This is my first Newsletter as permanent Headteacher of Glenmead School. I am delighted to have been appointed, so that I can continue to serve the children and community into the future. I am passionate about providing an education that enables pupils to develop both academic and non-academic skills, as well as providing them with lots of opportunities to shine.

I would like to thank the Glenmead community for your ongoing support and hope we can continue this partnership for many years to come. I am fully supported by Miss Abbott and Mrs Gabbitas, Assistant Headteachers, who will work alongside me to lead the school into the future.

This is the longest term of the year and the children have been working very hard. As I walked around school yesterday and today, pupils were busy working in their classrooms in a calm and focussed manner.

Feeling proud!

Library Updates: We are ready to introduce the children to our new library. There is a lot of excitement about what they will see behind the closed door. Ms Westbrook has devised a plan to introduce it to classes, but this is a secret for now. All will be revealed next week!

Assessment Week: Next week the children will complete their first formal assessments of this academic year. Pupils in Year Two to Five will sit papers in Reading, Maths and SPAG. The pupils in Year One will sit a SPAG paper and they will be tested on their phonics.  Year Six pupils will complete their assesments the following week. Teachers will also be assessing the children’s work in their books and day to day work, and providing a Teacher Assessment in each subject. This information will be collated and shared with you as the pupils return to school in January.

1^st December

Next week we mark the start of Advent  in school with our Monday assembly. Every year we launch our behaviour strategy to support pupils remaining calm and regulated, as we approach the end of term. Pupils will be encouraged to demonstrate they are following the school rules and will be awarded with stickers. The classes with the most stickers at the end of term will receive a prize. Every year there is always a buzz around school as the children try to get as many stickers as possible. The hall will be decorated with our festive french hoops and the Christmas trees will be up.

School dinners: Next week there is a festive menu on offer. Mrs Gillon has been promoting this throughout the week. It is important that you have ordered your child’s food by 9am each day so that the food can be prepared. Please note that there are vegetarian and halal options on the menu.

 

 

 

 

 

Children can wear Christmas jumpers with their uniform on Wednesday, for Christmas dinner, if they wish to. We do have a selection of jumpers in school, if you would like to come and have a look to see if there is one suitable for your child(ren). This is a great way to reuse and recycle items that potentially only get worn a couple of times.

Reminders of Dates:

Wednesday 3^rd December-Christmas dinner

Friday 5^th December-non-uniform day for donations to the Christmas Market

Wednesday 10^th December- Pantomime Trip

Friday 12^th December-Christmas Market-1.30pm-4pm

Monday 15^th December-Music concert at 9.30am-Y4 and Y5/6 electives

Thursday 18th December- Years 1-4 Sing-a-long at 9.15am.

Thursday 18th December -Christmas Parties during the afternoon

Friday 19^th December-Chritmas Service at St Matthews Church

Friday 19^th December-Children break up for the holidays for 2 weeks

Character Education workshops:

Thank you to the parents who attended these workshops for Year Five and Six pupils. I hope that parents found the information useful and gave you an insight into the type of activities and learning that the children are gaining from this provision.

As we plan for the year ahead, I am interested to find out what workshops parents would be interested in attending. If you would like us to provide a workshop with a specific focus, please complete the following form with your ideas:

Workshops and Information Meetings – Fill in form

 

Star of the Week:  The focus for this week was the LOVE of Reading. Pupils were chosen for completing one of the following activities:

·         Telling someone about a story they liked.

·         Create a book review.

·         Make or draw something from the book.

 

Congratulations to the following children: Jai, Harrison, Leo, Alayna, Layla, Rogan, Luca, Mia-Grace, Ariena, Esther, Seb, Noah and Adriana

 

Sports Personalities: Congratulations to our nominations for the week for showing persverance and dedication in their PE lessons-Anayah, Mason and Stephanie.

Awards out of school: Both Olivia and Alexia dance out of school and enter a range of different competitions. Well-done to both girls for their fantastic achievements.

One has achieved his Level 3 swimming certificate.

Addi-May and Amba-Ray have certainly been busy achieving their FASTAID certificates out of school. Well-done girls!

Housepoints:

Many children have achived house point certificates again this week. There is a real element of competition amongst the houses. In a few weeks we will be announcing the overall winners for this term.

Prayers:

4R have written the prayers this week, linked to the theme of Reading. Thank you to Layton, Anabia and Cole for their thoughtful prayers.

 

Attendance:

 

Attendance this week has not been as strong as previously. We are however aware that there are many nasty bugs around at the moment. Please make sure that you contact the school office if your child is poorly, and keep us updated. Hopefully everyone will be on the mend over the weekend and return next week. If there is anything you feel we can support you with please let us know.

 

Congratulations and well-done to 5M who have 95.93% and are also the most improved class.

 

Remember:

 

 ‘PRESENT makes PROGRESS’

 

The more that children attend school the more progress they will make!

 

 

If you need to reach us, have a concern or help of some kind, catch one of the senior leaders on the gate, contact the team via Class Dojo message, give the pastoral team a ring, or email to enquiry@glenmead.bham.sch.uk. We are always here to support our families.