DATE: Friday 1st October 2021

CAN WE PLEASE REMIND YOU THAT SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED NEXT FRIDAY FOR A TEACHER TRAINING DAY.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

ANIMAL BLESSING

The Season of Creation or Creation Time is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment. The theme for the Season of Creation 2021 is ‘Restoring Our Common Home’. During this season we are asked to join together to celebrate creation and protect our common home through prayer, reflection and action.
To mark the Feast of Saint Francis, Father Lamb will be leading the Animal Blessing on the playground at 2.45pm. If you are able to attend please email me at:

 ebrocklesby@st-ambrose.sch.uk

Due to the rising COVID cases in our area we are asking parents to email to enable us to ensure the Blessing is COVID safe.

STARS OF THE WEEK

Year Group Curriculum Award Discipleship Award
Reception Natan Emilia
Year 1 Jakub Carmen
Year 2 Tommy Violet
Year 3 Jason Ksawery
Year 4 Noah James
Year 5 Emily Sam
Year 6 Katie Filip and Gabriela

MRS B'S BUZZY BEE'S

It was wonderful yesterday to meet this weeks Buzzy Bees who have all been chosen for their fantastic start to the school year.

This week the Buzzy Bees are:

Name Year Group
Julia R
Daria Y1
Alex Y2
Solomon Y3
Jason Y4
Amelia Y5
Gabriela Y6

YEAR 2 SAINTS DAY CELEBRATION

Year 2 had a lovely day today celebrating our class saint, Saint Terese of Lisieux. We came into school wearing our own clothes. After Harvest Mass, Father Lamb came into school to talk to us all about Saint Terese and we learnt so much about her. Violet in Year 2 showed her statue of Saint Terese that she brought in from home. In the afternoon we had a party and we watched a film and enjoyed some tasty snacks. 

RECEPTION AND KS1 BIG LUNCH

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will come home with a letter today with information on the 'Big Lunch' that will be provided for them free of charge on Thursday 7th of October.

Please can we ask that you complete and return the form by Tuesday morning.

Please see a copy of the letter below.

STAFF FUNDRAISER

This weekend, Miss Brewer will be running the London Marathon virtually around Worcester. She is raising money for Alzheimer's Research in memory of her two grandparents. We wish her all the best running the 26.2 miles. If you would like to sponsor her, please use the following link.

Mrs O'Hara and her family are doing a mud run for cancer research. This is a charity that is really close to their hearts. If you can donate and support this worthy cause in any way they would be most grateful.

SPORTS DAY

On Tuesday morning, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 went over to St George's field for their Autumn sports day.

Miss Ballard decided to challenge the children by running four races: sack race, 3-legged race, egg and spoon race, and a bean bag relay.

It was lovely to see all the children try so hard and have so much fun in their races!

SPORTS DAY KEY STAGE TWO

It was unfortunate that the sports day for Key Stage Two was rained off on Tuesday. Due to us now being in October and availability of the sports track at Saint Georges we will not be able to reschedule the event this term. 

TEA POT TIME FEEDBACK

Thank you to everyone for your feedback at Teapot time, it is a great way for us to learn and grow. This week the questions asked were:

1. Can TAPP organise a uniform swap shop?

Yes please send in any old uniform for the swap shop, by 5th November. The Teapot time will sort the uniform on Tuesday 9th November and the uniform will be sold at £1 an item on Tuesday 16th November - in the Parish Hall from 9am. 

2. Is School Life App working for all parents?

We have liaised with School Life and they have confirmed that all parents are now on School Life. Reception parents should have received a welcome and activation letter via email this week. If any reception parents have still not had this then please contact the school office where they will help you on an individual basis.

3.What if a parent is off with Covid - does the child get marked away?

Under new Government guidelines the child is able to attend school as long as they do not have any symptoms-see extract below

Can my kids go to school if I have Covid?

Your kids can still go to school if you or someone in your household has tested positive for Covid-19. This rule applies to children in schools, colleges and nurseries in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Following new regulations across the UK, outlined in NHS guidance on the government website, people under 18 do not have to isolate even if they have been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19.

4. Life Skills, could buttons, shoes laces, tie a tie  - be on a life skills lesson?

Yes the school staff will plan the ideas in the revised life skills days.

5. Will children continue to where kit on PE days next half term?

Yes this has been agreed by the EMMAUS Directors until Christmas. It will then be reviewed.

6. Freeze Pop Friday will finish and Hot Dogs will be sold on Friday 22nd Oct and Friday 5th November after school. Prices will be £1 meat free £1.50

 

TAPP PUMPKIN PICTURE COMPETITION

Your child has come home this afternoon with a picture of a pumpkin. Please can they colour and/or decorate and return to school with their entry fee to be in with a chance of winning a wonderful prize.

UNIFORM SWAP SHOP

Can we please ask that you donate any unwanted, pre-used, clean school uniform for a swap shop that will take place in November. All items will be sold for £1.

We would like to thank the Teapot Time Group for helping to organise and co-ordinate this event.

SUPPORTING THE PARISH

WE ARE HOLDING A NON-UNIFORM DAY ON THURSDAY 7TH OCTOBER AND ARE KINDLY ASKING FOR DONATIONS OF ALCOHOL OR BOTTLES.

The Parish would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who has kindly donated items for Tombola prizes for the Parish Christmas Bazaar!

 

Month Items
October 7th Non-Uniform Day Alcohol or bottles
November Chocolate

MASSES

You are most welcome to join us in church now that Covid restrictions have been lifted. Alternatively you can join using the live-streaming facility. Please note if cases rise in the area we may make the decision to not attend Church and access Mass via the livestream-parents will be informed ASAP.

Date Year Group
6th October Year 4
13th October Year 2 and Year 3
20th October Reception and Year 1
3rd November Year 6
10th November Year 5
17th November Year 4
24th November Year 2 and Year 3
7th December Whole School: St Ambrose Feast Day
17th December Whole School: End of Term

ASSEMBLIES

We are delighted to inform you that we are planning to hold an assembly for every class in the Spring and Summer term. Please see the assembly dates below:

Date Year Group
4th February 2022 Year 1
11th February 2022 Year 3
25th March 2022 Year 4
20th May 2022 Year 5
23rd May 2022 Reception
WC 18th July - Date TBC Year 6 Leavers Graduation Assembly
WC 18th July - Date TBC Year 6 Leavers Play

SPOOKY BAKE OFF

DONATIONS FOR HARVEST

Thank you so much for all the donations, I am so proud of our generosity. This is a great example of our St Ambrose values and community spirit to support local families. The donations will be shared with families in need in our local area.

SCHOOL PLACES AND OPEN DAY

Applications for school places in Worcestershire for September 2022 are now open. 

If you have a child due to start in September or know of someone who may wish to apply to St. Ambrose please tell them to contact me for a visit and tour of our lovely school. Please help us to spread the word about our Open Day on Saturday 16th October 2pm-4pm. Please remember we receive applications from families of all faiths.

PROMOTE OUR SCHOOL

On Tuesday all children will receive an open day flyer and we will be asking them to deliver this flyer to a family/household who have a child who is due to start school in September 2022 (born September 2017-August 2018). On the flyer will be a space for every child to write their first name and class instructing families to bring the flyer along to the Open Day. If the flyer with a child's name on is returned to school on the open day, they will receive a book from school.

 

PARENTS' EVENINGS

Parents' evenings are one of the most important appointments in the school calendar, allowing  teachers and parents to work together to increase pupils results. Last year parents' appointments were all virtual and feedback has identified that some parents prefer a virtual appointment. Dates are as follows and appointments can now be booked (sorry for the delay this was due to technical issues beyond our control):

Monday 11th October - 3.30-6.30pm

Year Group Delivery
Reception Virtual
Year 1 In School
Year 2 Virtual
Year 3 In School
Year 4 Virtual
Year 5 In School
Year 6 Virtual

Monday 18th October - 3.30-6.30pm

Year Group Delivery
Reception In School
Year 1 Virtual
Year 2 In School
Year 3 Virtual
Year 4 In School
Year 5 Virtual
Year 6 In School

YEAR 6 EMMAUS GAMES AFTERNOON

Year 6 were a credit to our school on Wednesday afternoon when they went to Hagley High School to take part in a games afternoon. The sun was shining and they had the opportunity to play football, netball or basketball against 8 other primary schools in our Emmaus MAC. Some pupils also got to have a go at trampolining! It was a fantastic atmosphere seeing everyone come together at our feeder High School and a special well done goes to our football team who came runners up! Well done.

YEAR 6 HAGLEY TASTER SESSION

Year 6 have been invited to a Taster morning at Hagley High School where they will have the opportunity to experience what lessons are like and to find out for themselves what opportunities may be available to them if they were to go there for their Secondary Education. This exciting opportunity will take place on Wednesday 6th October. Children will need to wear their full school uniform on this day and we will be back at school for lunchtime. Please can you ensure that your child arrives at school at 8.35am for us all to be registered and safely on the coach in plenty of time.

HAGLEY OPEN DAY

Please see the flyer below detailing Hagley's upcoming open day.

HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATION 2022

Letters have been sent home with your child regarding their High School application for September 2022. Please ensure that you read the letter carefully and if you require any help then please speak to the school office.

READING AT ST AMBROSE

At St Ambrose, we are passionate about teaching our pupils to become fluent and confident readers who love reading. This year, we will be focussing on reading and will continue to provide lots of opportunities for our children to develop their reading skills.

READING FOR PLEASURE

This year, we are delighted to be working with Sooper Books, who have kindly donated award-winning fairy tables, bedtime stories, fables and poems for kids for you to read and share at home. Please see our reading for pleasure resource under our school tab on our website. More stories will be added throughout the year so please keep checking what's new!

GO READ APP

This week we are launched 'Go Read' at St Ambrose, a digital reading diary to record pupils' reading journeys. Thank you to everyone who trialled the app last term, the feedback from parents, pupils and staff were very positive and we have taken onboard all the feedback provided. This will now replace the paper reading diaries we have used in previous years.

If you already have 'Go Read' then all you need to do is carry on using it. If you are new, then you will find all the details as to how you can download the app on the letter below. Your child should have come home with your log in details and their personal code for you to use, please see a member of staff if you did not receive this. Once accessed, you can then log what pages your child has read and pupils also have the option to log what they have read by themselves (particularly KS2 pupils).

In addition to any books your child is reading from school, Go Read' has the option to add on their own personal books they are reading from home. We would love to see what books your child is interested in reading. Please note that when your child has finished a book, do not click the tab where it says complete book as this is just for teaching staff.

READING EXPECTATIONS

'Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things.'

As a reminder, our reading expectations are for all children to read at least 5 times a week at home. How regularly and how much pupils are reading will continued to be monitored by staff each week on the 'Go Read' app. It is recommended that: children read for at least twenty minutes a day; that they are listened to by an adult and that time is dedicated to discussing what has been read and any new vocabulary discovered. Pupils will also continue to be listened to read each week by members of staff and this will be logged on the app as well.

P.E. DAYS

The Emmaus Directors have agreed that for the Autumn Term that children can wear P.E. Kit on their P.E. days. 

Year Group P.E. Days - Wear P.E. Kit
Reception Wednesday
Year 1 Monday
Year 2 Tuesday and Friday
Year 3 Tuesday and Wednesday
Year 4 Monday and Tuesday
Year 5 Tuesday and Thursday
Year 6 Tuesday

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 trainers
  • Bag to hold pumps, T-shirt and shorts.

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

ST AMBROSE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Father Lamb extends a warm welcome to all families to continue to attend Mass over the summer. Please click on the link below which will take you to the Parish website where you can view newsletters and get information on Mass times.

WEDNESDAY WORD

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

GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONA VIRUS

Kind Regards,

Mrs Brocklesby

Emmaus CMAC
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School Ofsted
A School Life Website
School Life iOS Mobile Application
School Life Android Mobile Application