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Knockhall Academy Newsletter
20th March 2015
Issue No. 4 of Term 4
From The Principal
The Writing Challenge closes on Tuesday 24th March so do encourage your child to enter and we look forward to a
great deal of high quality writing from our children. There are some great prizes on offer too and the winners will be
announced in the first week back after the Easter break.
For children who are attending the Easter SATs classes please make sure you have signed up for your place with Mrs
Carpenter (Assistant Principal) who is in charge of the programme. I believe there may be some early Easter Eggs
involved for children who work hard!
There are four staff leaving Knockhall at the end of this term:
Mrs Kemp retires after 17 service at Knockhall
Mr Simmonds has relocated nearer to his home in East London
Mrs Marks has relocated nearer to her home
Mrs Cavender has taken a post outside education after 17 years at Knockhall
We wish them very well for the future and we will ensure that fully qualified teachers are in place for the summer
term for their classes. We are interviewing several this week and next for appointment over the summer period
following unsuccessful interviews for permanent posts. We will only recruit the highest quality teachers we can find
and we are seeking teachers for permanent positions for September. You will be aware that teacher recruitment is
very challenging, especially mid-year. We are confident that we will find the right people to join our team. I will be
able to confirm the teachers for classes in next week’s Newsletter.
I am very pleased to say that we have had a lot of interest in the position of permanent Vice Principal also recently
advertised. Interviews for that position take place on Thursday 26 March and the post begins in September 2015. In
the meantime two colleagues for Lilac Sky Schools Academy Trust will be joining us after Easter to support the
leadership team through the summer term.
This week all staff have had additional training on Thursday evening in teaching, marking, subject leadership and
supporting the progress of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The staff worked very hard (as
ever) and the training programme was very well received. This week was also assessment week and teachers have
been assessing the progress of all children. This Data Dashboard reports are issued next week and our April Parents’
Evening is the opportunity to discuss progress with your child’s teacher and other staff.
Finally, we have had a long period without significant issues on the Zig-Zag lines but over the last two weeks there
have been a number of parents parking on them. As you know this is very dangerous and could result in a child being
hurt in an accident. Two local Community Support Officers are now monitoring the road and taking car registrations.
We have also set up an incident line with Kent Police. The authorities will take action against anyone who behaves
irresponsibly by parking on the Zig-Zags and the police are about to issue their first summons. Can I ask all parents –
please do not park on the Zig-Zag lines!
Many thanks and have a great weekend.
Stephen.
1
The Headteacher’s Writing Challenge 2015
This year’s writing challenge is open to all children from Nursery to Year 6. There are four categories and
some grand prizes to be won as well as certificates and smaller prizes for runners up. We are also hoping
to be able to publish the finalists in a low cost - high quality book!
The aim of the challenges is to encourage creativity, imaginative use of words and language and to
ensure the very best presentation of hand written work. This year’s theme is: ‘Living in Britain Today.’
Children have been doing some work on the idea of British Values including:





Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Children have considered what values are and why values and beliefs are important to people. We have
also talked about individual identity; what makes you the person you are? The challenge is for children
to write about living in Britain today and what is important to them about their life in this country. The
categories are:
Nursery and Reception:
To write up to five short sentences that describe living in Britain today accompanied by a picture or logo
that shows their emotion or feeling about living in Britain.
KS1 – Years 1 and 2:
To write a 101-word account of a typical day in their life in Britain – what was important about the day
and how would you know it was a British day?
Lower KS2 – Years 3 and 4:
To design an advertisement for life in Britain on one side of A4. How would you advertise British Values
to the rest of the world? (And what are they??)
Upper KS2 – Years 5 – 6:
To write a high quality 251-word account about life in Britain and why we are lucky to be living in Britain
today.
The prizes include: An i-pad mini, a Google tablet, an i-pod shuffle, doodle boards and a range of smaller
prizes including books, pens and writing equipment. Every entrant will receive a certificate of entry.
All work must be hand written and the closing date for entries is strictly Tuesday 24 March at 4pm.
2
Important Dates for your Diary
Star Pupils
Ana Mustahsin - Year 6
George Knowles - Year 6
Kieran Martin - Year 5
Connor Williamson - Year 5
Ben Playford - Year 4
Joshua Devell - Year 4
Tegan Holland - Year 3
Oscar Twin - Year 3
Jade Megaro - Year 2
James Taylor - Year 2
Rayan Cooley - Year 1
Liam Paulson - Year 1
Grace Weekes - Year 1
Lucinda Cooke - Year R
Louis Read - Year R
Yasemin Akgul – Year R
Nursery
Sophie Atkins - AM
Cody Knight - PM
Fundraising
Thank you for helping to raise
£123 on World Book Day
£521 at the Book Fair
£265 for Red Nose Day
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
23 March
Year 4 to
Arethusa
Boom
Academy
(after
school)
Monday
24 March
Year 4 to
Arethusa
Year 1 trip to
museum
25 March
Year 4 to
Arethusa
26 March
27 March
Irish Dancing
Club (after
school)
Groovy
Movers
(after
school)
Football
Club Yrs 3 &
4 (after
school)
Table Tennis
Club (after
school)
Groovy
Movers
(after
school)
Easter
Bonnet
Parade
2.45pm
Gym Club
(after
school)
Last Day of
Term 4
(finish at
3.15pm)
Chess Club
(after
school)
French Club
Please note that French Club has now finished and will
not be on for the rest of this academic year.
We are hoping to start it again in September.
Illness
Please be advised that the Health Protection Agency
guidelines clearly state that children suffering from
vomiting are recommended to be kept away from school
or nursery for 24 hours from the last episode of vomiting.
Children suffering from diarrhoea are recommended to be
kept away from school or nursery for 48 hours from the
last episode of diarrhoea.
3
Times of the Academy Day
Arrival
Jump Rope Challenge for the
British Hearth Foundation
8.40am
Morning Break
Reception
KS1
KS2
Lunch
Reception
KS1
KS2
Afternoon Break
Reception
KS1
KS2
Home
Children depart
During the final week of this term all children will be
taking part in a 'Jump Rope Challenge' which promotes
the importance of exercise. Children will be taking part in
skipping challenges including ‘who can skip the most in
one minute’. The winner from each class will be given a
certificate and a medal during the final assembly of the
term.
10.15am to 10.45am
(child initiated)
10.30am – 10.50am
10.30am – 10.50am
11.50am – 12.50pm
12.00pm – 1.00pm
12.00pm – 1.00pm
We are encouraging children to take part in this
challenge to not only promote exercise but also to raise
money for the British Heart Foundation which I am sure
you will agree is a very worthwhile cause.
Child initiated
None
None
Your child has been given a sponsorship form to
complete to raise as much as they can.
3.15pm
We will be collecting the sponsorship forms and money
on Thursday 26th March.
Thank you for your support.
Summer Dresses
Please note that summer dresses can be worn from Term 6 (1st June onwards).
Following a number of parent enquiries, we have been advised that the academy uniform supplier, Price &
Buckland, are not now able to supply lilac checked summer dresses. We have been able to source the
correct style and colour of dress and it is available from ASDA. Please see details below:
Girls School Bow Pocket, Gingham Dress – Purple
From £4.00 Sizes 3-4 up to 13 -14 years
The link to the website is
http://direct.asda.com/george/school/dresses/girls-school-bow-pocket-gingham-dresspurple/G004897805,default,pd.html
4
Academy Term Dates 2014/2015
Term 4
23 February – 30th March
Term 5
th
13 April – 22nd May
Term 6
1st June – 24th July
rd
Staff Development Days will be on:
30th March 2015
23rd and 24th July 2015
Cool Milk Scheme
Our academy provides a milk scheme that is available to all of our pupils and we would like to invite you
to register your child. School milk is free for all under-fives and is subsidised for pupils aged five or
older at around £15.00 a term.
Each pupil that registers with Cool Milk will receive a carton of semi-skimmed milk every day, which is
delivered fresh and chilled to the classroom. Their school milk will not only provide them with essential
nutrients, but as it is rehydrating and energy boosting it also bridges the gap between breakfast and
lunch to help children stay focused.
Find out the top ten reasons to drink school milk at www.coolmilk.com/whyschoolmilk
How to register
Milk is completely free for all children aged under five and is subsidised for children aged five and
older. Simply register at www.coolmilk.com or complete the registration form sent home with your
child this week.
My child is under five
 Just register by Tuesday at 5pm for your child’s free milk to start the following week.
 Free milk will continue until the Friday before your child’s fifth birthday. You will receive a
payment request three weeks before this time - if you wish your child to continue to receive
school milk simply make a payment.
My child is five or older
 Complete the registration form or register online as soon as possible. Shortly after registering
your will receive a payment request.
 You can pay Cool Milk either online, over the phone, at a local PayPoint or by cheque in halftermly, termly or annual instalments.
 Please pay by Tuesday 5pm for your child’s milk to start the following week.
If you have any questions regarding school milk please visit www.coolmilk.com or contact Cool Milk
directly on 0844 854 2913.
5
Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers
We now have over 2,000 vouchers!
Please keep sending them in, they are available from the tills in Sainsbury’s until the beginning of May.
Contact Details
Please ensure we have your correct contact details. We have had a few instances recently where we have
been unable to reach parents/carers as we have not been given up-to-date contact details.
If you are in any doubt, please contact the office to check which current contact details we have for your
child.
Please also ensure you check out our website regularly as it will contain up to date information about school
closure. In the unlikely event of a closure you will be informed by our Schoolcomms text messaging service
and a message will be posted on our website. Your correct contact details are important!
knockhall.lilacskyschools.co.uk
Knockhall Academy
Attendance Percentages for Week 16/03/15 – 20/03/15
Authorised
Unauthorised
Class
Caterpillars
Bumble Bees
Butterflies
Foxes
Badgers
Rabbits
Woodpeckers
Owls
Attendance %
89.0
82.1
82.1
89.3
94.6
96.2
88.3
83.9
Absence %
9.0
13.7
17.9
9.6
5.4
2.3
11.7
11.4
Absence %
2.1
4.2
0
1.1
0
1.5
0
4.6
Lates
1.1
1.6
0
6.3
2.9
2.3
0
2.5
Squirrels
Deer
Hawks
Hedgehogs
Leopards
Giraffes
Lions
Tigers
97.9
96.3
98.2
91.5
93.6
98.2
97.6
98.9
0.7
3.7
1.4
7.0
6.4
1.5
1.9
1.2
1.4
0
0.4
1.5
0
0.4
0.5
0
1.4
0.7
3.6
1.1
0
0
0
0.4
6
Academy Attendance Target 96.3%
Summary of Attendance since September 2014
2014/2015
Date Week
Ending
20/03/15
13/03/15
06/03/15
27/02/15
13/02/15
06/02/15
30/01/15
23/01/15
16/01/15
09/01/15
19/12/14
12/12/14
05/12/14
28/11/14
21/11/14
14/11/14
07/11/14
17/10/14
10/10/14
03/10/14
26/09/14
19/09/14
12/09/14
05/09/14
Number
On Roll
410
410
405
405
405
402
411
411
411
413
411
412
415
417
416
416
414
405
406
407
408
409
408
404
Overall
Attendance
94.8
94.7
95.1
94.2
93.7
94.1
94.7
95.1
95.2
95.1
95.3
95.5
95.5
95.8
95.9
96.1
96.3
96.3
96.3
96.6
96.7
96.6
95.8
95.1
Weekly
Attendance
92.7
94.6
95.3
94.8
93.2
95.5
93.6
95.7
95.8
95.3
92.9
94.5
92.1
94.2
94.7
94.7
96.2
96.1
94.9
96.2
97.2
96.0
96.2
95.1
Unauthorised
Absence
Persistent Absentees
Under 85%
1.0
1.0
1.4
1.6
1.6
2.0
0.6
0
0.2
1.0
0.7
1.7
3.9
2.6
2.1
1.6
0.7
1.3
2.0
0.9
0.6
1.3
1.2
1.9
6.3
5.9
5.9
5.2
6.7
7.0
6.2
6.3
6.1
6.8
4.6
5.6
5.5
5.7
5.0
4.3
5.5
4.9
3.9
4.7
6.1
8.1
5.6
7.9
Persistent
Absentees Under
80%
3.7
3.9
3.2
3.5
3.2
3.0
5.3
5.4
3.2
3.4
2.7
2.4
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.2
2.9
2.2
3.2
3.2
2.2
4.6
5.1
6.9
7