Friday 6th January 2023

We would like to wish all of families a very happy and prosperous new year.

We have now received a copy of our recent Ofsted report which you can access below. This has been shared electronically today with parents today via Arbor. You can also view it on the news section of the school website and also under the Key Information tab.

Today we celebrated Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany. This feast day celebrates the coming of the wise men to Jesus at the nativity. It also marks the last day of Christmastide and the beginning of ‘Ordinary Time’.

The Mass was celebrated by Father Lamb, he has inspired us to use the wise men as examples and share our own God given gifts this year.

Next week I will write to you all with details about how our children can join the church choir or read at Sunday Masses.

Kathryn Keigher a Loreto Nun commented after Mass today that our pupils sang and read beautifully, well done everyone.

This half term, we are growing to be eloquent and truthful in what we say about ourselves, the relations between people, and the world. As a school, we will help our pupils grow by developing an eloquent language which they can use to understand and articulate their emotions, belief, and questions and will encourage them to be truthful in the way they represent themselves and speak about the world.

We would love to hear if your child has been eloquent and truthful at home - please email year6_amb@emmausmac.com to let Miss Holtom know and she will arrange for your child to have a special certificate at the end of this half term in our special virtues assembly.

Before Christmas our choir children went to the Nightingale Care home to sing for the residents. They were an absolute credit to our school and we are very proud of them.

An additional bank holiday in honour of the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Monday 8th May 2023. As this date had previously been announced as the first day of the 2023 key stage 2 (KS2) test week in England, a change to the KS2 test schedule next year will be necessary.

Ministers have considered the situation carefully and have decided that KS2 tests will take place in the same week with tests following the usual order but each taking place one day later than originally planned. As such, the new schedule will be:

• Tuesday 9 May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) papers 1 (questions) and 2 (spelling)
• Wednesday 10 May: English reading paper
• Thursday 11 May: mathematics papers 1 (arithmetic) and 2 (reasoning)
• Friday 12 May: mathematics paper 3 (reasoning)

There will be no changes to arrangements for our other assessments, including KS2 teacher assessments, key stage 1 tests and teacher assessments, the phonics screening check and the multiplication tables check.

Regular attendance at school means that your child will make the most of their education and improve their chances later on in life. At St Ambrose, good attendance is of high importance and we strive to have at least 96% attendance. Please help us with this target. If you need any support, then school is here to help so that your child can get the very best out of the education we provide. 

We will begin sending out regular push notifications again about attendance so that you are aware if you child falls below our 96% target.

Please follow the link below to access this week's Wednesday Word.

Please ensure that your child comes to school in their correct P.E. kit. The P.E. uniform is as follows:

• Black shorts, black leggings, black track suit bottoms (unbranded if possible)
• Maroon round neck T-shirt with embroidered badge
• P.E pumps or black trainer

PLEASE NOTE: P.E. HOODIES CAN ONLY BE WORN ON P.E. DAYS

Children are to come to school wearing their P.E. kit on the day(s) listed above. Thank you.

Please read the following tips to share with your son or daughter about staying safe online:

• Never give out personal information. This includes online people you know as well. Keep them private!
• Never send pictures of yourself because once it’s online, it’s there forever, and it could get into the wrong hands.
• Don’t make friends with people you don’t know. People are not always who they say they are.
• Tell your parents/carers what you’re doing online so they can act fast if there are any issues and can vet whether the website is safe for use
• Leave the website and tell a trusted adult immediately if you see something that concerns you or makes you feel unsafe
• Never show your real name, age or where you live in your username
• Use strong passwords which have a mix of numbers, letters and symbols
• Do not share passwords with others
• Don’t open an attachment unless you’re 100% sure it’s safe
• Don’t let strangers into your video calls. Blur your background so you don’t give away any information about where you are.
• Be careful who you webcam with
• Don’t meet up with someone you’ve only met online
• Be nice online
• Think before your post! This applies to when you send or forward content.

Please see the confirmed term dates below for 2022/23. 

Kind Regards,

Mrs Brocklesby