temple learning academy principal’s newsletter november ......dad about school in ireland,...
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Temple Learning News! Your monthly window on life at TLA.
November 2016
Time Travelers!
Pupils in Year 1 have been inspired by the building of the new school this term.
Their topic of ‘Time Travelers’ has had them looking at schools in the past, present
and our school of the future. They’ve interviewed Mr. Browne about his school life
in Ireland and spoken, via Skype, to schools in Spain and Denmark!
Our new school building which is on schedule to be completed on time.
At home parents have supported with models of their dream school and pupils
interviewed family members about their school experiences e.g. Macy spoke to her
dad about school in Ireland, Weronika to her grandma in Poland and Grace with
her family in Australia!
Next half term, there will be more exciting topics which will be revealed in your
curriculum newsletter when we get back. We are sure Christmas will feature
heavily!
If you feel you can support with the curriculum, teachers would be happy to hear
your ideas.
Temple Learning Academy Principal’s Newsletter
School Attendance The Local Authority are now monitoring attendance in every
school across Leeds and have set a target of 97%. Our whole
school attendance is currently at 95%. Leeds are also targeting
families where attendance falls below 90%, deemed
‘persistence absence’, and issuing fines for holidays in term time.
We don’t want any of you to fall into either of these categories
and will work with you to ensure good school attendance for
your child.
We cannot stress the importance of good attendance in
developing every aspect of your child’s wellbeing.
Being surrounded by new pupils they will get minor coughs and
colds but these do not necessarily mean they need time off
school. Exposure to these bugs is normal and helps to build up
resilience. Our staff with Paediatric First Aid training are more
than capable of keeping an eye on them.
Your child will also be tired having come back to long days at
school. A bedtime routine of 7pm will help them be prepared for
the day ahead.
Miss Mc Gloughlin, our Learning Mentor,
will monitor attendance with Mr Browne.
If you are having problems or need
support please get in touch.
If your child is off school you must let
the school office know before 8.30 a.m.
by telephoning 01132 645456. Doctor
and dentist appointments should be
made, where possible, outside school
hours.
The TNLP Trust wide Attendance Policy is available on our
website Thank you for your support with this matter.
November 2016
Follow us
We try to get information
to you as soon as we
can.
Please make sure the
school office has your
current mobile number
and email address.
Check pupil drawers and
book bags for notes, or
the school website
www.templelearningaca
demy.org.uk, Twitter feed
@TempleLearning or
/TempleLearning for
updates.
Milk
All children are entitled
to free milk until they
turn 5 OR the family are
in receipt of benefits.
If you think you may be
entitled to this please
see Miss Thickett.
If you do not meet this
criteria and wish to
start paying for milk
contact Cool Milk
through their website.
Temple Learning Academy Principal’s Newsletter
Mr. Browne has been invited to speak at Elland Road
later this month in front of the Regional Schools
Commissioner about the great start TLA have had as a
brand new school opening up. Most of the talk will be
about the support parents and carers have shown
and how the school tries all it can to communicate
with parents and carers in the best interests of their
child. This is a great well done to us all. Well done!
November 2016
Important Diary Dates
Upcoming Training Day dates are:
Friday 16th Dec &
Tuesday 3rd Jan
Tuesday 1st Nov – New Reception (2017) open day @ 1.30pm
& 6pm
Friday 4th Nov – Last day for PTFA Christmas Card orders
Friday 11th Nov – School Nurse to see Year 1 – Nasal Flu
Vaccinations (info to follow)
Tuesday 15th Nov – DfE visit to school.
Monday 21st Nov – Year 1 Multi Skills Event at Temple Moor
Monday 28th Nov – Reception Multi Skills Event at Temple
Moor
Thursday 1st Dec – Non-Uniform Day
Monday 5th Dec – Full Governing Body Meeting
Wednesday 7th Dec – Christmas Performance @ 1.45 pm
Thursday 8th Dec – Christmas Performance @ 1.45 pm & 5.30
pm
Friday 9th Dec – Christmas Fair
Wednesday 14th Dec – Christmas Party Day & Carol Service
Friday 16th Dec – Training Day – School Closed
Sat 17th Dec – Mon 2nd Jan – Christmas Holidays.
Tuesday 3rd Jan – Training Day – School Closed
Wednesday 4th Jan – Back to School – Spring Term Starts
Add these dates to your calendar at home. If there
are any changes we will let you know in advance.
Thank you.
Temple Learning Academy Principal’s Newsletter
School Clubs
Clubs have started for Y1
and will do so too for Rec in
Jan. Check book bags,
Twitter, Facebook and the
website for the most recent
updates.
Monday: Dance
Colouring
Number
Board Games
Tuesday: Art
Multi Sports
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: Book Making
Lego
Craft
Friday: Film (Film to
be chosen by
the pupils)
Parent Q&A
When you have signed up to
a club it is important that
your child attends. Staff have
given up their time and other
children have missed out on
a place so that your child
can attend. Poor
attendance could mean
their place is offered to
another child.
We will make every effort to
accommodate all children in
all clubs.
Parent Clubs include:
Zumba – every Wednesday
from 5pm – 6pm, term time
only. £3 per session or free if in
receipt of benefits.
Read Write Inc. Curriculum Night
Thank you to the parents and carers who braved a phonics lesson
with Mrs. Walmsley this term. Feedback was very positive and
parents left feeling better informed about how to support their child
with their reading at home.
More information on reading and our approach using the Read,
Write Inc. method can be found on the academy website in the
Phase 1 section.
Child Protection
If you have any worries about the
welfare, safety and wellbeing of your
child or another please feel free to
speak to the designated officer with
responsibility for Child Protection.
This is:
Mr Matthew Browne
(Primary Principal)
November 2016
Temple Learning Academy Principal’s Newsletter
Harvest
A huge thank you for your donations for the Harvest Festival this term. 50
parents and carers joined Year 1 who led a short service designed by them.
Your generous food donations have gone to Streetwise – a local charity that
provides meals and shelter to the homeless in the city.
An extra thank you goes to Mrs Songhurst and her husband who also
harvested their own garden and provided beetroot for the children to make
soup and baked the special harvest bread we shared.
Reception pupils are looking forward to inviting their parents in for their
Christmas celebrations in December.
Pyjama Day
Our Pyjama Day raised £70 for the TNLP Trust. This
was presented by our pupils to Rachel at our
celebration assembly. This money will go back
into running activities for children and young
people in our trust. See www.tnlp.org for details.
Book Bags
TLA Book Bags are now on
sale in the front office from
Miss Thickett. These cost £5.
EVERY CHILD MUST HAVE A
BOOK BAG (it does not have
to be blue or branded but
must be a flat bag that fits in
their drawer). We will be
training all pupils to pack
letters to take home and
moving away from the rolling
trolleys.
Please make sure names are
on everything your child
brings to school.
Drop off & Car parking
Many thanks for helping us each
morning by moving away from
around the gate area promptly
when the bell rings. We are now
able to bring children into school
in a safer, calmer way.
We almost shut the car park to
parents and carers however we
have held back on this decision
but would still like you to support
us by leaving children as quickly
as possible, not calling to them
when walking in (as a few have
tried to run back to parents) and
letting them settle with teachers.
Also, the front of school is a
working office. Please come to
school for 8.30 am or 3.30 pm. We
cannot accommodate 100
parents waiting in the front of
school each day. Please leave
messages etc… with Miss Thickett
but this is not a waiting area.
Thank you.
We are also on Facebook.
Find us at …
PTFA Temple Learning
Academy
Meet Mr. Hadfield
Starting in January you will see a new
member of staff at school. Mr. Hadfield will
join us as the new Co-Principal who will
work alongside Mr. Browne to ensure the
school is ready for its first Year 7 cohort.
Mr. Hadfield comes from Nottingham
University Samworth Academy and is an
English specialist. He’s already been joining
us for Governors meetings and Year 7
events. Although he has met children in
school he has yet to meet most parents.
He’s asked us to pass on his best wishes
and excitement at joining us on our
journey.
Trust School Council
Pupils recently voted in two new
members to represent us on the TNLP
Trust School Council this year. Each half
term they work alongside students from
other schools in the area to plan
activities and share their views.
We are very proud of our young
councilors and know they will do a
great job throughout the year.
Make sure we have your latest
contact details – address, telephone
and parental contacts.
We are now emailing information to
parents and carers. Please supply
your email address to Miss Thickett to
be added to the list.
Child Protection
If you ever have any concerns about the
safety and wellbeing of a child please
speak to one of the designated child
protection officers.
At Temple Learning Academy these are
Mr. Browne and Miss McGloughlin.
In and around school be mindful of
language, road safety and the wellbeing
of all children.
This
includes the
car park and
gates.
Parent Survey – Completed in October 2016
Many thanks for completing the ‘Back to School Survey’ during your parent consultations this
half term. We had 70 completed responses representing 70% of the school community. The
responses were largely positive and there were lots of ideas on how we could make things
even better. We are pleased to see that you are all happy with your start to the new
academic year.
What you told us:
With 98% of parents happy their child attends Temple Learning Academy we feel that we
have made a very positive start to the 2016 – 2017 academic year.
The 94% who say they would recommend TLA to other parents please do. We are currently
recruiting for Reception and Year 7 pupils for 2017. 45% of our responses they chose us
because of reputation and word of mouth – this shows how powerful your voices are in the
community.
A full analysis of the outcomes of this survey can be found on our website (in the news
section) or on our Facebook page.
Meet your Governors
Where we had the biggest area to improve was ‘knowing who our Governors
are’. Our website has a section where you can see all Governors and read
about who they are and what they do. A ‘rogue’s gallery’ is included below.
Tim Kitching – Chair Martin Cosgrove Nigel Wood James Firth- Gieben
Drew Rowlands – Vice
Chair
Lauren Schofield Helen Stout Olwyn Moss
Nneka Ikeogu Andrea Smith
Martin Cosgrove and Lauren Schofield are parent governors who can often be
seen at drop-off or home time each day. Don’t be afraid to say hello and ask
them about their role.