Upcoming Events

• 5th November—Return to School
• 12th November—Parents Evening Key Stage 3 & 4
• 12th November—Alcohol Awareness Week
• 16th Nov—Children in Need including a special visitor.
• 19th Nov—Road Safety Week
• 26th Nov—Parents Evening –  Key Stage 1, 2 & 5 
• 5th Dec -Intra school sports—Elmwood
• 6th Dec – Intra school sports—Penrose
• 7th Dec—Christmas Fayre at Elmwood from 2pm-4pm
• 14th Dec—Christmas Jumper Day
• 18th Dec—Penrose Christmas Production
• 19th Dec—Elmwood’s Got Talent
• 21st  Dec—Medals Ceremony across the Federation
• 21st  - Last Day of Term—2pm finish for all pupils

My World in Dragonfly Class

In Dragonfly Class this term we have been settling in to our new class and making new friends. As part of our topic ‘My World’ we have been using mirrors to explore our faces and personal features as well as creating our homes and families using materials such as playdoh, sand and construction sets.

Our story this term has been Dear Zoo, during which we have been thinking about the sounds and descriptions of animals. We have had lots of fun opening the packages from the Zoo to discover what animals they have sent us!

Swimming for Bumblebee & Caterpillar Class

Bumblebee and Caterpillar students have started swimming sessions at 1610 each week.  This is a great way to improve physical skills learn important life skills and is great fun for all involved.

Attendance

We would like to remind parents/carers of the attendance guidelines as outlined in our Attendance Policy:

• To keep requests for their child to be absent to a minimum
• To offer a valid reason for any period of absence, before the absence or on the first day of absence
• To ensure that their child arrives at school on time ready for a prompt start to the school day. At all our sites this is at  08:55. Students can arrive from 08:45, were there will be staff supervising.
• A reason should be offered for any lateness. Persistent lateness will be addressed by the school and maybe escalated to the EWO.
• To work closely with the school and Education Welfare Officers (EWO) to resolve any problems that may impede a child’s attendance
• To take family holidays during school holiday periods and be aware that requests for holidays during term time will be unauthorised except where in exceptional  circumstances relating to that application.  Where a family chooses to take a family holiday during term time, the absence will be coded as unauthorised and a Penalty Notice may be issued to each parent  for each child.
• To be aware of curriculum requirements and to do their utmost to demonstrate respect for the learning that occurs at the Elmwood & Penrose Federation
• To support their child and recognise their successes and achievements however small.

Can we please also remind parents/carers that should your child miss the school transport in a morning then it is your responsibility to get your child into school otherwise it will be recorded as unauthorised absence.

Remembering Alfie

Parent Pay

Minibus Donation

Inset Days

• Monday 7th January 2019                         
• Friday 5th April 2019      
• Monday 3rd June 2019                   
• Monday 22nd July
• Tuesday 23rd July 2019                   

Inset days give our staff opportunities to access high quality training which supports and improves teaching and learning for all learners

Learning Support Centre

Dear Members

Please do come along to visit us at Elmwood Learning Support Centre we have many

new resources to share with you.

Please call Jeanette to make an appointment 01278 411211 

Monday - CLOSED

Tuesday - 09.00 - 17.00

Wednesday - 09.00 - 12.00

Thursday - By appointment only

Friday - 10.00 - 14.00

Opening Times are Term Time Only

Raising Money for iPads

We currently have a link to a Crowd Fund Raising Page which we are signed up to to get new ipads for Communication for our students.

We are very keen to help more students with communication and provide them with an ipad with their own communication software: we will purchase the Proloquo2go software for pupils to support them to have their own voice in making choices, commenting and communicating with their peers, staff and families.

We currently have a target of £1,474 which will enable us to purchase 5 ipads and 5 bumper  cases. If you or anyone that you know would like to make a donation then the link is below.

Every little helps.

Thank you.

https://rocket.fund/p/ElmwoodSchool/

Reminders

Thank you to all parents/carers who have recently returned their Data Collection Forms that were recently sent out.  We do still have a few outstanding so could we please ask that all forms are returned to the Admin Office on each site before the end of half term.

Also a reminder to parents to return their letters for parents evening. that have recently been sent out to all pupils. The Family Team will also be there at the parents evening to answer any questions you may have or to provide support. Thank you.

Ladybird Explore "My World"

Ladybird class have been visiting Bridgwater Library as part of our community engagement for this term’s topic ‘My World’. We have enjoyed the walk and talking about the town’s landmarks as we see them such as St Mary’s Church and the statue of Robert Blake. Pupils have selected books to read and we look forward to our visit every week.

Staff Changes

Here is a list of staff changes at the Federation:

WELCOME TO:

JRC—New Staff

Danielle Parish (new)

Elmwood—New Staff

Sasha Millar (new)

Teri Loader (new)

Mandy Carpenter (new)

Penrose—New Staff

Sarah Kerrigan (new teacher)

Bethan Thorne (new)

Roxanne Cox (new)

Chloe Comer (new)

GOODBYE & GOOD LUCK TO:

Ian Barke

Leah White

Katie Owens

Janet Elkins

Steph Hicks

Liz Western

We would like to welcome all our

new staff onto our team and say

a fond farewell and good luck to

our leavers.

Busy busy busy at The Jean Rees Centre

It has been a very busy start to the academic year at the Jean Rees Centre. The students have settled extremely well and with the addition of 6 new students the place is going from strength to strength.

Enterprise has been the forefront of a lot of our learning and we have been busy making and selling a range of products at Angel Place every Wednesday from 10am to 12.30pm. Our most popular product at the moment is the ‘Spirit in a Bottle’ priced at £4 - £6. So come on down and visit it us! Perfect for Christmas gifts and more!

As well as enterprise the students have been busy developing the site and working in partnership with KS4 to create themed gardens. KS4 have been visiting post 16 a lot this term and the benefits of working together have been huge.

The year 14’s have been busy preparing their next big transition. As it is their final year at JRC they have some very important decisions to make about their future. On Wednesday the 10th October they travelled down to Taunton to attend the annual career’s fair. This gave them all the opportunity to research about courses and other opportunities that are available once they leave JRC. What made it even more memorable was our trip to Pizza Hut!

Rights Respecting Schools

Last academic year both schools were awarded the Bronze Award, Rights Committed, you will see the logo on the bottom of our school letters after half term. As a rights respecting School we have the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child at the heart of what we do. The Convention drives school improvement and the strategic direction of the school. 

This term our six member of our Junior Leadership Team, Katie, Hannah, Kirsty, Thomas, Eleanor and Cameron went to King Alfred School in Highbridge to train to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. The Diana Award Anti Bullying Ambassador Training aims to train young people with the skills to act as positive role models, helping children and young people in their school community to reduce bullying.

Our six students across all three phases worked with other passionate young people. They engaged in icebreaker activities which encouraged the young people to say something good about themselves, as well as exchanging ideas and sharing good  practice.  Our Junior Leadership Team had basic training including online safety and  approaches students and staff can take to staying safe online and educating their peers.  The training concluded with the students making a plan for their Anti-Bullying work back at the Federation.  The first thing they have done since the training is to decide on having a Buddy Bench, which is somewhere students can sit, that the Junior Leaders will go and sit with them, offering friendship and support.  The Junior Leaders and School Councils are also designing Anti Bullying Posters to be able to display. The Anti –Bullying Policy is also being reviewed by the Junior Leadership team, which includes their own definition of Bullying.

Cameron and Eleanor from Penrose told Hayley, their School Council Leader " I enjoyed learning about the lovely Princess Diana and how she helped people”, We all need to work together to stamp out bullying.

All our Junior Leaders chair their school Councils back on their sites, and they pass, share and receive feedback from the other members of the school Council. The Anti Bullying Awareness is certainly being embedded and with upcoming projects, priorities and     displays the message that this is a school where we want young people to make a difference and ensure young people stay safe will certainly be a main feature of the work the students and staff do on a daily basis.

 Other feedback from the Junior Leadership Team and School Councils are:

• Students in KS4 can buy their own hoodies as part of the official school uniform.
• The Leavers Prom was a huge success and much planning was down to the students, this included a red carpet, a band as well as the food being what the students chose.
• Elmwood are busy planning a disco for 2018-2019, and Penrose are planning a Halloween dress up day to raise   money in memory of their school friend we sadly lost this term.
• Last Year Post 16 shared ideas about trips and visits for the Activities Week, which therefore they go to experience.
• Plans are underway for Children in Need across all sites, so look out for information.

In the next Meeting Molly Maher, a development Officer for Weston-Super-Mare Town Council, is attending the next Junior Leadership Meeting to work with our students on how to improve The Blakehay Theatre to be more inclusive. The meeting will feed into a consultation project to bring about change.

 The Junior Leadership Team would like to thank our Vice Chair of Governors, Gill Watton for attending our first meeting and committing for the rest of the Year. Gill has already secured the money for the Buddy Benches, thank you Gill.

 We will keep you updated every newsletter on the progress of our student voice groups, the Junior Leadership Team as well as the three School Councils, as we work towards ensuring our pupils have a voice and make a difference to always support the school bring about change for the better.

Congratulations!

Here’s to the success of the FIRST joint Elmwood/Selworthy NCS Programme!

At the end of September, year 11 students were given the chance to complete a 2-week enrichment course to achieve the nationally recognised National Citizen Service award alongside Selworthy students.

Students and staff left Elmwood on a very Sunny Sunday afternoon for PInkery outdoor education centre on Exmoor, where they spent three days completing various activities and challenges including an orienteering challenge, mountain boarding and axe throwing! Students and staff literally threw themselves into the activities and came back happy but exhausted. But…No time for exhaustion! There were 7 days of activities to complete. Everyone got a bit of a rest on the smoothie challenge day and visiting the Somerset Careers Fair but in between they completed community action projects on the Quantocks: repairing dry stone walls, clearing nightjar glades and removing tree protectors. Every student got stuck in without complaint and helped the local environment through the activities they completed.

After 2 weeks of hard work and determination, the group finally got to their graduation which was held at Elmwood. Students were presented with their certificates signed by the Prime Minister.

Vacancy

We currently have a vacancy for a Parent Governor within the Federation. If you are interested in this very important role then please contact Nicola Almond on 01278 456243.