Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
WHERE WILL YOUR BOOK TAKE YOU THIS SUMMER?
Near or far, home or away, books can take us to many amazing places. During the holidays, draw a picture on the front of your postcard to show us where your book has taken you and write a message on the back describing what you have seen. Bring it back after the summer holidays to receive a Matilda bookmark!
Dear families
I am absolutely delighted to share with you that we have a full cohort of 15 pupils joining us into Reception in September. This is quite remarkable as there continues to be a drop in school-age children in our locality. Old Town Primary’s reputation for providing an outstanding experience has filtered into the community and I have all of you to thank for that, as well as our hard-working and dedicated staff, of course.
From September, we will be re-configuring the classes once again in order to sensibly accommodate the different sized cohorts. Wainsgate staff will teach pupils in Reception and Year 1, Wadsworth staff will teach pupils in Years 2, 3 and 4 and Chiserley staff will continue to teach Years 5 and 6. We have already begun work on the curriculum schedule alongside our planned programme of improvement and refinement.
Despite the increased number of children joining the school, our overall numbers on roll remain largely the same due to the large cohort in Year 6 that will leave us at the end of the Summer Term. It could be some time before we return to having four classes – total numbers on roll will need to increase significantly to secure that. In the meantime, I would like to reassure you that the standard of education that we provide is in no way limited. We are experienced and skilled in the curriculum design of mixed age classes and we deploy skilled staff to ensure that all pupils have access to the best possible education.
If you would like to chat with me about any of the changes, or indeed, about any other aspect of your child’s education, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards
Jo Buckley
Dear Families,
Thank you as always for your help and support.
The raffle was a resounding success with £1099 raised though ticket sales. Thank you to all the local businesses and people who have donated gifts.
Here are the list of prize winners…Many Congratulations!
Prize |
Number |
Name |
Hoverboard |
1515 |
Joanne Radcliffe |
Fleur de Lys |
1528 |
Lucy Davies |
Thornton Hall Country Park |
1805 |
Mark Powell |
£50 CALVAG voucher |
1875 |
Dyter |
M&S Apothecary Hamper |
1654 |
Kerry Anderson |
M&S Food Hamper |
385 |
Helen Wilding |
Marco's Voucher |
427 |
Kathleen Beesley |
Shoulder of Mutton voucher |
1077 |
Nicola Busby |
Winnie Dot voucher |
324 |
Lucy Green |
Cardamon voucher |
1703 |
Stacey Wilkinson |
Wild Rose Beauty voucher |
330 |
Hannah Farnell |
Percy Pig Bag & Goodies |
9 |
Lindow |
Post Office voucher |
1581 |
R. Holroyd |
Toy Hamper |
509 |
Kathleen Arber |
Chocolate Bouquet |
1115 |
Fran |
Percy Pig Cushion |
920 |
Aimee Higham |
Wine Aerator |
1191 |
Orlaith Mageean |
Biscuit Hamper |
1373 |
Cobus Daneel |
Body Shop Hamper |
1268 |
Chloe |
Coffee Cali Voucher |
1517 |
Chloe Shaw |
M&S Omballs Bag & Goodies |
1661 |
Liz Helliwell |
Prosecco |
1579 |
Denise Holroyd |
M&S Colin the Caterpillar Bag & Goodies |
422 |
Tansy Lund |
Sweet Pizza |
1748 |
Emma Pilkington |
Dry Bag |
1540 |
Sarah Jones |
Popper Power |
610 |
Sam Newhouse |
Glider |
1395 |
Alcina Ward |
BBQ Marshmallows |
1521 |
Barry (Calvag) |
Many thanks,
From the FOOTS team.
Red Nose Day is back!
Watch out for more information on the newsletter!
Dear families
Having listened to the Covid address yesterday I have decided not to hold the carol service at Wainsgate Chapel. Instead, we will hold the same event in the open air in the school yard. This way, everyone can take part without fear of having put themselves and their family at an increased risk of Covid directly before Christmas.
Our open air service will begin at 2pm tomorrow so please come along, enjoy your children's performances and join us in singing some of our favourite carols.
We will still have a collection for Wainsgate Chapel at the service.
Kind regards
Jo Buckley
Dear families – children in the playground are imitating the TV series Squid Game in their play. I know that the vast majority of children will not have seen any of the show but please be aware that they may now be curious due to what they have heard in the school yard and may attempt to watch the show at home. The series is completely unsuitable for primary aged children due to the nature of the content. Please note the advice shown below.
Thank you
Jo
Dear Families,
As you may be aware this is the week our wonderful choir would normally be heading off to the National Music For Youth Festival in Birmingham. Although things are rather restricted this year we have actually made it to the festival – all be it in a virtual way! Our lockdown virtual rendition of ‘One Moment, One People’ has been judged by a Music For Youth mentor and is featuring on the ‘virtual video wall’ at Birmingham Symphony Hall.
This was our feedback from the mentor:-
‘A lovely vibrant ensemble and what a poignant video to accompany this performance.
This was a great choice of song for the year we have all had.
If you record another video, remember to try and look into the camera. Your faces are as important as your voices! Your smiles light up the screen.
The solos and duets were fantastic! And all the ensemble singing really conveyed the mood of this song. Well done!’
Here is the link to the festival. Our video is featured in the ‘Lockdown Lounge’.
https://www.mfy.org.uk/videos/national-festival-2021/
Thank you to everyone who took part. I’m very, (very, very!) much looking forward to when we are performing live once more!
Mrs Pearce
Dear Families
I have met with the Local Authority and with our Governing Body in light of today's Union advice to school staff.
I am sorry to inform you that there will be operational changes to the education of pupils in classes 2 and 3. Staffing levels are not sufficient for me to be able to guarantee the required safety measures demanded by the current legal guidance and I have reluctantly taken the decision to undertake a partial closure of the school affecting pupils in classes 2 and 3 (Years 2,3,4 and 5).
In the first instance, these two classes will be closed to all pupils tomorrow. It is my intention that the children of key workers from both of these classes will then attend from Tuesday 5th January onwards. I will contact the families who are registered as key workers with us tomorrow.
I know that one or two of you may feel relief at this decision but that for the vast majority of families, this news will come as a real blow. You all know my strong feelings around pupil attendance in school and the very real benefits to pupil attainment and wellbeing so I am sure that you know what an incredibly difficult decision this has been for me to make - particularly so late in the day. I would like to reassure you that high quality remote education for all pupils in classes 2 and 3 will be available from 9am tomorrow morning plus a remote pupil wellbeing service that you are able to access with an email or telephone referral.
Pupils from classes 1 and 4 should come to school as normal from tomorrow.
I will be in touch again tomorrow.
Kind regards
Jo Buckley