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Messages from the Principal, Miss Jarrett | |
As we approach the end of another half term, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we have undertaken together. The past weeks have been filled with hard work, dedication, and a sense of unity that truly defines our school spirit.
I also want to acknowledge our exceptional teaching and support staff who have tirelessly nurtured our students' growth, providing them with the tools they need to excel. Your passion for education shines brightly, and it is reflected in the achievements of our students. I know that our teachers are looking forward to parents evenings after half term and sharing with you your child's successes. Sign up sheets for parents evenings will be put up outside classrooms after half term.
Parents, your support and engagement are crucial to our students' success. Thank you for entrusting us with the education of your children and for partnering with us in their journey of growth and development.
As we head into the half-term break, I encourage everyone to take some well-deserved rest and recharge. This break is an opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends, explore new interests, or simply relax.
Let's return after the break with renewed energy and a commitment to making the second half of the school year even more successful than the first. Together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.
Please be reminded that there are lots of different events taking place after half term - please see the calendar below for key dates in October and November, and we look forward to your participation.
Wishing you all a safe, enjoyable, and restful half-term break. Thank you for being an essential part of the Phoenix community, and I eagerly anticipate the great accomplishments yet to come.
See you all on Monday, 30th October at 8.45am!
With warm regards,
Miss Jarrett
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Vice Principal Appointments
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I am pleased to share some exciting news with you, which I believe will have a positive impact on the continued growth and success of Phoenix Infant Academy.
It is my pleasure to announce that after a thorough and rigorous selection process, Miss Austin and Mr. Bowskill, who have been serving as Interim Vice Principals, have been appointed to their positions on a permanent basis.
Their exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to our school community have not only made a significant difference but have also left a lasting impression on our students, staff, and parents alike. Throughout their tenure as Interim Vice Principals, Miss Austin and Mr. Bowskill have demonstrated the qualities and capabilities that make them the right fit for this important role.
As many of you will already know, Miss Austin's passion for early childhood education and her ability to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for our learners is truly commendable. Her attention to the individual needs of our students and particularly her support for our children with special educational needs are qualities that will continue to benefit our school community.
Since joining us in March, Mr. Bowskill's unwavering dedication to fostering a positive school culture and his excellent communication skills have been pivotal in ensuring that our school remains a welcoming and collaborative place for all. His commitment to the academic and personal growth of our students is evident in his every action.
The appointment of Miss Austin and Mr. Bowskill as permanent Vice Principals is a testament to their outstanding contributions to our school and their alignment with our school's values and mission.
As we move forward, I have no doubt that their leadership will help our school reach new heights of excellence, ensuring that our children continue to receive the best education possible in a caring and supportive environment.
Please join me in congratulating Miss Austin and Mr. Bowskill on their well-deserved appointments. We are fortunate to have them as part of our school's leadership team.
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13th November at 9.00am: Parent Workshop: Phoenix Vision and Values
Please come along on 13th November to meet with our Senior Leadership Team (Miss Jarrett, Miss Austin and Mr Bowskill) and learn more about our vision for Phoenix Infants!
This will also be a great opportunity for you to share your views on our school, celebrating our successes and planning for the future!
We hope to see as many parents as possible attend!
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It was wonderful to see so many children and staff wearing traditional clothes and/or the colours of different flags of UN countries. We are extremely lucky here at Phoenix that our school community is made up of people from so many different places. Many of us have lived in different countries and speak different languages - and it is important that we are proud and respectful of who we are and where we are from.
Celebrating diversity through United Nations Day is a powerful way to embrace and appreciate the rich tapestry of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives that make up our school community. Here at Phoenix, one of our most important values (and school rules) is Respect. Celebrating UN Day is just one of many ways that we help teach children about the British value of mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.
If you would like to share information about your cultural heritage with your child's class or year group, please speak to your child's teacher!
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Celebrating our Children!
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This half term we have seen some fabulous learning taking place. In RE this term, Year 2 learnt all about Hanukkah and were lucky to have Ruth Jampel, from the Judaism for Schools organisation, visit to enhance their learning. Read Sargun, Adam and Aasiya's learning from the visit below.
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We are thrilled to announce our new school librarians! Reading is so important to us here at Phoenix and it was wonderful to receive so many applications, clearly demonstrating how effectively our teachers have supported children to love reading too.
Our new librarians are:
Falcon Class: Saira, Eesa, Amanah and Musa
Eagle Class: Amaal, Jathvika, Sahla and Zayn
Buzzard Class: Elyza, Adam, Aasiya and Khadija
We are looking forward to seeing the impact they make in supporting children's love of reading across the school!
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Fencing
10 children from year 1 & 2 enjoyed a wonderful fencing festival on 18th October at Eton College Sports hall. The children enjoyed participating and learning basic fencing moves and using the foils. The children did various activities to build up their fencing skills.
"I enjoyed it because of the sword fighting at the end was fun. I also liked practising parrying by catching hoops with the foil." Zakariya - Eagle Class
If your child would like to join Fencing club, which runs on Monday lunchtime for children in Years 1 and 2, please sign up via this link (there are now very limited spaces so e quick if you want to book): https://bookings.littlemusketeers.com/
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Circus Workshop
32 children from year 2 had the unique opportunity to try out what it would be like working as a circus performer. Children practised tricks on high hoops and swinging curtains. The children loved cocooning themselves inside the curtains! The children also learnt juggling skills and gymnastic skills.
"I liked the circus as we went on the high hoops and that we did gymnastics too. I liked swinging on the curtains too." Maria - Eagle
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Learning to play a musical instrument, such as the ukulele, at school can offer numerous advantages for children. Here are some of the key benefits:
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Cognitive Development: Learning to play an instrument enhances cognitive skills, including memory, problem-solving, and critical thinking. It has been shown to improve academic performance, particularly in maths and science.
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Enhanced Creativity: Music is a form of self-expression, allowing children to explore their creativity and develop their artistic talents. It encourages them to think outside the box.
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Improved Focus and Discipline: Learning an instrument requires patience and discipline. It teaches children the importance of practice and consistency, which can be applied to other areas of their lives.
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Emotional Expression: Playing music is a way for children to express their emotions and relieve stress. It can serve as an emotional outlet and a means of self-discovery.
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Social Skills: Participating in a school music program fosters social interaction. Children collaborate with peers, learn to listen to others, and build teamwork skills.
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Confidence Boost: As children master new songs and skills, their self-confidence grows. Performing in front of an audience can be a powerful confidence-building experience.
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Cultural Appreciation: Learning to play an instrument exposes children to different musical styles and cultures. It can broaden their horizons and create an appreciation for diversity.
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Fine Motor Skills: Playing a musical instrument hones fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This can be beneficial for children's physical development.
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Stress Reduction: Music has a calming effect and can help reduce stress and anxiety. Children can use music as a coping mechanism when they face challenges or stressors.
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Lifelong Skill: Learning an instrument is a skill that can be enjoyed throughout one's lifetime. It provides a lifelong source of enjoyment and enrichment.
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Fun and Enjoyment: Playing an instrument is a fun and enjoyable activity. It can bring joy and a sense of accomplishment to children's lives.
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Sense of Belonging: Joining a school music program provides children with a sense of belonging. It allows them to connect with like-minded peers who share their interests.
In summary, learning to play an instrument can have numerous educational, social, and emotional benefits for children. It's a rewarding and enriching experience that can positively impact their overall development and well-being.
We are exceptionally fortunate at Phoenix Infants that our children in Year 2 are all given the opportunity to learn to play the Ukulele. We also provide opportunities for children in Year 1 and 2 to learn to play glockenspiels as part of their music lessons.
Ukulele Club
We still have spaces in our Ukulele club, which runs after school on Monday afternoons between 3.30pm and 4.30pm. This is open to children in Years 1 and 2 - so if you want to give your child an extra chance to perfect their musical talent please log onto Parentpay and sign them up!
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Phoenix Infant Parents are volunteers who give up their time to support our school community. This includes
- Volunteering on school trips
- Hearing children read
- Supporting school events, such as the Christmas Fair, our book, cake or uniform sales
- Supporting with curriculum learning, such as reading to the children in another language, talking to children about your cultural heritage and beliefs, sewing, cooking etc.
If you are interested in volunteering, please collect and complete a volunteer form from the office after half term.
Please note that safeguarding recruitment checks are completed for all volunteers (and must be renewed if there is more than 3 months between volunteering). This includes references, DBS checks and safeguarding training.
We have some great trips planned for the rest of the school year - including Windsor Castle with Reception, the London Eye with Year 1 and the National Gallery AND the beach with Year 2 so we definitely need volunteers so please get your volunteer forms in as soon as possible!
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Christmas Fair
Save the Date: 8th December 2pm - 4pm
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Planning has already begun for our Christmas Fair on 8th December and we are hoping it will be bigger and better than ever before! Please remember that school will finish at 2pm on this day so that you can all come along and enjoy the fun and support our community fundraising event.
If you would like to have a stall at the fair, please complete this form. Stalls will cost £25.
https://forms.office.com/e/k1wb6WqN3N
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ATTENDANCE
Well done to all parents/carers who continue to ensure their children attend school regularly. It was lovely seeing so many children leaving school at the end of the day with a 100% attendance badge! Well done and keep it up next term!
This week Year 1 has the highest attendance of any year group across the school. Well done!!
The class winners in each year group can be seen below.
All attendance expectations can be found on our website.
Please do get in touch if you would like any support getting your child to school and on time.
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RECEPTION CLASS WINNER
Well done to Robin class who won the attendance trophy this week.
Keep it up!
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YEAR 1 CLASS WINNER
Well done to Heron class who won the attendance trophy this week with 100%.
Keep it up!
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YEAR 2 CLASS WINNER
Well done to Falcon class who won the attendance trophy this week with 97%.
Keep it up!
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Windsor Castle are holding a free drop-in activity day at Windsor Castle's Learning Centre on Tuesday, 24th October.
Children can enjoy some creative crafting and even make a memento to take away.
During the day there will be Knight School workshops delivered by the Castle's very own 'knight in training', Marts.
They will also have costume handling workshops during the day for the children to dress up as historical characters.
Why not bring a picnic to enjoy and make a day of it?
- Tuesday, 24 October 2023 10:00 until 14:00
- Free of charge
- Booking essential
- Pug Yard Learning Centre, St Albans Street, Windsor
- Activities all take place in the Learning Centre, there is no entry to the Castle with this event.
Follow this link to book: https://tickets.rct.uk/product/11/5200
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Wishing you all a lovely half term. See you all on Monday, 30th October.
TOGETHER WE SOAR!
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