Dear Parents and Carers,
What a wonderfully busy week it has been here at school!
I hope, once again, that you've managed to stay cool this week.
As I sit here writing this week's update, we have just waved off our Year 3 children on their trip to Bristol Zoo. They headed off full of smiles, armed with extra water, and plenty of excitement for the day ahead. We're looking forward to hearing all about their adventures and seeing what they've discovered when they return.
The highlight of this week was certainly one of the most anticipated events in the Year 6 calendar - the Year 6 production of What's the Crime? Mr. Wolf . The children were exceptional, growing in confidence with every performance, raising their energy levels and projecting their voices more and more each night.
Every member of Year 6 played an important part in making the production such a success. From Mr. Wolf and the wolf cubs to the judge, from the squirrels to the pigs, from the foxes to the birds, from Red Riding Hood, to our crucial, dedicated backstage team. Every role contributed to a truly memorable performance.
The children should be incredibly proud of themselves. They have not only entertained us all but have also created memories that will stay with them for years to come.
We ended this week with an assembly from the School Council - written by them and performed by them. These young leaders asked if they could lead an assembly for the rest of the school, passing the baton to their peers by sharing the important role that they have played throughout the year and encouraging others to stand for the School Council in the new academic year.
The assembly ended with some inspiring words from one of the group: "An idea starts with someone putting themselves forward." What a powerful message to leave with the rest of the school. Mrs. Briggs will look forward to seeing who will become the next School Council following in their footsteps.
About a month ago, I wrote to you to let you know that, from September, our school will be joining the Cheltenham-wide Smartphone Free campaign across Key Stages 1, 2 and 3.
As both a headteacher and a parent to a 10-year-old who will be in Year 6 in September, I completely understand that this can feel like a difficult decision. Like many of you, I am balancing the evidence around the impact of smartphones on young children with the desire to help my son feel safe and independent. I've been exploring alternatives, from an AirTag to devices that look like smartphones but only allow children to call and text. There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, and I know these conversations aren't always easy. As parents, we often have to make decisions based on what our children need, rather than what they want. Being able to explain the why behind those decisions can make those conversations a little easier.
Over the coming months, we'll be sharing resources and practical advice on our website as we navigate this journey together. I'll also be introducing the campaign to the children in Monday's assembly (13th July) so they understand why we're taking this step and the positive difference we hope it will make to their well-being.
In the meantime, I came across this article https://www.wired.com/story/this-buried-apple-feature-turns-an-iphone-into-the-perfect-kids-dumb-phone/ which explains that Apple has a little-known accessibility feature called Assistive Access that can effectively turn an iPhone into a simple, child-friendly phone. Although Apple originally designed it for people with cognitive disabilities, the author argues it also works extremely well for parents who want their child to have the safety benefits of a smartphone without unrestricted internet access. I hope you find it useful. I will be testing it out with an old iPhone myself over the summer and will let you know how I get on. If it proves to be as effective as the article suggests, it could be a really useful option for families looking to introduce a phone in a more gradual and manageable way.
We will be heading into the final week of this academic year with pride in all that has been achieved and excitement for the days ahead.
With temperatures set to remain high, we would like all children to come to school in their PE kit again for the final week of term. Please ensure they wear trainers and bring a sun hat, a named bottle of water, and have sun cream applied before they come to school.
Next week, rather than my usual weekly update, you will receive our end-of-year newsletter, sharing our final news before the holidays.
That just leaves me to say - have a wonderful weekend, whatever you have planned. We look forward to seeing you all next week for our final week of term!
Warmest wishes,
Mrs. Beccy Andrews