Headteacher weekly blog week beginning 11th September 2017

Date: 17th Sep 2017 @ 11:09am

Well it's hard to believe that is 2 weeks into the term already. And I am amazed how well everyone has settled in. 

We had several new starters in most classes across the school and throughout the week I have spoken to them and they all seem happy and to be making new friends. I am always very proud how our pupils welcome new children into the school and how caring and supportive they can be. One wonderful example of this was with one of our Year 6 pupils. She was told her Reception buddy was finding playtimes hard so she went to see her in class, talked to her and arranged and organised games to play with other children. As a school, we are very fortunate to have such well behaved and thoughtful pupils. 

Our new Reception intake have settled in so well and I know Mrs Bayley has shared some photogrpahs of their first few weeks on their class page. I watched them in their PE lesson and it was great to see how sensible and how well they listened.

Our assembly theme this half term has focused on friendship. We have looked at the power words can haveon people and how it can make them feel. And we also looked at the importance of friendship through a story where 2 very rich men who didn't make time for friends felt very sad. 

One thing that has impressed me the most as I have popped into classes was the handwriting. After our whole school training on handwritng, we have adopted a new scheme and bought literacy books with the lineguides in. It has made a massive difference! The Year 5 and 6 books blew me away. All the pupils were trying so hard tokeep to the lineguides and produced excellent handwriting. Cady's in Year 6 was utterly flawless! 

I have spent several sessions this week teaching in Year 5 where we have been learning how to code and create algorithims. I must say the class are an absolute joy and we had a great time creatingour own space invaders game. Some of their creations were fantastic! It is bouncing bombs next week. 

In the first few weeks back, as a staff we have been looking at spelling. We have cracked the content and structure of our writing, the grammar and the handwriting - now we turn our attention to improving the spelling! We are introducing a new curriculum overview in Yr 2 to Yr 6. It will have more dedicated teaching time in the week and the way we teach it will focus on practise and apply. Pupils will come home with look cover write check grids andthen tested half termly. Any words spelt incorrectly will be sent for holiday homework. And of course, in the classrooms there will be the zero tolerance words on display and they really do not want to get them wrong! 

The new school year has started well. In the coming weeks the new build will begin to take over. Once I have firm details, I will of course write to parents explaining any changes to routines etc. It is likely that it will be the studio hall and offices built first. We all can't wait.