Easter Update from Mrs Ellis 2024
10 January 2024
27th March 2024
Dear parents and carers,
As we approach the Easter break, here are a few updates and news items to share with you.
Morning Drop Off
Sadly, our lovely, old-fashioned school bell has come to the end of its life after many years of use and repairs. Therefore, from Monday 15th April (our first day back after Easter), instead of a bell, a member of staff will blow the whistle to call children to line up in their usual places each morning. Teachers have been practicing this with the children over the past week or two so that they know about the change. They may need a little prompting from you for the first day or two, but I am sure they will quickly adjust. The start times for each class have not changed.
Lunchtimes
After Easter, all children who have a school dinner will be issued with a coloured lunch band each day to show which meal choice they have made. Currently, only children in reception and key stage one are given these. This should help to ensure that all children, in all classes, get the meal they have selected and help lunchtimes run more smoothly for all.
Communication
Getting communication right is never easy in any organisation. Over the past year we have been monitoring the types, and volume, of planned communication we send out each week. These include letters from myself each month, class curriculum letters, class trips and visits and information from local community groups about events etc. To try to make it easier for families to know when to expect planned communications, we will now send most of these planned communications from school on a Wednesday or Thursday. Where extra-curricular clubs are run by external bodies, we will send any information from them as soon as they provide it to us so this may be on a different day of the week. Sporting event information from Mr Brotherton will continue to be sent as needed.
Any additional unplanned communications which are needed (e.g. head lice letters, reminders to send in sunscreen etc) will be sent as needed.
We hope that having two main days of the week for planned communication will make it easier for families to know when to expect mail into your inboxes. We will continue to monitor communication and are happy to take any feedback regarding the new approach when it has had time to settle in.
Choir and Sports Teams
Last Saturday, our choir performed a wonderful concert of music alongside the White Rose Concert Band from Harrogate. The evening was well attended and it was universally acknowledged that the children performed wonderfully. Well done to all of our amazing singers.
Many of our sports teams have been out an about this term representing the school in a wide range of sports. Whatever the result of the games and events they take part in, we are always pleased to hear that they have played well, played fairly and been respectful to other competitors. Congratulations to all those who have represented the school so well this term.
Wraparound Care
Thank you to everyone who completed the survey about additional school led wraparound care. Now that we have the data, our next step is to undertake financial modelling to establish if it is financially viable for us to provide additional provision on top of that already provided by Shadwell Childcare. We will keep you updated at each stage of the process.
Shadwell in Bloom Poster Competition
The judging team from Shadwell in Bloom have been in school recently to judge the posters the children in KS1 and KS2 entered into their art competition. They selected two winners from each class as well as a highly commended poster and an overall winner for the school. All of the winners have been notified of their success. The winning posters will be displayed from Easter onwards around the village in locations such as The Red Lion Pub, The Post Office, village library and St. Paul’s Church to name a few. The judges commented on the high quality of the artwork of all entries and the amount of effort and thought all children had clearly put into their work. Do look out for the entries around the village and we hope you enjoy seeing them.
Future Dates
The class curriculum letters with dates for each class will be sent out at the start of next term. The next Progress Cafes are in June and dates will be sent early next term to enable families to book time off work as needed.
All that remains is for myself and the staff team to wish everyone a restful break and we look forward to welcoming the children back to school on Monday 15th April.
Kind Regards,
Mrs Ellis
Shadwell Head of School
Leeds Federation
Inspiring Inclusive Community