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Dear Parents & Carers,

Firstly, a huge thank you to all those who helped to arrange the Halloween Disco and to all those who came along to support the event. It was a brilliant event to bring the school community together and it was lovely to see so many spooky but smiling faces! We managed to raise £675 through this event.

Since coming back from the half term break there have been a number of visits or visitors to support children's learning. Our Y5 pupils have had a busy time visiting Hendon Mosque, the RAF Museum and taking part in the Handel Project. Our Y6 children have been on a visit to the Natural History Museum as well as having a workshop with a visiting writer and poet to inspire their creative writing skills. The visiting writer and poet also worked with children in Year 2. Some children from Y4/5 represented the school at a science competition and another group from Y4/5 took part in a Brent Hockey tournament.

Next Friday we have some very exciting visitors coming to lead workshops in our school for children in KS2. Google Expeditions are coming to take us on virtual adventures to far away places and times! Our Y6 children will visit a virtual Borneo Rainforest, Y5 children will be transported back in time to the period of WWII, Y4 will be beamed into outer space to learn about astronomy and Y3 will venture into smouldering volcanoes! All this from the safety of our school hall via their interactive and virtual app!

Over the course of their time at OGPS, we want all children to be able to access the magic that drama creates through trips out to the theatre or by inviting theatre companies into the school. From this year, each autumn term, children in nursery, reception, Y1, 2, 4 & 5 will attend a visiting theatre production that will take place in our school hall. Each autumn, children in year three will go on a theatre visit to see a traditional British Pantomime; this be usually be at the Millfield Theatre. Y6 children will not miss out as they will have their own special trip to a theatre in the summer term of each year. We hope that by expanding the range of experiences children have over the years we will inspire a love for the arts in all our children.

Best wishes,

Mr. James Simmons

Headteacher

OLIVER GOLDSMITH PRIMARY SCHOOL

“Inspiring a love of learning”

Tel: 0208 205 6038

020 8205 6800 (Nursery)

Fax: 0208 205 4987

admin@olivergoldsmith.brent.sch.uk

www.olivergoldsmith.brent.sch.uk

@OGPSinspired

THANK

YOU!

Applying for Reception Places to start Sept 2017 Children who wish to start with us in Reception in September 2017 need to apply for a place in the school through the local authority. Children who attend our Nursery DO NOT automatically receive a place, they must apply. We have two more meetings to provide information to prospective parents about our school. The deadline for applications to Brent is 15th January 2017. Applications should be made at www.brent.gov.uk/admissions Library Launch Update Exciting times ahead….Next week our library furniture is being delivered and fitted! We will then be socking the shelves with books before opening the library to children and parents. Watch out in the news-letter for more information!

Autumn Term Learning Adventure…”Creative Chefs”

This half term, everyone at the school will have the chance to use our brand new “Cooking Zone”. Each class will learn about food, recipes and cooking skills so they can create their own personalised dishes! Each class will produce a book to show off their recipes and pho-tographs of their food creations. The book will also have evaluations of the cooking outcomes from all those who tasted! The best recipes, photographs and evaluations will be used to create an OGPS Cook Book that will be sent home to parents. The “Great British Bake Off” might be off our screens but getting creative in the kitchen is alive and kicking at OGPS! As you can see the

“Cooking Zone” is ready for action…. OGPS Christmas Fair

Just like last year, as part of their work on enterprise and leadership, our Year 6 children will be taking the lead in running our Christmas Fair; but they need support from the PSA to help it take place. The Fair will be held on Friday 16th Dec with all children bringing in their donations the day before. Their donations

will mean they will have a non-uniform day on Friday 16th Dec. A letter will be coming out soon with all the details. Please help if you can!

Parent Surveys

The results of our annual parents survey from last year have been shared with parents at the autumn parent forum and with governors. The results are overwhelmingly positive and we thank parents for their continued support. There are always areas to improve on and we will be listening and responding to parents comments. Our first task is to review our Homework Policy and share the update with parents.

We will be uploading survey results and parent comments onto the school website.

Parent Time Suggestions from parents and the changes we have made…

Parents have told us that they cannot always attend Parent Time sessions which take place at 9.00am in the morning. As you will see from the dates to remember on the back page we are starting to hold or repeat “Parent Times” at 3.45-4.45pm to see if this helps more parents to attend. We will also continue to email out presentations and handouts to parents after the sessions as well as upload them onto the website for you to view and download.

Parent Survey Summer Term 2016 Agree % Don't

Know % Disagree %

1. The school has high academic standards 98 2 0

2. The school is helping my child to make good progress 95 2 3

3. The school is meeting my child's needs 94 3 3

4. The school has high standards of behaviour 94 4 2

5. The school expects good attendance and punctuality 100 0 0

6. The school is fair and reasonable in managing behaviour 91 8 1

7. This is a caring school 99 1 0

8. The school values my child's culture and background 95 5 0

9. My child learns about other cultures and backgrounds at school 95 5 0

10. The school provides a safe and secure environment 97 3 0

11. My child enjoys coming to school 100 0 0

12. The school encourages my child to adopt a healthy life-style 94 5 1

13. The school helps if my child has problems at school 93 3 4

14. The school encourages my child to settle into their new class/school 97 3 0

15. I am kept informed about what goes on in school 98 2 0

16. I feel confident about coming to school to talk to staff 100 0 0

17. The school provides helpful information about my child's progress 97 0 3 18. The school seeks the views of parents/carers and takes account of their concerns or suggestions 98 2 0

19. I know enough about what my child is learning 91 2 6

20. The school provides a good curriculum 98 1 1

21. The school provides a good range of extra-curricular clubs 95 4 1

22. My child has enough homework 88 1 11

23. My child is taught well 95 2 3

24. The school cares if my child is not doing as well as he/she can 94 4 2

25. I believe there is effective leadership within the school 95 5 0

26. This school is well managed 94 4 2

27. Overall I am satisfied with my child's education at this school 98 1 1

Dates to Remember... Tues 22nd Nov: Parent Time on Anti-Bully at OGPS, 3.45-4.45pm

Weds 23rd Nov: Parent Time for Nursery & Reception Parents 9.00-9.45am

Mon 28th Nov: Flu Vaccines for Y1, 2 & 3 - Have you returned the letter?

Tues 29th Nov: Y6 at Brent Junior Citizen event

Weds 30th Nov: Information meeting for parents looking to apply to OGPS, 3.45-4.45pm

Fri 2nd Dec: Drop in clinic for Nursery parents who need helping applying for Reception

Weds 7th Dec: Information meeting for parents looking to apply to OGPS, 9.00-10.00am

Fri 9th Dec: Y3 Hanukah Assembly - Y3 Parents invited from 9.00am

Mon 12th Dec: Panto Time at OGPS for N, R, Y1, 2, 4 & 5 (oh no it isn't!...oh yes it is!)

Tues 13th Dec: Parent Time - Maths Workshop on “Challenging for able mathematicians”

Morning session 9.00-10.00am, repeated at 3.45-4.45pm

Thurs 15th Dec: Christmas Fair Donations Day (separate letter will be sent out)

Fri 16th Dec: Non-uniform day & Christmas Jumper Day!

Fri 16th Dec: Y2 Nativity - Y2 Parents invited from 9.00am

Fri 16th Dec: OGPS Christmas Fair PM

Children will be visiting the fair during the afternoon, parents can visit the fair

after school from 3.30pm. The raffle will be drawn at 4.00pm

Mon 19th Dec: Y3 Trip to Millfield Theatre in the afternoon

Tues 19th Dec: Non-uniform day

Tues 19th Dec: Children’s Christmas Music Concert (sorry we don’t have room for parents)

Tues 20th Dec: Christmas Party Afternoon

Weds 21st Dec: End of Autumn Term at 1.30pm

(if you have problems with childcare, please speak to the office)

Spring Term Starts: Wednesday 4th January at 8.50am (Tues 3rd Jan is a staff CPD Day)

Attendance & Term Dates for 2016-17

Autumn Term: 5th Sept to Weds 21st Dec 2016 (5th & 6th Sept as CPD days)

Half term week Monday 24th October to Friday 28th October

Spring Term: 3rd Jan to 31st March 2017 (3rd Jan & 18th April as CPD days)

Half term week Monday 13th February to Friday 17th February

Summer Term: 18th April to 21st July 2017 (2nd May as CPD day)

Half term week Monday 29th May to Friday 2nd June

Once term dates for 2017-18 have been agreed by the Board of Governors ay their

morning on Tuesday 22nd November, they will be shared with parents so you can start

planning a year ahead!

Don’t forget our new website address which is…

www.olivergoldsmith.brent.sch.uk

OLIVER GOLDSMITH PRIMARY SCHOOL

“Inspiring a love of learning” @OGPSinspired