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Last Headteacher update for this half term
Posted 10th February 2023
Good afternoon,
Here’s the last Headteacher update for this half term. We’ll see you all after the holidays on Monday 20th February.
Children’s Mental Health Week
We’re rounded off our mental health week with a fantastic day of activities. The children will be bringing home mental health passports to show you what they’ve been doing today. There will be photos on our social media today so you can see all the wonderful opportunities the staff have put on. You’ll also see how lovely it is for the children to work in mixed age groups for the day.
Sensory/Mindfulness Path is now open
Thank you to Emilie and Sam, Ollie and Uma’s parents for their work in putting together the new path across the front of school. The path was part of the original design, by the children, for the front garden of the school made back in 2019, before the pandemic.
We are delighted now it is finished and welcome children and parents to use it before and after school. The idea behind the differently textured path is that you walk it slowly, being mindful of the diverse textures and connecting with nature. If you’re feeling brave you may like to do it barefoot so you really feel the textures.
The path is one-way, starting at the Bee Garden end and ending at the allotment beds. However, please don’t let your children do it barefoot before school so that they don’t have muddy/dirty feet in school all day.
Pupil Voice Conference Results
The staff had the chance to review the children’s feedback and as a result the following actions will be taken next half term. The children often have innovative and creative solutions for things that we as adults don’t always see so we find our pupil voice conferences are a brilliant way to look at our school through fresh eyes:
- Rota system for spending more time in the libraries
- Making Calm Club calmer by limiting numbers of children and having only quiet activities
- Introducing Play Leaders at breaks so children can play organised sports and games
- More equipment to play with outside, replace the broken trim trail
- Bringing the front garden of school into use at playtimes (if we can staff it!)
- Training children to be Peaceful Problem Solvers to help each other resolve playtime disputes in positive ways
- Planning an afternoon tea party for the King’s Coronation in each class, inviting parents and supporters/friends of the school like Harrogate Town FC. The children will plan the event, make the decorations and a card for the King
- Teachers will try to incorporate more outdoor learning into their lessons when the field is dry
Playground Equipment
The children have asked for more equipment outside. We would like to get a Scrap Shed (see photo) and an Outdoor Gym (see photo). We need upwards of £10,000 for these so we are applying for grants and asking our PTA to support this project with their fundraising. Local businesses will sometimes donate to schools but they do get asked a lot. We have found that personal connections to businesses is often the best way to get a foot in the door so if you work for a business that might be able to support us, please do let me know.
Bilton and Woodfield Library
Our local library is looking for volunteers. Please get in touch with them if you would like to support them.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake appeal
Thank you for your donations today for our non-uniform day. The PTA kindly agreed that it felt right at this time, to support charities helping with this disaster.
Random Acts of Kindness Week
While we are on holiday, it is Random Acts of Kindness Week. We’ve noticed that our children’s manners and politeness are not as strong as they used to be so we’re making this a focus for the first week back and following this up throughout the half term. I’ll be leading assemblies on the subject, teachers will be following up in class and postcards home will focus on noticing acts of kindness and respect.
Have a lovely half term
Kind regards,
Emma Meadus
Headteacher
Coppice Valley Primary School