INA Primary Newsletter
13 May 2016
Announcements
Dear Parents and Carers, I hope you have all enjoyed a good week. There will be a Coffee Morning next Friday, 20th May, from 9.00 – 10.00am which I hope many of you will be able to make. Tam Broadway
Reception As part of the ‘Splendid Superheroes’ topic this half term, the Reception children had the opportunity to visit the Fire Station on the High Road to find out about the fire engines and the amazing work that the fire-fighters do within the community. The topic has involved pupils making up fictional superhero characters but equally thinking about the real superheroes and role-models we have around us every day.
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>>> News Composer of the Fortnight
We are currently listening to and learning about Henry Mancini as our Composer of the Fortnight. As a suggested activity to support at home, you could gather some facts about Mancini in preparation for the coming weeks. Information can also be found on the following link. http://www.henrymancini.com/
Exciting Learning Year 1 Clearly I spoke too soon last week about the Year 1 rain gauges holding off the rain; I certainly think they have collected a good few millimetres this week! Year 1 pupils are encouraged to apply for a position on our first ever School Council. The pupils were briefed during an assembly to introduce the nature of the role of the School Council, along with the process of application, starting with a letter addressed to myself, and ending with every pupil in the Primary having the opportunity to vote for the students that they feel would fulfil the role most effectively. Letters of application must be handed in by Monday 16th May to be considered. Watch this space!
Message from the Reception Teachers Please continue to upload and share any great learning moments with your child at home. It is important that your child’s work includes learning steps from home and school to demonstrate their understanding and development. We are especially trying to capture quality independent writing pieces this half term; it would be great if you could upload any great examples on Tapestry and then send the writing piece into school so that we can celebrate the work in our class writing galleries. To gain a better understanding of the Early Learning Goals, they are available for you to view on the school website under the Community Tab and Parents Resources. INA Newsletter 3
Dear Parents, We have been busy analysing the parent questionnaires that were received at the end of last term. Many thanks to all of you who took the time to respond. There were a lot of positive comments made, including the following: “I am very happy my son studying in Isaac Newton Academy.” “Children are learning new thing and they are also understanding what they are learning.” “I’m happy with the progress that my child has made at school. His confidence is growing and is progressing well. Thank you.” “Absolutely love the school and the hard work put in by all the teachers and staff.” “Office staff really help well on our issue and they take good care of our children. Very much satisfied with the school and management.” “We as parents are extremely satisfied with the school and we are satisfied we choose this school over the private schools we were considering.” “A brilliant school with such a positive aura.” “Overall an excellent school. Would thoroughly recommend to other parents. Leadership and staff are passionate about learning and this is reflected in the attitude of students.” In terms of statistics, the headlines are: · 99% of respondents said that their child feels safe at school · 99% of respondents said that their child enjoys school · 97% of respondents said that their child is taught well · 95% of respondents said that their child is taught the difference between right and wrong · 96% of respondents said that the school controls attendance well · 91% of respondents said that their child has grown in confidence since joining INA · 99% of respondents said that they would recommend the school to another parent Some of the “even better ifs..” you raised concerned: · the wise pay system · the school reports · home learning · praise and recognition · behaviour of a few students I know that Ms Broadway is looking forward to discussing these issues further with you at the upcoming coffee morning. Once again, thanks to everyone who gave us feedback. We are totally committed to being a self-reflective school and striving to constantly improve. Rachel Macfarlane Principal
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Well done to the following children, who have been recognised this week!
Primary Praise and Recognition
very week each teacher chooses two children from their class to receive a certificate E in assembly, one in recognition of a child demonstrating our BRIDGES habit of the week, and the other in recognition of a pupil’s academic effort throughout the week.
Curie Class: Cameron Palmer – Headteacher’s Habits Award (for creating a fantastic ‘Rocket Booster’ out of junk modelling materials.) Aairah Abid – Scholar of the Week (for independently writing her own book, using full sentences and using her ‘Fred Fingers’ for accurate spelling.) Maxwell Class: Mahilan Sathis Kumar – Headteacher’s Habits Award (for using coins, bead strings and a hundred square to help work out a maths problem.) Vishak Muthukumar – Scholar of the Week (for reading from his own writing to re-tell his Superhero story.) Newton Class: Ayoola Yekini – Headteacher’s Habits Award (for remaining positive even when things were not going his way.) Katrina Kaur – Scholar of the Week (for trying hard with her writing.)
Britten Class: Swara Kinhikar – Headteacher’s Habits Award (for remembering and using the key features of a letter.) Daniyal Sheikh – Scholar of the Week (for writing an excellent letter.) Fitzgerald Class: Ishaan Mutha – Headteacher’s Habits Award (for using his learning in a variety of ways.) Aariz Khan – Scholar of the Week (for writing an amazing letter to a child in Africa.)
Glennie Class: Yanis Benjamin – Headteacher’s Habits Award (for always asking great questions and using his own knowledge to make links with the African topic.) Ayaan Hussain Riaz – Scholar of the Week (for, despite having a poorly arm, still producing amazing handwriting in all his work.) Rufaida Hasnat – Scholar of the Week (for writing an amazing letter.)
The following pupils have received 25 merits since September for making good choices and moving up to gold on the class ‘good choice chart’ – this is fantastic achievement. A special ‘bronze’ certificate will be presented during the Celebration and Awards Assembly. Gurkirpa Hunja Frank Krupski Jeevat Palray Riyen Shah Rayaan Vakas Aayan Hussain Ubaid ur Rehman Mueez Anum Imran Nandini Sharma
Headteacher’s Lunch
Well done to the following pupils who have been nominated for the Headteacher’s Lunch next week on Thursday 19th May. An invitation will be given to the children during our Celebration and Awards Assembly: Inaaya Muhammad Milan Richards Sasha Lard
Curie Glennie Newton Ava-Lily Pemberton-Mardenborough Britten Isra Hussain Curie Natalia Duran-Rodrigo Maxwell Jeevat Palray Fitzgerald
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At Isaac Newton Academy every student is set the target of 100% attendance. The class with the highest attendance at the end of every week is awarded the attendance trophy during Friday’s Award & Recognition assembly. Curie
99.7%
Maxwell
99.7%
Newton
95.9%
Britten
97.3%
Fitzgerald
97.3%
Glennie
98.3%
Overall Attendance: 98.3 We have joint winners from Reception this week – well done Curie and Maxwell class. I am pleased to see the attendance on the up once again. Year 1 you have some catching up to do! National average attendance for primary schools is 96.1%. It is important that the children attend school every day and do not miss any learning. Thank you for your support in ensuring your child is at school every day. We always strive for 100% 6 INA Newsletter
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is a crucial factor in students’ educational development and ability to achieve their full potential.
"We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” Isaac Newton BRIDGES are habits of mind or learning characteristics that develop a pupil's character and learning power and enable him/her to grow into a well-rounded individual and resilient learner. There are seven BRIDGES habits that we will be working on, which will rotate on a weekly cycle throughout the year. The BRIDGES habit of the week will always be introduced at the beginning of the week during the Monday assembly and reinforced throughout the week across the curriculum. Each class teacher will award a certificate to a pupil who they feel has demonstrated the BRIDGES focus for the week. Each week we will update you on the BRIDGES habit that will be introduced in the coming week and offer some top tips on how to reinforce the habit at home too. Please also refer to the Primary BRIDGES wheel below.
Week commencing 16th May – Integrity Integrity comprises six dispositions: Citizenship, Honesty, Justice and Fairness, Humility and Humanity
At School: • • • • •
At school we encourage the pupils to make sure they play in a kind and thoughtful way and ensure that they include others in their games. Games where ‘turn-taking’ is needed are great at helping the children to understand that everyone should have a fair turn. It is also important that the children learn how to win and lose a game graciously and show humility when they win or congratulate the winner and say well done if they lose. The children need to learn to understand the importance of telling the truth even if it feels uncomfortable when we have to admit that we have done something wrong. They also need to learn to take responsibility for their actions and not get into a habit of blaming others. It is important that the children have a moral sense of right and wrong. Each half term every class choose two ambassadors to help the pupils develop their citizenship skills and by helping with jobs in their class or at lunchtimes. We encourage every child to help keep the school environment clean by clearing away plates or cups after lunch or tidying up their own table place after activities in class.
At Home: Talk to your child about how they can be a good citizen within their community, not dropping litter etc. Talk about what is fair and encourage your child to help out at home with tidying their room or books away so that they develop a sense of responsibility and respect towards their property. Reinforce the message about always telling the truth and why this is important. When you are reading stories together with your child, discuss characters, their behaviour and moral decisions and whether they are good or bad characters and why. What should the character have done instead? etc.
Tam Broadway, Head of Primary INA Newsletter 7
Key Dates for the SummerTerm 2016: Primary Future Key Dates for Summer Term Coffee Morning with the Head of Primary – Friday 20th May 9.00-10.00am Year 1 Visit to Colchester Zoo – Monday 23rd May Half Term Break – Friday 27th May Back to School – Monday 6th June Newton Class Assembly (Newton Class Parents Invited) – Friday 17th June 3.00pm Staff Inset Days – School Closed Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th June Reception Visit to Old MacDonald’s Farm – Thursday 30th June Staff Inset Day – Friday 8th July Coffee Morning with the Head of Primary – Tuesday 12th July 9.00-10.00am Reports Sent Home – Friday 15th July Parent Progress Meetings – Tuesday 19th July Celebration and Awards Assembly – Wednesday20th July – Times TBC Last Day of Term – Wednesday 20th July – 12.15pm Finish Selling of School Uniform – Friday 22nd July
Cake Sale – Friday 27th May The Primary will be hosting a fundraising cake sale on Friday 27th May, the last day of the half term. We invite you all to come along to the dining hall after picking up your child up to purchase some of the delicious cakes that will be on sale. We also welcome any cake donations, but ask of course that any cakes that are donated are clearly labelled with their ingredients and ask that all cakes are nut free please. All funds raised will go towards enhancing the children’s outside learning environment. 8 INA Newsletter