Message from Mr Oldfield
Dear Parents & Carers
Artistic Talents
This week saw our budding artists in Year 3 and 4 working with the talented artist Liz Hunter, who again brought a welcome day of creativity to the school. With the weather on our side the children were able to work outside in the woodland area shade and fresh air, bringing a lovely element to the experience.
Our arts calendar reaches its peak next week as we ready for ‘Arts Week’ at Christ Church School. Organised and led by our Arts leader, Mrs Williamson, the whole school will be immersed in a menu of visual arts from clay work to textiles and we are looking forward to both the learning, the fun and seeing the children’s wonderful pieces of art displayed around the school. This has only been possible due to your generous contribution to our voluntary fund – thank you. Please can we request that all children bring an oversized t-shirt or shirt to school that they can access throughout the week.
Musical Talents
With such a rich resource on our doorstep, we are again lucky to be visiting the Bristol Beacon with some of our years 4, 5 & 6 musicians, where they have an opportunity to work alongside other musicians to play together. Well done children for taking part.
Moderation
This year, Bristol Education Authority selected Christ Church School as part of the statutory writing moderation at year 6. This process is a shared evaluation of our assessment judgements of the quality of the children’s writing. The day showed that our children have made fantastic progress from their starting points and although for many of our children, this aspect of their education is extremely challenging, we are proud of how far they have come.
Between the four adults involved, we hold over one hundred years of teaching experience and yet were still stunned by some of the quality of the writing, illustrated below:
A long time ago, bees buzzed under the cerulean sky, chaotically pollinating ornate flowers before darting back to their hive- so unlike the mechanical whirring and droning that bored him to death.
A long time ago vegetation stretched to the horizon beneath the blazing sun, it’s scorching beams shining regally over the paradise. Now clusters of dust, debris and shards of discarded, rusted metal were dotted along the buckled pavement.
By Ted, year 6 extract from narrative writing inspired by the book Varmints, by Helen Ward
Nearly five years had gone by since Alma’s peculiar disappearance. It was a warm, Autumn day, a short, stubby girl trotted through the city with an immense grin on her face, her fire-red hair bouncing up and down, washed out jade eyes gleaming with delight like a candle. Two hours had vanished in what felt like two seconds; a long day f chasing birds, splashing her feet in the cool ocean and wandering past bright markets and welcoming restaurants. Emma jubilantly skipped along the cobbled streets; crimson leaves floated peacefully from scarlet red trees.
By Eva, year 6 extract from narrative writing inspired by the short film Alma.
MTC
We would like to congratulate our year 4 children on completing the national Multiplication and Tables Check (MTC). This important benchmark in their mathematical understanding enables us to continue to support all children to both develop, recall and apply the underpinning knowledge and skills of multiplication and division, something that forms a part of their mathematical confidence in future.
MAT
Following the recent letter from our Chair of Governors, Charlotte Withers sharing the decision of the Governing Body to remain, for the foreseeable future a Single Academy Trust, I would like to sincerely thank our Governors for their diligent and committed work over the past year. Together we have spent many hours researching, evaluating and deliberating over this decision and the journey has provided us with a deeper understanding of how we must navigate such a challenging and concerning financial landscape in UK education at present.
We are optimistic and pragmatic about the future of Christ Church School and remain utterly determined to maintain the excellent provision that Christ Church School has worked so hard to attain. It is true that there are some hard decisions to be made in the coming months and years, but with your support and our dedicated staff team, I look forward to the future with our collective ambitious optimism.
Notices
Recruitment
I am happy to report that we have successfully recruited a new Finance and HR Manager to our team, as we approach the time when Mrs Herbert will retire from her wonderful long service to our school. I will soon introduce Mrs Herbert’s successor to the position but would also like to inform you that we have extended the recruitment for a school Receptionist. Often, we are able to welcome new colleagues from our parent and carer community and therefore, if this is a role that you would be interested in, please do contact us for any further information that we will be happy to provide - please see article below.
Bikes and Scooters
We have recently noticed an increase in children riding bikes and scooters in the playground at morning arrival and pick-up time. Please remind the children that they must dismount and walk their bikes/scooters when anywhere on the premises, your ongoing reminders and support allows us to ensure our school site is safe for all.
Sports Day
We are looking forward to our whole school Sports Day in 2 weeks time - Friday 4th July, all welcome to watch at the Clifton College New Fields. We will be communicating details next week. A small request - if anyone has any hessian sacks that might be suitable for the 'sack race' we would appreciate if you could contact the school office.
Weather
We currently have weather warnings due to the heat in place from the Met office and are therefore putting measures in place to provide more shade, reduce time outside at the hottest part of the day and monitor carefully the children’s well-being.
As always, we encourage the children to come to school with sun-screen applied, sun hats and plenty of water – thank you.
Another warm weekend awaits and I hope that you all enjoy a well-earned break ahead.
Warmest wishes
Mark Oldfield
Headteacher