8th November 2019

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Whoosh… I can’t believe it’s already November. In no time at all we will be in the Christmas season: preparing tea-towelled shepherds for the Nativity, visiting Father Christmas, decorating our houses and Christmas trees, enjoying mince pies (yum!), and a last-minute shopping trip… or two. But before we start celebrating the arrival of the festive season, I hope we can all take time out of our busy lives to remember those in the past and the present who serve to protect our freedoms. Especially at this time of year we remember and give thanks to those brave souls who fought, and died, for us. As part of our Remembrance activities this year all of the children from Pre-School to Year 6 helped to create poppies which have been put up all around our village in remembrance of those who fought and died in the wars. On 15th November, the children will be attending church for our Collective Worship for a special Remembrance Service. Lest we forget. Christian Value Focus

This half term we will be focusing on COMPASSION in Collective Worship and in lessons. Compassion is a character trait that is present in everyone, however it is also a trait that sometimes gets forgotten. Compassion alludes to kindness and sympathy, but there is something deeper, something even more profoundly powerful, in its meaning... Compassion means someone else's ‘heartbreak’’ becomes your ‘heartbreak’. Another's suffering becomes your suffering. Compassion is about letting the other person know: I understand you and I empathise. Here are some ways we can show compassion – can you think of any more?

• Challenge yourself to smile more • Open the door for someone • Motivate others • Practice acts of kindness • Allocate time to bond with friends and family • Say encouraging words • Share a hug or a handshake • Incorporate the phrase “Thank you.” Into your daily routine • Offer to help someone with their ‘to-do’ list • Nurture Relationships by taking time to listen to others

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – Dalai Lama

8th November 2019

Children in Need • Monday 11th – Friday 15th November:

Children can wear; spots, yellow or a Pudsey tops/socks/ears etc to help celebrate children in need all week

• Friday 15th November: Wear PJ’s for Children in Need (Staff will take part in this too!)

School Photographs Monday 18th November- school photos. All pre-school children to the school hall between 8.15am and 9.00am. Christmas! • Monday 9th – Friday 13th December

Christmas jumper week (staff will participate on Friday 13th) • Monday 16th December – 2pm:

‘A Christmas celebration’ at church- all Pre-School children are included. If your child is in session on this day, we will walk them up to church. If your child is not in session you can meet us there with your child. All family and friends are welcome.

LAST DAY OF TERM: Wednesday 18th December (Wednesday 8th January 2020 – return to Preschool)

***********************************************************************************************

Children in Need To celebrate Children in Need this year, we are having a non-uniform day for a £1 donation – all proceeds will go to the Children in need Charity. Children can dress up in spots, Children in Need t-shirts, jumpers, or PJs, or as Pudsey himself. In our quest to become a cashless school, we are taking payments for Children in Need via ParentPay. If you go onto the ParentPay site, you can pay £1 donation which will include a cake – please do not send cash into school on the day. Please send any donations of cakes on Thursday or Friday.

Pre-School News

8th November 2019

Firework Spectacular Thank you to everyone who helped, donated, cooked and came along on the night. Despite a very soggy set up on Saturday morning the weather cleared,

and the public came through the gates! We raised an amazing £4,000 which will be used to provide extras for our children.

***********************************************************************************************

Family Cafés We still have four family cafés this term, starting with Godfrey Class on Thursday. This is a fabulous opportunity for you to join your child for tea/coffee, biscuits and fun activities. Please see below for the dates.

Godfrey Thursday 14th November Peckover Thursday 28th November

Octavia Wednesday 4th December Awdry TBC

8th November 2019

School Photographs

Tempest Photography will be in school on Monday 18th November to take pictures of individual children and family groups. If you would like preschool children included with siblings, please come to the school hall at 8.15am on the 18th November. Please send your child in school uniform/colours. ***********************************************************************************************

We will be hosting a Book Fair from Tuesday 19th to

Tuesday 26th November. There will be a huge range of books for all ages, and every book

purchased will equal free books for our school. A great chance to get some great Christmas gifts!

***********************************************************************************************

Into Film Festival We are taking part in the INTO Film Festival 2019 again this year. KS1 and KS2 children will be going to Cineworld in Ely on Thursday 21st November to see an Autism Friendly screening of ‘The Grinch’. There is no cost for the cinema and our PTFA have funded the cost of the coaches. We would like to provide the children with popcorn at the cinema and so are asking for £1 per child towards the cost of this, payable on Parentpay. Children in EYFS (Pre-School and Reception) will also be participating in the festival again this year (on the same date) with a cinema experience at school in the hall, complete with popcorn! ***********************************************************************************************

Bags2School Our latest Bags2School collection raised a fabulous £76 for school! We will have another collection in the New Year – let’s turn unwanted items into cash!

8th November 2019

Attendance

Our current whole-school attendance to date is: 95.99%. We have been working hard over the past year (and a half-term) to improve our attendance and to reduce unauthorised holidays. Please remember to phone in to school if your child is off for any reason and do continue to inform us of any longer-term, planned absences, such as holidays. We have a statutory duty of care to ensure that children are safe, which is why if you haven’t phoned us, we always make contact that day – if we can’t reach you, staff will follow up any absences, which could include a home visit. This is not in an attempt to catch anyone out, it is simply to ensure that your child (and you) are safe and well. I am in no doubt that many holidays taken with your children will be ‘educational’ in many senses of the word, unfortunately I am not able to authorise any term-time holidays in line with our school policy and government guidance – any unauthorised absences may result in a penalty notice (school does not receive any of the monies collected from penalty notices). A copy of the Attendance Policy can be found on our school website: www.wsmacademy.co.uk

***********************************************************************************************

Lest We Forget The children in year 5 have created some beautiful poems and artwork for Armistice Day. You may also have noticed the poppies which have appeared around our village – these have been decorated and painted by the children of our Pre School and School.

8th November 2019

Thursday 14th November – 9:00am Godfrey Class Family Café

Friday 15th November Children in Need – non uniform £1

Friday 15th November Collective Worship in Church (children only)

Monday 18th November Individual and family groups school photos

Thursday 21st November Into Film Festival (cinema trip for KS1/KS2)

Thursday 28th November – 9:00am Peckover Class Family Café

Wednesday 4th December – 9:00am Octavia Class Family Café

Thursday 5th December – 9:10am Christingle in Church

Friday 6th December Hudson Class trip to Church Farm

Friday 6th December (afterschool) PTFA Christmas Fair

Wednesday 11th December – 2pm & 6pm Reception and KS1 Nativity

Thursday 12th December School Christmas lunch

Thursday 12th December – 5pm KS2 Carol concert (in church)

Monday 16th December – 2pm Pre-school Christmas Celebration (in church)

Wednesday 18th December Last day of term

Monday 6th January 2020 Start of term (Reception – Year 6)

Wednesday 8th January 2020 Start of term (Pre-School) Sats for Year 6 will take place week commencing 11th May 2020

Thank you for your continued support!

Miss Jaynie Lynch

Headteacher

01945 410 312 office@wsmacademy.cambs.sch.uk www.wsmacademy.cambs.sch.uk

www.twitter.com/AcademyWsm www.instagram.com/wsm_academy www.facebook.com/WisbechStMaryAcademy