Newsletter No: 19 3rd February 2017

St Germans Primary School

Federated with Magdalen Village School and Wimbotsham & Stow Community School

School Contact Details: Telephone (01553) 617246 Email: office@st-germans.norfolk.sch.uk Address: St Germans Primary School, School Lane, St Germans, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. PE34 3DZ

Website: www.st-germans.norfolk.sch.uk

A message from the Executive Headteacher,

Dear Parents,

We have had a busy week with all our schools receiving visits from a 'Challenge Partner'. The purpose of this visit is to check on the work of our schools against Ofsted criteria, a kind of Annual Health Check. Despite some challenging staffing issues during the Autumn term I am pleased to inform you that his view of our schools is that they are securely 'good' with several aspects as 'Outstanding'.

‘Primary Writing Project’ I am thrilled to inform you that we have been successful in our bid to host a Norfolk hub of this National project aimed at raising standards in children's English. Led by the renowned innovator, Pie Corbett, all our classroom staff will undertake intensive training. The project focuses on developing children’s writing through motivating and inspiring approaches, underpinned with rigorous teaching of spelling and grammar. Running over 2 years, there is an initial training day taking place on Friday 9th June 2017. This means that our schools will have an additional training closure day on this date. I apologise for the inconvenience this may cause families.

Maths Calculations - Parents Open Evening - Wed 15th March, 6-7 pm. Have you ever thought that your children's learning in Maths is different from the way you were taught? Then please come along to our open evening. On Wednesday 15th March we will be inviting you to bring your children back to school for an hour to demonstrate the methods they are learning. Staff will be available to explain how these methods build up to the more familiar calculations you are used to. You will pick up hints and tips on how you can support your child with their progress in Maths. Please put the date in your diary and we will send out more information nearer the time.

Have a good week Alison Hughes

Weekly Merit Certificates

Gloworms: Oliver & Harriet Fireflies: James & Emily Dragonflies: Milo & Joshua C Ladybirds: Sage & Hazel

Weekly Attendance Award: Dragonflies 98.5%

Next Week… BLUE WEEK for Pupil Progress Meetings Fri – Break up for Half Term

Cross Country Congratulations to all our cross country competitors who attended the SSP Cross Country finals on Friday 27th January. There were over 50 competitors in each race ensuring that well over 400 students from Years 3 to 6 took part on a bitterly cold morning. Although no one went through to the next round this year (Jude just missing out by coming 11th) Mr Dowers was extremely impressed with how well you ran when he made his surprise visit to the event. Finally Thank you to Mrs Clarke for putting on the 4 extra practise sessions after school.

St Germans Ladies Group The St Germans Ladies Group have arranged for St Johns Ambulance to attend and talk to them about emergency first aid which they will also be demonstrating. They are opening this meeting out to the village and surrounding area, so if you wish to brush up on your first aid please go along. It is taking place on Saturday 28th February at 7.30 pm in the Memorial hall, £2.50 entrance fee which covers refreshments too. It is for everyone not just old people!

Outstanding Monies Please could all outstanding debts be paid by Wednesday 25th 8th February. If you have any queries please contact the office. Thank you.

Board of Excellence Every fortnight the class teachers select pieces of work which showcase a child’s achievements in a particular aspect of their learning. This work is celebrated in a special assembly and then put up on our Board of Excellence. This week the following children’s work has been displayed: Olivia O, Kian, Isabella, Brandan, Gracie, Mathew & Kayleigh. Please come in to school to have a Look at our Board of Excellence.

Pupil Progress Meetings Tuesday ~ Dragonflies Wednesday ~ Fireflies Monday ~ Gloworms Thursday ~ Ladybirds

Afterschool Clubs The new afterschool club booklet came out today. Please remember there are no Afterschool clubs for the week 27th to 31st March, if you need childcare for this week please fill out a form from the school office. Thank you

Sainsburys Vouchers We are collecting the Sainsburys Active Kids vouchers again this year. Please bring them along to the collection box near the Office. Thank you.

Thank You to B & Q We would like to say a big Thank you to B & Q who have donated various fixtures and fittings for the new musical area in the Nature Garden.

Attendance Did you know that we are at school for only 190 days out of the 365 in a year? That leaves 175 days to book holidays, go the dentist or see friends and family. Each day at school matters as we learn something new every day, a missed day means missed learning and therefore something your child will have to catch up on. Please try and support your child’s learning by keeping their attendance at a high level – it’s really important. Thank you for helping us with this.

Dragonflies Swimming Please remember that Dragonflies will be swimming every Tuesday next half term at Downham Market Swimming Pool and that the coach will be leaving school at 8.55am prompt. The swimming kit consists of trunks/costume, towel and hat in a named bag. If your child needs to wear goggles please send a letter in for the Swimming Instructor. Thank you.

Information in Book Bags Please can we ask that Book Bags are checked daily as information/letters and leaflets are sent home frequently, these can often require parental consent by an allocated deadline. Please ensure your child has a book bag of some kind to bring to school each day, this can be a bag of their choice or a school book bag. Children will then be able to safely manage all their reading /communication books and any letters to parents to and from school.

Bridges Federation Website Please remember our website is up and running, the address is; www.bridgesfederation.co.uk once on the website select St Germans Primary School tab for lots of information on what is happening at school including the weekly class blogs.

Shoebox Request from Fireflies The Fireflies class need empty shoeboxes for a project they are working on starting next week and carrying over to next half term. If you have any, please bring them to the school office. Thank you.

Diary Dates:

January 2017

Ladybirds Swimming this half term – starting Tues 10th January

February Fri 10th ~ Break up for Half Term

Mon 20th ~ Back to School Dragonflies Swimming this half term ~ starting Tues 21st February

Tues 21st ~ Year 6 SATs Booster Session Start (9 Weeks) Mon 20th to Fri 24th ~ Mother’s Day Lunch

Wed 22nd ~ Federation Football Match at Hillcrest Mon 27th ~ Active Kids Festival 2

March Wed 1st ~ Federation Football Match at Wimbotsham

Thurs 2nd ~ World Book Day Wed 8th ~ Federation Football Match at Upwell

Mon 13th – Fri 17th ~ Science Week Wed 15th ~ Federation Football Match at Shouldham

Thurs 16th ~ Omnes Games ~ Volleyball Wed 22nd ~ Federation Football Match at Denver

Thurs 23rd ~ GR8asUR Funday Fri 24th ~ Red Nose Day

Fri 31st ~ Break up for Easter Holidays

April Mon 17th ~ Bank Holiday ~ School Closed

Tues ~ 18th Back to School Wed 26th ~ Crucial Crew Event for Year 6 ~ TBC

Sun 30th ~ Bespack Mini Gear Run

May Mon 1st ~ May Bank Holiday ~ School Closed

Fri 12th ~ Writing Workshop for Ladybirds Thurs 18th ~ Omnes Games ~ New Age Curling Thurs 18th ~ Maths Mastermind Event at KLA

Fri 26th ~ Break up for Half Term

June

Mon 5th ~ Back to School Wed 7th ~ Year 6 Leavers Trip to London

Fri 9th ~ INSET DAY ~ School Closed

Children’s Activities and Services in West Norfolk

February Half term 2017

Family Information Services: Can provide information on childcare and out of school activities plus a range

of other services and information for families: Family Information Service - Norfolk County Council

Norfolk Directory: Provides a way to search for information on local services Norfolk Directory

Norfolk County Council website links to short and long walks on Norfolk Trails

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/out-and-about-in-norfolk/norfolk-trails/activities-and-events-on-the-norfolk-

trails including information on Gaywood River Valley walks with Eli the Elf Gaywood-valley-activities Kings

Lynn Maritime Activities, Reffley Wood Activity Trail , Bawsey Ruins and Roydon Common.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Activities or events for children and young people in Norfolk

with SEND are listed on Things to do on the Local offer.

Norfolk Libraries: A range of activities, services and reading challenges for all ages can be found at your

local library:

www.library.norfolk.gov.uk

http://twitter.com/NorfolkLibs

http://www.facebook.com/LynnLibraries

http://www.facebook.com/NorfolkLibrariesUK

Kings Lynn Museum

The Pentney Brooches Display, Showing until - Sat 25 Feb, Special display of Anglo Saxon treasure on loan from the British Museum. Super Saxons Trail, Sat 11 - Sat 18 Feb, Take our Saxon challenge and win a small prize. Free admission Smashing Saxons! Tues 14 Feb, 10.30am - 1pm, meet costumed characters, handle real Anglo-Saxon artefacts and try Saxon-style crafts. FREE

For more information contact Norfolk Museums Service - Lynn Museum

ASD Helping Hands – services for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders http://asdhelpinghands.org.uk/

Autism Anglia offers a range of service for people with autism: http://www.autism-anglia.org.uk/

Alive Leisure – Offer a range of activities and sessions including Pool parties, holiday and breakfast clubs, tennis camps and much more running from LYNNSPORT & ST JAMES POOL, DOWNHAM LEISURE and OASIS. Please see the brochure attached to this e-mail or follow the link to Holiday Activities | Alive Leisure Limited spaces are available and booking is advised: http://www.aliveleisure.co.uk/

Active Norfolk provides a range of information about activities and groups in Norfolk and also can give information on opportunities for volunteering - http://www.activenorfolk.org/ the Active Youth page gives links to holiday activities and satellite clubs Active Norfolk - Active Youth

Gressenhall Project for LAC Gressenhall will be delivering an exciting art-based project for Looked After young people aged 16-18 in half term this February. The stories from the Workhouse (both good and bad) will be used as inspiration, as well as giving the young people involved a chance to think about their own transitions to independent living. Gressenhall would really like to work with looked after children who are living in residential units but those in foster care would be welcome too. For more information about the event please contact Jan Pitman via email jan.pitman@norfolk.gov or telephone 01362 869260

Primary times – Information and activities for families and children http://www.primarytimes.net/norfolk/

Swan Project (Downham Market youth provision) http://www.theswancentre.org.uk/

Premier sports - https://sport.premier-education.com/courses-and-clubs/holiday-courses-and-clubs

Mr Bees Family centre King’s Lynn: http://www.mrbeesfscentre.co.uk/

St Nicholas Chapel have a series of events over Spring

Half Term Activities

14th, 16th- 18th Feb 11am-3pm

FREE Explore the Chapel with family friendly trails and ‘Spot the Elephant’ competition. Suitable for all ages

Mother’s Day Crafts

25th March 11am-2pm

FREE Make a beautiful bead angel charm or Mother’s Day Card. Beads not suitable for younger chil-dren

Easter Crafts

4th April 11am – 2pm

FREE Have a go at some Easter inspire arts and crafts. Activities for all ages

Easter Hunt

8th 11th-15th April 10:30- 4pm

£1 per trail

Find the Easter eggs hidden around the Chapel and get a prize! Suitable for all ages

Storytelling Morning

11th April 10:30 – 12pm

FREE Follow our experienced storyteller into a world of fun and inspiring tales. Suitable for all ages

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times

Further information visit http://www.stnicholaskingslynn.org.uk/Default.aspx

Phone 01553 774471 St Nicholas Chapel, St Ann’s Street Kings Lynn PE 30 1NH

Children’s Centre links:

Hunstanton: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/in-your-area/services/childrens-centres/hunstanton-childrens-centre/

Vancouver: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/in-your-area/services/childrens-centres/vancouver-childrens-centre/

North Lynn, Gaywood North Bank and the Wootton: http://surestartnorfolk.co.uk/west.htm

Methwold: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/in-your-area/services/methwold-childrens-centre/

Nar and St Clement: http://www.narscc.co.uk/

West Walton: https://www.westwaltonchildrenscentre.org/

Emneth: http://www.emneth-nur.norfolk.sch.uk/topic/childrens-centre

Downham Market: Website not currently available

Swaffham: Website not currently available