Paddock Wood Primary Academy

Newsletter

Mrs Fidock's news update

This is a bumper newsletter, after an extremely busy week. Unfortunately, our Year 2's have been out this week, but we're looking forward to having them back on Tuesday for the last few days.

Wednesday was our 'Thank You' day and the children (and staff) did a brilliant job of thanking our community for all their support during Covid and beyond. Not only was it a chance for us to thank them, it also allowed the children to come together and celebrate their resilience and achievements over the last year. Scroll down to hear the songs and see the canvas' - Y2 still to come!

Next week we have our final few days and with the remainder of events for our current Year 6. This year group have been utterly brilliant and are definitely secondary ready with their independence, sense of humour and attitude to learning - I know all the staff could not be prouder of the young people they have become.

We have all been reflecting this week on the last year and what this has meant for us as individuals, as colleagues and as a community. It's not been easy, but together we have (nearly) reached the end of another academic year and are already looking forward to September and what this will bring.

Whilst restrictions will be lifting on Monday evening, we will continue to keep all our current arrangements in place until the end of term, please help us reach the summer holidays safely by adhering to the plans in place.

Enjoy the sunshine this weekend.

Mrs Fidock

Proud@paddockwood

As we approach the end of Term 6 we still have lots to celebrate. We have been really proud of …

Millie with her WW2 inquiry.

Millie 6C

A superb example of an independent inquiry undertaken by Millie. You can see the detail that she has added and the way she has chosen to present her learning. Well done. Agency in action.

Skyla 2K

Skyla in 2K won this cup for Ballet, she loves performing and clearly all of her hard work is paying off and I'm sure there are many more trophies to come in the future. Well done Skyla.

Skyla with her ballet trophy.
Daisy with her brightly coloured inquiry diary.

Daisy 6C

Daisy has worked really hard on her Inquiry Diary and we agree! This has been her independent learning and she has demonstrated agency in her approach. Well done Daisy, we are super proud of you.

Photo of William in his football kit.

William 5P

This year for football I was chosen to go to a six week trial for my district and hopefully, make it through successfully; I knew that this would be a big step in my football career and I felt really confident and positive I would make it through. In the first week of my trial I felt slightly nervous and began to doubt myself; however, as the weeks passed, I began to get used to the pitch and the players I was up against.


Personally, doing this trial boosted my footballing skills particularly my understanding of what was happening on the pitch and how I could affect it. Whilst training, I would always think about becoming a professional football player and one day even playing for England.

After the final football session, the coach congratulated us on making it this far and that even if we didn’t make it through that we should use it as a motivator to come back next year even stronger.


At the end of my 6 weeks, I didn’t doubt myself one bit and came back home feeling extremely positive. The day after - Tuesday - was probably one of the best days of my life! I was selected to represent West Kent District! Once I heard the news I told myself that now I was in, that I should work twice as hard and keep on pushing myself past my limits. Out of the 100 that trialled, 24 were chosen and I am so proud that one of them is me.


William 5P

Phoenix Dance

Laura from Phoenix Dance shared the following photos of some of our children taking part in the Carnival last weekend. Well done to all those that took part and thank you to Laura for keeping them going during Lockdown and beyond. We're looking forward to Phoenix Dance to returning to PWPA next year.



Phoenix Dance

There were 57 Phoenix Dancers from Paddock Wood Primary Academy that took part and they put on the best performance. After taking classes online on Zoom for so long this was such a huge achievement and every child had a huge smile on their faces. Laura reported that 'It was a very emotional moment!'.

6H conquer Go-Ape

6H had a wonderful day at Go Ape, showing resilience and enthusiasm when completing the high ropes. But, in particular, Adam D and Paige G took huge risks and overcame their fears, to complete the Treetop Adventure. Well done to them both.

Poppy and Francesca with their evolution inquiries.

Poppy & Francesca 6C

Poppy and Francesca have created an Evolution timeline for their inquiry. They have summarised the key points and then used a pop-up to add interest and to help draw the audience into their learning. Well done, you've certainly created an eye-catching and informative piece of learning.

Office Messages

Year 6 ParentPay account balances
As the Year 6 children move on to new adventures, please check your ParentPay account and pay any overdue debts. If your account is in credit this will be refunded to your ParentPay account by the end of next week. You will then need to login to your account to withdraw this money back to your bank account. If however there is still a sibling attending our school, any debt/credit will be transferred to their account.

Year 6 bus passes
Year 6 children will be bringing home their free KCC bus pass today. These allow the children to travel on any bus route in Kent from 22 July to 31 August for free.

Medicines
Please ensure you take any medicines kept in the classroom home on the last day of term.

Dates ahead

Some dates for your diary:

19.07.21 6C to Bedgebury, Go Ape.

20.7.21 Y6 Fun Day - further information about parents will follow.

20.7.21 Y6 Leavers Assembly - arrangements TBC

21.7.21 Last Day for all pupils.

27.08.21 & 31.8.21 Inset Days

31.8.21 Transition Sessions for new EYFS - sign up at the office please

1.9.21 Years 1 - 6 return

2.9.21 New EYFS start

things to do in kent this summer...

Are you looking for things to keep the children entertained this summer? Below are some ideas in Kent.


Kent County Summer Fayre - The Kent County Agricultural Society is pleased to bring you the Kent County Summer Fayre on 10 and 11 July, showcasing the very best of what 'The Garden of England' has to offer. Open 9am to 5pm at Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone ME14 3JF.


Hever Festival Theatre - Showcasing their largest festival ever including music acts, theatre, family shows, Operas and films. The festival offers a full programme of vibrant and varied performances across four very different and spectacular venues in the award-winning gardens of Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn.


Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade - A spectacular free public art installation is in Maidstone now. From 19 June to 21 August a herd of fabulously colourful and unique elephants will take you on a free walking trail around Maidstone. At the end of the summer each of the large Elmer’s will be auctioned to raise funds for Heart of Kent Hospice, enabling them to continue to provide outstanding Hospice care and support to local families.


Penshurst Place Summer Camps - Held in safari-style tented woodland camps, with beautiful bell tents, large tipis and yurts. Camp Wilderness is all about getting back-to-basics on a good old fashioned summer camp adventure… whether you’re hoping to re-wild your kids or get the whole family back outdoors there’s a wilderness escape for everyone at Camp Wilderness.


Ramsgate Week - 18 to 23 July - Postponed from last year, Ramsgate week is often referred to as a friendly alternative to Cowes week. Visitors are welcome to come and absorb the breathtaking views from the Royal Temple Yacht Club and take a break from all the action.


Dreamland Summer Social - now until 27 August - This new event will run all summer long and is set to be the hottest spot in Kent. The Dreamland Summer Social is the ultimate open-air pub experience, bringing together delicious street food, amazing live DJs and a variety of sports coverage on the large screen


Westgate Scarecrow Festival 17 to 24 July - The scarecrows will be located all around the Town of Westgate on Sea, so be prepared to do plenty of walking using a trail map of the scarecrows to help you locate them all!

Reconnect Update

We are pleased to inform you of some exciting opportunities being made available to children and young people in Kent by businesses and community organisations who are working with us to make Reconnect a success. These include:

  • Free travel on buses

  • Free learning opportunities

  • Discounted leisure centre offer

  • Locality events.

Please see an overview leaflet of all the opportunities currently available.

Some offers will be available free or at discounted prices to those on benefits related free school meals. We have created an electronic Reconnect voucher that will be distributed to eligible families through Wonde. The same company will issue supermarket vouchers to FSM families to help ensure their children do not go hungry during the holidays. Families will receive £90 per eligible child (6 weeks at £15 per week).

The Reconnect voucher can be used by families to evidence their child’s eligibility for a free place at Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) provision (they are eligible for four hours of provision, four days a week, for four weeks), and to access the Reconnect leisure centre offer (a six week membership for £25 - discounted to £10 for those with a voucher). If this discounted offer, or costs related to any offer in the overview leaflet, is still a significant barrier for any of the children and young people you work with, there may be additional funding available through Headstart’s Talents and Interests grant scheme. There is more information about how to access this route in the overview leaflet.

Sign up to the Reconnect newsletter.

See the Reconnect: Kent children and young people website. We have also created a Reconnect Facebook page. We need some help with getting this page to parents, carers and young people, so we would be grateful if you could share this with your networks, colleagues and any young people you work with. We also need you to like it, so it becomes more prominent in searches.

If you have any questions, please contact the Reconnect team at the email address reconnect.kentcyp@kent.gov.uk.

Reconnect - Holiday Activities and Food Programme

The Holidays Activities and Food (HAF) Programme have published the most recent list of funded providers. The Programme offers enriching activities, nutritional food, support for families and new experiences. Funded places are for children and young people eligible for benefits related Free School Meals (4 to 16 years) and are able to attend four weeks of HAF provision free of charge during the summer. Families and agencies should contact programmes directly to discuss their offer and bookings.


Further information can be found here and links to apply for discounts etc.

https://www.kelsi.org.uk/news-and-events/news/primary/reconnect-summer-opportunities


Bewl Water Outdoor Centre

As the weather starts to improve, our popular weekend and holiday watersport taster sessions have restarted at the Bewl Water Outdoor Centre for the Summer!

If you, or people you know, are looking to get outdoors to participate in a Covid-safe activity, do consider looking at the watersport sessions at Bewl Water Outdoor Centre! You can find out more on The Education People website.


You could try kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing) for £20 for an hour! You can watch this short video to find out more. Our taster sessions are supervised by qualified instructors and follow all government Covid-19 guidelines. These sessions are open to all aged 5+ (with parent or carer assistance for 5 to 8 year olds). If your child is under eight, please call 03000 41 52 00 to talk to a member of staff about the best way for your child to enjoy the session safely.

Should the taster session whet your appetite, there are additional watersport courses (such as sailing, windsurfing and canoeing) available through Bewl Water Outdoor Centre too. You can find a full list of available courses on TEP’s website.

Please note that places are limited (due to Covid-19 restrictions) so booking is essential. To book places please visit our website, email bewl.water@theeducationpeople.org or call 03000 41 52 00.

Coming soon - feeling adventurous? Try out your head for heights on our fabulous climbing wall. Learn the basics of climbing from the ground up with our friendly instructors. A sturdy pair of trainers is all you need to get going. Our specialised climbing instructors will show you the basic moves and techniques and then help you challenge yourself and your friends. Your safe return to ground is ensured by our auto-descender - which gently brings you back to earth once you reach your limit. Keep your eye out for more information!

Photo of Miss Willis.

Pen Portrait

Miss Willis Year 5

Favourite colour: Blue

Favourite food: Chocolate

Hobbies: Camping and Shopping

Favourite book: Me before you by Jojo Moyes

Favourite quote: Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I would love to go to Lapland and stay in a glass igloo so that I could lay in bed at night and look up at the Northern Lights.


thank you day ~ paddock wood primary academy 2021

Wednesday 14th July 2021 was our 'Thank You Day'. The children and staff wanted to recognise groups in our community that had supported us as an Academy, but also offered wider support to local residents. Each class created a canvas and then also learnt a song or some words to add to their presentation. A representative from each of the following community groups then arrived for their 'Thank You' presentation.

Reception: The Lions

Year 1: St. Andrew's Church

Year 2: Community Storehouse (Will happen next Tuesday)

Year 3: PTA

Year 4: Waitrose

Year 5: Post Office

Year 6: NHS

Singing.mp4

Year 4's Thank You song to Waitrose

Year 4 children with their canvas for Waitrose, which says 'One World, many communities, thank you for taking care of ours'.

Year 4 Thank You canvas for Waitrose

Year 5 children with our representative from the post office, with their canvas which shows a postbox and lots of little envelopes with individual messages.

Year 5's Thank You canvas for the Post Office

IMG_6442.MOV

Year 5's Thank You song to the Post Office / Mrs Postman

Year 3's canvas, showing children's drawings of themselves and little messages, saying 'thank you' to the PTA.

Year 3's Thank You canvas to the PTA

Copy of VID_20210714_133809.mp4

Year 3's Thank You song to the PTA

Brightly coloured canvas with a rainbow and NHS in the middle, saying 'Thank You.

Year 6's Thank You canvas to the NHS

VID_20210714_143356.mp4

Year 6's Thank You song to the NHS

Thank You Song.mp4

Reception's Thank You song for The Lions

Canvas made of finger prints - showing a tree, ladybirds, caterpillars and bees with the words 'Thank You' underneath.

Reception's Thank You canvas for The Lions

Photo of Year 1 children and the representatives from St. Andrew's Church.

Year 1's Thank You canvas

for St. Andrew's Church

IMG_2490.MOV

Year 1's Thank You song

for St. Andrew's Church

Year 5 Flour babies

This week we were given a bag of flour to be used as a baby. We had to take care of our baby until Friday.


We did this because in our science we have been learning how much time and effort you have to put into looking after a baby. We have learnt how to be patient, responsible, caring, selfless and organised!


One of our favourite activities was making items for our baby, including blankets, pillows and rattles. We also wrote baby books, used the Chromebooks to create price lists for baby products and used our area and perimeter knowledge to design their bedrooms!


This has been an amazing experience and a great way to end Year 5.


Covid Rules from Monday 19th July and into September

RP150.0 Contact Tracing Journey .pdf

As you know, the Prime Minister announced on 12 July that Step 4 of the roadmap would go ahead on 19 July.

One of the key changes that will take place from 19 July is that education and childcare settings will no longer be asked to conduct routine contact tracing. As with positive cases in any other setting, NHS Test and Trace will work with either the positive case – or in the case of children – the parents, carers or guardian of the positive case to identify close contacts.

NHS Test and Trace already manages the contact tracing process for the rest of society – including children who have recorded a positive PCR test – and has expertise in supporting people to identify close contacts.

I will be writing to you with all the current guidelines before the end of the year, but the slides have the key information you may need.

As we mentioned in our last newsletter. This is the poster for the FEAST meals over the summer holidays, should this be useful.

PUPIL PEN PROFILES

Thank you to all of you who have returned your child's Pupil Pen Profile. These are currently being processed but the information will be used to support transition. Once your child has had a few weeks with their new class teachers in September any extra support can be determined and noted on their profiles. These will then be shared with you in September. Please be aware these are working documents that will be updated termly or when necessary. With this in mind, please continue to send in relevant documents (other services such as paediatricians, speech and language, etc.) to the office so we can add this to their records.

Have a wonderful summer break.


Mrs Milligan - Inclusion Lead

SALUS Summer Activities 2021.pdf

SALUS Summer activites

SALUS has organised some summer activities in Paddock Wood and the surrounding areas. There is no need to book, just turn up.

If you would like to attend the "Flip Out" trip please contact becci.gough@salusgroup.org.uk to book in advance.