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Head of School Update - Friday 20th November 2020

Fri 20 Nov 2020

Welcome to this week's Weekly Update!

It has been lovely to see so many 'odd socks' today. As part of this year's Anti-Bullying Week' theme - 'United Against Bullying', children have been learning about our unique and individual differences and to celebrate this individuality. Across the week, children have been taking part in a range of activities - I was treated to a fantastic anti-bullying rap from all the pupils in Year 5 Kipchoge Class - a great way to bring the whole class together!

Pupils are really enjoying this term's learning journeys. In Year 1, some incredible dinosaurs evolved. Children worked together in groups to create the superb models that appear in this week's photographs. I'm sure you will agree that they are brilliant!

Thank you to those parents in Reception and Key Stage 1 who spoke to their child's class teacher during this week's telephone consultations. I appreciate this was very different from our usual setup and I am grateful for your support and patience - I hope you found the opportunity to talk with your child's class teacher, a useful one, and I hope we will be able to welcome you in to school with our next set of meetings in the Spring. Meetings for parents of pupils in Key Stage 2 will be taking place next week.

Well done to all of this week's winners from today's virtual assembly. The 'Stars of the Week' for this week are:

Reception - Flynn-Jack J.

Year 1 - Kamali M. and Oscar G.

Year 2 - Joe E. and Teddie B-S.

Year 3 - Oliver J. and Khloe K.

Year 4 - Cherry B. and Jaydon H.

Year 5 - Tia S. and Sebastian M-C.

Year 6 - Roshan K. and Daniel N.

Thank you to all of our parents and carers for your continued support of the school - it is really appreciated!

I look forward to seeing all of the pupils on Monday. Have a great weekend and continue to stay safe and look after each other during these unprecedented times!

Mr Laker

Head of School

Head of School Update - Friday 13th November 2020

Fri 13 Nov 2020

Welcome to this week's Weekly Update!

On Wednesday, we paid our respects to all of those who have served, and lost their lives during the wars. Armistice Day on the 11th November, marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918. During the day, we observed a two-minute silence. Each class created a piece of poetry and artwork to commemorate this special event.

Well done to all of our 'Stars of the Week'. This week's winners are:

Sienna C. in Reception

Vinnie H-W. and Maya P. in Year 1

Kate W. and Asia P. in Year 2

Lano A. and Bethany V. in Year 3

Aliyah J. and Amelia D. in Year 4

Anny B. and Lexi H. in Year 5

Alfie S. and Oscar M-C in Year 6

Staff have been working hard during the INSET Day today, with some fantastic training on phonics and early reading. All of the staff were excited and looking forward to launching the new approach in classes across the coming weeks.

We are looking forward to talking with you during the upcoming Parents Evening consultations - these are taking place via telephone this term. It's not too late to make an appointment to talk with your child's class teacher and is a good opportunity to discuss how well your child has settled.

And finally, this week we said 'Goodbye' to Mrs Devine and Mrs Agrela, who are leaving to take on new adventures and challenges. Mrs Devine is taking on a new teacher training role, at a teaching school in Hastings, whilst Mrs Agrela has been appointed as Examinations Officer in a school in Eastbourne. I am sure you will join me in wishing them all the best with their future careers!

Enjoy the weekend. I look forward to seeing all of the pupils on Monday!

Best wishes,

Mr Laker

Haed of School

Head of School Update - Friday 6th November 2020

Fri 06 Nov 2020

Welcome to Term 2 and this week's weekly update!

I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable half term break. We are very much looking forward to the term ahead here at Oakwood. It was lovely to welcome the children back to school on Monday, clearly ready and looking forward to the day and week ahead.

Pupils have been excited to find out about their latest learning journeys. As always, the topic titles are engaging and exciting and we are looking forward to helping children learn as much as they can. This term's topics are...

Reception - Do you want to be friends?

Year 1 - Dinosaur Planet

Year 2 - Magnificent Monarchs

Year 3 - Through the Ages

Year 4 - Burps, Bottoms and Bile

Year 5 - Stargazers

Year 6 - Darwin's Delights

We've had all weathers this week! Pupils in Reception made the most of the gusty conditions with a 'Wind Walk' earlier on in the week, as you can see in this week's featured image.

On Tuesday, we had a visit from two Ofsted inspectors. They were here for the day and spent this time talking to myself and other leaders about school-life during the Covid-19 pandemic, thinking back to our partial closure in March, our re-opening to some pupils in June and how we have prepared for the start of the new school year for all pupils. The day felt very positive and was a useful opportunity to show all of the things we have so far done and how school is managed in a different way. The Ofsted inspectors will write a summary letter about their visit to Oakwood and I look forward to sharing this with you soon.

I hope you have been able to see this week's bulletin. This has information about key events, including our Parents' Evenings which, this term, will be held as telephone consultations. A letter has been sent with further details about how to make a booking to talk with your child's class teacher about their start to the school year.

Just a reminder that the school is closed to pupils on Friday (13th). This is because of an INSET Day.

Have a great weekend!

Mr Laker
Head of School