Letters Home

Weekly Updates – 20.1.23
 
Good morning,
Please see below for any updates for the week ahead.
 
In school next week
 
Church all age worship
22^nd January 4pm Saint Andrews Church, starting with refreshments.
Everyone Welcome!

Swimming  
Swimming lessons on Thursday for Palm Class.   
Children will need:  
Swim cap (These can be bought from the swimming baths, please send £1.00 in an envelope labelled with your child’s name)  
One-piece costume for girls and shorts for boys (no baggy board shorts please).  
Towel   
Goggles (optional)  
Long hair tied up  
  
Reading Books  
Just a reminder that Oak and Acorn Class readers need to be returned every Friday please.  
  
Music lessons  
Cedar Class continue their whole class music tuition on Monday
  
Forest School  
Acorn class continue forest school sessions each Friday until half term. Children should wear old, comfortable clothes and wellies or trainers for this along with waterproof trousers and coats.   
 
School visit to Makkah Mosque – Key Stage One
Don't forget to read and confirm your child's attendance on the school visits to the Mosque in Leeds. Payment and the additional voluntary contribution are now live on Parent Pay. The Mosque want to welcome us as their guests and have asked that we do not alter our dress code for the visit, please ensure that children are wearing full, smart school uniform to show respect and to represent the school. If you are bringing a packed lunch from home, please read the visit information letter carefully.
 
Acorn Class
EYFS please can children bring in a photo of themselves as a baby and a picture of their family for some things we are exploring next week!
 
Oak Class History Project
In history, Oak class are learning about holidays in the past and comparing them to today. Our historical enquiry skills have led us to do some research through questioning. We have all written some questions that we would like to ask our parents/grandparents (or both). The children will be bringing these home with them today. We would greatly appreciate if they could ask somebody about these and bring their answers back into school next week (Wednesday morning at the latest).  
 
 
 
Other information:
 
School Administrators
We are delighted to announce we have appointed two new school administrators across the federation. Mrs Paula Phillips and Miss Jessica Tucker and we look forward to welcoming them to our team next week.
Mrs Paula Phillips will be based at our Kirkby site; office hours will be from 8.30am – 1.30pm Monday to Thursday, with Miss Tucker at Kirkby each Friday 8.30am – 1.30pm.
Miss Tucker will be mainly based at our St Nicholas site; office hours 8.30am – 1,30pm Monday to Thursday.
Please bear with the staff as they settle into their new role. A huge thanks to parents for their patience whilst we have undertaken the recruitment process.
 
Young Voices
A letter with details for the day will be coming shortly - 3 weeks to go! Keep practising at home please. A copy of the lyrics is attached in case yours has been misplaced. A few points to note in advance:

• We are part funding the coach costs but we are asking for contributions of £10 per child towards the cost. This is payable via Parent pay in the normal way. 
• We are expecting the tshirt order into school soon - we will check these and then give them out on the day. Children will need to wear smart school uniform. If you haven't ordered a tshirt, children will need a PLAIN white tshirt please. 
• If you have booked a ticket through school, they should be emailed to us in the next week or so. N.B. If you are wanting to park at the arena, you need to book car parking - apparently it sells out. https://www.utilitaarenasheffield.co.uk/latest-news/young-voices
• The concert will begin at 7pm and doors open at 6pm. 

Lyrics 2023 Printable.pdf
Little Ripon Bookshop
To celebrate our golden thread of life long readers, we are looking forward to inviting Gill from The Little Ripon Bookshop into school on the 2^nd February to talk about some new releases and read some extracts for us; this will be followed by a book sale, more details to follow!
 
Settle Stories author visit
On Tuesday 7^th February, as part of our Golden Thread of being lifelong readers there will be an author visit to school.  Sita Brand is a published author and will be reading the whole school a story before holding workshops for KS1 and KS2.  We are so excited to have this opportunity!  Her book, The Dragon's Pearl, will be available to purchase after the workshops - more information to follow when it has been received. 
 
Cedar Class String Project
We would celebrate the String project that is happening in Cedar class this year and share this with the rest of the school and Cedar parents, to give Cedar chance to perform.
Helen Moulds, the string teacher will lead a mini performance during the Monday 6^th February during lesson time, with an introduction to the instruments and short selection of pieces they've learnt so far. This will take place at 2.30pm in the school hall.
 
Drinks bottles
Please can we remind people that drinks bottles are in school everyday. Drinks should be water not juice, bottles need to be drinks bottles rather than sippy cups. Please can we help children to carry bottles rather than add them to book bags as they can leak and ruin books.
 
Outdoor clothing 
Please can children all come to school warmly dressed for outdoor learning, all of our children spend time outside everyday. Children need warm hats, scarfs and gloves as well as a warm waterproof coat.
 
Message from Friends 
Friends of Kirkby Malzeard School will be kicking off this year’s fundraising with Bag2school on Tuesday the 7th of February. Collection from the school bandstand from 9 am on that day. Any donations of clothes, shoes (in pairs with an elastic band), jewellery, bags, belts, curtains, towels, bedding and soft toys will be greatly received. 
We are currently raising funds to buy new books and computers for school.
Thanks for your support!
From all at Friends x
 
Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing Updates 
 
Internet Safety Support for Parents
Finding games for children which are appropriate for their age, which work on the devices the children use and the children will actually enjoy playing can be a minefield, particularly when parents are being bombarded with the 'but everyone else is playing this game' guilt trip. Game Finder is a new (free) service available from Taming Gaming which walks parents through various aspects, such as how old is your child? What devices do they have? What types of games do they like to play? And then gives a list of recommendations of suitable games. You can find Game Finder HERE. This can also be used to search games that you have heard your child(ren) mention to check if they are suitable.
 
Back to School – 5 things to do to beat winter illness
UKHSA publishes ‘Back to school – 5 things to do to help manage winter illness’ – https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2023/01/05/back-to-school-5-things-to-do-to-help-manage-winter-illness/
 
Find some of the simple actions that parents of school-age children can take to help protect their families and those around them against winter illnesses currently circulating.
Hair 
Please ensure all long hair is tied up in school using a school appropriate hair band.
 
Have a wonderful weekend