Dear Parents/Carers

It’s been another busy time in school over the past few weeks and I want to thank you for your support with all the varied activities and themed days which have taken place.

The skipping workshop was a fun filled day which saw the children developing their skills, and at the showcase assembly at the end of the day it was wonderful to see techniques that the children had learned. Thanks to your donations, £160 was raised which bought a skipping pack containing new individual ropes… these will enable the children to carry on developing their skipping ability.

The children enjoyed wearing their PJs to celebrate World Book Day. They listened to stories, had guest readers and Miss Wesson led a special assembly. Particular highlights were Year 1 reading their reading books to Reception and also Year 6 going to Foundation Stage to share their favourite books with their buddies. It was lovely cementing not only the importance of reading at school but also promoting reading for pleasure at home.

Finally, it was lovely to see the children arriving at school this morning wearing things that make them happy, whilst raising money for Comic Relief. They really spread the happiness throughout the whole school community!

I hope that you are looking forward to our Easter celebrations next week. Have a lovely weekend.

Kind regards

Mrs D Hudson

Headteacher

ParentMail Launch

We are delighted to be introducing a new platform for electronic communication and online payment – ParentMail. Hopefully you have all received information about this change. Next week you will be sent either an email and/or text message from ParentMail. Please follow the instructions in the message so that you are able to access the app, which will enable you to

• Pick up school messages instantly.
• Book and pay for school dinners (via accounts section).
• Pay for schools trips / OSCAR / after school clubs / uniform in just a few taps.
• Complete forms, give consent / permissions and give feedback on surveys.
• Keep on top of school meetings and events.
• Report pupil absences
• Book parents evening appointments.

If you need any additional information or assistance, please visit the help site: https://www.parentmail.co.uk/help/parenthelp/ or if you have not received any contact from ParentMail by 22nd March please contact Mrs Jones in the school office.

On Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd March there will be a drop in session at school from 8.30am, where office staff will be available to support anyone having issues logging in or downloading the app.

Contacting Class Teachers

We will continue to use Class Dojo for direct communication with class teachers. However, please can we ask that for urgent messages, you contact the school office.  We've recently had a couple of instances where parents have sent time sensitive messages to Class Dojo. If the class teacher does not get an opportunity to check before school or at lunchtime, or the member of staff is absent these messages may be missed.

Contacting Mrs McGivney, Our SENCo.

As you are aware, Mrs McGivney is only available in school on a Friday. After Easter we will have a new ‘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 - 96.73%

Reception - 96.33%

Year 1 – 96.55%

Year 2 – 96.67%

Year 3 – 97.67%

Year 4 – 99.63%

Year 5 – 94.48%

Year 6 – 96.00%

Well done Year 4!

Thank you for bringing your unwanted textiles into school as part of the Bags2School Collection. As a result £92 was raised by the RFA.

We have recently received a certificate to recognise the school’s fundraising for the charity which is so close to our hearts. Thank you for your generosity.

Towards the end of term we will be holding a number of Easter Events including our traditional Easter Assemblies. To comply with Fire Regulations entrance will be by ticket only.

• Thursday 21^st March  2.00 p.m. – Key Stage 2 Easter Assembly.
• Friday 22^{nd t}March 9.00 a.m. – Reception and Key Stage 1 Easter Bonnet Parade – we look forward to seeing your creations!

Nearer the time and for both events, one ticket per child will be issued in the first instance. Please return any unwanted tickets to school. If you require an additional ticket, please contact the school office.

In addition Key Stage 2 children can enter our competition to decorate a hard boiled egg.  Please bring the eggs to the school on Wednesday 20^th March and take them to the classroom. The eggs will then be taken to the Bungalow where they will be on display after school for children, parents and carers to see.

Please remember that next Friday we finish early.

• Reception 1.40-1.50 pm.
• Year 1 and 2 – 1.50 pm.
• Years 3 and 4 – 1.55 pm.
• Years 5 and 6 – 2.00 pm.

Term starts for the children on Monday 8^th April. There is no INSET Day at the start of the Summer term this year.

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.

There hardly seems to be a week go by when we don’t hear about the sometimes devastating impact of cyber bulling. The online world is constantly changing and it is often hard for parents and carers to keep up. The attached guide offers some useful guidance and overarching principals for opening up conversations with your child to help keep them safe.

There are new measles vaccination clinics every Saturday in March in Brierley Hill and also at additional locations across the borough. These will be offering free measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisation to children aged from 3 years and 4 months and anyone born from 1970 onwards. Appointments do not need to be booked. People can just turn up on the day. These clinics are a great opportunity for easier access to immunisation for those who haven’t received 2 doses of their MMR vaccine. 

A porcine free vaccine is also available on request. 

Link below with dates and locations of the clinics:

https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/care-and-health/mmr-vaccine-pop-up-clinics/

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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