Christmas Tree Festival

Here is Earlsdon's entry for the Christmas Tree Festival at the local Methodist Church. A big thank you to Nikki, Paula and their children who organised the school's entry. This is the 9th year that they have taken on this job and although we didn't win this year the children have great fun making the decorations.

An Evening of Carols

Our annual family carol singing evening with mulled wine and mince pies raised an amazing £170 for the charity Shelter.

Everyone enjoyed singing the carols together. The children sang Away in a Manger and the choir sang for us too.

A big thank you to Mr Hook who plays the piano and leads the singing and to the staff who prepared and served the mulled wine, soft drinks and mince pies.

SCHOOL HEALTH AND SAFETY AUDIT

Our School’s Health and Safety procedures and policy were audited by the Local Authority in September 2009. We are pleased with the outcomes, which show that of the areas for us to work on are to do with paperwork.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AUDIT MAIN CONCLUSIONS SEPTEMBER 2009

• The school is demonstrating good health and safety management and performance.
• Staff are aware of the school’s health and safety policy and appeared to appreciate that good health and safety within the school is the responsibility of everyone.
• Ways in and out of school are satisfactory and the general standard of housekeeping is good.
• The school is performing well in higher risk areas of fire, asbestos management and water hygiene management (Legionella)

We will be updating some of our policies and other paperwork in relation to the other recommendations of the audit report. Anyone wishing to read the complete audit document please contact the school office.

Audit prepared by:

COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL CHILDREN, LEARNING AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM

Click here for a print version (PDF 36KB)

Beauty in the Disregard-shed
Lorsen Camps

These pictures from the exhibition were taken by the artist.

Holidays in Term Time Leaflet (PDF - 54KB)

Thinking of taking holidays in term time?

Please read the leaflet produced by the City Council.

The governors have adopted the new City Council policy about taking holidays in term time. As a result we have a new form to fill in when requesting time out of school for holidays. You can download the form the website or collect one from the school office.

1. Fill it in and return to the office.

2. You need to hand your form in at least 2 weeks before the holiday.

3. Your request will then be considered.

4. We will respond to your request within 5 school days.

Further information is available on the website under 'Holidays in Term Time' or in the policy area, or from the school office.

Mig Kerr

Earlsdon Primary School is very sad to be losing one of its long-serving governors this term. Mig Kerr joined the governing body at Earlsdon in 1998 as a parent governor. She became the Chair of Governors in  2002 and played a huge role in establishing the school’s strategic plan and successfully appointed Mrs Roberts as Headteacher in 2004.

As Chair of Governors, Mig has been very supportive of the school and is always a source of reliable, well thought-out advice. She chaired the governing body with insight and good sense, and under her leadership the governors were judged to be ‘Outstanding’ at the school’s last Ofsted inspection.

After resigning as Chair in 2007, Mig continued in the role of community governor and not only contributed to the governing body but also supported the school in developing its new and exciting creative curriculum.

Mig will be greatly missed by our school; her contribution and support have been greatly valued over the last 11 years and we would like to thank her publicly for all her efforts on our behalf.

Mig writes “People often wonder what governors actually do as they don’t often stand up and shout about their work.  Essentially a governing body supports the school leadership team, provides a strategic vision for the school and makes sure that that is put into place.  Like the structure of a building, you don’t always see it, but it’s really necessary as the foundation of everything the school does.  As a governor you are in the privileged position of being able to get to know the school and the people in it really well, and to contribute to shaping its direction.

It has been a pleasure to serve as a governor at Earlsdon School.  I have felt welcomed by staff and children alike and have enjoyed a very good working relationship with Mrs Roberts and the rest of the leadership team, as well as the many other governors with whom I have worked over the last 11 years.  It has been particularly exciting to see the school develop its creative curriculum and I wish everyone – children, staff and governors - all the best for the future.”

People often wonder what governors actually do, as they rarely stand up and shout about it.  I often say that their work is like the structure of a building: you don’t see it but if it wasn’t there, everything would fall apart.

Newspaper Day

On Tuesday 23rd June, Eve Castledine, Kate Maddison, Suliman Pizarda and George Hunt went to Finham Park Secondary school for the day. When we got there some students showed us around the school so we knew where we were going. We then thought of some questions to ask a Police man called Constable Tie. Then we had break time. Then we interviewed someone from the Coventry Telegraph. Finally, we had to write and take pictures so we could start our newspaper. When we were really hungry we had lunch on the field with everyone else. Then when we finished our articles we gave them to the editing people to make sure the were perfect. At the end of the day we came back to school in a taxi.

We had a really interesting and exciting day when we went to London to receive our Supporters Award from the RNLI.

For one of our children it was their first experience of a train journey. We were surprised to find out that there were lifeboats on the River Thames when we visited Tower Bridge Lifeboat Station. While we were there we had the opportunity to talk to some of the people who operated the life boat.

Then we travelled to the Barbican Centre where we met lots of other RNLI supporters and had our lunch. Everyone was very nervous waiting to go on to the stage to receive the award from The Duke of Kent - and then it was all over in a flash!

What a fantastic day, if only everyone could have come.

Mrs Roberts

RNLI Award Ceremony

We all arrived early at the train station last Thursday, where we got on the train. An hour later in London we met Judith who visits school regularly. We got to see the RNLI station, it was on the River Thames so sometimes you had to clutch onto something! Afterwards we had dinner it was chicken and pasta. Delicious! Next it was the Award Ceremony where we had to collect the trophy. Backstage we were all really jittery. We couldn’t see the film of Pirate Day, however we did get to walk on a red carpet, shake hands with the Duke of Kent and finally get our trophy! We had some refreshments and caught the train home. Thank you Mrs Roberts and Mrs Forse for taking us!

Heidi Lloyd-Jones, 5G.

On Thursday 14th May me Heidi and Jack-DC went to London by train and it took an hour when we got there we went to the Lifeboat Station and took a look around and we saw the boats then we went to the Barbican and we ate lunch we had pasta and chicken, for desert we had chocolate and lime mousse with short bread biscuits. Then we went to collect the award from the Duke of Kent we went back stage then we had to walk on the red carpet in front of a crowd, then we had tea and biscuits then we went home we got back about 6.30. This has been the best day of my life thanks to Earlsdon Primary School.

Aneekha Kaur, 5G.

Due to the amount of money and support our school has given to the RNLI,  I was one of the pupils chosen to receive an award from the Duke of Kent.

We set off at 8.30am to London and we took a trip to an RNLI Lifeboat Station on the River Thames. They showed us all of the suits and equipment they wear to save lives.
 

We went to the Barbican by tube and on the way Mrs Roberts taught me how to play Sudoku.

At the Barbican we had a very tasty dinner and we met lots of nice people who also got awards.

We had to go into a big room with a stage and when our names were called we were very, very nervous. It was decided that I took the award from the Duke of Kent and had to walk off with it.

The Duke of Kent was very tall and had a very deep voice. We walked off stage and I felt still very nervous but very proud.

We watched some videos of rescues by the RNLI and then we got back on the train to come home.

It was a very long day but I had lots of fun and enjoyed it a lot. I was glad I was chosen and I will remember it for a very long time.

It made me feel very proud of my school and I will always support the RNLI because they do far more than people think.

Jack Dickson-Carvell, 5H.

Office Development

Good news. The end is in sight. The builders should be finished before Christmas, it has taken somewhat longer than first planned. Thank you for patience during this term we know it has been difficult but it will make such a difference to our school when the work is finally finished.

Here are a few pictures of the work in progress.

Earlsdon Fun Run – Fade to Grey

Me and my dad went to the fun run on Sunday. It was raining bit still fun. It started at 11a.m. we ran 1 mile around Earlsdon in a circuit. After the fun run we were allowed to go home to have a shower and a rest. Then there was a party at the Albany Club and you could have your nails done, and your face painted. There were also belly dancers. It was good to support age concern that helps older people.
Year 3

Office/Reception Development

September 08

Here are some architect’s drawings of the new extension to school. We are  waiting for delivery of the appropriate steel framework for building to recommence. We are expecting that the office/extension will be ‘knocked through’ in the half term holiday and then the exterior can be completed.

Click these links to view the plans:

Earlsdon 1 >>

Earlsdon 2 >>

Health week

At Earlsdon we celebrate Health Week each year and children in all age groups enjoy a range of activities designed to promote healthy lifestyles and staying safe. Children participate in inter-house sporting competitions and go rambling to the Memorial Park for picnics.

• Assemblies this week are always themed appropriately and this year the RNLI talked to children about water safety and followed up their assembly with a workshop for children in Year 5.  The Leamington Canoe Society also presented an assembly encouraging pupils to take to the water (safely)during the summer holidays.

• A Healthy Start to the Day - Healthy Breakfast is a tradition for Health Week. Children and parents can enjoy a feast of cereals, fruit and toast, washed down with fruit juice and served by staff members. It is always a very enjoyable occasion.

• Sleeping Out - During the week children in year 5 stay overnight at Rough Close, where they have the opportunity to eat sausages, enjoy games and challenges as well as sing songs around the camp fire.

• Competitions and fund raising - This year pupils were asked to design a t-shirt for Health week and a winner was chosen from each year group. The overall winner was from Year 5 and her design was printed and then sold to staff and pupils.

• Fundraising - We have accepted a challenge from Barnardos' charity. Children are sponsored to live and record a healthy lifestyle for 1 week  and to complete some related puzzles and quizzes. The money raised will go to the children's charity and someone in school will win a beautiful teddy for taking part.