Manor Primary Academy Newsletter

Issue No 19

November 29th 2024


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In this issue

Messages from Manor

Dates for your diary

Stars of the Week

News


Messages from Manor

Dear Parents and Carers

It seems like we blinked then it's back round to Christmas again... How did that happen! Christmas in school is always a special time and it is a privilege to spend it with the children.

We do keep the normality of our school routines going right to the end and we have to make sure learning time isn't lost. We use the theme of Christmas within the learning as an incentive and purpose for their work. 

The first element of Christmas to sneak in is the singing of carols, which we start in our singing assembly right from after half-term so they have time to learn them. We know Christmas is really here when Alena and Abella's parents generously deliver our Christmas tree from their garden centre. After School Club decorate it with Mrs Robinson then there is no escaping that Christmas has arrived.

The last three weeks of term include Christmas Fair and Film Night, visits to the Snowdome, Nativity Plays and Carol Service, parties, writing letters to, and a visit from, the big man in red himself. By the time we break up we will all be ready to put our feet up with a mince pie and a cup of tea.


Dinner and Wraparound Care Debts

Please can we ask parents to avoid going into debt on the Arbor system and keep it topped up to pay for any dinners and clubs etc. The previous ParentPay system used to cancel dinners if the money ran out but this one doesn't and the debts are building up for some people. It is then down to Mrs Everett to do the unpleasant job of chasing people for payments of debts. Not really what she wants to spend her time doing. Thank you for your help with this.


PTA Christmas Movie Night

Our ever popular movie night returns on Thursday 12th December straight after school. Click the link to book your places!

https://www.pta-events.com/manorprimaryptfa/index.cfm?event=event&eventId=91209


PTA Christmas Fair

If you have any bottles still available for the Christmas Fair tombola/bottle stall then please could we ask that they are delivered to school by the end of the day on Monday so PTA have time to sort them. Thank you!

The poster advertising the Christmas Fair with further detail is at the end of the Newsletter. If you have a bit of time that you could offer, either in advance of the Fair or on the evening of the Fair, please do use the QR code to volunteer on the PTA website. Even 30 minutes or an hour of help at some point can help share the load and allow someone else time to take their children round.

We are looking forward to a crowded school with live music and a really Christmasy atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you there!


Jewellery

This school year we have probably had more children missing PE because of ear piercing than in any previous year. There also seems to be a growth in the number of children who are wearing other items of jewellery such as bracelets or necklaces. The policy, available on the website and approved by governors, says:

We have turned something of a blind eye to earrings that are not just plain studs and will probably continue to do so. However, any earrings that extend beyond the child's ear lobe, we will ask the child to remove and take care of themselves. If they cannot manage this, we will call parents to do this for them.

Thank you for your support in this.


E-Safety - Online Safety Checklist

A useful checklist below for keeping Manor children safe online:

Guides for different mobile networks:

Broadband Parental Controls & Mobile Network Settings | Internet Matters

Guides for parental controls in gaming, social media, devices, apps etc.:

Video gaming, consoles and platforms parental controls | Internet Matters


Road Safety - Be Safe, Be Seen

We had a very informative assembly last week from the Staffordshire Road Safety Team with the motto of 'be safe, be seen'. We looked at clothing, bags and accessories that were easily visible in the daytime, such as fluorescent colours.

We then looked at what makes us visible to cars after dark, especially at this time of year, and we looked at reflective strips that can be part of clothing or bags etc.  

It is always worth bearing in mind when buying coats, shoes and bags, and looking at the visibility in the day and reflective elements for the dark nights. If you have a look and find that your child isn't very visible in what they are wearing around roads, there are always accessories, stickers ect. that can be added without splashing out on a new coat or bag.


School Council

School council met today and decided on the target for House Points/Thumbs Ups in Marvellous Me. The period is from last half term to February half term and the reward day will probably be on the Friday before we break up. School council decided that about 200 points per week is a rough average at the moment so a target of 2500 points is challenging but achievable. We just need to decide the reward now! If anyone has any good practical suggestions as to what this might be, then children can ask their year group councillor to bring the idea to the next meeting.

We also discussed the possibility of setting up a new Trust Student Council across Fierté. Something that we are looking to set up in the new year. School councillors will be consulted in the future meetings about their ideas for how they would like this to work.


Book Fair

The book fair has arrived and it was great to see so many people buying books after school. It isn't too late if you haven't been or want to go again. It is in the hall from 3-4pm on Monday and Tuesday next week too.

Remember, for every book bought, you help to earn free books for our school!

Please visit Book Fair Parents Hub - Scholastic Book Fairs for more information and to view books online. 

Book Fair competition

All pupils and parents are invited to complete a book review for their favourite book. Your book review must include the book title, author and illustrators name, a short synopsis on what the book is about, why you like it, who you would recommend the text to and why. 

Winners ( 1 per class and 1 parent winner) will be announced on the 28th November and will receive a £5 voucher to spend at the book fair. 


News

28 Nov 2024
Exploring rocks and fossils in Owls
Owls have enjoyed multiple experiments in science recently. They have explored the features of different rocks including sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. They compared the permeability, hardness and reaction to acid (vinegar). Today children have learnt how fossils are created. They used bre...
Read more
22 Nov 2024
Research Skills in Writing and History
In Penguins Class, we believe that research skills are key to both English and History learning. This week, our students have been busy applying these skills in exciting ways across two subjects!
Read more

Stars of the Week

Shelby Robins
Nina Robins
Violet Robins
Stanley Robins
Olivia R Swans
George Swans
Sophie Swans
Bruno Owls
Hayden Owls
jenson Owls
Alex Owls
Pippa Owls
Heidi Owls
Caleb Penguins
Alfie Penguins
Elijah Penguins
Jude Penguins

Attendance Champions for Last Full Week

Class Attendance
Robins 99.5%
Owls 99.3%
Swans 98%
Penguins 96.1%

Dates for your diary

Click the links for more details

EYFS and Swans visit to Snowdome
All Day
04
December
PTA Christmas Fair
4:30pm – 6:00pm
05
December
PTA Christmas Movie Night
3:20pm
12
December
Robins & Ducklings Nativity
9:30am – 10:30am
16
December
Swans Nativity
2:00pm – 3:00pm
17
December
Swans Nativity
9:30am – 10:30am
18
December
Christmas Dinner Day
11:50am – 1:00pm
18
December
Christmas Class Parties
9:00am – 11:30am
20
December
Carol Service
1:30pm – 3:00pm
20
December
Christmas Holiday
All Day
From 21 Dec until 05 Jan
21
December
Inset Day
All Day
06
January
Library Bus - Penguins
10:30am – 11:00am
07
January
Sports Hall Athletics
3:45pm – 5:00pm
14
January
Maths workshop for parents
3:45pm – 5:00pm
17
January
Music assembly
All Day
14
February

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