Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Attendance and Punctuality Matter
Tue 18 Oct 2016Each term, the school collates information about absenteeism and punctuality. Should the information raise concerns about your child, you may be called to an interview with the Headteacher and Pastoral Manager.
Good punctuality and attendance are a key factor to success at school, and I therefore draw your attention to the link below.
The school attendance records have improved for 3 consecutive years, and we are now at 94.98% (Summer 2016) , just short of the Government benchmark of 95%.
Attendance and punctuality really do matter - do not place barriers to learning in front of your child by allowing them to miss unnecessary days at school, or arrive late at the start of the school day.
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We're launching our Forest School programme!
Fri 14 Oct 2016At Ashgate Primary School, we are developing a Forest School Programme which will be launched in the Autumn Term. We will be selecting our first group of participants (groups of 5 or 6 will take part during the initial set up).
Forest School is an outdoors approach to education, where children are encouraged to develop a variety of skills and build up their self-confidence and enjoy learning beyond the classroom. This is a great opportunity for children to learn more about the natural outdoor world and develop their learning in a new and exciting way.
The types of activities that children will be taking part in will include; den building, tool use, nature trails, knot tying, pair/ group games, camp fires, and making lot's of things out of natural resources.
Pupils involved in Forest School will take part in 1 ½ hour sessions on either a Wednesday or Thursday afternoon, beginning the first week after half term, and continuing up to the end of the Autumn term. Activities will be undertaken on the school premises, unless otherwise stated.
If you receive a letter inviting your child to take part in our first groups, please ensure that the return slip is completed as soon as possible, so that places can be confirmed be offered to other children, should you not want your child to take part.
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Update on Accelerated Reader Success
Fri 14 Oct 2016Accelerated Reader - Success, as we drive home the value and importance of reading for information and for pleasure.
This week, 93% of the pupils in Key Stage 2 (Junior) completed the Accelerated Reader tests, following on from reading a school library book.
The outcome has been phenomenal in that the success rate in the tests has now reached 80% accuracy. A wonderful achievement of 16% improvement in only half a term.
In addition, since the launch of the programme this term, at total of:
- 1011 books
- 5,438,660 words
have been read, with one pupil reading 390,618 words since the launch of Accelerated Reader. Many more are well within the 200,000 word range.
Who will be our first Reading Millionaire?
Many thanks to all the parents and carers for supporting this programme.
For more information about Accelerated Reader and how it works, visit: Key Information>Curriculum>Accelerated Reader.
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Parent Council
Fri 14 Oct 2016Many thanks to the parents attending yesterday's Parent Council Meeting.
The minutes of this meeting are available under the Parent Council page. Click - About us> Parent Council (Minutes are included as a 'PDF' document).
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Embracing Conkers
Wed 12 Oct 2016Conkers
Some children have asked if conkers can be played at school. The answer to this is, ‘yes’, as long as they don’t beat me too many times. I am a poor loser!
Despite what you may have read about other schools over the years, common sense prevails in my school and there is no ‘ban’ on conkers. Children who have been deprived of conkers have been deprived of childhood!
How is it possible to expect children to learn to play nicely, take turns, lose graciously, win honourably and follow rules, if we do not give them the opportunities to do so? We learn by doing, not sidestepping and avoiding.
The following guidance is given and should be observed:
- Keep it clean, play fair – at the end of the day, it’s only a seed on a piece of string.
- Conkers seen out of bags/pockets or draws, whilst in class, will be confiscated. Lessons are for lessons. Listen to your teachers; they know what they are talking about.
- Teachers will not spend time settling conker disputes. It’s not in the job description and I’ve given them enough to do.
- No sulking or stropping if you lose…that goes for all the staff too.
- Take responsibility for your own conkers – the teachers will not look after them for you.
- No falling out over whose conker is whose – it’s red and on a piece of string; so is theirs. We don’t do conker DNA testing or finger prints. If there’s an argument, they become my conkers.
- No swapsies, double swapsies or swap backs. In other words, keep your own conkers, don’t swap and then moan because someone won’t give it back. (I’m not bitter about my swap with Wayne Kenyon in 1977, honest!)
- No stampsies or stompers. This means, if it falls on the floor, don’t stamp on it or squash it; that’s not cricket (or conkers).
- Conkers are for playing conkers. Remember that conkers on strings should not be used as a twirling baton, a ninja armament or anything other than what it is.
- Don’t collect conkers from the school car park. Cars and children do not mix. I will collect conkers from the car park for you and hand them out if you don’t have any. I only charge a smile and a thank you.
Teachers are kind and caring people who only become grumpy when rules are broken. Follow the guidelines and no one will take your prized conker from you.
So, parents and carers, please encourage the children to find some conkers, bake them, soak them in vinegar, rub them four times clockwise and then 8 anticlockwise, do whatever your favourite strategy or placebo ritual is, and get ready to do battle. - ‘Audentis fortuna iuvat’
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'Cyber Safety' - Assembly
Mon 10 Oct 2016Cyber Safety’
We are aware that many children have access to a range of electronic devices that have Internet connectivity. It is more than likely that after the Christmas period even more children are now 'online' gaming, texting, Skyping and a host of other activities that expose them to the potential dangers of the Internet.
With this in mind, children have today received a ‘Cyber Safety’ assembly, explaining to them the potential dangers of using electronic devices to communicate. It has been important to emphasise to the children the real risk, but at the same time assure them that taking simple actions can reduce their vulnerability.
If you are considering your child having access to a mobile phone, Internet access, social network membership, gaming accounts or similar, you may want to visit the website 'Think U Know' which is listed below, to support and guide you. I have also published on the school website (Useful Information) a copy of the presentation slides from today’s assembly and it may be useful for you to ask your child to explain what was discussed.
The world children live in today is high tech, fast moving and exciting but it is important to ensure that they are well prepared and have an awareness of how to interact with it safely. We hope that our work today, and your support at home, secures their safety.
Visit:
www.thinkuknow.co.uk/Parentsold
for further support and guidance and/or visit the school's 'Key Information' to view materials used in school.
