Dear Parents/Carers

There is a buzz around school as we gear up for some of the key events of our school year.

Children have been practising for next week’s Sports Days, Year 6 are busy learning the script for the Key Stage 2 performance and RFA volunteers are busy preparing for the summer fayre in a few weeks’ time.  Year 2 are rehearsing their songs for the Key Stage 1 Music festival later in June and Mr Lamb is coaching teams for a number of sports tournaments over the remainder of the term.

These occasions build lasting memories for our pupils and I guess that many similar events are highlights of your own days at primary school. Thank you for all your support during what is an extremely busy time of year – it is much appreciated.

Kind regards

Mrs D Hudson

Headteacher

We are looking forward to our sports days next week.

• Wednesday 19^st June                 Kindergarten and Reception starting at 9.30 a.m.  Key Stage 1 starting at 10.30 a.m.

• Thursday 20^th June                     Key Stage 2 starting at 9.30 a.m.

Please remember to send your child to school in their PE kit on the relevant day (including plain ‘house colour’ t-shirt where requested).

The RFA will have refreshments available for spectators to buy and have kindly provided refreshments for children. Please bring your own outdoor chair or blanket to sit on. Let’s hope that the sun makes an appearance!

In September, there is a new requirement that the length of the school week should be a minimum of 32.5 hours. To mitigate the effect of our staggered end of school day on some pupils, the governors have ratified slight changes to the school day timings, which come into operation in September.

• Registration will be at 08:45 a.m. with children able to come on to the school site from 08.35 a.m.
• Classroom doors in Reception and Key Stage 1 to be opened from 8.40 a.m. (as currently)
• Key Stage 2 pupils are to line up from 08:35 a.m. and will go into school from 08.40 a.m. (as currently)
• Pupils not present in the classroom when the register is taken at 8:45 a.m. will be marked as late.

Timings for the end of the school day will also change slightly. Nearer the time, we will let you know which exit your child’s class will use.

• Reception 15:10 – 15:20
• Year 1 and 2 15:15
• Key Stage 2 15:20

Although the changes are minimal, and many of you will have already anticipated a change as your child moves to a new year group in September, these new arrangements make sure that all classes meet the 32.5 hour requirement.

Please remember that school and Kindergarten will be closed for all pupils on Thursday 4^th July as the school will be used as a polling station. Remote learning will be set on this day.

Thank you for sending your sponsor money into school or depositing it via ParentMail. The current total raised stands at a fantastic £1666.40, but it’s not too late to send in your money if you are still collecting it.

We are very grateful for your wonderful efforts: joining us on the day for the walk, the amazing costumes and obviously for all your efforts fund raising.  We will be giving some certificates to recognise the fundraising of individual pupils and also emailing a certificate of thanks to everyone who took part.

Two of our pupils in year 3 (Edith and Lilly-May) are working towards a badge with their Brownie pack. As part of their award, they are supporting the Cats Protection League and are collecting donations of blankets, towels and cat food. Next week, a box will be outside the main school office for any donations you might want to make. Great work Edith and Lilly-May!

• PE – please remember that children must wear their school sweatshirt or cardigan on PE days. Each child needs a P.E. bag which is kept in school and contains a pair of pumps and a blue tracksuit top.
• Earrings and Ear Piercing – jewellery must not be worn to school, although a watch (analogue or digital but not a smart watch) and small pair of simple ear studs are acceptable.

Please make sure that any earrings are gold or silver coloured studs. Hooped earrings are not permitted. For safety reasons, all earrings must be removed for P.E. lessons. Therefore, if you are considering having your child’s ears pierced, please arrange for it to be carried out during the summer break so it will not interfere with children’s learning in this important area of the curriculum.

• Nail varnish or any form of makeup are not allowed.
• Drinks bottles for use during the day must only contain water. (A separate drink, which may be squash or juice, can be brought as part of a lunch box.)

And finally….that perennial problem: parking in Gregory Road. Again this week, I have had to deal with complaints from members of the school community and local residents about the inconsiderate and sometimes dangerous parking in Gregory Road. Please share the reminder that was sent out earlier in the week with any family or friends who collect you child.

We are working with Dudley Performing Arts (DPA) to provide music lessons in school and if you are thinking about starting lessons now is the time to start! The team at DPA have decades of experience and are the biggest provider of music education in our area. Students can start learning for as little as £8.50 a session and if you would like your child to start simply click on the link below to find out how it works.

Learning a musical instrument is a great thing for young people to do. It can help in all sorts of ways and research suggests that it can help children develop academically and socially. Lessons take place in school making it easy to fit in around your busy family lives and we hope that you will take up this amazing offer. https://www.dudley.gov.uk/things-to-do/dudley-performing-arts/information-forparents-and-young-people/music-lessons-in-schools/

As you are aware, Mrs McGivney is only available in school on a Friday so we now have a ‘triage’ system in place.  If you wish to speak to Mrs McGivney or arrange a meeting, please email Mrs Brown jbrown@ridge.dudley.sch.uk  who will liaise with Mrs McGivney the next time she is in school.

This Weeks attendance 

Whole School - 95.72%

Reception - 96.67%

Year 1 – 97.33%

Year 2 – 98.67%

Year 3 – 96.77%

Year 4 – 88.15%

Year 5 – 96.00%

Year 6 – 95.67%

Well done Year 2!

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Mrs Hudson is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and any concerns should be shared with her or the Deputy Safeguarding Leads – Mrs Hadley, Miss Beddoes and Mrs Gledhill.  Where child protection concerns are raised, the school has a statutory duty to refer these concerns to children’s social care.

Full calendar dates for the academic year can be found here........  https://theridge.sch.life/page/detail/parent-dates-2023-2024

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