Harvest Service – 18th November

Just a reminder that we have our Harvest Service next Monday (18/11) at 09:15 that parents, carers, grandparents etc. are all invited to attend.

 

We are also having a collection for the foodbank that will be sent down to church by the end of next week. Please send these in with your child to hand in at reception.

Arthog ’24 – Update

With Arthog fast approaching (2 weeks time!), here are some more updates ahead of the week.

 

Please ensure you have filled in a medical form if your child requires any medication: Medical Letter. If these could be sent ahead of the actual day, it will make things a lot easier for us. Medicines can be brought in on the Monday.

 

Here is the suggested Athog kit list again.

Children can bring up to £10 to spend at the Arthog shop. If possible, please can this be in change (i.e. £5 and coins) as there is limited change on site if everyone brings £10 notes.

Please note, as per the Kit List, pupils will need to bring a bottom sheet (single), duvet cover (single) and a pillow case. It would also be great if pupils could be familiar with how to “make a bed” (if they don’t already) as this will be their responsibilty upon arrival.

 

On Monday 25th November, we will be leaving as close to 09:00 as possible. So, if possible, please can children arrive at 08:30am. They will need to go straight in through the main reception to drop off their main luggage. Children will need to bring a small bag (rucksack) – which they can take onto the bus with them. In this bag, they should have a packed lunch and a water bottle (and a coat would be avisable!). They will not be able to access their main luggage until we arrive at Arthog – which will be around 11:00am.

 

We will try to keep you updated with things as much as possible via the school website/Facebook; however, this is not always possible regularly due to the very busy schedule!

 

On Friday 29th November, we will be arriving back at school for around 4:45pm.

 

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch!

NSPCC – Speak Out. Stay Safe. Sessions

This week, all class teachers will be delivering the NSPCC’s Speak Out. Stay Safe. Programme to all classes.

The programme is for children aged 5-11 and aims to help children understand abuse in all its forms and to recognise the signs of abuse. Children are taught to speak out if they are worried, either to a safe adult or Childline.

 

If you would like to know more about the Speak out. Stay safe. programme visit www.nspcc.org.uk/speakout.

If you wish to speak to you child’s class teacher, please email (see below):
Fireflies@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk
Grasshopper@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk
Dragonflies@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk
Bees@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk
Scorpions@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk

 

Additional NSPCC resources for families to help keep children safe

The NSPCC have shared some important information below on wider NSPCC resources and support to help keep children safe.

Parent/Carer support

Take a look at information, support, advice and activities from NSPCC for parent and carers.

www.nspcc.org.uk/parents

Activities to extend learning at home

Take part in games and activities at home to help children learn about speaking out and staying safe.

www.nspcc.org.uk/activities

Online Safety Hub

For information on a range of different online safety topics including gaming, social media, sharing images, parental controls and more.

www.nspcc.org.uk/onlinesafety

Childline – under 12’s

Childline have an accessible website with advice, support, games and activities. Children can change the language, enlarge text and also listen to the content.

www.childline.org.uk/buddy (5-7)

www.childline.org.uk/kids (7-11)

 Talk PANTS with your children

Talk PANTS is a simple conversation to help keep children safe from sexual abuse. From P through to S, each letter of PANTS provides simple but important messages. Download the free resources at www.nspcc.org.uk/pants.

Special Menu – Friday 15th November

Laura and Carla will be providing a special menu on Friday 15th November to celebrate Happy USA Day.  The menu is shown below.  As we are unable to amend the choices in ParentPay, if your child would like a hot dog please click on fish fingers and chips and if your child would like the veggie dog please click on vegetable fingers and chips.  There is still the choice of jacket potato or sandwiches.

2024-25 – USA Day – Menu

Celebration Assembly – Friday 8th November

Just a reminder that, beginning this week, all parent/carers/grandparents are invited to attend our weekly celebration assembly – which are on Fridays at 09:00.

Access to the hall will be from 08:35 (the same time the doors are opened for children).

FOBCS – Recipes

Please see below from FOBCS. We have extended the deadline for this so if you can send in any recipes as soon as possible, that would be brilliant!

 

Note: Any child can send in a recipe.

May be an image of wooden spoon and text

SENDCo. Appointment

We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Mrs. Becki Ratcliffe as our SENDCo. (Special Educational Needs and/or Disability Co-ordinator).

 

Previously, at Brown Clee, this has been a role of the headteacher. However, given its importance, the time commitment and the specialised knowledge required to perform the role effectively, we have taken the step to have a dedicated person for this role.

 

Mrs. Ratcliffe will be in school once a week to help support staff in helping all pupils – with a particular focus on any potential barriers to education. This will hopefully help us in better identifying potential needs and enable us to put in more impactful support with these needs.

Harvest Service Collection

As part of our Harvest service (09:15-10:00 on Monday 18th November), we will be having a collection of food that will be taken to church and then sent to the food bank.

If anyone has any food that they are willing donate, please send this into school.

 

Food will need to be in sealed containers (e.g. packets/tins) and not fresh food.

FOBCS Headphone Disco – Saturday 23rd November

Friends of Brown Clee School (FOBCS) will be holding a Headphone Disco on Saturday 23rd November at Ditton Priors Village Hall 3pm to 5pm to help raise funds.  Tickets are £5 each and are available from the school office (correct money only please).  There will be a tuck shop and drinks available to buy on the day.  Everyone is welcome.  Please see the attached poster for more details.

Headphone disco

Remembrance Day Poppies

As always, Remembrance Day Poppies are available at school.

If you, or your child, wish to make a donation to The Royal British Legion, these will go around classes during this week up to Rememberance Day, and they will also be available after school.

 

We will also be holding a 2-minute silence with all pupils and staff on Monday 11th November.

Nativity Date Changes

Please note that the dates for the nativity next half term have changed over:

Evening Nativity Performance: Tuesday 10th December – 6:00pm to 6:45pm

Afternoon Nativity Performance: Wednesday 11th December – 2:15pm to 3:00pm

 

After School Clubs reminder

https://browncleeschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Noticeboard-poster-Autumn-term2-2024.pdf

After-school Clubs – Update

Following on from last week’s update, we are opening up spaces in the following clubs to additional classes.

Please see information below:

Noticeboard poster Autumn term2 2024

 

Club Description Day / Time Available to Limit
Board Games Play a variety of different boards games Mondays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Whole School 18
Cookery Prepare and cook a variety of different foods Mondays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions 12
Football Football activities and games (Crossbar Coaching) Tuesdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Fireflies, Grasshoppers, Dragonflies and Bees 20
Textiles Make different items using a range of different materials Tuesdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions 14
Parachute Games Play a variety of different games with a large parachute Wednesdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
WHOLE SCHOOL 15
Tennis Tennis coaching and games Wednesdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions 18
Create Club (Art) Wide range of different art projects Thursdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Year 1-6 12
FULL
Lego Creating Lego around a weekly theme Thursdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
WHOLE SCHOOL 20
Multi-Sports Range of different sports activities/games Fridays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Year 1-6 25

(additional classes in RED).

 

Places will be confirmed once payments have been received by Mrs. Godfrey.

FOBCS News – Brown Clee Bakes and Asda Cashpot for schools

FOBCS would like to let you know about their latest fundraising events to help raise funds for the many exciting things they have planned this academic year.  There are producing a cookery book and would love all the children to send their favourite recipe into the school office by 4th November.  The attached gives further information.

FOBCS have also registered the school for the Asda Cashpot for Schools scheme where FOBCS will receive a donation of a percentage of the spend plus £1 every time you shop there using the Rewards App and you nominate FOBCS.  This scheme ends on 30th November 2024.

What is Cashpot for Schools? 

We’re working with Asda, who are making millions of pounds available to every state primary school’s PTA in the UK.

Between 2nd September and 30th November 2024, every time customers shop with Asda using their Rewards app, they can choose a primary school to receive a percentage of their spend. And that’s not all — every time a customer chooses your primary school, Asda will donate £1 to your school’s Cashpot, plus a further £50 when your first customer shops.

Cashpot-for-Schools_A5-Leaflet

 

Life at Brown Clee Video

Here’s a short video showing a snapshot of life at Brown Clee:

 

If any potential future (or current) parents/carers would like to look around school, we will always happily arrange a date and time for you to visit.

Nasal Flu Immunisation postponed

Shropshire Community Health have contacted the school this morning to say that due to the road conditions the Nasal Flu immunisations which were due to have taken place today have been postponed.  They will be contacting us to rearrange the date and we will let you know the new date once it has been made.

Dates – Autumn (2) – ’24

Following the dates shared for parents last week, we have an update on the two church services – as well as a few other events:

Harvest Church Service: Monday 18th November – 9:15am to 10:00am

Live Music Band in School: Monday 4th November 

Arthog: Monday 25th November – Friday 29th November. Please note: there is no swimming this week for KS2.

Parent Feedback Sessions: Wednesday 4th December – 1:00pm to 6:00pm.

Evening Nativity Performance: Tuesday 10th December – 6:00pm to 6:45pm 

Afternoon Nativity Performance: Wednesday 10th December – 2:15pm to 3:00pm

[PLEASE NOTE THAT EVENING/AFTERNOON PERFORMANCES FOR THE NATIVITY HAVE CHANGED OVER DAYS]

Last Swimming Week for KS2: Thursday 5th December

Christmas Dinner / Non-uniform day: Wednesday 18th December

Christmas Church Service: Wednesday 18th December – 2:30pm to 3:10pm

Arthog ’24 – Update

Just a quick update ahead of our trip to Arthog next half-term.

 

Here is the suggested Athog kit list again. As an addition, Arthog do not allow aerosols – including pressurised deoderants, sun block and bug spray. However, liquid sprays in plastic containers are fine.

If your child requires any medication during Arthog, please fill in the following form: Medical Letter.

 

As we will be leaving school at 09:00 on Monday 25th November, it would make things a lot easier if all children can arrive at school for 08:30 as this give us time to fully ensure we are ready to leave.

 

As a head’s up, we will likely be returning to school on Friday 29th November after the school day, so arrangements for picking up will be need to be made.

 

More specific details, such as pick-up timings on the Friday, will be sent out nearer the actual date. In the mean time, if anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate in getting in touch.

Rhino Readers – Online reading books

Rhino Reader Books

The children have a new set of log in details in the front of their yellow reading records.

These will allow them to access online copies of the Twinkl Phonics books they bring home.

They will have access to all the books within the level they are working at. This is based on the sounds they have been taught in class and the sounds they are secure with and can remember.

The children can reread books they have read and also read new ones, within their level.

Please click on the link below for more information about how you can support your child with their reading.

Rhino Readers Information

To access the ebooks click on the link below and enter your child’s username and password.

twinkl.com/learn

If you have any questions about Rhino Readers or your child’s reading in general, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Many thanks.

 

After-School Clubs – Autumn (2) – ’24

Following on from the post earlier in the week, please see below the confirmed clubs for next half-term. Please note that dance has now been changed to football – due to the coaches available.

Club Description Day / Time Available to Limit
Board Games Play a variety of different boards games Mondays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Whole School 18
Cookery Prepare and cook a variety of different foods Mondays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Bees and Scorpions 12
Football Football activities and games (Crossbar Coaching) Tuesdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Fireflies, Grasshoppers, Dragonflies 20
Textiles Make different items using a range of different materials Tuesdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions 14
Parachute Games Play a variety of different games with a large parachute Wednesdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Fireflies and Grasshoppers 15
Tennis Tennis coaching and games Wednesdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions 18
Create Club (Art) Wide range of different art projects Thursdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Whole School 10
Lego Creating Lego around a weekly theme Thursdays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Year 2, Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions 20
Multi-Sports Range of different sports activities/games Fridays
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions 25

 

Places can be booked via the following online form. Places will be assigned in order of payment being received by Mrs. Godfrey.

 

Clubs will run from 4th November until 20th December (7 weeks). All clubs will be £35 for the term – apart from Create Club and Cookery, which will be £42.

Cross Country – Next Week

With next week’s cross country (Tuesday 15th), we have been asked by the event organiser to ask parents to car share (where possible) as parking could be an issue at Swancote.

 

There will also be tea/coffee/refreshments available to purchase.

As always, Year 3 girls will be the first event – and this race will begin at 4:30pm, so please ensure you arrive before this.

Nasal Flu Immunisation – 17th October 2024

The Shropshire Community Health School Immunisation Team will be in school on Thursday 17th October to deliver the Nasal Flu Immunisation to the children.  They have asked if we could remind parents to complete the eConsent form as soon as possible (link in the letter below).
If you have not yet completed the eConsent form or are having problems using this (the Immunisation Team have advised us today that some parents have had difficulty with the system), you are now able to complete a paper form and return this directly to the School Office.  A copy of this form is below.  Please could you return this as soon as possible.  If you would like a paper copy of this please contact the School Office.

Wraparound Care Provision

We are looking at expanding the offer of our Wraparound Care Provision (which includes before and after-school “care club” and after-school clubs).

We have a number of key changes that will be coming into effect to help with this.

 

As of next week, “Careclub” will…

  • …no longer have a limit of 12 children (as this will operated by two adults).
  • …begin at 7:30am until school begins (in the before-school session).
  • …end at 6:00pm after school ends (in the after-school session).

 

As a reminder, children can attend an after-school club and go into care club when they are finished (if required). Earlier this year, we also started to take bookings for care club up to a half-term in advance.

 

If our expansion of wraparound provision proves successful, then we will be exploring how we can further expand the range of clubs available and the resources that we can invest into further improving improving these clubs. Successful ongoing uptake will also hopefully allow us to reduce the cost to attend after-school clubs in the future. Currently, the cost to attend clubs is…

  • Care Club: £1.50 / 15mins
  • After-school club: £5 per session (£6 for Create Club)

Water Bottles

A reminder that children should only be bringing in water in their water bottles to school.

 

All schools in UK are expected to encourage healthy eating habits. Due to the sugar/acid content (inc. phosphoric acid – or equivalent – in sugar-free) squash or juice, drinking it regularly throughout the day can have significantly negative impact on oral hygiene, particularly tooth decay (the number one reason for child hospital admissions for children aged 6-10).

 

Fruit juice alongside a packed lunch at lunch time is not an issue.

 

If, for a particular medical reason, adjustments to this are needed for your child, please let us know so that we can discuss this.

Upcoming Dates – Autumn ’24

Please be aware of the following upcoming dates:

Harvest Church Service: Date to be confirmed

Arthog: Monday 25th November – Friday 29th November

Parent Feedback Sessions: Wednesday 4th December – 1:00pm to 6:00pm.

Afternoon Nativity Performance: Tuesday 10th December – 2:15pm to 3:00pm

Evening Nativity Performance: Wednesday 10th December – 6:oopm to 6:45pm

Christmas Church Service: Date to be confirmed

Upcoming Football Events

For those attending the upcoming football competitions, children will need shin pads (if they don’t have any, then they will need to let me know and I can sort some for them to borrow). They will also be playing on grass at Oldbury, so football boots would be preferable; however, trainers will be also fine.

Please note that there are two events:

Girls’ Football Competition: Tuesday 8th October
Mixed Football Competition: Tuesday 22nd October

Please note: your child may have been chosen to take part in one or both competitions.

Uniform Update – Oct ’24

Following the update in September, we have since met with Lads and Lasses to discuss the previous issues with uniform stock.

 

There have been ongoing issues with the printing quality on the 1/4-zip top option. This, along with the high-cost of the top itself, has led to us exploring a cheaper, more print-friendly version of this style.

 

Following on from feedback from parents, we are also exploring a full-zip hooded top to go alongside the 1/4 zip and the normal hoody – as well as potentially exploring a green colour option for all of the black tops.

 

We will keep you updated on the progress with these.

 

FOBCS will be soon starting to share the small amount of donated second-uniform available for a small donation or swap. If anyone has uniform that they wish to donate to the FOBCS uniform stock, please send it into school.