Newsletters

22.2.2024

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**A Fresh Start: Embracing the New Half-Term and the Season of Lent**

Dear St. George's and Mossy Lea Families,

As we step into this new half-term, we find ourselves at the cusp of an equally significant period in our spiritual calendar - the season of Lent. This time offers us a unique opportunity for reflection, growth, and renewal, both within ourselves and in our vibrant school community.

Lent teaches us the value of introspection and sacrifice, encouraging us to look beyond our immediate needs and consider the greater good. It is a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of supporting one another. In this spirit, let us also highlight the crucial role of communication and teamwork in nurturing the seeds of understanding and cooperation among us.

Effective communication is the bridge that connects us, enabling a harmonious environment where every voice is heard, and every concern is addressed. It fosters a sense of belonging, ensuring that we move forward not just as individuals, but as a united community with shared goals.

Similarly, teamwork is the foundation upon which our school stands. It is through working together, sharing responsibilities, and pooling our unique strengths that we overcome challenges and achieve excellence. As we navigate this half-term, let us commit to reinforcing these pillars of our school's ethos.

Together, let's embark on this journey with open hearts and minds, ready to embrace the lessons Lent offers us and to apply them in our daily lives. Let's continue to build on our communication, strengthen our teamwork, and support each other in our collective and individual quests for growth.

Wishing you all a productive and reflective half-term.

With warmest regards,

Andy

19 Feb 2024
What would make it the best Lent ever?
Dear friends,
Read more
22 Feb 2024
W.E. 23.2.2024
Oh to be a child again - It's certainly a small small world. 
Read more

Thinking/ Founders Day (Uniformed organisations)
All Day
From 22 Feb and on day 22 every 12 months
22
February
Y5 Swimming
2:00pm – 3:00pm
From 23 Feb and on Friday each week until 19 Jul except for between 29 Mar and 12 Apr and for between 27 May and 31 May
23
February
Year 5 trip to Jodrell Bank
8:30am – 3:45pm
28
February
Y5 Swimming
2:00pm – 3:00pm
From 23 Feb and on Friday each week until 19 Jul except for between 29 Mar and 12 Apr and for between 27 May and 31 May
01
March
Prags in - Holi and Colour Run*
9:00am – 3:15pm
04
March
Prayer days
9:00am – 3:15pm
From 05 Mar and every day until 06 Mar
05
March
SSP Dance competition
4:00pm – 4:00pm
05
March
Prayer days
9:00am – 3:15pm
From 05 Mar and every day until 06 Mar
06
March
World Book Day
8:55am – 3:15pm
08
March
Y5 Swimming
2:00pm – 3:00pm
From 23 Feb and on Friday each week until 19 Jul except for between 29 Mar and 12 Apr and for between 27 May and 31 May
08
March
Class Group Photographs
9:00am – 11:00am
11
March
Y5 Swimming
2:00pm – 3:00pm
From 23 Feb and on Friday each week until 19 Jul except for between 29 Mar and 12 Apr and for between 27 May and 31 May
15
March
C5 Trout release
All Day
18
March
Parents Evening
4:00pm – 7:00pm
From 18 Mar and every day until 19 Mar
18
March
Parents Evening
4:00pm – 7:00pm
From 18 Mar and every day until 19 Mar
19
March

Head Lice

We have had a couple of cases of head lice in school. Please keep an eye on your child's hair and treat the hair if you do see lice.

 

Water

Just a reminder that we ask that children only bring water to drink in school. We are seeing a few Prime energy drink bottles in school. These may have been filled with water, which is absolutely fine but we ask that the energy drink isn't brought into school.

Mastery Maths- A Parent’s Guide

Following on from a few conversations with one or two of you this week, I just wanted to ensure that parents have a clear view on how we teach maths in school, particularly the term ‘Mastery.’

Mastery is the belief that each objective of the year group curriculum should not just be taught, but children should gain a deep understanding. This means that they can generalise that skill across different contexts. A maths example would be being able to use addition across real life contexts such as measures.

This approach is at the heart of the maths curriculum at St. Georges and we give each topic ample time to explore, question, explain and look at variations in questions and use different contexts.

The National Curriculum 2014 aims to ensure that all pupils:

· become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.

· reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.

· can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

To ensure we have the best beginning possible to plan creative lessons, we use a scheme of work called ‘Maths No Problem’ from Y1 onwards. In Early Years we also use the mastery approach, utilising materials from White Rose Maths.

If you would like to find out more about the Maths No Problem scheme, and what it looks like in practise, follow the link below https://mathsnoproblem.com/en/resources/maths-mastery-guide/

We aspire for all children in St George’s to be confident, determined learners and have seen first-hand the benefits of the mastery approach. If you have any questions, please have a look at the maths page on the school website or email Emma, who introduced the scheme to the school e.smith@st-georges.lancs.sch.uk, or Thomas Norris, our new Maths Lead.

May I begin to conlude the newsletter with an invite to what could me the most inspirational night of the year.

We are excited to extend a special invitation to you for an extraordinary evening with Chris Luube on July 4th. Recognised for his captivating storytelling and profound insights of living in Africa during the end of Aprtheid,  Chris Luube will engage our Year 5 and Year 6 students in an enlightening session earlier in the day, followed by an equally compelling discussion with parents in the evening.

Chris Luube's journey is nothing short of inspirational. As a former colleague of Jason Tshabalala and a senior member of Nelson Mandela's security detail during his presidency, he brings a wealth of experience and firsthand knowledge of pivotal moments in history. Through his unique perspective, he sheds light on crucial topics such as racism and apartheid, igniting meaningful conversations and fostering understanding within our community.

Following an afternoon session with our kids and kids from other local schools, we invite you to delve into an enriching dialogue with Chris Luube. More details regarding the evening's schedule, which will be help in school, will follow soon.

In the spirit of how Nelson Mandella lived, we draw inspiration from the words of Morgan Freeman, who portrayed Nelson Mandela in the film "Invictus":

"Forgiveness liberates the soul.
It removes fear. 
That is why it is such a powerful weapon."

Together, let us embrace the opportunity to learn, grow, and stand united against adversity.

An invite will be sent out in the next month or so, but for now - save the date - the 4th of July. 

Similarly, on the 30th April we will be hosting a consultancy session "How to read 1:1 with your child. This will be led by our Literacy consultant Catherine Leyland - again, more details to come, but for now - save the date - 30th April. 

And finally, may I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your invaluable contributions towards the realisation of our new running track around the MUGA.

Your generosity, support, and dedication have played a pivotal role in making this project a reality. It is truly inspiring to witness the collaborative effort between parents, the PTFA, the church, and the school administration coming together to enhance our facilities for the benefit of our students.

We deeply appreciate the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by everyone involved. Your contributions, whether through fundraising efforts or direct involvement, have made a significant difference and will provide countless opportunities for our students to stay active, healthy, and engaged in physical activities.

Thank you once again for your unwavering support and for being an integral part of our journey towards continuous improvement. Together, we have shown what can be achieved through teamwork and community spirit.

Have a great weekend, 

Andy