INAPrimaryNewsletter

6 November 2015

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AnnouncementsDear Parents and Carers,

I hope that you all had a great half term break and are ready for the next six action-packed school weeks!

On Wednesday 25th November we have a training day when the school will be closed to students. We have decided as a staff that we want to use this day to honour the memory of a wonderful student in our founding year group, Ahmed Al-Khafaji, who died very suddenly and unexpectedly in July.

Ahmed was a great character who exemplified many of the BRIDGES characteristics. He loved school. He was curious and inquisitive about learning all curriculum areas. He was a keen scientist, wrote thought-provoking poetry and was a very strong musician, playing the trombone in the INA House Band. He was interested in current affairs and international developments, he was a profound thinker, he was sociable and good fun and he was a great friend. He was a fantastic ambassador for the school, for the student population and for young people in general.

Ahmed was the kind of person who got engrossed in studies, who would be totally absorbed in a book and forget what time it was and who regularly was ‘in his element’ when learning. On 25th November each member of staff is going to spend the day engrossed in an aspect of their learning that they love, that is their passion and in which they are ‘in the zone.’ For some colleagues this will be getting absorbed in reading around their subject areas, or relishing the opportunity to do some research at a museum or gallery, for others it will be investigating with scientific experiments or puzzling over ‘A’ level maths questions or practising their musical instrument.

I will be talking to the secondary students next week about the Ahmed Al-Khafaji Day on 25th November and inviting them to start thinking about how they might use the day. I would love to think that every one of them will spend the day in their element, focusing on an activity or involved in an experience that really excites them, about which they are passionate and which extends their learning. For parents of primary children, it would be fantastic if you were able to think about an out–of-the-ordinary experience that your son or daughter could have on that day. After the event, we will be asking students to write on a card what they spent the day doing and we intend to create a memorial display in the secondary school. This idea is something that I have discussed with Ahmed’s family, who give their full support and are keen to see the outcomes.

With best wishes,

Rachel Macfarlane,

Principal

Phonics Workshop for ParentsJust to remind you that we will running a workshop on Tuesday 10th November at 6pm, to share information regarding the Read Write Inc. phonics programme that we follow. We ask that all parents join us in the main dining hall for an introduction to the evening and then two workshops will be run: one for Reception parents and one for Year 1 parents. Please contact the Primary reception office if you will be attending so that we have a good idea on the number of parents to prepare the sessions for. We look forward to seeing many of you then.

Learning this Half TermInformation sheets have been put in your child’s book bag to give you more information about this half term’s topics and how you can further support your child with their learning at home

Enrichment ClubsEnrichment clubs started again this week. If you have any queries, please see or speak Ms Rayner or Ms Chaggar in the primary office.

>>> News

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Composer of the FortnightAfter the half term break, we will be listening to and learning about George Friderick Handel as our Composer of the Fortnight. As a suggested activity to support at home, you could gather some facts about Handel in preparation for the coming weeks. Information can also be found on the following youtube link.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtY9a21UYCw

BirthdaysUnfortunately, due to the number of children with quite severe food allergies, we are unable to accept sweets, cakes or any other food items of a similar nature to be given out for birthday celebrations. Some parents in the past have a bought a story book as a shared gift that can be given to the class teacher to read with the children and then can be kept in the book corner for the children to read throughout the year.

>>> NewsIt was lovely to see everyone back on Tuesday; we hope you all had a fantastic break. Having

seen some of the wonderful Gunpowder Plot and Great Fire of London home learning projects by the Year 1 pupils, I can see that the children enjoyed a busy week. The teachers have asked

me to thank our parents and carers for their tremendous support in ensuring that the home learning research was completed to such a high standard and handed in on time.

Tam Broadway, Head of Primary

Celebration of Black History Month In celebration on Black History Month in October, the children were involved in a number of different

activities. Year 1 classes were treated a story read my Ms Benjamin, one of parents; we would like to thank her for offering to come in and help with our learning.

The Reception pupils also learned about Martin Luther King and produced their own ‘We have a

dream’ display:

The Reception pupils learned about Morgan Garret and the traffic light system;l here they are playing their traffic light game in the playground.

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We need more Work Experience placements!

Do you work in a career that would interest our students? If so please contact us: info@

isaacnewtonacademy.orgYear 10 students will complete a work experience placement from Monday 20th June 2016 – Friday 24th June 2016 and we need your help! If you feel you can offer a placement please read the placement guide below and contact Mr Crowther-Green by email: info@isaacnewtonacademy.org with the title Work Experience. Please provide a work address, brief details of the type of work, potential duties and include a contact name, telephone number and email. Placement guide• Employers must have a Health and Safety policy and Public

Liability Insurance• Placements should be easily reachable from INA by public

transport• Students should not be working in a confined space with a single

employer (safeguarding reasons)• Employers offering placements will need to complete an

agreement and send details of dress, days, times, tasks and any specific information

• Students will complete a project which they will work through during their placement

We welcome friends and family of INA students to offer placements to INA students. We want students to broaden their horizons and we want students to be completing a work experience that they could not easily organise themselves. Therefore students cannot complete work experience with family and friends. If you have an questions please contact Mr Crowther-Green by email: info@isaacnewtonacademy.org.

Mr Crowther-Green

Can you support INA?

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ReceptionThe children will be working on their ‘Out and About’ topic and learning about the people who help us within the local community. Over the course of the half term the children will be looking at the different services and shops along the High Road, visiting the fire station next door to our school and having fun in their role play areas set up in their classrooms: the hospital, the police station and the fire station.

We are hoping to invite some friends and family members in to talk to the children about their roles within the community, with particular focus on dentists, doctors, nurses, police officers etc. If you are able to help, please let your child’s teacher know or pop in with any details to the main Primary reception office..

Uniform InformationThe Primary uniform policy is on the website under the primary tab and ‘policies’.

• Weexpecteverychildtobeinfulluniform every day with their top button done up• All coats must be plain black including raincoats• Shoesmustbeplainblack–notrainers!If you are not sure about the types of shoes that are part of our uniform policy, please ask!• Please label every item of clothing with your child’ name including PE kits and also check from time to time as names can fade through washing items. Khalsa Schoolwear has a name labelling service available whereby you can purchase 40 iron on labels for £5.• Onepairofplainstudearringscanbeworn• Nailpolishisnotallowed• Jewelleryisnotpermitted• Longhairforbothboysandgirlsmustbetied back. Hair decorations must be small and plain• Pleaseprovideyourchildwithawaterbottle every day and make sure it is labelled with their name (water only, no fruit juice).

Year 1Year 1 pupils are learning about the Great Fire of London. As I have already mentioned, the home learning looked amazing and the teachers are busy putting the work up on display in their classrooms. On Wednesday we have Wendy Richardson from Springboard Arts visiting the pupils to tell them the story of how the Great Fire of London started through an exciting role-play drama session.

We also have Ms Chaggar’s cousin, Ms Lyall, visiting on Monday to talk to the children about the Hindu and Sikh celebration on Diwali. It sounds like a very exciting week!

Britten Class assemblyWell done to Britten class for their fantastic assembly and for sharing some of their work with us. The children were really articulate and clear and I was really impressed by how many lines they had memorised. It was lovely having so many parents being able to support the class. We look forward to the Glennie assembly on Friday 27th November.

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INA Newsletter 7

Prim

ary Praise and R

ecognitionEvery week each teacher chooses two children from their class to receive a certificate

in assembly, one in recognition of a child demonstrating our BRIDGES habit of the week, and the other in recognition of a pupil’s academic effort throughout the week.

Well done to the following children, who have been recognised this week!Curie Class: Aliyah Shahid Khan– Headteacher’s Habits Award (for being confident in sharing ideas in class discussion.)Inaaya Muhammad – Scholar of the Week (for brilliant blending in phonics.)Maxwell Class:Miriam Mirza – Headteacher’s Habits Award (for making new friends and doing lovely partner work talk on the carpet.)Saminderpreet Kaur – Scholar of the Week (for finding ‘one less than’ a number independently.)Newton Class:Emile Morgan – Headteacher’ Habits Award (for not being shy and ‘giving it a go’ and joining in with the hospital role-play.)Maya Ahmed – Scholar of the Week (for asking intelligent questions about bacteria during our knowledge session.)Britten Class:Zaynul Bagwan – Headteacher’ Habits Award (for showing courage during literacy by asking ambitious questions.) Aashvi Govil – Scholar of the Week (for always working extremely hard during school and home learning.)Fitzgerald Class:Mariam Faheem – Headteacher’ Habits Award (for coming back to school with a fantastic attitude and being brave.)Rohin Ronson – Scholar of the Week (for excellent concentration and participation in phonics.)Glennie Class:Rufaida Hasnat – Headteacher’ Habits Award (for always being an exceptional role-model around school.)Hamna Adil – Scholar of the Week (for creating a fantastic project on the Gunpowder Plot.)

Headteacher’s Lunch

Well done to the following pupils who have been

nominated for the Headteacher’s Lunch for

next Thursday 12th November. An invitation

will be given to the children during our Celebration and

Awards Assembly:

Siya Kamothi - Fitzgearald

Milan Richards- Glennie Zahra Abbas – Britten

Shanmuka Priya - Newton

Mahilan Sathis Kumar - Maxwell

Ravi Jethwa – CurieYusuf Mahmud -

Maxwell

Class Ambassadors

Every half term we award two children from each class the honour of being the class ambassador. Each class teacher has chosen two children from their class to represent them over the course of the half term to welcome visitors to their class and explain some of their learning to them, along with helping the staff with other special jobs. A purple pin badge will be presented to the children in assembly which will need to be worn on their uniform every day. Certificates will be given to the children who have represented their class last half term and we thank them for their work in their role.

Well done and congratulations to the following pupils for this half term

Curie Class – Dua-E-Zainab Maisam & Musa Mohammed Ali

Maxwell Class – Meliah Henry & Aariz Choudhry

Newton Class – Maya Ahmed & Abdul Wahab

Britten Class – Naniyah Owusu & Aashvi Govil

Fitzgerald Class – Akshara Kurmachalam & Aqeel Nazir

Glennie Class – Nirmalpreet Durhailay & J’Shawn Holland

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AT

TE

ND

AN

CE

Regular attendance is a crucial factor in students’ educational development and ability to achieve their full potential.

At Isaac Newton Academy every student is set the target of 100% attendance.

The class with the highest attendance at the end of every week is awarded the attendance trophy during Friday’s Award & Recognition assembly.

Curie 94.8%

Maxwell 96.2%

Newton 96.1%

Overall Attendance: 94.9%

Well done and congratulations to Glennie class, who were also the winners before half term! Come on everyone else; I am sure we can bring the attendance back up again this half term!!

It is important that the children attend school every day and do not miss any learning. Thank you for your support in ensuring your child is at school every day. We always strive for 100%.

Britten 88.3%

Fitzgerald 96.7%

Glennie 97.5%

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"We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” Isaac Newton BRIDGES are habits of mind or learning characteristics that develop a pupil's character and learning power and enable him/her to grow into a well-rounded individual and resilient learner.

There are seven BRIDGES habits that we will be working on, which will rotate on a weekly cycle throughout the year. The BRIDGES habit of the week will always be introduced at the beginning of the week during the Monday assembly and reinforced throughout the week across the curriculum. Each class teacher will award a certificate to a pupil that they feel has demonstrated the BRIDGES focus for the week.

Each week we will update you on the BRIDGES habit that will be introduced in the coming week and offer some top tips on how to reinforce the habit at home too. Please also refer to the Primary BRIDGES wheel above

Week commencing 9th November– Resourcefulness

At School:

• Itisimportantthatthepupilsareabletouseandremembertheirvastphonicsknowledgeand apply this information when beginning to write independently. • Asadultsweareacutelyawarethatwemodelbehavioursforthepupilseverydayduring lunchtime when we eat with our knife and fork and don’t talk when our mouth is full, washing our hands, how we dress and present ourselves, how we speak to each other; knowing that the children will imitate the behaviour they see. • Aswellasbeingabletoreadthesoundsandwordsonpages,thepupilsnowneedtobeable to question, reason and comprehend the text they read and explain what is happening and explain their ideas.• InMathsthechildrenneedtoapplyandtransfertheirknowledgetodifferentproblemsand also give reason for the way they have worked out the answers. • Everyclassroomhasarecyclingbinwhichweencouragethechildrentouseandwealsolook at how we can use materials around us to incorporate them in pieces of art or other areas of our work before we throw things away.

At Home:

Encourage your child to use items around the house to create a piece of art or make junk models and re-cycle as many items as possible. Ask questions: What could we use this box for instead of throwing it away? Do you think we could make a car, boat or castle from this large box we have? How can we use some of the things we have around the home and turn them into something more useful?

When your child finds reading a word difficult or a maths question challenging, ask them to remember and use the things they do know and apply it to the new word or challenge etc.

Tam Broadway, Head of Primary

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Primary RemindersIMPORTANT REMINDERS

• Schools starts at 8.45am, it is important that your child arrives on time every day so that the teachers can start the lesson promptly. The school gate will be open from 8.25am and will close at 8.45am.

• Schoolfinishesat3.45pmeverydayotherthanTuesdaywhenwefinishat3.00pm

• If any of your details have changed e.g. your address or phone number –pleaseensureyoucontacttheofficetoinformus,sothatwecanupdate our records and contact you in case of an emergency.

• Please ensure your child attends school every day and on time. If your childissickthenyoumustcalltheofficetoletusknowby8.15am.

If your child has a medical appointment you must let us know in advance.

Wisepay DetailsWisepay details have been given to everyone now, which will allow you to book a place for ‘Breakfast Club’ or ‘After School Club’. Payments must be made in advance. If you experience any problems, please contact Ms Rayner or Ms Chaggar who will be happy to help.

Breakfast is available each day from 7.45am and costs just £2 per day. The children enjoyarangeofcereals,toastanddifferenttopping,juiceormilkandfruit.Anychildattendingmustbebroughttothemainreceptionareaby8.20amatthelatest.

AfterSchoolClubrunsfrom3.45pm–6.00pm(3.00pm–6.00pmonTuesdays)andcosts just £5 per hour. The children enjoy a range of snacks each evening and a variety of games and activities.

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Key Dates for the Autumn Term 2015: Primary

Phonics Workshop for Year 1 & Reception Parents – Tuesday 10th November 6.00-7.00pm

Literacy Parents’ Workshop (Primary & Secondary) – Thursday 19th November 6.00-7.00pm

Staff INSET Training Day – Wednesday 25th November (School Closed)

Glennie Class Assembly (Glennie Class Parents Invited) – Friday 27th November 3.00pm

Coffee Morning with the Head of Primary – Thursday 3rd December 9.00-10.00am

Primary Reports Sent Home – Friday 11th December

Parent Progress Meetings – Friday 15th December

Last Day of Term – Friday 18th December

Spring TermMonday 4th January - Thursday 24th MarchHalf Term 15th - 19th FebruaryINSET days: Monday 4th January and Friday 12th February

Summer TermMonday 11th April - Wednesday 20th JulyHalf Term 30th May - 3rd JuneINSET days: Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th June, Friday 8th July