Sunday, 9 June 2013

Week 31

Dear Parent/ Carer,

This week at Kilmorie we welcomed our new School Direct teacher trainees who will be working with us full time from September.  Having trainee teachers in school is a valuable learning opportunity for both sides and we are impressed by the hard work and dedication that our new colleagues are showing.  Children really benefit from the enthusiasm and additional support that this training route provides.  There are School Direct trainees in all three of our schools and we also employ a Premises Apprenctice.  As a partnership of schools, we are committed to providing career pathways for members of our community.  Meanwhile, back at Kilmorie, Year 6 have been busy preparing for their Secondary Schools.  Transition meetings have begun this week with the Year 6 boys meeting their secondary tutors. Year 6 also had visiting speakers this week to talk to them about gangs, whilst their parents were invited to a meeting about the Wrotham School Journey.  On Thursday all three Pupil Parliaments were involved in learning walks across the federation. The children were looking at ways we learn best and will be feeding back their observations next week.
Our week ended with the Year 1 children going to see an orchestral interpretation of Giraffes Can't Dance at the Barbican.

It was a fantastic start to the half term at Haseltine.  Teachers and governors met on Monday to review the year and set new priorities for next year.  This weeks affirmation is 'I say sorry if I'm wrong.'  This was discussed in assembly... Ms. Brumby needed to apologise to Mrs Wylie after an accident.  The children taught Ms. Brumby how to say sorry properly.  We had another chance to show off our amazing learning during a parent tour on Tuesday.  On the same day, Year 4 went to the Museum of London to choose and plan their Topic for this Half Term.  Ms. Brumby and Mrs Jolley went to City Hall on Wednesday to meet London Headteachers to discuss Breakfast Clubs and how to develop them.  The food at Haseltine's Club is paid for by the Mayor's Fund.  Mentors from Forest Hill School came in to meet the Year 6 children who are going there next year.  Year 6 have had a huge treat for the last three days working with Translation Nation.  Parents, children and staff have been telling stories in different languages, writing plays, learning sign language, writing stories and finished the week with a performance to the rest of Key Stage 2.  Friday morning was a very special time at Haseltine as the year 4 ukulele group played to us and the Haseltine Band played.  The children have reached a new heights with the music at Haseltine.  It felt like we were at the O2!  The biggest treat of all this week happened when representatives from the Pupil Parliament Learning Committee visited Kilmorie and Fairlawn.  They brought backa whole series of good ideas from both schools which we will be using here at Haseltine.  One boy said,  'This is the best school trip ever.'

At Fairlawn, we began our week with a Training Day at which we welcomed our new teachers for September and continued the huge task of re-developing our curriculum in order to produce something that is exciting, stimulating, engaging, motivating and truly World Class.  We want our learners to have the best learning opportunities, provided by the very best teachers.  We are very excited about what next year holds for us at Fairlawn.  Our redecoration programme continues.  Years 3 and 4 returned on to the smell of freshly painted classrooms.  Tuesday saw the launch of our Fantastic Fairlawn Helpers project.  Our Pupil Parliament has devised and assigned responsibilities for children throughout the school, covering every aspect of school life, from Assembly Assistants to Dinner DJs, Good to be Green Gang and Playground Pals.  The children have already proved how fantastically responsible they are.   On Wednesday, Year 4 classes visited Horton Kirby Educational Centre and Farningham Village in Kent as part of their Geography and Science work this term.  They took part in lessons at the Centre, carried out a village survey that compared the area to our own and sketched landscapes.  A fun learning experience was had by all... and the sun shone brightly for them.  Meanwhile, there were strange happenings going on back at Fairlawn!  A huge egg appeared in our Golden Garden.  We called an emergency assembly that explained that the egg was being closely monitored for any cracks!  We asked everyone to keep a close eye on the website for updates!  On Thursday, two pupils from our Pupil Parliament Curriculum Committee met with Haseltine & Kilmorie Pupil Parliamentarians.   They all enjoyed a learning walk around each school.  They brought back many interesting ideas about how we might continue to enhance things at Fairlawn.  Also on Thursday all children were treated to some very special visitors - wild birds from Eagle Heights Wildlife Park.   The children were shown different species of wild bird that included eagles, owls, hawks and many more.  The birds flew and squaked their way around the Hall.   We ended our exciting week with a Key Stage 1 sharing assembly, which was followed by Key Stage 2 'Stars of the Week' and the Golden Ticket Class Winners Assembly.
 
We continue to build the momentum, build the energy and build the improvement in all of our schools.  There are no better places in the world to be when the sun is shining than Haseltine, Kilmorie and Fairlawn.  Do have a wonderful weekend,
 
Mark Wilson
Executive Head teacher

No comments:

Post a Comment