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Regents Park Community Primary School
Believe in Yourself - Anything is Possible!
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Dear Parents/ Carers,
As I said yesterday, it is likely that we will not be able to hold the Summer Fayre in the playground tomorrow due to heavy rain that is forecast for most of the day. We are planning to move as much as possible indoors so that the Summer Fayre can still go ahead.
However, we are not able to accommodate all our parents and families at one time so we asked for you to choose a timeslot on a first come, first served basis by completing of form online.
When it closed at lunchtime we had had 168 responses with nearly 75% of them asking for 1.00pm. As I've said, for health & safety reasons, we have not been able to give everyone their first choice so some people will be disappointed but I hope everyone will understand.
We won't be sending out tickets at this late stage but, if you completed the form, you should now have been sent by text a time to arrive at school. Please only arrive for the Summer Fayre at this time - unfortunately, you won't be able to come in earlier.
Due to a lack of space, we won't be able to accommodate pushchairs inside and we won't be able to leave them under the canopy if it is raining so please try to leave them at home or make sure they can be covered outside if it's raining.
To be fair to all parents and families, the timeslots are only 40 minutes long. We will need you to leave when your timeslot finishes so other parents can attend. You may take your children with you when you leave.
I hope you will help support is with these arrangements tomorrow so that it can still be a fun afternoon for everyone.
Thanks
Mr Beale
Dear Parents,
We have been looking forward to inviting parents and families into school for our annual Summer Fayre this Friday 14th July from 1.00pm. We have held this event a number of times and have always been lucky with the weather.
Unfortunately, looking at the weather forecast for Friday, there is a possibility of heavy rain on Friday afternoon when we have planned the Summer Fayre to take place.
We have been looking at alternative arrangements, including bringing as much as possible of the Summer Fayre indoors on Friday. However, for health and safety reasons, we do not have the space indoors to accomodate lots of parents and families all at the same time.
We will make a decision on Friday morning about whether to move the Summer Fayre indoors. However, to help us plan for bad weather and prevent large numbers of people all arriving at the same time, we are going to organise a ticket system and ask that you arrive at different times through the afternoon.
Please complete the online form to indicate
Tickets will be issued on a first come, first served basis so please indicate your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice. You will still be able to collect your children when you arrive and leave you have finished at the Fayre.
The link to complete the form is here: https://forms.office.com/e/9daQbhXZLh
Thank you for your co-operation,
Mr Beale
Dear Parents/ Carers,
It is with some sadness that I am letting you know that Mrs Stephens will be retiring this Summer. Mrs Stephens has worked at Regents Park for nearly 47 years! Almost all of our parents will know Mrs Stephens if their children have come through school from our Nursery or if they themselves were at Regents Park as children in the last 47 years!
I'm sure that many parents would like to see Mrs Stephens before she retires to thank her for her service to the local community and the families of Regents Park over the years.
As such, we are organising a Coffee & Cake morning in school on Monday 17th July from 9.45am when you are welcome to pop in and give your best wishes to Mrs Stephens in person.
If you know of any other parents (current or former) who would like to come in and see Mrs Stephens, please feel free to let them know. We'd like to invite you to attend at any time between 9.45am and 11.00am.. If you are able to contact the school office by this Friday to let us know that you or anyone else you know will be attending, that will help us with organising refreshments.
We hope to see lots of parents joining us on Monday.
Thank you,
Mr Beale
Dear Parents/ Carers,
I'm pleased to let you know about the Parents' Evening we are organising on Wednesday 12th July from 3.15 - 5.45pm.
This is the last parents' evening for this academic year and is an opportunity for you to talk about your child's progress and their report if you would like to.
As before, parents will be asked to use an online booking system to book a 5 minute appointment with their children's class teachers on Parents' Evening.
To fit as many parents in as possible, we will have to be quite strict about the timings of the appointments so please don't be late and please don't be offended if the teacher has to end the appointment after 5 minutes to meet the next parent.
Guidelines for Parents' Evenings:
Booking appointments with your child's class teacher:
We're looking forward to welcoming parents into school on either the 12th July. If anything changes, we will let you know so please look out for any messages we send via text.
We look forward to seeing you all,
Mr Beale
Dear Parents/ Carers,
Reports for 2022-23
Tomorrow your child will come home with their annual school report for 2022-23. The report will be sent with your child in a sealed envelope. Along with the report will be a letter, your child's absence record and an information sheet about attendance. There will also be a copy of our annual Report Feedback & Parents Survey form which we would like you to complete and return - one for each child please. This form can also be completed online if you prefer - a link will be sent out to you via text message. We value all feedback so please do complete this form.
Parents Evening - Wednesday 12th July 2023 from 3.15pm to 5.45pm
On Wednesday 12th July, we will be holding a Parents Evening from 3.15pm to 5.45pm for any parents who would like to speak to their child's class teacher about their report or their child's progress this year. Unfortunately, as there is only opportunity for one parents evening this term, appointments will only be scheduled for 5 minutes so that all parents can attend if they wish to. Parents must be on time for their meeting when it has been booked. Once the reports have been sent out, I will send out a link to book appointments using the same email system we have used previously.
Summer Fayre - Friday 14th July from 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Also next week we will be holding our annual Summer Fayre. This has been very successful in previous years and we are looking forward to some good weather and lots of families joining us so that we can raise money for the children's School Fund.
As before, parents are invited to come into school at any time from 1.00pm to collect their children and visit the Summer Fayre with them. There will be lots to do so we hope you will bring lots of money to spend!
Entrance from 1.00pm will be via the Arthur Street gate and children will be able to be collected from signposted points in the classroom - there will be a rush at 1.00pm so please be patient if collecting at this time. You are welcome to stay for as long as you like - once you have collected your children, they will be your responisbility.
Parents who are unable to collect until home time will be asked to collect children from the collection points in the playground at 3.00pm. Again it would be helpful if you can arrive via the Arthur Street entrance. The Summer Fayre will carry on until about 4.00pm so parents who can't come until later can still visit it with their children.
Mrs Stephens Retirement - Coffee & Cake Morning - Monday 17th July from 9.45am
It is with some sadness that I am letting you know that Mrs Stephens will be retiring this Summer. Mrs Stephens has worked at Regents Park for nearly 47 years! Almost all of our parents will know Mrs Stephens if their children have come through school from our Nursery or if they themselves were at Regents Park as children in the last 47 years!
I'm sure that many parents would like to see Mrs Stephens before she retires to thank her for her service to the local community and the families of Regents Park over the years. As such, we are organising a Coffee & Cake morning in school on Monday 17th July from 9.45am when you are welcome to pop in and give your best wishes to Mrs Stephens in person. If you know of any other parents (current or former) who would like to come in and see Mrs Stephens, please feel free to let them know. We'd like to invite you to attend at any time between 9.45am and 11.00am.
Events in school coming up:
Thursday 6th July - 3.00pm - Reports to be sent home with children
Wednesday 12th July - School Transition Day - Y6 children to visit their new schools; Children in school to meet their new teachers and spend the day with them in class
Wednesday 12th July - 3.15pm to 5.45pm - Parents Evening
Monday 17th July at 9.00am - EYFS & KS1 Gold Achievers assembly
Tuesday 18th July at 9.00am - Y3, Y4 & Y5 Gold Achievers assembly
Wednesday 19th July at 9.15am and 1.30pm - Y6 Leavers Assembly
Thursday 20th July - 9.00am - Y6 Graduation Assembly followed by Y6 Dinner Party
Friday 21st July - 1.00pm - School closes to children for Summer Holiday
Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th September - INSET days in school for teachers
Wednesday 6th September - Children return to school for Autumn Term
Thanks for your support,
Mr Beale
Dear Parents/ Carers,
Members of the NEU teachers' union will be taking further strike action next week on Wednesday 5th July and Friday 7th July. Unfortunately, this means there will be disruption to some classes on these days when school will be partially CLOSED.
On both days, school will be OPEN for all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes.
On both days, school will be CLOSED for all children in Nursery, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6; however, school will be OPEN for 6M on Friday 7th July.
Children in KS2 classes that are closed who are eligible for Free School Meals will be sent home with packed lunches on Tuesday 4th and Thursday 6th July to cover meals on Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th July.
Links to websites and suggestions and ideas for learning activities that children in Nursery, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 can complete at home will be shared on the Year Group pages on the school website.
I apologise for the disruption caused by the partial closure of school next week. School will be OPEN as normal on Thursday 6th July for ALL children and then again from Monday 10th July.
Thank you for your understanding,
Mr Beale
Dear Parents/ Carers,
This year we have our Sports Days planned for Monday 3rd July and Tuesday 4th July. The children will be taking part in different sports activities at different times over the two days.
As such, all children will need to come to school in their PE kits on both Monday 3rd July and Tuesday 4th July.
We would like to invite parents to come and see children take part in some of the sports activities in the playground. Parents of children in the following year groups and classes can join us at the following times:
Monday 3rd July
Tuesday 4th July
Parents will arrive and leave via the Dixon Road entrance directly into the playground.
Thank you
Dear Parents/ Carers,
Next week, many of our families will be celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. We know that Eid-ul-Adha is one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar. As such, in line with all other Birmingham schools, we are able to authorise one day of absence from school next week for those children who are Muslim.
Families will know by now on which day they will be celebrating Eid-ul-Adha, either Wednesday 28th June or Thursday 29th July 2023. School will be open as normal on these days and, as we have a large number of staff who are also celebrating Eid-ul-Adha on either one of those days, it would be helpful if parents could let us know on which day their children will be absent so that we can ensure we have adequate staffing.
Please could parents complete the online form to indicate on which day their child/ children will be absent from school (parents of non-Muslim children do not need to complete the form).
The link to the form is here: https://forms.office.com/e/ZNT7UrLTJu
Please note: We can only authorise ONE day of absence due to Religious Observance to children that are Muslim. Any further absence will be unauthorised unless it is for another authorised reason. Children that are not Muslim should attend on both days as normal.
Many thanks,
Mr Beale
Dear Parents/ Carers,
We are now into the final half of the Summer term and the weather is currently very hot and sunny which can be both a good and a bad thing! We also have lots to do during this final half term so below are a list of key dates for you as well as a reminder of other important things for you to be aware of.
Supporting and protecting children during hot weather
This weather week is predicted to be hot and sunny with temperatures above 25 degrees celcius. Whilst it's lovely to see some sunshine, it can be a cause for concern and we want to make sure we support children and protect them from any dangers associated with extreme heat and sunshine.
In school we will do everything we can to make sure children keep hydrated, don't overexert themselves and temperatures in school are managed as best as possible.
As parents, you can help the children by making sure they dress appropriately for the hot weather, e.g. wearing shorts/ skirts/ dresses and come to school with sun hats to wear outdoors (please make sure all clothing that may be taken off has your child's name and class written inside them, including jumpers and hats, etc).
Last year, all children were given small bottles of sunscreen which were donated to us. If children still have them they can bring them into school or a similar small bottle/ tube of Factor 50 sunscreen. Children should be taught to apply the cream to their exposed skin themselves although staff will help the youngest children in school. Parents should make sure children have applied cream before school and staff will then encourage them to top up just before lunchtime.
Cars around school - traffic and air pollution
We always work hard to try and reduce the amount of traffic around school by discouraging parents from driving children up to the school gates. The traffic caused by this is dangerous but it also impacts on air pollution around school.
In hot, summer weather when many children are already suffering breathing problems due to hayfever, air pollution caused by traffic makes these problems worse. It could be resolved by parking away from school and walking to the gates or, better still, by leaving the car at home and walking/ cycling/ scooting to school.
If you do have to drive to school to drop off or collect children, please do not leave your engine idling as this will also impact on the quality of air around school.
Trips abroad in school term time
We have worked hard to improve our overall school attendance this year to what it used to be before the COVID pandemic. We used to regularly have attendance that was either at or above the national average of 96.5%. Since the pandemic, our attendance has not been so good - our overall attendance for 2022-23 is currently 93.8%.
A significant issue is the impact of families taking children abroad during term time, often before or after school holidays. Whilst I understand the issues families have visiting extended family abroad and the cost that this involves, any absence will have an impact on children's learning and affect school attendance data.
I have to remind all parents that trips abroad in term time will not be authorised unless it is an absolute emergency that requires immediate travel. Booking a trip abroad in advance to visit a relative will not be authorised even if it means being absent for a few days before or after a holiday.
There are penalties which the Local Authority will issue to parents who take their children out of school during term time no matter what their previous attendance has been and unfortunately a number of these have been issued to parents of children from Regents Park this year.
We finish this term on Friday 21st July and children will be taking part in learning activities right up until the last day of term. There will also be important events that all children should take part in such as tranisition days when children meet next year's class teacher, sports days, parents afternoon, assemblies, etc. as well as reports to share with parents.
Please support school and your child's learning by not requesting to take trips abroad during term time. Thank you.
Lateness
Another issue we continue to have is the lateness of a few children into school who miss the start of lessons.
As you know, school starts at 8.40am and this is the time that we expect ALL children to arrive at school. We keep the gates open for 10 minutes in case there are any stragglers but the gates are closed at 8.50am and any child arriving after this time is marked late.
Some children often arrive just before or just after the gates close - it's important that the parents of these children are reminded that children should arrive at 8.40am.
It is also important that parents know that if your child is late, you should bring them into the office to sign them in and explain the reason for their lateness. It is often not the child's fault they are late but they have to suffer the embarrassment of walking late and having to explain to the office staff what the reasons are.
Please make sure you get your child into school by 8.40am and if you are late, please bring them to the office to get them signed in.
School uniform
As I've mentioned above, parents must make sure that children wear appropriate clothing for the weather during this half term. However, this does not mean that children do not continue to wear school uniform on PE days and on non-PE days.
On non-PE days, children are still expected to wear school uniform, i.e. white shirts, black shoes (not trainers), etc. Our school uniform colours are white, bottle green, grey and black - please do not send your child into school in any other colours.
On PE days, children are expected to wear their PE kit, i.e. white t-shirt, grey or black tracksuit bottoms or shorts. They may wear trainers for outdoor use but should have plimsolls in school for when they so PE indoors or they will have to do PE in bare feet. If they need to wear a top, they should wear their school jumper or sweatshirt. Children should not come to school in tracksuit tops or hoodies.
Upcoming school events:
Dear Parents/ Carers,
As I’m sure you will be aware, the Coronation of King Charles take place on Saturday May 6th. There will be a special Bank Holiday to celebrate the Coronation on Monday May 8th on which school will be CLOSED for all pupils.
To commemorate this historical occasion in school, next week we will be holding a King’s Coronation Celebration Day on Friday May 5th.
On Friday, children will be able to come to school in non-uniform. The theme will be “Red, White & Blue” so we’d like to children to wear clothes that are these colours if possible.
During the day, children will be taking part in activities to learn more about Kings Charles and what the Coronation means to people in the UK.
At lunchtime, we will be holding our own Coronation Celebration Picnic. Depending on the weather, this will either take place in the playground or indoors. The kitchen is preparing special picnic food for all children in school with drinks and an ice-lolly. We hope all children will take part (including our Nursery children whom we’d like to invite to stay for the picnic until 12.45pm on this day).
All children in Nursery, Reception, Y1 and Y2 are eligible for the picnic food free of charge. We will also provide picnic food to those children in KS2 who are eligible for Free School Meals or who have paid for school meals.
Children in KS2 who usually bring packed lunches may do so as normal on Friday or, providing parents let the office staff know by the end of Wednesday afternoon, we can provide a picnic lunch for the price of a normal school meal. Providing we are aware, we will make provision for any child who has known allergies.
Just a reminder of a few important dates below:
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Monday 1st May |
May Bank Holiday - School CLOSED to all pupils
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Tuesday 2nd May |
NEU Strike Action – School CLOSED to Nursery, Y3, Y4 & Y5 pupils (OPEN for Reception, Y1, Y2 and Y6)
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Friday 5th May |
King’s Coronation Celebration Day – Red, White & Blue Non-Uniform
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Monday 8th May |
King’s Coronation Bank Holiday - School CLOSED to all pupils
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Tuesday 9th May to Friday 12th May |
Year 6 SATs testing – Y6 children in school by 8.15am please |