Dear Glebe Families
Welcome back! We’ve had an exciting and fast-paced start to the term; I hope you all enjoyed a restful break with friends and family. I’m thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new and improved Willows Wraparound Care. This bespoke, custom-built facility features a reading zone, colouring and painting areas, badminton, chess, and much more. It’s already proving to be a hit!
Our new integrated Early Years facility is also open, complete with fantastic new canopies, soft flooring, play equipment for developing gross motor skills, artificial grass and a brand-new covered sandpit. It’s such a dynamic and inviting learning environment for our children. A big thank you to our Trust premises team and Early Years staff for their hard work over the break to ensure these facilities were ready and operational.
On Tuesday, we hit the ground running. Year 6 dove straight into creative projects with modelling clay and paint, Year 3 familiarised themselves with the upper school through team building games and Year 1 adapted beautifully to the new structures of formal learning; they were absolute superstars, thanks to the excellent preparation in Early Years.
Next week, we’ll be holding our welcome meetings and we encourage you to come along, meet your children’s teachers and hear all about the exciting curriculum we have planned for the year.
There are lots of events to look forward to, so please check out the diary dates below and mark your calendars. We’ll make sure any new events added throughout the year are highlighted to ensure you don’t miss out.
We’re also preparing to launch our exciting new Instagram page, so keep an eye out for us on social media, where we’ll be sharing more of what we do, as well as updates on curriculum and enrichment activities.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend and I look forward to seeing you next week!
Warm regards
Mr Clarke
Headteacher
Year to date 97.4%
We expect pupils to be in school everyday.
We will not authorise term time absence except in exceptional circumstances and where appropriate, Essex County Council will issue fines.
Classes:
| RR: 93.1% | 3R: 94.8% |
| RS: 100% | 4A: 98.9% |
| 1D: 97.2% | 5A: 97.8% |
| 1M: 100% | 5/4L: 96.0% |
| 2N: 98.9% | 6HC: 98.4% |
| 2VB: 100% | 6P: 90.8% |
| 3P: 99.4% |
Welcome Meetings
Upper school – Please report to the school office entrance just before 9.00am where one of our inclusion team will meet and greet and take you to the classroom. Teachers will share the year ahead between 9.00am and 9.15am when the children are in assembly.
Lower school – The same arrangements will apply as above, however, please report to the main entrance on the Key Stage 1 playground where a member of the inclusion team will meet and greet.
If you are unable to attend, we will ask class teachers to post any presentations on Class Dojo.
Fortnightly Focus
For our fortnightly focus, we dive into the concept of the Using our thinking brain—a powerful tool that helps us approach challenges with curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be encouraging children to engage their thinking brains across all areas of learning, from problem-solving in maths to exploring new ideas in creative writing.
By fostering an environment where children feel confident to ask questions, explore solutions and think deeply, we aim to develop resilient, independent learners who are ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way. Stay tuned for strategies, tips and classroom activities to help nurture these essential skills!
Music Moment of the Week
This week in assembly we have been celebrating differences and our core values focus has been Leadership. We have enjoyed watching Brighter Days by Emily Sande as performed by the Coronation Choir and conducted by Gareth Malone. It is a wonderful, uplifting piece that is performed on stage by a diverse range of communities, including a signing choir. Have a look for yourselves:
Influential Figure of the Week
Our influential figure this week was Ashley Banjo MBE, the leader of Diversity. The great example of leadership he sets includes not only coming up with ideas, but also listening to his teams, creating a wonderful mutual respect and harmony between the group. Ashley Banjo is also well known for his services to dance, for which he was awarded an MBE and for his commitment to charities such as One Love of Southend. Ashley is also a strong advocate for anti-racism and equality. Top bloke!
9 September – Year 1 and Year 6 parent welcome meeting at 9.00am.
10 September – Year 2 parent welcome meeting at 9.00am.
11 September – Year 3 parent welcome meeting at 9.00am.
12 September – Year 4 and Year 5 parent welcome meeting at 9.00am.
13 September – Reception parent lunch and play session at 12.45pm (parents bring own packed lunch).
17 & 18 September – Year 5 road safety training.
20 September – Jeans for Genes (non-uniform day).
27 September – FOGP quiz night at Sweyne Park School.
3 October – Year 4/5 Portals to the Past.
16 October – Flu immunisations.
5 November – Parents’ Evening from 1.30pm to 4.00pm.
6 November – Parents’ Evening from 4.30pm to 7.00pm.
11 November – School photographs.
21 November – Open Evening from 5.00pm to 7.00pm.
22 November – Inset day (non-pupil day).
11 December – FOGP elf emporium and grotto.
17 December – FOGP Aladdin pantomime.
18 December – Christmas dinner and jumper day.
7 & 8 January – Reception road safety training.
4 February – Young Voices (Choir O2).
25 February – Parents’ Evening from 1.30pm to 4.00pm.
26 February – Parents’ Evening from 4.30pm to 7.00pm.
19 March – Year 2 trip to Hyde Park.
24 March – Class photographs.
w/c 12 May – Year 6 SATs week.
23 May – Sports afternoon.
22-25 June – Year 6 residential trip to Mersea.
Caterlink Food Choices
Please let the school office know what your child is having to eat if they will be late to school. The kitchen deadline for school dinners is 9.45am. Jacket potatoes and grab bags will be available after this time, subject to availability.
Grab Bags
Please note that cheese grab bags are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Ham grab bags are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
