Website: www.fjslive.net
Twitter: @FairisleJS
FAIRISLE TIMES
April 2016
Fairisle Junior School
Easter Hat Parade 2016 — What a Success!
What a great time we all had on the last day of term, when almost every child brought a hat to
school for our afternoon parade. The judges were in place and, despite the rain, the
children walked around the hall, through the Year 3 classrooms and back in via the quad to
show their headgear to the judges!
Very well done to everyone who took part. Special congratulations to the following overall
first prize winners, who were as follows:
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Noah Harvie
Ryan Horsfall
Hayden Evans
Jessica Sykes
I know you will want to join me in congratulating Jack Cornick from Year 6 on his
recent ascent of Snowdonia. He took 6 hours and 40 minutes to get to the snow
covered summit and raised over £300 for Cancer Research. Watch the Echo!
Words from our Head Girl and Boy
During the holiday, over 50 of our Year 6 children
came in for Easter School from Monday to Thursday.
We did maths, reading and SPaG every day and we
also had a chance to go on Mr Woods’ bouncy castle.
We looked at past papers and went through questions
that we may find challenging. As we worked so hard
we also had squash and biscuits as a treat! At the
end of the week we were presented with certificates
and Crème Eggs!
And a few Words from Nikki Webb, our Chair of Governors
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the staff who gave up their Easter
holiday to help prepare our Year 6 pupils for their forthcoming SATs next month. It was very
much appreciated and the children were really engaged when I wandered through the school
during the ‘lessons’.
Once again, many thanks (and, of course, well done to all the children!)
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Many of the staff had also taken the opportunity to make hats for the occasion (they were NOT
allowed to enter the competition however!) and before we knew it, the judges had chosen their
final four from each year group.
Please
Park
Courteously
Department for Education plans for Academy Status
You may be aware of DfE plans to convert every school in England to an academy.
I wanted to let you know what this means for Fairisle Junior School.
In the very near future, the answer is “business as usual”.
The governors and I have no immediate plans to convert to academy status by choice.
We are a highly successful, local authority maintained school, working in close collaboration with the other schools in the Redbridge and Lordshill Primary Federation.
We believe that this provides the best model, and the local democratic accountability,
so that we can continue to be the best choice for you and your children.
You will have read the news about “scrapping parent governors”. This would be part
of the new legislation to force schools to become academies. It will no doubt be appropriately debated in parliament before any change happens. We value our parent governors and expect them to play a dedicated role in challenging and supporting us. We
have no plans to remove them.
It is often very difficult, even as an education professional, to wade through the pros
and cons of such a proposal. Academy status changes all aspects of the way a school
is run - the lease on the land and buildings, the way the school is funded, the governance of the school. Academies also have no requirement to teach the national curriculum or employ qualified teachers.
If the policy becomes law, it will be really important that parents play their part
in any change. The secretary of state, Nicky Morgan, released a video (https://
youtu.be/PG-caIU0G1U) recently talking about her plans for greater involvement when all schools are converted. Please watch it.
Below, I have linked to two articles, one in support of the changes and one
against. They are a good starting point if you want to know more.
Michael Rosen on Academies
Annaliese Briggs on Academies
http://goo.gl/tMJYAG
http://goo.gl/vQ8Kra
Fairisle Junior School
Want to talk to someone?
If it’s about
lunchtime.
If it’s about
class.
If it’s about pupil
attendance, welfare or
inclusion.
Arrange for Mrs
Lodwidge to
contact you. See
the school office.
Arrange for the class
teacher to contact you.
Put a note in your
child’s planner.
Arrange for Mr Hayes
to contact you. See
the school office.
I’ve spoken to them but I would like to talk to someone else.
If you’ve seen Mrs
Lodwidge arrange a
meeting with Mr
Hayes. See the
school office.
If you’ve seen the class
teacher arrange a meeting
with the Year Leader. If
the class teacher is also the
Year Leader arrange a
meeting with Mrs Cleveley.
If you’ve seen Mr
Hayes arrange a
meeting with Miss
Bessey. See the
school office.
I’ve spoken to them but I’d like to talk to someone else.
Arrange a meeting with Mr Howard. See the school office.
Urgent?
Please speak with the senior staff member on the doors or Mrs Rankin on the playground.
You can also email a teacher through [email protected] – we will forward your
e-mail on to the correct teacher.
Year 3 Greek Day
Last week our Year 3 children immersed themselves in Greek life and culture for the day, and
they had a brilliant time. They took part in many activities and workshops including being a
soldier in the battle of Sparta versus Athens (two powerful Greek states). They had a go at
playing Greek games which really taxed their brains. In the afternoon the children were split into
two teams (Athens and Sparta) and took part in a mini Olympic Games.
The children really got into their roles as ancient Greeks by dressing up and all the Year 3 adults
also joined in. Thank you for your support the children looked fantastic in their costumes.
Congratulations to Fairisle Junior School as we have just heard that we
have earned our Silver accreditation with the Modeshift Stars Award.
Dates for the term
Monday 18 — Friday 29 April
The Big Pedal (See separate letter)
Monday 2 May
Monday 9 — Thursday 12 May
Friday 27 May
3.15pm
School closed — Bank holiday
Year 6 Test Week (See separate letter)
School closes for Half Term
Monday 6 June
Tuesday 7 June
Junior school closed for staff training
School reopens for the children at 8.50am
City Athletics (Separate letter to be sent)
Class Photographs
Sports Day
Year 6 RE Day
Wednesday 15 June
Tuesday 21 June
Tuesday 28 June
Wednesday 6 July
Friday 15 July
Monday 18 July
Tuesday 19 July
Wednesday 20 July
9.30am — 12.00pm
1.45pm
5.00pm
3.15pm
Transfer Day (Children meet new class teachers)
Year 6 to Paultons Park
Year 6 to Red Lodge Swimming Pool (2 sessions)
Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly
Year 6 Leavers’ Party
School closes for Summer Holiday
I am very pleased to be able to let you know that Andrew Clark, our new Business Manager, will
be starting on Monday. I know you will make him feel welcome.