Article 15
You have the right to choose your own friends and join or set up groups, as long as it isn’t harmful to others.
Attendance Winners October
Well done to Yr 2JC class, who won the attendance award for October with an amazing 98.09% attendance! They can wear their own clothes to school on Friday 10th November!
Black History Month
During October as a school we have been celebrating Black History Month. The theme this year was 'Celebrating Our Sisters' which focused on raising awareness of the contributions and achievements of women from African or Caribbean heritage. Throughout the month, the children have learnt about various famous figures across the curriculum, and to conclude our learning we held a celebration parade on Thursday 26th October. The children created posters, pictures, facts, artwork etc. to share with the other classes. The children have really enjoyed learning about Black History Here is what the children said:
Miss Cleeton
Reception:
Eden : "We have made a big bus for Rosa Parks to go on."
Jude: "Rosa Parks sat on the bus and a man wanted her seat. She said no, Rosa went to prison because of her skin colour."
Year 1MC:
Finnley P: "We listened to black singers like Bob Marley, and his song made me feel happy."
Aiden: "We learnt about Dame Elizabeth. Her Dad was from Nigeria and the middle of the flag means peace."
Year 1JB:
Seb: "We've been learning about Marcus Rashford. He is a footballer who doesn't want children to be hungry."
Aubree: "We've been learning about Marcus Rashford. He is a role model. We've been learning about how we are all equal and should all be friendly."
Year 2JC:
Tilly-Mai: "We have learnt about Mae Jemison and I have been looking in my 'Space' book at home."
Eason: "I have enjoyed the stories every day."
Year 2BW:
Lilah: “Learning about Mae Jemison was really fun. She was the first black female astronaut.”
James: “She was a dancer, then a doctor and then she became an astronaut. She is amazing!”
Year 3/4JC:
Halle: "I enjoyed learning about Mary Seacole because I didn't know much about her before but now I know lots of facts about her. I also learned about Mary Prince and the slave trade as part of our Victorians topic. I also didn't realise how badly some black people in history had been treated."
Isla: "I liked learning about Black History Month because I learnt about lots of people I didn't know about and I liked doing about Mary Seacole because I got to write down lots of information."
Evie: "I enjoyed Black History Month because we got to write about some people I didn't know about before."
Year 3/4DD:
Mya: "Black History Month is great because we get to learn about famous people who have done great things. We learned about Mary Seacole who saved many soldiers during the Crimean war in 1855."
Jenson: "We have been learning about a famous artist called Sonia Boyce. I enjoyed recreating her Devotional wallpaper."
Eesha: "I enjoyed learning about Sonia Boyce. She is a British artist with family from the Caribbean. Her artwork is about identity and we created our own pieces of devotional art."
Abel: "I enjoyed Black History month because we have been able to learn about different types of art and lots of new people like Sonia Boyce, Alma Thomas and Mary Seacole."
Year 3/4MC:
Abel C : “It was really interesting to learn about Mary Seacole. I hadn't heard from her before. She was really brave to help the soldiers during the Crimea War.”
Everly F: “I enjoyed looking at the work of Sonia Boyce. and Alma Thomas I learnt about how we can represent our identity through Art.”
Year 5/6MB:
Charlie: "I enjoyed learning about Black History Month. We joined an online livestream with a famous author: we found out that she wrote four Black history books for children from her spare bedroom."
Violet: "I found it interesting that in Science, there are many black people who have accomplished things in different areas of life. In the live stream, we found out that Kandace (the author) didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer. She was disappointed by the lack of diversity in children’s books, particularly in Black history, so she set up her own one-woman publishing house!"
Year 5/6HO:
Harry J: "I enjoyed doing the factfile about the black scientist. I did Jane Cooke Wright. She was a chemist who helped develop chemotherapy to treat cancer."
Maisie D: "I learnt that Black History Month is different months in different countries and we learnt about celebrating sisterhood."
Year 5/6AR
Jacob: "I really enjoyed learning about Lewis Latimer the scientist who helped invent the lightbulb."
Ruby: "Black history month was very fun. I liked looking at other children's work in the parade."
Sports Heritage Week
National Sporting Heritage week has given the children the chance to celebrate our local sporting history and the heritage of sport within our community through a number of events in school.
The children at Blanford Mere have celebrated the history of sport in our local area through a research project along with a karate experience delivered Bonsai Karate Academy - a local sporting club. It has given our children the opportunity to explore the unique history of well known venues in the local area. They have researched the history of these landmarks improving their knowledge and increasing their sense of local pride.
Half termly PE competition
As part of our PE curriculum, all classes take part in a half termly competition based on the topic they have been focusing on. This challenges them to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills in a competitive situation, which contributes to their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social learning. The children showed enthusiasm and competed to the best of their ability. The lucky winners are as follows:
Year 1
1st - Stourbridge Stars
Joint 2nd - Wordsley Warriors & Kingswinford Kickers
3rd - Dudley Gladiators
Competition: Running skills
2 BW
1st - Stourbridge Stars (W2 L1) - won 1st place play off
2nd - Dudley Gladiators (W2 L1) - lost 1st place play off
3rd - Wordsley Warriors (W1 D1 L1)
4th - Kingswinford Kickers (D1 L2)
2JC
1st - Stourbridge Stars
2nd - Wordsley Warriors
3rd - Kingswinford Kickers
4th - Dudley Gladiators
Competition: Dodgeball
3/4 JC
1st - Wordsley Warriors
2nd - Stourbridge Stars
3rd - Dudley Gladiators
4th - Kingswinford Kickers
3/4 MC
1st - Dudley Gladiators
2nd - Kingswinford Kickers
3rd - Wordsley Warriors
4th - Stourbridge Stars
3/4 DD
1st - Wordsley Warriors
2nd - Dudley Gladiators
3rd - Kingswinford Kickers
4th - Stourbridge Stars
Competition: Tag Rugby
5/6AR
1st - Dudley Gladiators
2nd - Wordsley Warriors
3rd - Kingswinford Kickers
4th - Stourbridge Stars
5/6MB
1st - Stourbridge Stars
2nd - Kingswinford Kickers
3rd - Dudley Gladiators
4th - Wordsley Warriors
5/6HO
1st - Wordsley Warriors
2nd - Stourbridge Stars
3rd - Kingswinford
4th - Dudley Gladiators
Competition: Handball
Poppy Appeal 2023
We are supporting the ‘Poppy Appeal again this year by selling poppies and other related goods such as bracelets, key rings, rulers, pencils etc (priced at either 50p, £1 or £1.50). Mrs Needle will bring the goods around to classes for the children to purchase.
Secondary Transfer
Many of our Year 6 children and their parents are busy trying to decide on a local secondary school to help them complete their application forms. As we know because of Coronavirus many schools are offering virtual tours. Please contact the local secondary school or check their website for more information.
Can I remind parents that, if you live in Dudley Borough, the closing date for applications this year is 31st October 2023 (during the half term holiday). It is really important that this deadline is met; failure to do so will jeopardise your preferences for your child. Please click on the link below for more information.
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/learning-and-school/school-information/school-admissions/
Primary Reception Intake
In Dudley children start primary school the September after their 4th birthday. The law states all children must start school by the beginning of the term after their 5th birthday.
Please click on the link below for more information on how to apply:
Important dates for Reception Intake 2024
- Online application available - 1 October 2023
- Return date for paper application forms - 15 January 2024 by 5pm*
- Return date for online applications - 15 January 2024 by midnight*
- Decision emails to parents - 16 April 2024 after 2pm
- Decision letters to parents - 16 April 2024 by 2nd class post
- Appeals to be heard - June/July 2024
* Failure to return your form/apply by this date may affect the outcome of your application.
Attendance at a nursery attached to a primary school will not guarantee admission to that particular primary school or give any advantage to the pupil in the admissions process.
Forthcoming Dates
Monday 6th November.
Back to school – All children from Years 1 -6 to wear winter uniform. White shirt/tie, jumper/cardigan, grey trousers/skirt/pinafore (NOT BLACK). Black/plain/not patterned or fashion boots or shoes, grey or white socks or tights. Children are able to come to school in wet/snowy weather in their wellington boots and change into their pumps or school shoes. Thank you for your support.
Wednesday 8th November – Diwali Celebrations, On Wednesday 8th November 2023, the whole school from Nursery to Year 6 will be learning about and celebrating Diwali.
Please send your child in traditional Diwali clothing or in brightly coloured clothing. Please no football tops.
The children will learn about the origins of Diwali and will take part in a variety of cross curricular activities. These activities may be messy! So please bare this in mind with clothing.
The children will also take part in food tasting. If you do not want your child to try some the food, please write a note in your child's planner.
We are really looking forward to this day in school and it will be a great whole school event.
Kind regards
Miss Barclay.
Friday 10th November – Remembrance Day in school. Children who attend Cubs, Rainbows, Beavers, Brownies, etc can come dressed in their uniform.
Monday 13th November – Odd Socks Day and World Kindness Day
Odd Socks Day. What is it?
Anti-bullying week 2023
This year's theme is 'Make A Noise About Bullying' and will take place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th November. The week will be kicked off with Odd Socks Day on Monday 13th November, where adults and children wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.
Please send your child to school in their normal school uniform and odd socks on Monday 13th November. This is always a fun way to kick-start our focus week so please join in!
I am sure that you have read in our planners the definition of bullying. We refer to this in school with the children as STOP - Several Times On Purpose.
For more information you can visit the following websites:
https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week/odd-socks-day
Thinkuknow
Childline
https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/Odd socks day
Tuesday 14th November – 3.30pm and 5.15pm. Year 6 Parent SATs meeting. Email sent to parents with the information.
Wednesday 15th November – Bully 4 U workshop – Yr 3
Friday 17th November – Children In Need. Children to wear own clothes and donate £1 via School Money.
Tuesday 28th November – Blanford Babies – The Hub – 9am-10am
Thursday 30th November – Yr 1 – Yr 6. Church rehearsal and live stream. More details to follow
Thursday 30th November – Film Night. 3.15pm-5.15pm. More details to follow.
Thursday 7th December – Year 1 - Year 6 Christmas Church Service. More details to follow.
Friday 8th December – Christmas Jumper Day. Wear a Christmas Jumper and donate £1 to Save the Children.
Friday 8th December – Christmas Breakfast – Year 1 – Year 6 only. More details to follow.
Thursday 14th December – Nursery/Reception Christmas Workshop and Singalong. More details to follow.
Tuesday 19th December – Blanford Babies – The Hub – 9am-10am
Tuesday 19th December – Christmas Lunch
Wednesday 20th December – Santa’s Grotto. More details to follow.
Friday 22nd December – School closes for Christmas Break.
Monday 8th January 2024 – Children return to school at the usual time.
We hope you have a restful half term.
Mrs Crook and Miss Stanton
