Is one flu-free for winter?

Your child is invited to have a flu vaccination this winter.

Flu can be an unpleasant illness and can cause serious complications. Having the flu vaccine protects your child and your family and friends, by preventing the spread of flu. It’s recommended to have the vaccine every year as the type of flu can vary each winter. 

The vaccination is a quick and painless spray up the nose. There is no charge for the vaccine. 

 

The School-aged Immunisation Service will be visiting school on 30/11/2023

Please discuss this immunisation with your child and complete the online form at before midnight on 24/11/2023 to tell us if your child is getting the vaccine or not.

https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/service/immunisation-team/

Please submit either a YES consent or a NO consent as we will continue to invite your child to be vaccinated unless we hear from you. This may mean that one of our team calls you to obtain verbal consent over the phone. 

 

If we are unable to vaccinate your child at school you will receive an email with a link to our online clinic booking site where you can book an immunisation appointment.

Love

The NHS

The school will be sending you a more detailed letter via email.

#EVERYDAYCOUNTS

Is it too early to establish a tradition?

I seem to be turning up each Friday in a 'Friday shirt'. If you have seen me on either of the school gates at the start or the end of the school day, you will know what I mean. The children certainly do.

Why? Well mainly to remind myself that it IS Friday. At this point in my position as acting Head of School, all the days seem to blur into one. I feel I need to be able to remind myself that we have managed to get to the end of the week.

Friday is also a day of celebration, for KS2 it is Golden Hand Assembly and for KS1 Superstar Assembly. I can not begin to convey the joy and delight that is shared by all our children in showing appreciation for their teachers and their peers. Whilst some children are lucky enough to receive a certificate, a sticker and a firm handshake, all of us are able to feel the atmosphere of a supportive and caring community.

Friday is also the day that we look at attendance figures. As a school, we are looking to achieve over 96% attendance. Most of our children DO attend every day and in order to recognise that, I have introduced two new awards - The Attendosaurus in KS1 and the House Attendance Trophy in KS2. While the KS2 trophy will be based on average attendance, the KS1 award will recognise improvements in attendance.

So well done to the YELLOWS this week and to 1TB who are pictured below. 

The smell of bacon as I fasten up my laces...

 ..is my favourite line from any primary school assembly song. ('Autumn Days', Mr Nouri)

Unfortunately it won't be part of this year's Harvest Festival on Friday 13^th October. 

I'm only Acting Head after all.

As usual, as part of our Harvest Festival celebration, we will be collecting donations for the Gravesend Foodbank. 

DONATE FOOD 

https://gravesham.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/ 

Thank you for your support to help the local people in need in our community, particularly in these uncertain times.  Your generosity is of vital importance to Gravesham Foodbank and we are hugely grateful for your commitment.  

The foodbank relies on your goodwill and support. 

Over 90% of the food distributed by foodbanks in The Trussel Trust network is donated by the public – that’s why your food donations are absolutely vital to our ability to give everyone referred to us a balanced and nutritious three day supply of food. 

We would be grateful if children could bring in donations from Monday 9^th October  

Thank you in advance.  

They're back!

But not before a viisit to Barcelona football club museum.

Then it was time to head home!

Can't wait hear about your adventures. Welcome back.

Port’Aventura World!

 So our adventurers in Spain are at a theme park

Big smiles in every photo

¡Otro día increíble en España!

Update from Mrs Evans:

After riding the Barcelona metro, it was time to take in the architecture of La Sagrada Família. We stopped off to have a delicious lunch, followed by a traditional flamenco show in Las Ramblas. 

We finished the day with a visit to the beach (and a little souvenir shopping on the way back)!

Just need to add that reports I am getting suggests that all the trust now knows how wonderful WRPS students are.

SO proud!

Barcelona update 😊

 Dear Parents and Carers. 

The children (and adults) continue to have an amazing time in Barcelona.  The children are behaving brilliantly and are really enjoying getting to know this city. No major dramas - but a few have found it a challenge to go to sleep straight away - given all of the excitement of the day!!!  They have all been a credit to their schools and to the family too. 

We are so sorry that you have not been able to access regular photos and updates through the link that was provided. The travel company we used have been unable to resolve their technical issues - which is frustrating for us as well as you.  We thought we had a great photo sharing service as part of our package, and we have been really let 

When we get home, I will be asking all adults on the trip, to share their photos, and I will set up a special sharing page, so you have access to all the photos we have taken. 

In the meantime, Tuesday is theme park day. Wish us luck!!! More photos to follow. 

Garry Ratcliffe 

CEO, The Golden Thread Alliance.

Meanwhile... In Barcelona

We currently have 7 pupils (and Mrs Evans) in Barcelona on a trust trip.

Jealousy won't allow me to say any more than they are having a great time

What it takes to be a House Captain

Every September, as part of the KS2 Citizenship curriculum, the children elect new House Captains. 

It is not an easy process, children have to put themselves forward as a candidate then deliver a speech to the other children in their house in an effort to persuade them to vote for them. It is at this point, that the teachers discover just what being a pupil at our school is all about. Their speeches always fill me with pride; sometimes it is not about what they say but the fact that they have actually stood up in front of their peers and verbalised their feelings about the school. Sometimes it is what they say.

Here is an example:

I take pride in helping people to the best of my ability and if I can't then I will point them to to the best teacher at our school... well actually they are all the best. I am proud to be a pupil of Wrotham Road Primary School and in my role of house captain I want to help you see the school in the same light.

Our school values help us...Independence:  I will help you understand what it means to be independent in learning. Individuality: I will encourage acceptance of differences. Creativity: I will help you bring your ideas to life. Confidence:I will assist in bringing out your confidence in not only your learning but also your social skills. Enjoyment, I will take your ideas to our teacher to bring enjoyment to learning...

I am not going to embarrass the pupil who wrote this by naming her, suffice to say she is now a Blue House Captain.

Don't you just wish our politicians spoke with the same eloquence and selflessness?

Get Bach Jojo

Growing up on Merseyside, the Beatles were a very real part of my childhood - despite the fact that had long broken up, (I am really not THAT old). But their music was everywhere; it was what my family listened to, what musicians aspired to. Their music are very much part of my culture and it shaped aspects of my life.

So as a headteacher, I feel that music has to be an important part of a child's education. 

We will, once agin be taking part in Young Voices this year - so look out for tickets for that. 

In the meantime, we were recently treated by a visit from...

Bach to the Future

Bach, Beethoven, Mozart - performed in exciting new ways... modern jazz, African, and Latin rhythms. Bach to the Future brought an exciting, whimsical approach to the most beloved music of all time, and some of the most interesting cutting-edge instruments you'll ever see. 

How about a Drum-itar? Or a 6 string electric violin that sounds like Jimi Hendrix?

The 6th School Value

 Enjoyment - Confidence - Independence - Individuality - Creativity

These are the values the  run like a thread through school life. This reflects pupils everyday experience and inspires them to aim high.’ (Ofsted, 2022).

I refer to them every day, sometimes it involves pretending to be a giant butterfly, sometimes I have to explain what exactly a hot air balloon is. There is a lot of focus on the first value.

I have also come to realise that there is a sixth school value, one that we do not have on display in the school but is crucial to the success of the other five.

That value is ATTENDANCE - if your child is not here we can not instil any of the other five. 

The school is given the target of encouraging 96+% attendance from its pupils. 

Last year, we barely hit 92% on average - some classes above, some classes below

In reality, 92% translates as 15 school days off - 3 school weeks.

15 missing days of enjoyment

15 missing days of confidence building

15 missing days of becoming more independent

15 missing days of growing into an individual

15 missing days of being creative

Have a great weekend, see you all on Monday.

 

OK... KOs

"What's it like being Headteacher Mr Bennett?"

Is perhaps the most common question the children have been asked me over the last two weeks. 

Not the strangest, that was: "Can you milk a whale?"

I suppose it is much the same as being Deputy Headteacher, except you have to keep a few more balls in the air or plates spinning.

The child smiled at me.

What I mean is there are many more jobs to do - some of them I haven't really done before. One of them is updating the school website. Which I have now discovered is not the same as this blog.

What I am trying to say is Knowledge Organisers (KOs) and curriculum letters are now on the website, under Class Pages here

And yes you can, although it would be very hazardous and the whale probably wouldn't be impressed.