Queen's Park Primary School

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

Happy Friday and last day of term! What a long term it has been. Our children have been wonderful throughout and have done very well to keep going - they've worked their little socks off! It has been a hive of activity here today with children enjoying their last day together for a little while.

I have loved this term (I think I say that every term!) but I really have. Today, I have been reflecting on how lucky we are to work in such a supportive and kind community. Your well wishes for the holiday mean a lot to all of the staff and we would like to extend our thanks to all of you.

We are excited to welcome Molly Walker back onto our staff team in January. I know many of you will remember her fondly and I know our children will be thrilled to see her again. Ms. Hanson was expecting to relocate next summer to be with her family but an opportunity arose for her to return sooner so she will be leaving us in January. We will really miss her but look forward to hearing all about her adventures. Ms. Reeves will be leaving us after 10 years. On behalf of the governing body, I would like to thank her for her hard work and commitment to Queen's Park Primary School.

We have lots of exciting plans to bring our community together next term, class assemblies, reading cafes, workshops and much more but first, a little break!

Whether you celebrate Christmas, another holiday, or simply enjoy this time to rest and recharge, I hope it is filled with happiness, love, and time spent with those who mean the most to you.

I wish you all peace, happiness and health for 2025 and look forward to seeing you on the 8th January 2025!

YEAR 5 ROMAN DAY

On Monday, Year 5 participated in a Romans workshop, linked to our history work in class. Our visitor was appropriately dressed as a Roman citizen and engaged the children with a number of activities throughout the day. They took part in an active challenge in the hall, guessing what foods the Romans used to eat. There was also an extensive quiz / treasure hunt, where the children found out some really interesting facts that we hadn't covered in class. Our visitor also brought in a number of artefacts, including weaponry and every day objects, which they were able to touch and hold. Finally, the children played an old Roman game using coins. Overall, they learnt a lot and had quite a bit of fun along the way.

Football Teams UPDATE

It has been a busy couple of weeks for our football teams. Last Friday, the boys played in a schools 7-a-side tournament at BACA and had a great experience. They played six short matches, losing only one and scoring some superb goals. They then qualified for the semi-final but sadly lost on penalties. However, it was a fantastic team performance and we can really see the team maturing and improving in all areas of the pitch.

Yesterday, both the boys and the girls their played fixtures against St Mark's school at Manor Gym. Both teams played brilliantly with passion, team spirit and considerable skill. In the end, the girls won 5-0 and the boys completed a 10-0 win! There were many children getting on the score sheet, with Kasper scoring a hat-trick and some superb goals from Raph, Georgii, Sulayman, Omar, Eliza and Demi.

Well done Queen's Park footballers and we looking forward to the cup matches in the new year!

rECEPTION FESTIVE SHOW

Reception had their Christmas concert on Tuesday and they were amazing. They sang lots of songs about stars and recited a wonderful poem called ‘Five Little Christmas Tree’ which they put action to.

Well done reception you were fabulous!

Varndean Students Inspire Year 5 with Smartphone-Free Initiative

We were lucky to have a group of students from Varndean come in to deliver a thought-provoking presentation to our Year 5 students. The Varndean students shared their own experiences and insights about their school's decision to go smartphone-free – an initiative they implemented in September. At first, many found it challenging to part with their phones, but they now see the positive impacts it has had on their lives. The benefits of this change have already become clear to the Varndean students, and they were eager to share these with our Year 5s. Some of the key advantages they highlighted included:

Improved focus on studies
More face-to-face interaction with friends
Reduced dependency on smartphones
Less stress when phones aren’t available
Fewer conflicts between friends, as many of their issues were often fuelled by social media or online misunderstandings

Social media and online interactions can often escalate conflicts, especially when messages are misinterpreted or sent without fully thinking. The Varndean students explained that stepping away from smartphones has helped them to avoid these problems, and they now have the skills and confidence to resolve issues in person.

In response to this inspiring initiative, we are excited to announce the creation of a panel of student representatives who will champion the smartphone-free message within our community. This group will work towards realising the benefits that the students at Varndean are experiencing, helping to guide our peers in creating healthier habits when it comes to smartphone use and screen time.

During the workshop, each student also took part in a personal pledge, setting a goal for themselves around their screen time and phone use. Ask your child about the pledge they made. What goal did they set for themselves? How can you support them in achieving this at home? Lets help them stick to their resolution as they work towards healthier habits.

The presentation was a great reminder of how our younger generations are already recognising the negative effects of excessive screen time and smartphone use. It was inspiring to see these young adults come in and educate the younger years about setting healthy boundaries with technology. Our Year 5s left the presentation feeling motivated and better equipped to handle the pressures of the digital world.

It’s clear that our students are beginning to see the value in balancing screen time with other activities, and we hope they continue to make mindful decisions moving forward.

SMARTPHONE FREE CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE: A CALL FOR CHANGE

The Smartphone-Free Childhood movement is a grassroots campaign bringing together over 150,000 parents to advocate for healthier childhoods without the influence of smartphones. Founded in 2024, it aims to support families in managing screen time and protect children from the addictive effects of smartphones and Big Tech.

The initiative provides solidarity, practical solutions, and works to push for more governmental support to reclaim childhood from the negative impacts of excessive smartphone use.

Parents interested in joining the movement and learning more can visit the Smartphone-Free Childhood website here.

SCHOOL STARTS WEDNESDAY 8TH JANUARY

Attendance expectations at Queen’s Park Primary School

Punctuality

Children are expected to be at school every day, on time.

The register is taken 10 minutes after the doors open.

YEAR GROUP	DOORS OPEN	END OF SCHOOL DAY
Reception	08:40	15:15
Years 1 - 6	08:40	15:20

Registers are taken as follows throughout the school day:

Registers are marked by 08:55am. Children will receive a late mark (‘L’ code - late) if they are not in their classroom by this time
The register closes at 09:20am. Children will receive a mark of absence (‘U’ code – unauthorised absence) if they do not attend school before this time.
After lunch, registers are marked within 5 minutes of returning to class from lunch. Children will receive a late mark (‘L’) if they are not in their classroom by this time, or an absence mark if they are late (‘U’)

NEW LATE PROCEDURE

Any children arriving after 8.50 must enter the school via the Freshfield Place entrance with their parent/carer and check in
process must be completed.