Headteacher Newsletter Issue 5
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 5: 11.11.22
Dear Parents
Remembrance Day
The year 6 children enjoyed the local community at the Christian Centre today for Remembrance Day, whilst the rest of the school took part in a two minute silence.
Class 4 Trip to Audley End
On Thursday 20th November, Class 4 had a fantastic day out at Audley End House. We dressed up as Victorian children, servants and some of us even came as suffragettes! When we arrived, we took part in two Victorian workshops. We discovered what life would have been like for Victorian servants working at Audley End. We tried out some of the chores, including cleaning carpets, polishing silverware, and laying the table for the lords and ladies.
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We then visited the different rooms where the servants would have worked including the kitchen, the dairy, and the laundry room, where we had to work as a team to fold sheets as neatly as possible. We couldn’t believe that most servants would receive no more than 5 shillings a year!
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After lunch, some of us completed a tree trail around the grounds and found some beautiful trees. We especially liked the London Plane tree which was enormous, and we learnt that these trees shed their scaly bark and grow new ones just like a snake sheds its skin. Some of us visited the stables and learnt about the horses which are kept at Audley End and we also got to play some traditional Victorian games such as quoits. Finally, we visited the inside of the house and located different artefacts. We particularly enjoyed visiting the coal gallery and playing in the nursery!
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School Disco
The children thoroughly enjoyed the school Neon disco this week. Thank you to Anna, Jenny and the team for organising it.
Dodgeball – Years 3 and 4
Representatives from classes 3 & 4 had a fantastic time at JFAN competing in the dodgeball tournament. All teams played really well and we were extremely impressed with the great sportsmanship demonstrated by all Clavering players.
Multi skills – Years 3 and 4
Last Wednesday, Years 3 and 4 took part in a multi skills event at Joyce Franklin Academy. They took part in a range of sporting activities which involved hockey dribbling, bean bag throwing and balancing rings on their heads while performing a relay. The year 9 students did a great job at guiding the children through the events.
Heads of School
I met with our Heads of School this week to discuss our plans to develop a lunch club outside for the children. The Heads of School spoke to the whole school during assembly this week and Idea Boxes have been placed in each class to gather ideas as to what type of lunch clubs they would like. They will be collected in at the end of the week. Emma, in year 6, will be attending future meetings as she has been recently recruited as the Secretary to the Heads of School and School Council.
Friendship Week
Last week, all the children at Clavering Primary School took part in Friendship Week. The children were in their houses from Reception to year 6. Throughout the week they voted for House Captains, took part in kindness activities and showed their support for one another. The children had a fantastic time. For more about Friendship Week, please see our special edition of the Friday Focus.
http://www.clavering.essex.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/04-11-22-Friday-Focus-1.pdf
This year’s House Captains:
Wymarc – Sidney & Samuel
Oliver – Emmie & Arlo
Saville – Robin & Wilf
Ludgate – Will & Louisa
Wales – Lily & Lacey
Bikeability
This week some of Year 6 have had a two-day Bikeability course Level 1 and 2. There were two groups taking this week and then a final group on the 24th– 25th November. Over the two days they are learning the skills needed to ride their bikes safely on the road. Despite, some wet and windy weather the groups have really enjoyed the experience and felt they had learnt a lot about being safe on the road. Well done Year 6!
Pumpkin winners –
Well done to all the children for the fantastic pumpkins. We enjoyed seeing the pumpkins at the front of the school. Thank you for collecting them.
The winner for each class are below –
Class | Most Imaginative | Scariest |
Reception | Quincey-Beau | Daisy |
One | Jude | Oscar |
Two | Frankie | Torben |
Three | Minty | Sophie |
Four | Mollie | Frankie |
Five | Illia | Rowan |
Six | Will | Finlay |
Allotments
We would like to say a huge thank you to Mr Brown and all at Nationwide supplies for their extremely kind donation of 3 tonnes of topsoil. With this we will be able to fully replenish all beds. They have also gifted the school a fresh supply of gardening gloves and equipment. This will make a huge difference and ensure all children can really enjoy making the most of our lovely allotment area. Thank you again! We are now on the hunt for strong volunteers (with a wheelbarrow and shovel!) to transport the topsoil to the allotments. If you are happy to give up an afternoon please let us know your availability so we can arrange a time to suit the majority. Thank you.
Parent Consultations
Thank you to all the parents that attended our Parent Consultations last week. We hope you found them informative.
COVID and Flu
Unfortunately we are getting cases of COVID in school. Even though there is no requirement now to test or isolate we are recommending medical advice with a known positive case of 5 days isolation for adults and 3 for children in order to reduce the spread.
The UKHSA and the NHS are encouraging everyone who is eligible to book their Covid-19 and flu vaccines as they are the best defence against both viruses. Flu has started circulating at low levels, mainly in children and younger people at the moment.
School Admissions – Primary and Secondary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary and secondary school places go online to https://www.essex.gov.uk/admissions-to-essex-schools-for-the-next-school-year
Primary and junior school places for September 2023
From 7 November 2022 you can apply online for your child’s school place https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-primary-school-place
You must submit an application by the national closing date of 15 January 2023. Applications received after this date are considered late and will reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred schools.
Free School Meals Funding
You can register for Free Schools Meals Funding if you meet the criteria below.
If you have a child in Key Stage One and are receiving the free meal, which is part of the universal offer, you could be missing out on this additional funding for the school, which will support your child with their learning, if you meet the criteria below. You have to apply for this funding. If you think you meet the criteria below then please follow the guidance below and contact the school office.
Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- 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 Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
How to apply –
https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
Mobile Phones
This is a gentle reminder not to use mobile phones whilst on the school site.
This is part of our safe-guarding policy for all of our children.
Ooo000ooO
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
w/b 7.11.22 Bikeability and 24th and 25th November
8.11.22 School Photos
9.11.22 Bag2School
9.11.22 Yrs 3/4 Multi skills
10.11.22 Friends of Clavering Disco
18.11.22 Children in Need
24.11.22 Skootfit Rec, yrs1 and 2
29.11.22 Audley End Train Trip
30.11.22 Sports Hall Athletics yrs 3/4 pm
2.12.22 Flu Immunisation
3.12.22 Spirit of Christmas Concert – School Choir event
8.12.22 The Snowman – KS1 at Saffron Hall
12.12.22 Tray Day
14.12.22 KS2 dress rehearsal am, KS1 dress rehearsal, KS2 evening performance
yrs 5 and 6 Parents
15.12.22 Reception Nativity am, KS1 performance pm, KS2 evening performance yrs
3 and 4 Parents
19.12.22 Friends of Clavering Christmas Shopping Morning
20.12.22 Church Service
20.12.22 Christmas lunch
20.12.22 End of term
5.1.23 New Spring term begins
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 21st October
Reception Griff – for outstanding work in PE especially on the monkey bars
Year One Jakob – for fantastic effort sharing ideas and super work in Maths
Year Two Archie – for consistent hard work in all areas of the curriculum
Year Three Phoebe R – for fantastic ideas and effort with our bug hotel
Year Four Toben – for showing excellent sportsmanship at Cross Country
Year Five Luna – for demonstrating great focus and effort in her learning
Year Six Louisa – for her fantastic letter home from World War 1 soldier
Week ending 4th November
Reception Peter – for brilliant phonics spotting
Year One Eva – for great effort and always trying her best, especially in her writing
Year Two Eleanor – for excellent number bonds to 100 (tens) using a bean string.
Year Three Alastair – for showing fantastic sportsmanship and effort at dodgeball this week
Year Four Milly – for supporting the younger children in her house during Friendship Week
Year Five Charlie – for being a wonderful friend during Friendship Week
Year Six Lacey – for her positive attitude towards all her learning
IT DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED AWARD
7.11.22 Charlie M – for being a kind friend to a child in year one
WRITER OF THE WEEK –4.11.22
Reception Alex S for brilliant independent writing
Year One Lunetta for use of fantastic vocabulary and great effort all round
Year Two Reggie for excellent effort in all his writing
Year Three Dougray for excellent effort with his joined handwriting
Year Four Oscar for working so hard on his writing, especially letter formation
Year Five Harry for well-presented and thoughtful science writing
Year Six Joshua B for an excellent World War 1 letter
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher