Dear Parents / Carers,

World Mental Health Day

Thank you to everyone who wore some yellow on Tuesday.  We had an assembly about mental health and why it’s so important to look after the inside of your body as well as the outside.  We spoke about all the ways we deal with our emotions.  The children came up with some super ways to help with their emotions and wellbeing.

For anyone struggling with their wellbeing, here are some websites that may help.

Mind

NHS 

Young Minds

Internet support for parents

As many of you are aware, we regularly receive internet safety advice.  I always send out articles that are linked to parenting and to children.  Lots of children play the games below, so this article may be very useful.  As we have had several issues with children using WhatsApp, I thought the article below may be of support to you as well.

For Parents - Fortnite Guidance

Epic Games (which includes Fortnite, Fall Guys and Rocket League) provide some really useful features for parents to manage their child's gaming experience. This includes 'cabined accounts'  which are accounts where the child is under 13 and certain restrictions are applied by default, e.g. talking to other players. Given the popularity of these games it's possible some parents aren't aware of this feature so it may be worth sharing. You can find further details and instructions from Internet Matters HERE.

For Parents - WhatsApp Guide

Even though WhatsApp has an age restriction of 16+ I find it is the most popular messaging app from Y4/5 upwards. Over the last year or so WhatsApp have introduced new features so it may be worth sharing this updated guide with parents so that they can ensure the most appropriate settings are applied for their child. You can find the article/guide HERE.

Lunchtime Assistant Vacancy

We have a vacancy for a lunchtime assistant.  If you or someone you know would like to apply for this role, please get in touch with Mrs Dean.

Sports Stars

Yesterday, myself and some of our Year 6 children took part in sports activities at Co-op Academy Stoke.  We joined children from Co-op Academy Clarice Cliff and Co-op Academy Glebe.   The children had so much fun together and many of them won medals.  Well done to all of the children who took part. 

Small & Tall 

On Monday 6th November, the school is closed to all children including Small & Tall.  This is due to staff training.

Parents’ Evenings

Next week (Wed 18th and Thu 19th) we have our parents’ evenings.  If you haven’t had your appointment, please do get in touch with your teacher.  It’s a chance to find out how your child has settled into their new class.  

Please can we ask that you keep to your time of ten minutes for the benefit of everyone.  Thank you.

Parent Surveys

Last year, we had 3 main areas to develop to address your comments from the parent survey.

1.Support you in knowing who the Governors are. 

All of the Governors are on the website.  In the next few months, there will be a short extract about who they are and why they chose to be a Governor at Friarswood.

2.Develop your child’s understanding of different careers.

The whole school has taken part in Careers Related Learning (CRL).  We achieved the Quality mark for CRL in June 2023, which shows that we are going above and beyond in supporting your children about careers, aspirations and developing skills they will need for the future.

3.Opportunities for students to develop leadership skills

At Friarswood, we have an active school council.  We have a variety of leadership roles such as librarians, prefects, team captains and playground leaders.  As part of our CRL curriculum, we learn about leadership skills and how to develop these.  Throughout the year, we have chosen children to be leaders for the Eco-club, Fairtrade Fortnight and spellings as well as Year 6 children who led their own enterprises in the summer term.  Within each class, the children have their own leadership roles such as leading the line, helping to organise, having specific classroom jobs.

We will continue to try our best in improving these areas which you said needed to be developed.  We hope that with the activities which have already taken place, you can see that we have made great strides with these actions.

Thank you as always for your continued support.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Take care and stay safe.

Mrs Wilmer

• The PTA team are grateful for the support they have received during this first half term and look forward to hosting more events for the rest of the year to enable to children to have access to treats, trips and resources they otherwise wouldn’t. The PTA are always looking for new, creative, enthusiastic members. Please contact through Mrs Hartley or your class teacher if you’d like to come and join the fun.

Dear Parents / Carers,

Dougie Mac Coffee & Cake morning

We are so pleased to be hosting a coffee and cake morning to raise funds for our much loved local hospice, The Dougie Mac. This will be taking place on Friday 6th October, 9 am to 10 am in our school hall. To make this a great fundraiser, we will be after your fabulous baked goods (or bought if you would rather not chance it!) Anything will be massively appreciated. Please come along if you can and enjoy a coffee and cake with us and let's raise lots of money for the Dougie Mac!  If you’re unable to come along, please send your child in with some money so that they can buy a cake.

All cake donations to be sent on either Thursday or first thing on Friday morning . We look forward to seeing you there.

Forest Schools

Next week on Wednesday and Thursday, your child will need to have their wellies and waterproofs with them.  All of the children will be having some time in the woodland area regardless of the weather.  A Forest School Teacher will be coming in to teach the children a variety of skills.

School Council

On Tuesday, we had our first meeting of the year.  We spoke about their roles in the school and we spoke about having a special focus to support friends too. 

The children decided that they will focus on the following:

Wellbeing, safety and caring for staff.

The children came up with many ideas of how they can support other children in the school, from being trained (at an age appropriate level) to actions they can do everyday or when needed.  

We will share more with you as these roles develop.  But in the meantime, well done to Ayva, Isla, Francesca, Georgia, Skyla, Freddie, Sienna, Oscar, Libby, Roman, Teddy and Lani for being voted in for this year’s school council members.

Team Points

All of our children are put into a team from when they start school.  They can earn team points by a variety of different ways including following our STAR values (safe, trust & teamwork, achieve, resilience) and the Co-op Ways of Being (do what matters most, succeed together, be yourself always, show you care).  

Each Friday, the team captains collect the team points and then we share these in celebration assembly.  The winning team, by the end of the term (not half term), get a team treat.

On Monday, all of the children met in their teams to discuss how they can be the best and win this term’s team treat.  Lots of healthy competitive discussions and ideas were discussed, which was great. 

Yr 6 orienteering

Yesterday, some of Year 6 went to Co-op Academy Stoke to take part in an orienteering activity along with some Year 6 children from Co-op Academy Clarice Cliff and Co-op Academy Glebe. The children had a fabulous time and came back with lots of medals! Well done year 6.

School Photographs

School Photographs are Monday 9th October. If you would like your child's photograph taken with younger siblings who do not attend Friarswood please come along at 8.20am.  

Menu for 5th October
Midshires are having an Italian style themed menu next week on Thursday 5th October. The menu is attached below.

I wish you all a lovely weekend.  

Take care and stay safe.

Mrs Wilmer

Dear Parents / Carers,

Coats

Please can I ask that you send your child in with a waterproof coat.  We try to get outside as much as possible as the children love a run around at playtimes.  After lots of hard work, they need it too.

Attendance at school

As you all know, attendance at school is vital to ensure your child learns as much as possible so that they are prepared for the next stage of their life, whether this is moving to another year group in our school or moving onto another school.

Children who have regular time off school, fall behind with their learning very quickly which not only impacts on their academic learning but can negatively impact on their social skills and their behaviour as they recognise that their friends can do it and they struggle. 

We want all children to achieve their best.  To do this, they need to be in school and ready to learn.

If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance, please contact myself or Mrs Dean.

If we have any concerns about your child’s attendance, we will make an appointment so that we can discuss ways forward.

Swimming

Swimming starts next week for Years 3 and 5.  We have got a lot of excited children and a few very nervous children too.  Please try not to worry.  We have many years experience of teaching swimming, supporting nervous children to make those first steps.  It won’t be long before they’re swimming independently and having lots of fun.

National Fitness Day

On Wednesday, 20th September, all children need to come to school in their PE kits so that we can all take part in fitness activities throughout the day.

Small & Tall Holiday Club

Unfortunately, due to low numbers of children during the holidays, we will be closing the Small & Tall club during all school holidays.  We’re aware that some of you rely on this club but due to financial implications we are unable to continue.  We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone

Take care and stay safe

Mrs Wilmer

Dear Parents/Carers,

It’s certainly been an eventful school year with so much to celebrate including a really positive Ofsted inspection and achieving the Quality Mark in Career’s Related Learning.  All year, the children have been learning about skills needed for various careers along with learning about a wide range of careers too.  We will continue with this next year as this really has helped to raise aspirations as well as helping the children to think about and recognise their own talents and skills.

Today we say goodbye to our Year 6 children, many of whom have been with us for 7 or 8 years.  We have watched them grow, develop and flourish into the amazing people they are today.  They take with them a wealth of knowledge and understanding not just academic but social and personal too.  We wish them continued success on their learning journey throughout high school and beyond.  They certainly have the foundations to achieve all of their dreams.  

As well as saying goodbye to the Year 6 children we also have to say goodbye to some of their families who have been part of the school for many years.  Thank you for your support over the years.  Without this support, the children wouldn’t have become who they are and we wouldn’t have had such lovely relationships and enjoyed so many successful events together.

We say goodbye to Mrs Mahmud and Mrs O’Hara who have been our supply teachers in Year 2 and Year 3.  Thank you to them for supporting the children, helping them continue with their learning and becoming part of the Friarswood family.

I have some good news to share, Mrs Rafferty had a baby boy at the weekend.  He looks beautiful!  We can’t wait to meet him.  

Year 2 – about to be Year 3

This week the children have been learning about where they will be coming into school from September onwards.  They will be coming in by the library door and they’ll go to the Year 3 classroom by themselves.  They are very excited about this.  I’ll be on duty as usual so if parents are unsure, follow your child or just come over to me.  The children definitely know what to do and where to go.

Safeguarding

A reminder of what to do should you have concerns about a child over the holidays.

If a child’s life is at immediate risk, call 999 immediately.

If there is a potential risk of harm to a child, call Staffordshire Children’s Support and Advice Service as soon as possible on this number  0300 111 8007

Thank you to everyone from the staff for the many cards with such lovely words in and for the gifts.  It’s so thoughtful of you – thank you.

I wish you all a fantastic summer holiday.  I hope the weather improves! 

I look forward to welcoming you all back to school on Tuesday 5th September (remember 8:45 for early years and 8:40 – 8:50 for KS1 & 2).

Take care and stay safe.

Mrs Wilmer and the Friarswood Team

Dear Parents / Carers,

I have to start our newsletter with an enormous amount of praise and congratulations to our KS2 children and team.  Their performances of Mary Poppins have been incredible.  Such amazing acting and singing from everyone.  The confidence and bravery of the children who stood on the stage and acted out their parts, some of whom had many, many lines, was outstanding.

From the fabulous voice of Layla-Rose to the clear cockney tones of Emma and Thomas; all of the children really gave their all.

A huge thank you to the staff who have spent hours and hours getting the props ready, leading rehearsals, going through lines with children, practising the singing and organising all of the music.  They really have done us all proud.

A huge thank you to the parents who got the children kitted out with such amazing outfits.

What a success!

KS2 SATs

Well done to our Year 6 children who achieved lots of success in their SATs.  They worked so hard, not just this year but throughout their time at Friarswood.  To all the parents who have supported and to all of the staff who have taught these children – a massive thank you for helping them to achieve so much, not just academically but personally and socially too.  What a superstar class!

Food Bank Donations & Support

The summer holidays are just around the corner and we know that this can be a particularly challenging time for some families who may already be struggling.

With this in mind, if at all possible we would like to invite our pupils and staff to donate items which we will deliver to The Alice Charity Food Pantry, these donations can then be used to support families in our local community through a tricky time over the six week break. Donations can be sent into school from Monday 17^th July to Friday 21st July 2023. There will be food donation drop off boxes on the entrances and exits of our school or donations can be handed in by the children to their class teachers.  Thank you for ay support you can offer with this.

If you find that you need help for your family during the holidays, The Alice Charity is there for everybody and they can support without a referral. If you’d like further information, contact; info@alicecharity.org or call 01782 614838