@Alex Tel: 020 8546 7176 Fax: 020 8549 8040 Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.alexandra.kingston.sch.uk/ @AlexandraschKT Respect Determination Excellence Friendship Courage Equality Inspiration Autumn Term 20th September 2019 Number 1

Welcome Back! We hope you have all enjoyed a very happy summer holiday. We are delighted to welcome back all our Nursery, Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year4 children this week and our very first cohort of Year 6 children. We would also like to welcome all our new children and families to our school. Some of our Reception children started school last week, with the remainder joining us over a transitionary period. The children have enjoyed getting to know their new teaching staff and classrooms and are settling in really well after the long summer break. We are really looking forward to another exciting year with your children. Our Classes Nursery - Sarah Storey – Ducklings Rec – Julia Myring- Hoglets Rec –Melanie Meek & Sara Merridan - Owlets Year 1 – Anupa Vara - Ladybirds Year 1 – Lou Laurie– Caterpillars Year 2 – Kaj Hall & Natalie Mablis – Woodpeckers Year 2 – Megan Griffiths– Swans Year 3 – Johanna Roche & Helen Lewis – Foxes Year 3 – Rachael Horine & Polly Jones – Hedgehogs Year 4 - Oliver Clements – Bats Year 4 –Catherine Potter – Dragonflies Year 5 - Emma Gardner – Kestrals Year 5 - Matthew Shaw – Sparrowhawks Year 6 - David Broers & Heather Smyllie – Swallows Year 6 - Charlotte Taverner & Heather Smyllie – Skylarks

Welcome to @ALEX @Alex is designed to keep you up-to-date with news, information, events and dates for your diaries. It is sent every Friday via Parentmail. It is also available on the school website. The teachers in each year group also write a weekly letter explaining what the children will be learning and how you can support your children at home. This is updated every Monday and can be accessed via the website or on the links at the end of @Alex. Note from Robert Waiting Thank you for all your support and encouragement this week during our visit from Ofsted. It was a very busy two days and I am grateful for the efforts by staff, parents and, most importantly, pupils in making the inspectors welcome and showing them the school. We will receive the report in 30 working days and both the governors and myself will look to present the outcomes to parents at a meeting before half term. If there is anything further that parents would like to update me on in advance of this please do not hesitate to catch me on the gate. I have enjoyed starting to get to know families at the Year Group Meetings this week and I will ensure that the presentations from the sessions are available on the website. We will aim to hold similar sessions in the spring term, to update parents on curriculum events and activities taking place this year. Once again, can I thank parents for welcoming me to the school. It has been a very intense first two weeks of headship but it is evident of the supportive and positive school community that we have at Alexandra.

Have a great weekend.

Class attendance The attendance cup winner this week is joint Hedgehogs & Skylarks class. They all had 100% attendance.

Woodpecker, Swan, Bat and Kestrel classes all had 100% punctuality. Well done everyone! Class attendance for week beginning 1 July 2019 Year Class Attendance Lates Reception Hoglets % Owlets % Year1 Caterpillars 96.4% 2 Ladybirds 99.3% 2 Year 2 Swans 98.6% 0 Woodpecker 97.9% 0 Year 3 Hedgehogs 100% 1 Foxes 98.4% 4 Year 4 Bats 99.7% 0 Dragonflies 91.6% 1 Year 5 Kestrels 99.3% 0 Sparrowhawks 97.7% 1 Year 6 Swallows 97% 1 Skylarks 100% 1 School team points The school team point winners are announced in assembly every Friday. Here are this week’s results: Farah Ennis Weir Simmonds 77 75 78 88 Ongoing total Farah Ennis Weir Simmonds 77 75 78 88

Activity Clubs All clubs are seen out from the reception classrooms or office. Gate opens at 4.25pm. Sketchbetter Clubs are seen out from the main office – please wait outside until the club is seen out.

Main Office Hoglets Owlets Caterpillars Monday SketchBetter Ballet Football Art 4.30pm 4.30pm 5pm

Tuesday Textiles Club Karate Drama Multisports 5pm 4.30pm 4.30pm 4.30pm

Wednesday Sketchbetter All Star Choir Spartan Design 4.30pm Basketball 5pm 4.30pm

Thursday French Little Star writer Sketchbetter 4.30pm 4.30pm Photography 5pm Friday Sketchbetter Zumba Multi skills Art 4.30pm 4.30pm 5pm

There are still a few places available at some of the clubs. The exciting sports and activity clubs for September are now available to book . All clubs must be booked online ONLY from our new Parentpay website.

Letter for Year 6 parents and carers

Many thanks if you have now completed all your payments for the upcoming residential trip.

Information packs should have come home today.

Staff - a number of school staff have volunteered to come with the children. We are really grateful for them giving up their time in order to help the children have this experience. There will be plenty of familiar faces accompanying the children on their trip.

Dates are as follows: Monday 14th October – Friday 18th

Kit list - please see attached. It is worth getting all the equipment together now as the trip is very soon. Remember to speak to school staff/other parents about any items which you don't have as it may be possible to borrow them.

Children not going will still be expected to attend school. School lunch bookings

Please remember to book your child’s school lunch for the rest of the term at http://www.feedinghungryminds.co.uk A good idea is to set an alert on your phone today! Yr6 Football On Tuesday 17th September, some of the Year 6 girls represented Alexandra Primary in the football qualifiers for their year group. Coming in the top two for this event meant proceeding to the finals, so tension was high, and the girls knew they needed to be on top form. Unfortunately, the results just weren’t coming the girls’ way with a few draws and last minute goals meaning they were not getting the points needed to secure them a top place. However, they continued to pick themselves up and give it their all, and this showed in their emphatic win of 9-0 against one of their opponents. Also, Lana T and Rebekah Lwould have made England Defender Lucy Bronze proud with their brilliant performances in defence. You played incredibly well girls, and there will be other competitions in the year to show off your excellent football talent. Parent Consultations Parent /teacher consultations will take place on Wednesday 6th November at 3.45 – 6pm and on Thursday 7th November at 3.45 – 6pm. Booking via Parentmail will be available the week before.

Please note that there is NO after school provision on these two dates.

Our AFTER SCHOOL CLUB and our after school activity clubs will not be running on these days. Please make alternative after school plans for your children if they would usually attend.

PSA Comedy Night – save the date- Friday 4th October, from 8pm for 8.30pm start Tickets on sale this weekend – via Parentpay Organised by the Crack Comedy team behind the Grey Horse comedy nights, with top circuit comedians:

Chris McCausland, as seen on Live at the Apollo, is a stand up comedian and actor. He is also the only professional comedian in the world who is blind, and after performing stand-up since 2003, is firmly established at the very top of the UK’s live comedy circuit. Chris can regularly be seen performing at all of the country’s major clubs including the world famous Comedy Store in the of London’s West-End.

In 2014 Chris wrote and fronted a national TV ad campaign for Barclays Bank, which promoted their audio cash machines. He also secured a lead role in the Jimmy McGovern drama ‘Moving On’ (BBC1).

Between 2005 and 2012 Chris took six different stand-up shows to the Edinburgh Festival and in 2011 was awarded the Creative Diversity Award for Comedy by a Channel 4 led panel of broadcasters that included BBC, ITV and Sky.

In 2008, 2010 and 2012 he appeared performing stand-up in three series of The Comedy Store for Paramount Comedy and Comedy Central.

Other TV credits include, ‘Rudy’ the Market Trader in the Cbeebies show ‘Me Too’, ‘Celebrity Deal or No Deal Comedian Special’ with Jimmy Carr and ‘Unwrapped’ (BBC2) with Miranda Hart.

Radio Credits include: Hawksby and Jacobs – , Gethin Jones – Five Live, Live on the Boat – R4, Loose Ends – R4

Chris is regularly asked by News channels including, BBC, ITV, Channel 5 and Sky to give his comedic slant and opinion on events happening around the world, from the serious to the ridiculous

Stefano Paolini “The best voice merchant on the circuit is Paolini, who has done some TV but is destined for far wider exposure" Evening Standard 2003 Since receiving the runner-up accolade in Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny Award 2001 and in BBC's New Comedy Award 2002, Stefano has had a constant stream of TV and radio work, which he manages to juggle with gigging 4/5 nights a week.

On radio he has appeared as a special guest on DEAD RINGERS (BBC Radio 4). He voiced a variety of characters in the DREEM TEEM XMAS PANTO (BBC Radio 1 - two specials) and on TALK RADIO he appeared in five episodes of DO YOU LOOK LIKE HIM OR WHAT, which he also wrote. He has guested on LOOSE ENDS (BBC Radio 4), THE JO WHILEY SHOW (BBC Radio 1), LBC and BBC London . More recently he featured in THE PROBLEM WITH ADAM BLOOM (BBC Radio 4), SPANKING NEW (BBC Radio 7) and THE MILK RUN for BBC Radio 1. He is currently developing his own series 'BRITALIANS' for BBC Radio 4.

Stefano is a popular face on the UK comedy circuit and recently performed in Croatia and Singapore. He also speaks fluent Italian and recently performed his whole show in Italy, in Italian. He can also mimic a variety of animal and musical sounds, including a wicked beat box!

"A remarkable repertoire of voices and sounds" - The Stage “ACE…….an obvious star" - ***** The Scotsman

MC is Grainne Maguire "Highly promising, has a big future ahead of her" - Time Out. “An engaging and natural performer with has deep reserves of excitable energy...enjoyably bizarre" -Chortle “Nice observations…can employ understatement with the dry mastery of a Father Ted script" - Chortle “Popular with audiences and comedians alike…excellent set... inspired and extremely funny” - Inside Comedy “Surreal Irish charm” - 7 magazine Brighton Featured in The Stand "Best of Irish" and "Pick of the Fringe Showcase" Edinburgh 2008 and star of Edinburgh hit "The Cheese and Pineapple Club 2008 "Kooky and gauche ****" The List "Charming..delights the audience..gets big laughs ****"BroadwayBaby “Inspired moments…fun and well observed..talent on the way up" Fringe Report "Novel and ingenious" One 4 Review

Jeans for Genes Day today – we collected £349.55 thank you

It’s Jeans for Genes Day on Friday 20th September, please bring your child to school in their jeans/denim ( ie not school uniform) and let them join in the fun! The money raised provides vital care and support for thousands of children with life-altering genetic disorders.

Please bring a £1 donation (or more!) for our collection box. If you’d like to find out more about how our support will help, please visit their website at jeansforgenes.org https://www.jeansforgenesday.org/who-we-are 1 in 25 children has a genetic disorder that makes their life very difficult. That’s one in every class. Simply by wearing our jeans and donating, we will change the lives of these children. All children and staff are invited to wear their jeans. We’d like everyone to take part so please send your child into school on the day wearing their jeans and with a £1 donation.

No scooters in the playground please For your child’s safety please do not scoot around the playground.

Scooter / Bike park is located at top end of playground. Please lock all bikes and scooters. Teachers Wanted As it is the beginning of the year, we are hoping to build our bank of experienced, qualified teachers who will be able to offer cover throughout the year. If you are interested, please collect an application form from Liz Annesley in the school office.

Secondary School Entrance Exams/ interviews We have been informed that some of our children will be taking school entrance examinations. Please inform the school of these dates and times by completing an absence form (available from the school office). It is our expectation that the children will return to school afterwards.

Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) Primary-school children are expected to know all their times tables up to 12x12. Under the current National Curriculum, children are supposed to know their times tables by the end of Year 4, but they are not formally tested on them other than through multiplication questions in the Year 6 maths SATs. The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether Y4 pupils can recall their multiplication tables fluently (being able to answer times tables questions accurately and quickly, without having to work out the answers). In June 2020 the multiplication check will be become compulsory for all English maintained schools, special schools and academies (including free schools).

How can you help? Because the National Curriculum for maths is so extensive, there is an expectation that parents will help their children learn their times tables at home and not rely on schools to bring them up to speed. Some of the techniques you can use include:

 Practising times tables by rote.  Asking your child multiplication questions out of order – such as ‘What’s 11x12? What’s 5x6?’  Asking your child the related division facts: ‘What’s 8/4? What’s 9/6?’  Using arrays to help your child memorise times tables – you can use fun objects like Smarties or Lego bricks to make it more entertaining.  Giving your child word problems to test their skills, like ‘If Peter has 800ml of orange juice and needs to share it between four friends, how much can they each have?’  Using apps and games like TheSchoolRun’s multiplication games to build speed.  Singing times tables using songs like Percy Parker.

Bats Cake Sale this Friday

Please come and support Bats class by donating / buying cakes. The class teachers are reliant on money raised from cake sales to purchase extra resources to enhance the children’s learning. Many thanks for your support. Class Reps still needed

The PSA are really grateful to all the parents who have signed up to be class reps this year. We still have a few spaces left to fill, please contact Zoe or Claire for more info.

If you have a child in Alexandra School you are automatically a member of the Alexandra PSA and you are welcome to come along to any of our meetings, which take place in the school staffroom and will be publicised through class reps and @ALEX newsletter. The PSA Objective: To support the school by enhancing the school community for parents, carers and children and raising funds to support the school’s activities. So far this year we have raised over £14k (before the Summer Fair) through all sorts of activities for the children and adults, which goes towards funding activities and materials to complement what the school offers. Last year we are supported Sketchbetter Art, which gives all of our children fantastic opportunities beyond their core classes. We have continued to support Julia P improve the playground with plants and outdoor equipment. Each year a proportion also goes towards classroom resources and books. It’s not all about the money, it’s also about having fun and creating a sense of school community, so most of our activities are planned with this in mind. This year the children have loved taking part in Sparkle Night, the fairs and the disco, whilst the parents and teachers had fun competing at our annual quiz night.

Taking part in the events and getting involved in the PSA is also a great way to meet other Alexandra parents and carers. We would love as many people as possible to get involved and depend on parents and carers to make sure we can run great events and raise as much money as possible to help the school offer our children such a great experience. There are lots of different ways you can get involved and you can offer as much or as little time as you have, for example for planning or running events, helping drum up support or sponsorship and also as a PSA class representative (or two/three) for each class. Most of it can be via email/Whats App, so you don’t need to be there at drop off/pick up every day to get involved. Please email us if you’d like to get involved, or for more information and watch out for news of the first PSA meeting in the new school year. You can also find out more on the school website: www.alexandra.kingston.sch.uk and follow us on Facebook (search for Alexandra School PSA). Clare Mirza & Zoe Van Den Bosch PSA Chair 2019 & PSA Chair 2019 [email protected]

Information Reminder

*Please check the school website for events, dates, club information before telephoning the school office.*

The website is updated weekly - click here for @Alex , Dates, Activity Club Information, Frequently asked questions. The class information pages and weekly information are updated every MONDAY. Nursery Reception Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Parentmail Please download the Parentmail App to your smart phone to ensure you do not miss out on important information sent out by the school. You can use the app to answer forms or notify the school of you childs absense easily & quickly.

Click on the link below to download the APP