As we head into summer, I’m excited to share some wonderful updates and news from across Maritime Academy Trust.
We continue to make huge developments with our Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG). I'm thrilled to announce the establishment of the Maritime Children's Foundation and we welcome the foundation’s first staff member, Mel Melvin, who's already making a big impact.
We also hit a major milestone with the Maritime Skills Academy hosting its first graduation ceremony in our Greenwich academy. Seeing our first group of graduates walk across the stage was an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved. I am really looking forward to seeing the launch of our Medway Skills Academy in the new academic year.
Our schools have been buzzing with achievements and events that showcase the hard work of our children and staff. From inspiring school projects, memory making trips and community events, there's so much to celebrate.
On a more personal note, we bid a fond farewell to our amazing Executive Headteacher of Millennium and Timbercroft Primary Schools, Debs Joyce, as she takes early retirement. Debs has been a pillar of our community, and her leadership and dedication will be greatly missed.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Wishing you and your families a relaxing and fun summer break. We look forward to seeing everyone back, refreshed and ready for another fantastic year.
Nick Osborn Chief Executive O ce
Contributors
Rebecca Byrne
Kerry Foster-Kilshaw
Nick Osborne
Matthew Bulpitt
Susan Matheson
Carole Hornsby
Christian Markham
Cathryn Falconer
Joshua Croucher
Jonathan Smales
Emma Pape
Joy Sheekey
Cara Took
Omar Jennings
Angela Cartwright
Sarah Rose
Emily McGrath
Sarah Armstrong
Perfocal
Estates Round-Up Trust Updates
As ever, Maritime's eleven sites continue to keep the estates team busy!
Projects completed at our schools include a new roof across the whole school at Bligh, while at Millennium, children are enjoying the fantastic new outdoor play area, which includes a play ship - more on page 22!
Over the summer, there'll be plenty more work taking place:
Barnsole Junior School and Brooklands are both having some roofing work carried out.
At Danecourt, work is well underway on the new building to help expand provision for pupils.
Featherby's exciting new outdoor nursery play area is taking shape and will be completed during the summer break.
Extensive areas of the roof at Greenacres are set to be replaced, starting in the summer.
We'd also like to extend a warm welcome to Rob Train, our new Regional Estates Manager. He will be supporting Ebbsfleet Green and Bligh, as well as leading on some central team work. We are delighted to have Rob in the teamhe comes with a wealth of estates knowledge!
1:1 Chromebooks in Key Stage 2
In September, 1,000 new chromebooks will land in Maritime’s schools, enrolled and ready to use from day one! Provided free of charge to every Key Stage 2 child, these devices provide excellent opportunities for our children to enhance their learning at Maritime.
From in-class experiences being improved through the use of individualised resources and helping every child to complete their homework at home with ease, to seeing our pupils with additional needs flourishing, we are confident this is a significant step forward in ensuring every Maritime child can thrive!
Susan Matheso Chief Operating O ce
Our BHAG
Maritime's Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) is to positively disrupt education to ensure all children get an excellent start in life, and we're consistently working hard behind the scenes to make this happen. Here's what's been happening recently...
The Maritime Children's Foundation O cially Launches!
We're pleased to announce that our long-anticipated Maritime Children’s Foundation is now up and running. In February, we were approved by Companies House as a charitable company, and since then, we have appointed Mel Melvin as our Fundraising Lead. Mel joins us from Barnsole where she is a current parent and PTA Chair.
We are now focused on building our foundation ready to make applications to trusts and foundations for funding. Our initial programme comprises:
Parenting support from the start of life: to ensure that every parent can be the best parent possible in these crucial years, developing their child’s social, emotional and physical skills. This is our Maritime Strong Foundations programme, which begins in September at Bligh School, with many of our other schools starting to build their own 0-3 offer, too!
Community support throughout the primary school years: our parents will face a host of challenges as their children grow up, and to support them, we facilitate peer support groups as well as bring in professional expertise. This is delivered through our Maritime Community Ambassadors. Community Ambassador support will be in place at Hook Lane, Brooklands, Timbercroft, Bligh and Ebbsfleet Green Primary Schools from September. With two new additional Community Ambassadors joining the team, we can now support around half of Maritime’s schools!
Extracurricular opportunities: to ensure that every child gets to experience the joy of building wider skills from art, to drama, to multi-sports and coding. This is delivered through our Maritime Skills Academy (more on page 7!), which is currently running at Greenacres, and from September, at Featherby, doubling our programme!
Equally important as working with the children in school, is the support we offer parents. So far, we have surveyed parents to identify areas they need support in and all nurseries have plans to work with parents. Simple activities such as singing nursery rhymes, reading books and talking with children can make the world of difference. Remember - it's good to talk!
To allow us to deliver these programmes across all schools in the Trust, and support all children to thrive, we require considerable funding, If you know of any potential donors, please drop Mel a line at m.melvin@matoffice.org. Thank you!
Our *Big Hairy Audacious Goal is to positively disrupt education to ensure all children get an excellent start in life. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and r full potential, and we are committed to doing everything we can to make that happen.
Susan Matheso CEO, Maritime Children's Foundatio
Maritime Skills Academy Celebrates First Anniversary
On Saturday 6th July, the Maritime Skills Academy marked a significant milestone with its first graduation ceremony for the attendees of this year's academy in Greenwich. The event was a fantastic celebration filled with reflections from children, parents and teachers on the transformative experiences and skills developed over the past year.
Children's Re ections
The children proudly shared their achievements, noting improvements in creativity and art skills; new skills in coding and enhanced expression through dance and drama.
Parental Feedback
Parents praised the positive changes they observed in their children, too, with one parent remarking, "It has greatly improved my child's con dence and ability. He's learned new skills and met children from other schools at Maritime". Another parent highlighted the diverse opportunities the Skills Academy provides, commenting, "They love sports and robotics. In this club, they can do both".
Teachers' Observations
Teachers have also noticed significant developments in the children. One teacher reflected on the increased confidence and expressiveness of a particular pupil, and how the child is now able to articulate thoughts without fear of judgement.
Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead
The success of the academy goes beyond artistic and sporting achievements, however. The children have gained confidence, improved articulation and developed resilience in trying new things within a different environment.
We are therefore incredibly excited to announce the expansion of the Maritime Skills Academy. The Greenwich academy will continue under the capable management of Elaine Harlow-Singh, while a new Medway academy will launch in the new academic year. Based at Featherby Infants School and led by Rachel Ferguson, we have already had over 70 families sign up!
We look forward to sharing more news, pictures, and success stories from both academies in the new academic year, and in the meantime, would like to thank everyone for their support and dedication in making the Maritime Skills Academy such a success.
Matthew Bulpitt Deputy CEO
Ebbs eet Green
This term sees the final 'rising 3s' stay and play session of the academic year for the new cohort of nursery children joining us in September.
The vision for the project is to create solid and meaningful relationships with both parents and children, in order to allow children to explore the nursery environment and become comfortable within the school setting before starting nursery in September. We've had themed sessions to coincide with the EYFS curriculum and an outdoors forest school trip to give children a chance to experience a session, just like they would at nursery. The sessions have been running since April this year and we have seen a steady increase in attendance. It has been wonderful to see the children’s confidence grow each session and we look forward to seeing the impact of the group in September.
Hook Lane and Brooklands
This term has seen our community engagement team expanding, and it's now a team of three, with the additions of Danielle Poole and Katie Bould as Community Ambassadors.
Danielle - who is joining us as Community Ambassador at Hook Lane - brings community experience, innovative ideas and passion to the role, and her work as a parent volunteer at the school will be invaluable. At Brooklands, Katie's wealth of community knowledge and creativity, as well as her current partnerships and links with the existing Blackheath community, will prove a real asset. I'm very much looking forward to working with them both!
Bligh
Bligh has been instrumental in setting up the Strood West Covening group - a group of community stakeholders and key players in Bligh's community, with the objective of positively disrupting the lives of those living in Strood West. The aim is to work together to focus on health and wellbeing to provide opportunities.
The group has gone from strength to strength this year with more and more organisations joining. As a direct result of the group, Bligh has worked collaboratively with a number of organisations, and in particular, Homestart. Homestart is working at Bligh to support a group called Little Adventurers, providing fun activities to support children’s learning and development. The collaborative work that has come from the convening group is invaluable to Bligh, and we look forward to helping more families and the wider community in the next academic year.
Timbercroft
With the introduction of the community ambassadors, I am able to spread my wings to another of our Maritime schools, and from September, I will be helping Timbercroft with community engagement. I am so looking forward to working with the team and getting to know its school community.
Katie-Louise Lawrence Community Engagement Lead
Maritime in the Press
This term, we say goodbye to Debs Joyce, Executive Headteacher, as she embarks on a new chapter in her life with her early retirement. We are so grateful for the incredible impact Debs has made during her tenure at Timbercroft Primary School, Millennium Primary School and Maritime Academy Trust.
A Fond Farewell to Mrs Debs Joyce
Debs' passion and dedication to fostering an inclusive environment has touched the lives of so many pupils, families and staff. Her commitment to ensuring that every child - regardless of their background - has access to a quality education has truly made a difference in our communities. Debs' leadership has not only inspired those around her, but has also set a standard that will continue to guide us in the years to come.
"Debs’ passion for education and her genuine care for our school community has made a lasting impact. Her collaborative work with the senior leadership team has ensured our school is a nurturing environment where both children and sta thrive."
Jane McDer,Millennium Primary School
Millennium
Debs began her Millennium journey back in April 2019 when she joined the senior leadership team as Executive Headteacher. Her expertise and experience in terms of safeguarding is unparalleled, and in turn, this has helped not only our senior leaders and staff with their own professional development, but many of our children and families, for which we are all grateful. Her passion for SEND and inclusion has driven many changes and developments we have made, and will continue to make - the Inclusion Quality Mark being one of those. Not only did she share her expertise in these areas to better shape Millennium, but she also gave her time to coach, listen, develop and mentor staff into the strong practitioners she leaves behind. Her commitment to Millennium is one we all thank her for and we will be sad to see her go.
"I remember Debs as an inspiring teacher when I started teachingteaching phonics with a heavy Welsh accent that she's never lost! She is someone who values what each individual brings to a school, and always with humour, kindness and a genuine down to earth attitude. I'll miss working with her hugely and the support she has given me in my career."
Ariadne Blyth, Millennium Primary School
“Working with Debs for the past few years has been such a lovely experience and she will be missed by everyone at Millennium. She has supported us in collaborating as a team, raising expectations across the school, and is always a positive presence. For myself as a new leader, Debs has helped me to shape my management style and gain con dence in my new role. Best of luck in your future endeavours, Debs!’
Tia Scott-Williams, Millennium Primary School
Timbercroft
Debs has been an integral part of the Timbercroft family since she first joined the school in 2010. Her roles in school have changed over the years from Assistant Head to Deputy Head, to Headteacher to Executive Headteacher - but her impact has not. Mrs Joyce is known across the whole school and is regularly visited by past pupils, who always seek her out when visiting the school. Her assemblies are legendary across the school and one past pupil fondly remembers her singing assemblies! Her legacy will forever be remembered here in our IQM Flagship Status, our annual Aspiration and Achievement week, 'fun filled fantastic Friday' and the teacher stocks at the summer fair, to name just a few events. The staff have her ‘lessons’ engrained into their brains and always smile when they hear ‘sage on the stage’, ‘inclusion is involving all the children’, ‘it’s about the people and the team’, and not forgetting ‘we do it for the children’.
‘‘Debs has always been very supportive and helpful, ready to listen and to encourage me to challenge myself and take on new opportunities. Thanks to her, I got a chance to teach across all year groups for a year which allowed me to expand my horizons and see where I would like to focus my own development. I hope she has a wonderful retirement - it's so well deserved for all the support and guidance she has given more junior sta like me as we embarked on our teaching journey."
Alex Jefferson, Teacher, Millennium Primary School
‘‘To Mrs Joyce, Thank you so much for everything you have done for the school. You have been an AMAZING teacher and you are so kind and caring towards us. One of my best memories of you was when we went on the residential. You were really funny and you made it to the top of the gladiators! Even though I'm also leaving, I'm really upset that you are leaving, too. Once again, thank you for everything you have done for this school."
Maya, Year 6, Timbercroft Primary School
‘Debs, you've been with us since the start of Maritime, and we can't thank you enough for your hard work, determination and competitive spirit. Your humour has always brought a smile to our faces and you've been a rock in your schools. As you head into retirement, please know that you'll be greatly missed. Your dedication has left a lasting impact on all of us. Wishing you all the best in this exciting new chapter! "
Nick Osborne, CEO
"Mrs Joyce is very funny and nice. She brings lots of joy to my life."
Mia, Year 5, Timbercroft Primary School
As you retire, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of your career and the profound in uence you have had on our schools. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours and hope that your retirement is lled with joy, relaxation and new adventures. You will always be a cherished member of the Maritime Academy Trust family.
Barnsole Primary School
Pirates Cause Mayhem in Reception !
We have been learning lots of different stories in Nursery enjoyed joining in telling the stories and acting them out ways. We have been reading The Three Billy Goats Gru , and and made our own trolls from under the bridge!
Skullduggery was afoot in Reception as the last part of the summer term saw the children learning about pirates. Imagine the pupils' shock, then, when some cheeky pirates crept into school at night and stole all the pegs from the classroom pot of gold behaviour charts in each of the three classes; Comets, Moonbeams and Stars! Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, the children made 'wanted' posters to stick around school, and the following day, the pirates left clues to find the pegs. After following the clues, a treasure chest filled with treasure was located, including...you guessed it...the stolen gems! The remorse-filled pirates thankfully saw the error of their ways and apologised for stealing the children’s pegs, and all's well that ends well. Phew!
Fun and Games for Year 6
As we approach the end of this academic year, our Year 6 pupils have been enjoying some alternative learning activities outside the classroom. The children took the train to Margate beach and loved burying each other in the sand, followed by an ice-cream on the promenade. There's also been archery, climbing, axe-throwing and low ropes at Creed Outdoor Learning Centre in Faversham, and some serious letting off of steam at Soar Trampoline Park in Gillingham! Finally, to round the celebrations off, the children had some good old-fashioned fun on some inflatables here in school.
Bligh Primary School
Pop-Up Pool Makes a Splash!
Bligh has been well and truly making waves this term by bringing swimming lessons straight to our pupils with our incredible pop-up swimming pool! A clever solution to rising swimming lesson costs and wasted travel time, the10x5m pop-up pool - which is part of a trial project by sports provider, Teachtheme - is housed in a lockable, modular structure complete with changing facilities.
So with this in mind, here at Bligh this term, we've made sure our learning is all about doing! Let us show you just some of what we've been up to...
“As part of our vision to ensure our pupils are secondary-ready, we know that learning to swim is a key skill as they move through to adulthood,” explains Headeacher, Christian Markham. “However, we found it di cult to book slots at the local swimming pool, not to mention the cost and time required to transport the children.”
Galvanised by our school’s pupil parliament, which had already expressed to Mr Markham the children’s desire for their own swimming pool, and following a parent poll that revealed 70% of Bligh’s pupils were unable to swimand 20% had never had a swimming lesson - we got in touch with Teamtheme. After initial conversations with the provider, we decided to raise funds through our pupil parliament fundraising team and use part of our own budget to fund the scheme for the summer term.
Installed during the May half term break and taking five days to fill with water warmed to a pleasant 32 degrees, the pool has allowed pupils to enjoy swimming lessons and learn about water safety with a qualified swimming coach able to deliver a customised swimming curriculum.
"I couldn't swim before and now I can, without a oat!"
"I feel safe in the environment and the instructors have made me feel safe."
"It's helped me become a more con dent swimmer "
"The instructors are caring and are good at accomodating everyone's needs and abilities.
“The children have been amazing, showing the resilience and teamwork we expect from Bligh pupils," says Mr Markham. "It's been fantastic to see the progress the children have made in such a short space of time.
For some children, it’s simply about increasing their con dence in the water, while others are now managing to perfect their butter y technique!”.
Brooklands Primary School
Egg-citing Arrivals
We were lucky to have a delivery of rare partridge eggs this half term, made possible through a wonderful conservation project with the company, Incredible Eggs. Created to help increase numbers of grey partridges in the wild, the company was brilliant to work with; the eggs arrived and we were supported to set them up in the incubator. All year groups had opportunities to visit the eggs each day and to watch the chicks hatch. We ended up with seventeen partridge chicks! Our daily visits were so exciting and prompted some lovely work from our older children around conservation and life cycle research, linking directly with our science curriculum. The project elicited some amazing discussions and language for our Early Years children, as they observed carefully, and spoke with much excitement about what they could see happening. The entire school was invested in the chick project and it was a wonderful experience for all, and one we will look forward to repeating!
Rain Can't Dampen Sports Day!
Despite VERY questionable weather, we carried on with sports day on 9th July! Our Nursery children had a wonderful 'sporty day' with all-day activities. They thoroughly enjoyed showing great team work and cheering each other on when exploring the different activities. Our brilliant Year 6 children led our Reception and Key Stage One sports morning on the playground. The children had a chance to take part in lots of events with Year 6 children demonstrating and modelling wonderful sportspersonship in encouraging and praising the effort and success every child displayed. Even the rain couldn't dampen the mood, with one child saying, "The rain won't stop us! We're having too much fun!" In the afternoon, we had all of Key Stage Two at Sutcliffe Park. Sadly, our afternoon was cut a little short due to the torrential rain that developed over the afternoon but everyone remained in good spirits. Some children even saved a frog who had made its way to the middle of the pavement on our way back to school! The day, despite being very damp, was a wonderful chance to celebrate achievement and effort, and our coming together as a community.
Danecourt School
It's a Team E ort at Sports Day!
Danecourt Sports week was an amazing time for the children to show off all the hard work they put into practising for their sporting events. Even parents were able to take part, whether that was helping their children or running in the parents' race - which was rather competitive! Staff also got involved in the running race, much to the children's delight. They ended their sports day with a picnic with their families.
Summer Fair's a Smash Hit
The Danecourt Summer Fair was a spectacular event that everyone seemed to enjoy. The amazing Danecourt FADS team planned a wonderful day and despite the weather, it was still a day to remember. From Peppa Pig to ponies, we had so many amazing vendors and people who came to sell their items or visit the children. The raffle was the perfect way to finish the day with 1st prize being a Nintendo Switch, which was kindly donated. Overall, the day was a huge success and the FADS team were so happy - a Christmas fair is already in the works!
Back in November, we invited the children’s parents in for session Danecourt School. The theme was autumn and the children enjoyed pumpkins, leaves and branches' textures, as well as mark making techniques. fun and see their children enjoying creative play. Some classes did some fantastic pumpkin carving and even had jelly pumpkins! All the children and parents had positive feedback.
Woodland Adventures
Last week, Danecourt at Bligh children visited Wild Times where they explored the woodlands with their teachers and looked at the wildlife surrounding the pond they came across. They saw dragonflies and ducks, and created a fire using the sticks they found in the woods. The children had a wonderful time and enjoyed having the chance to use the tree swing.
Ebbsfleet Green Primary School
Year 3's Big Outcome
A Visit to Britain's First Mosque
At Ebbsfleet Green, children have been immersing themselves in their learning with trips to significant places. Children in Aspen Tree class visited the Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking, which is Britain's first purpose-built mosque. They were shown around by the iman, who highlighted to the children the significance of aspects of the mosque, such as the colours and patterns. Children also began to make connections with their existing knowledge of other religions.
Year 3's big outcome at Ebbsfleet Green was a remarkable event in which our young historians presented their extensive knowledge of chronology and the various stages of the Stone Age to their parents. The children confidently showcased their understanding of this fascinating era, illustrating the significant developments from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. Their presentations were not only informative but also highlighted their impressive oracy skills, as they eloquently articulated their insights and answered questions with enthusiasm. The event was a testament to their hard work and the effective teaching methods at Ebbsfleet Green, making us all incredibly proud of our Year 3 students.
Sports Day's a Winner
Last week, we hosted a community was supported by our Community KatieLouise. Within our growing veral small businesses and we hosted et for adults to have a festive tr wonders that our community make. ents and people from the wider hope that Ebbsfleet Green becomes this community. The PTA also hosted the usual Christmas fair with the money raised going towards a new sound system for the hall.
Our sports day was a tremendous success, showcasing the children's dedication to the values of togetherness and enjoyment. Our young athletes participated in a range of sporting activities, skilfully applying what they have learned and displaying remarkable teamwork. The event was even more special with the high turnout of parents, who enthusiastically joined in to share the experience. Their presence and support made the day unforgettable, reinforcing the strong community spirit that defines our school. We are proud of our pupils and grateful for the continued engagement of our wonderful parents. Ebbsfleet Green's football team also recently took part in the Nightingale Across Trust Football Tournament, representing our school with great pride and enthusiasm.
Featherby Infant and Junior School
Adult Learners at Featherby
Our mission statement is, 'Learning together to inspire minds through inclusive and creative practice - aspirations are high for all'', and recently, we have been extending what that means for our wider community. We are now hosting adult education tuition at Featherby, alongside Medway Council Adult Education team, for parents who would like to further their career in qualifying to support teaching and learning, with a view to becoming teaching assistants. Parents from fellow trust schools in the Medway area were offered the opportunity to learn and train with us at Featherby and at Barnsole. We're delighted to be able to support adult learning at school and look forward to seeing these adults develop their skills and open up career opportunities. For more information, click here.
We've had a fantastic start to the school year at Featherby! At the beginning benefited from a more intensive transition programme of 1:1 meetings with and parents/carers, and as a result, the children settled so quickly into learning in September.
Featherby Flamingos Get Muddy for Charity
A team of Featherby staff, also joined by colleagues from Barnsole and Bligh, joined up to raise money for Cancer Research UK. After spending a Saturday morning taking on muddy obstacles around Mote Park, they raised an incredible £2,700. Something tells us that washing machines were going into overdrive that weekend!
EXCITING NEWS!
They Started...so they Finished!
A competition steeped in tradition at Featherby is our 'Mastermind', which has been going for over 40 years. An opportunity for our KS2 children to test their general knowledge and specialist knowledge about a book of their choice, there's even the obligatory ‘black chair’.
This year was a close-run competition as the children took on a variety of different rounds, but ultimately, it was Joshua from Year 6 who was victorious, pipping Joel to the post by just one point!
The Maritime Skills Academy is heading to Featherby! Find out more on page 7.
Greenacres Primary School
Top of the Crops!
This term has been about investigating what plants need to survive and grow at Greenacres! Children in Year 1 have been working scientifically to investigate what plants require in order to survive and grow healthily. Our eco club, with the help of our playtime gardening club, has been busy weeding our planters and sowing seeds. Soon, our playground will be bursting with strawberries, potatoes and peas. All our crops will be harvested, made into delicious healthy snacks and then sold in our kids' café.
Memory Making in Year 6
Our Year 6 children had a fantastic time during their three-day residential trip. They enthusiastically participated in activities such as learning how to safely make and tend to fires, cooking delicious meals over the open flames, honing their skills in axe-throwing and archery, collaborating to build sturdy shelters, showcasing their talents in the entertaining 'camp's got talent' show, and enjoying restful nights sleeping in their cosy tents under the starlit sky. The experience was both thrilling and educational, creating lasting memories for everyone involved.
Hook Lane Primary School
Buckets of Fun!
The 26th April was 'bring a bucket day' at Hook Lane. This consisted of every child bringing a bucket to school to shift 22 tonnes of sand into our brand new sandpit! The sandpit was designed, dug out and lined by Mr Barnes, with the help of a wonderful group of parents, children and staff. Everyone is really enjoying having a sandpit to play in: building sandcastles, digging holes and burying their friends!
Community Comes Together for Special Cause
Speaking to the children was fascinating they were so positive about their visits from their teachers, expressing that they felt more connected, less anxious, happier and better aware of the expectations for the new school year. They unanimously said that they would like home visits to take place every year. One parent said, "The home visit was really helpful and beneficial to both parents and children. It gave us the chance to meet the teacher in a home setting and raise any concerns. It also helps to ease the children in gently after the summer break."
Other exciting events this term have included a visit from the Bug Man in EYFS, Year 4's lm showcase at Greenwich Picture House, Year 6's twonight camp on the school eld, and Year 2's trip to Joss Bay.
The community around our school really is very special. Never was this more apparent than when the children, parents and staff joined forces in May this year to raise over £40,000 for Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice as a result of the amazing care that the hospice gave to a much valued member of our Hook Lane community. Many of our children turned out dressed in purple to run in the mini-marathon at Greenwich Park on Sunday 12th May, and parents also organised a raffle and other fundraisers. We are really proud of the whole community.
Millennium Primary School
Inclusion Quality Mark
On the 27th June, we had our annual assessment for the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) Centre of Excellence. The assessor was treated to a jam-packed day, which included Nursery's sports day, our whole school race for life and an OPAL showcase, as well as talking to children, staff, parents and governors. The assessor was able to clearly see all the things we do, day-in, day-out, to support inclusion across our school. The final report will be with us shortly, but we are very pleased with how the visit went and feel it celebrates the hard work of all our children and staff.
Pupils Race for Cancer Research UK
For the third year running, our pupils were put through their paces on the streets of Greenwich alongside staff, parents and carers, for our very own 'race for life', raising £430 in the process!
They have even invited guests into the classroom for online workshops allowing children to discover evolution and inheritance.
“Like many, our school community has been a ected by cancer, and we run to remember those no longer with us and celebrate those who are currently undergoing treatment. Next year's race will be even bigger!”
Hayley Redmond, Deputy Headteacher
A New Look for EYFS Outdoor Area
en at Millennium have been busy collecting food to donate to local food bank. As you can see from the photo, they were very successful, resulting in lots of local families benefiting from their efforts. Pupils have since decided that Millennium should have its own food bank for parents to access directly from the school as and when they need to. This week, the local Co-Op has kindly donated over £150 worth of food to get the children started. So please do keep the donations coming as we have many families we know will benefit from this enormously. Thank you!
There has been so much excitement about our newly renovated outdoor area. The children have been captivated by the changes and are enjoying exploring the fantastic new space. One particular feature that has been a hit with both the children and staff is the new canopy. It's been a real game-changer, allowing the children to still access the outdoor area, even in poor weather conditions, and continue to benefit from fresh air and outdoor opportunities. The outdoor area has sparked a new level of creativity and imaginative play among the children. It has been wonderful to see the children working together, using their imaginations, and problem-solving as they play. We're confident that the outdoor area will continue to be a valuable asset to Millennium's EYFS pupils.
Parent pop-ins have really taken off this school year. On the last Frid of each month, parents have been invited into school to join in with o learning. So far there has been a reading, science, maths and art parent drop-in. These are not only a great opportunity for children to showcase their work, but also for parents to learn alongside the children and ge real understanding of what is happening at school for their child. Ne term, there will be English, geography and history pop-ins. We lo forward to seeing you there!
Nightingale Primary School
Sporting Success for Pupils and Sta
We have been participating in a range of different sporting activities, which have been amazingly positive for the children. They have developed team spirit and confidence, and enabled children to compete against other schools, and develop physical and mental health and fitness - not to mention have fun! Our cricket team came 4th out of 16 in a recent competition; Year 3, 4 and 5 took part in an athletics competition at Sutcliffe Park hosted by Team GB's Daryll Neita, and our girls football team won the ‘respect award’ from the local league we play in, which was a true reflection of all of the girls and how well they have represented the school all year long. Staff have also been setting positive sporting role models, with individuals completing a 5k bubble run, 7k mud run and a 58k Jurassic Coast marathon!
Robotics Fun!
We have had a variety of robotics workshops this term. This is Year 2’s workshop featuring rolling drones, Beebot mazes, Kubo robot games and robot art!
Timbercroft Primary School
Good Sports
Sports week at Timbercroft - which ran from 17th to 21st June - was an extraordinary event filled with excitement, enthusiasm and exceptional displays of athleticism. Our pupils showcased their talents and embraced the spirit of teamwork and healthy competition, making it a memorable week for everyone involved.
Our Reception children ate their multicultural day as a part me'. We enjoyed tasting foods from looked fantastic in their cultural opportunity to share facts about their e their families are from.
A special thanks goes out to Plumstead Platform Cricket, Greenwich Rugby Club and Dynamic Coaching for their incredible support. Their free, extra sports sessions provided our children with the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence and enjoy the benefits of physical activity. The expert coaches from these organisations inspired our pupils and added immense value to our sports week.
In Nursery, children visited Rockcliffe Gardens as part of 'understanding the world' in our curriculum. Tasked with looking for signs of seasonal change, they were able to confirm it was definitely autumn - despite the unusually warm temperatures!
The highlight of the week was undoubtedly our sports day. Children participated in a variety of events, including sprints, relays, long jump and many more! The energy and determination shown by our pupils was amazing. They all cheered each other on, and celebrated their individual and team achievements.
We are immensely proud of all our pupils for their hard work and dedication throughout sports week. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making it such an unforgettable experience. We look forward to continuing to promote the importance of physical activity at Timbercroft Primary School!
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