We’re delighted that FroG are giving us up to £4,000 to spend on our first iPads and each class will be allocated one. These will not only be useful in class, they will also help us share more about what the children are learning about and doing in school with parents. The iPads will also enable our Reception teachers to use an online Learning Journey that can be shared with parents and enable parents to contribute with observations from home. There will be more information about this as soon as we get the technology in school. In the meantime, we would like to thank FroG for all their hard work fundraising and the school community for supporting all the events – with very tight school budgets, we would struggle without this.

In addition to sending out our newsletter by ParentMail and publishing it on our website, we have also been printing it and sending out a paper copy with every pupil. We know that most parents read the online versions rather than the paper ones, particularly as they go out first and the paper versions sometimes don’t make it out of the children’s bags. We’re sure you would agree that this not only wastes money which could be much better spent, it is also not good for the environment. Therefore, we are only sending it on ParentMail and publishing the website version now. We are making a paper version available in the carousel in the school entrance where you or your child can collect one if preferable.

Last week we welcomed back Miss Lewis on her return from maternity leave. Everyone, especially the children in Jaqueline Wilson Class, is delighted to see her. As well as being class teacher, Miss Lewis is our SENCo, coordinating and overseeing the provision for pupils with special needs. If you have concerns that your child has any special needs, your first point of call is your child’s class teacher. Once special needs have been identified, the SENCo is informed and will ensure the appropriate support is put in place.

I am delighted to have joined Greenfield as the new permanent headteacher. It has been a busy first week getting to know everyone and as much as I can about how the school works.

My first day was spent with the staff for our INSET, where we were thinking about how you can better remember the things you learn and about a ‘growth mindset’. I’m of the firm belief that anyone can be successful at anything with the right opportunity, time, input, effort and practice. This really underpins the vision that ‘Everyone can grow in a Greenfield!’

It was lovely to meet the children as they came back on Tuesday and start getting to know them. They are a chirpy and enthusiastic bunch and have been very forthcoming. In my first assembly, we talked about looking forwards to the new year and a new start, while remembering fondly all we have achieved in the year that’s passed. It’s good to see that some children have made new year’s resolutions or have been thinking about how they might challenge themselves to try something new. Change can be both very exciting and a little scary at the same time, and this has resonated with us all a little this week.

Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly that I am feeling at home already. I have been trying to learn everyone’s name – I have mastered a few but I’m a long way off my target. People keep asking how to pronounce my name as it is a tricky one. Phonetically, it is ‘sti-lee-ann-ee-dees’ and most people are along the right lines when they just give it a go. Lots of parents and grandparents have introduced themselves while I have been outside school in the morning or end of day and wished me well too. If I have not met you already, I look forward to doing so in the next few weeks.

As I am getting to know you, I appreciate that you will be keen to know more about me. I’ve spent the last 12 years in Lincolnshire but I was born in Sheffield (hence the Yorkshire accent). I was headteacher of a large primary school for the past 8 years and absolutely loved it. As my husband works in the West Midlands and stayed here through the week, we decided to move home so we can spend more family time together. We have three children – two are grown up and have flown the nest but my little boy started school in Kidderminster this week. He was less anxious about the change than me and seems very settled already!

It was six months ago that I was appointed so, after waiting for so long, I am excited to throw myself into being head of Greenfield now. I am pleased to be supported by my deputy, Mrs Remmers. I can see she did a super job of leading and managing school last term and her dedication and hard work is very much appreciated.

Having been here for just one week, I am certain that everyone at Greenfield will be working hard together to continue to ensure the wellbeing and education of the children is the best that it can be.

Best wishes

Mrs Claire Stylianides

Headteacher

It is essential that all our children get to school on time every day or else they miss out on valuable learning time. Children who are late miss out on the very start of the school day when important information is often shared with the children and this can make it very difficult for a child to get fully involved in his or her learning. A child who is persistently late by only 5 minutes a day will miss out on over 15 hours of learning during the course of a school year! Lateness can clearly have a significant impact on a pupil’s achievement.

Our school day runs from 8.55am to 3.30pm. Children can come into school from 8.45am and all children must be in their classrooms at 8.55am when registers will be taken. If your child is not in the classroom at this time, they will be marked as late. If you arrive at school after 8.55am, please report to the school office to sign your child in. There are a small number of families who consistently arrive late for school each morning.

We are determined not just to maintain our high standards of attendance but to improve attendance during this school year. If your child is unable to attend due to illness, please telephone the School Office by 9.30am and leave a voicemail on the dedicated absence line for each day they are absent.

Good school attendance gives children the opportunity of success and helps them to develop skills for life. We expect all our children to attend school every day, unless there is an unavoidable cause such as illness.

The percentages below will help you understand our expected attendance levels.

97% & above: Excellent attendance

95% – 97%: Good attendance

90% – 95%: Worrying

Less than 90%: Serious concerns. Your child has less chance of being successful in his or her learning and social development

‘I know at this time of year there is pressure to create a perfect magical Christmas. I know that you want to give them the magic of Santa and ensure he brings the best gifts and sometimes that means a bit of stress for you, but I’m writing to tell you a secret.

I’m writing to tell you that every January when your child comes back to school they tell me all about the Christmas holidays. They tell me about the days when everyone stayed indoors and watched TV.

They tell me about the walk in the freezing cold to get a McDonald’s. They tell me about staying at Grandma’s and then being excited when you came back from work. They tell me about how you let them snuggle in your bed.

They tell me how you played cards and took them swimming one day and forgot their towel. They tell me about a visit to a friend’s on New Year’s Eve and how they stayed up to midnight. They tell me how they loved staying in their PJ’s some days and a trip out another day.

They mention their gifts, but for them Christmas is you and your love and time and routines and feeling safe. You are their favourite thing!’

What a lovely reminder that while we all worry about the stresses and expense of Christmas, spending time together is the most important thing. And that’s free!

Happy Holidays from The Greenfield Team!

See you all on Tuesday 7th January 2020 for the start of the Spring Term.

So many exciting things have happened in our school this week. It’s been a very busy one, that’s for sure! On Monday evening, thirteen children from our David Almond class sang in a Christmas concert at St James’ Church, Wollaston. We were invited as the ‘special guests’ of In Sound Company Community Choir, and the event itself was in aid of Wavelength, a creative music project for young people aged 12-18 with mental health conditions. Obviously, we wanted to support this excellent project, and our children did us proud with the four carols they performed.

On Tuesday, we had a wonderful Music Mark celebration assembly, where Chris Jones, head of Dudley Performing Arts, presented us with our award. There were lots of performances from our budding musicians too, and I felt very proud of all that we have achieved with our Music curriculum and enrichment. I may have even committed to start learning a musical instrument myself next term!

As you know, we entered a tree into the St Thomas’ Church Christmas Tree Festival last week. The organisers wrote to us to congratulate us on our “beautiful and creative tree”, and also to tell us that we were the overall winners! Our letter also described the pupils, who met and hosted the Mayor, as “a credit to your school”.

Three of our Year 5 pupils have had their work chosen for publication as part of a national Young Writers competition. Ben Noble, Khadija Imaan and Joseph Kilbride have shown real promise with their writing. Their English teacher, Mrs Knapman, says “the children were really motivated to write amazing monster poetry!” We will be sure to include some of the children’s writing in upcoming newsletters.

What a treat our Reception parents had on Wednesday morning as they watched our youngest children perform their show, The First Christmas. The children were confident, performed and sang beautifully and it was hard to believe that they are only four and five years old! They have all made an excellent start to their primary education. I have really enjoyed watching them grow this term.

And to top our week off, we had a visit from Her Majesty’s Inspector, Mark Sims, from OFSTED on Tuesday. He carried out a subject-specific survey into Modern Foreign Languages in Key Stage 2. It was a very positive visit, and you will receive a letter in the new year explaining his findings.

I would like to thank all of our staff and children for their support and positivity this week in what has been our busiest one this term. We are looking forward to a week of Christmas fun and laughter next week!

I also have some sad news to share. As many of you know, Gary Tyas, husband of Mrs Claire Tyas, who worked at Greenfield as a teaching assistant for many years, had been ill for some time. Unfortunately, he passed away during the afternoon of Sunday 1st December. I am sure you will share with me in sending our condolences and love to Claire and her family at this difficult time.

The collection at our carol service at St Thomas’ Church on Tuesday will be for Brain Tumour Support. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Winter Mini Challenge encourages children to keep reading through those cold, winter holidays.

With colourful characters including Snow Trolls and spaghetti-eating Yetis, there’s plenty of fun to be had in Pugs of the Frozen North, this year’s Winter Mini Challenge title.

To take part, children simply read three books of their choice over the winter period, then add each book to their Challenge website profile and leave a short book review.

Rating and reviewing three books online will unlock a virtual badge and a special Pugs of the Frozen North certificate to print off and keep!

The Winter Mini Challenge starts Monday 2 December 2019 and finishes on Monday 13 January 2020.

Books added to the website during this period will count towards unlocking the Mini Challenge rewards.

There is also a whole host of fun activities, quizzes and reading recommendations, plus an exciting new competition.

The Winter Mini Challenge is run through the Summer Reading Challenge website.

https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/news/general/winter-mini-challenge-19

Key Stage 1 were wonderful this week in their performances of ‘The Night Before Christmas’. There was some fabulous singing and dancing, and the children with speaking parts were lovely and clear!

Thank you to all of the staff involved in putting the show together; with quite a few children off poorly at the start of the week, it was a bit of a challenge at times.

Next week, our Reception parents will be treated to seeing their children perform in their show ‘The Very First Christmas’. Watching your child’s first school show is just so magical and memorable. There will be lots of smiles, and possible a tear or two. Any ‘comedy’ moments will be an absolute bonus!

Our Key Stage 2 children are busy rehearsing carols and readings for our Carol Service which takes place at St Thomas’ Church on Tuesday 17th December at 10am. This is a very special event, and we would love for as many families as possible to join us. You will also be able to see Greenfield’s contribution to St Thomas’ Christmas Tree Festival. Some of our pupils were at the opening ceremony with the mayor this morning. Take a look at the back page – I’m sure you’ll agree that Mrs Knapman and her band of decoration-makers have done a fantastic job!

At the time of writing, the Christmas Fayre set-up was in full swing! We are hoping to see lots of you there, spending your hard-earned cash and having a jolly old time! If you aren’t feeling Christmassy already, then I’m sure you will be by 6pm this evening!

So much thanks goes to the brilliant FroG team who have made this event happen. So many parents have contributed in lots of different ways, and for that we are very grateful. We will let you know the fayre profit total as soon as we have it.