We are really looking forward to this week and having the opportunity to share with you some of the really superb work the children have prepared as they have thought about the theme of "Loving God's World". It has been a really busy half term but that is a small picture of the vibrant school community we are becoming and we are really delighted that we are able to share so much of this with you on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The hall will be packed full of children singing, dancing and presenting to you their perspective on our theme, the classrooms will all be open for you to look at the work the children have been doing, the shared areas too! I am pleased to say that you will even be invited by some year groups to be taken on a tour to see the outside areas they have developed and watch video footage of the whole process too. The doors will open at 9.30am on Wednesday but tea and coffee will be available from 'drop off time' and throughout the event in the afternoon. The same will be the case on Thursday afternoon, so do please join us if you can. Performances in the hall will take place throughout the exhibition and a programme will be available for you on the website under News and Events, from tomorrow afternoon once we have confirmed everything with the staff.
We look forward to seeing you during this vey exciting week.
Sunday 14 July 2013
Thursday 11 July 2013
What a stunning few days we have had with the weather! It has been lovely to see the children eating their lunch outside and having a really good time together.
Passing by some shops on the way to the station today I saw in one the inevitable sign "BACK TO SCHOOL" and smiled to myself as I wondered how early those signs might first appear? I know we are not quite there yet and as I consider the final 9 days of term, they will probably going to be some of the most hectic we have enjoyed this year, with two Exhibition days to put on, three performances of "Porridge", an Attendance Party, Year 6 Leavers Dinner and Awards Evening and the Leavers' Service to enjoy. The newsletter will clearly give you all the details you will need for each of these events so do please make sure you have a look at this on Friday.
Nationally, next week sees the final launch of the New Primary National Curriculum which is due to be legally taught from September 2014. For some areas like English and Maths, there will be little change to what we have been doing although more will be expected of the children at a much earlier stage. In other subjects the Department of Education's intention is that the curriculum should be and will be more heavily content and 'knowledge' driven. This is where you may have heard that the children will be expected to learn the Kings and Queens of England off by heart for example. Many schools across the country will follow the curriculum as it will be stated but our intention at St Jude's will be to design a curriculum during 2013 / 14 that will meet the needs and interests of all the children whilst also fulfilling our legal requirements. It will be quite a challenge but one in which, by September 2014, we will be ready to go.
Next year will be a very busy one as we continue to chart our path towards being judged as an Outstanding School. During the summer break, the hall will be completely re-furbished and Year 1 and the Front Entrance will be re-carpeted. From September we will begin detailed preparations for our Church Inspection, which although not until 2015, will require a great deal of time to prepare for. The building work will begin in May 2014, the plans of which can be seen in the front entrance of the school. We already have the Year 6 Production planned and are possibly going to be looking for an external venue in which to hold this, due to the anticipated size of the production. Mr Kirby has also 'booked' the timing of the whole school production for the Spring Term 2014. Much more will happen too and we will keep you informed every step of the way! Before we know it it will soon be Christmas!
Passing by some shops on the way to the station today I saw in one the inevitable sign "BACK TO SCHOOL" and smiled to myself as I wondered how early those signs might first appear? I know we are not quite there yet and as I consider the final 9 days of term, they will probably going to be some of the most hectic we have enjoyed this year, with two Exhibition days to put on, three performances of "Porridge", an Attendance Party, Year 6 Leavers Dinner and Awards Evening and the Leavers' Service to enjoy. The newsletter will clearly give you all the details you will need for each of these events so do please make sure you have a look at this on Friday.
Nationally, next week sees the final launch of the New Primary National Curriculum which is due to be legally taught from September 2014. For some areas like English and Maths, there will be little change to what we have been doing although more will be expected of the children at a much earlier stage. In other subjects the Department of Education's intention is that the curriculum should be and will be more heavily content and 'knowledge' driven. This is where you may have heard that the children will be expected to learn the Kings and Queens of England off by heart for example. Many schools across the country will follow the curriculum as it will be stated but our intention at St Jude's will be to design a curriculum during 2013 / 14 that will meet the needs and interests of all the children whilst also fulfilling our legal requirements. It will be quite a challenge but one in which, by September 2014, we will be ready to go.
Next year will be a very busy one as we continue to chart our path towards being judged as an Outstanding School. During the summer break, the hall will be completely re-furbished and Year 1 and the Front Entrance will be re-carpeted. From September we will begin detailed preparations for our Church Inspection, which although not until 2015, will require a great deal of time to prepare for. The building work will begin in May 2014, the plans of which can be seen in the front entrance of the school. We already have the Year 6 Production planned and are possibly going to be looking for an external venue in which to hold this, due to the anticipated size of the production. Mr Kirby has also 'booked' the timing of the whole school production for the Spring Term 2014. Much more will happen too and we will keep you informed every step of the way! Before we know it it will soon be Christmas!
Wednesday 3 July 2013
A very busy and exciting day!
What a very special day we have had today and so busy! The children in Year 6 have been putting the final touches to their adaption of "The Tempest", Year R have been on a super trip to the beach and Year 2 have been out also, this time to Harold Hillier Gardens. I really do hope your children come back tonight reporting a good time was had by all!
The Year 6 production of "The Tempest" will be shown to the school in the morning and then two performances follow at 1.45pm and at 7pm. All parents and friends are warmly invited to join us for this special production.
This afternoon I was almost literally overwhelmed with very enthusiastic Year 3 pupils who were desperate to show me the Beach Garden area, all ready to be transformed. What a wonderful reflection of our 'Loving God's World' theme. Thank you so much to all the parents, teachers and friends of the school, who worked so hard last Saturday to do so much of the groundwork needed to begin the transformation of the area. You see.... it is true.....Together WE can achieve anything. So a thought from Mrs McEvoy. "Lets do this more often and finish the morning off with a barbecue or picnic." Great idea we think! So look our for the first date early in September!
The Year 6 production of "The Tempest" will be shown to the school in the morning and then two performances follow at 1.45pm and at 7pm. All parents and friends are warmly invited to join us for this special production.
This afternoon I was almost literally overwhelmed with very enthusiastic Year 3 pupils who were desperate to show me the Beach Garden area, all ready to be transformed. What a wonderful reflection of our 'Loving God's World' theme. Thank you so much to all the parents, teachers and friends of the school, who worked so hard last Saturday to do so much of the groundwork needed to begin the transformation of the area. You see.... it is true.....Together WE can achieve anything. So a thought from Mrs McEvoy. "Lets do this more often and finish the morning off with a barbecue or picnic." Great idea we think! So look our for the first date early in September!
Reflections from a morning train journey
Travelling to work on the train, offers me a generally enjoyable opportunity to reflect on many things. Reading the paper as I journeyed to Barnham this morning, I was captivated by an article about a primary school in Croydon where 10 of the teachers had resigned following an expectation that they would, from September, be required to 'clock on' at 7am. I had many thoughts on reading this! Firstly, very grateful for the team of teachers we have at St Jude's many of whom are at school before 7am, when we usually unlock the school. Then I thought about the fact that the Croydon's school's belief was that the teachers needed to work very long hours in order to teach better and therefore get the school out of 'special measures' more quickly. Really good quality teaching is not about working very long hours; instead it is about knowing the children individually and being able to meet the needs of all of the children, all of the time. It is actually all about developing very strong and positive relationships with the children, enjoying learning together, believing that together you and your children can achieve amazing things and of course rigorously tracking their progress every step of the way!
Then, finally I reflected on the government's desire for all schools from 2015 to set their own term dates. Well... so much could be said about this but all I will say for now is, be assured we will watch this proposal as it unfolds and keep you informed about it as we journey through every twist and turn!
Thank you so much to the parents who came to 'Meet the Headteacher' yesterday. It was really good to see you and to share some very interesting conversation and discussion together. We will put some notes about our discussions in the newsletter on Friday. As it is now 6.49am my day must now begin!
Then, finally I reflected on the government's desire for all schools from 2015 to set their own term dates. Well... so much could be said about this but all I will say for now is, be assured we will watch this proposal as it unfolds and keep you informed about it as we journey through every twist and turn!
Thank you so much to the parents who came to 'Meet the Headteacher' yesterday. It was really good to see you and to share some very interesting conversation and discussion together. We will put some notes about our discussions in the newsletter on Friday. As it is now 6.49am my day must now begin!
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