April and May 2013 - Welton primary school

Welton Primar y School
SENIOR
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Nikki Pidgeon
Head Teacher
Jon Watson
Deputy Head Teacher
Mark Dyson
Head of Curriculum
Sarah Millar
Head of Behaviour and
SEAL
Laura Kilvington
Head of Assessment
Jayne Patrick
School Business
Manager
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
NEWSLETTER
MRS PIDGEON
SUMMER TERM
We did it! Despite all the last minute hitches, we
managed to move every class and piece of furniture
and much, much more to begin the Summer Term in
our new classes. Thank you for your patience over
the last year.
NEW BUILD
We are very pleased with the new accommodation
and would like to invite you to pop in to have a look
round on Friday 17 May at 3.40pm. Please collect
your children BEFORE you come to see the lovely
new classrooms.
MRS PIDGEON’S TEA PARTY
Every half term all the children who have been in
“green” all term are entered into a prize draw. They
choose a fun gift and are invited to a tea party where
we have lots of treats baked by Mrs Woodiwiss and
myself! The children have to share at least one terrible
joke and at the last tea we played “pin the tail on
the donkey”.
Well done to the following children for staying in
green and being lucky in the draw: Jessica Fewster,
Rose Alterskye, Alexia Nica, Bhargav Palakolanu,
Michail Jekmohan, Abigail Jenkins, Jessica Birss,
Georgina Danby, Cyrus Shafei, Hayden Pettit.
CONTINUED DRIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT
Following our categorisation of Outstanding by the
Local Authority, we are continuing to work very hard
to ensure our pupils make the best possible progress.
Miss Kilvington is now affiliated with the East
Riding Training School in her role as Specialist Leader
of Education, which gives the school access to
further training opportunities. This term, Miss Hudson
and Mr Lomas are embarking on the Outstanding
Teacher Programme (previously completed by Mr
Watson and Miss Kilvington).
PARENT SUPPORT ADVISOR
From next week, the partnership PSA will be working
at Welton on a Wednesday morning. Jules Montgomery
already works with several families from Welton
and can offer advice and support on nearly any
issue that affects families. So, if your children are
driving you mad, you are suffering from stress or
you are coping with difficult times, please contact
the school or Jules on 07538 479554.
OUTDOOR LEARNING
This term we are focussing on developing the outdoor
learning areas in the school. The FOWS are
funding this with money raised from events that
you have supported. I hope the improvements
and changes around school will be noticeable over
the next two terms.
ROLL OF HONOUR
APRIL/MAY 2013
As I have so many children coming to tell me so
many exciting things about their special achievements
inside and outside of school, I have decided
to have a special item on the newsletter.
Emilia Wright has qualified for her first Yorkshire
Swimming Championship and got Gold in 50m
Backstroke and Silver in 50m Freestyle.
Cyrus Shafei and Abi Heinzman are through to
the final round in the Chris Evans’ Short Story
Writing Competition. Their stories were selected
from 90,000 entries.
Harry Gunn-McLean has been award a trophy for
being the most improved player at his recent rugby
tournament in Halifax.
Harvey Harman and his pony, Sophie, have won
a selection of rosettes and prizes at the Patrington
Country Show.
The school netball team won the Magnet Cup for
the first time ever!!! They then proceeded to the
next round and came third place, only missing out
on goal difference.
Elliot Tock has been selected for the East Yorkshire
Cricket Squad.
Bella Bridges won a ‘RESPECT’ homework competition
after a workshop by Hull City Football Club
and was lucky to win 4 tickets to the last game of
the season for the club against Cardiff.

Page 2 APRIL/MAY 2013
MRS MILLAR
Staff have been considering the key aspects of independent learning in our staff meetings. We want children to understand that
one of our main priorities as teachers, is to help them become independent learners. We aim to develop a tool kit of skills that will
help them learn for the rest of their lives. After much debate and consultation, we have created this child friendly list:
MR WATSON
Good to Be Green
Mrs Pidgeon has hosted another ‘Good To Be Green’ Tea party, one of the ways we celebrate good behaviour at Welton. Also,
another large batch of Good to be Green postcards have been sent home to acknowledge the positive attitude and work of pupils.
Keep up the Green good attitudes!
Standard Attainment Tests (SATs)
Welton’s Independent Learning Skills (W.I.L.S.)
Stickability
Personal Best
Risk It
Organised
Asking Questions
Focus
Collaboration
Reflection
The children were asked to consider what image could represent each skill. For example, an ant working with other ants could
represent collaboration. The children thought of lots of creative ideas. One which was popular, was the image of a superhero for
each skill. We particularly liked Spiderman as a picture for stickability. We are now aiming to produce a poster with the children’s
super hero ideas to display around the school so we can focus on these skills with the children.
I am very proud of Year 6! They have been working really hard as they prepare for their SATs (Standard Attainment Tests).
SATs week is almost here (week beginning 13 May 2013) and we are ready! Year 6 have really responded well to the preparation
and ‘pressure’ of this busy term. They have demonstrated a pleasing, mature work ethic and as a result we have been celebrating
lots of personal bests! I am a very happy Year 6 Teacher!
Good luck to all of Year 6 –remember to relax and try your very best!.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
6 May Bank Holiday
13 May SATS week
17 May 3.40pm - come and have a look round our new building!
20 May Class photographs
21 & 22 May Y5 Cycle Training
22 May Y6 visit to ‘Making It’
24 May Break up for half term
3 June Back to School
13 June Foundation trip to Drax
19 June Y6 Uniform Evening at South Hunsley School
23 June FOWS Family Fun Day
24 June Y4 visit to Burton Agnes
27 June Y6 Transition Day at South Hunsley School (and ‘moving up’ day at Welton!).
28 June Y6 Festival of Sport
1 July Y6 Team Challenge
2 July 2.15pm Guitar Concert (Y4, Y5, Y6)
5 July FOWS Family BBQ at the Cricket Club
12 July Sports Day
Reports posted to parents
15 July Reserve Sports Day
17 July Y6 Leavers Assembly (pm)
18 July Y6 Reward Afternoon
REMINDER
The Robinwood Trip for current Year
5 students will be taking place on
20 - 22 September 2013.
WE HAVE BOOKED
THE PANTOMIME VISIT
FOR DECEMBER!
WE WILL BE GOING TO
SEE SNOW WHITE AT
THE GRAND OPERA
HOUSE, YORK.
THURSDAY 19
DECEMBER IN THE
MORNING.

Page 3
MR DYSON
Beyond the classroom door
APRIL/MAY 2013
All the teaching staff at Welton Primary attended a day’s training session together with colleagues from the South Hunsley cluster
group. The training was entitled ‘Beyond the Classroom Door – Unlocking the potential of your school grounds’ and was to inspire
the love for teaching and learning outdoors. We have participated in many outdoor events and you may remember the partnership
day back in October where other schools in the East Riding came to observe Welton teachers teaching outdoors on a wet
and windy day, delivering many aspects of the school curriculum.
Since then, I have been attending training to become an OCN accredited Level 3 Forest School Leader & Manager and I have
begun as part of this training, delivering outdoor learning sessions within Foundation.
For those of you who are not aware of the Forest School philosophy, I’ll try and explain briefly a little bit more about it below, but
as I near the end of the training in October, I’m sure you will be hearing a lot more about Forest School at Welton. The South
Hunsley cluster of schools has been given permission to use a piece of land adjacent to Welton Waters which has been developed
into a Forest School outdoor classroom which will be available for use by the cluster group or for private lettings.
Through Forest School, children are able to develop a lifelong love and understanding of the natural environment, whilst developing
the core purposes of the Forest School ethos, namely, development of self esteem, confidence and social skills. Through
carefully planned activities, children are able to take part in a series of blocked Forest School sessions which enable children to
excel in all areas of their personal, academic and spiritual development.
The philosophy which underpins the Forest School movement is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age from 3 years
upwards, and any groups, through mastery of small, achievable tasks in a woodland environment, to grow in confidence and independence
so that they are able to develop a sense of self-worth. Children will acquire new skills as they are ready for them so
that activities can maintain a degree of challenge and excitement, whilst remaining safe and controlled.
The freedom of the ‘forest’ allows children the opportunity to experience remoteness and a realistic experience in which they are
able to practise their skills and further develop their understanding of a woodland environment.
Experience in other settings nationally has shown Forest School to be inspirational, opinion changing and challenging. It raises
expectations and develops insights into individual learning styles. It is personally and socially uplifting so laying the foundations
for other learning. Unlike other forms of outdoor education which generally concentrate on team-building, challenging activities or
competitiveness, the Forest School embraces an entirely different approach through the nurturing, support and development of
the self-esteem of participants.
SPORTING NEWS
External Coaching
Through the South Hunsley Sports Partnership, Welton are able to use the expertise of specialist coach’s (for free!)
in many different areas of sport. After the Easter Holidays, Years 4, 5 and 6 all took part in an orienteering workshop
in the school grounds, whilst Years 1, 2 and 3 had some exciting Cheerleading sessions!
Netball
Mrs Weatherhead recently took part in some Netball Coaching training, and this has paid off with the netball teams
performing fantastically at the Magnet Cup this year. More training sessions with Mrs Weatherhead and Miss Bolger
will be taking part over the term.
Tag Rugby
A team of children recently took part in a rugby training session, followed by a Tag Rugby Festival at South Hunsley
School.
Coming up
Still to come this term is a swimming gala, tennis lessons, cricket lessons (and an after school club) and competition,
a rounders competition and the Year 6 Festival of Sport.

Page 4 APRIL/MAY 2013
MISS KILVINGTON
Educational Visits
This half term has been a busy one and it has been a joy to see lots of excited little people setting off for an exciting day of learning outside of
school!
Foundation
On Thursday 25 April, Reception visited Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley. This was not only our first out of school trip but also an extended day
with the children gathering at school for 8.20 in the morning and returning well after everyone else had gone home at 4.45pm. The children fed
the sheep, lambs, alpacas and a variety of cows in the round house and boarded a tractor to take us on a ride around the farm. They held small
rabbits and guinea pigs in the animal petting area and watched piglets suckling their mummies. After lunch we all had a bet on our favourite colour
in the Grand National sheep race where Mrs Rasdale will be delighted to hear that the sheep representing yellow won. We had a further colour
bet on the ferret race which was really funny to watch and Mr Dyson’s ferret won for the red team whilst Mrs Hughes’ blue ferret was very
comfy just having a nap. Emily Sawyers had the winning ticket and won a free pass to the farm – well done Emily! The children experienced burrowing
through tunnels like rabbits and put their climbing skills to good practice in the adventure playground before our highlight of the day – icecream!
The parents and staff too enjoyed their day - it was a wonderful day out.
Year 1
The children in Year 1 grabbed their magnifying glasses and explored the grounds of Castle Howard looking for mini beasts. This linked to the
children’s topic on habitats as their challenge was to make a suitable habitat for the mini beasts they collected on their trail. The highlight of the
day was finding a small lizard! The children also went on a nature trail and collected things to make an identification chart to use back at school.
Phew, what an action packed day!
Year 2
Year 2 had an amazing time at Eden Camp, where they learnt about what life was like in World War II. The children handled many artefacts and
loved exploring the huts. The children were brave enough to venture into the submarine hut and loved seeing the World War II vehicles. A highlight
of the day was watching the puppet show and stumbling across some exciting information linked to their work on Billy the Kid! Mr Lomas was
very proud of the wonderful behaviour and enthusiasm the children displayed on the day. Well done, Year 2!
Year 3
The air raid siren’s bellowed out as the children grabbed their gas masks and ration cards and were evacuated to Murton Park for an action
packed day of activities in the day of a life of a man, woman and child during World War II! The children had first-hand experience of being an
ARP (air raid precaution) by safely putting out a real fire using a hand pump and finding out about the many different strategies that the German
and British Army used to cause destruction in the cities. They practiced some of the many duties involved in taking care of the home, such as:
washing the clothes in a dolly tub and drying them with a mangle; baking using strict rationings; churning milk to make butter and making rag rugs.
They got to handle many artefacts and practiced safe air raid and gas mask training. Luckily the children made a swift return from their evacuation
and were safely returned to parents by the end of the day!
Year 4
Year 4 headed to the William Wilberforce Museum where they had a great day learning about fair trade products and the trade links we built up
from the Commonwealth. The children particularly enjoyed learning about the life of William Wilberforce and the importance of remembering him
today. The children had first-hand experience of what the conditions would be like to have been a slave as they tried to squeeze themselves into a
slavery boat! Many children were very shocked by what they learnt on the trip and went home feeling very lucky for the life they have.
Year 5
The children in Year five also invaded Murton Park this half term, but they spent the day in role as Vikings. They found the life of a Viking to be
harder work than they anticipated and spent the day making their own oil lamps which the Vikings would have burnt animal fat in, cleaning the
house with brooms made of twigs and leaves and grinding corn to make bread. The highlight of the day was being trained to have the skills needed
to be a soldier. These came in very handy as the children were in charge of defending the Viking village when a ‘smelly Saxon’ invaded the
settlement! Unfortunately, Mrs Millar displeased the Lady of the village and was placed in the stocks during lunchtime. It was lovely to hear so
many children say that it was the best trip they had ever been on.
Year 6
Year 6 have still managed to take part in many exciting practical projects this half term, despite the fact they are busy with SATs preparations.
BAE Systems visited school to take part in the Skylark Project. The aim of the project was to make a model elastic band propelled plane, which
involved the application and development of Maths, Science and History skills. The children loved the flying competition finale, which resulted in
Sam Stockdale winning the competition for producing a plane which flew the furthest and with most accuracy. They are looking forward to a visit to
Making It Activity Centre later in the month to complete a D&T project and an in-school visit from an ambassador of the Blood Hound Project to
learn about land speed records and make their own model car.
We are very lucky to have the support from parents which enables these exceptional learning opportunities to happen. I am lucky
enough to see first-hand how much educational visits enhance both teaching and learning, and pupil engagement. I am sure you feel
the buzz from the children when you collect them from school on a ‘trip day’! Special days simply would not be possible without your
support – thank you!
We have had lots of positive feedback (including an email) from the places we have visited this term - well done to all of the children for
being fantastic ambassadors of Welton Primary School, with impeccable behaviour and manners!

Page 5 APRIL/MAY 2013
MRS PATRICK
Students
We would like to welcome our new students from the University of Hull who will be spending their final teaching placement with us
at Welton. Helen Guering will be based in Year 3 and Louise Rodgers will be based in Year 4. At Welton, we pride ourselves in
the opportunities we provide for the students we mentor and are very proud of the contribution we have towards training and supporting
the next generation of teachers.
Arrangements at the end of the school day
I would like to re-iterate the procedure for the end of the school day for families with more than one child where at least one of the
children are from the Foundation class.
For parents with a Foundation child and a child in Year 1 or 2, please collect your KS1 child from their class and then go to the
door at the corner of the new build and the old build to collect your Foundation child (see simple diagram below).
For parents with a Foundation child and a child in Years 3, 4, 5 or 6, you should have made arrangements to collect your older
child from the playground or made alternative meeting arrangements, after you have collected your Foundation child.
For safeguarding reasons, there should not be any older children going to the Foundation classroom at the end of the day. Thank
you.
Absences from school
Please ensure that you keep your child away from school for at least 48 hours if they have been unwell from sickness and/or diarrhoea.
This is the advice from the NHS, as although you may feel they are absolutely fine, the bug may be still present. We then
have issues with illnesses spreading amongst the children and eventually the adults.
Vouchers
The school are currently collected Sainsbury vouchers and Nestle box tops and we are very grateful for all vouchers received!
New Staff
We are very pleased to welcome two new cleaners, Ms Beaumont and Mrs Potter, to join our team of cleaning staff at the school.
The size of the school has increased considerably after the new extension, with lots more toilets, therefore the cleaning staff have
been doubled in size.
Mrs Fewster has also been appointed as an Administration Assistant .
2013 Pupil Admissions
Our new Foundation class will be full in September 2013! Parents have now been informed of school places for the new intake
and we will be welcoming 60 new children to our new facility. Over the next few months we will be holding several events for the
new children to attend to get used to being in the school and for them to meet our staff.
Website
Finally, Mrs Fewster has been working hard to update our school website, www.weltonprimaryschool.com.
The website provides information such as the school meals, policies, newsletters etc, and therefore if you feel that you have
missed a letter this is the place to look! The calendar area has the upcoming dates on it, and the term dates are listed.
We still have a few things to do, but work will continue and it will be kept updated.