It has been a remarkable week here at Galley Hill with us hearing that we had successfully been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark last Friday and then being assessed as an OPAL Platinum School yesterday!
Achievement of the Primary Science Quality Mark reflects the development of effective science leadership, visionary curriculum design and excellent teaching practice which is positively impacting on children’s learning across the school. I would like to express thanks to Mrs Pritchett and Miss Lewis who have inspired our whole school community while working towards this accreditation.
We began our journey with Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) nearly three years ago. Led by Mrs Elsey, who was brilliantly supported by Mrs Sharples and Mrs Harris, we have been on a mission to improve the quality of the children’s playtimes by making them more active, ensuring that a range of activities were available and by using the most up to date research in child development. After all the hard work, our OPAL mentor could see the impact on our children during his visit yesterday and awarded us with the highest possible accreditation – OPAL Platinum. We look forward to a more formal award presentation in the Autumn term. Thank you so much to Mrs Elsey and her team.
Receiving two nationally recognised awards in such a short time really does reflect the hard work and dedication of our whole team in giving the children of Galley Hill the best possible opportunities in life. I am so incredibly proud of the staff and children.
Art Day
Thanks also goes to Miss Hosein who organised our annual art day last Thursday. It was brilliant to see the children so very inspired by some of the world’s most influential artists and I know they also enjoyed sharing their final pieces with children from a different year group. We hope the children were full of excitement about what they had achieved.
Staff News
I am absolutely delighted to share that Miss Reardon learnt this week that she has successfully completed her degree (it really has been a week of celebrations!) after working so incredibly hard whilst also being in school full time. She will now be embarking in teacher training, with us here at Galley Hill, starting in September. Miss Reardon epitomises our mission to be a learning community and we are so proud of her achievement.
Miss Reardon leaves a vacancy for a teaching assistant which we are delighted to share we have successfully appointed for. Mrs Brown, who has been working with us on a temporary basis in this academic year, will become a permanent member of staff in September.
Personal Fans
We have noticed an increasing number of children bringing personal fans into school during this hot weather. If your child does require their own fan, please ensure that it is clearly named. As with other personal items, the school cannot accept any responsibility for lost or damaged fans. Please be aware that class staff may ask your child to temporarily turn off or put away their fan if it is becoming a distraction to learning.
Sports Day
A reminder that our sports day will be taking place on Wednesday 2nd July. The event for children in Key Stage One and Key Stage Two (Years 1 to 6) will take place from 9:15am to 11:30am. The event for children in Nursery and Reception will take place from 1:30pm to 2:15pm (Morning only Nursery children should be brought back to school for 1:30pm). Parents and carers are welcome to attend the event but will need to leave the school site between 11:30am and 1:30pm. La Quench coffee van will also be on site for the morning selling hot and cold drinks and bacon rolls!
Children should come to school in their PE shorts and trainers on this day. They should wear a t-shirt in the colour of their school house (Horowitz – blue / Wilson – yellow / Dahl – red / Rowling – green). If you are unsure which house your child is in, please speak to their class teacher.
As with previous years, due to a number of serious health and safety incidents in the past, this event is only for the children to participate in and there will not be any races for parents or staff. Thank you for your understanding with this.
Switcheroo Transition Day
Also a reminder that our ‘switcheroo’ transition day will take place on Thursday 10th July (the same day our children in Year 6 go to visit their new secondary schools). On this day, the children will spend the morning with their class teachers for the next academic year. After school on that day, there will be an Open Classrooms event where your child can bring you to their new classroom so you can see where they will be and say hello to the new teacher.
Sharing Assemblies and Leaver’s Assembly
Many thanks to Team Jade for their lovely sharing assembly this week. Our final sharing assembly of the year will be presented by Team Garnet at 9am on Thursday 3rd July. Parents wishing to attend should report to the school office at this time please.
On Wednesday 23rd July, we will be having our Year 6 Leaver’s Assembly at 9am. All parents / carers of children in Year 6 are invited to attend for the assembly and afterwards for refreshments. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible – bring the tissues!
Health & Wellbeing Day
On Friday 4th July children at Galley Hill will be participating in Health & Wellbeing Day. They will be off timetable all day, taking part in a range of workshops and sessions promoting their physical and mental health. Please can all children come in to school wearing their PE kits. We hope they enjoy it!
