DATE: Friday 9th October 2020

Good afternoon,

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Last Saturday the children in Year 4 made their First Holy Communion at Saint Ambrose Church. It was a very special moment in their life and I know they will all fondly remember the day in years to come. Thank you to Father Lamb, Mr. Moran, school staff and families for helping to prepare our children so well. Father Lamb encouraged everyone to celebrate together after Mass and I hear from the children they carried out his wish-well done everyone!! At school on Monday the celebration continued with special cupcakes and everyone received a balloon with a message of peace to share.

'WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER'

COMMUNITY NEWS

It was great to see PCSO Julie Crumpton at school on Wednesday talking and chatting to everyone on the playground. Julie is our commmunity PCSO and she will be visiting us regularly to support us with any community concerns we may have. She was very impressed with the community spirit at Saint Ambrose. Julie has asked me to remind any parents who have children who walk home to please ensure children walk with a friend. 

FLU VACCINATIONS

The school nurse team will be in school on Monday 2nd November to administer the flu nasal vaccination to our children. If you have not already done so please complete and return the consent form to school as soon as possible even if you do not wish for your child to have the vaccination.

 

ACADEMY COMMITTEE VACANCIES AT HAGLEY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Hagley Catholic High School Academy Committee Vacancies

Hagley Catholic High School have three vacancies on our Academy Committee (Governing Body), two Foundation Representatives and one Parent Representative.

We are looking to welcome members of our schools and parish communities to support us in the vital role of school governance.

This is a purely voluntary role and typically involves 6 meetings a year (one each half term) plus being linked to a department or area of school life for support, monitoring and evaluation.

Parent Representatives are not required to be practising Catholics but Foundation Representatives would be, and more details can be found about this here http://cesew.org.uk/guidance-for-schools/governance/item/1003603-foundation-governor-recruitment.

We are keen to welcome members of the community who might have experience in any of the following areas; financial and business management, legal services and HR.

Interested parties can contact Stella Batson (Clerk to the Academy Committee) on clerk@hagleyrc.worcs.sch.uk for information and applications, or Mr James Hodgson (Principal) on jhodgson@hagleyrc.worcs.sch.uk for an informal conversation about the vacancies and the role.

 

Current members of our committee are:

Mrs E Yates (Chair) - St Ambrose Parish

Mr C Guy (Vice Chair) - Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Old Hill

Mr G Taylor Smith - Our Lady and All Saints Parish

Mr T Tolkien - Our Lady and All Saints Parish

Mrs S Laskey - St Ambrose Parish

Mr M Hill (Parent representative) - St  Wulstan and St Thomas of Canterbury Parish

Mrs S Palmer (Staff Representative)

Mrs C Kirk (Staff representative)

NEW HOUSE SAINTS

After carefully considering the curriculum we offer our pupils at St Ambrose we felt it only right to ensure that we celebrate our local saints and the work they did for our faith. Therefore, we have worked closely with Father Lamb and we would like to announce the following saints as the patron saints of our houses.

Red - St Wulstan

Blue - St Nicholas Owen

Green - St Richard

Yellow - St Chad

A little bit of information about each saint was shared with our children when they first came back in September and we look forward to helping them learn more about these important people throughout the year. We have even had a new housepoint board made especially to mark their importance.

 

PARENT APPOINTMENTS

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for supporting us by downloading the Teams App and testing your son or daughter's account prior to the meeting. Parents Evening using microsoft Teams was a huge success and I now feel confident that we will be able to continue to teach children virtually if we have a bubble closure or local lockdown. A member of school staff will contact any families next week who have not yet downloaded Teams. Please see the details below explaining how to download the App and answer the call. If you have any queries please email our IT team (email address below).

TEAMS APP FOR A PHONE OR TABLET

How to install the Teams app from the app store or Google Play store.
  1. If you are on iPhone or iPad, click here or search for "Teams" in the app store.
  2. If you are on Android, click here or search for "Teams" in the Google Play store.

TEAMS FOR A WINDOWS PC

Install Teams on my Windows PC
  1. Sign in to Office 365 . ...
  2. Select the menu button and choose Teams.
  3. Select Get the Windows app.
  4. When prompted with the pop up window, select Save File.
  5. Now you have downloaded Teams

WHAT WILL HAPPEN-HOW TO ANSWER A TEAMS CALL

1. Open the Teams App and log in
 
2. You will receive an incoming call from the class teacher
 
3. You will see an onscreen notification

4. Click Accept
 
5. Click the sound and video icons
 

If you experience any technical difficulties logging into Teams please email our IT department support@stnicholasowen-mac.org.uk

Reception

12th October 1pm-4pm

Year Five

12th October 1pm-4pm

CONFIRMATION

Father Lamb and Miss Holtom will be in touch next week with the families who have enrolled on the Confirmation programme. The first preparation class for children will be Wednesday 4th November 3.10-4pm. Please note that this is a change of start date from the one detailed on the letter sent out yesterday. 

CONGRATULATIONS

On Monday we will celebrate the hardwork and achievements of our pupils in a virtual celebration  assembly. The following children will receive a certificate and bring a photograph home on Monday.

 

Reception

Eva

Oliver

Year One

Daniel

Austin

Freya

Year Two

Lauren

Solomon

Year Three

Macey-Mai

Noah

Year Four

James

Darius

Year Five

Artur

Amlia M

Year Six

Jensen

Archie

KEEPING IN TOUCH

As we are unable to hold face to face meetings between teacher and parents we have set up year group email addresses for you to communicate with staff. Please note that emails received after 6pm will be answered the next working day and none over the weekend.

General enquiries: office@st-ambrose.worcs.sch.uk

Reception:Reception@st-ambrose.worcs.sch.uk

Year 1: year1@st-ambrose.worcs.sch.uk

Year 2:year2@st-ambrose.worcs.sch.uk

Year 3:year3@st-ambrose.worcs.sch.uk

Year 4:year4@st-ambrose.worcs.sch.uk

Year 5:year5@st-ambrose.worcs.sch.uk

Year 6:year6@st-ambrose.worcs.sch.uk

CAFOD - THE WORLD WE WANT

We have been busy thinking about the world we want to live in and a few weeks ago we made personal pledges about how we can achieve this. This week, we reflected on our pledges and evaluated how well we have been sticking to them. We also decided on a pledge we would all work on together in our classes leading up to Christmas. Reception choose to use kind words and Year 1 also decided that they are going to try their best to be kind to others. Why not ask your child(ren) what their pledges are and see if you can spot them fulfilling these at home?

RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION AND HEALTH EDUCATION PARENT CONSULTATION

This academic year, Relationships Education and Health Education will become statutory in all primary schools in England. As a Catholic school, our mission is to support the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of all our pupils, rooted in the wisdom and teaching of the Church. After careful consideration, we have decided to adopt Life to the Full by Ten Ten resources to help us deliver this area of curriculum. However, it is essential that as part of implementing Life to the Full, we consult with our children, parents, staff and academy committee members to ensure there is a general consensus on our approaches to policy and curriculum content. 

At St Ambrose, as part of our consultation process, we would like to have your feedback on our approach, and particularly on the key decisions that we need to take regarding the teaching of certain topics. Therefore, we kindly ask you to take part in an online Parent Consultation Tool to help us make key decisions.

Please access the first access a short online course on: www.tentenresources.co.uk/parent-consultation-primary which provides details about the resources and answers some frequently asked questions.

You will need to log in with the username: st-ambrose-dy10 and the password: custard-111. 

Once you have completed the course, please then complete our questionnaire, through the link on our RSE Parent Consultation page and send us your feedback by 16th October.

We appreciate your time and support with this. A teapot time will be arranged for later in the term to answer any further questions and to make key decisions.

RECEPTION AND HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATIONS 2021

Applications for Reception Class 2021 have now opened and must be completed online by 15 January 2021. We welcome applications from all families of all or no faith. If you know of any families who are presently applying for a school place please encourage them to contact school. Again, if you have any queries regarding applying please do not hesitate to speak to us.

APPLICATIONS FOR HAGLEY SEPTEMBER 2021

If your son or daughter is in Year Six please see the flyer below advertising the Open Morning at Hagley Catholic High Scool on Saturday 10th October.

SEVERN ARTS

Is your child interested in learning to play an instrument?

Learning to play a musical instrument can help build confidence and
self-esteem, develop creativity, and improve literacy and numeracy.
It can also be lots of fun!

Severn Arts teaches in over 200 schools across Worcestershire. If you would like to find out more about instrumental lessons in school with Severn Arts please contact the school office or click on the link below.

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS HALF TERM ACTIVITIES

Please find details of our holiday football courses that may be of interest to your pupils. If you are able to let parents know it would be much appreciated. Due to the current restrictions we are not delivering leaflets but will drop some in if requested. Thank you for any support you are able to give.

Nick Griffiths (Kidderminster Harriers Community Trust)

October Half Term

Kidderminster Harriers Community Scheme will be holding our holiday football courses during half term. Course run 10am-3pm and are open to children aged 5-14 years. Younger children can attend for half days if they prefer. Cost is £10 for per day or, £28 for three. The courses will feature our Star Player Award and a mini soccer tournament, everyone who competes receive a prize. Due to current restrictions all courses are outdoors so appropriate clothing required. The venues are:-

Droitwich Cricket Club WR9 7AN– Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th 

Worcester – Bishop Perowne College -Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th 

Bromsgrove- Catshill Middle School - Monday 26h & Tuesday 27th 

Malvern –  Dyson Perrins Academy - Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th 

Kinver Sports & Community Association DY7 6ER - Wednesday 28th & Thursday 29th 

Kidderminster – Baxter College - Wednesday 28th, Thursday 29th & Friday 30th

Please note new venues in Droitwich, St Peters Fields and Kinver, Legion Drive. At present we are unlikely to run the scheduled Thursday/Fridaycourse in Cleobury. 

To book a place contact the Community Scheme on 01562 863821 or email harrierscommunity@hotmail.co.uk Payment can be made in advance or on the day. Please send name, age course attending, any medical conditions and an emergency contact.

FAMILY LEARNING COURSES

Worcestershire county council are running a variety of Family Learning Courses. Courses are FREE if individuals earn less than £17,000 per year, are unemplyed or on benefits. To view what courses are on offer and to book a place please click on the link below.

A MESSAGE FROM MRS LLOYD

Below is a message that Mrs Lloyd had published in the journal of the 'Handbell Ringers of Great Britain'.

Dear St Ambrose Ringers,

I am missing our Friday belle plate sessions. I can't wait until this is over and we can meet up again. Hello to all our friends in the West Midland's region that have supported us along the way.

Mrs Lloyd

ENTERING THE SCHOOL

In line with Government guidance, can we please ask that from Monday only 1 adult or family bubble enters the school reception area at a time and that where feasible you wear a face covering. Thank you for your continued support.

UPDATED P.E. DAYS

YEAR GROUP DAYS CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO COME IN P.E. KIT
Reception Wednesday
Year 1 Tuesday
Year 2 Wednesday and Friday
Year 3 Monday and Thursday
Year 4 Tuesday and Friday
Year 5 Tuesday and Friday
Year 6 Tuesday and Thursday

Can we please ask that children come into school wearing their P.E. kit, school jumper, shorts/tracksuit bottoms (weather dependant) and trainers/pumps on their allocated day(s).

TEAPOT TIME

Due to the parish hall still being closed, Teapot Time will take place at school. If you would like to attend, the next session will be on Tuesday 13th October at 9am. 

MASS

Father Lamb will be saying Mass in school on Wednesday for our Year 4 children. 

CAR PARK

Thank you to everyone for not using the school car park to drop off and pick up children, this has really enabled us to keep everyone safe. Only parents who have a car park pass will be permitted to use the school car park when it is safe to do so.

ALLERGY AWARENESS

Please remember that we have children in school who suffer from a severe allergy to all nuts and products containing nuts. Children with this condition may have a serious reaction, which could prove fatal if they come into contact with nuts. Consequently, I would ask that no nuts or related products (e.g. Kinder Bueno, Nutella spreads, peanut butter etc.) are brought into school for your child’s break or packed lunch. Your agreement with this and compliance could prevent a life threatening situation from developing. I am sure you will appreciate the reasons for making this request and trust that you will give it your full co-operation.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

If you still need to purchase uniform for your son or daughter please see the PDF document below. You can print, complete and return the form to Hagley Sports or follow the link to access their website.

Kind regards,

Mrs Brocklesby.

Emmaus CMAC
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School Ofsted
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