Clarence Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B74 4LD Telephone: 0121 308 5392 Fax: 0121 308 5061
Wednesday 5th October 2011 Fri 7th Oct
Mon 10th Oct
Wed 12th Oct Fri 14th Oct Mon 17th Oct
Tue 18th Oct Wed 19th Oct Fri 21st Oct Mon 31st Oct Tues 1st Nov Wed 2nd Nov Thur 3rd Nov
Fri 4th Nov
Tue 8th Nov Thur 10th Nov
Fri 11th Nov
Mon 14th Nov
Mon 21st Nov
Tues 22nd Nov
DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
Harvest—Year 6 Assembly—2.30 pm Barnardo and Gandhi – KS1 hall Mandela and Pankhurst – KS2 hall Swifts’ MATHS INSPIRE – 9.00 am to 11.00 am Swallows’ MATHS INSPIRE – 1.15 pm to 3.15 pm Bikeabilty for a group of Year 6 all week PTFA Meeting – 7.30 pm Year 6 visiting Shugborough Hall PTFA Halloween Disco Owls’ MATHS INSPIRE – 9.00 am to 11.00 am Kingfishers’ MATHS INSPIRE – 1.15 pm to 3.15 pm Bikeabilty for Year 6 all week Parent Consultations KS1 3.30 – 5.00 and KS2 6.00 – 8.00 pm Parent Consultations KS2 3.30 – 5.00 and KS1 6.00 – 8.00 pm BREAK UP FOR HALF TERM TRAINING DAY – SCHOOL CLOSED FOR CHILDREN Four Oaks Youth visiting Houses of Parliament CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL SEN review meetings for children in Years 1 and 2 Open Morning for prospective Reception 2012 parents – 10.00 am to 12.00 noon “Bonfire” Lunch Parent Council meeting - 2.20 pm Divali Celebration – Year 5 Assembly – 2.30 pm Barnardo and Gandhi – KS1 hall Mandela and Pankhurst – KS2 hall Free the Children Day PTFA Meeting – 7.30 pm Open Morning for prospective Reception 2012 parents – 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Robins’ Class Assembly – 2.30 pm – KS1 hall Open Evening for prospective Reception 2012 parents – 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm Year 3 visiting BMAG SRE for Year 5 - Puberty Robins’ Class Assembly – 2.30 pm – KS1 hall Hedgehogs’ MATHS INSPIRE – 9.00 am to 11.00 am Rabbits’ MATHS INSPIRE – 1.15 pm to 3.20 pm Scholastic Book Fair arrives in school—open every day between 3.00pm and 4.00pm Moles’ MATHS INSPIRE 9.00 am to 11.00 am Squirrels’ MATHS INSPIRE 1.15 pm to 3.15 pm Bikeabilty for a group of Year 6 Mon—Wed Individual Photographs
CHILDREN BEING COLLECTED EARLY FROM SCHOOL OR BY SOMEBODY DIFFERENT As you know, we now have only one school office which is situated in the KS1 building. Getting last minute messages to classes is therefore sometimes extremely difficult. If your child is going to be collected at the end of the day by someone different, or if you will need to collect them early for an appointment, please send a note into school with them in the morning for the attention of the Class Teacher. This will mean that we no longer need to remind children about who it is they are going home with. Obviously if there is a last minute emergency and you cannot get to school then we are happy to keep your child/ren safe until you or another adult can get here. You must telephone school however to give us authorisation to let your child go home with another adult. Teachers have recently been reminded of this procedure too.
What is Tea with Me? Some children may come home and tell you that they have had Tea with Me. This event takes place every Friday. I invite a different group of children each week and we enjoy afternoon tea together. This time is used as a reward but also an opportunity to ascertain the children’s views on a range of school related issues. So far this year I have met with a group of children from Squirrels, Moles and Badgers.
PARENT CONSULTATIONS Parent Consultations meetings will be held this term during the week commencing Monday 17th October. Letters asking you to make either a daytime or an evening appointment have been sent home and your requests are needed by Friday 7th October. CHICKENS The children have voted for their favourite names and we are pleased to tell you that, with a slight Olympic theme, our two little hens are now called PING & PONG! Ping & Pong are thriving but do require some assistance at weekends. Would anyone be willing to put them away on Saturday nights, let them out on Sunday mornings and then put them away again on Sunday nights? A gate key will be provided so please contact the school office if you feel you can help.
SCHOOL DRIVEWAY Would parents please NOT drive down the school drive way to drop children off at school without prior consent from the Head Teacher. As you are aware we have limited space in the car park and the additional hazard of turning or reversing cars poses a significant risk to pedestrians, especially in the very busy periods at the start and end of the day. If you or your child is suffering from an injury or ailment which means that you can not walk down the driveway then please contact the school office. We would also request that you be considerate of our neighbours when parking on the road. Thank you for your co-operation.
OPEN MORNINGS/EVENING A very warm welcome is extended to all existing and prospective parents for our September 2012 intake of children. 3rd November
Open Morning
10.00 am Presentation by the Head Teacher 10.30 am Tour of school
10th November
Open Morning
10.00 am Presentation by the Head Teacher 10.30 am Tour of the school 7.00 pm Presentation by the Head Teacher 7.30 pm Tour of the school
Open Evening
Please tell your friends and family to come along to meet us.
RECEPTION ADMISSIONS 2012
JEWELLERY We would URGE you to ensure that your child does not wear jewellery of any description to school. Thank you
Lost and Found Please, please label your child’s clothing with their name and if you find that your child has brought an item home that doesn’t belong to them—return it as soon as possible. Many thanks.
If you have a child starting school in September 2012 you should shortly be receiving a letter and preference form from Birmingham Local Authority. The Authority have produced an information booklet giving details of all the primary schools in Birmingham which you should also receive with your preference form. You can, if you prefer, apply for your Reception places online at www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions If you have any queries regarding September 2012 intake please contact Admissions and Appeals on 0121 675 0555.
A WINNING ENTRY Congratulations go to Ali Iqbal in Hedgehogs class who entered a writing competition over the Summer run by Birmingham E Learning Foundation (BeLF) and won a Netbook which was presented to him earlier this month. BeLF is a charity working in partnership with schools, parents and sponsors so that all pupils have access to the latest technologies both at home and at school.
BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY TEACHER TRAINEES
We would like to extend a very warm welcome to three BCU student teachers this term. Miss Jenna Blair-Folland, Miss Jade Tonks and Miss Tara Calder who are undertaking their 3rd Year BA honours degree. They have begun their placement with us and will be working with Kingfishers, Badgers and Otters.
BOOK FAIR Monday 14th November to Friday 18th November Please come and buy your Christmas gifts. For every book you buy we get a donation for school. The Fair will be open between 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm every day during the week. If anyone can spare an hour to give us a helping hand running the fair we would be extremely grateful.
HEALTHY EATING
Our School Council Is made up of representatives from across the school. This year the officers are as follows;
We are continuing to promote healthy eating in school and would kindly ask you to refrain from sending your children to school with unhealthy snacks. Crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks are strongly discouraged. As you know our school cook works extremely hard to provide our children with a nutritionally balanced enjoyable meal each day. If your child currently has sandwiches because they are allergic to certain foods, but would like a hot school lunch then please feel free to come into school to speak directly to our cook.
Chair Person = Joseph Maguire Vice Chair = Molly Whitehouse Secretary = Olivia Gallagher Treasurer = Bradley Pugh
LOOKING AHEAD Our Christmas Fair this year is on 2nd December 2011 Volunteers are needed as always. If you can help please contact Miss Marsh or a member of the PTFA.
INCLUSION: CHILDREN WITH AUTISM What do you know about Autism?
Autism covers a group of conditions known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) which affect about one in every hundred. Autism is referred to as a spectrum disorder meaning that the symptoms can range from extremely mild to quite severe. On first sight a child with autism often looks just like any other child. There are no obvious visual clues, which is why so many children with autism are mistaken for being ’naughty’ or ’rude’. Autism affects the way in which people understand and react to the world around them. They often react differently to others. A child with autism may be perfectly happy one moment, but all of a sudden become sad or angry. This may be because they can’t tell people what they want or how they feel. Many people with autism have ritualistic behaviour, insistence on routine and sameness. An unfamiliar space or routine no longer feels safe or secure. Although each autistic child may act very differently they do however share problems in three key areas; Communication, Social Interaction and Imagination.
HALLOWEEN DISCO FRIDAY 14TH OCTOBER 6.30 PM TO 7.30 PM Nursery and KS1 children only 7.30 PM to 9.00 PM All ages and families £1.00 children £2.00 adults £5.00 family Pay on the door All children must be accompanied by an adult.
LUNCHTIMES As you know, we now have two sittings in the dining hall at lunchtimes and each class has their own allocated Lunchtime Supervisor. We have been working, with the children, on manners and etiquette to ensure that the dining experience is a pleasant one for everyone. Thanks go to our hardworking team of lunchtime Supervisors who have brought about the successful changes.
BEHAVIOUR We are continuing the drive to improving behaviour throughout the school. We recognise that the vast majority of our children are well behaved but we are now encouraging them to develop further their skills of self regulation. E.g. can they share a carton of orange juice equally between them without being directed to do so, or do some children help themselves to more than others; do they walk around school, from one part of the building to another, when not being led by an adult; can they solve conflicts confidently without relying on mediation?
MILK ORDERS KS1 PARENTS PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR A LETTER ASKING IF YOU WISH YOUR CHILD TO HAVE MILK NEXT TERM. THIS FORM MUST BE RETURNED BEFORE THE END OF TERM SO WE CAN ORDER ENOUGH MILK FOR EACH CHILD.
Voluntary School Fund Contributions An enormous thank you to the 57 families who have already sent in their donations of ÂŁ10.00 (and in some cases significantly more) to help us provide all the little extras the children receive through out the year, such as Christmas trees and presents, Easter eggs, party food and theatre productions in school. We look forward to receiving the remainder of contributions before we break up for October half term.
Operation Christmas Child Once again our Year 6 children are supporting the Samaritan’s Appeal for shoeboxes filled with toys and goodies for underprivileged children. Leaflets will be sent home explaining how you can take part and make a child smile this Christmas.
THE JOSEPH FOOTE TRUST We have recently been contacted by the Joseph Foote Trust who are raising awareness of brain related illnesses. Delays in diagnosis can lead to children being up to ten times more likely to suffer disability or premature death and diagnosis times in the UK are over three times longer than in much of mainland Europe. The Joseph Foote Trust has set up a website along with Head Smart to help raise awareness and funds for earlier diagnosis. If you would like further information please contact: www.josephfoote.co uk
Secondary Preference Forms Please note that the final date for receipt of applications for Secondary School places is 31st October 2011. This year admissions and appeals would like all families to apply on line at www.birmingham.gov/ schooladmissions If you have any queries then please contact Admissions and Appeals on
0121 675 0555
ARTHUR TERRY YEAR 6 TRANSFER Over the last couple of years we have had a number of parents and children who have been very disappointed that they have not been allocated places at The Arthur Terry Secondary School. This has often come as quite a shock and so we thought that we should bring this to your attention. The catchment area distance changes each year and is due to changes in birth rates and the number of children eligible for transfer to Arthur Terry living in close proximity. Birmingham City Council is responsible for calculating these distances. The distance for children starting in September 2011 was 1633metres The distance for children starting in September 2010 was 1808 metres We hope you find this information useful and will be able to use it as a guide when thinking about secondary transfer.
BIKEABILITY Congratulations to Year 5 pupils who have recently completed their Bikeability course. Well Done! The next dates for Year 6 groups are as follows: Week beginning 10th October—Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 17th October—Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs 21st November—Mon, Tues, Wed (all day)
Please can all Reception parents who have not returned their Medical Consent Forms please do so without delay. The School Nurse needs to make appointments to test your child’s sight and hearing and to check their growth. This is a free service which is beneficial to your child. If you have lost your form please contact the school office.
Following the release of balloons to celebrate International Language Day we have had several replies and some lovely letters from the pubic who have spotted and retrieved our balloon tags. We received a reply from Coco the dog in Sleaford, Lincolnshire who found Millie Bampton’s balloon and another from a farmer in Horncastle, Lincolnshire who watched Keira Harris’ balloon fall to earth. Others were found in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. We had a lovely e-mail from a Primary School in Nottingham who were so excited about our balloon release that they insisted on contacting us immediately and then following up with a news report all about our project. Great fun !
Parent Meetings A big Thank You to everyone who has attended our Parent meetings so far this term. We always enjoy seeing you in school and appreciate your support. We hope that you benefited from the meetings and workshops.
Year 5 iPad Project
School Photographs will take place on Tuesday 22nd November this year. This is slightly later than usual but do not worry as our wonderful new Photographer has guaranteed a very quick turn around on orders. We are sure you will be delighted by the results.
In conjunction with BeLF (Birmingham e Learning Foundation) our Year 5 pupils have been offered a marvellous opportunity to work with iPads this year. This scheme provides an ipad to each pupil in Year 5 for them not only to use in school but also to take home and use with the family throughout the year. All those that have indicated that they are prepared to pay the small monthly sum over the next two years will receive their iPads at home in time for Christmas holidays.