Belton News
May 2016- 5

Wednesday4th May

Parent Mail – a reminder that Parent Mail has recently been upgraded. We hope the new features, including the APP, will be an improvement to this service. As part of the upgrade process you will be receiving a text or email from Parent Mail with a link for you to verify your account and set a new password. Once completed you will be able to access the new system, including the APP which will allow you to see letters and make payments via your phone.

If you have any difficulty accessing the new site please contact the school office team who will be able to help.

33% of you have already upgraded – thank you!

The Queen’s Birthday Celebration

As a school we will be marking the Queen’s Birthday with our own Celebrations on Thursday 26th May. We will be having a red, white and blue themed day focusing on our changing society over the 90 years of Her Majesty’s life time.

The school meals service has planned a Party themed lunch which we hope to be eating outside in a street party style. More details will follow shortly.

Statutory Tests

Statutory testing for both Year 6 and Year 2 will be taking place during May. Year 6 will sit theirs next week inline with a formal timetable. The SATs give a formal indication of where pupils are working in relation to the new English and Maths expectations for their year group. Teacher assessments also form an important part of this process but look at pupils’ achievements on a wider basis taking into account the full range of subjects as well as their personal and social development. This information is shared with the secondary schools as part of the Year 6 transition process at the end of the year along with the SAT results.

Weare able to organise for the Year 2 pupilsto take their tests at any point during May. These are delivered in a more informal manner and are used to support our teacher assessments at the end of the year.

Medicines In School

We have recently reviewed our policies linked to medical issues in school. As part of this process Governors have now agreed that we are able to administer medicine to pupils in certain circumstances. This will usually be for a short period of time only eg to finish a course of antibiotics once a pupil is physically fit to return to school. Allowing medicines to be administered by school staff in these circumstances will minimise the time that pupils need to be absent.

Only prescribed medication, accompanied by a completed ‘Request for Administration of Medication’ form, will be administered. The policy, ‘Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions’, and the form can be accessed from the Policies Page of the school’s website or from the school office. For more information please contact Mrs Scott.

These changes do not affect pupils who have long term medication needs such as inhalers, or have an individual Health Care Plan within school.

After School Clubs

As part of our safeguarding procedures registers are taken at the beginning of each after school club, this ensures we can account for the children we are expecting to stay in school. Should a child not be staying for a session, for any reason, we require confirmation of this from a parent or carer – for safety reasons we are unable to release a child from a club without this.

What’s been happening in school.

  • Team England celebrated St George’s day with a non-uniform day. They led the celebrations taking an assembly for the rest of the school.
  • Cross Country

Last Friday 107 pupils, nearly half the school, went to an Isle cross country event at South Axholme. I would like to congratulate all those who took part with such enthusiasm despite the dreadful weather conditions – well done!

  • STEM Project

Last week our KS2 pupils were involved in technology workshops provided through the STEM project which aims to engage and enthuse pupils in Science and Technology. Each year group spent a whole day working in teams to design, make and test models to a set design brief. The projects included making wind turbines, hovercrafts, self propelled buggies and rockets. The development of learning skills such as team work, perseverance and problem solving were key features of the week. Each day finished with the models being put to the test – with great excitement and varying levels of success!

Due to the success of the week we have already made a booking for the project to come back into school next year and for the project to be extended to include our younger pupils.

Check out the photos from the workshops on our website

  • Reading Stars

A group of Y5 & 6 pupils made their second visit to the Scunthorpe United Study Centre as part of a literacy skills development project. Pupils have been involved in interviewing players and writing match reports as well as accessing new football themed reading materials.

Forth Coming Events

  • Residential Visits

Year 5 Kingswood Visit – we have our fingers crossed that the weather is kind to our Year 5 group as they go off on their residential visit this week. Come rain or shine I know they are going to have a fantastic time and look forward to seeing the photos on their return.

The Year 6 Residential Visit takes place later this month. We are once again going to Grinton Lodge, a Youth Hostel in North Yorkshire.

  • Friday 13th May – Y1/2 Football skills sessions at South Axholme alongside other Isle schools.

Community Information - Callconnect – local free bus service

Callconnect is a free service that aims to help local residents get around the Isle. To register either phone 0345 2638139 or visit the website . Once registered, people can book a bus 24hrs prior to requiring it. The service could be useful for accessing the Children’s Centre, doctor’s surgeries, the leisure centre, Epworth swimming pool etc.

With regards

Sarah Groves