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Message from the Headteacher

It has been a wet and windy week at Woodhill but that has not stopped the children from getting into their new learning this week. Over the course of this week our pupil leaders have been elected and some of them have started their roles by welcoming a visiting Headteacher from New Zealand to discuss the school. Further leaders will be announced over the next week and we look forward to seeing the impact they have in their roles. This week, we have had our Year 5 children visit the National Maritime museum to support their History learning. Coco the new school dog has also started to 'work' and has supported children across the school as he moves towards formally starting interventions and with children providing him with extra training. It was great to welcome parents into classrooms this week on Wednesday for our reading focus. You will have received communication this week about our upcoming World cafe event and parents evenings. For the World cafe event next Friday, we would like children to attend in cultural dress and for parents to come to the event after school. The children will be sharing dishes that they have made during their D&T learning and as usual we welcome parents' support by donating their dishes linked to their heritage.


Here's hoping for better weather over the weekend and next week.


Messages from the office

Safeguarding of the site and Attendance


I am writing to you to clarify a number of important clarifications that affect the start of the day. As with attendance, it is very important that children arrive at school on time each day, every minute missed adds up to a vast amount of learning time lost over the school year. School starts at 8.55 a.m. every day with gates opening at 8.40 and the children going up to their classes to begin registration . Your child will be classified as being late if they are not on the school premises by 8.55. Children who arrive late are greatly disadvantaged because they miss starting the day with their peers and the beginning of lessons. This can be disrupting for the rest of the class and teacher. 


In order to best support children who arrive late from the 30th October we will be reintroducing the late gate. The late gate will be positioned by the main entrance to the office and you will be asked to sign your children in and they will be escorted to class by a member of staff. In line with the school’s safeguarding policy it is important we have to be vigilant of members of the community who are on site and this includes parents. With this in mind we rely on your support in asking parents to refrain from taking themselves around the building without a member of Woodhill staff. We understand that some parents like to take their children to class, however it is important that children develop a sense of independence by taking themselves to class like their peers. If you are concerned about separating from your child then please speak to a member of the leadership team or your child’s teacher and we can support. 


In addition to this we ask for your support in ensuring that if you are waiting for your child to finish an after school club that you wait in the front entrance pen or if it is raining you are welcome to wait in the corridor by the office. We are aware that some parents have been using the hub but as children are still onsite at this time we are required for safeguarding reasons to limit any members of the community being onsite without staff supervision. 


If there are any concerns you may have which you feel prevent you from ensuring your child’s regular attendance and punctuality to school, please contact the school office on 020 8854 5055 or email info@inspirewodhill.co.uk - Thank you for your continued support.

Parents Evening 

We are delighted to confirm Parents Evenings will be taking place on Wednesday 15th November from 3.30pm to 6pm and Thursday 16th November from 3.30pm to 6pm.

This meeting will give you a chance to celebrate the progress your child has made so far this year. We will be able to share an update on your child's attitude to learning and discuss how we can work together to support your child to make the best possible progress. A strong home-school relationship enables children to succeed, therefore it is vital that you attend one of these evenings. If you are unable to attend for any reason please do speak directly to your child's class teacher who will endeavor to arrange an alternative appointment. 

Your meeting will be with your child’s class teacher in person, unless otherwise arranged. Appointments will be ten minutes long. In order to ensure teachers are able to keep to time, please arrive five minutes before your appointment.

 Appointments will be available to book through Arbor from today. It is very simple to make the appointments on Arbor. Please click on the link below for step by step guidance on booking an appointment: Booking Guardian Consultations (Parent’s Evenings) on the Parent Portal or Arbor App

99% of our parent community have an Arbor account. If you are in the 1% and do not have an Arbor account or need help to set it up, please do not hesitate to contact the school office. If you would like any more information, please email the school office on info@inspirewoodhill.co.uk 

Save the Date for Autumn Term 

Theme Day Lunch Menu

We are having a 'Lets Rocket Theme Day Menu that will be taking place on Thursday 09th November. If you wish your child to have a school dinner on this day please let the school office know.

Coco ' The School Mentor Dog'

As your aware Ms Murphy is on Maternity Leave today and therefore Sid will no longer be the school dog. Ms Waterton will be officially introducing her dog, Coco, to the school from Monday 30th October. We know that The Dog Mentor Programme has had a positive influence into the school environment as a whole and look forward to the impact Coco will have on our children. Full training has been given to coco in order to ensure that the welfare of everyone involved is maintained

as a top priority.

 

Please feel free to visit The Dog Mentor’s website and Facebook page for more details and to see some of the schools that have introduced their dogs into school:

 

www.thedogmentor.co.uk

 

www.facebook.com/thedogmentor

 

You can also visit our school website to see a FAQ https://www.woodhillschool.co.uk/news

a draft school dog policy as well as regular updates about Coco's work in the school. We also have a comprehensive risk assessment which was created as part of the rigorous training and bespoke to Coco. If you wish to see this, we can arrange a time to go through it with you

 

I hope that you share our excitement. Please feel free to contact Mr Phillips or Ms McKenna with any questions you may have.


                             What we have learned this week

Year 2 -  Have had an exciting week. The children have begun the first week of their D.T. learning journey; recapping what the 5 food groups are as well as which foods belong to that group. The children have been focusing on nutrition and diet, particularly on Greek food. Year 2 will be making Mediterranean wraps next week but this week there will be a blindfolded food tasting of the ingredients! 

Year 2 also loved having the chance to welcome their adults, as well as a few siblings, into their classroom and host them for their reading morning. The children demonstrated their Woodhill values while showcasing both their magnificent phonics and reading skills. 

Year 5 -  This week y5 visited the Maritime museum to support our History learning journey. We got the chance to see some valuable Viking artefacts including scales, rune stones and a glass ironing stone - which was considered to be so valuable that some women chose for it to be buried with them in their graves! We discovered how Vikings have historically been portrayed to be mean, antisocial and thieves, but they were actually quite sociable and loved getting to know other cultures and countries. 

Both Beech Tree and Willow Tree Classes enjoyed exploring the museum and Miss Ali and Mrs Aoumeur are proud of y5 for demonstrating the school values and behaviours.


Community Support, Events & Activities

Celebrate light festivals from across the globe at 'Autumn Night Lights in Woolwich' 

From Tuesday 26 October to Sunday 5 November, the Royal Borough of Greenwich will transform General Gordon Square in Woolwich for the first ever Autumn Night Lights events. 

Part of the Woolwich Lates programme, the eleven days of activity will celebrate autumn and light festivals from across the world, including Harvest, Moon Festival, Diwali, Hannukah and Bonfire Night.  

The square will come alive with street food, crafts and produce traders, free fun activities for children, fun fair rides and live entertainment for all ages. From dusk, a spectacular light tunnel will perfectly frame your autumnal selfies and trees will be illuminated with colourful, interactive lighting.  

Free story times, arts and crafts and mascot meets will keep little ones entertained, while the fun will continue after dark with music and dance performances.  

Birthday & Merits

Acorns - Arthur

Saplings - Leo & Milo

Hazel - Emmanuella

Hawthorn - Evie-Cecilia

Willow - Ava

Silver Birch - Renae-Nevaeh & Abdulmalik

Aspen - Kabba

Rowan - Bidemi

Beech - Soni & Mason

Cedar - Jebriel

Acorns - Jack & Demba

Saplings - Erin & Leo

Hazel Tree - Beau & Andrea

Pine Tree - Pemisire & Harry

Hawthorn - Kairi & Marcelo

Rowan - Lorin & Lyla

Aspen  - Ella & Safa

Chestnut - Bleu & Zoe

Cherry  - Aayung & Jay

Juniper  - Freya & Rachel

Silver Birch - Kaylen & Firdaos

Willow - Kai & TJ

Beech - Anuj & Ebubekir

Oak  - Damon & Ellie

Cedar - Ronnie-Lee & Megan

                Dates for your diary


           

  Pupil Voice

What is Chartwells?


Chartwells is a healthy food company that organises healthy eating throughout schools with the aim of promoting a balanced diet. They ran a workshop on the importance of eating foods that represent each colour of the rainbow. We learned that a balanced diet consists of mostly fruits, vegetables, proteins, calcium rich foods and carbohydrates; with a small helping of dairy, fats ,sugar and oil. Since the workshop we have tried to improve our diet by convincing our parents to buy more wholegrains.

Written by Nilton, Alice, Rebecca and Naiara in year 6

Bikeability 

Bikeability is a great opportunity to learn how to ride a bike confidently and professionally. It is a good exercise; it also helps gain strong leg muscles. I learnt how to ride on major and minor roads/main and side roads- safely by doing regular checks of what position to ride in like secondary or primary position, who has priority, and how to get on and off the bike safely. Additionally, I learnt how to start and stop on the visibility line so you can see and be seen. It was fun to do drills like riding up hills and what gear to change to. Also, doing U-turns by the Royal Artillery Barracks.  


Written by Nilton, Alice, Rebecca and Naiara in year 6