Despite the heavy rainfall and flooding yesterday, school is open today – Friday 15th November.
The following routes to school are clear:
Take your time on the way to school.
Children in Need Day will continue as planned although the children may wear normal casual clothes instead of pajamas if they wish. Either option is fine.
As you know, our school values the role of parents and carers in their child’s educational journey. With regards to this, we have set many new dates where parents are invited to come into school and join us.
Please make a note of the following dates:
Tuesday 19th November – Environmental Area – Ground force Day!
Volunteers needed to help us set up a new environmental area at the back of the EYFS pirate ship. We will be working with the Conservation Trust. Anytime from 10 am until 2 pm
Wednesday 20th November – Y1 Parents Prepare Aware Phonics – 9:15 am
– Mrs Smith will be leading a session for all Year 1 parents over both classes, explaining about the National Phonics Screening Check and showcasing what a phonics session looks like in school. Useful hints and tips for practice at home will be issued.
Tuesday 26th November – – Environmental Area – Ground force Day!
Volunteers needed to help us set up a new environmental area at the back of the EYFS pirate ship. We will be working with the Conservation Trust. Anytime from 10 am until 2 pm
Thursday 28th November – Year 1 and 2 Singing Stars Showcase – 2:30 pm
All Y1/2 parents are invited to watch a mini concert, showcasing the work the children have been doing with Derbyshire Music Partnership
Wednesday 22nd January – Parent Online Safety Session – 5:30 pm
Traci Good returns after the successful session last year, to inform all parents about all the latest online sites and social media apps which children are widely using. Learn how to keep your child safe when using these.
W/C 27th January 2020 – Learning Lens Week: Maths Focus
Heard all about Power Maths? Has your child been talking about some of the new things we are doing in lessons? Your chance to find out and see them learn!
On Tuesday of this week, we have the Conservation Trust coming into school to prepare the school’s new Nature Area.
Mrs Butler started her Forest School training over the summer and we are keen to use our outdoor grounds to improve our curriculum and also the physical and mental well being of our children.
If you know of any volunteers from home who could come in to help, we would be most grateful. Work will start from 10am until about 2pm.
We hope to see you there – thank you
This year, to support the charity Children in Need, we are having a Pyjama Day at Coton-in-the-Elms Primary School on Friday, 15th November 2019.
Children can come in their PJ’s for a donation of £1 for this great cause.
TAKING TIME TO REMEMBER…
Today, our children joined the rest of our Nation in observing two minutes silence to remember the service men and women who had fallen in the two World Wars and other conflicts.
Just before the 11th hour, Mr Newman, an ex Royal Marine, arrived to collect the remainder of the poppies that the children had been selling, so we asked if he would like to join with our children and staff in observing the two minutes silence – it was quite a touching moment and we were honoured that he shared it with us.
On Tuesday next week, we have a small team of environmental enthusiasts coming in from the Conservation Trust, to help us develop a new nature area.
The new nature area will be located to the back of the Early Years’ Pirate ship and the land runs adjacent to the school field. This land has been part of the school for around 20 years or more but never actually been used! There are a number of activities which need to be completed such as clearing out the pond, laying a path, putting up a safety fence and setting up the general area ready for children.
Mrs Butler is training to become a Forest School Leader this year and she has already been on some training for this. It is our ambition to, once it has been set up, to use the environmental area with each class and provide a Forest School Curriculum.
We are looking for any parents, grandparents or family relatives, who don’t mind lending a hand on Tuesday, anytime between 10 pm and 3 pm, to come into school and help us get the area ready. IF YOU THINK YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. Maybe you have a passion for Forest School education or the general outdoors? Maybe this is your area of expertise.
Copious amounts of tea and coffee can be provided! And maybe cake too!
We look forward to seeing you if you can help!
Next Wednesday afternoon our ‘Fly on the Wall’ EYFS sessions start for parents who have a child in Year Reception. These sessions are really really informal and any parent or relative is welcome to come and join in the learning alongside their child (1 adult per child.) The sessions run up until the end of term and they are a good way to develop an effective home-school partnership. This is a key part of the Early Years Curriculum.
Please note that it is not compulsory for your child to have an adult every week. In previous years, parents have attended when they can, or they have sent another relative in their place on some weeks. On some weeks, we have welcomed up to 15 parents at a time and on others only 2 or 3 – it really is an informal thing. This invite does not extend to Year 1 parents in Jellyfish; opportunities to come and work with these children will be provided later in the year. Look out for our Learning Lens sessions!
Fly on the Wall EYFS Sessions start at 2:30 pm and end at 3 pm (when the children are starting to get ready for home-time). At 3 pm, parents are asked to sign out at the school office and then wait on the yard for home time.
We hope to see you there!
Tonight after school, Mr Smith met with all Year 1 parents regarding a change to their child’s teaching arrangements. Please see the handout that was issued below. The link includes a letter that was issued to all Y3 and Y5 parents also.
Please see the advert below pertaining to our Parent Governor Vacancy. It outlines the skills and expertise that our governing body is looking for.
The process for election and nomination is as follows:
Friday 8th November – Nomination packs are available from the office to any interested parent. The pack outlines the process and documentation needed. There is also more information about the role. Should interested parents wish to know more, they can contact our Chair of Governors, Matthew Evans, via the school office. ALL NOMINATION PAPERS NEED TO BE FILLED IN AND RETURNED TO SCHOOL BY 12 NOON ON 22nd NOVEMBER.
Friday 22 November @ 12 noon – Nominations close. All nominations need to have been received by Mrs Cresswell via hand, email or post by 12 noon.
Friday 29th November – VOTING OPENS – Voting ballot papers will be sent out to all parents. One vote per parent, irrespective of how many children attend the school. Voting papers to be completed confidentially and put in the post box in the school reception area. Voting is not compulsory.
Friday 6th December – VOTING CLOSES – A formal count up of votes will take place and an announcement will occur as soon as possible after this date.
Please see the latest letter from our governors, about how they are supporting this year’s school improvement journey.
