DATE: Friday 13th November

Good afternoon,

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

REMEMBRANCE DAY-REMEMBERING ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

During the month of November, we remember loved ones who have died and in particular Mrs Motteram who was a teacher at Saint Ambrose. I have enjoyed hearing and sharing some fond memories of parents who were taught by Mrs Motteram with the children. Here at Saint Ambrose we will remember and pray for our loved ones over the coming weeks.


On Wednesday 11th November, Year 6 led a virtual whole school Remembrance service in school where we all observed a two-minute silence at 11am to remember all those who have fought in war and to mark the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918. 


Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

On Remembrance Day, Year 3 wrote some lovely acrostic poems, thinking about the soldiers who lost their lives in the War. Their window display outside the classroom is wonderful.

'Lest We Forget'

COLLECTION TIMES

Thank you to everyone for all your support this week ensuring we are following our one way systems and remembering to wear a face covering. I am so proud of the way we are all supporting and helping each other. Please can I remind you of the collection times below and ask that only one adult collects, children are collected at their allocated time or at their siblings latest collection time. If you are collecting from more than one class at the same time, please collect your youngest child first-THANK YOU.

Reception, Year One, Year 2  Year 3 and Year 4  Year 5 and Year 6
2.45 pm 3pm 3.10pm

SCHOOL UNIFORM

This week I have asked the children why do we wear school uniform? I was so impressed with the answers I received, the children stated:

“Our uniform shows that we are part of Saint Ambrose School which is the best school in Kidderminster.".

"Wearing it says we do our best by following Jesus."

I feel that when our children wear their uniform they are ready to learn and achieve. For this reason I would like to thank you all for sending your children wearing the correct uniform remembering school shoes must be worn with school uniform. Please see the required school uniform below.

Girls Uniform - Winter Boys Uniform - Winter
Grey Skirt/pinafore/trouers Grey trousers
White shirt and school tie White shirt and school tie
School embroidered maroon jumper/cardigan School embroidered maroon jumper
Flat black shoes - not boots or trainers Flat black shoes - not boots or trainers
Grey tights or socks Grey socks
Girls PE Uniform during COVID-19 Boys PE Uniform during COVID 19
Plain black joggers/leggings Plain black joggers
School embroidered maroon t-shirt and school jumper or school sweatshirt School embroidered maroon t-shirt and school jumper or school sweatshirt
PE pumps or sensible trainers PE pumps or sensible trainers

KINDNESS DAY

Reception children have been amazing for World Kindness Day.

We started the week discussing it and the children came up with a list of acts of kindness to carry out Friday.

Harriet had told her Dad and Mum about World Kindness day. Today she came into school with a big heart for Miss Brewer and she had made every child in the class a bracelet with a heart on it. She gave them out and said 'Happy Kindness Day'. 

The children have spent the day drawing pictures for their friends, giving compliments to each other and saying kind words.

What an amazing day.

Year 2 have really enjoyed celebrating kindness day. We were each given an act of kindness card to use throughout the day to spread kindness around Year 2. Here are just a few examples:

Miss Crumpler received a kindness card from Sammy when he said that he liked her fluffy coat. Lydia received a kindness card from Logan when she helped him to glue his work in. Franky used his kindness card to cheer someone else up. 

We have learnt that spreading kindness to other people also spreads happiness and it is one way that we can follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

In Year 4, we talked about acts of kindness and how we could show kindness to others. We also played a 'Guess Who' game. We each chose five words to describe ourselves and how we were kind. The rest of the class then had to guess who it was.

In Year 5, to celebrate World Kindness day, we created artwork of ourselves and decorated a thought bubble on all the different ways we could be kind both at school and at home.

In Year 6, the children secretively picked a person’s name out of a hat and wrote down a kind message about this person. This message was then put into a balloon. Each day they are going to pop a balloon and shared these messages. Year 6 thought this is a lovely way to share God’s love with each other. 

Year 6 also produced some fantastic rhyming couplets about kindness:

 

Don't be scared to lift their mood and put a smile on their face,

Make people laugh, distract them from a bad place.

Maria

 

We are all the same in different ways,

Together we can get through the unkind maze.

Anayah

 

A positive attitude and a supportive friend,

Makes me understand that friendships never end.

Hubert

 

A smile as bright as the sun glowing on their face,

As they give me a friendly embrace.

Jensen

 

If you are sad, I will put a smile on your face,

Me and you go together like a shoe lace.

Tom R

 

You can always trust me,

Our friendship grows as strong as a tree.

Erin

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS

Due to the new lockdown restrictions, children will not be able to attend Mass until 3rd December, at the earliest. However, Father Lamb will continue to celebrate Mass with children and parishioners joining via livestream http://www.stambrosekidderminster.org.uk/-

We are now taking time to consider how our Advent and Christmas liturgies will be organised this year. We would normally welcome parents and extended family and friends into Church or School. COVID-19 restrictions mean this is just not possible this year. We are also not allowed to mix children from different year groups (bubbles). Throughout this COVID-19 period we are working on the basis of 'what we can do' rather than 'what we can't do'.  So, next week on our newsletter we will inform you about our Christmas and Advent plans.

READING CHALLENGE

On Monday, we will be launching our Saint Ambrose Lockdown Reading Challenge to continue to promote our love of reading. We are challenging our children, over the next three weeks, to read in as many different ways as they can. They will be given a record sheet where the number of minutes they have spent reading will be logged. The more minutes they spend over the three weeks, the greater their chance of winning a prize! We hope all our children enjoy reading lots of different things and can't wait to hear who the winners are in each class.

You can view the reading record by clicking on the following link:

 

RED WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday 25th November, we will be taking part in Red Wednesday by encouraging everyone to wearing something to red to school. This could be a red t-shirt, a red jumper, red socks or a red hair bobble.

Red Wednesday is an initiative of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Catholic charity dedicated to the support of suffering and persecuted Christians. It is a day to gather and draw attention to the plight of those who are persecuted and oppressed for their religious beliefs.

The purpose of Red Wednesday is to join together and raise a strong voice in support of the persecuted who are unable to speak freely, and who look to us - their brothers and sisters in Christ - to speak on their behalf. 

SHOEBOX APPEAL

This year, we would like to support the shoebox appeal to support deprived children and vulnerable families this Christmas. If you would like to support this worthy cause we ask for packed shoeboxes to be returned to school and have extended the date for them to be returned to Monday 16th November.

OPEN DAYS

We are hosting bookable school tours for children due to start reception in Septemer 2021. 

Please can everyone share this information with family and friends and use the below link should you wish to book a tour.

You can also view the flyer by clicking on the PDF link.

CONGRATULATIONS

On Monday 16th November 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 Lily P and Olivia
Year 1 Freya, Katie and Aurelia
Year 2 Lydia and Tyler
Year 3 Ted, Nikola and Fia-Bella
Year 4 James B, Antonio and Krystian
Year 5 Jayden and Alex
Year 6 Harry and Katie

STAY SAFE

Thank you to everyone for supporting us with all the new necessary changes to keep safe.

Can we remind you that only 1 adult or family bubble enters the school reception area at a time.

 

SCHOOL HOODIES

Hagley Sports are now selling St Ambrose hoodies. You can order them from their website by following the link below.

Embroidered Burgundy Hoodie £13.00 all sizes.  + £2.00 if you would like your child's name embroidered opposite the crest.

Age 5-6 = 28 inch

Age 7-8 = 30 inch

Age 9=11 =32 inch

Age 12-13 = 34 inch

Age 14-15 -36 inch

Small adult =36 inch also

Medium Adult -38/40

Large adult = 42/44

CONFIRMATION

The confirmation class will take place for your child after school on Wednesday. Please arrange to collect your child at 4pm from the playground adhering to social distancing at all times. If you have any questions regarding the Confirmation programme this year please contact the school office and Mrs Brocklesby or Miss Holtom will get back to you.

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

MICROSOFT TEAMS

In the event of a school closure any lessons will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. We need to ensure that you have successfully downloaded and accessed the app. Please see the flyer below and contact our IT department should you experience any difficulties or you require your login details.

RECEPTION 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.

FAMILY LEARNING COURSES

Please see the PDF document regarding short courses/workshops for Nov – Dec 2020 to support families during this latest lockdown for the last part of half term this year. All our Family Learning courses are free for every parent or carer at the moment.

You can also click on the course links below to enrol.

Lockdown Elevenses for any parents/carers feeling lonely or isolated https://rebrand.ly/LockdownElevenses

Christmas Craft Workshop for Parents and Children https://rebrand.ly/ChristmasCraft

New Year Calendar Making Workshop for Parents and Children https://rebrand.ly/CalendarMaking

Fabulous Family Food Workshop for Parents https://rebrand.ly/FabulousFood

KIDS PASS

Please click on the link below to enjoy a 1 month free kids pass.

TEAPOT TIME

Due to the new national restrictions in place, Teapot time will be cancelled until these restrictions are lifted. We will notify you in due course of the next meeting.

MASS

Father Lamb will be saying a virtual Mass for the whole school from Church on Wednesday 18th November at 9.30 am. Please join us for Mass by accessing the live stream on the Parish website http://www.stambrosekidderminster.org.uk/

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.

Kind regards,

Mrs Brocklesby.

Emmaus CMAC
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School Ofsted
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