Another week has passed and we continue to adapt to our new school routines. As previously expressed, thank you for your support and cooperation for drop-off and collection arrangements. The systems are working well and it is wonderful seeing the younger children already growing in their independence, entering the school gate and walking (sometimes running!) to their classrooms, eager for their next day of learning.

We are delighted that Aston's quote (our former pupil) was selected to be on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales' social media accounts this week.

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

Thank you to everyone for your feedback at Teapot time, it is a great way for us to learn and grow.

1. There will now be a non-uniform Day on 7th October. Children will be encouraged to wear their own clothes in exchange for a bottle (alcohol, pop, sauce, bubble bath etc) that will be donated to the Church Christmas Bazaar.

2. Your child's Go Read APP login can be used by parents, grandparents and any other adults who support.

3. The Spooky Bake Off will be held on Tuesday 19th October

4. Reception parents are now set up on School Life-sorry for the delay, this again was due to technical issues beyond our control. Thank you for your patience.

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!

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

I was delighted to hear yesterday that our grant application to Wyre Forest District Council for an outdoor gym has been successful. The aim is to install the outdoor gym in the snug play area near the main school gates. Thank you to the tea pot time group for your input with the design.

If you are struggling to arrive during the time slots please email Mrs Brocklesby or speak to the school office and we will arrange a member of staff to meet you at the gate.

This week I was so pleased that Year 5 were able to attend Mass in Church.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.

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:

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.

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):

Year 6 have been invited to a MAC Sports Afternoon at Hagley High School on Wednesday 29^th September. It will run as a ‘come and play’ event where all students are actively involved. For this event they will need to wear their school PE kit with sports trainers, and they will need to bring a refillable water bottle with them.

Year 6 have also 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 6^th 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.

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

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.

Thank you to the parishioners who organised the Macmillan Coffee Morning today. It was great to see so many people attending, we look forward to hearing how much money was raised. 

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.

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!

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 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.

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

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.

We are excited to announce that Miss Crumpler will be running a gardening club for children in Reception class, Year 1 and Year 2. 

The club will start on Tuesday the 21^st September.  

We will have fun learning how to weed, water and grow plants. 

This club is free and it will be every Tuesday lunchtime. 

The consent letter has been handed out to children today in YR, Y1 and Y2.

Thank you to everyone for remembering the car park is not available for use at the start or the end of the day. If you have a car park pass for health reasons please drop off at 9.10 am and collect from the car park after 3.20 pm. Mrs Downs will contact families who currently have a pass and if you would like to apply for one please contact the school office.

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.

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

Kind Regards,

Mrs Brocklesby