25.09.20

Dear Parents/Carers.

We have reached the end of another week at school, the children are very settled and enjoying their learning each day- adapting well to the changes to routines. Hopefully you’ve received your new Seesaw codes and have been able to log-in to support your child’s homework. As I mentioned last week, we intend to continue to use Seesaw for setting homework each week, which will give you and the children lots of opportunities to become familiar with the app. If we ever find ourselves in a situation where we need to close a bubble, we would be using Seesaw to continue to provide education for the class while they were learning from home. It is therefore important that children, staff and parents are able to use the app, and we will continue to offer opportunities for children and staff to use it at school.

I’ve sent an additional letter to parents and carers today regarding the usage of face coverings on site from Monday. All visitors to the school, including at pick-up and drop- off times will be expected to wear a face covering and we ask for your full co-operation in this matter. I feel this step is now necessary as we strive to ensure that the school site remains as safe as possible for the whole school community.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend,

Mr C Murphy Headteacher

Diary Dates

26 September The Victory Academy Fair Banding Test (application deadline 11 Sept) 5 – 6 October Covid 19 contingency dates for Strood Academy Fair Banding Test 7 October Strood Academy Fair Banding Test (application deadline 25 Sept) 10 October Strood Academy Fair Banding Test (application deadline 2 Oct) 13-14 October Medway Test for some Yr 6’s 20 October Flu Immunisations Yr R - 6 23 October Last day of Term 1 – Staff Development Day 24 October The Victory Academy Fair Banding Test (application deadline 2 Oct) 2 November Term 2 18 December Last day of Term 2 4 January 2021 Term 3 - Staff Development Day 12 February Last day of Term 3 22 February Term 4 1 April Last day of Term 4 19 April Term 5 3 May Public holiday 28 May Last day of Term 5 7 June Term 6 21 July Last day of Term 6

Attendance

100 98 96 94 92 90 88 86 Year R Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Rainbow Overall Room This week 100 97.8 97.8 95 95.3 95.8 97.5 92.6 96.3 This Year 100 97.2 93.6 95.1 93.2 94.4 95.2 91.5 94.3

This week This Year

AFCA Face Covering Update

Following updated guidance, announced this week by the Government we require all parents/carers, adults and visitors to our school site to wear a face covering.

This includes when dropping off children at the school gates and entering the school grounds for any other reason.

As a reminder, when on site you will be asked to follow the social distancing, hand hygiene and one-way measures that we have in place.

Thank you for your continued support.

Digital Access Survey

Thank you to those parent/carers who responded to our digital access survey.

If you haven't yet responded please follow the link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YVRPNWP

The survey will close on Monday 28 September.

Flu Immunisations

This is an NHS initiative and school staff have no access to the system. If you have any questions please contact the immunisation service as above.

Key dates for primary school admissions 2021

You can apply for your child to start school in year R (reception) if they were born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017.

 Primary school applications open: 9am on Monday 7 September 2020  Primary school applications close (national closing date): 5pm on Friday 15 January 2021  Offers sent to parents and carers (national offer date): 16 April 2021  Places must be accepted or refused by Friday 14 May 2021  Requests to go on a waiting list and appeals must be submitted by Friday 14 May 2021  Re-allocation of empty places begins on Monday 7 June 2021  Re-allocation of empty places ends on Friday 31 December 2021

Key dates for secondary school admissions 2021

For children currently in Year 6

 Secondary school applications open: 9am on Monday 7 September 2020  Medway Test dates: Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 October 2020  Results of the Medway Test: Monday 2 November 2020  Deadline for Medway Test review requests: Monday 9 November 2020  Deadline for primary and junior schools to submit review work to Medway Council: 10am on Wednesday 18 November 2020  Medway Test school work reviews: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November 2020  Review decisions posted to parents and carers: By Tuesday 24 November 2020  Secondary school applications close: 5pm on Monday 30 November 2020  Offers sent to parents and carers: Monday 1 March 2021  Places must be accepted/refused and requests to go on a waiting list and appeals must be submitted: By Wednesday 31 March 2021  Re-allocation of empty school places begins: Monday 19 April 2021  Re-allocation of empty school places ends: Friday 31 December 2021

Test Registration Form for Year 7 September 2021 Entry WE DO NOT SHARE RESULTS WITH BROMPTON ACADEMY OR VICTORY ACADEMY. YOUR CHILD MUST SIT THE TEST AT THE ACADEMY FOR WHICH THEY ARE APPLYING FOR To be completed by Parent/Carer Please complete this form if you are seeking a place for your child at Strood Academy. Your child will need to sit the Fair Banding Test even if the Academy is your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th preference and/or your child has a family member currently on roll here. Please ensure you complete all sections. Please write in black ink and use BLOCK CAPITALS Preferred Test Saturday 12 September 2020 □ Form to be returned by 28 August 2020, 3pm Date: Wed 7 October 2020 (from 4pm) □ Form to be returned by 25 September 2020, 3pm Saturday 10 October 2020 □Form to be returned by 2 October 2020, 3pm In light of COVID-19 these dates are subject to change. Contingency test dates have been set for Monday 5th October and Tuesday 6th October (from 4pm). Please reserve these dates as it may be necessary to move you onto one of these test dates PLEASE NOTE THAT TEST DATES ARE LIMITED, BOOKED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. IF YOU BOOK A SESSION THAT IS ALREADY FULL YOU WILL BE CONTACTED AND MOVED TO ANOTHER SESSION Child’s Legal Surname: Child’s Legal Forename

Child’s Middle Name (if applicable):

Child’s Gender: Male □ Female □

Child’s Date of Birth:

Parent/Carer Title: Mr □ Mrs □ Miss □ Ms □ Dr □

Parent/Carer Forename and Surname:

Relationship to Child: Mother □ Father □ Other □ (please specify)

Do you have parental responsibility for this child? Yes □ No □

Full Address: House/ Flat number/Name ______Road: ______Town:______County:______Postcode:______

Home Phone Number: Mobile Number:

Email Address:

Child’s Current School:

Does your child have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)? Yes □ No □ Extra Time may be provided for students who have a diagnosed Special Educational Need or Disability. Has your child been formally diagnosed with a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND)? *Yes/No *Please attach evidence. This may be a Diagnostic Assessment Report or a Consultant’s letter. Please provide details of the Special Educational Need or Disability: NB: The Fair Banding Test is read aloud to all students, so reading support is not required. Signed:______Date:______Children will not be able to sit the test unless the completed form is returned by the above deadline. Please return the form to: Strood Academy, Carnation Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 2SX or email to [email protected]

RE: Chatham Grammar Virtual Open Events 2020

Chatham Grammar have carefully made the decision to not go ahead with their annual open events for 2020, however they are excited to be able to announce that they will be offering their new Virtual Open Events on the following dates:

Saturday 14th November 2020 from 9.30am Saturday 21st November 2020 from 9.30am

Parents and carers will be required to register for these Virtual Open Events via the Chatham Grammar website.

Tulip Class

The children in Early Years visited the pumpkin patch this week. Each group chose a pumpkin, cut it off the vine and brought it back to class. We cut open the pumpkins to find out what was inside. We discovered seeds and flesh inside the pumpkins

Snowdrop Class

This week, Year 6 were really put to the test when they held a Teams meeting with Year 6 ‘Aspen Class’ at New Horizons. Each child shared a letter on the screen of the BSL alphabet for the other class to copy. They then shared the full alphabet in which they expertly demonstrated all of the letters and shared a few basic phrases such as 'sorry' and 'good morning'.

In the following few months, we will share colours and animals with them in the hope that in the future, we may be able to sign basic conversations across the two classrooms.

I was very impressed with the way the children provided small clues as to how to create the letters and how well the children conducted themselves in front of the screen. Well done Year 6!

Sunflower Class

This week, Year 3 have been fantastic learners. They have all worked incredibly hard to be more independent in their maths and have set themselves the task of pushing themselves into their ‘challenge zone’. We have continued to look at number and place value, applying our 2, 5 and 10 times tables. Thank you to everyone who has been using Times Tables Rockstars, it is clear from the confidence of some of the children that they are proud of the practice they have put in to learning their multiplications.

We have also furthered our reading of ‘Stig of the Dump’ and discovered some interesting uses for jam jars and tin cans! Year 3 also blew me away with their pastel cave drawings this week, as they focused on using the appropriate colours and applied their understanding of the types of drawings (i.e. pictures of hunters, weapons and animals) to their own creations.

Treetops Class

Today, we learnt that archeologists study the past by digging things up. We watched a video on the Happisburgh Footprints and discovered that they are footprints that were formed in the distant past. We went on an archelogical dig of our own to discover the All Faiths Footprints. We realised that some of the footprints were big and some of the footprints were small and worked out that they must have been made by a family. We shared our red hat thinking: ”Excited”, “very happy”, “I tried very hard”, “very confident”, “surprised”, “very fun”, “I can do it” and “challenging”.

We would like to invite every Key Stage 1 child to try a free school meal with our fun USA-themed lunch on Thursday 1 October!

Our star-spangled menu will be bursting with the taste of America, including all-time favourites the beef burger and (Quorn) hot dog, a choice of tasty sides, and decision time at dessert - delicious orange drizzle cake or the classic jelly & ice cream.

We’d love to see your child even if they do not currently have school dinners. No need to pre- book or bring a packed lunch as we will order every child a meal. If you would prefer to opt out on this day please advise us via MYEd by Wednesday 30 September.

This menu is also available to KS2 children at the usual cost of £2.15 per child (or free to those eligible for benefit related free school meals).

Chartwells Updated Autumn Lunch Menu Chartwells have updated their lunch menu; the updates will begin from next week beginning at Week 1.

The cost of a school lunch is £2.15.

Please remember to book your child’s lunch 24 hours in advance. You are able to book lunches for up to 8 weeks ahead of time so if you would like to book for the whole term you can!

Reminder that if your child is entitled to a free school lunch, you will still need to book their lunch option via +Pay.

Please also remember to discuss the lunch menu with your child so that they are aware of what has been booked each day.