Secondary Application Deadline – 31st October 2023

The Admissions Team at Shropshire Council have asked us to share this message –

The closing date for secondary applications is 31 October 2023 which falls in the half-term holidays. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to submit an application as soon as possible but before the deadline date. This will ensure that if you encounter any problems, you can be supported/helped and to submit your application on time. There is no grace period for late applications. The link for the website is – Transferring to secondary school | Shropshire Council

The School Admissions Team strongly encourage parents to name three preferences, particularly if you reside in the Shrewsbury area. Please see the Parents’ Guide to Education in Shropshire Booklet for further information. The link to the document is Parents’ guide to education | Shropshire Council

If you have already made an application and wish to add additional preferences please contact school-admissions@shropshire.gov.uk

Half Term Cheerleading Day Camp

Mr Lindsey, who runs our After School Cheerleading Club has asked us to share details of a Halloween Cheerleading Camp that he is running on Thursday 2nd November at Idsall Secondary School. The cost is £22 for a half day or £27 for a full day. Please see the poster below for more details.

Cheerleading

School Open Days

Please spread the word to any prospective parents, that we are having Open Days on Thursday 26th October and Wednesday 22nd November.  Parents and children are welcome to come and have a tour and find out all about Brown Clee School and Little Explorers Pre-School.

Individual and Family Photographs – Thursday 19th October

The School photographer will be in school on Thursday 19th October to take individual and family photographs.

Halloween Disco to raise funds for Little Explorers

Little Explorers will be holding a Halloween disco on Friday 27th October from 5pm to 7pm in the village hall for children aged 2 to 11 years old. Tickets are £5 per child and include snacks and drinks. There will also be a carved pumpkin competition which will cost £1 on the night. Tickets can be purchased from Little Explorers. Please see the poster below for full details.

Completed Canopy

We are really pleased with the new canopy for the Fireflies outdoor learning area.  Despite the wet weather the building completed on Friday and the area is now fully useable, and will mean that the Reception children have a fully functional outdoor area for learning in all weathers.  It also means that we can resource and prepare the area to a much higher quality as resources will be better protected.

Missing Jumpers – cross country

We have been informed that some jumpers went missing after the cross country event yesterday afternoon. Please could you check that your child brought the correct jumper home and if not return it to school. Please could we ask that all items of uniform are clearly labelled with your child’s name. Thank you.

Does your child play a musical instrument or would they like to learn how to play one?

Musical Instruments Word Search, Crossword Puzzle and More

Learning a musical instrument has so many benefits for children!  Not only does it bring pleasure and a skill for life, it means brings opportunities to interact socially and play as ensembles.  We are fortunate to have Karen Kirkland from Shropshire Music Service, who comes into school every Friday to teach children how to play a musical instrument – from guitar to saxophone, keyboard to drums!  Please see below, information on Shropshire Music Service as well as a link to their website where you can register your interest.

My child wants to learn to play a musical instrument…

Start and End of Day Procedures while Canopy being installed

Following on from last week’s email, the work to install our new canopy for the Fireflies has started and as well as losing some parking bays, we have also lost the use of the Infant Playground for the duration of the work.  Therefore please note the following start and end of day procedures:
Start of Day:  Timings the same, children enter through main reception at 8:40am.
End of Day: Parents to go round to KS2 playground and collect children from there.  Fireflies will be brought out via the GP Room doors, and Grasshoppers will be brought out via the KS2 exit.  Can Firefly and Grasshopper parents please ensure they collect their child directly from the teacher.  Please do not use the staff car park as an entrance or exit, but use the pathway – see diagram attached.
Care Club and After School Curricular Club children will be collected from the main reception door.
Thank you for your patience and understanding – we are hoping the work will be complete by Friday and a new canopy will make a massive difference to our Fireflies, who will be able to access high quality learning outside more.

Little Explorers – Bag2School collection

Little Explorers have arranged for a Bag2School collection on Friday 29th September at 9am. We have some bags here in the Reception at school. If you would like one please come and get one, alternatively your items can be put in black bags. They accept the following GOOD QUALITY items for re-use –

* Men’s, ladies’ and children’s clothing
* Paired shoes (tied together or an elastic band around)
* Handbags and bags
* Hats, scarves and ties
* Jewellery
* Lingerie, socks and belts
* Soft toys
* Household linen, curtains, towels and bedding (bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers)

They do not accept –

* Duvets and blankets, pillows and cushions
* Carpets, rugs and mats (including bath, shower and toilet mats)
* Soiled, painted, ripped or wet clothing
* School uniforms with and without logo
* Corporate clothing and workwear
* Textile off cuts, yarns or threaded material

Please drop any bags off at Little Explorers by 9am on Friday 29th September.
Little Explorers Bag2School Collection

Potential Link Between Autism and Screen Time

The technological world is forever changing and we often find it difficult keeping up with the effect it has on day to day life.   We know the risks that the internet poses in terms of E-Safety and that Online Safety is really important – but do we realise the impact of children spending hours on a screen can have on their development, particularly in the early years – it can actually affect brain development.

Some recent studies have shown the relationship between excessive screen time and autism behavioural symptoms. Excessive screen time can result in:

  • deficits in social behaviour
  • changes in brain structures
  • decrease in parent/child communication quality and quantity
  • language delay
  • hyperactivity
  • social isolation

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 2 years old have no exposure to screens and that screen time for 2 to 5-year-olds be limited to 1 hour per day. Yet despite this, most young children are exposed to screens more than this. In one study the average daily screen time of preschool children in the United States was found to be as high as 4.1 hours.

Links to the scientific reports and relevant articles below:

Screen Time and Autism

Autism and Screen Time Could be Related

Are Screen Time and Autism in Children Connected

Scientific Report: 2021

 

Listening Skills / Problem Solving Skills

This half term, as part of our work with Skills Builder Partnership, we are focusing on teaching children about listening skills and problem solving skills.  These are both vital for children (and adults!) to succeed in life. Below you will find some useful resources and links to how you can support your child to learn these two skills.

LISTENING SKILLS

Skills Builder – Listening overview

PROBLEM SOLVING

Skills Builder – Problem Solving overview

 

NHS Guidance on when to keep your child off school

We have received a link to the NHS website which contains guidance about when your child is too ill to attend school. This gives advice on coughs and colds, high temperatures, Chickenpox, Cold sores, Conjunctivitis, Ear Infections, Hand Foot and Mouth, Impetigo, Ring Worm, Scarlet Fever, Sore Throats, Slapped Cheek Syndrome, Vomiting and Diarrhoea as well as guidance if your child has Covid. The link to this website is below.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Teaching Children Essential Skills

Brown Clee School works with The Skills Builder Partnership to ensure every learner has opportunities to build eight essential skills to support them now and in the future.

Research has shown that building these eight essential skills can support the emotional wellbeing and academic success of children and young people, as well as preparing them for life beyond school. Skills Builder has developed a Universal Framework that breaks each of these essential skills down into 16 teachable steps. We use this framework to teach and practise each of the eight skills at the appropriate level throughout school life.

Skills Builder has a resource platform dedicated to helping parents and carers to build their child’s essential skills at home: Skills Builder Homezone: www.skillsbuilder.org/homezone

From Weekly Skill Challenges, to family activities and guidance to share with older children to access independent tools for their own skill development, Skills Builder Homezone can be enjoyed at a time and pace to suit all families.

Watch out for upcoming posts which will share which skills your child is learning this term along with links and ideas to how you can support at home.

Pet Service – Wheathill Church – Sunday 17th September at 6pm

We have been asked to let you know about a Pet Service which is being held at Wheathill Church on Sunday 17th September at 6pm Please bring along your children, with their pets (not the wild or poisonous ones, thank you!)

This service of Thanksgiving and Blessings is for our very Special Companions. Refreshments will be available after the service and all are welcome to attend.

If you would like any further information, please call Joyce on 07437 481034.

Care Club

Just a quick reminder about Care Cub for this term.

  • Please can all bookings be made via email a week in advance and be in before 12 noon on Thursdays.
  • Children are allowed to bring in a healthy snack for after school care club.
  • Please do let me know of any cancellations – missed morning sessions will be charged and for after school care club it is important for safeguarding reasons.

careclub@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk

Do get in touch if you have any questions.

Many thanks,

Steph Boxall

After School Clubs

After school clubs are starting next week. There are a few spaces left in the following clubs:

KS2 Art Club on Wednesdays

KS1 Multi Sports on Thursdays

yr2-6 Invasion Games on Fridays

If your child would be interested in any of these clubs, please fill out a reply slip (attached) and return it with payment to the school office asap. Places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

Activity Club information

Reply Slips Autumn 23

Road Closure Information

There are roadworks next week at Upper Netchwood, between Monkhopton and Ditton Priors. from 5th to 7th September. We have liaised with Severn Trent and they have confirmed that the road closure will only be in place between 09:00 to 15:00 to allow school and commuter traffic through.

 

No Well Done Assembly Friday 21st July

Due to the number of events which have taken place in school and at the Church this week, Well Done assembly tomorrow will be for the children only. They will be given their certificates and will be able to bring these home.

Clubs

Thank you for all the interest in clubs for next term – Cheerleading and Lego are now fully booked, but there are spaces left in KS2 Create Club, KS2 Multisports and Invasion Games (yr2 – 6).

Please return a reply slip and payment to the office as soon as possible if your child is still interested in taking part.

Reply Slips Autumn 23

Menu Change – week commencing 17th July

Pippa has asked us to advise you that there will be changes to the menu next week.

Unfortunately, her delivery of Jacket Potatoes did not arrive so there will be no jacket potato option on the menu next week and this will be replaced by a vegetarian pasta bake. If you have booked a jacket potato for your child and they do not want the pasta alternative, please could you log onto ParentPay by tomorrow to change the choice of meal.

On Tuesday, there is a special menu of Hot Dogs or cheese and baked bean plait. We are unable to change the menu in ParentPay, therefore, if your child would like a hot dog please select option 1 and if your child would like the baked bean plait please select option 2. Both options will be served with chips and peas and carrots. Sandwiches will also be available to pre-book. The pudding options which the children select on the day are chocolate muffin, yoghurt or fruit.

On Thursday, there is a special menu of Chicken Goujons or Cheese Pasta Bake. We are unable to change the menu in ParentPay, therefore, if your child would like a Chicken Goujons please select option 1 and if your child would like the Cheese Pasta Bake please select option 2. Both options will be served with peas and sweetcorn, bread or pasta. Sandwiches will also be available to pre-book. The pudding options which the children select on the day are Fruit flapjack, jelly, yoghurt or fruit.

Shropshire Holiday Activities and Food – What’s on?

Please find below a link to the Shropshire Holiday Activities provided by Shropshire Council and their partners. Children in receipt of Free School Meals can access this activities for free using the unique code which has been sent home today.

Many of these activities are also open to other children not in receipt of Free School Meals for a fee. The link gives details of how to book and whether the activity is open to all children.

https://next.shropshire.gov.uk/media/dxapffsp/haf-summer-2023-whats-on-guide.pdf

Care Club Reminders

Please could I remind parents of a couple of points as we near the end of term –

  • If you have any unpaid invoices, please settle them before Tuesday 18th July.
  • If you need Care Club in the first week back in September (w/c Tuesday 5th Sept) please email with your requests before Thursday 20th July with the subject line ‘next term’. Please note that I will be unable to reply to emails during the holidays.
  • There are NO after-school clubs next week.

Any questions please email careclub@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk

Many thanks

Stephanie Boxall

Bridgnorth Junior Netball Club

We have been asked to share the attached poster regarding the Under 11’s section of Bridgnorth Junior Netball Club. They hold sessions for children in Years 3 to 6 on a Wednesday evening in the sports hall at Oldbury Wells. If you would like any more information please call the number on the poster.

MX-5050V_20230710_104809

Return from Arthog

The children have arrived safely back in school following their residential in Arthog. They have all had a lovely time.