Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016

Dear Parents & Carers, At SMSJ we have packed so much into this short half term. Our theme for the spring term is the Christian value of Hope and we have been exploring what this means in collective worship. This week we celebrated Ash Wednesday and pupils in all year groups had a special service. We were really pleased that all of the Reception children joined us at Neale House for their first service. Years 5 – 8 attended St Mary’s church where they were able to receive the symbolic ash cross on their forehead to mark the beginning of the season of Lent. We have been concentrating on Maths and English very much this term and you can read more about our number day which raised lots of money for the NSPCC. Thank you to the many parents who came to find out how to support their children with maths strategies. There has been so much work going on in English with our new reading corners and the phased introduction of the Power of Reading which will help our children to develop their creative potential in writing. Across the school we are using our Think pink, go green, brilliant blue marking policy and this is helping children respond to feedback and know how to improve. If you would like to find out more about this please come along to the information session on Thursday 3rd March led by Mr Payne. Can I please remind you about the split Easter holiday coming up at the end of this term? We have the Easter holidays of Good Friday and Easter Monday, then we come back to school for 4 days before we have 2 weeks off. Please check dates carefully, especially if you are booking a holiday – which this year is at a different time to many other schools. The parent information sessions this term are all led by members of the school’s Senior Leadership Team. After half term Mrs Wildman and Mr Payne will talk about the new Year 6 assessments on Tuesday 23rd February, and the same week Mrs Treadaway and Mrs Winter will talk about the new Year 2 assessments. Both sessions will help parents to understand if your child has met the expected standard. On Thursday 17th March you are invited to a question and answer session with me and if you have a question which you would like answered it would be helpful if you could email the school office and put Principal Q&A in the subject heading. I look forward to seeing many of you there. Yours sincerely,

Mr M Glenn Principal

Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016

English and Literacy

John Lewis Age Concern Writing Competition Towards the end of the Christmas term Year 4 pupils submitted entries to the John Lewis writing competition. Through their ‘Man in the Moon’ campaign the retailer had been supporting Age Concern, and had asked school children to write about an older person that was important to them. We were delighted to hear, on our return from the Christmas break, that Frank Band from Comets 4 had been awarded a prize! Congratulations Frank and well done!

am delighted to write to tell you that the following poems have selected by judge Katherine Gallagher in this year's Junior Competition "Balls at My Feet" by Hussein Abukar has won a third prize in the 12-16s "News Rap" by Mya Horsnurgh has won a third prize in the 7 - 11s "Through the Years" by Kalim Amir has been commended in the 7 -11s

Art Our primary art club has proved very popular, and the children are really enjoying the creative sessions. Thank you to Mrs Treadway for runnig this so the children can explore their creativity.

Barnet Poetry Competition

Year 7 and 8 spent a couple of lessons last term writing poems, which were then entered in the Barnet Poetry Competition. SMSJ is very proud that three of our pupils were recognized by judge Katherine Gallagher in the Junior competition. "Balls at My Feet" by Hussein (8E) won third prize in the 12-16s "News Rap" by Mya (7F) won third prize in the 7 - 11s "Through the Years" by Kalim (7D) was commended in the 7 -11s The prize giving will be held on 5th March at 10am in the Bull Theatre in Barnet. Pupils will be invited to read their poems.

Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016 Homework Homework is an integral part of Teaching and Learning and allows pupils to consolidate their knowledge as well as to practice new skills. A wide range of homework activities are set across the school. The nature of these depends on the year group, subject as well as the needs of the group being taught. There is more information on the SMSJ website detailing these expectations. Teachers will tick homework to acknowledge it has been completed and handed in on time. Our new marking system ‘Think Pink, Go Green, Brilliant Blue’ is being used in class books across the school and not in homework books. You will have an opportunity to see this marking in the primary phase at the next primary parents consultation evening in March.

Primary English We have had a very busy term so far creating reading corners in each classroom. They range from log cabin retreats to reading rainforests and out of this world, space themed corners. The children have been enjoying using them to read their favourite books.

We have also started to create a library in the old ICT room at Neale House. The money we raised from Book Week earlier this year has already gone towards buying some brand new books. We will also be gathering our ever growing collection of birthday books that you have very kindly donated, to display in a special book case so that everyone can enjoy them.

Have a look at some of the photos of the children sharing their favourite book during assembly.

As you know Big Writing is taught across the Primary Phase from Nursery to Year 6. In KS2 we have been learning how to edit our writing like real authors and because of this will be teaching Big Writing every two weeks to ensure we have to time to publish our redrafted work for everyone to read.

Thank you for your continued support with the parent mornings it is a great opportunity for the children to share their reading and writing with you. We look forward to celebrating World Book Day on Thursday 3rd March - more details to follow.

Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016

Reading Corners

Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016

Sport

Girls Football Teams We were very proud of our Year 7 and 8 girls when they went to the Under 13s Premier League Schools tournament at the Tottenham Hotspur training ground. The girls displayed great team spirit, grit and determination, and got through to the quarter finals. As there were nineteen teams in the competition this was a great achievement, and we look forward to more success in the future. Also very well done to the Year 6 girls football team who got through to the semi finals of the girls Barnet Football tournament; the whole team were invited to go to trials to represent Barnet. Well done ladies!

Football results:

Year 6 boys won 8-4 against Monkfrith

Year 8 boys lost 3-2 to Christ’s College

All other games were called off due to poor weather and pitch condition.

And not to be outdone…

A staff team took part in a Netball tournament at Copthall

school. It’s probably wise not to discuss scores, but the team had fun, and have committed to further training in the

future! Watch this space for their progress

New Sports Clubs

Year 7 and 8 are benefiting from two new initiatives run by the local community. Middlesex are running a weekly cricket session, whilst Saracens Rugby club, funded by London Sport are starting an athletics club next half term.

Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016

General Notices

Medicines at school Please can parents and carers be reminded that medicines must be brought in to the office, and a permission form must be filled out. We have had a couple of instances where a child has had medicine in their pocket, which is not safe for your child or those around them.

Travelling to school When walking into Neale House at any time of the day please make sure that you are using one of the two paths. Too many children are using the road which is obviously dangerous and a poor example of road safety. We need to keep our school safe for our children you are not permitted to drive onto the school grounds unless you have provided the school office with a copy of your blue disability badge. There will be no movement of vehicles on the Neale House site between 8.30 - 8.50am, and between 3.00 - 3.20pm. Please ask your children to dismount from their scooters once they are on school grounds.

Parking Barnet are going to install cameras to monitor how safely parents park at Prothero Gradens as part of a pilot scheme across some of the borough’s schools. Please can parents park safely which may mean that you have to park a safe distance away from the school and walk along the pavement.

Safe delivery Many congratulations to Miss Fearnside; her daughter, Amelie was born on Saturday 30th January

Home school books A reminder to those in Reception to Year 6 that Home school books should be brought to school every day to enable communication between parents and the teacher. Teachers write in important messages and these are checked on a daily basis.

Healthy Schools Silver award

We are delighted to announce that SMSJ has now achieved the Silver Healthy School Award. We are continuing to focus on healthy eating, particularly educating and encouraging our pupils to make healthy food choices.

Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016

NSPCC Number Day

Now test yourself!

1. If a cricket ball and bat cost £110, and the bat costs £100 more than the ball, how much does the ball cost?

2. A fisherman was asked ‘How long was the fish you caught?’

He said, ‘It’s 30cm plus quarter of its length’ How long was the fish?

3. Laila is the 11th tallest person in the room and the 9th shortest. How many people are in the room?

4. There are 15 apples on the table, and you take 11. How many do you have?

5. Jonah starts counting out loud in fives, starting with 130, then 135. What is the 13th number that Jonah says?

Pupils across the school took part in ‘Number Day’ recently, an event which highlighted Numeracy and raised money for the NSPCC. Children from Nursery through to year 6 dressed in number related clothing, and took part in maths themed lessons, whilst years 7 and 8 challenged themselves with a maths quiz during which they had to search out the member of staff with the relevant answer. At the end of the day we were able to donate over £500 to the NSPCC.

Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016

Business and Enterprise

Year 5 + 6 Business Visit

Pupils from years 5 + 6 visited Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, a leading international law firm in January. They learnt how a court case works, and then prosecuted and defended a trial at Hogwarts involving the theft of magic potions.

Business and Enterprise Challenge Day The whole of Bennett House was involved in a Challenge Day at the end of January. Pupils worked in teams to deliver on a specific brief by the end of the day. In Years 5 and 6 they worked on solving a dreadful crime: the theft of all the school chocolate, whilst years 7 and 8 set up their own greetings card company. All students rose to the challenges with great enthusiasm, and the results were impressive. Skills such as teamwork, presenting, staying positive and creative thinking were all developed during the course of the day.

Principal’s newsletter Edition 6 February 2016 Food technology

Year 7 and 8 pupils have been cooking up a storm in the Bennett House kitchen!

Teachers did not display the same level of skill when they did their Shrove Tuesday Pancake Cook Off. The results have been hotly disputed, and there has been much discussion as to whether the word ‘edible’ should have been in the competition criteria. A future ‘Bake off’ for charity is planned.

Dates for Your Diary

Monday 22nd February Inset day – no school for children

Tuesday 23rd February Pupils return to school

Mon 29th Feb, Tues 1st and Wed 2nd March Primary Parent consultations

Thursday 17th March Year 7 trip to Museum of London

Tuesday 22nd March Year 7 and 8 Scholars concert

Wednesday 23rd March Year 3 Production 6.30pm

Friday 25th – Monday 28th March Easter weekend: school is closed

Tuesday 29th March – Friday 1st April Year 2 Lincolnsfield trip

Monday 4th – Friday 15th April Easter Holidays

Monday 18th April Summer Term starts

Year 5 Smoothie Making Year 5 tackled the subject of healthy eating, and designed their own smoothies. They were then able to turn these into reality in the Food Tech room, where they also worked on their knife skills.