Issue 450: 26th January 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are fast approaching the end of January already and I think it feels as if the days are starting to stretch out just a little. School managed to survive storm Isha with just a little damage to one of the signs at the front of the school, hopefully things will calm down a little now! 

Young Voices

Several members of staff and a group of children travelled to Birmingham on Wednesday to take part in the Young Voices concert. The photos and videos I have seen look amazing and I know everyone that attended had a great time. They joined children from lots of other schools and together took part in the event. Thank you to Mrs. Francis and Mrs. Terreblanche for organising this event and thank you to the other members of staff and parent helpers that attended. Well done to all the children involved, I have been told that you represented the school brilliantly, demonstrating the PRIDE Code and making the most of this exciting event. 

Year 6 2CanLearn

Mr. Cowles, Mrs. Simmons and the Year Six children were joined by about forty parents and other family members yesterday for their 2CanLearn event. As it has been Children's Mental Health week in school and all the children had a chance, alongside their family member, to create a piece of artwork about themselves. Their portraits started with a digital photograph and they then created a collage that included positive affirmations, information about their personalities and shapes and colours that represented their characters. Their finished pieces looked great and we are considering how we can display them in school. 

Safer Internet Day 2024

On Tuesday 29^th January it will be this year's 'Safer Internet Day'. The theme for this year is: Inspiring change? Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online. We always schedule one of our online safety weeks in school at the same time and all children will take part in an online safety lesson and other activities related to this year's theme. If you would like to see further information about the National Safer Internet Day you can visit this website: Safer Internet Day 2024 - UK Safer Internet Centre

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Mr. Marks

Headteacher 

^{Photo by Beechmore Books on Unsplash}

Each week, we publish the latest achievements of the children at Orton Wistow Primary School.

Young Voices Concert

43 children and 6 adults went by coach to the Birmingham Arena this week to participate in Young Voices. We have been rehearsing twice a week, every week, since September, waiting for this moment! There were 9 songs to learn for the concert, some of them were over 6 minutes long, so there were lots of words, rhythms, pitches and actions to remember! The atmosphere in the arena was electric-there were 6128 children singing together and what a buzz that was! The children who came were fantastic ambassadors for the school, they sang with enthusiasm, listened to the conductor and responded to his direction, and threw themselves into this amazing experience. We learnt 3 new songs on the day, and performed alongside Nandi Bushell, Urban Strides and MC Grammar. Throughout the day several of the children told us "this is the best day of my life", and the smiles and dancing demonstrated how much fun they were having. Florence said afterwards" I loved seeing all the performances on stage, it was magical", and Wiki said "I was amazed when they turned off the lights and everyone had their torches on, it looked like the sky full of stars." We'd like to say a huge thankyou to the parent helpers who came on the trip with us, we couldn't have done it without your support.

By Rachel Francis, Year 1 teacher | Music Lead | Orton Wistow Primary School | OWN Trust

FOWS School Disco

Thursday 1^st February School Disco

Its time for pupils to get those dancing shoes on.  £3 per child with a drink and snack included.  Fully supervised by teachers and volunteers so children can be drop off at reception for an evening of fun (sorry but we don’t have the space to allow parents to stay)   

• Foundation/KS1 4.30-5.30
• KS2 5.45-7pm

Games of the Week

^{Photo by Stephen Baker on Unsplash}

Celebrating Success

Here at Orton Wistow Primary School, we recognise that success comes in all different shapes and sizes! We celebrate the children's achievements in school in the Achievements section of the newsletter and website.

Many of the children, however, are also achieving things outside of school.  We would like to recognise these successes too.

It might be that your child has passed a music or dance exam, gained a karate belt, starred in a show, volunteered, taken part in a sporting event, or done something that they didn't think was possible!

If you would like to share your child's achievements with us so that we can celebrate their success, please complete the Celebrating Success form which can also be found below.  Contributions will be considered for inclusion in upcoming editions of the newsletter.

We look forward to hearing about your children's extracurricular achievements!

This Week's Successes!

These children in year 2, took part in the Rising Stars performance with 230 other children at the fully booked New Theatre on Saturday evening! Well done girls! 

This child achieved his personal best this weekend by running in the park run. Well done and keep it up!

Lost Property

We have initiated a new Lost Property system in the school due to the volume of lost property being found in the school. 

There will now be a Lost Property Box in each Year Group area which parents can have a look in before and after school for lost items. 

The locations of these boxes are as below:

Reception (Iguanas and Penguins): The Lost Property Box will be wheeled out at the end of the day.

Year 1 (Wombats and Foxes):The Lost Property Box will either be wheeled out at the end of the day or located in the Year 1 Locker Room area. 

Year 2 (Turtles and Chameleons):The Lost Property Box will either be wheeled out at the end of the day or located in the Year 2 Locker Room area. 

Nighthawks and Seals:The Lost Property Box will either be wheeled out at the end of the day or located in their shared Locker Room area. 

Giraffes and Nightingales:The Lost Property Box will either be wheeled out at the end of the day or located in their shared Locker Room area. 

Sharks, Flamingoes, Sharks and Cobras: The Lost Property Box will be located in their shared Quad area. 

Lost Property that is lost in shared areas will still be stored in the School Office.

Please name your children's clothes and additional items, as then we can return these items to your children directly.

Thank you very much.

^{Photo by stuartbur on unsplash}

Discover what is coming up in the OWPS Dining Car.