https://www.alexandraprimaryschool.co.uk 4th October 2024 Issue No. 2
Message from the Headteacher
We have had a busy two weeks since the last newsletter, with many wonderful activities and achievements which you can read about below. The children have shown great enthusiasm in applying for our pupil leadership roles including school council, maths champions, eco warriors, reading & inclusion ambassadors and playground champions. It is fantastic to see pupils taking on new challenges to benefit the school community and beyond.
This week, we celebrated the launch of Black History Month which brings our community together in celebration of Black history and culture. We are looking forward to our upcoming International Evening on Friday 11th October and I hope to see many of our families at the event. Thank you in advance to all the parents and volunteers who contribute to making the evening a success by bringing food to share. As always, your involvement is invaluable.
What's been happening this week?
Our Black History Month Launch Assembly
We have started celebrating Black History Month! This year’s theme of “Reclaiming Narratives” shines a brighter light on authentic black stories, while correcting inaccurate narratives of black history and culture. Throughout this month we will focus on giving children the opportunity to learn stories about true black heroes, their contributions to society and their achievements in the UK and around the world.
Black History Month Events in Haringey
There are lots of events happening around Haringey that you may wish to participate in, please click the QR code to find out more.
National Poetry Day
To celebrate National Poetry Day, we invited Paul Lyalls in to perform some of his poems including a poem he has written about our school. Imagine that - we have our very own school poem! Paul also left us with presents - a book of his wonderful poems for each class. On National Poetry Day, we explored some of Paul’s poems ourselves and wrote our own. Each class also learnt some lines of our school poem in order to make a whole school video performance.
Coding Club
Our new Computing Lead, Mr Smyth, has introduced a coding club to our range of extracurricular activities. At Coding Club, children have been learning to use Scratch - a coding platform that allows students to create their own interactive stories, games and animations. They have been learning to change backgrounds and animate how different characters move around the screen.
This club offers children a chance to develop their coding skills, engage in problem-solving, and explore the world of technology in a fun, hands-on environment.
Nina Simone
This month we are learning about Nina Simone as she is our musician of the month. Nina Simone was an influential American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Her powerful voice and soulful performances brought together jazz, blues, and gospel, making her a well known figure in music history.
Who will be next month's musician?
Pupil Leadership
Congratulations to our new playground champions in Year 6! The pupils applied for their new role and wrote eloquently about what character traits they have that make them perfect for the role.
Year 2 Great Fire of London Experience
On Monday, Year 2 went back in time to 1666 when the Great Fire of London took place. We got to build London, make 'gunpowder', act out the story and handle artefacts from the time. We really were immersed in the experience. What a fabulous day!
International evening
We invite you to bring a dish from your culture to share with others as we celebrate the rich diversity of our school during our upcoming International Evening. This is a fantastic opportunity to come together, enjoy delicious food from around the world and learn more about each other's cultures.
Date: Friday 11th Oct
Time: 3:30-5:00
Location: Alexandra Primary School
Please bring a labelled dish to share!
(If possible, include a list of ingredients for those with allergies)
We look forward to seeing you there.
Welcome in Wednesday
This week, our Mental Health Practitioner hosted our Welcome In Wednesday parent coffee morning. The session focused on supporting children who may be experiencing challenges with worries, behaviour, anger, friendships, low mood, or other emotional concerns. Several parents attended the session in our school house and shared that they found it very helpful.
Place one hand on your stomach and practice belly breathing. Breath in through your nose for 4 counts, hold for 2 and exhale through your mouth for 4 counts. This technique helps to reduce stress and create a sense of calm.
Place your palms together and press them firmly against each other. Count to 10, feeling the tension in your muscles and then gently release. This simple technique can help calm the mind and body, offering a quick reset during moments of stress or anxiety.
Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste or imagine tasting. This grounding technique helps manage anxiety by focusing on your senses. The exercise helps bring your attention to the present moment.
The Zones of Regulation is a framework that helps identify and manage emotions by categorising them into four coloured zones. This helps to recognise your feelings, determine which zone you are in and use strategies to return to the green zone for optimal learning and emotional balance.
Parent Coffee Mornings
Join us for one of our coffee mornings, where you can enjoy free tea, coffee, and biscuits! These events are held monthly, each with a different theme, so please check the newsletter for more details. We look forward to seeing you there!
This term the sessions include:
Wednesday 13th November - 'Emotion Coaching' run by our Educational Psychologist
Wednesday 27th November - 'How to Support Your Child in Maths' run by our Maths Lead, Ms Philippa Kennedy
Attendance
At the end of last week, the whole school attendance for Years 1-6 was 93.80%
Well done to the following classes for having the best Attendance:
EYFS – Panama 95.22%
KS1 – Cuba – 98.72%
LKS1 – Argentina - 97.98%
UKS2 – El Salvador – 97.12%
Our EWO, Karen Skerritt
We are pleased to introduce our new Educational Welfare Officer (EWO), Karen Skerritt. Karen will be available in school to answer any questions from 1:30 to 3:00 PM on the day of our parents' evening - Thursday 24th Oct.
This is a great opportunity to speak with her regarding any concerns or queries you may have.
Our school Attendance Team
What's on
Friday 11th October: International Evening 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Thursday 10th October: World Mental Health Day
14th - 18th October: Y6 to Pendarren Residential Trip
14th - 18th October: Recycling Week
Friday 18th October: Show Racism the Red Card - Children to wear Red to school
Thursday 24th Oct: Parents evening 1:40 – 6:30 pm
