A new term!

As the pupils continue to work towards their CE or Scholarship examinations this half term please remind them that the staff are here to help, guide and support in any way they can.

Prep will be supporting their learning and revision so it is important that they are completed and handed in on time, so that they can receive valuable feedback to further guide their learning.

The children continue to work hard on their projects and we are delighted with the range of topics and the dedication they have shown towards their presentations. We warmly invite you to support their PSPQ Symposium on Friday 28^th June where they will share their work.

A Subject Topic & Skills Grid giving an overview of what the children will be covering this term will be shared next week.

Please find the Homework Timetable for the term here.

The pupils will be given a Prep diary where Prep will be recorded. Pluses will also be noted in here each week.

We are thrilled that every Year 8 pupil has now reached Senior status. I am equally thrilled that we continue to have pupils applying to become Prefects. It is a highlight of the term being able to award the children their badges in recognition of their continued leadership, role modelling and commitment to Pennthorpe.  I hope that some more of our Seniors will consider applying to become a Prefect this term, which they can do here.

The Student Wellbeing Ambassadors continue to do great work around the school and will continue their sessions with our Wellbeing Guardian this term as part of their ongoing training.

Being a Year 8 pupil means you are constantly busy, so we wish to say thank you to the pupils for taking on these extra responsibilities and for being so awesome when undertaking them.

You can find out more about the Flourish Years and the children’s Leadership Opportunities as they progress through their Senior Years at Pennthorpe on our website here.

The Pennthorpe PSHEE curriculum will continue this term. In accordance with government statutory guidance, specific elements of age appropriate RSE (Relationship and Sex Education) will be incorporated where applicable. Please do contact Form Tutors, in the first instance, should you have any specific questions regarding curriculum content and/or feedback.

Year 8 will be covering the following topics:

First Aid

Moving Forwards – Reviewing personal strengths, identifying opportunities, developing strengths and weaknesses, setting targets and goals and how to manage change.

Our bespoke Wellbeing scheme, RISE, will incorporate the theme of ‘Transition’ this term. Firstly this will concentrate on activities related to ‘Good Goodbyes’ and the children will reflect on their time at Pennthorpe. The second half of term will focus on ‘Happy Horizons’ where they will start to think about their future journeys.

The pupils will be participating in an exciting and varied Leavers Programme this year which I hope they enjoy. A full programme will be published and shared with you later this term. But, as a taster, it includes; a charity sleep out, trips to Chessington and to see Hamilton the Musical, a Garden Party and much, much more!

Some key dates for your diary include:

• Residential to Dorset – Monday 17th June – Friday 21st June
• PSPQ Symposium – Friday 28th June
• Year 8 Play – Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd July
• Parents Soft Ball Match – Monday 8th July
• Graduation Dinner – Tuesday 9th July
• Leaver’s Huddle and Parent Drinks – Wednesday 10th July

A key part of the Good Goodbye Programme is the Year 8 Residential. This year we will be travelling to Buddens Activity Centre with Rockley Adventures between Monday 17th – Friday 21st June. Initial information can be found in the letter here. Detailed information and a kit list will be shared closer to the date.

We will also be creating a Leaver’s Year book and Mrs Partridge will provide further details later in this term.

For all absences, please complete the absence request form via the Parent Portal. Please see the guide here on how to request an absence for your child.

If your child will need any prescribed or over-the-counter medication administered during the school day, please complete the following form here. No medication can be administered without this form.

Children are to bring their water bottles to school and take them home daily. It is very important that the children drink water throughout the day, and using bottles in the classrooms helps to prevent spillages! If you do forget a bottle, just let us know and we can ensure that children have a cup to drink out of.

In Years 5 – 8 pupils must have their own fully stocked pencil case, including the following items:

• Pencils
• Rubber
• Pencil Sharpener
• Blue Fountain or Handwriting Pen (not biro)
• Purple pen (a purple biro is fine – children will use this to refine and perfect their work)
• 30cm ruler
• Coloured pencils
• Glue stick

Children should also have their charged laptop with them in school each day.

A reminder that mobile phones are not allowed in school. If you child needs to bring one for their journey to and from school (which must be pre-agreed if travel is on the school minibus), mobiles must be left at the Front Office for the duration of the school day.

Drop off is from 8:00am, and pupils should head to The Attic before heading to PA2 for 8:20am. Pupils arriving earlier than 8:00am should be booked in for breakfast from 7:30am. Formal lessons commence at 8:30am.

Pick up is at 5:00pm at the front of school, unless your child is staying for Prep when pick up will be 6:00pm at the front of school. Please note that pick up is at the earlier time of 4:00pm on Wednesdays, unless there is a match scheduled.

All children must ‘blob out’ before they leave the school site (either with the duty teacher or in The Attic).

If you’d like your child to join us for breakfast, or stay beyond 5:00pm for Hobbies or After School Supervision / Supper Club, please book this via the Portal, or contact extendedday@pennthorpe.com for assistance.

As well as your pocket-sized diary, parents can also view the Summer Term calendar via the website and Parent Portal.

Please do have a look through and pop important dates in your diary.  Of course, sometimes plans need to be updated, and so any changes will be updated on our electronic calendar and communicated to you as soon as possible.

The key events for our Year 8 parents include:

• Sports Day followed by our Pennthorpe Family Summer Social will be taking place on Friday 24th May.
• Year 8 Common Entrance Exams are between Tuesday 4th – Thursday 6th June
• The pupils will enjoy the Good Goodbye Leavers’ Programme from Friday 7th June to the end of term. Further details of the programme will be shared closer to the time, but includes highlights such as a charity sleep out, trips to Chessington and to see Hamilton the Musical and a Garden Party!
• The Year 8 Residential to Buddens Activity Centre in Dorset departs on Monday 17th June for a week.
• Music for a Summer’s Evening on Thursday 27th June.
• The children are invited to dress up for our Whole School ‘Be You’ Dress Up Day on Friday 28th June to celebrate PSHEE & Diversity Spotlight Week.
• Parents are invited to the Year 8 PSPQ Symposium on Friday 28th June at 2:00pm.
• Save the date for our Pennthorpe Golf Day on Sunday 30th June.
• On the evenings of Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd July Years 7 & 8 will take the the stage in their production of Oliver.
• Prizegiving for pupils in Years 1 – 8 will take place on Saturday 6th July.
• A Year 8 parent and pupil softball match is schedule for the afternoon of Monday 8th July, so please pop the date in your diary.
• The Year 8 Graduation Ball also takes place on Tuesday 9th July. More information, including menu choices, will be circulated nearer to the time.
• After term ends at lunchtime on Wednesday 10th July, our Year 8 parents are invited to join us for a drinks reception and Leavers’ Huddle until 1:45pm.

Our brilliant Friends of Pennthorpe, as always, will be doing lots to support our school and community this term. Key things for you to watch out for include:

• Bags of Support collections on Friday 26th April and Friday 14th June.
• The Summer Term Friends of Pennthorpe meeting is scheduled for Thursday 2nd May at 8:30am. Everyone is welcome to attend to help develop upcoming FoP plans.
• After school Ice Cream Sale on Friday 17th May.
• The Friends of Pennthorpe Father’s Day Shop will open its doors on Wednesday 12th June.
• The Friends of Pennthorpe AGM will be held on Tuesday 18th June.
• Friends of Pennthorpe Second Hand Uniform Shop & Blueblood Sports Pop Up Shop on Tuesday 25th June.

As it is the Summer Term, all children should now be in summer uniform. Please make sure your child’s uniform is labelled with their name, as it does make it a lot easier to reunite lost items with their owners.

Children are expected to wear smart uniform each day:

• All children should wear their blazers coming to and from school.
• Clean black school shoes (if a child need to wear trainers, for example where their school shoes have been misplaced, please make the form teacher aware)
• Shirts need to be long enough to tuck in.
• Earrings – one plain stud only. No hoops. The child needs to be able to take the earrings out independently for PE and Games lessons.
• No necklaces.
• Plain wristwatch, no smartwatches to be worn.
• All shoulder length tied up with a plain hairband or small school coloured scrunchie or headband.

Post their CE Exams, Year 8 pupils can wear their own clothes to school. This is a privilege.  It is expected, however, that all pupils dress sensibly and appropriately for the school environment and to take part in the day’s activities.

Please could each child have their water bottle, a sun hat and sun cream in school as the weather gets warmer. Please also apply sun cream before the children come to school as we will be outside as much as possible. We cannot provide sun cream in school so it is essential that children bring this in themselves.

If you have any uniform requirements, please place an order via our website here. You can also book an appointment at the Uniform Shop by contacting uniform@pennthorpe.com or drop in during the times below:

• Monday 8:30am – 9:30am
• Tuesday 3:30pm – 4:30pm
• Wednesday 3:30pm – 4:30pm
• Thursday CLOSED
• Friday 8:30am – 9:30am

For the Summer Term the boys and girls will be switching to cricket and athletics. A full kit list is available here, and all branded items can be ordered through Blueblood

Cricket:

White Pennthorpe branded top, white cricket trousers (these can be any brand and are optional for girls), white socks, a blue Pennthorpe cap, and trainers or cricket shoes. White cricket jumper is an optional extra.

Pads/helmet/gloves/box pants are required for those playing hardball (see team sheets for some groups in Year 5 or above). The school can provide pads/helmet/gloves if necessary.

Athletics:

Blue Pennthorpe branded polo shirt and shorts, athletics vest (optional), white socks, and trainers or athletics spikes.

Please do not park in the drop-off lanes at the front of school if you are coming to watch sports fixtures or waiting for a child to come out at pick up. These lanes are intended for dropping-off only!

Instead, please park up in the car park, or find a safe place to park on the neighbouring roads (being considerate of our neighbours, especially with regards parking near to junctions or driveways).