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Head of School Update - Friday 26th March 2021

Fri 26 Mar 2021

Welcome to this week's Weekly Update!

It's been lovely to see the pupils focused and concentrating, particularly on their writing this week. During my visits to classrooms, pupils have been working hard on their presentation and the fluency of their writing. In our featured images this week, pupils in Reception have been making some incredible art pictures using shells, as part of this term's learning journey, 'Who lives in a rockpool?' Thank you to all of the pupils who have so far brought in a home-learning project. These can be brought in right up until the end of term, next Wednesday.

Well done to all of our award winners this week, who received their certificates in today's 'virtual' Celebration Assembly. This week's 'Stars of the Week' are:

Jude S. in Reception, for excellent topic talk and questioning.

Matilda S. in Y1 Curie, for always trying her best and never giving up.

Harry G. in Y1 Hillary, for always wanting to challenge himself.

Jayson O. in Y2 Brunel, for showing great determination.

Leighton R. in Y2 Farah, for joining in and showing great concentration.

Maisie O. in Y3 Ashe, for trying her best with her presentation.

Sophie J. in Y3 Roddick, for trying her best in all subjects.

Jack S. in Y4 Logie-Baird, for working calmly in class and trying his best.

Leo B. in Y4 Thunberg, for trying hard every day.

Joao G. in Y5 Kipchoge, for making an improvement across all area of the curriculum.

Amelia G. in Y5 Pankhurst, for demonstrating determination in all that she does.

Oscar M-C. in Y6 Parks, for working hard all week.

Enya H. in Y6 Amundsen, for always having an excellent attitude to her work and behaviour.

Congratulations to the eight pupils in Year 4 who were awarded their 'Pen License' - a great achievement for consistently demonstrating pride and excellent presentation across a range of their work. Hopefully, some more children will gain their licenses too.

In the Attendance Challenge for Term 4, Y1 Curie Class picked up the 10 points in Key Stage 1, with 100%. In Key Stage 2, the 10 points went to Y6 Parks class, with an impressive 99%. This means that in Key Stage 1, Y1 Hillary Class lead the way after 2 weeks, with a maximum of 20 points. In the Key Stage 2 Challenge, Y5 Kipchoge Class hold a slender 2 point lead at the top. They have 18 points with Y6 Parks Class in second place with 16 points.

Just a reminder that next Wednesday (31st March) is the last day of Term 4, due to the INSET Day on Thursday 1st April.

Have a good weekend!

Head of School Update - Friday 12th March 2021

Fri 12 Mar 2021

Welcome to this week's 'Weekly Update'!

Firstly, it has been so lovely to welcome all of our pupils back to school to resume their face-to-face teaching. A very warm welcome to all of the children who have joined us for the first time this week! It was amazing to see all of the children on Monday morning, bouncing through the school gates, excited to reunite with their friends and be back in their classrooms. I have been impressed with the incredibly positive attitudes of the children, their determination and tenacity, this week. They have been focused and hard-working and proud to be demonstrating their knowledge. It's been lovely to see.

Across this week, teachers have spent time revisiting our four values, talking about 'knowledge', 'equality', 'determination' and 'achievement', and why these values are so important to us all. The children have certainly demonstrated their understanding of the values this week. The children have also been remembering our two school rules - to 'Always try your best' and 'Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself', as we re-establish those school routines and the high-expectations we demand for all of our children. Children have been enjoying this week's Art projects, on the theme of 'Moods', finding out about their new topics and producing lots of work in their books.

In this week's Celebration Assembly, we awarded our first set of 'Writing Stars', 'Maths Stars' and 'Stars of the Week'. Well done to all of those children who were awarded a certificate this week. The list of this week's winners can be found on the school website, accessed by following the link below...

Thank you to all of those parents who have supported us in wearing face-coverings on the school grounds - this is very much appreciated. We politely remind all of our parents and visitors to wear a face-covering, if they are able to, whilst on the school grounds or if visiting the School Office.

Finally, I wanted to reassure all of our parents and carers about uniform, following some conversations that I have had this week. One thing I have noticed is how much the children have grown - so if a jumper doesn't fit, feet have grown and school shoes are a bit tight, please don't worry and do what you can to send your child to school with as much of the correct uniform as you can.

Please check out this week's Bulletin for further information, including an update on our Oakwood to Tokyo Challenge. Please take a look at the photographs at the bottom of this update, showing children in Reception on their return to school.

Have a good weekend!

Best wishes,

Mr Laker
Head of School

Safer Sleep Week - 15th-21st March 2021

Thu 11 Mar 2021

AAT are supporting 'Safer Sleep Week'.

Safer Sleep Week aims to reach as many families as possible with our life-saving safer sleep advice. Running a Safer Sleep Week campaign in your area is an effective way to raise awareness of SIDS and equip parents with information how they can reduce the risk.

Click on the link below for more information:

https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/professionals/safer-sleep-week-awareness-campaign/

Head of School Update - Friday 5th March 2021

Fri 05 Mar 2021

Welcome to this week's Weekly Update!

It's been a fantastic week at Oakwood. Well done to all of our pupils who have been trying their best a home and at school. Today marked the last day of remote-learning. Thank you to all of you for your support during the past eight weeks. I am incredibly excited about welcoming all of our pupils back to school on Monday 8th March. All of the staff are looking forward to seeing all of the pupils and have planned a broad and challenging curriculum, to welcome pupils back, including some projects that will take place across the week, such as a whole-school Art project.

In my update letter this week, I shared our re-opening plans.

Although there are some minor changes to the start times, we've tried to keep things the same, and the school day will be broadly similar to as it was in the Autumn terms.

Pupils in Reception will start at 8.50am and finish at 3.00pm.

Pupils in Years 2,4 and 6 will start at 8.35am and finish at 3.00pm.

Pupils in Years 1,3 and 5 will start at 8.45am and finish at 3.10pm.

I hope you found this letter useful. A copy of the letter can be found by following this link.

All parents and visitors are strongly advised to wear face-coverings whilst on the school grounds, for the safety and comfort of the whole school community. Signs are situated throughout the school, as a reminder to everyone.

We celebrated 'World Book Day' in school, yesterday, and I know that many of you took part in the activities at home, too - thank you for sending in your photographs. Hopefully, you've had fun with our 'Masked Reader' challenge. Did you know who was behind the mask? Thank you to Miss Elms for organising this year's event. There are some photographs at the foot of this update and these will also be shared on the school's Facebook page, too.

'Well done' to all of this week's 'Star of the Week' winners. They are: Chloe V in Reception; Noah C and Teddy C in Year 1; Kate W and Joey A in Year 2; Evelyn S-S and A-J K in Year 3; Abi R and Jesse W-H in Year 4; Leah B and Chelsea F in Year 5; and Zara M and James O in Year 6. The full list of reasons can be found on the website.

Please check-out this week's Bulletin - there are updates on the 'Oakwood to Tokyo' challenge and our key dates, including information about the INSET Day on Thursday 1st April, for staff training. The school will be closed to pupils on this day. This means that the last day of term will be Wednesday 31st March.

I hope you all have a restful weekend and I look forward to seeing all of the children, ready for school and excited about the day ahead, on Monday.

With my best wishes,

Mr Laker
Head of School