting all classes on Tuesday 8th May. Don‟t forget to look your best!

Are you, or do you know a pianist who could play for our school choir, The Hill West Singers?

We need someone to play whilst Mr Jeffries conducts and you would need to be available every term time Tuesday from 3.30pm to 4.45pm.

Please contact the office if you can help.

IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN In the first instance you should speak to your child’s class teacher.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of this discussion then you should seek further support from: Mrs Joy Tombs, Assistant Head; Miss Fiona Marsh, Deputy Head; or Miss Beth Clarke, Head Teacher Appointments to see any of the above can be arranged via the main school office.

PARENT COUNCIL MEETINGS. Many thanks to our Parent Council Representatives who have kindly volunteered their time to discuss whole school issues. The aim of the Parent Council is to debate issues that affect the welfare of children in school, allowing parents’ views to feed into decision making. In order to ensure that our school is outstanding we need to benefit from your ideas, suggestions for development and praise.

In line with the majority of parent’s availability, our meetings will be held from 2:00pm3:20pm in the staffroom. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 12th June. Although we have representatives from most classes we would still like to welcome parents from classes throughout KS2. If you wish to express an interest, please feel free to notify the school office.

ATTENDANCE Congratulations to the 89 children (22%) who have acheived 100% attendance since the beginning of the school year.

Well done also to the 146 (36%) who came to school everday of the Spring Term and the 186 (46%) who were not absent in the Autumn Term.

DANGER Our crossing warden has advised us of a recent near miss involving children riding scooters too quickly along the road and nearly into on coming traffic. If your child uses a scooter or bike please control them especially when approaching the road.

Remember scooters and bikes are not allowed to be ridden on school premises.

CHANGE FOR LIFE

Free School Meals Are you eligible to claim? Are you in receipt of any of the following?

Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

If you already claim Free School Meals please remember that you MUST advise us if your circumstances change.

Are you worried about your child’s weight?

If yes the First Steps programme will be able to help you.

First Steps is a fun seven week programme run by specially trained Children’s Weight Management Advisors. This FREE course runs from various venues across Birmingham but places are limited.

Please call 0121 446 1021 and speak to an Advisor .

Thank You We would like to thank all those parents who ensure that envelopes are brought into school with your children and handed to the class teacher during registration. This reduces the queue at the office first thing each morning and helps to develop your child’s growing independence.

Congratulations to the boys 11 a side football team for their resounding victory in the final of the hms shield last week. they faced kings heath primary school in the deciding match and beat them with an impressive 6-2 score.

Goals were scored by Nathan Michaels (3) Callum styring (2) and sam davies (1).

The shield was presented to the team by the lord mayor of Birmingham and they were also congratulated by the head of Birmingham’s children’s services who came to support the teams.

Our fantastic players beat team s from Schools All over Birmingham to win This prestigious competition and we are all extremely proud of them.

Well done to Mr pattinson and mr pugh who coached them to glory and thank you to all of the parents for their fantastic support.

Team hill west 2012 Aidan jeynes Bradley pugh Sam davies

Tom youster-dickson kurunveer khangura Daniel susans ellis dyer

joseph Maguire harry witcomb Mitchel Oakley harry wells callum styring Dylan fairley Nathan Michaels

GRAMMAR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS The Consortium of Grammar Schools is made up of seven Grammar Schools: Bishop Vesey Grammar School for Boys Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls King Edward VI Aston School King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls King Edward VI Five Ways School for Boys and Girls King Edward VI Handsworth School There is now only one admissions test which you must register your child for no later than Friday 13th July 2012 at 4.00pm.

Applications may be made online via any of the school websites.

SCHOOL TRIPS RECEPTION

TWYCROSS ZOO

11.07.2012

YEAR 1

WEST MIDLANDS SAFARI PARK

26.06.2012

YEAR 2

WARWICK CASTLE

29.05.2012

YEAR 3

WOODLANDS ADVENTURE

18.06.2012 TO 19.06.2012

YEAR 4

KINGSBURY WATER PARK

10.05.2012

YEAR 5

NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE

21.06.2012

YEAR 6

DRAYTON MANOR PARK

28.05.2012

Leading Aspect Award for Behaviour We are delighted to tell you that we have just been awarded the leading aspect award for Behaviour: Relationships, Respect and Responsibility.

This means that our school has been recognised as a lead school for behaviour management and will be recommended to other schools nationally who are looking to develop their behaviour practices. We are delighted as we feel it reflects the hard work of staff and pupils to ensure that our learning environment is a happy, orderly and safe one in which to learn.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR CLUBS The following clubs are running after school from 3:30pm to 4:30pm for the duration of both halves of the Summer Term. Places are still available in all clubs except Creative Club and Computer Xplorers.

MONDAY: Eco Club - KS2, Samba Drumming - KS2, Cheerleading and Multi Sports - KS1 TUESDAY: Choir - KS2 , Creative Club - KS1, Computer Xplorers, German - KS2 WEDNESDAY: Frisbee & Multi Sports - KS2 THURSDAY: Computer Xplorers, Dance Depot - KS1 and 2 Please request an application form if you would like to join a club.

Four Oaks Sports Partnership Athletics Event...

This event will take place at Wyndley Athletics Track on Friday 29th June from 1:30pm until 3.30pm.

This year a smaller group of schools from across Sutton will be taking part as we have decided to run this ourselves. We will come together in the spirit of friendly competition and you are very welcome to join us. Further details for children who are taking part will come via letter from Mrs Sharp.

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL The LA (Local Authority) issues Head Teachers with advice regarding children’s absence from school. This advice clearly states that Head Teachers should: Discourage all leaves of absence during term time Only authorise leaves of absence over 3 days in exceptional circumstances Request leave of absence notification from parents at least 6 weeks before any anticipated leave Only authorise ONE 10 day block of absence in a child’s ENTIRE primary schooling.

Please remember that parents should notify the school by telephone on the child’s first day of absence and send a written letter of explanation into school on the child’s return.

If we can support any families with attendance issues please let us know.

As you know, last week our Year 5 pupils and some of our Year 6 pupils had a fantastic week staying at Bockleton Hall. I wanted to write and congratulate them all on a super week.

They showed not only maturity and independence but also challenged themselves to take risks and be truly courageous. We were the first primary group where every child in the party completed the zip-wire activity. For this the children should feel incredibly proud. Not only individually but also collectively as their encouragement and support of others grew everyone’s confidence. Photos will be available from school - further details to follow.

Parent Planner - Our New Learning Profiles You will know that last year we introduced a Learning Profile that is individual to your child. This week your child should have brought home their Learning Profile as their homework task. It outlines topics and visits this term but also sets the children three learning goals. We would ask you to sit with the children at home and discuss these goals. We are also inviting you to complete the bottom half of the profile with your child and return this to school on completion. We are keen to involve you as parents more fully in the setting and reviewing of your child’s personal learning targets.

Pond Dipping was great, especially when our

The funniest moment was when Tom lost

It‟s the best school trip I‟ve ever been on!

It was funny when Mr P screamed on

We had to work lots as a team which was really

On a damp Monday morning, Year 5 travelled to Bockleton Study Centre.

As we arrived we were so excited we could not contain ourselves and started to scream with delight!

Wow! The activities we were offered were fantastic! From the exhilaration of the zooming zip wire and the plummeting power fan to the wet and wild fun of damp dam building and crazy canoeing we had to push ourselves to the limit each and every day!

After a long day of activities we didn‟t give the teachers much rest at night! We were chatting with our friends until way past 10 o clock!

And if you‟re worried about the food, have no fear! Delicious, homemade food three times a day and we even got supper!

If you haven‟t already been we hope you enjoy brilliant Bockleton - you‟re in for a treat!

We had a fantastic fashion show on the last day - it was

The midnight walk was very dark and scary!

Very spooky!

It‟s a once in a lifetime opportunity don‟t miss out!