Good evening,
Here is my second Headteacher’s Blog of the Year. I am aiming to at least write one per half term to keep you updated on developments in the school. Hopefully these updates along with the weekly newsletters keep you informed on any developments in school.
As I am sure you can imagine we are busy preparing for the Christmas Concerts which will take place next week on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th. These are always very special events and I am sure you will enjoy the performances. The pupils have been working hard practicing whilst still trying to keep a normal routine, so they can continue with the curriculum requirements. If you haven’t bought your ticket, please send in your orders to Mrs Pilkington as soon as possible as I don’t want any disappointed parents or grandparents!!
It was great to see so many parents from class 5 come and see the ‘Class 5 WW1 Museum’ last Friday. This was part of the ‘Mantle of the Expert’ approach that we have begun using through the school this year and which we are looking to develop and embed over the coming years. As I mentioned in my previous blog before half term, this approach provides the pupils with a ‘real life’ problem or series of problems that they need to solve. The children are given the ‘Mantle’ and are the experts, often split up into different groups to help solve these problems.
Class 5 were ‘contacted’ by a failing WW1 Museum in Chester who needed some help to improve the museum experience. This problem has provided the pupils with a whole host of purposeful opportunities to develop their literacy skills, numeracy skills, ICT skills, personal and social skills and a whole host of other areas of the curriculum. It was great to see the knowledge that the pupils were able to share with the parents and grandparents who attended on Friday. I hope those who attended enjoyed the experience and could see the enthusiasm the pupils had for the topic and gained a bit of an insight in the Mantle approach. It is our intention for all cases to share their ‘Mantles’ at some point in the year.
Our Adventure Playground is now up and running and the children are really enjoying using the new area. Each class is having a one day per week on the area and it is certainly helping provide more space on the main playground and reducing incidents. The children have all had a demonstration on how to use the area safely and have followed the rules which has been great to see. One request I do have is that the pupils or past pupils do not use the area after school or at the weekends. Members of the public, including pupils and parents, should not be on the school grounds at the weekends in any case and there is danger that somebody could get hurt or could damage this fantastic resource, which would be a real shame. If you are aware of any children playing on the area or accessing the school premises, please contact myself so appropriate action can be taken.
I am sure by now many of you have received a ‘RESPECT Postcard’ in a golden envelope. As previously explained these postcards have replaced the ‘Headteacher’s Award’ and are handed out to children who are consistently displaying the Ysgol Owen Jones Respect Values. If your child has not received a postcard yet please do not be alarmed as I am sure they will do over the coming months. If and when your child does receive a postcard, we would love it if you tweeted about it to raise the profile of this new approach and to celebrate your child’s achievement. Our twitter address is @yowenjones.
Thank you to everyone who attended our Christmas Faye a week last Friday. It was another hugely successful event that raised much needed money for the school. It was great to see so many parents, grandparents, pupils and past pupils attend and support the school. A big thank you also to Mrs Evans and the school choir who performed brilliantly again this year. The choir has really developed over the past 12 months and I am sure you will agree that they sounded fantastic. We have not yet made any plans regarding spending the funds the PTA raise this year. Once a decision is made, I will let you know.
Thank you one again for your continued support.
Hwyl Fawr,
Mr Caughter
Here is my second Headteacher’s Blog of the Year. I am aiming to at least write one per half term to keep you updated on developments in the school. Hopefully these updates along with the weekly newsletters keep you informed on any developments in school.
As I am sure you can imagine we are busy preparing for the Christmas Concerts which will take place next week on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th. These are always very special events and I am sure you will enjoy the performances. The pupils have been working hard practicing whilst still trying to keep a normal routine, so they can continue with the curriculum requirements. If you haven’t bought your ticket, please send in your orders to Mrs Pilkington as soon as possible as I don’t want any disappointed parents or grandparents!!
It was great to see so many parents from class 5 come and see the ‘Class 5 WW1 Museum’ last Friday. This was part of the ‘Mantle of the Expert’ approach that we have begun using through the school this year and which we are looking to develop and embed over the coming years. As I mentioned in my previous blog before half term, this approach provides the pupils with a ‘real life’ problem or series of problems that they need to solve. The children are given the ‘Mantle’ and are the experts, often split up into different groups to help solve these problems.
Class 5 were ‘contacted’ by a failing WW1 Museum in Chester who needed some help to improve the museum experience. This problem has provided the pupils with a whole host of purposeful opportunities to develop their literacy skills, numeracy skills, ICT skills, personal and social skills and a whole host of other areas of the curriculum. It was great to see the knowledge that the pupils were able to share with the parents and grandparents who attended on Friday. I hope those who attended enjoyed the experience and could see the enthusiasm the pupils had for the topic and gained a bit of an insight in the Mantle approach. It is our intention for all cases to share their ‘Mantles’ at some point in the year.
Our Adventure Playground is now up and running and the children are really enjoying using the new area. Each class is having a one day per week on the area and it is certainly helping provide more space on the main playground and reducing incidents. The children have all had a demonstration on how to use the area safely and have followed the rules which has been great to see. One request I do have is that the pupils or past pupils do not use the area after school or at the weekends. Members of the public, including pupils and parents, should not be on the school grounds at the weekends in any case and there is danger that somebody could get hurt or could damage this fantastic resource, which would be a real shame. If you are aware of any children playing on the area or accessing the school premises, please contact myself so appropriate action can be taken.
I am sure by now many of you have received a ‘RESPECT Postcard’ in a golden envelope. As previously explained these postcards have replaced the ‘Headteacher’s Award’ and are handed out to children who are consistently displaying the Ysgol Owen Jones Respect Values. If your child has not received a postcard yet please do not be alarmed as I am sure they will do over the coming months. If and when your child does receive a postcard, we would love it if you tweeted about it to raise the profile of this new approach and to celebrate your child’s achievement. Our twitter address is @yowenjones.
Thank you to everyone who attended our Christmas Faye a week last Friday. It was another hugely successful event that raised much needed money for the school. It was great to see so many parents, grandparents, pupils and past pupils attend and support the school. A big thank you also to Mrs Evans and the school choir who performed brilliantly again this year. The choir has really developed over the past 12 months and I am sure you will agree that they sounded fantastic. We have not yet made any plans regarding spending the funds the PTA raise this year. Once a decision is made, I will let you know.
Thank you one again for your continued support.
Hwyl Fawr,
Mr Caughter
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