Newsletter 1.3.24

News

1st March 2024

This week Year 2 and I have had an enjoyable look at Alveston’s past. Year 2 are studying the school’s history, from its opening in 1826 right up to the present day. The children looked at a range of historical resources to help them learn about the school’s journey from the original building in Main Street to the site it now occupies. It was wonderful to be able to share insight into the daily life of the school from the 1940s to the early 1990s from the handwritten Head Teacher’s Log Book. Reading this log book to find some interesting parts for the children has been a joy. Whilst lots has changed in education since the 1940s, there is much that remains exactly the same!

Since the 1940s and before, school was audited by the local authority, the school management board and the Diocese. I have enjoyed reading these audit reports! What was particularly interesting to read is that the atmosphere you will find at Alveston has not changed at all. On March 13th 1956, the school underwent a ‘Diocesan Inspection of Religious Instruction’. The inspector concluded: ‘I must record my impression of a very happy atmosphere in the school. I felt it as I first entered the building and noted it in each class.’

This week, history repeated itself almost 70 years later. Our School Improvement Partner visited on Monday and completed a review of the Quality of Education at Alveston. Visiting all the classrooms, just as the inspector in 1956, she also commented on the warm, happy atmosphere in school. In addition, in every classroom we found children completely focused on their work and keen to share their learning and knowledge with us.

It occurred to me whilst I read the reports from the 1940s and beyond, that maybe our families do not know how schools are audited, checked and scrutinised (apart from Ofsted!) in the twenty first century. With this in mind, look out for a further news piece when I will share this from a Head Teacher’s perspective!

Whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope it is a peaceful one.

Anne Clewley

Head Teacher

Stars of the Week!
 
Reception ~ Louis
Year 1 ~ Matthew
Year 2 ~ Leo
Year 3 ~ Beatrice
Year 4 ~ Jenson
Year 5 ~ Emmie
Year 6 ~ Georgia
 
Congratulations to all of our Stars!
 
Team Cup Winners
 
Congratulations to this week's Team Point winners, Othello Yellows! Also, a big well done to everyone who earned a team point this week.
Class Assemblies
 
This week, Year 3 performed their class assembly to the whole school and their families. They shared their work creating paintings of the Eiffel Tower, some of their writing from English and a very catchy skeleton song, as well as performing The Fiddler of Dooney by W.B.Yeats and a traditional dance. The children enjoyed showing their work and performing for the school!
 
Year 4  also shared their learning journey with the whole school and their families. They started by showcasing their artwork based on the style of Henri Rosseau and sharing some of their poems based on wolves. They went on to sharing their Newsround video and singing their 7 times table song
 
Come back next week for a round-up of what our other year groups got up to!
Football Stars!
 
This week, our Year 6 girls played their very first football match against another school. If that wasn't exciting enough, Tom Sidwell secured the use of one of the Stratford Football Club training pitches for the match!
 
The girls thoroughly enjoyed their match against Thomas Jolyffe; their joy was evident on the day and has been captured in the photos too! The girls played well and showed lots of ball and team skills. They may not have been the winners on the day, but their enthusiasm and dedication shone through throughout. Well done to Millie, Bella, Serena, Molly, Georgia, Mia, Hannah, Ashleigh, Elsie, Millie, Chloe and Tabitha. It is wonderful to have a girls' football team once again at Alveston and we are very proud of you all. Thank you Tom, for all you have done to coach the girls and for being our referee on the day.
 
Thank you to the families who came to support the Year 6 team, it was much appreciated. Thank you too to Mrs Merrygold-Wood for kindly providing oranges for both teams at half time. We have not seen this for decades at primary school matches (here and at other schools) and it made a wonderful return! Not only kind and generous, but also very welcoming for the Thomas Jolyffe team. Thank you! It is something we will definitely continue to do!
 
Chef-Adopt-a-School
 
This week, Year 4 had their first visit from our chef. They learnt all about healthy eating and how we use all our senses to taste food. The class tasted food from bread to lemons and even tried some mint and ginger jelly disguised as strawberry and orange jelly. 
Online Safety Week
 
As promised, we have more information regarding the children's learning and their area of focus during Online Safety Week. Please do take a look and see what each year has been working on, here.
World Book Day Menu
 
On World Book Day, Thursday 7th March, the children have the opportunity to choose from Paddington's menu! If you'd like to see what is on offer, please take a look here. The children will choose their lunch options in class, as normal.
"High-Vis" Fitt4Kids!
 
Fitt4kids have had a snazzy new makeover! Their new uniform colours are now orange, black and white meaning they will stand out in a crowd and will be easier for the parents and children to spot!
 
They also have a bright new website Home - Fitt4Kids. Please have a browse to refresh your minds about all the services they can offer, and please do let them know if you'd like more information about anything.
Community Interest 
 
We post all community events and projects on our website under 'Our Community'. For more information about activities open to you, your family and your local community, please do check the page regularly. With Easter fast-approaching, we already have some information regarding Easter holiday camps: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
Last but not least, you can also find a list of Stratford Food Bank's latest "MOST WANTED" items right here. Please do take a look.
General Reminders
 
Parking at Drop-Off and Pick-Up
We are so lucky at Alveston that the Football Club allow all our parents who drive to school to use their car park for drop-off and pick-up. This makes it safer for all our children. Please continue to use the Football Club car park. Please do not park on Knights Lane, Oak Road or any double-yellow lines for pick-up or drop-offs. Please also ensure that you do not stop or park within the zig-zag "Keep Clear" markings. This area is marked to keep the flow of traffic moving and to ensure the safety of all pedestrians.
 
Coronavirus within School
If your child tests positive for coronavirus, please keep them at home for three days or until they are better after three days. Please report all absences to the school office as below.
 
Sickness and Absence
Please let the school office know each day your child is absent from school by calling 01789 293412, option 1, and leaving a message.  You may also email parents3002@welearn365.com. You do not need to contact us daily if your child is sick/vomits. Absences for sickness/vomiting will be recorded 48 hours from the end of the day your child was last sick (i.e. if sick on Sunday, come back on Wednesday; if Tuesday come back on Friday) nor for COVID absences.  

Medicines in School
We cannot accept medicines in school without a prescription label and a medical form completed by a parent or carer.  Please ask the school office for more information and/or a form via parents3002@welearn365.com.  

Key Information

Don't forget to keep up-to-date with all our School News by visiting: www.alvestoncofeprimary.co.uk and click on the ‘News’ tab. If you are not set up on the e-schools App, and would like to be, please email parents3002@welearn365.com for assistance.


 

Important Dates to Remember 
 
Key dates for the Spring and early Summer term are HERE!  They have also been added to the website calendar.  You can find information relating to term dates here and teacher-led club dates here:
 

Spring Term (2)

 

Celebration / Star of the Week Assemblies

 

 

23.02, 1.03, 8.03, 15.03

18/3 Half Term Cup Assembly

Teacher-Led Clubs (4 wks)

 

19 Feb – 26 Feb

 

 

 

5/3/24

 

Parents’ Evening 3:30-6:30 face-to-face

5/3/24

 

Year 5 class assembly

7/3/24

 

Parents’ Evening 3:30-6:30 face-to-face

7/3/24

 

World Book Day (dress up as a character from a book or wear PJs ready for a bedtime story!)

11/3/24 wk

 

Science week

Friends of Alveston School Uniform Sale - daily this week

12/3/24

 

Year 6 class assembly

14/3/24

 

Reception class assembly

18/3/24 wk

 

Shakespeare week

18/3/24

 

Half Term Cup presentation

20/3/24

 

Easter Service at St James’ (2pm)

21/3/24

 

Easter bingo

21/3/24

 

Y4 Trip to Compton Verney

22/3/24

 

Easter “Bake Off”

 

 

 

 

 

EASTER HOLIDAY 25th March – 5th April 2024

 

 

 

Summer Term (1)

 

Celebration / Star of the Week Assemblies

 

 

19.04, 26.04, 3.05, 10.05, 17.05, 24.05

20/5 Half Term Cup Assembly

Teacher-Led Clubs (4 wks)

 

8 April – 3 May

 

 

 

19/4/24

 

Non Uniform (Sweet forfeit for Summer Fair)

23/4/24

 

Bag 2 School

6/5/24

 

Bank Holiday

13/5/24

 

KS2 SATs 13th – 16th May

20/5/24 wk

 

Arts Week

20/5/24

 

Half Term Cup Presentation

24/5/24

 

Non Uniform / **SUMMER FAIR**

 

 

 

 

 

HALF TERM 27th May – 31st May 2024

 

 

 

Summer Term (2)

 

Celebration / Star of the Week Assemblies

 

 

7.06, 14.06, 21.06, 28.06, 12.07

15/7 Half Term Cup Assembly

Teacher-Led Clubs (4 wks)

 

10 June – 5 July

 

 

 

12/6/24

 

New Reception Parents’ Information Evening (6pm)

19/6/24

 

Parents Reading Together Time

24/6/24

 

Online Safety Week

24/6/24 wk

 

New Reception Settling Sessions (Week 1)

1/7/24 wk

 

New Reception Settling Sessions (Week 2)

1/7/24

 

Year 6 Leavers’ Play (4:30pm)

3-5/7/24

 

Year 6 Residential

10/7/24

 

Transition Day / Year 5 Residential Meeting (5pm)

15/7/24

 

Half Term Cup presentation

15/7/24 wk

 

Healthy School Week

15/7/24

 

Open Evening

16/7/24

 

Sports’ Day and Family Picnic

17/7/24

 

Reserve Sports’ Day and Family Picnic

19/7/24

 

Leavers’ Assembly

19/7/24

 

INSET Afternoon. School closes at midday/noon

 
 

Healthy Schools 2020
360 ES Mark
Artsmark Gold Award
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