Issue: July 2018 West Blatch News

Head’s Corner as we prepare for probably one of Lastly, we say goodbye to our our most exciting years ahead and Year 6 children, many of the prospect of moving in to our whom have been with us since new building in Easter 2019. Reception and some since We will be starting next year with Nursery. You are very special a special week culminating in a young people who have street party, so please put the achieved so much and are date in your diary now as we most certainly ready for the would like as many of you as next stage of your education possible to attend, old faces, new and lives. faces, friends and relatives—it will All of us are proud of you, take place on Friday 21st proud to have known you, September in our school proud to have watched you playground. blossom and proud that you The end of year is the right time to have been pupils at our Dear Parents and Carers, refresh and take stock, but before school. Aim high and continue Hard as it is to imagine, we are we do, we need to say…Thank you to shine brightly, you have so right at the end of another and goodbye to those staff who much to offer. successful year. How quickly it are moving on: Well done to all our pupils who seems to have come round, no A few staff are moving on in their have engaged so well in their doubt due to the many fun and careers and exploring new learning this year and a exciting things that have been opportunities. We wish them every big THANK YOU to all the staff happening here at West success in this, and want them to who have worked so hard to Blatchington. know they have made a huge achieve the best outcomes for In the last few weeks we have had difference in the lives of the them, they certainly deserve a a fantastic summer Bake Off, children they have worked with well earned break. organised by the FOWB team with and with the wider school. 2017—18 has been a year of such aplomb—it was a really Goodbye and good luck to Mr achievements for our school lovely, friendly atmosphere on Salas, Mrs Anscombe, Miss community and we looking Tuesday after school, and this Ovenden, Mrs Argent, Mrs Forsyth, forward to building on our followed hotly on from our Miss Tester and Miss Gale, you successes come September. wonderful Sports Day last week, will be sorely missed by us all. Have a fantastic summer of which was also well attended. rest and relaxation and see Together these events All of you have played a significant you next year! role in our school's improvement demonstrated how wonderfully close knit we are as a community and we will always remember you for your contribution. Thank you Rachel Simmonds & Fern Corns for making the difference.

The Tempest

An amazing production of the famous play ‘The Tempest’ took to our stage last week with some of our Key Stage Two children providing their own unique take on the Shakesperian masterpiece.

As always, the sense of character that each developed was phenomenal, as was the singing and movement around the stage. Thanks to all who came along to support our children as they acted their hearts out and to Miss Nash and Mrs Oliver for their fantastic direction.

As well as that, many of the teachers and other staff gave up “I liked all the amazing action and excitement!” their own time to lend a hand and our FOWB were there on Amelie both nights to provide refreshments. Thank you for helping “I really liked all the costumes” Robyn create more wonderful memories for our wonderful children. Sports Zone

Albion in the Community Premier League Primary Stars The highly successful ten week Primary Stars Programme has passed by very quickly this summer. Bradley, our AITC coach, has worked with many children across the school delivering PE lessons to Years 1 and 4, PSHE and reading lessons to Year 5 and 3 children respectively, as well as lunchtime girls’ football sessions. On Wednesday 18th July, Bradley delivered AITC’s final assembly where he handed out awards to children against the Premier League values. A huge well done to the following children for winning awards: Jessica and Tony: Teamwork Ayah and Torie: Fairness Abdul and Malakai: Ambition Olah and Rubi: Inspire Emily: Primary Star

School Games Silver Award We are delighted to confirm that we have achieved the Silver School Games Award for 2017/18. The criteria for achieving School Games Awards is increasingly rigorous and we are therefore very proud to achieve Silver again. The amount of extra-curricular clubs we have before and after school, the number of tournaments we have entered (Upper and Lower KS2), as well as the amount of outside agencies we have had work with us delivering workshops and PE development have all contributed towards achieving Silver.

Great Britain Paralympic Athlete Visits West Blatch! On Wednesday 11th July, we were very lucky to have Ryan Raghoo, a Paralympic Long Jumper with cerebral palsy, visit West Blatchington to host an assembly before delivering PE sessions throughout the day. Ryan’s journey to becoming a professional Paralympian has been long and complex, and he has had - and still has - many challenges to overcome. Therefore, his message of the importance of being resilient in life and seeing setbacks as learning opportunities to drive you forwards was extremely inspiring. Children also learnt about his personal phrase ‘enabled, not disabled’, which was especially powerful.

A Sports Day to remember for ever! We had an absolutely amazing Sports Day this year—it was positively received by so many of you. The children really enjoyed it in particular and were kept really busy at all the different, fun stations. Well done to Blue team for taking the trophy and to all of the children for exemplifying good sportsmanship throughout. A special thank you to Tam for leading us all in our warm up in the morning and to Ms Price, Mrs Johnson, Mr Russell and Mr Stevens for excellent organisational prowess in making the whole thing go like clockwork. The school got some fantastic feedback from parents and a few ideas as to how we can make even better next year… “Highly enjoyable” “Novel activities like curling.” “The new layout makes it more fun because the kids are working more as a team.” “Would be good to have a timetable of events in advance to plan where to go if you have more than one child.”

An extra special thank you too to our FOWB, who pulled out all the stops in providing tasty refreshments, and to Wickenden’s Meats for your very nice sausages!!!

Super Sports Star Joshy! Despite the fact that Joshy suffers from asthma, which means gymnastics can be a challenge, he embodies all that we stand for here at West Blatchington: he never gives up and is always practising!

He trains every Saturday for four hours without fail and when a competition comes up usually adds a little extra 2 hour session in.

Joshy is currently competing at regional level. Having been in 3 separate competitions, Joshy has brought home a gold medal each time! Currently he is perfecting his flick move…which he has achieved in practice – and his coaches are so bowled over by him that if he carries on with this amazing attitude and discipline towards his gymnastics it is said he will be heading in the right direction for the National competitions.

Despite the bumps and bruises, Joshy wants to achieve his dream, and we at West Blatchington are fully behind him!

The Summer Reading Challenge takes place every year during the summer holidays. You can sign up at your local library, then read six library books of your choice to complete the Challenge. There are exclusive rewards to collect along the way, and it’s FREE to take part!

This summer the Reading Challenge is called Mischief Makers. We’re taking a trip to Beanotown, where rumour has it there’s a treasure chest full of epic pranks waiting to be discovered… Check out the brand new trailer!

Go to : https:// summerreadingchallenge.org.uk for more information and ideas of books to read.

Well done to our regular reader winners!

Mohammad - Kangaroos Josh - Owls

Jackson- Kangaroos Hanna - Leopards

Susie- Kangaroos Prithvi - Leopards Budding Scientists

Earlier in the term, budding scientists Jatin & Samuel (Year 3) made a volcano at home as part of the topic on volcanoes and earthquakes.

Both year 3 classes were excited to go outside to watch the eruption!

Furthering Talent Programme

Our Furthering Talent children were visited by composer James Redwood on the 26th June. Here’s what the children had to say about it…

“In our Furthering Talent workshop, we composed a piece of music called ‘The Cuckoo’. The guitars played an Am chord and the violins played the notes A and B. Then we made up our own pieces of music in groups. We were describing a dolphin, a bird of prey, and a shark. We also played lots of warm up games and had lots of fun learning a new song called Tingalayo. After lunch, we practised our pieces we had made and then went over to the Junior Hall where we performed what had done to the whole school.” By Matei and Kareem

Instrumental lessons You may be aware that your child has recently been given the opportunity of learning one of the following instruments here at West Blatchington Primary School: cello, drum kit recorder, flute, guitar, keyboard and violin. Lessons are provided by teachers from Brighton & Hove Music & Arts (BHMA). BHMA have contacted us to confirm that places are available for pupils who wish to start lessons in September. If you would like to apply online for lessons you can do so via https://www.bhma.org.uk/online- instrumental-form or please ask at the office for an application form. Please note that help with the costs of lessons are available for families receiving free school meals or on low incomes. For further information please contact [email protected] Fabulous opportunities for Summer Arts Fun

In 2018 Royal Pavilion & Museums will be running another exciting summer arts programme for young people aged 13-19 (up to 24 years with additional needs). A creative workshop will take place in each of our 5 sites across Brighton & Hove – all of them are free to attend. The participants will have the opportunity to explore our buildings and collections, meet museum staff and work with professional artists to learn new creative skills in animation, drama-based movement and tactile art, photographic-collage, urban art and drama. The programme is designed for young people who may not have visited the museums before. Furthermore, if you know young people who are completing their Arts Award then these workshops can be incorporated into their awards (www.artsaward.org.uk). The summer programme is a great opportunity to do something creative and fun in a supportive and inspiring environment. Participants can sign up for 1 workshop or all 5. Lunch will be provided. If you are interested, or know a young person who might be, then please contact Sarah Pain to book a space: [email protected] / 07833 483245.

Workshop details, all workshops will include a tour of the venue:

Fri 27th July at the Royal Pavilion 11am – 4.30pm: Animation Marking the First World War Centenary, use original photographs, cartoons and soldiers stories to learn how the Royal Pavilion was used as a hospital for soldiers who had lost limbs. Then use these tales of comradeship, adjustment and strength as inspiration for your animation. You will have the opportunity to show your animations at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery as part of the Brighton Digital Festival 2018. Led by digital makers, Remix the Museum. Please note we will meet at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.

Wed 8th Aug at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery 11am – 3.30pm: Drama-Based Movement & Tactile Art: Inspired by the Fashion & Style Gallery you will create characters, stories and props for an exciting tale. This workshop is aimed at young people with moderate to severe learning difficulties. You will have the opportunity to have your artwork on display at Brighton Museum in September. Led by theatre practitioner, Julia Box and artist, Sarah Pain.

Thurs 16th Aug at the Booth Museum 11am – 3.30pm: Curious Boxes of Birds Inspired by Edward Booth’s collection of birds and Joseph Cornell’s surrealist boxes, design a diorama and create a curious world of birds in a box using photography, collage, drawing and found objects. You will have the opportunity to have your artwork on display at Hove Museum during September. Lead by artist, Lindsey Smith.

Tue 21st Aug at Hove Museum & Art Gallery 11am – 3.30pm: Urban Art Create your own piece of urban graffiti art inspired by Aaron Blecha’s Aliens, Zombies and Monsters! exhibition. You will have the opportunity to have your artwork on display at Hove Museum during September. Led by graffiti artist, Tom Goulden.

Wed 22nd Aug at Preston Manor 11am – 3.30pm: Drama Workshop Use drama games, theatre techniques and period costume to explore the Manor’s history. You will have the opportunity to perform a short drama piece in-situ at Preston Manor that day. Led by theatre practitioner, Julia Box. Helping our community…. On Wednesday 20 June, Sophie took part in a sponsored CPR at Brighton Badgers. This was for 1 hour on a 2 minute relay, which is roughly 3 sets of 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths before swapping and then repeating.

It is exhausting, both physically and mentally. Most adults could not do what Sophie and her Badger unit did. A standard First Aid test gets a person to do 2 minutes CPR and that’s it - Sophie did 1 hour solid. Well done for a sterling performance Sophie!

Friends of West Blatchington

Pennies for our playground! Friends of West Blatch (FOWB) would like to thank everyone who has helped this past year. The events couldn't go ahead without your help and we are most grateful.

We would like to wish you all a wonderful Summer break. For all those moving on up to secondary school, we would like to wish you good luck and know that whatever you choose in life, you can succeed at.

NEWSFLASH………. FOWB will be holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the school on Thursday 13th September 2018 at 13:00. The meeting will finish before pick up time. and FOWB would love to see new faces at the AGM. There will be elections for the following posts: Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Committee Members. For more information about the posts, please feel free to ask a member of FOWB or enquire at the school office.

A brilliant summer bake off! KS1 Winner A massive thank you to everyone who showed off their baking skills by entering the bake, as well as a huge thank you to the staff and parents who volunteered at the event and also thank you to everybody who came along to enjoy the cakes and stalls and support FOWB. A delicious £458.75 was raised!

Staff Winner

Parent Winner KS2 Winner

Please join our Face Book page: Friends of West Blatchington Years 5 and 6 say Vive La France!

We had lots of fun when our French pen pals visited on Monday th 18 June! The day began with us introducing ourselves. Some of us in years 5 and 6 took part in the great spaghetti and marshmallow challenge. We worked with our French friends to build the highest structure in the style of the Eiffel tower, because judging together whose we thought was the best. It was tricky to communicate but still enjoyable because we helped each other. Next, we headed to the infants to have a shared reading session - we loved it!

After a delicious lunch, we had the choice of football or parachute games. In teams, we played a game where we had to bounce the opponent’s ball off the parachute; it was great fun.

Later in the afternoon, we played rounders (pairing up with our pen pal) and we had a mixed language quiz. In our pairs, we explored the school to find a range of objects and took pictures of them on our I-pads.After we had a great day with our pen pals, we all had a tasty cake snack, but they had to pack their bags and we all said, “Au revoir!” Building Works Update & A Look Behind the Scenes

Work is progressing well on our new building and Kier have been making the most of the good weather to press ahead with the construction. The steel frame for our school is now complete, along with the decking for the roof. The ground floor concrete slab has been done and the scaffolding is now going up for the next stage of works. In this newsletter we will be taking a peak behind the hoarding to see Secure bio-metric entry turnstiles more of the site... Kier’s vegetable patch

West Blatchington—Our new building!

Inside the site office The site canteens seats up to 100 people Washing & drying room

Inside West Blatchington Tree protection zones

Kings School Site Ceremony Some more great photos from the recent site ceremony, where competition winners got to sign one a steel beam that was then lifter into place in our new building!

What’s coming up at West Blatch

Tues 24th July: Last day of Summer 2018 term Mon 3rd September: INSET day Tues 4th September: First Day of Autumn 2018 term Chomp, the fantastic free lunch and Thurs 13th September: FOWB AGM at 13:00 activity club is once again running Mon 22nd October to Fri 2nd November: Half term during the Summer holidays! Wed 19th December: Last day of Autumn 2018 term It will be based in the Junior Hall and will take Thur 3rd January: First day of Spring 2019 term place from 11:00 till 13:00 on the following Mon 18th to Fri 22nd February: Half term days:

Fri 5th April: Last day of Spring 2019 term in our old Wednesday 1st August building   Friday 3rd August Mon 8th April: INSET day  Wednesday 8th August Tues 9th April: INSET day  Friday 10th August Wed 10th to Mon 22nd April: Easter holidays  Wednesday 15th August Tues 23rd April: INSET day  Friday 17th August Wed 24th April: INSET day  Wednesday 29th August Thurs 25th April: First day of Summer 2019 term in our  Friday 31st August new building!

Mon 27th to Fri 31st May: Half term Chomp provides a free nutritious meal for all the family alongside fun activities to increase social engagement and confidence with peers.

All families must register to ensure a place Additional INSET Days (they do reach capacity). During the 2018-19 academic year we will have two additional INSET days, bringing the annual total to 7. Provide names, ages & dietary restrictions of families to us with the dates they will attend: These additional days have been agreed due to our exceptional situation of moving into an entirely new building during the Easter 2019 holidays. Mobile: 07955597880 The INSET days have been planned to wrap around Telephone: 01273 694746 the Easter holidays, allowing additional time to pack Email: [email protected] up the resources and equipment and then unpack and set up in the new building. It’s quite a challenge ahead of us! Or, please fill out the online registration form at: https://chompbrighton.co.uk/register/ The school will ensure that teaching and learning is not affected by this.

Spaces on the minibus We currently have spaces on our school minibus which picks children up from stops in Central Hove and Portslade and takes them to and from school.

For further information please speak to the school office.

Hangleton Way, Hove, BN3 8BN — Tel: 01273 770777