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Friday 9th February

Messages from the Principal, Miss Jarrett

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As we draw to a close on what has been a truly fantastic half term, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared together. From academic achievements to personal growth, it's been a pleasure to witness the dedication and enthusiasm of our students, staff, and parents.

This week, we had the privilege of celebrating Children's Mental Health Week, a poignant reminder of the importance of nurturing the well-being of our young learners. It was heartwarming to see the entire school community come together to raise awareness and support one another in promoting positive mental health. By fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and support, we can continue to create an environment where every child feels valued and empowered to thrive.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the many parents who joined us for the various curriculum celebrations throughout the term. Your presence and involvement play a crucial role in enriching our school community and enhancing the educational experience for all our students. Your commitment to your child's education is truly commendable, and I look forward to further opportunities for collaboration and partnership in the coming months.

Looking ahead to the next half term, we are excited to continue developing opportunities for parents to engage with the school and contribute to our shared success. I am delighted to announce the establishment of our Phoenix Infant Parent group, aimed at providing a platform for parents to support the school through various initiatives and activities. If you are interested in becoming involved, please do join us for our first meeting on 21st February at 9am – your input and ideas are invaluable as we work together to create an inclusive and supportive school community.

Additionally, we are thrilled to invite you to our first Phoenix Iftar celebrations on the 22nd March, where we will come together to celebrate diversity, unity, and the spirit of Ramadan. It promises to be a memorable occasion filled with warmth, friendship, and cultural exchange. Anyone interested in helping organise this, please come along to a meeting on the 28th February at 9am.  

I would also strongly encourage you to come along to our workshop on the Cost of Living on the 20th February at 9.00am which will provide you with ways you can save money.  

We also will have another behaviour workshop, a toddler and baby parents event and more opportunities for parents to come and watch phonics lessons coming next half term. If you are invited to attend any of these events, I would strongly encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities! 

As we embark on a well-deserved half term holiday, I wish you all a restful and enjoyable break filled with precious moments with loved ones. We eagerly anticipate welcoming our students back at 8.45am on Monday, February 19th, refreshed and ready to continue our journey of learning and growth together.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community.

Warm regards,

Miss Jarrett

SAFEGUARDING

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Supporting children's mental health as parents involves creating a nurturing environment, fostering open communication, and being attentive to their needs. Here are some ways parents can support their children's mental health:

  1. Encourage open communication: Create a safe and non-judgmental space for your children to express their thoughts and feelings. Encourage them to talk about their emotions and concerns without fear of criticism.

  2. Listen actively: Pay attention to what your children are saying and validate their feelings. Avoid interrupting or dismissing their emotions.

  3. Provide reassurance: Offer words of encouragement and support to boost your child's self-esteem and confidence. Let them know that it's okay to ask for help when needed.

  4. Promote healthy habits: Encourage regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep, as these are essential for maintaining good mental health.

  5. Set realistic expectations: Be mindful of your expectations and avoid putting excessive pressure on your children to excel academically or in extracurricular activities. Help them set achievable goals and celebrate their successes, no matter how small.

  6. Teach coping skills: Teach your children healthy coping mechanisms for managing stress and difficult emotions. This could include deep breathing exercises, mindfulness techniques, or engaging in hobbies they enjoy.

  7. Be aware of warning signs: Educate yourself about the signs of mental health issues in children, such as changes in behavior, mood swings, withdrawal from activities, or difficulty concentrating. Seek professional help if you notice any concerning symptoms.

  8. Seek professional support when needed: If you're concerned about your child's mental health, don't hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional. They can provide assessment, counseling, and support tailored to your child's needs.

  9. Model healthy behavior: Children often learn by example, so be mindful of how you manage your own stress and emotions. Demonstrate healthy coping strategies and prioritize your own mental well-being.

  10. Create a supportive network: Encourage your child to build positive relationships with friends and family members who provide support and encouragement.

Remember that every child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. It's essential to be patient, understanding, and adaptable in your approach to supporting your child's mental health.

Mindfulness

This week, during Children's Mental Health Week we were lucky enough to participate in a virtual author visit from Rob Holmes.  Rob has written a book to help children understand and begin to learn about mindfulness.  

Listen to Rob reading his story 'Master Owl meets Miss Bunny' and then guide the children through the basics of mindfulness. Children also watched this video before the workshop and we recommend watching it again together with your child. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVEHjsQb89c 

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Safer Experience For All

Lets make 2024 the year of safer online experience for all. Can you follow these resolutions and help your child to develop healthy and safe online habits?

Resolution 1: We will speak kinder online 

Resolution 2: We will have healthier screen time habits

Resolution 3: We will be cyber secure

Resolution 4: We will use tech together to learn and explore

ONLINE SAFETY TIPS:

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Celebrating our Children!

There have been so many fantastic learning opportunities that took place over the past couple of weeks! Year 2 have been learning about significant people in history! They learnt about Emmeline Pankhurst and took part in their own protest in the playground for "Votes for Women".  They then wrote about this in their English lesson. Year 2 also wrote lots of stories during storytelling week! We've even had children writing at home and sharing with us via Class Dojo - remember every child has their own portfolio. You can share your child's learning at home via their Class Dojo Portfolio too! 

Reception have been inspired by their visit to Windsor Castle, where they took part in a storytelling workshop all over the castle looking for dragons who had made some sad choices! Since returning they have been storytelling, drawing and writing about dragons! 

Year 1 have been writing poems about their treasures! Do make sure you have a read of your child's poem during the upcoming parents evening! Sign up sheets for all classes will be going up during the first week back after half term.  They have also started working towards their Super kind badges, making posters about social action, such as picking up litter and the importance of handwashing. 

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Student Leadership

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Storytelling Week

During Storytelling Week our school librarians were kept very busy! Along with Miss Tranmer they led a school assembly and followed that up by reading to every class in Reception and Year 1! They did a fantastic job of promoting our reading for pleassure agenda! We can't wait to see what they get up to in our upcoming book week celebrations after half term! 

Sporting Updates

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Cricket

Eleven Year 2 children took part in a special cricket festival at Singh Sabha Sports Centre on 7th February. They enjoyed having a go at cricket by playing games that practiced their batting, bowling, throwing, catching and fielding.

Madinah - I liked batting and we did catching and playing a cone game called craters and volcanoes.

Akbar - I liked batting, it was fun and I'd want to do it again.

Saira - I enjoyed catching balls and batting.

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Mini Marathon

We are pleased to announce that we are organising a special whole school sporting event. This year's London Marathon is on Sunday 21st April and with the Olympics coming up, we thought it would be nice to do a whole school sporting event to celebrate this. On Friday 19th April all the children will be taking part in a Mini-Marathon on the field of Godolphin Junior School. Further information will be sent to you closer to the date but please mark this event in your diaries.

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ATTENDANCE

Well done to all parents/carers who continue to ensure their children attend school regularly.  

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!

YEAR 1 CLASS WINNER

Well done to Heron class who won the attendance trophy this week with 97%.

Keep it up!

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YEAR 2 CLASS WINNER

Well done to Eagle class who won the attendance trophy this week with 94%.

Keep it up!

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Dates for your Diaries

Half Term
All Day
From 12 Feb until 16 Feb
12
February
Children's First Day Back
All Day
19
February
Cost of Living Coffee Morning with guest speaker Helen from Connecting Communities in Berkshire
9:05am – 10:05am
20
February
Phoenix Infant Parents (PIP) Meeting: For any parents who would like to volunteer to support the school as a group (e.g. fundraising, second hand uniform, events etc)
9:00am – 10:00am
21
February
Parents Evening
3:30pm – 6:00pm
27
February
Iftar Planning Meeting - for anyone who is interested in helping to organise our Iftar celebration event
9:00am – 9:30am
28
February
Parents Evening
3:30pm – 6:00pm
29
February
Book Week
All Day
From 04 Mar until 08 Mar
04
March
Y1 Read with Someone you Love (Parents Stay and Read event)
9:00am – 9:20am
05
March
Y2 Read with Someone you Love (Parents Stay and Read event)
9:00am – 9:20am
06
March
Parent Toddler and Baby Session: Come along with your baby/toddler for a stay and play session!
2:00pm – 3:00pm
06
March
Bedtime Stories
5:00pm – 6:00pm
06
March
World Book Day: Dress as your favourite Book Character
All Day
07
March
Behaviour Parent Workshop
9:00am – 10:00am
13
March
Red Nose Day: Wear Red
All Day
15
March

Community Notices:

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Wishing you all a lovely half term. 

TOGETHER WE SOAR!