Newsletters

9th February, 2024

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Friday 9th February, 2024

This week has seen a highlight put on mental health and internet safety. Both of these subjects are very important issues to highlight and inform the children about and they've enjoyed some assemblies and lessons about these topics this week. Have a look below for more information.

I've had a number of conversations with parents regarding children's use of social media and the internet in the last few weeks and it is important to keep highlighting to the children what is and what is not appropriate behaviour online. The Internet Safety Day discussed how technology is changing and and it is important we educate the children to understand the benefits but also the risks when using new technology.  

It is nearly half term and time for a quick breather. Please look out for a link for parents' evening, which is taking place in the week beginning March 4th. 

Well done to the children on the Bikeability course this week. It really is a super course if your child enjoys biking and wants to learn more about staying safe whilst biking in the local area. 

Have a lovely weekend.

Kind regards

Matt Walton, Headteacher 

Image result for diary dates

February

Wed 14th - F1 in schools regional finals at Sprowston Academy

Thur 15th - F1 in schools regional finals at Sprowston Academy

Fri 16th - Half term begins @ 3:15pm 

Mon 26th -  Spring term continues at 8:45am 

March 

Mon 4th -  Parents' evening - 3:30pm - 6pm

Mon 4th - Book Week (information to follow next week)

Mon 4th - NSPCC Speak out, stay safe (Yr 5)

Tue 5th - NSPCC Speak out, stay safe (Yr 6)

Wed 6th - Parents' evening - 4:30pm - 7pm

Thur 7th - World Book Day 

Fri 8th - Cross Country @ Old Catton 

Wed 13th - Year 5 trip to Sutton Hoo 

Fri 15th - Red Nose Day (non-uniform) 

Tue 19th -  Yr 5/6 football versus Queens Hill (played at Taverham Junior)

Wed 27th -  Yr 3 & Yr 6 watching Shrek at Norwich Theatre Royal 

Wed 27th - Easter Holidays begin @ 3:15pm 

Bikeability

Over four days this week, a group of year 6 children have been improving their biking skills in the playground and on local roads. The children learn all about keeping safe, negotiating different types of junctions, and learning new road signs. 

The children praised the instructors and said they were kind and very helpful. We know the children really enjoyed the sessions and learnt a lot about how to cope with different situations. 

The instructors were impressed with the children's efforts over the 4 days and the children did superbly to getting any biking done on the last day,  with the weather being so poor. 

The children received their certificates and badges in assembly this morning. Well done also to Jack & Jackson who are missing from the photo. 

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 Start for Life and Family Hub Programme

Please read the information below about the new Family Hubs approach:

  • We want to make it easier for families to get help as soon as they need it, so we're joining up services in what we're calling our family hubs approach.
  • It means children's services, health, libraries and voluntary and community organisations are working more closely together, so that parents and carers can get the help they need. Support is available in the places families already visit, with staff out and about in community supermarkets or local play groups and community events.
  • There's support from the moment parents know a baby is on the way, right through to their child's 19th birthday (or 25th if they have special educational needs).
  • We are providing help and advice on parenting, support with children's learning at home, better access to mental health support and help with infant feeding. This work is being supported through the government's family hubs programme.
  • Parents and carers can get help wherever they see the family hubs logo, or they can drop into a family hub site. We've got one of these in each district, which staff are using as a base when they're not out in the community.
  • We've also published our Start for Life offer, which details the support available to parents up to their child's second birthday.
  • We're also keen for mums, dads and carers of children under two to help shape our services by joining our parent and carer panel.
  • You can find out more at www.norfolk.gov.uk/familyhubs or www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/family-hubs.

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to Marvellous Me. We currently have 160 parents & carers who have downloaded the app and are making the most of being able to find out what their children have been up, receive 'thumbs ups' and other notifications as well as receiving messages from classes.

Here are links to a parent walk through guide and a 'parent app explained' video with some useful information about how to get started.

If you have any questions, or need some help, please let a member of the year group team know. You can also email Mr Arthur (deputy@sprowstonjunior.norfolk.sch.uk) who will be able to get you up and running. 

Year 3 Egg Drop

In science, the Year 3 children were tasked with dropping an egg from a height and trying to make sure it didn't break. The egg needed to survive!

Taylor & Freddie (Filby) 'We had to make something to protect the egg. We used things like balloons and carrier bags to slow the drop of the egg down and used bubble wrap and other material to support the egg. 

Year 3 had many successes and lots of the eggs survived! Well done!

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Internet Safety Day 2024

Safer Internet Day is the UK’s biggest celebration of online safety. Each year an online issue or theme is covered that speaks to the things young people are seeing and experiencing online. This week the lesson and assembly themes covered the following:

  • Young people’s perspective on new and emerging technology
  • Using the internet to make change for the better
  • The changes young people want to see online
  • The things that can influence and change the way young people think, feel and act online and offline

Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. 

The children enjoyed watching the video content created to celebrate the day and we continue to ensure eSafety is a high priority in school. 

Your child can test their knowledge of internet safety by having a go at the quiz here: 

Quiz for 7-11 year olds - UK Safer Internet Centre

Children's Mental Health Week

This week we have been celebrating Children's Mental Health Week. Children have taken part in assemblies, live lessons and a variety of activities to help find out more about how important our mental health is and where we can get support.

For more information please look at the Children's Mental Health Week website: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/families/

You can also find information in the Wellbeing and mental health section of our school website: https://www.sprowstonjunior.norfolk.sch.uk/news/?pid=29&nid=19

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Year 4 created some fantastic art work on Friday afternoon - they were painting some wonderful pictures inspired by the French artist Rousseau. 

Accelerated Reader (Renaissance) letters

Your child should come home with an Accelerated Reader letter early next week.  If you type in the hyperlink and follow the instructions to log-in, you'll be able to see the books your child has quizzed on in school and the percentage they achieved on their quiz. Please do remember that a child can quiz on any home book if it is on the Accelerated Reader system. Simply follow the instructions below. 

To quiz on a home book:

- Go to: Accelerated Reader Bookfinder UK & Ireland - Quick Search (arbookfind.co.uk)   (This will tell you if it is on the system)

If the book is on the AR system, simply get your child to log into their account using the details in their home-school diary and they will be able to quiz on the book:

SJS Accelerated Reader: 

https://global-zone61.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/2245022

Rain stops play - well Cross Country

The heavy rain over the last couple of days meant that today's cross country at Horsford Primary had to be postponed. A new date will hopefully be arranged before the final race of the season.