Dear Parents/Carers We are really pleased how maturely our pupils conducted themselves in today’s lockdown practice. All pupils were well supported by the adults in school and everything went to plan: all pupils remained calm and quiet – they really are a credit to us all.

After our disruption due to the scaffolding, and our main hall being out of action for a considerable amount of time, it is great to assemble together again to celebrate our pupils’ successes. It is really pleasing to note that the behaviour of our children hasn’t faltered and they behave beautifully when gathered together.

We are excited about what lies ahead in 2020, as our pupils have made such a promising start to the New Year. I look forward to reporting their accomplishments in this weekly newsletter.

Mrs S Thursfield Headteacher

www.willowsprimary.com

www.willowsprimary.primaryblogger.co.uk

Spring Term Newsletter - Week 1 10.01.2020

Attendance and Punctuality

Whole school - 93.4%

Reception

RSC - 89.7%

RKM - 93.7%

RJT - 94.7%

KS1

1ES - 92.3% 2AA - 97.6%

1RD - 91% 2LD - 95.7%

1WG - 97.4% 2SS - 97.3%

KS2

3EB - 85.2% 5JH - 94.7%

3TC - 98.7% 5HR - 92%

3HP - 96.7% 5LT - 95.5%

4BB - 88.7% 6CF - 90.3%

4KB - 91% 6AJ - 96.7%

4PB - 93.9% 6RW - 95.3%

To report your child’s absence you may e mail Mrs Burgess at jburgess11@willowsprimary.com by 9am.

Stars of the Week

Well done to the following children who have been chosen by staff this week!

Nursery:

Badgers: Connor Allen Squirrels: Lucy Rowley

Foxes: Benjamin Jones Hedgehogs: Dottie Aldersea

Rights and Respect Certificate: George Thorley

Reception:

RSC: Zara Chouhan RKM: Brogan Coates RJT: Emily Shaw

Rights and Respect Certificates:

RSC: Sam Smith RKM: Alex Tams RJT: Ali Alnomani

KS1:

1ES: Ollie Willock 1RD: Rose Elkin 1WG: Eleanor Marsland

2AA: Isaac Kelsall 2LD: Ezenay Hough-Godwin 2SS: Louie Ray

Behaviour Shield and Norman Bear: Josiah Roberts (1WG)

KS2:

3EB: Nancy Jones 3HP: Diyon Gallage 3TC: Aisha Shafiq

4BB: Alexandra Woolstencroft 4KB: Ethan Oldacre 4PB: Anya Proctor-Sales

5JH: Adrianna Silvester 5HR: Kazim Haider Shah 5LT: Jaden Price

6AJ: Ryan Wilding 6CF: Ilisapeci Satala 6RW: Karolina Hajkova

Competition Winners

Following a visit in October from Mr Cash, a lecturer at Staffs University, children were asked to design and name their own racing car. The below children have won goody bags from the

University for their winning designs!

Later this term, the Key Stage 2 winners will take a trip to the University to have a look around the lab where students are designing a new racing car, using the CAD system (computer aided

design). In the summer term one of the winning design names will be chosen as the new Staffordshire Formula Racing Car, which will compete at Silverstone.

Blog of the Week

3TC Robot Workshop!

Fantastic homework from 3TC to start their Iron Man work.

Thomas Roberts RKM

Bluebell RJT

Jude RSC

Evan F 2LD

Mikaieel 2LD

Maria 2SS

Feroze 2SS

Tiffany 5JD

Seth 5JD

Lucas H 5JH

George 5JH

Ayaan 5JH

Noah 5JD

Theo 5JH

Ollie 5JD

City Catering Junior Chef of the Year Competition 2020

Calling all budding chefs in Years 3-6!

All Key Stage 2 pupils are invited to enter a junior cookery competition. Can you design and cook a balanced, savoury dish, including accompaniments which can be prepared, cooked and served within 60 minutes? It must serve 4 people and

cost less than £4.00.

The eventual winner will have their dish served as a special on the school lunchtime menu across primary schools in Stoke on Trent.

We are going to hold a school competition to find our contestant. The winner will

compete in a ‘cook-off’ against pupils from other schools at Foxes Bank Farm, Bridgmere in March 2020.

The guidelines below should be enough to get you thinking about your dish.

Seasonality - The competition will be held in the spring term so the ingredients used should reflect this.

Local produce - The dish should make best use of locally sourced produce.

Provenance/place of origin - Please give some details about one of the local ingredients you have used, where and how it is made or produced.

Creativity - Think about the flavours and textures of your menu.

Cooking skills - Use as many skills as possible.

Nutritional balance - Don’t forget your fruit and vegetables.

Budget for ingredients - The combined cost for all 4 people must not exceed £4.00 in total (i.e. £1.00 per head)

Come along to Mrs Capper’s room on Wednesday 15th January at 12.15pm for more

details and a chat with last year’s contestants.

If you would like to enter, please pick up an entry form from Mrs Capper in the Sunflower Room or from the school office.

All entries to be sent back to Mrs Capper by Friday 31st January.

Diary Dates 2020

January

Monday 13th 1ES Dance Day Wednesday 15th 1RD Dance Day Thursday 16th 1WG Dance Day Young Voices concert at Birmingham Arena Wednesday 22nd PTFA Family Fun Afternoon Thursday 23rd Y3 trip to Bet 365 KS1 Basic Maths Parent Workshop 9.15-10.15am Tuesday 28th Nursery Coffee Morning 5JH Dance Day Wednesday 29th 5HR Dance Day Thursday 30th 5JD Dance Day February

Monday 3rd 2SS Alice Showcase Tuesday 4th 2LD Alice Showcase Wednesday 5th Y6 Safe and Sound visit to Hanley Fire Station 2AA Alice Showcase Monday 10th RJT Dance Day Tuesday 11th RKM Dance Day Wednesday 12th RSC Dance Day Thursday 13th PTFA Valentines’ Discos Friday 14th BREAK UP FOR HALF TERM Monday 24th SCIENCE Week Tuesday 25th Science Fair - dress like a scientist day! More information to follow March

Monday 2nd 3EB Etruria Canal Museum visit Tuesday 3rd Primary Careers Day THA 1-3pm (Y6) Book Fair 3-4pm Wednesday 4th 3HP Etruria Canal Museum visit Book Fair 3-4pm Thursday 5th World Book Day Book Fair 3-4pm Friday 6th 3TC Etruria Canal Museum visit Book Fair 3-4pm Monday 16th Y4 planting workshop 4BB Class Assembly Tuesday 17th 4KB Class Assembly Thursday 19th Reception Mothers’ Day coffee morning

PTFA Mothers’ Day shop Tuesday 24th 4PB Class Assembly Wednesday 25th Recorder Festival, Victoria Hall 12.30-1.30pm Tuesday 31st Y4 Residential to Mount Cook

Reception Adventure Farm trip (tbc) Town Swimming Gala 1.30pm

April

Wednesday 1st PTFA Easter raffle

Thursday 2nd Nursery Easter Bonnet Parade a.m Parent Consultations for all year groups PTFA Easter raffle

Friday 3rd Y4 careers visit to Dilhorne Education Centre BREAK UP FOR EASTER Monday 20th SCHOOL OPENS Tuesday 21st Y3 Fire and Flint residential (return 22.04.20)

Y4 Visit Afternoon for parents Monday 27th Y3 Visit Afternoon for parents Tuesday 28th Nursery visit to Tatton Park

May

Wednesday 6th Reception Coffee morning Thursday 7th SCHOOL CLOSED FOR POLICE ELECTIONS Friday 8th BANK HOLIDAY – VE DAY Monday 11th Y6 SATs week Monday 18th Y2 SATs week Friday 22nd ECO Day BREAK UP FOR HALF TERM

June

Monday 1st SCHOOL OPENS Tuesday 2nd Nursery and Reception Sports Day 9.15am

KS1 Sports Day 1.30pm Wednesday 3rd Y3/4 Sports Day 9.15am Thursday 4th Y5/6 Sports Day 9.15am Monday 8th Y6 France trip

Y1 Phonics Screen Y4 Multiplication Check

Tuesday 9th Reception trip to Conkers (tbc) 3TC Class Assembly 9.05am

Wednesday 10th 3HP Class Assembly 9.05am Thursday 11th 3EB Class Assembly 9.05am Monday 15th Y5/6 Sports Day 9.15am (1st reserve date) Tuesday 16th Nursery and Reception Sports Day 9.15am (1st reserve date)

KS1 Sports Day 1.30pm (1st reserve date) Wednesday 17th Y3/4 Sports Day 9.15am (1st reserve date) Thursday 18th Fathers’ Day Breakfast shop Friday 19th Fathers’ Day Breakfast shop Thursday 25th Northwood (Town) Monday 29th Nursery and Reception Sports Day 9.15am (2nd reserve date)

KS1 Sports Day 1.30pm (2nd reserve date) Tuesday 30th Y3/4 Sports Day 9.15am (2nd reserve date)

July

Wednesday 1st Y5/6 Sports Day 9.15am (2nd reserve date) Saturday 4th Summer Fayre Monday 6th BUMP UP Week Tuesday 14th End of year discos Thursday 16th Y6 Leavers’ disco Friday 17th Leavers’ Assembly BREAK UP FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS