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Cedar Road Primary School Newsletter 11/02/2022

Welcome back to the latest issue of the Cedar Road Newsletter which has been made with love! We hope you enjoy and have a wonderful half term break full of chocolates, flowers and Hallmark cards.

Megan & Hunter - Kahlo

Aradyha & George - Kandinsky

Daisy & Daniel - Matisse

Anastasia & Megan - Renoir

Harrison & Aiswarya - Rousseau

Max & Harriet - Van Gogh

Alex & Maryam - Picasso

Aliyah & Theo - Dali

Isobella & Arla-Rei - Warhol

Samra & Yannis - Lowry

Addis, Sophie & Liana - Banksy

Elvie - Ross

Caoimhe & Sean - DaVinci

Sam, Grace & Lola-Mae - Monet

Oliver in Kahlo class - For always doing the right thing and completing his activities to the best of his abilities.

Nasriya in Kandinsky class - For always trying her best to complete her activities and being a fantastic friend.

Noah in Matisse class - For always working hard at school, and especially for fantastic English work and imaginative stories.

Aliya in Renoir class - For amazing work in English and being consistently ready to learn.

Bonnie in Rousseau class - For participating well in all her lessons and sharing her ideas.

Rayyan in Van Gogh class - For having a good week, listening well in class and following our school’s core values. Well done you!

Lorenzo in Picasso class - For working hard to self regulate and completing more work in his books.

Evie-Rose in Dali class - For her brilliant music composition this week!

Leo in Warhol class - Leo has worked extremely hard on his writing this term and has made fantastic progress.

Jayden in Lowry class - For working really hard so hard to learn to read eight new words inn reading this week.

Addis in Banksy class - For always participating in lessons and having a positive attitude.

Kacper in Ross class - For always coming into school with a positive attitude.

Jessica in DaVinci class - For An excellent preliminary Roy Lichtenstein sketch.

Nicole in Monet class - For being such an enthusiastic learner. The year 6 staff also appreciate how you thank them for lessons.

Jigsaw Weekly Celebration

Week 10 Theme: Help other to achieve their goals

Kahlo - Aadi

Kandinsky - Delilah

Matisse - Henry

Renoir - Megan

Rousseau - Uthman

Van Gogh - Preesha

Picasso - Isla

Dali - Caitlyn

Warhol - Kirsty

Lowry - Rory

Banksy - Imogen

Ross - Sabrinah

DaVinci - Inayah

Monet - Savannah

Week 11 Theme: Working hard to achieve their own dreams and goals

Kahlo - Harlen

Kandinksy - Myah

Matisse - Kayan

Renoir - Maya

Rousseau - Kyla

Van Gogh - Tarik

Picasso - Theo

Dali - Arlen

Warhol - Theo

Lowry - Lyla

Banksy - Maddie

Ross - Yanto

DaVinci - Roxana

Monet - Archie

Alexander - (Reception) - This week I enjoyed painting a Chinese dragon with glittery paints for Chinese New Year.

William - (Year 1) - I really liked P.E because we learnt to dribble the ball with our feet like they do in football.

Kalia - (Year 2) - In History we learnt about the Stoneage. I liked learning about how they all lived in caves the most.

Aliyah - (Year 3) - I have really enjoyed learning all different things in Maths like times tables. I am best at my 4's and 8's.

Julian - (Year 4) - I have learnt a lot of maths this week. We have concentrated on multiplication and I know all of my times tables!

Liana - (Year 5) - I liked our History lesson this week because we have been singing a song about Alfred The Great.

Daisy - (Year 6) - In maths we have been completing calculations using time such as how long things will take and how many seconds are in a minute.

Cross Country

On Thursday 3rd February 2022, selected children from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 took part in the DRET Cross Country Championship at Holyoaks Shooting Lodge near Neville Holt.

Children from Years 3 and 4 ran a distance of 1.4km and children in Years 5 and 6 ran 1.8km. The course was pretty tricky, with lots of up and down hills with a big up hill to finish!

All the children performed brilliantly, with most finishing in the top 20 of their age group. Special mention to Elsie Bennett in Year 6 who finished 1st in her age group.

Overall Cedar Road finished 3rd, which was a fantastic result. It was a great day out and the children showed amazing sportsmanship and should be very proud of themselves for their achievements.

We are looking forward to participating in more competitions next half term, including High Five Netball, Futsal and the Primary Cup.

Year 4 had their first school trip since Year 2 on Wednesday! They visited Northampton Lawn Tennis Club to take part in a tennis tournament. The children showed fantastic sportsmanship and had a brilliant time. The final results were ...

4th - Archie & Chloe, 3rd - Rory & Rose, 2nd - Taiyei & Fiona, 1st - Jasper & Megan

Five ways to manage your wellbeing as a parent

When you were a child, perhaps you remember being aware of how your parents were feeling at a particular moment in time. In the same way, our own state of mind can easily be passed on to our children. We may be fearful of showing this, but to never have any moments of anxiety or frustration is almost impossible right now. So, rather than trying to completely control or stop these negative emotions, we need to recognise them. Emotions easily spread through a family. If we can find moments to be calm and relaxed, these positive feelings will spread too. Amidst the muddles, misunderstandings, fun and frustrations of present day family life, here are some suggestions about how - as a parent or carer - you can manage your own wellbeing.

1. Be realistic and kind to yourself

Things will rarely go according to plan, particularly now that all our routines are different. Don’t be self-critical. Setting and achieving goals are building blocks to good mental wellbeing. They boost how we feel about ourselves. So feel proud of what you achieve, however small. If we can ‘pat ourselves on the back’, we feel good about ourselves, happier, and less likely to feel down. Let your children hear that you are proud of your own achievements and theirs. This will help them learn to self-praise too.

Not all stressful feelings at recently will have been to do with coronavirus. Many daily stresses will have related to normal family struggles and the stages which your children are at. Not everything has to change because of the situation we’re in, and as much as possible you should continue to parent as before. Distraction techniques can be a good way to be kind to ourselves, calming us down and improving our sense of wellbeing. This might be through fun activities with other family members, like watching a film together or exercising. The main thing is that it’s something you enjoy. Even if you can’t easily join in older children’s activities, showing an interest might help them feel closer to you.

2. Notice what's on your mind

It's sometimes easy not to notice how we’re feeling, particularly in the hurly burly of family life. You might feel stressed, without having noticed how this started. It's good to do regular ‘mind checks’ about how you’re feeling, but also ask how others in your family are feeling. Have gentle conversations about emotions. Some days will be stressful, when things don't go to plan or arguments erupt. This can't be helped. Instead, when we’re feeling stressed, it can help to just accept the feeling and not blame others for it. Let those around you know that we all go up and down a bit in our emotions, and that’s OK. When children see their parents doing this without blaming others, it also helps them to regulate their own feelings.

We can all keep turning to the calming activities which work for us and, right now, we should be making this a regular part of every day. For some people, having a bath, listening to music or going for a walk will help. Find out what works for you. That way, you can begin to let go of some of the more difficult feelings you are facing.

3. Connect with other parents

This last few years are probably the hardest time any of us have lived through as parents or carers. To support our own wellbeing, regularly talking to friends, family members or professionals has never been more important. Talking with people who are supportive and good at listening (without judging, criticising or competing) is a very human need.

There isn’t always much anyone can say at times to make life feel less worrying. What’s clear is that you are not the only parent who can feel this way. Within your own network of family and friends, there will be someone else who is feeling unconfident about Google Classroom or keeping to new routines. Reach out to them and problem solve together. Many parents are finding that online groups can be really supportive in sharing how they feel and suggesting new ideas for activities. When we feel well supported as parents, the calmer we tend to feel - and the more space we will have in our minds to support our children.

4. Create routine and agree your own rules

Our wellbeing is often nurtured by having a daily routine, a structure to our lives. If the day feels endless and without a plan, anxiety can easily be triggered. Staying focused, knowing what happens next and feeling proud of achieving our goals makes us feel good. But it is not easy. At present, juggling the multiple roles of parenting, home schooling and working can leave parents feeling that they are spread too thinly - and that we’re not doing a good job at any of our roles. This is hard.

Try having achievable timetables with attainable goals. Each evening, if we map out the following day, it can help us to feel reassured because we know what we expect to happen. Ideally, each family member will have a sense of their own timetable, with children involved in planning their own. Where possible, if everyone’s daily plans work well together, you will also benefit from an agreed time for shared activities or quiet time. This working together as a family will also help to boost wellbeing.

All families have their own rules, some more so than others. But developing some rules for how you can all manage at home at this time will certainly help. Working them out together, and including all your children in this, will make the rules feel jointly owned and fair.

5. Be honest and say sorry when you can

We promote our own wellbeing by knowing when we do and don't get things right. It’s not about getting it right all the time. Misunderstandings, disagreements and differences of opinion are normal. They happen for all parents and in all families, and they aren't a sign that things are not OK. If possible, try to sort these things out as early as possible so that bad feelings don't fester.

Where misunderstandings are of our own doing, as parents it’s important that we have the courage to acknowledge that we don't always get things right. Being able to say sorry can be enormously helpful in getting everyone get back on track. Being honest and open with your children, and sharing with them what they need to know, will boost both their wellbeing and your own.

Safer Internet Day 2022

Safer Internet Day 2022 was on Tuesday 8th February and was celebrated with the theme ‘All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online’.

This Safer Internet Day comes at an important time. During the unprecedented challenges of the last two years, playing games online has been an important and enjoyable way for young people to stay connected with their friends and, in many ways, has had a positive impact on their emotional well-being through some difficult times.

However, research also reveals the emotional challenges and safety risks that online games can present for young people, including offensive comments, hostile behaviour and frequent contact with players they don’t know.

Now, more than ever, it is vital to understand and address these challenges and risks to ensure online games can be enjoyable, respectful, and safe for everyone.

Top Tips for Parents and Carers

Have a look at the tips and links below with some suggestions on how to get you started and help you to stay safe and positive online. You and your family can #PlayYourPart in creating a better internet by…

Having conversations without judgement.

Whether by playing games, watching videos, or doing things your child enjoys, spending time together online is a great way to start conversations about the online world and how they’re finding being a part of it. It is important to ask questions and take an interest in what your child enjoys online.

An essential part of having this open dialogue is to not judge, even if their behaviour or life online isn’t what you wanted or expected. This ensures that your child feels they can come to you if ever they make a mistake or experience a problem online.

Knowing where you can learn more about their favourite apps and games.

Websites like Common Sense Media or The Family Gaming Database can be invaluable sources of information. When your child starts talking about a new game or app, why not do some research into the reporting and blocking options available? Then you can help your child if they come to you with an issue.

Getting support if things go wrong.

There are lots of organisations who are there to support you and your family if something has gone wrong. The Report Harmful Content website can help you with issues such as cyberbullying, impersonation and threats. You can report worrying behaviour towards children to CEOP. Find out more on Childnet’s Get Help page.

Reassuring your child that whatever happens online, you are there to support them.

Let your child know that the best way to address any problem they have online, is to tell a trusted adult immediately. For example, this might include someone sending them a friend request; an online message; telling them to visit a specific website, or app; or asking them for their personal information. Reassure them that if anything happens online that they are unsure about, or makes them feel worried or upset, they can come to you for help.

World Book Day 2022

On March 3rd 2022, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of World Book Day – with the message for all children ‘you are a reader‘! To celebrate we will have a day filled with lots of exciting, celebratory ways to promote reading for pleasure and that begins with a word parade!

Does your child have a favourite word or can they use a dictionary to find an unusual or very descriptive word? Have they found a brilliant new word in a book they have been reading?

Children are invited to come to school displaying an extraordinarily amazing word. You could have a sign around your neck, a hat with the word on or dress up as the word. We can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Red Nose Day 2022

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 18th March 2022 and we’re all looking forward to a chance to get together for a giggle.

Our theme for this year is ROCK ON RED NOSE!

We are asking children to dress ready to rock! This could be as a rockstar a popstar or as a fan! Are they looking fancy for Fleetwood Mac, Can they fill the platform boots of Elton or are they in their trendiest threads for Taylor Swift.

This year, we’ve set ourselves a target of £400. However much we raise though, it will change lives, both here in the UK and worldwide. In fact, £50 could provide training to a pre-school teacher and a health volunteer to help improve the health, wellbeing and education of young children in Kenya. £500 could get 2,000 meals to children and families most in need in the UK.

We’ll also be using Red Nose Day as a learning opportunity to explore the issues facing young people across the world, and how the money we raise can help. We really appreciate your support and hope that you’ll have fun helping us raise lots of money for Red Nose Day.

Cedar Road Reading Corner

Welcome back to The Cedar Road Reading Corner. This week we have some more fantastic book recommendations for you from our staff members. Let us know if you give any of them a try!

KS1: Mrs Wise recommends Grandma Bird by Benji Davis.

Noi is not sure he is going to enjoy spending the Summer with his Grandma for the first time alone, then a drama brings them close together. A lovely story for KS1 children with great illustrations.

KS2: Mrs Edge recommends The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson.

Some of you may know that Sophie Anderson is one of my most favourite authors. This is a spellbinding and brilliantly-written story of one girl’s adventure to find her destiny. It is based on Russian folklore.

Marinka dreams of a normal life, where her house stays in one place long enough for her to make friends. But her house has chicken legs and moves on without warning.

For Marinka's grandmother is Baba Yaga, who guides spirits between this world and the next. Marinka longs to change her destiny and sets out to break free from her grandmother's footsteps, but her house has other ideas...

Parents: Mrs Smyth recommends The Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St Clair.

This is a glorious non-fiction book about colours (some of which I have never heard of) and their origins. A fascinating book to dip in and out of where the history of individual colours is revealed such as Orchil, a dark red-purple dye made from lichens whose secrets of production were rediscovered in the fourteenth century by an Italian merchant called Federico - it was a labour-intensive process! There is no end to the wealth of intriguing information in this book.

Abington Library (Community Managed) Visit your local library to borrow some wonderful books. It’s free!

…and finally, a little challenge to keep the children busy over the break. Can they make a bookmark out of something they find during the half term? Email any photos to hphillips@cedarroadacademy.co.uk and look out for them on the next newsletter.

Did you know #1 - Mr Penny once had a job making Christmas crackers! BOOM!!!

Monday 21st February - School reopens at 8:50am

Thursday 24th February - Year 6 trip to Romeo & Juliet at The Royal Opera House

Wednesday 2nd March - Football masterclass

Thursday 3rd March - World Book Day

Wednesday 9th March - Hockey competition

Thursday 10th March - Shakespeare Schools Festival workshop

Thursday 17th March - Class photos

Friday 18th March - Comic Relief

Tuesday 29th March - SSF performance @ The Deco Theatre

Friday 1st April - School Closes at 3:00pm

Wednesday 20th April - School opens to all pupils at 8:50am

School dinners - www.parentpay.com

School milk - www.coolmilk.com

Pupil Premium - shorturl.at/iwJY7

Uniform - www.totalclothing.co.uk

MCAS - www.mychildatschool.com

TT Rockstars - www.ttrockstars.com

Google classroom - primary.dret.cloud

Freestyle after school club - www.freestylegroup.co.uk

Hotshots basketball - www.hotshotsbasketball.co.uk

Created By
Hayley Phillips
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Created with an image by kaboompics - "heart card pastels"