Paddock Wood Primary Academy
Newsletter
Mrs Fidock's news update
Week 2 and things continue to move with pace here at Paddock Wood. We are all looking forward to the Sponsored Event at the end of next week and we're all hoping to raise as much money as possible to help with our Outdoor Learning provision, so please keep going with the sponsorship. The last 2 years has taught us that the ability to be outside and engaging with nature really can help both our physical and mental health - whilst we always knew this, the importance of it has become even more apparent.
Over the next few weeks I will be spending more time in classes to get to know both the children and the staff, I've already been in Y1 writing about the 3 Little Pigs, telling the time and phonics. Thank you too to all those parents who have introduced themselves to me - it's been lovely to start to understand a little more about this community that I am becoming part of. The PTA meeting this week demonstrated the support that you all play in helping us make Paddock Wood the very best for our children - thank you to all those that volunteer their time and we hope to recruit more parents next year.
As I explained in my letter earlier this week, with the Covid restrictions in place until the 19th July we have had to plan our events without parents. We know how much you will miss attending these, but we will be posting photos of each event on Google Classroom - so keep your eyes peeled.
Have a lovely weekend.
Proud@paddockwood
Following on from last week, we are extremely proud of the following people:
Juliette 5A
Juliette has just won Polhill Garden Centre's Young Gardener of the Year!
I attach a link to their blog which says all about it.
Blog Archives - Polhill Garden CentrePolhill Garden Centre
She was very excited as she didn't know her parents had entered her and she came home from school last Friday to discover she had won! She then got to go to Polhill on Tuesday and was presented with her certificate and many many prizes.
She's also just donated 46cm of her hair to the Princess Trust - who make wigs for children and young people that don't have hair.
Well done Juliette.
George 6C
Let me explain why you should always try your best and never give up on your dreams, even if you have doubts.
In Year 5, I was put forward by the school coach for a trial for West Kent district SFA,(Schools Football Association). I was the only one from my school although that doesn't mean anything because I tried my best even though I didn't know anyone there. Consequently I made it through and into the team. I made new friends and, at the end of the year (2020 and start of 2021), I was told that I would have to trial for another district. I now needed to move to the Tonbridge and Malling district, because of the school I am going to. This was a real shame seeing as I would have to leave all my friends behind - I found out that some of my friends from West kent were going, so I felt a little bit better and I made it in! Once a West Kent keeper, now a Tonbridge and Malling defender.
Never give up. You only fail when you don’t try.
Wilf 5W
Wilf decided to cut his hair to raise money for the charity Grief Encounter and he then donated the hair to the Little Princess Trust.
"I have been growing my hair for nearly three years and have decided to get it cut to raise money for a good cause. When thinking of a charity I wanted one that helped people who feel sad because someone has died."
To date he has raised £1335.
4D
Introducing the self-named 'Wombles of Paddock Wood'. They have decided that they want to take care of the school environment & have taken it upon themselves to organise a litter pick around the school.
Year 1
Year 1 have been busy harvesting some of their vegetables from Term 5 this week. The children grew all sorts of flowers, fruits and vegetables and really enjoyed digging in the dirt, sowing the seeds and caring for the plants. Just look at the children's wonderfully colourful radish harvest below. Well done Year 1!
Sebastian 4M
During half-term Sebastian climbed Ben Nevis. What a feat!
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland and the United Kingdom. The summit is 1,345 metres above sea level and is the highest land in any direction for 459 miles. Ben Nevis stands at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Highland region of Lochaber, close to the town of Fort William.
All of these children have demonstrated a range of our Learner Profile Attributes, which include being:
Inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective.
To find out more about these Learner Profile Attributes go to:
2B
Look at these amazing Bee pictures from 2B (or maybe 2Bee?) . The children have observed closely, not just the shape of the body and wings, but the filigree detail too. We are so impressed with their focus and concentration to get these completed.
Well done 2B!
Millie 5P
"During half term, I had a horse competition at Romney Marsh Pony Club in Flimwell with my horse Molly. The first rosette I won was a sixth place rosette for the 60cm pairs jumping. My favourite of all of the rosettes was my double clear for 50cm jumping. Lastly, I got many rosettes in the gymkhana games. One first place in the cup race, two seconds in the bending and corners, one third and one fourth. Also I got a medal for being the overall winner of the gymkhana games! I feel very pleased with what I achieved.
Curriculum corner
Each week we want to give you ideas to enable you to support your child at home with a particular aspect of the curriculum. Our subject leaders will be sharing hints and tips to help you along the way and will be offering further ideas and resources that you might like to access at home. This week our focus is....Art.
Art in Nature
To tie in with the outdoor learning focus and to help us enjoy the lovely weather...if it lasts...here are some ideas to make art in nature. As the roses, paeonies and other flowers start to lose their petals, perhaps make these into a piece of transient artwork. You could use just leaves, sticks or stones and create patterns or logos.
We'd love to see your creations so please send them in and we can try to share them on the next newsletter.
Office Messages
Payments
Please remember to top up your ParentPay account regularly to ensure you are always in credit. Meals and club bookings must be paid for in advance.
Booking Deadline
The booking deadline for the Year 6 end of year events is next Friday 25th June, please make payment via ParentPay.
Gentle Reminder
We know that from time to time we all forget things, but as far as possible could you please ensure your child has everything they need for the day when you drop off. This should include: snack, hat and sun-cream if appropriate, coat, books etc. With Covid measures it's very disruptive to keep interrupting classes and learning to collect things, as the staff have to collect from the office. Thank you for your help with this.
Dates ahead
Some dates ahead for your diary.
Some of these will depend on either weather (and if wet we may have to rearrange) or Covid guidelines which are subject to change. Times for Sports Day will be confirmed for each year group.
24.6.21/25.6.21 Sponsored Fun Run Events - no parents
5.7.21 Y2 Sports Day AM / Y1 Sports Day PM - no parents
6.7.21 Y3 Sports Day AM / EYFS Sports Day PM - no parents
7.7.21 Y5 Sports Day AM / Y4 Sports Day PM - no parents
6J to Leeds Castle
8.7.21 Whole School Transition
9.7.21 Y6 Sports Day AM - no parents
12.7.21 6C to Leeds Castle
13.7.21 Y6 to Chessington
14.7.21 Thank You Day and early finish for all children at 2pm please: The Trust have booked this as a celebration event for all schools to recognise the resilience of our academy community during Covid. This will be an early finish for all children and there will not be an after-school club provision on this day.
15.7.21 6H to Leeds Castle
16.7.21 Y6 Fun Day - further information about parents will follow.
20.7.21 Y6 Leavers Assembly - arrangements TBC
21.7.21 Last day for all children
Covid Measures
Following the Government road map being delayed until July 19th, we please ask that you continue to follow the guidelines in place:
Follow the one-way system around the school at drop off and pick up for children and parents.
Continue to wear a face covering whilst on the school site - we understand that in the warmer weather that this is uncomfortable, but staff are wearing them in school in all communal areas as well.
We will continue to operate the bubbles in school.
Children to continue to wear their PE kit into school on their PE day.
No visitors allowed in the main office, unless an appointment has been made.
Academy Displays
Whilst the Academy might have been closed to visitors, the learning has continued.
Scroll through some photos of the learning from Key Stage 2 to see what the children have been up to.
In our selection this week we have:
Inquiries into the Learner Profile Attributes
Learning based around William Shakespeare's Macbeth
Maths Inquiry Learning
French culture learning with the children making French shops and learning about their architecture in the process
Learning from when the children visited Wildwood
Inquiry into the link between nature and art with the flower artwork
Inquiry into how the choices we make affect our physical and mental health
A central idea and learning about how plants and young animals have specific needs in order to grow and stay healthy
Examples of Y6 writing
We will take more photos around the school displays to share with you soon.
Pen PoRtrait of the week:
Mrs Fidock
Favourite colour: Dark Green
Favourite food: Ice-Cream, most flavours.
Hobbies: Gardening, reading, walking and singing
Favourite book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Favourite quote: 'There is freedom waiting for you. On the breezes of the sky. Any you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, what if you fly?'
Erin Hanson
If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
I would go back to New Zealand. It's where I went on my honeymoon with my husband 18 years ago, I would love to go back with my children and show them what the other side of the world looks like!
Staffing News
I'd like you share with you the latest staffing news.
Sadly, at the end of term we say goodbye to the following staff;
Pip Brown (LSA) is retiring after working at Paddock Wood for so long we think it might be forever. We wish her a peaceful and happy retirement and thank her for all her work over the years.
Lizzie Payne (Teacher 2P) is moving on to an exciting new role as Head of Girls Games at Somerhill. We know that Lizzie has been the driving force behind Outdoor Learning and we are now looking at taking this forward without her in September.
Jen Armstrong (Teacher 5A) will be taking up a new teaching position at another Kent school. I know that she has enjoyed her time at Paddock Wood and we'd like to thank her for all her hard work over the last few years.
Happy News
Mrs Pointing is expecting her first baby in October, so whilst she will be back in September this will only be for a while. We would like to wish her and her husband congratulations.
We are now just taking stock of the staffing we have in place for September and working out who will be where in September. We will have this finalised for our transition day on the 8th July.