One of the busiest periods of the school year is drawing to a close. Our Year 2 and Year 6 pupils have completed their SATS assessments are we are all very proud of how hard they have worked. Our school has continued its improvement journey with the support of the HCAT academy trust. This has created many new opportunities for our pupils and staff, such as inter-school sports, times tables competitions and singing events. The staff have worked incredibly hard to rise to the challenge and make the most of these opportunities. Before we look ahead to our final half-term together, this academic year, let us look back at some of the many events to celebrate from the past few weeks!
Mr. Swallow
As current Executive Head Teacher, I am incredibly proud of Birdwell School and the community and how everyone has joined together to make changes! I have been at Birdwell since March and have found out what a special place it is. Thank you so much to everyone who has welcomed me. I will be busy working with Mr. Honeyman over the next half term to ensure he is ready to lead the school in September.
Mrs. Paddock
Young Voices 2022
What an amazing event for our pupils to be part of. Our Young Voices choir worked hard to learn all of the songs both before and during the day. we had amazing seats and got a real first-hand glimpse of the effort, dedication and skill that the professionals put into a show like this! What an experience.
The staff involved were so proud of the enthusiasm, effort and amazing behaviour our pupils showed. However, please do delete any embarrassing videos or tweets of your deputy Head Teacher singing or dancing at the event! (Thankfully the kids managed to make up the talent shortfall for me!)
Sing to Edinburgh
The trust-wide sing-a-thon this half-term raised a fantastic £981.06. This money will mean that a once-in-a-lifetime trip will be possible for many talented young people in our schools who will be heading north of the border to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Thank you all so much for your kind donations.
TT Rock Stars day 2
Battle of the Bands!!!
What another superb effort from our pupils! They not only looked amazing but performed amazingly too! Our school placed second overall in our school-wide average score in the 7 schools competing! What an achievement!!! We also had 2 classes reach the top 10 out of more than 70!
Congratulations to Freddie, who came second place in the individual competition with an amazing display of times table skill and speed!
Thank you to all of our young rockstars who have made both days (and learning times tables in general) such fun!
Curriculum coverage
Staff have worked hard to bring the HCAT teaching and learning model to life and part of the fabric of lessons at Birdwell. The LIRA approach to reading is in place, our new phonics program has been launched in Reception class with Year 1 class to follow suit shortly. Our maths lessons now include an important, 'contextual' element where pupils see how the maths lessons relate to real-life. Finally, our writing approach follows the 'Gather, Skills, Apply' approach shown to us by Mrs. Paddock and the team. Please visit the website to read more about these approaches to the lessons your children receive or ask myself and the staff about it in person.
Our subject focus has been on Design and Technology during topic teaching. I have seen (and been roped into) baking, toy car making, rocket design and even mechanical cat toy making...really! Although, I'm certain that Mrs. Millington only roped me into 'Rocket Launching' so she could be the one holding the camera while I got covered in baking soda and vinegar in front of her cheering Year 1 class!
Bringing the curriculum to life is something we have always strived to do and taken pride in at Birdwell and that remains at the centre of the curriculum we offer our pupils.
Jubilee Day Celebrations
Jubilee fever hit Birdwell today. Each class learned about an aspect of the history behind the upcoming Jubilee. We have designed flags, crowns, buntin and fantastic artwork. We took the tables outside and got classes together to see a small 'coronation' event and eat some jubilee themed treats. Mrs Wrae and the kitchen team provided a regal themed lunch and every pupil will bring home a specially minted coin. Hopefully a reminder of a lovely day and a special event for years to come.
Summer term 2
Mr. Honeyman will begin his transition into his post as headteacher at our school next term. The children have all met Mr. Honeyman today, at our Jubilee Celebration as well as our celebration assembly. He will be present for various events across the half term, giving you all opportunity to meet him and welcoming to Birdwell, ahead of his official start here in September. He wanted to share this message with you:
"I am honoured to be joining the Birdwell community and I cannot wait to meet the children at the Jubilee Celebration on Friday. I look forward to getting to know you and your children over the summer. From meeting the staff, I can see that the school is like a family, and I cannot wait to get started! Having the opportunity to work with Mrs Paddock and Mr Swallow, as well as the rest of our team next half term, will ensure that the great work that is happening at school continues seamlessly. As Head, my job is to make sure your child is safe, happy, and achieving whilst they are at school. I know that a successful school depends on all of us working together. Parents make an important contribution to children’s achievements and I am looking forward to having a strong and positive relationship with you. I am excited and proud to be joining the school team as the Headteacher from September. I know with change comes questions and I will be available before and after school so please do come and say hello, introduce yourself and feel free to ask any questions. I wish all families have a lovely half term and I will see you all in the near future."
Mr. S Honeyman
Year 6 leavers
With a heavy heart but a lot of pride, we shall soon see our Year 6 leave Birdwell and move into the next stage of their education. We intend to see them out with a bang! Something we have sorely missed for our 2 previous cohorts.
Activities will include:
- The Year 6 play: The World of Roald Dahl
- Enterprise day...our 20th century take on a traditional fun fair!
- Leavers Party day! Think inflatable assault course, water fights and disco and you'll not be far off!
Final Assessments and reports
Whilst Year 2 and 6 celebrate the end of their SATS, our other pupils still have key assessment events ahead of them. Year 4 will take the first National Times Table Test on Tuesday 7th June 2022. That week will also see our year 1 pupils complete their Phonics Screening Assessment.
All classes will complete reading, writing and maths assessments to track the progress of our pupils across the year and report this to you all in the End of Year 'Report to Parents'. Should any of our families require duplicate copies or need to notify us of a change of address, please contact the school office at your next convenience.
After School Clubs for Summer 2
Our last round of after-school clubs were extremely popular and filled up very quickly. All of our pupils will bring home a sign up slip today for you to choose a first and second choice of club and send back in. We only have the capacity to allocate each pupil to one club each so as many children as possible have the opportunity to attend a club. Please return the slip on our first day back after half-term, Monday 6.6.22.
Free Clubs (run by school)
Our school-run clubs last for an hour, pupils are taken directly to them after school and pick up is at 4:30.
- Monday: Lego Club
- Monday: Gaming Club
- Tuesday: Talent Club
- Wednesday: Pokemon Club
- Wednesday: Chill Out club
Additional Clubs offered by external providers
- Monday: Karate with Sensai Paul (£3)
- Wednesday: Street Dance with Miss Sarah (£2.50)
Breakfast Club
Mrs. Atkinson-Swift and Miss Buckley would like to trial a breakfast club before school each morning. As well as a variety of meal choices each day, this will be a chance for quality time with adults in school and social time with peers for some of our less confident pupils. If you feel that this would be a good experience for your child, please return the Breakfast Club slip to school so we can assess the level of interest and allocate places.
Diary Dates
- Year 1 Phonics Screening Checks: 6.6.22 - 9.6.22
- Year 4 Times Table Check: 7.6.22
- Birdwell Methodist Church Movie evening 10.6.22
- Digital Champions lessons for adults 16.6.22
- Year 5 Music Festival at the metrodome: 28.6.22
- HCAT inter-school sports: 30.6.22
- Reports to Parents sent home: 11.7.22
- Year 6 SATS results published 5.7.22
- Enterprise Afternoon: 5.7.22
- Transition to next classes: 7.7.22 & 8.7.22
- Year 6 Fun Day 11.7.22
- Sports Day: 13.7.22
- Year 6 performance: 14.7.22 (evening)
Credits:
Created with images by Amel - "Bright Easter spring creative layout. Flowers of gypsophila and carnations of white and pastel pink colors with gold egg on a light blue background with copy space. Flat lay. Top view." • deeaf - "Goodbye word on table" • Gajus - "Business manager signing a document" • fahrwasser - "Healthy breakfast with cereals and waffles"