Good afternoon,

This week we had an inspection led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). They have an important role to play in helping Great Britain recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of their inspections is to carry out spot checks in schools across England to ensure risks are controlled by school Principal's in line with Public Health England (PHE) and Department for Education (DfE) guidance.

During the visit they focused on:

• Social distancing
• Hygiene and cleaning
• Ventilation
• How the school deals with suspected cases of COVID-19

I am delighted to inform you that the two inspectors were impresssed with all the procedures and changes that we have made to keep our community safe. Thank you again for following our procedures.

Can we please remind you that when entering the school you MUST wear a face covering. Also, can we please ask that from only 1 adult or family bubble enters the school reception area at a time. Thank you for your continued support.

Hate Crime

Year 6 were very lucky on Thursday afternoon to have a zoom meeting with out PCSO Catherine Palmer who talked to them about hate crime and its consequences. They all thoroughly enjoyed the session, asked some challenging questions and had excellent discussions about how we should treat others.

Life Skills

On Tuesday, Year 6 also had the opportunity to learn how to deliver first aid, an essential life skill. In groups, they learnt how to safely deliver CPR, what to do if someone is choking and how to put a casualty into the recovery position. 

Next week, across the school we will be looking at other faiths and teachers have been busy planning lots of interesting lessons for our children. Year 6 will be busy learning about Islam and comparing the similarities and differences between Islam and our faith. Year 4 will be learning all about Judaism and our Reception children will be going on a virtual tour of a local cathedral! We will also be talking about diversity and equality. Equality is about ensuring everybody has an equal opportunity, and is not treated differently or discriminated against because of their characteristics. Diversity is about taking account of the differences between people and groups of people, and placing a positive value on those differences. We will share with you what the children have learnt next week.

Next week St Ambrose children will be taking part in their first life skills session.

Our aim is to develop key life skills, essential for living in the wider world. The children will develop skills and knowledge and become resilient when faced with a challenge! Practical life skills are an essential part of learning to be independent, feeling confident in the community and developing self-esteem. 

Our aim is to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of our pupils, preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. 

This half term the focus is on Independence and Helping around the home.

Reception children will be riding a bike with pedals around a course.

Year One children will be sweeping up using a broom and dustpan and brush.

Year Two children will be hoovering.

Year Three children will be practising to tie their own shoelaces

Year Four children will be learning how to fold clothes neatly.

Year Five children will be sewing.

Year Six children have already completed their first aid training.

Photos to follow next week so watch the space!

After half term Class Catering will resume offering hot dinners to the children at lunchtime. If you haven't already done so please complete and return the menu with your child's lunch choice by no later than Wednesday 21st October. The cost for meals are £2.30 per day unless your child is in receipt of Free School Meals or they are in Reception - Y2 where they qualify for Universal Infant Free School Meals. 

You can access the menu below and we will return on the week 3 rotation. 

Thank you.

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.

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)

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 previously. Today the Year 6 children have received a letter for parents outlining the meeting arrangements. The meeting for parents will be on Wednesday 4th November at 6.30pm at Saint Ambrose Church. The meeting will be led by Father and will include prayers and a talk from Father about how you can prepare your son or daughter. The meeting will be organised following Government guidelines and all adults will be required to wear a face covering. Please note this year there will only be one meeting for parents due to the pandemic.

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.

Children can wear their own clothes to school on Friday 23rd October in return for a £1 donation. The money raised will help TAPP provide the children with Christmas treats and activities. 

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

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.

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.

Please see below some activities for your children over the half term. Your child will also be coming home with the Raring 2 Go booklet that has lots of other ideas, activities for the autumn break.

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 27^th 

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

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.

At the Museum of Carpet, we have been busy putting together a series of fun & free children's offers and activities for October half term.  Please find below some information about what the Museum of Carpet has to offer this October half term.

For one week only, the museum is giving away one free children's ticket with the purchase of every adult or concession ticket.  Alongside the free entry the museum is running a selection of spooky Halloween themed fun and games (all safe and socially distanced). Children can take part in a thrilling (free) trail around the museum, hunting spooky spiders in the galleries, or craft their own devilish decorations with the Museum's first downloadable instruction cards. You can download your (free) cards from the Museum of Carpet website and Facebook Page. If you don't have all the materials you can pick up a craft bag from our gift shop filled with all the items you will need to make your own devilish decorations.

Leave it to the weather to be miserable this half term, not the children!  With so much on offer, children will be begging every adult in the family to them to the Museum of Carpet for free this October half term. 

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.

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 20th October at 9am. 

Father Lamb will be saying Mass in school on Wednesday for our Reception and Year 1 children. 

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.

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.

If you 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.