1

Welcome to the October 2019 edition of the Roebuck Academy Newsletter. HEADTEACHER COMMENTS

Dear Parents and Carers, It has been a great month at Roebuck Academy and the teaching staff are highly impressed with how well all classes have settled down to their learning as well as showing positive growth mindset attitudes. There has been a wide range of activities on offer through the curriculum, of which some are featured in our newsletter this month. There are also many Fantastic Finish dates this term with Years 1 to 3 sharing their learning with parents and carers this week! Please save the dates! School is about learning and as a school we are always seeking to find new ways to improve our curriculum. This term we have launched Monster Phonics across EYFS, KS1 and Lower Key Stage 2 and already met with lots of parents to speak to you all about the ways in which you can support both reading and phonics at home. Thank you so much for attending and showing such interest in the work your child does at school. Last week all of the children were introduced to our new PSHE scheme, Jigsaw. We began an introduction into the new scheme by singing ‘Together’ in assembly. We were reminded in the assembly of the importance and meaning of working together; being united as one team. We will be delivering Jigsaw sessions during lesson time and in assemblies to ensure our children are able to look after their personal, social and emotional health as they grow throughout the school as well as into adulthood. Kind regards Lynsey Young

2

YEAR ONE WOW STARTER...CAMPING OUT!

Our Geography Topic this term has all been about Camping out! Last week we all went to our school campsite in Creature Corner and learnt all about how to light a fire safely. The

children were given a safety talk about how campers might prepare to build a fire, the equipment they would need to help them do this and they were then shown how to light one. Children then had the opportunity to visit a Campervan, cook marshmallows on the

fire and enjoy some yummy hot chocolate made by Mr. Steedman.

YEAR TWO WOW STARTER…BEING A KNIGHT!

Year 2 had a thrilling WOW starter to their learning in history this term. They started the term learning all about how to be Knight!

The children participated in an active workshop where they learned all about how to move in fencing as well as mastering basic attack and defence movements to fight off their opponent. The children were then given specialist fencing 'foils' to compete in

'assaults' against their opponents.

In addition to learning the main rules of fencing, the children were exposed to a wealth of new language such as 'En-Garde', 'Allez' and 'Hilt'. This will hopefully aid the children in their upcoming writing journey which is an Explanation text all about, ‘Being a Knight!’

3

YEAR 3 WOW STARTER…CELTIC HARMONY!

An exciting WOW was had as a launch to our History and Geography work in class. We all went to Celtic Harmony which is an Iron Age settlement not too far away from Stevenage.

We were completely mesmerised and immersed in the day and had a real opportunity to

visualise what life was really like in the Iron Age. We had lots of fun investigating and exploring the settlement but at the same time we were learning all about the past, this

period in history and the differences between now and then.

We can’t wait to keep learning about the Stone Age because of our visit to the settlement. It was very helpful being able to visualise what life was actually like first-hand!

YEAR 5 WOW STARTER…ANGRY ANGLES!

Earlier in the term, Year 5 had a surprise visitor! Emperor Honorius entered the classroom and explained why the Romans were unable to help protect Britain against the Picts and Scots. The children got a chance to explore what the Romans had done for Britain as well as think about how the people of Britain might have felt when the Romans retreated back to Rome. This launched our Angry Angles and Smashing Saxons topic and the children are

looking forward to finding out more about what happened next...

4

YEAR 6 WOW STARTER…CRUCIAL CREW &

COASTLINES!

Our delightful trip to Crucial Crew at Bowes Lyon was quite the adventure and very informative. We learnt about the safety of railway tracks and power lines. We learnt how to treat someone in an unconscious state, tell people about our feelings and learned the

importance of safety hazards.

Our Literacy topic is based on a book about a girl who is stranded on an island but manages to escape, survive and find her parents. We have written a recount from the main character’s mum or dad’s point of view as well as a diary entry from her point of

view using information from the text. Recently we have used weather personification to summarise Zoe’s parents’ emotions.

For our topic hook, we conducted two exciting investigations. For the first, we placed

three different materials into plastic plant pots: soil, soil and dry leaves and a basil plant. When we poured water into each of them, we found out that when we poured water

through the first pot, containing just soil, it came out murky. When the water was poured through the second pot, containing soil and dried leaves, the water came out a bit cleaner. On the final pot containing basil plant the water came out relatively clean.

For our second experiment we investigated the power of water by building a sea wall out

of sand and pebbles to mimic the effect of erosion. We then observed our sea wall as water was poured into the tray.

5

DATES FOR THE DIARY… Year Two Fantastic Finish: 2nd October

Year Three Fantastic Finish: 3rd October

Year Six Kingswood and Sats meeting: Wednesday 2nd October

Parent’s Evening: 24 October 1:45pm - 7:30pm

Autumn Parents’ Evening 2019 went live for bookings on Roebuck’s ‘Parents Evening

System’ on Monday 30th September at 5pm. An email was sent from Roebuck to alert all parents and carers.

Please ensure that you log on as soon as possible to secure a time that you would prefer. We do ask that you try your best to attend as your child’s class teacher will be able to provide you with an update on progress. If you are unable to make the allocated time, please speak to your child’s class teacher who will provide you with an additional time slot. https://roebuck.parentseveningsystem.co.uk/

MOVING TO PAPERLESS As part of our mission to go ‘paperless’ we will no longer be sending out paper copies of letters, leaflets or posters from the school. Please ensure that if you haven’t done so already, that you provide the office with an email address in which to send all correspondence from the school. Thank you

NURSERY & RECEPTION 2020/2021 TOURS. Is your child is due to start Nursery or Reception class in September 2020? If so, we shall

be offering guided tours of the school including our early years setting all the way throughout the Autumn and Spring Academic Terms. Ensure you note dates which are included at the end of this newsletter as well as being placed on the school website.

6

HARVEST FESTIVAL Our Harvest Festival Assembly is fast approaching (Monday 7th October) and we are requesting donations to support Vineyard Foodshed which helps to support many local people in crisis. This year the food bank is requesting particular items such as: - Toiletries such as shampoo and shower gel, washing up liquid, washing powder, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tinned soup, pasta and pasta sauce, coffee, UHT milk, baby food, tins of tuna etc. All donations will be gratefully received. This year, the class that contributes the most items will be awarded an extra playtime on the pirate ship! The Deadline for

donations is Monday 7th October. Food items can be brought in before then and passed to your child’s class teacher. There is also a collection basket inside the main entrance area where donations can be placed. Thank you in advance for your generosity. The Foodbank is used by many families in our local community. Please send all donations into school with your child, so they can be taken and donated in time.

DROPPING OFF AND COLLECTING CHILDREN All children must be accompanied by an adult and dropped off safely into their classroom in the morning unless the children are in Years 5 or 6 and parental permission has been given for them to come to school alone. Please do not drop children off at the school gates by themselves. The same rules also apply when collecting children at the end of the school day. Please ensure that adults collect children from Year Reception to Year Four. This may be something new to you but I can assure you that this is necessary in keeping your children safe.

PACKED LUNCHES All packed lunch boxes need to be clearly labelled with the name of your child and their class. If your child has a packed lunch, please provide them with a healthy lunch. I would like to remind families that as a school we have Healthy School status. Therefore sweets, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks are not allowed in lunches. A reminder that we do encourage your child to eat as much of their lunch as possible and bring home what they have not eaten. This is so that parents and carers have a good idea about what has been eaten and what has not. This is important in keeping all of our children healthy.

7

RSA MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING Many thanks to all of our parents, carers, teaching staff and children who helped raise money for Macmillan. A great amount of £399.20 was raised and will be donated to Macmillan. Thank you for your generosity.

Winning Entries Family : Minnett Watkins Staff: Mrs Thomas Nursery: Daisy Dervish

Reception: Mason Eastwood

Year 1: Erik Pataky Year 2: Chung Diep

Year 3: Isabel Hollick Year 4: Aniya Thakker Year 5: Jamie Higgs Year 6: Jessie Bawden

8

ATTENDANCE MATTERS AT ROEBUCK

Children have 13 weeks annual holiday from school and school holiday dates are published in advance. As such, all parents/carers are expected wherever possible to plan and take their family holidays at this time so as not to disrupt their children’s education.

Education law states that parents do not have a right to take their child out of school for a

holiday during term time. Only in exceptional circumstances may a head teacher grant permission for leave.

Many parents and carers think it is okay to go on holiday during term time, but being

absent from school can have a negative impact on a child's learning and ability to achieve.

If your child goes on holiday during term time, they are absent:

10 days absence = 95% attendance 19 days absence = 90% attendance 29 days absence = 85% attendance 38 days absence = 80% attendance 47 days absence = 75% attendance

HOMEWORK Please look at the front of your child’s homework book for the Roebuck School and

Homework contract. This page outlines how school and parents can work together to support children reaching their full potential. Please discuss this with your child and sign

to say that you have read it. Homework will always be purposeful to help consolidate children’s understanding of the work that they have completed in class which will help

them to become independent learners. Remember that we are always here to help. Please help us by ensuring you reinforce the importance of children completing their

homework on time each week and to take pride in the work that they do. This includes presenting their work in the very best way possible.

If you are unclear about the expectations for homework, please see the link to the school policy below. If you are still unsure or would like additional support please speak to your child’s class teacher who will be happy to help and support.

https://www.roebuck.herts.sch.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=5211&type=pdf

9

YEAR SIX SECONDARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS Open evenings have been taking place over the past few weeks at Stevenage Secondary schools. Year 6 parents can now apply on-line at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions for their child’s Secondary School. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31st October. Please contact the school office if you need help with your application, or do not have a computer. https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/school-

admissions/secondary-and-upper-schools/secondary-and-upper-school-places.aspx

E-SAFETY Please spend some time looking at the Autumn term e-safety flyer produced by Herts for Learning as it provides you with information about e-safety and current issues with children’s use of ICT at home and school. A copy of this can be found on the school website. When the children take part in ICT sessions at school they are encouraged to stay safe online and ensure that they are not doing anything that could make them vulnerable or put themselves at risk.

http://www.roebuck.herts.sch.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=5213&type=pdf

SCHOOL UNIFORM REMINDER A reminder that full school uniform is needed every day. This includes all black school

shoes or trainers (No logos) and black, grey or white school socks. PE kits are also compulsory so please ensure that your child/ren is ready for school every day.

WEATHER REMINDER As the weather is now getting wetter and colder, please ensure all children bring a coat to

school and navy jogging bottoms for outdoor PE. Thank you.

10

OPEN DOOR POLICY Please remember that here at Roebuck Academy we operate an ‘Open-Door Policy’. If parents or carers have any concerns, worries or a positive comment to discuss with a teacher, please make an appointment after school to speak to your child’s class teacher. Mornings are always busy times for teaching staff. The end of the school day is more convenient to meet as we have the time and space in which to give your concerns or suggestions the time that they really need. We can also provide you with the confidentiality in which issues deserve. Please bear this in mind when dropping off children in the morning. If you are unable to speak to your child’s class teacher or feel an issue is more important you can then request to speak to your child’s key stage leader. These are: EYFS – Mrs Prosser, KS1 – Mrs Herbaut, KS2 – Miss Smith. This is in accordance to our behaviour policy and code of conduct for parents and carers. Please make all requests for appointments through the school office. The school office team will then try their best to secure an appointment within three school days.

YEAR RECEPTION, YEAR 1 AND 2

PHONICS MEETING… Thank you to the many parents and carers who attended our Reading and Phonics evenings this month. We were so pleased with the response and level of engagement. We hoped these informative sessions supported our families and children with learning at home.

SAFEGUARDING AT ROEBUCK All staff at Roebuck have a responsibility to safeguard children. If you ever have a concern about a child or a member of staff then

please contact one of our designated safeguarding leads: Ms Young, Mr Mari, Mrs Johnson, Mrs Fisher and Mrs McGregor.

Safeguarding posters are located around the school as well as

being placed prominently on classroom doors. We encourage you to also phone 0300 123 4043 if you have a

concern about a child or anyone else outside school. Do not wait or try to pass this on to another agency.

MINDSET MOMENT

11

LET’S CELEBRATE SUCCESS: OUTSIDE ACHIEVEMENTS We would like to continue to celebrate your child’s outside school achievement in school. If you would like your child’s outside achievements celebrated and recognised by the school, please email details, with photos if possible, to our Office staff, Janet, Jade and Vikki on the

admin account at: admin@roebuck.herts.sch.uk. Alternatively, it is always nice to see children’s achievements first-hand. Children are allowed to bring certificate, badges and photographs into school to share with me, the teaching staff and their friends. We would

like to celebrate all achievements, no success is too small.

We shall include all achievements in next Month’s Newsletter.

AUTUMN TERM 2019 October 2019

Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri

30 1 2 3 4 Year 2 fantastic

Finish 2pm

Year 1 fantastic

Finish 2pm

Year 6 Kingswood

and Sats meeting

Dreamcatcher

Year 3 fantastic

Finish 2pm

Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri

7 8 9 10 11 Harvest Assembly-

letter sent re:

Collections for

Vineyard Foodshed

SEND Review

meetings

Dreamcatcher

EYFS Tour

Year 5 Trip to West

Stow

Nursery Stay and

Play

Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri

14 15 16 17 18 Year One Trip to the

Woods - letter to go

home with details

Dreamcatcher

Book Fair Arrives

Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri

21 22 23 24 25 Flu Vaccinations -

letter sent

EYFS Tour Dreamcatcher

Parents consultation

1:45pm - 7:30pm

Book Fair collected

Half-term begins

3:15pm

12