Dear Parents and Carers,

When I was a class teacher I used to love each term for different reasons. I liked the autumn term because there was the thrill of a new school year as I got to know my new class. I liked the summer term because it was when I saw how far the children had come, and we rounded off the year with a celebration of their achievements. I always enjoyed the spring term as it was when I felt that the children switched up a gear, having found their feet, and was when their progress accelerated. From looking at the work children show me and from what I see on the class Twitter feeds, I hope that they are proud of the stunning work they have produced this term. If you haven't already signed up to follow the Twitter feeds of your child's class as well as the school feed, I strongly recommend that you do as they give you a real insight into the amazing learning that is going on in school.

We have recently invested in a new Ipad for each class. They may not be the latest model (they were too expensive for our IT budget) but we know that we will be able to put them to good use. It will be much easier for teachers to Tweet during the week, and we are also looking forward to using them to project children's work onto the whiteboard in the classroom so that we can share their ideas with the rest of the class. We know that there are also some amazing apps that we can now start to use.

COVID

We currently have 1 child and 1 staff member off with Covid and have been pleased to see the numbers decline steadily over the last two weeks. This has mirrored what is happening in our Local Authority. I hope that this means that we are over the worst and that we can now start thinking about the things that we can reintroduce. I think the first of these will be a return to some face-to-face assemblies starting after half-term. We will then look at the school calendar again to see what activities we can resume for parents to come into school.

Parent Consultations

We have always been very fortunate that we have a very high number of parents who sign up for a parent consultation appointment. I know that there are schools that find this much more difficult. This week was no exception, and we had 97% of parents book an appointment. Thankfully, the vast majority of parents were able to make their appointments, and we had fewer 'no shows' than at the Autumn Parent Consultations. 

I know that teachers put a lot of effort into preparing for these appointments, and I am grateful that they are happy to produce the detailed reports that we share with you via the Parent Portal. I would also like to publicly thank Mr Marks who is the mastermind behind the reports and Mrs Schneider who uploads each individual report! Like everything in school, this takes a team effort.

And finally...

Thanks for being understanding and supportive this last half-term. I am disappointed that we aren't yet back to where we would like to be and that you haven't been able to come in to school for some time. I am conscious that we are nearing the second anniversary of the first lockdown and what was the start of two years of constant change and challenges. Personally, I have felt the toll of this at times, and being in a constant state of readiness can be exhausting. 

I hope that the weather stays sunny and mild this coming week so that you can have a break with loved ones. I think my half-term will include reading, gardening, and seeing relatives. I've started knitting a hat for myself which involves juggling five needles at once. Despite a year of knitting, I haven't made anything for myself yet. My family members might suggest that they have been my warm-up projects before I made something I was happy to wear!

Have a lovely break, and we will see you after half-term.

Mr Eardley

Head Teacher

^{Photo by Shishir Pandey on Unsplash}

Each week, we publish the latest achievements of the children at Orton Wistow Primary School. 

Arts Mark Cultural Passport Update - 11.02.22

By Miss Ellis (Drama Lead) and Mrs McIntosh (Art Lead)

As part of our work towards gaining an accreditation towards the ‘Arts Mark’, last term we launched a Cultural Passport to all pupils at Orton Wistow Primary School.

February Update

Fotheringhay Castle, the Tower of London, Peterborough Catherdral, and Nene Sculpture park are just some of the places that Wistow children have visited in the last few months. We have been so impressed with the performances, as well as the artwork children have created! Our stamps have been ‘re-inked’ ready to get stamping as restrictions ease further!

Now with half-term upon us, we have a wonderful opportunity to visit places of art and culture around us. As you know visiting places of ‘art and culture’ has a huge impact on children.

Visiting museums, galleries, historic places of interest helps to stimulate children’s curiosity, creativity, and imagination, and support the development of communications skills. Being creative helps children cope with their feelings and fears, as well as manage their emotional states- No wonder we find these visits so exciting!

Take a look at some of the places children have visited to help inspire your future trips and keep up to date with events happening around the city on our Twitter page @@OWPSart_culture and remember to tag us on your adventures.

Also, Look out for the ‘OWPS Antony Gormley half-term challenge’ on the Twitter feed soon!

Places children have visited

^{The Natural History Museum}

^{The Key Theatre}

^{Fotheringhay Castle}

^{Peterborough Museum and Gallery}

World Book Day 03.03.22

by Mrs Edwards, Reading Lead

World Book Day

On Thursday 3^rd March 2022, World Book Day are celebrating their 25th anniversary – with the message for all children ‘you are a reader.‘   

We will be celebrating World Book Day in school on the day, 3^rd March, and it will be a dressing-up day for your children. So get your thinking hats on for great book character costumes. 

There is no pressure to have fancy costumes or to spend lots of money. The most important thing is that the children recognise a character from a book. You can keep it simple with a homemade prop, clothes, or costumes that you already have. We know lots of children will want to go further, but there is no pressure from us to do so!

Book Token

To celebrate World Book Day your child will bring home a Book Token worth £1.   

There are a number of £1 books for 2022 that children can choose for free with their £1 book token. There are books for beginners, early, fluent and independent readers, there is something for everyone. There are 12 titles available, with the books available from booksellers from 17 February 2022.  

Read for Good

We will also be launching our Read for Good readathon on World Book Day. This is a sponsored event that encourages children to read more that week and gather sponsors for doing so (and gain some extra Dojos). The money raised will go to pay for children at Addenbrookes hospital to have books and a storyteller. We will also receive a percentage to spend on books for school. More information will follow closer to the time.

https://readforgood.org/

^{Photo by Theo Crazzolara on Unsplash}

Can you help the East of England Ambulance Service?

By Mrs McIntosh, Art Lead and Foundation Stage Class Teacher

If you have a moment of free time over half-term, why not create a poster to say a huge thank you to the East Of England Ambulance Trust, based in Peterborough.

The East of England Ambulance Trust has a brand-new station and would love to decorate it with posters and pictures of thanks to help keep their morale up after a very hard two years. Matthew Morton-Withers, the Senior Emergency Medical Technician, and his team would really appreciate anything you create!

Please hand in your posters or pictures to Mrs McIntosh by the 25^th of February 2022, and I will forward these on to Matthew and his brilliant team. I can't wait to see what you create!

^{Photo by Tim Arterbury on Unsplash}

Red Nose Day Friday 18th March 2022

By Mrs Johnson, Learning Mentor

On Friday 18th March, we will be raising funds for Comic Relief by having a non-uniform day and selling biscuits to eat at break time. Children will be asked to donate £1 to have a non-uniform day and 50p for a biscuit.

The money we raise is used to help in lots of ways:

£50 can provide training to a pre-school teacher and a health volunteer to help improve the health, wellbeing, and education of young children in Kenya.

£5 could provide support to a young person in the UK through a mental health helpline or live online chat.

£20 could provide a supportive coffee morning for families in the UK to share advice on caring for their children’s mental health.

Whether children dress differently or choose to wear school uniform, all of the children at OWPS will be using their super fundraising powers to make a difference to the lives of others!

We will not be selling Red Noses this year but if children have bought one elsewhere they will be allowed to wear it in school but only on Red Nose Day.

^{Photo: www.comicrelief.com}

Celebrating Success 11.02.22

Here at Orton Wistow Primary School, we recognise that success comes in all different shapes and sizes! We celebrate the children's achievements in school in the Achievements section of the newsletter and website.

Many of the children, however, are also achieving things outside of school.  We would like to recognise these successes too.

It might be that your child has passed a music or dance exam, gained a karate belt, starred in a show, volunteered, taken part in a sporting event, or done something that they didn't think was possible!

If you would like to share your child's achievements with us so that we can celebrate their success, please complete the Celebrating Success form which can also be found below.  Contributions will be considered for inclusion in upcoming editions of the newsletter.

We look forward to hearing about your children's extracurricular achievements!

Celebrating Success this week!

Just before Christmas Amélie S in Year 6 caught Covid, and she wrote a wonderful poem about what it felt like. It really sums up the experience of many children who have had the virus and had to endure isolation.  Well done Amélie!

In January, Jessica P in Year 5 successfully auditioned to play the role of young Fiona in POD's upcoming show, Shrek The Musical. It's a real family show with something for everyone, and she would love to have some of her Orton Wistow peers support her in the audience! Congratulations Jessica!

PE Days After Half-Term

Here is a reminder of the days on which children have PE.

Nominate an OWPS member of staff for the Unsung Hero Award

Entries are now open for the 2022 Pearson National Teaching Awards as featured on BBC’s The One Show.

The ‘Unsung Hero’ Award, honours our everyday heroes and ensures amazing staff working in schools and colleges are given the thanks they deserve. This award is open to anyone working in a school – teacher, support staff including caretakers, playground helpers, school office staff, head teachers and teachers.

It is the only award open to nominations from parents/carers and pupils so if you would like to nominate an amazing member of staff, you can send them a free thank you e-card and tick the box saying you would like to card to turn into a nomination. 

For more information and to send a free e- thank-you card/nomination, please click here.

Discover what is coming up in the OWPS Dining Car.

Children's Mental Health Week at OWPS

By Mrs Simmons, Year 6 Class Teacher, DT Lead and Mental Health Lead

Children's Mental Health Week

This week (w/c 7^th of February), we have been celebrating and learning about Children's Mental Health Week.  We have had various assemblies from Mr Eardley, Mrs Simmons and Mrs Scarff, around mental health and have thought about what keeps us mentally healthy, as well as physically healthy.  We completed our own 'Mental Health Hero' cards and also a leaf ready for our display on the week's theme of 'Growing Together'.   

We have introduced our school-wide 'FIVE WAYS TO WELLBEING', our mental health initiative which includes connecting to those around us, being active, taking notice of our environment, keeping learning and acts of kindness.  

How many random acts of kindness can you complete over half term?  Please tweet them to us on #owpsmentalhealth 

If you would like to know more, please visit https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/

Where to go if you or your child need support

If you have any concerns about your child/ren's mental health, you can get more information and advice by visiting chums.uk.com, the Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People. 

You can also contact your child's class teacher to raise any mental health and well-being concerns by emailing office@owps.org.uk, using the website contact form, or emailing your child's year group (all the year group emails are listed here).

If you are concerned about your own mental health and well-being, you can read more about how to access further advice and support by clicking here to visit Mind's website.

The NHS is encouraging people to come forward for support with mental health and well-being, with the GP cited as the first port of call. 

You can read more articles on the Mental Health and Wellbeing section of the OWPS website.

^{Photo by Stacie Clark on Unsplash}

Read about what is happening locally, nationally and internationally.

^{Disclaimer: Orton Wistow Primary School does not endorse any products, services or activities that appear in the Community section of this newsletter, and is not responsible for any contract entered into by either party. Given the current circumstances, we would recommend all parents check with any providers regarding the status of these services, activities and clubs}