Now that we have passed 40 days in school this year, Studybugs will begin sending out attendance alerts if your child's absence falls below 94% and then when it falls below 90%.
There will be times when your child's absences are unavoidable, for example having a week off with chicken pox and in which case we would expect the attendance to improve quite quickly after they return.
We are most concerned when a child has short absences of a day or two on many occasions. If this continues, it has a detrimental impact on their education.
Whatever the circumstances, it is important that we understand them and how they are leading to the absences and then we work together to improve it as quickly as possible.
Well Done to Caterpillars who achieved the feat of 100% attendance last week!!!
We completed learning about Katherine Johnson and the extraordinary impact she had at NASA, not only breaking down racial and social barriers, but the key role she played in many of the famous space missions of the last century.
We learnt that she was so good and trusted that astronauts would prefer her to work out the complicated mathematical calculations needed for a mission rather than using the computer.
She was not always recognised during her life but was finally given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by Barack Obama.
She died in 2020 aged 101.
Central Bedfordshire are offering an online information session that will offer parents the opportunity to find out the up-to-date issues children and young people face in a digital world – including grooming, cyber bullying, and the sending of indecent images. The session will also look at how the online space can also be used to criminal exploit children.
Their guest speaker is Richard Denton who leads the Bedfordshire Police Education and Diversion Team. Richard has been involved working alongside children and young people for over twenty years with the last fifteen focusing on policing in schools and other educational settings. He has a wealth of knowledge around vulnerability and exploitation with a particular specialism in digital safeguarding.
To sign up, please follw the link below:
We do not set up or manage the class Whatsapp groups but we understand how useful they can be for parents to exchange information regarding school. However, please can we recommend that you do not use them to address any issues that have happened in school time. It is better to address these to the school and then we can follow them up.
We will be taking part in the Christmas Carols and Torchlight Procession again this year. It is always a great event and kick-starts the Christmas period. If you would like your child to take part, please complete the google form by clicking on the link below:
https://forms.gle/7EoEpZLXzASXDniz9
It wouldn't feel like Christmas without a nativity and I am sure you are excited to get the date in the diary. We have a total of 3 performances:
Caterpillars will be performing a nativity scene and singing songs in their classroom
Grasshoppers and Butterflies will be joining forces to perform a nativity play in the hall.
Foxes will be perfoming a nativity play with Hedgehogs helping by being a part of the choir when singing the songs.
The all important dates in chronolgical order are:
Foxes and Hedgehogs: Thursday 12th December at 2pm and 5pm.
Caterpillars: Thursday 19th December at 10am
Grasshoppers and Butterflies: Thursday 19th December at 11am
This Friday is Children in Need and we are helping to support the charity appeal by holding a non-uniform day. We won't collect the money at school but have set up a Just Giving page for parents to make a donation.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/watling-lower-school-1731161093739?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fwatling-lower-school-1731161093739&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share
Thank you for helping us support a very worthy charity appeal.
Please park considerately when using Bull Pond Lane and the side streets near the school. It is very important that driveways are not blocked and if parking on the roadside, ensure that there is enough room for cars to pass and, in the case of an emergency, an ambulance or fire engine.
Central Bedfordshire Council would like to understand how many hours of formal childcare parents and carers access during term time, the childcare that parents and carers currently use, whether their children have any additional needs and information about any barriers faced by families who want to access childcare locally.
To do this, they would like parents to complete the following survey:
Parent/ Carer survey - https://centralbedfordshire.welcomesyourfeedback.net/childcare-PC2024
CAMHS are hosting a two-part webinar that parents are invited to join if you think it might be appropriate for your child. The invite and login details are given below:
CAMHS School Liaison Team and The CAS Team
Would like to invite you to the 4A’s Virtual Webinar
This is a two part webinar
The 4A's covers: ADHD, Autism, Anxiety and Anger
We are delivering a two part virtual 4A's webinar on:
Tuesday 26th November and Wednesday 27th November
The session timings:
Start online at 6pm and finish between 7-7:15pm
Session One
Tuesday 26th November 6pm-7.15pm
• What is Autism and ADHD?
• What is Executive Functioning?
• Emotional Regulation- Anger and Anxiety
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 338 112 379 596
Passcode: 2rxMCd
Session Two
Wednesday 27th November 6pm- 7:15pm
• How can we better support children with ADHD or Autism?
• Strategies for Anxiety and Anger
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 324 001 720 872
Passcode: oeCDg9
Monday 11th November - Year 4 visit to the Priory Church
- Year 1 local walk
Wednesday 13th November - KS2 girls Futsal tournament
Friday 15th November - Children in Need non-uniform day
Thursday 21st November - Flu Immunisation session for Reception to Year 4 - afternoon
Monday 25th November - Year 1 trip to Milton Keynes Museum
Friday 29th November - Christmas Carols and Torchlight Procession: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Monday 2nd December - Reception/Grasshopper class vision screening
Tueday 3rd December - Grasshoppers trip to the Post Office
Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th December - Priory Church's Christmas Tree Festival
Thursday 12th December - KS1 Nativity Performances at 2pm and 5pm
Friday 13th December - Year 1 to 4 trip to the Pantomime at The Grove Theatre
Wednesday 18th December - Chrsitmas Dinner and Christmas Jumper Day
Thursday 19th Dececmber - Early Years Nativities:
- Caterpillars at 10am
- Grasshoppers and Butterflies at 11am
Friday 20th December- Golden Apple Assembly
- Class Dojo Treat
- Last day of half term
Monday 6th January - School CLOSED for teacher training day
Tuesday 7th January - School OPEN for all children