Weekly Newsletter
Friday 23rd July 2021
This week in school
Phew - we made it!
Circus skills, picnics, bowling, bell parade, leavers videos, films, party food, topic days. Tears, laughter, excitement, goodbyes, hellos, drama and fun - we had it all this week. Over the next few weeks I hope to update Facebook with all the fun.
Y6 children have had their own special goodbye newsletter this week. After another eventful year, it may not have turned out to be the Y6 experience we used to provide, but we think the world of each and every one of them and we hope they all know that.
We have a couple of other leavers going today too. We want you to know that we are proud of you and we wish you all the very best in your new schools.
We also said a really sad goodbye to Mrs Osman. She is an excellent teacher, a great colleague and a lovely lady. We will miss her at Brayton but we know she will keep in touch.
On behalf of every member of staff as well as myself, I need to take this opportunity to say a few huge thank yous.
THANKYOU to every member of the staff team for being unbelievably amazing this year. For going above and beyond your duty as ever to try and make another pan-acade-demic year seem completely normal for the children - always for the children. For soldiering on amidst unimaginable expectations, unimaginable pressure and in often impossible situations.
THANKYOU to the parents who have worked with us, not against us, said and done lovely things and been incredibly generous to us all. Your gifts, cards and well wishes show us your support and your belonging to our Brayton family. You are appreciated and valued. Especially when you understood the restrictions we had to work round and didn't blame us for them!!!
THANKYOU to our Starmat colleagues and bosses and to our Local Governing Body. You have been there for us when we had our really difficult circumstances to tackle and you have kept us going with practical advice and support. What a fantastic day it was when Brayton joined the Star Multi Academy Trust.
Most importantly of all THANKYOU to all our children from the 'diddies' to the pre-teens. I'm sure every school thinks their children are the best but they are wrong. OUR children are the best. I couldn't be more proud of each and every one of them. School during a pandemic? Lockdown? Bubble closure? Self isolation? Our children are too busy learning, growing and having fun to worry about all that. So what if it's been a bit different this year - our children haven't moaned or groaned or blamed us for it - they've just got on with the experiences we have been able to offer them. Our children know how to look after each other and how to take responsibility for their behaviour and learning. They are kind and respectful (mostly!) and even when they are hot and grumpy, emotional and tired, they are STILL fabulous.
You all know by now that I am currently working my notice and intend to leave as soon as a very lucky and suitable new Headteacher can be appointed. The MAT and Governors are hard at work making that happen as soon as possible and any time I can update you on this I will. Mrs Clayton, Mrs Burnell and Miss Rushworth have been incredible Senior and Phase Leaders this last few months and they will continue in their roles into the new year. We are very fortunate that our Deputy Headteacher is starting in September so I will have even more support in my role as we transition to a new Headteacher next year.
We are very much looking forward to September and what will hopefully be a return to something that looks a little more normal than anything we have had since March 2020. I am very mindful of the fact that some parents and children don't actually know what that looks like as they began school life during the pandemic within the restrictions. I do hope they will be pleasantly surprised as we are gradually able to be more sociable, have more fundraising events and more learning enhancements can be planned. Imagine next year's sports day? Christmas at St Wilf's? Perhaps a Summer fair? We can't wait!
So, finally, I just want to end with this prayer - I'd be grateful if you could join in with me:
Dear Father in Heaven,
2020 - 2021 is over. It had highs and lows for us all. Thank you for being with us at Brayton C of E Primary School. We have felt your love and your care. Please be with every single member of the Brayton family over the Summer holidays, bless us and keep us all safe and well, until we all meet again in September for the beginning of what we pray will be an even better, even safer and even more enjoyable school year.
Amen
Thank you for your continued support - have a really lovely Summer break.
Mrs R - Proud Headteacher
Whole School Attendance
Excellent attendance - thank you!
A fantastic 332 children had 100% attendance this week.
An amazing 76 children had 100% attendance this year. I've never known such a high percentage in my whole 31 year career - well done!
This week in classrooms
Stars
In Stars this week, we have thoroughly enjoyed spending our final week together, exploring the provision across the curriculum on our Bee theme. We have enjoyed the text Bumblebear, made bees out of play dough, painted bees, squirted pretend honey into our bee hive, and counted bees. We also held our special ‘graduation ceremony’ on Wednesday and celebrated our achievements and accolades. We could not be prouder of each Star if we tried. Wishing you all a wonderful summer break, and a fantastic start to the new school year in September. Take care.
FS/Y1
This week, our super fashion designers from last week became super models as we had great fun modelling our T- shirts. Then we all became circus performers and had a fantastic time learning new skills at our circus and dance workshops.
In the midst of all that we have looked back over the past year and shared some of our memories as well as looking forward by writing letters to our new teachers. Our worship times have also focused on changes and moving forward and we enjoyed Rev Pete zooming in for a worship this week too. And finally, we had our final birthday celebration party! What a full week! Thank you to all our parents and carers for all your support this year. Have a lovely summer!
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
The highlight for Year 4 this week has been marking the end of the year and the end of our topic with a fun-filled beach party in the glorious sunshine. Generous funding from the PTA enabled bubbles to be blown, parachutes to be thrown, beach games to be played with and of course snacks to be eaten and drunk. Great fun was had by all!
What a year it has been! We have welcomed new friends into both Year 4 classes, missed each other dreadfully during the long winter lockdown and become experts with online learning ( well almost). Above all, we have grown, had fun, learned a lot and been very supportive of each other during another unique year. What a truly special bunch our Year 4, soon to be Year 5, children are!
Year 4 wish you all a very happy and safe summer.
Year 5/6
This week in year 5 and 6, we started the week continuing our Native American recounts - what would the Trail of Tears actually have been like? We completed our fractions, decimal and percentage work and also understood what fossils teach us about the past.
The last few days have seen us complete an outdoor learning day based on our class text 'Holes' - who knew grasshoppers tasted so good or that foods aren't really good at getting rid of foot odour? Year 5s have done orienteering, we all had a movie day with year 6 being given the VIP treatment, with their Domino's pizza delivery, leavers party and bowling (Well done Amie-Leigh; what a score!) What a way to finish the final week of school. Take care everybody, you know where we are if you need anything!
Superstar Awards
Clarity Coleman, Joshua Colley, Arthur Shipley, Daniel Cooper-Illingworth, Roan Catton, Harper Lea, Violet Durnin, Clio Moran, Billy Simmonds.
Honey Pot Prize Winners
Extra bee points
10 extra bee points go to:
Best attendance
Red 98%
No red slips
Red, Blue, Yellow and Green - well done!
Hive with the most bee points so far this year
So far this year:
183,644
Blue Hive
CONGRATULATIONS!
Sports Day results
Here are the results:
Fourth place = GREEN HIVE with 3,410 points.
Third place = YELLOW HIVE with 4,400 points.
Second place = BLUE HIVE with 4,910 points.
First place = RED HIVE with 4,940 points.
Congratulations to the Red Hive - you did exceptionally well!