Anti-bullying Week

Anti-Bullying Week 2024 is co-ordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. It will take place from the 11th to 15th November 2024 and has the theme ‘Choose Respect’. We will be focusing on this theme through our assemblies and PSHE lessons and the week will kick off with another Odd Socks Day on Monday 11th November – children are invited to wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

Resources and support can be found at: https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week-2024-choose-respect/parents-and-carers

Parents’ Evenings

Parents’ Evenings will be held on Wednesday 23^rd and Thursday 24^th October from 4.00pm until 7.00pm.  Bookings for this event will go live on Monday 7^th October and we ask that appointments are booked in this week. Discussions with your child’s teacher will take place in their classroom (children are welcome to join you at this appointment) and Mr Freear and Mr Wade will be offering tea and coffee in the hall. They will be joined by the school nurse, our uniform supplier and there will be an opportunity to try samples of some of the hot meals – please pop in to say hello.

Digipix Individual pupil photos

On Wednesday 23^rd October, Digipix will be attending the school to take your child’s photograph. The company have informed us that they will take a group ‘sibling’ photograph for those families with more than one child in school and an individual photograph for each child. The ‘proof’ of your family/child’s photograph will be sent home the following day and you can then order online with your completed order sent to your home address.

This year, Straits Choir will be running slightly differently. We are very excited to be taking part in Young Voices (www.youngvoices.co.uk), which is an initiative to provide singing opportunities to young people across the country as part of the world’s largest choir. On the 27^th February 2025, we will be taking 60 Straits pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 to Resorts World Arena in Birmingham to perform a variety of songs to thousands of audience members.

The event on the 27^th February will require us to take a coach to the venue at 12pm to rehearse from 2pm-5pm. The performance takes place 7pm - 8:45pm, and we will then return by coach to arrive at school approximately 11pm. Tickets for the performance at Resorts World will be available to purchase through the Young Voices webpage (further information to follow).

Our Straits Choir will run on Thursdays 3:25pm-4:30pm, beginning on Thursday 12^th September until the performance on the 27^th February.

As previously stated, our choir places are strictly limited, so if you wish for your child to be a part of Straits Choir and part of this experience, we will require the reply slip returned and a £30 payment (to cover cost of child tickets, t-shirts and coach fee) paid via Scopay by Tuesday 10th September. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If you have any questions, please feel free to find me - my classroom is in Year Six.

Kind regards,

Mr Jones

Dates for the autumn term

The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Olympics’ and will include the music of Van Halen, Katy Perry, Spandau Ballet, Shakira and David Bowie, to name a few…

The festival will take place on the field and we will aim to start around 9:30am as the children will need to get changed into their costumes when they get into school. To ensure we are able to keep everyone safe we will only open our gates on Longfellow Road and

Milton Crescent after 9.00am.

The Festival will start with Foundation's dance and then work our way through the year groups up to Year 6. It should all be finished around 11:00am. 

You are welcome to bring a camping chair and you will be able to take photographs for your family album at this event, please note these photos are for your own personal use and not to be shared on social media.

Your child’s class teacher will inform you of any costume/clothing required.

Sports Day (for Foundation, KS1 and KS2) will take place on our school field and you are welcome to join us to support this event. To ensure we are able to keep everyone safe we will only open our gates on Longfellow Road and Milton Crescent after 9.00am.

Timings are as follows:

• 9.15am for Foundation and Key Stage 1
• 10.30am for Key Stage 2

You are welcome to bring a camping chair and you will be able to take photographs for your family album at this event, please note these photos are for your own personal use and not to be shared on social media.

We will send the children home with their PE kits on Tuesday 25^th June and we are asking all children to come to school wearing their PE kits including pumps or trainers on Wednesday 26th June. The children can stay in their PE kit all day but please make sure this is returned to school as soon as possible after Sports Day. Your child could also bring or wear jogging trousers and please ensure your child brings a school sweatshirt/cardigan.

Depending on the weather, we would ask that you apply sun cream before school and perhaps supply a named hat or cap. Children will be allowed to have their water bottles with them during the morning; please ensure these are clearly labelled. If the weather is unsuitable for Sports Day to be held on the Wednesday, we will let you know as soon as possible and the reserve day will be Thursday 27th June.

Throughout this term and next, we will be hosting sessions known as ‘Open the Door @ Straits’. These sessions will allow you the opportunity to join your child in school and learn about aspects of our curriculum and complete an activity with your child. All sessions will be from 9.00am – 10.00am and dates are as follows:

• Wednesday 8^th May – Year 5

Easter Discos – Thursday 21st March

Our Easter Discos will be held on Thursday 21st March at the following times:
• Reception, Years 1 and 2 from 4.00pm – 5.00pm
• Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 from 5.30pm – 6.30pm
No tickets are required for this event as children will pay on the main door as they enter. The price of entry will be £3.00 and this will include refreshments. All children will be dismissed from the back of the hall.