PRINCIPAL's BLOG - 15th September 2023
SAY CHEESE!
Welcome to my weekly blog and I hope you and your families are well and have had a good week. There are a number of important updates and details for parents/carers to read through this week. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at school.
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
We are very excited to announce that on Thursday 21 September 2023, year group and Literacy group photographs are taking place at school.
Your son will have a proof of the photographs in October for your to view and order, if you wish to do so. The proof will also outline the cost to buy any of the photographs.
As these photographs are taking place from 08:30, please may I ask for your support in ensuring your son arrives at school promptly and is wearing his full school uniform on this day.
PE KIT UPDATES
Mr Deeks, Director of Learning for Sport, Creative & Practical Faculty has been working with colleagues from Clive Mark to design a refreshed PE kit that will replace the current kit from September 2024. The information below provides parents/carers the details required regarding the launch and cost of the new kit.
From January 2024 parents will have the option to buy the new PE kit (Further details on how they can do this will come out near the time)
From September 2024 it will be compulsory for all parents to buy the new kit.
The price of the PE kit bundle will be £64.99 - this will include
Midlayer
T-Shirt
Tracksuit bottoms
Shorts
Students have the option to have their initials on the kit at £4.49 per garment
CLASSCHARTS
Following a very successful introduction to our school at the start of last year, we are pleased to inform you that we will continue to use 'Class Charts' this year as a means of sharing information with you about your son’s progress at Lordswood Boys’ School.
You can read the letter from Mrs Greatrix, Vice Principal below. There is also a useful 'Parent Guide' below the letter which you will find useful if you have any difficulties when accessing your son's classcharts account.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROVISION
Mrs McKeon, Director of Learning for Foundation Studies & Extra-curricular has published the first half-term extra-curricular programme today. This was shared with your son during Literacy Time this morning. The programme can be seen below.
Please encourage your son to participate and engage with the programme as these activities provide him with a broader experience whilst at school. Furthermore, he can share details of additional activities that he'd like to see added to the programme via the Junior Leadership Team (JLT) representative in his Literacy group.
Sport fixtures and training schedules for week beginning 18 September 2023
Weekly sports round-up from Mr Janes, Director of Sport
Training Updates
ESA Training / Trials as well as our all inclusive Sporting Clubs began this week as we look forward to another fantastic year of Sport at LBS. On Thursday, the Year 8 Elite Football Squad returned to training, they were also joined by their peers as we look to increase the squad size this year as the students transition to 11 a-side Football. Thank you to our Year 11 student, Bakary, who assisted Mr Janes and supported the students.
Football Cup Fixtures
Please see below the Cup Fixtures for every Year Group in the Birmingham Schools' and West Midlands Competitions:
Year 7
LBS - First Round Bye
LBS v Bishop Challoner
Year 8
LBS v Coleshill
LBS v Alderbrook
Year 9
LBS v Colmers
LBS v Turves Green
Year 10
LBS v Bournville
LBS v Stoke Park
Year 11
LBS v Arthur Terry
LBS v Turves Green
Primary Provision
Next Friday, we will visit Abbey Junior Primary School to deliver Sport, Music and Dance Workshops. We worked very closely with Abbey Junior last year and we look forward to visiting their students once again. We will be taking our Primary Ambassadors to support the sessions, further details will be released next week.
Weekly music round-up from Mrs Lowndes-Ford, Director of Music
MUSIC CLUBS!
Please note that we will be sharing the final version of our weekly music club timetable from next Monday 18th September. There will be a vast array of clubs with some starting on Monday. Please ensure that you look carefully at the opportunities provided which will be shared with you.
On Monday, Vocal Group ( Singers and Rappers) will rehearse at lunchtime. Please ensure you collect a lunchtime music pass in the mornings if you know that you need to attend a club at lunchtime. This will ensure that you have plenty of time to eat lunch before attending.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP AND MORE CLUBS WILL BE ADVERTISED AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THE TERM!
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS
Our visiting instrumental teachers have started lessons with the students this week and it has been a huge success so far. It's wonderful to see so many of our students enjoying and interacting so positively with our Services for Education music staff.
Please note that piano and keyboard lessons will be starting soon as we will have a new member of staff joining us. Parents and students will be notified on days and times of lessons once these have been arranged with the new piano / keyboard teacher.
PASSES TO MUSIC LESSONS AND CHECKING TIMES
Students who received paid for music lessons on instruments MUST carry a white pass card to excuse them from lessons to attend. It is essential that students share these with the Lordswood teaching staff so they can be acknowledged and signed before they attend the music lesson. If a student loses their card, please see Mrs Lowndes - Ford or Miss Jeffs to collect a new card.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW INDIAN DHOL DRUMMING TEACHER MR SINGH - RAI
Lessons have begun for students this week on the Dhol drums. We still have a few spaces left. If you would like to receive a weekly lesson free of charge, please see Mrs Lowndes-Ford asap.
These lessons take place each week from 3-4pm in the music room.
Finally, it's been an absolute delight this week introducing our first curriculum topic to the Year 9 classes. For term 1, students are studying Samba and Calypso music. Students have responded positively to the topic and are already preparing polyrhythmic performances ready to perform in front of their peers next week.
Well done Year 9!
EXTRA NEWS!
There will be a number of extra opportunities coming up this term so please look out for these when advertised!
If you have any questions relating to the details above, please use the contact details below:
Mr Deeks, Lead Professional for PE, j.deeks@lordswoodboys.co.uk
Mr Janes, Director of Sport, d.janes@lordswoodboys.co.uk
I hope you have a good weekend and I look forward to updating you with more news next week. Until then you can always contact me directly at: l.williams@lordswoodboys.co.uk
Mr. L. Williams,
Principal,
Lordswood Boys' School.
Lordswood Boys' School • Hagley Road • Harborne • Birmingham • B17 8BJ
Tel:0121 464 2837
Email: enquiry@lordswoodboys.co.uk
For paper copies of any of the information on this website please refer to our publication scheme