Paddock Wood Primary Academy

Newsletter

Mrs Fidock's news update

Year 6 are back and full of stories from Scotland - it's been lovely to have them back in the building, we did miss them! Still lots of up and coming events in the last 3 weeks of this term. On 13th July we will be having an open afternoon from 3pm - 5pm where you can come in to class to see the children's learning and talk to the class teacher informally about the reports. We will also have out on display books and learning from EYFS - Y6 so you can see how Inquiry builds across the year groups and the final project portfolios that Y6 produce.

Sports Days are all on the dates ahead section and staff in each year group should have shared with you the timings for the day - via Google Classroom, please speak to them in the first instance, if you haven't seen anything.

On Monday, Y3 performed to parents/carers/grandparents on their ukuleles. It was so lovely to see the children up on the stage and enjoying performing - they have worked so hard with our Kent Music teacher, Mrs Martin. Thank you for all those that managed to attend.

Our transition sessions on Wednesday went really well - having spent the morning walking around, it was lovely to see how much the children enjoyed meeting their new teachers and completing activities. We have got transition books in place for any children that may need a little bit of extra support - if you think your child may need this, please speak to the class teacher or Ms Gunning.

Our Bike/Scooter shelter is now in place - the cover is coming....! It's been lovely to see this being used by all year groups - and thank you for keeping your children off their wheels on the school site.

Have a lovely weekend.

Hackathon event

On Thursday Jessica, Isla, Harry, Oliver and Edie from Y5 took part in a Hackathon competition against other schools in Kent. The children had to come up with an idea of how they could improve and promote children's mental health and wellbeing in school. They then had to pitch their idea to a group of judges and other groups of children. The team did a fantastic job and have returned with a prize of £750 to get their idea up and running in school. We look forward to seeing their plan in action soon. Well done!

Proud@paddockwoodcommunity

This week we are really proud of...

Mrs McPhail

For completing her course and achieving the necessary standard. Well done, you've worked hard to get to this point - congratulations.

felicity 1E

Felicity was very excited to achieve her stage 1 in her swimming - well done! You've worked hard to achieve this next level in your swimming and we are really proud of you!

harry 5g

Harry finally achieved his stage 3 - he was due to get this stage just before lockdown hit in March 2020 and lessons were stopped, and then his swim school closed down, but after a two year break from lessons, he joined a new swim school this year and has rediscovered his love of the water. Brilliant effort Harry - your resilience is really commendable.

orla 5G

Orla and her dance friends at Firefly Dance School compete in festivals all year round and in May won the regionals and a place in the All England National finals in July, to compete to be named best dance group in England. Good luck in the finals Orla - we're right behind you!

George 1T

George has competed his first gymnastics competition and has managed to finish 4th out of 18 in his category! He did a vault and a floor routine and did himself proud, despite being very nervous! Well done George, we are really proud of you for getting over your nerves and performing so well.

Frank 1t

Frank has been working really hard in his football tournaments and has won man of the match. Keep up the good work. Well done Frank - this demonstrates how principled you are as a player. We are really proud of you.

kent's big writing challenge

Edie 5R winner!

Edie took part in Kent's Big Writing Challenge - set for homework in 5R and has won in the Key Stage 2 category. We are so proud of her and she's now been invited to an afternoon tea and award ceremony to receive her award - this was her submission on the theme, My Hero.

My Great Grandad (Edward Charles Hendley) is my hero because of his amazing life achievements. Edward (Ted to his friends) turned 99 years old this April and we can't wait to celebrate his 100th birthday with him next year!

As he is 99, Great Grandad is very deaf, but with a raised voice he can hear you and talk to you clearly.

In 1941, my Great Grandad was sent off to World War II, he was only 18 years old. He went to South Africa and Italy during the war, but thankfully survived and returned home in 1945. He loves to tell us stories about how it was back then and what his life was like. He was married for 72 years to my Great Grandma, Betty who sadly passed away in March, aged 96. When they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, they received an anniversary card from HRH Queen Elizabeth II herself!

Great Grandad owned a motorbike, but never in his whole life got a drivers licence or a car. He was a keen gardener and won awards for his vegetables and plants!

Me and my whole family love him so much!!!

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.... Read&Write for Google Chrome

Read & write toolbar

The Read&Write toolbar integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace for Education apps. To make it easy for students to access literacy support tools when working on Google Docs, PDFs, ePubs and even webpages. Providing students with a helping hand with reading and writing, where and when they need it. We have this toolbar on all our Chromebooks for children to use and access.

Some key features include:

changing the screen colour to suit any learner
block off unnecessary distractions by blanking the area around text - so that key sentences/sections/paragraphs can only be seen
built in dictionary / visual dictionary
speech to text - so that children can talk and the toolbar will type
text to speech - so that children can highlight a piece of text to be read to them
note collection - highlight different pieces of information which can then be pulled through automatically into a Google Doc.

Office Messages

My Child At School (MCAS)

Thank you to all those parents that have already signed up for MCAS (My child at school).

If you have not already done so please could you sign up before 8th July. If you have not received the invitation or are having any problems please let us know in the office and we will endeavour to assist.

Transition Events/Open Days/Taster Sessions at Secondary Schools (Years 5 &6)

Please let the office know if your child is attending any Transition events/open days at Secondary Schools. Please be aware that unless it is a full day event, children are expected to attend school as normal afterwards.

When emailing the office (enquiries@paddockwoodprimaryacademy.org.uk), please state your child's name, class, date of event and whether they will be having a school meal or packed lunch when they come into school.

Reporting Absence

If your child is absent from school for any reason please report this to the office by 9am each day by telephone or email. Please be aware that children can not return to school until 48 hours after any bout of sickness or diarrhoea.

Thank you

Dates ahead

Some dates for your diary:

4.7.22 Year 5 & 6 Sports Day 10.00am - 12.00pm

5.7.22 EYFS Sports Day 9.30am - 11.00am

6.7.22 Transition morning for children in EYFS - Y5 9:30am - 11am

7.7.22 Year 3 & 4 Sports Day 9.15am - 11.15am

8.7.22 Year 2 to the Cutty Sark

School Reports Home to parents

11.7.22 Year 1 & 2 Sports Day 9.15am - 11.15am

13.7.22 Open Afternoon 3.00pm - 5.00pm

14.7.22 Year 6 to Mascalls to watch Matilda

15.7.22 Leaver's Disco 6:30pm

20.7.22 Break the Rules Day

22.7.22 Year 6 Leavers Assembly 10 a.m.

Last day of term - 1pm Finish and no After School Clubs

Learner Profile / Approaches to learning Certificates this week go to:

Finley

For taking risks during last week's activities and attempting to challenge himself.

Poppie

Your fantastic attitude on the school trips last week. You faced your fears and were a risk-taker on the high ropes and the theme park rides, finishing each with a smile on your face. Nice one Poppie.

Oscar

For being a fantastic communicator and sharing your extensive knowledge on dinosaurs to the rest of the group. You were a great Tour Guide!

Ellie

This week you have embraced our new inquiry and grown your knowledge of light. You weren’t afraid to take risks with your experiment and you used key vocabulary.

5G

Harry

Being a good communicator, a creative thinker and having a balanced understanding of wellbeing at the Hackathon competition this week. You worked as part of an excellent team to earn a prize for our school!

5P

Oliver

5R

Isla

4e

Reggie

Whilst on our trip to Kew Gardens, you demonstrated that you were an inquirer through your questioning during our session in the Kew Classroom. Well done - your ideas were really thought provoking.

4DP

Tyesha

For being knowledgeable and a risk-taker this week, putting her hand up in class and offering lots of great ideas about our inquiries. It’s fantastic to hear your voice more in class, keep it up!

4G

Roseanna

For being principled and an inquirer. You have stood up for what is right and are always trying to have a go and find out more in class. Well done!

3B

Everyone

To the whole of 3B for a wonderful music concert to parents. We are very proud of your dedication and hard work to learn the Ukulele this year. A fantastic performance.

3L

Everyone

For an excellent music concert to the parents, showing the skills that you have learnt this year with the ukeleles. Well done, an amazing performance.

3TL

Alex

For your efforts in our sports day practice this week. You joined in with all your events, tried your best and showed good sportsmanship. Well done!

2B

Joshua

Being very knowledgeable in our inquiry this week. He found out lots of information about Elizabethan trade and how we trade now.

2F

Elijah

For being principled this week! He has listened well to instructions and helped others.

2T

Isla

For being a wonderful communicator, able to share and discuss what she is reading in an informative and entertaining way.

1E

Archie

For being knowledgeable when creating a list of travel essentials whilst working on our inquiry into travel and transport.

1LT

Hosanna

For being a reflective learner when writing a list of what you would take with you on a journey.

1T

Florence

For being a knowledgeable writer. Flo has used some lovely adjectives throughout her work this week.

Bees

Whitney

For wonderful contributions during class discussions and applying her learning during class to her writing.

Well done Whitney!

caterpillars

River

For being a good thinker when writing. He carefully sounds out words and tries his best every time!

ladybirds

Anea

For being an excellent thinker this week, she has so many wonderful ideas and she is communicating these in her writing every day.

ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATES THIS WEEK GO TO:

Juliette

An amazing attitude to all the activities during the Scotland trip. Her tree climbing was particularly impressive.

Ben

For getting stuck in with everything on the residential to Scotland. Your name was mentioned by lots of the different staff on the trip and all for positive reasons! Nice one Ben.

Tia

Having a really fantastic week in Scotland, throwing yourself into everything we did with enthusiasm (and only keeping us waiting while you got ready a couple of times! :-)

Everyone

Well done for representing our school so brilliantly both in Kent and in Scotland. We've had lots of comments from the public commending your behaviour and enthusiasm. Keep it up!

5G

Jessica

5P

Olly

For improved focus in class this week. You have been working hard on your story in English and actively seeking feedback on your work wherever possible. Well done.

5R

Edie

4DP

Tommy

Tommy, you are making a huge effort to behave well and focus on your work this week, it’s so good to see the best of you - keep it up!

4E

Samuel

Sammy, your contribution and approach to learning this week in our Science experiment demonstrated that you were thinking like a real scientist! Well done and great ideas!

4G

Charlotte

Despite facing some challenges this week, you managed to produce brilliant rainforest statistics with a bar chart and a line graph!

3B

Fabian

For a renewed effort this week to produce more work in the lesson. You created an interesting dialogue between book characters and used inverted commas. Well done and keep it up!

3L

Rowan

For contributing in class and showing a good understanding of angles and shapes. Well done. Keep up the good work and focus.

3TL

Lucia

For your setting description in The Journey. You used figurative and evocative language to describe the scene, including some excellent similes. Well done!

2B

Maisie

Maisie has been such a hard worker this week! Her confidence and work ethic has been incredibly positive and she is always striving to do better.

2F

Henry

For a brilliant piece of writing! He has written a letter to the workers at The Cutty Sark, filled with questions in preparation for our school trip.

2T

Ethan

For making very good progress with his writing over the last month; he has shown HUGE determination to write down what he is thinking. Well done Ethan!

1E

Willow

For your fantastic effort in class this week. You have listened beautifully, shared your ideas and tried your best in all tasks. Keep up the great work!

1LT

Freya

For a fantastic improvement in your writing recently. Keep it up!

1T

George

For always working hard - especially in Maths this week.

bees

Reggie

For trying his best to improve his work, effort and attitude to his learning this week. We're proud of you Reggie!

caterpillars

Ellen

For being a good friend. She creates imaginative games and lets everyone join in!

ladybirds

Harry

For trying his best to improve his writing this week, we are so proud of how hard you are working Harry.

COME TO OUR BOOK FAIR!

Date: 30th June - 7th July

Time: 3:30pm - 4:00pm

Location: PWPA, Small hall, come through the office (Follow the arrows!)

Card payments only (online payments)

saturday opening at the community storehouse

Due to increasing pressure on people’s budgeting needs, The Community Storehouse are doing a 3 month trial on Saturdays to try and support families that are at work during the week.

The Community Storehouse will be open 9.30-11.30 on

Saturday 2 July, 6 August and 3 September.

If you need some assistance or advice in regards to accessing the community storehouse please do contact Charlotte Gunning via email charlotte.gunning@paddockwoodprimaryacademy.org.uk or text 07542 861293 who can provide you with a voucher. Alternatively, email the Community Storehouse directly on: enquiries@communitystorehouse.co.uk

space 2 be me

Space 2 Be Me are hosting another parent workshop next month.

This workshop will focus on Autism and Anxiety. The workshop is being led by Abby Lloyd, who is a primary school teacher and dyslexia specialist, with a particular interest in autism and mental health. She has three children who are either diagnosed or suspected autistic and who suffer with varying degrees of anxiety. Her youngest daughter has been unable to attend school since October 2021 as a result.

This talk will look at the types and causes of anxiety, the differences in anxiety in neurotypical verses neurodivergent individuals and how parents can help.

The workshop is aimed at West Kent based parents and our members. However, if people do not live in the area they can register via Eventbrite, and we will check their eligiblity.

The session will take place on 13^th July 7:30pm-9:30pm via Zoom and is free. Booking is essential via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/369019034867