ATHELSTAN PRIMARY SCHOOL
ACORN NEWSLETTER
Letter Number 36
Friday 30th June 2017
This Week’s News
Urgent E-Safety Information – Snapchat
A part of the latest update to the popular Snapchat app is a feature called 'Snap Map'. It now shows where any of the user's (your child's) friends are at any time. It uses GPS to precisely pinpoint on a map where the users are, even changing to a car when they move quickly. This feature that is automatically enabled can track your location unless you disable it.
This means that anyone that you are linked to on Snapchat can locate exactly where you are, which building you are in and your exact whereabouts within the building.
If you pinch the screen, your location will be shown. To disable this feature you need to click on the settings button (the cog) whilst on this screen and tick the option 'ghost mode'. This will then be disabled.
We urge you to check your child's settings, and ensure they are set to 'ghost mode'.
Y6 Performance of Shakespeare Rocks!
On Wednesday this week, our fantastic year 6 put on a star performance of ‘Shakespeare Rocks’ at the Montgomery Theatre in town. It really was the best ensemble production that we have ever had, with every single child giving their best and showing courage as they performed on a real stage. The play’s director, Nick Oldale got the best from all the children and many a parent had tears in their eyes as they were bursting with pride – rightly so. Mr Oldale has been well supported by Mr Mills, Ms Dalton and the rest of our team. Well done, everyone; you did us all proud!
Unfortunately, it has been brought to our attention that photographs and videos of the production, have been uploaded to Facebook, without parental permission and despite there being signs all around the theatre. For safeguarding reasons, please remove the Athelstan tag. Thank you.
Class News – Y3AC
As part of their class treat, children in Y3AC will be having a teddy bears’ picnic and will be able to wear non uniform on Wednesday 5th July, in the afternoon only. Please ensure your child wears their school uniform as normal in the morning. Weather permitting, the class will be playing outside. Children can bring teddies, toys or games but no electrical items please. If parents/carers would like to contribute any healthy snacks it would be appreciated, but is not expected.Thank you.
Class News – Green
Miss Beckett is currently out of school, due to illness. Jean Picksley, our former Deputy Headteacher, who many of you will know very well, will cover Miss Beckett’s absence from Monday next week.
Year Group News – Y5
Parents/carers of children in Y5 have been sent home a letter this week about sex and relationship education, which will commence from Monday 3rd July. Please ensure you have read this letter, and should you wish to withdraw your child from all or part of the programme, please write to your child’s class teacher before the programme starts.
Transition Mornings & School Reports
A letter will be sent home on Monday, advising you of your child’s teacher from September.
On Wednesday and Thursday next week, between 9.00am and 10.30am, children will meet their new teacher for the next school year.
Reports will be sent home on Friday 7th July. We are holding an informal drop in session on Tuesday 11th July, between 3.30pm to 4.30pm, in the junior hall. This will give parents/carers the opportunity to discuss their child’s report with their current teacher, and also to meet their child’s new teacher from September. Please enter school via the main reception area.
A Message from the Home School Association
Rock School Disco - Thursday 13thJuly
This year we would like to welcome you to the Rock School Disco! Tickets are £3.50 each and include a goody bag and unlimited squash/water.
There will be a DJ, along with plenty of fun and games, including prizes for the best-dressed boy and girl. Keep your eyes peeled, as these prizes will be available to view in the display cabinet in the reception area shortly.
Reception, Y1 & Y2 Disco
The disco will start at 4pm and ends at 5.15pm. Please note that children in Reception must be accompanied by a parent/carer.
Y3, Y4, Y5 & Y6 Disco
The disco will start at 5.30pm and ends at 6.45pm.
We have 150 tickets available for each disco. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis and can be purchased directly from the office from Monday 3rd July.
All children can enter through the main office doors. At the end of each disco, children should be collected from the Breakfast Club doors, leading from the Infant Dining Room. If you are happy to let your child walk home alone at the end of the disco, you should send a letter of consent to school, marked for the attention of Rachel Stone. If children do not have a letter of authority from their parent/carer, we will expect them to be collected. Please bear with us at the end of each disco, as we must ensure children leave school safely.
We will also be running a tuck shop selling crisps, chocolate, sweets and drinks.
Please note that Terms and Conditions are in place for the disco for safeguarding purposes, as per below:
Terms & Conditions
1.All children attending must have a valid pre-purchased ticket.
2.Reception children attending must be supervised atall times by aparent/carer over the age of 16.
3. Where possible, we ask that parents/carers are limited to 1 per child.
4.No non-pupilsof Athelstan under 16 are allowed in the disco (unless working as part of the HSA).
5.No bikinis are allowed.
6.Items purchased from the tuck shop must be consumed within the dining room.
7.Children are not permitted use mobile phones during the disco.
8.All monies and personal effects are your child’s responsibility.
9.Anybody causing a disruption, or acting in a way that would cause damage, injury, disruption or danger to themselves, property or others may be asked to leave.
10.The HSA and staff of Athelstan reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who is
not adhering to the above.
Y6 ParentPay Balances
As we are approaching the time of year where our Y6 children will be leaving us, can parents/carers please check their ParentPay balances for school meals and breakfast club. If you’ve made overpayments, please start to run these down, in order to avoid refunds.
If your account is in arrears, please make a payment, either through ParentPay or through a PayPoint store, to cover costs for the rest of the school year. Please note that if your account is not in credit by the end of Tuesday 18th July, no further school meals will be allowed.
There will be a special leavers’ menu on Wednesday 19th July; more details will follow.
If you require any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to speak to the office.
A Message from our Y6 Pupils
We are writing to inform you about our Y6 Summer Fayre. Y6 are planning a visit to Whitby on Wednesday 12th July. This is a reward for the effort we have put in to our production of ‘Shakespeare Rocks!’ and our SATs work over the year. We would like to raise some money to help fund this visit. This will allow us to develop our understanding of the value of money, as well as teaching us how to organise events.
On Friday 7th July, Y6 will be holding a Summer Fayre; it will be during school hours and is for Athelstan pupils only. Every year group will be taken one at a time to the fayre. It will be held in the Junior Hall, where there will be various activities for your child to participate in. There will also be various stalls including:
· Cake stall
· Toy stall
· Hook a Duck
· Various Games
Any many more!
Please do not send your child with more than £2.00 in change. Thank you for your support.
Y6 Pupils
Mid-Day Supervisor Vacancies
We are looking for caring and enthusiastic individuals to join our team of Mid-Day Supervisors, from September. The successful candidates should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and enjoy spending time with children. They should be reliable and punctual, able to use their own initiative and able to demonstrate an awareness and commitment to working in a multicultural school. Previous experience of working with children would be an advantage. The successful candidate will supervise the children in the playground and the dining room and will be required to:
• take part in activities with children over the lunchtime period;
• promote positive behaviour;
• organise and maintain play equipment;
• support other lunchtime supervisors in delivering play activities;
• encourage children to choose and eat their lunch;
• be aware of and deliver Health and Safety in the dining room
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.
Hours are 11.50am to 1.05pm Mon-Fri (38 weeks per year)
APPLICATION: Application packs are available electronically by emailing the school at All applications should be emailed back to the school.
School Milk
Letters for school milk for the autumn term have been sent home. Payments need to be made no later than Monday 10th July. No late orders will be processed. If you make an online payment, please ensure that you select the Autumn Milk 2017 option to complete the payment. If you require a copy of the letter, please speak to a member of the team in the office.
Handsworth Foodbank Donations
We have been contacted by Handsworth Foodbank, who support local families in crisis, as they have very low supplies. It would be greatly appreciated if any donations could be made such as tinned food, cereals, pasta, rice etc. Donations can be handed in at the office. Thank you for your support.
Alzheimer’s Society Fundraising
Thank you to the staff who donated, baked and bought goodies last week. We raised a brilliant £72.75 for the Alzheimer's Society! If anyone else would like to donate the 'Just Giving' page is still open:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Charlottekerfoot
Our donations will make a difference to the people living with Alzheimer's and their families.We’d like to say thank you to Mrs Kerfoot for organising this fundraising.
After School Clubs
All after school clubs will run as normal next week.
Please note that due to the Home School Association Disco, all clubs on Thursday 13th July are cancelled.
Whole School Times Table Focus
This week’s challenge is to learn and chant the four times table.
Let’s Get Reading Challenge
This week’s challenge is to read under a table.
101 Things to do before you leave Primary School
This fortnight’s challenge is to go on a night walk.
Letters Home This Week
Sex & Relationship Education – Y5
Dates for Your Diary
Wednesday 5th July – School Transition Morning
Thursday 6th July – School Transition Morning
Friday 7th July – Summer Fayre (Athelstan pupils only)
Friday 7th July – Reports sent home
Tuesday 11th July – Parent/Carer Drop In 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Wednesday 12th July – Y6 Whitby visit
Thursday 13th July – HSA Rock School Disco
Friday 21st July 1.30pm – Y6 Leavers’ Assembly 1.30pm