The countdown is on to young voices!

January is going to finish in style.

Thank you to all those who have already completed the parent view survey. If you have not done so, then please do at: https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/login?destination=give-your-views

I would also encourage you to come and talk to us if you have any worries, so we can work together to resolve them.

This week in school:

Class 1: We have started our space topic finding out about the first men on the moon.

Class 2: We are learning about the Great Fire of London in history and shape in maths

Class 3: We have been looking at Roman Britain and how London has changed over time in geography, we have completed work on Hinduism by learning about Divali and other Hindu celebrations.

Class 4: We have finished a science unit on evolution and we are mastering fractions.

In assembly, we have talked about equality and fairness.

E-safety

It is not always easy to keep up to date with changes to social media. Roblox is a platform I have recently become aware of. For your information – apologies if you are already aware of the following:

• Roblox is a popular online game-creating system where children create and publish games, and play other users’ games

• It is relatively easy for children to see content that isn’t age-appropriate

• Strangers can contact children – there have been recent news articles about grooming via Roblox

• Children can easily lose a large amount of real-world money

Age-appropriate viewing

Polite reminder – age restrictions on digital media are there to protect us from risky content.

Inappropriate Role models

May I draw your attending to the following news article in case it is of use.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-64234568

 

Update 

Welcome back, Happy New Year, and thank you for all your kind words and support last term. As we move into 2023, I think it is worth taking a moment to reflect upon some of our successes over 2022: 

• 92% of our pupils passed the phonics screening 
• Without exception, visitors to our school comment on your children’s positive behaviour and determination to learn 
• We achieved the silver, United Against Bullying award in the summer for our work on prevention of bullying 
• Our reading scheme has been fully updated across the school – almost all of our pupils choose to read for pleasure, which is a really strong indicator of future success 
• Our wrap around care offer is now well established and has been highly successful 
• We have been able to participate in a variety of sports competitions including cross-country with some individual successes 
• The PFA team have raised a significant amount of extra funding to support all of our pupils, making a donation to each class at Christmas and working towards the playground markings target
• All of our 2022 year 6 pupils were offered a place at their preferred secondary school 

The School would be very grateful if you could take a moment to complete the Ofsted parent view form – Be More Newton and don’t leave it to others to say how great it is to be a member of the Newton family. 

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning with smiling faces and looking forward to what 2023 bring us.

Tonight, the PFA will be setting up for the Christmas fayre – we look forward to seeing you all between 12pm and 2pm on Sunday.

Next week, on Friday, the schools council are holding their Christmas fair for pupils only. To make it easier for you and avoid cash getting lost a donation of £2 has been set up on SchoolMoney. This will be turned into tokens so that your child can buy a cake, a book and have a go on the games set up by our schools council. All proceeds will go towards equipment for playtime. More information will follow from the school council next week.

Please support our school council with donations of:

• Nearly new books – if you can wrap these and put an age sticker on – these will be sold on our mystery book stall.
• Cakes – please send a list of ingredients with your baked good or donate shop bought cakes in their original packaging.

In addition, on Friday, the schools council will be collecting your toy donations for the local ‘toys on the table’ appeal.

Kind Regards,

Sue Ward
Headteacher

Thank you for your donations to the PFA for the Christmas Fayre.

During the next two weeks we will be holding a ‘speak out’ assembly in school using the NSPCC materials – Information attached. We want our children to know that it is OK to say no and to tell a trusted adult if something does not feel right.

The Christmas play fast approaches. 2 tickets will be sent home in book bags for the main performance which is at 9.30am on Thursday 8th December. If you would like to attend the dress rehearsal (9:30am on Weds 7th December) please contact the office – 2 seats per family available – we will keep a list of those attending.

Our annual Christmas photos have been taken today. Details of how you can order copies will be confirmed next week.

The post box will be in the foyer from Monday for children to post cards to one another if they wish to.

Kind Regards

Sue Ward
Headteacher

Update

Pudsey has been so we know that Christmas is coming! Thank you for your donations to children in need and to the PFA chocolate hampers.

There will be no more Friday Forest School sessions this term, so we have time to enjoy Christmas activities.

On Friday 25^th November we will pose for our annual Christmas photographs. This is also dress-up and bring a bottle for the Christmas Fayre. Key stage 1 will be photographed in their nativity costumes, key stage 2 can choose photo outfits but will have music and PE in the afternoon.

Essential Christmas Information

2/12/22 – PFA film night

4/12/22 – Christmas Fayre

7/12/22 – 9.30am dress rehearsal class 1 and 2.  2 tickets only per family.

8/12/22 – 9.30am final performance class 1 and 2.  2 tickets only per family.

16/12/22 – join us for carols – school closes at 2pm.

School Council Event

The school council would like to support children in Leicestershire who would not receive a Christmas gift otherwise. They will do this by supporting the charity ‘toys on the table’. They are asking for a donation of new, unwrapped:

• Toys
• Books
• Drawing materials and colouring books or stationery.

Please bring your donations to school on 1/12/22 so we can take them to a collection centre.

Thank you – Thomas Dowling School Council Chair.

This week

In class this week Class 4 have been learning to program crumbles and learning more about what matters most to Christians and Humanists. The children have shown real perseverance and resilience during this week's tests.

Class 3 and 4 enjoyed learning about saving water in a special assembly - ask them for their top tips!

In Class 2 the children have writing stories about Plop: the owl who was afraid of the dark.

In Class 1 this week we have been formulating questions and writing facts ready for our information reports. We have explored more about the Antarctic and explorers too.  

Don’t forget to practise for Young Voices at home

Kind Regards,

Sue Ward
Headteacher

Thank you to all those parents joining us for remembrance and the Beaumanor presentation today. Well done class 4 and Mrs Underwood – a beautifully presented assembly. Class 4 enjoyed creating their works of art for the Armistice Day assembly and learning the song, 'Pack Up Your Troubles'. They have worked really hard to learn their lines! And Szymon did a great job as technical support! We are very proud.

Class 3 children have created the silhouette of a soldier made from recycled plastic bottles!

Class 2 have been busy finding out all about the local area: going on a walk and making maps.

Class 1 have been learning all about information texts, making poppies and understanding addition.

As the days become colder and the weather wetter, please send a coat and spare pair of shoes to school for PE.

Next week, on Monday we will be talking about bullying and how we can work together to prevent it. The children are invited to wear odd socks to school all week. On Friday it is children in need day. PE uniforms and forest school kits are needed but faces can be decorated with spots.

Sports hall athletics update – we came 12^th overall which is brilliant given the size of our team and the fact that our team of year 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils were competing against teams of just year 6 pupils.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend.

Kind Regards,

Sue Ward

Headteacher

Thank you for participating in our trip survey – the majority of you have indicated that you would like to pay for trips as they arise and that you would not like a limit set. Some of you have indicated that you would like the option of paying monthly – please contact the office so we can set this up for you.

Another milestone was passed this week when we were able to return to competitive sports competitions. A team of 12 year 3, 4, 5, and 6 pupils took part in sports hall athletics at Ibstock community college. A huge thank you to Michelle Hill.

Many thanks to all those who supported the PFA film night last week.

Mrs Ward 

Thank you for all the donations brought to our harvest assembly – the food bank volunteers were delighted by your generosity. Thank you too to our schools council who led this event.

“Thank you so, so much for your generosity. It’s a big, big help. We have been giving out 50 bags of food a week every Monday and with things as they are, we are seeing more and more demand. It’s getting desperate so please pass on a huge thank you to your children and their families. We really are very grateful” Christine.

We have a total of 39 pupils signed up to the Young Voices event in January - please don't forget to buy your t-shirts! Lots of work will be taking place to ensure we are ready, alongside our digital music unit using garage band.

We will finish for half-term on Thursday next week with an afternoon in the woods.