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Friday 7th March

Messages from the Principal, Miss Jarrett

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Dear Phoenix Infant Academy Community,

As we reflect on the  events that unfolded during Book Week, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude. The past week has been a testament to the power of literature and the joy of reading, as we celebrated our annual Book Week with enthusiasm and creativity.

The cornerstone of our literary festivities was undoubtedly the Bedtime Stories event, which saw our children return to school in the late afternoon, brimming with excitement. The air was thick with anticipation as they nestled into cosy corners, milk and cookies in hand, ready to be transported to worlds unknown through the magic of storytelling. This cherished tradition not only fosters a love for reading but also strengthens the bonds within our school community.

World Book Day followed, transforming our corridors into a vibrant parade of literary characters. The imagination and effort invested in the costumes were truly remarkable, bringing beloved stories to life before our very eyes. The week culminated in our book and cake sale, a delightful fusion of literature and culinary artistry.

I must extend my heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the Phoenix Bake Off competition, who have earned book tokens as their well-deserved prize. However, the creativity and passion displayed by all participants were so impressive that we have decided to award book prizes to every entrant. 

Your unwavering support of our book-related activities, both during this special week and throughout the academic year, is deeply appreciated. It is crucial to remember that daily reading is not merely a pastime but a fundamental cornerstone of academic success, significantly impacting our children's learning journey.

Through your generosity and enthusiasm, we have raised an impressive sum of over £500 for new library books. This contribution will undoubtedly enrich the literary experiences of every child in our school, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.

Looking ahead, we have an equally exciting week on the horizon. Science Week is upon us, promising a plethora of engaging activities. Our Year 2 children will embark on an adventure to Black Park, where they will immerse themselves in forest-based learning experiences, bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and the natural world. Reception will be welcoming the chicks this week and we are all egg-xtremely excited! 

Finally, I am delighted to remind you that our second Phoenix Iftar, is scheduled for Friday. This event presents a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together, share in the breaking of the fast, and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our school family. I warmly encourage you to sign up via Parentpay and join us for what promises to be an evening of connection, reflection, and shared joy.

As we continue to nurture our children's minds and spirits through these diverse experiences, I am reminded of the extraordinary community we have built together. Your ongoing support and engagement are the bedrock of our success, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Miss Jarrett
Principal

SAFEGUARDING

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A few weeks ago we took part in Children's Mental Health Week.  As parents and carers, you play an important role in your child’s mental health. The expert team  at Place 2 Be have developed and recommend resources to help you support your child's wellbeing. 

Their wellbeing resources for families can help you start conversations with your child and encourage you to enjoy quality time together. All of which are important for your wellbeing.

See https://www.place2be.org.uk/our-services/parents-and-carers/wellbeing-resources-for-families/ for more information. 

ONLINE SAFETY TIPS:

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Reception Outdoor Area Upgrade

We are thrilled with the upgrade to the Reception Outdoor Area! This was installed by Pentagon Play and the result is better than we could have imagined.  Year 2 were the first children to play on it and they were amazed: 

"Its like a dream garden" Mikaeel

"It's so beautiful" Sair

"I love this playground because it's so soft" Aleena

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Celebrating our Children!

During book week children in Blackbird class created a miniature library using the blocks, complete with their mini me's (including a handmade Miss Tait), mini books and books made by the children.  It was simply amazing and one of the best creations using the blocks yet! 

Kingfisher class enjoyed all the Book Week celebrations: 

Zara “I like it because we get to do a lot of activities.”

Halimah “ I like it because we get to dress up with our favourite book character.”

Sabrina “I like it because we get to vote on our favourite book.”

This term, year 1 have been learning all about The Great Fire of London. They wrote about the incident that occurred in 1666 and the aftermath. The children enjoyed learning about this and were really engaged with the history and the impact it had on the city! Year 1 are looking forward to visiting the London Eye later on this half term! 

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Student Leadership

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Our School Councillors and Librarians went to Slough Care Home on Thursday to read to the residents.  The children read stories and enjoyed squash and crisps before walking back to school. They were fabulous representatives of our school.

Our librarians had a busy week because they led our assembly on Monday and did a fantastic job selling books and cakes at the cake and book sale on Friday!  

The Nest

Pupils in The Nest have been engaging with sensory props and art while exploring The Very Hungry Caterpillar story, enhancing their learning through touch, creativity, and interaction. They have been transferring these skills during visits to Cippenham Library, where they have the opportunity to explore a variety of books and pictures, further enriching their literacy and sensory experiences.

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Phoenix Bake Off Winners

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Phoenix Bake Off competition.  The librarians judged the competition and found it very hard to decide on the winners.  After much deliberation, the results are: 

1st Place: Elena and the Gruffalo cake

2nd Place: Tymek and the dinosaur cake

3rd Place: Harkishan and the Alice in Wonderland cupcakes

Well done to everyone who took part. 

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ATTENDANCE

Well done to all parents/carers who continue to ensure their children attend school regularly.

This week Year 2 has the highest attendance of any year group across the school. Well done!! 

The class winners in each year group can be seen below.

All attendance expectations can be found on our website.

Please do get in touch if you would like any support getting your child to school and on time.

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RECEPTION CLASS WINNER

Well done to Blackbird class who won the attendance trophy this week with 96.7% - beating the school target of 96%.

Keep it up!

YEAR 1 CLASS WINNER

Well done to Heron class who won the attendance trophy this week with an impressive attendance of 98.5%.

Keep it up!

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YEAR 2 CLASS WINNER

Well done to Falcon class who won the attendance trophy, again, this week with an almost perfect 99.6%.

Keep it up!

Absence due to illness and withdrawal from learning

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There have been 1411 days lost from learning this school year due to absence. Unfortunately, this number is an increase compared to last year and the number of unauthorised absences has also increased. 

As a school community, we have always maintained that we want to work with our families with absences; when we work together we keep your child's education at the centre of the conversation.

We also recognise that there have been a significant number of illnesses this academic year, both locally and nationally that have impacted our overall attendance: 997 days have been missed due to illness in our school. 

On a more positive note, we know that the weather will soon be improving and this always brings an improvement in health and wellbeing which supports improvements in attendance. 

If you have any concerns about attendance matters, please speak to Mr Bowskill. 

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Reporting your child's absence for Eid al-Fitr

After the success of the processes with Eid al-Adha last year, I wanted to share again the expectations around informing the school of your child’s potential absence due to celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

If Eid al-Fitr was to fall on Saturday 29th March 2025, your child would be expected in school on Monday 31st March. If you, as a parent, have taken additional annual leave from work (for example the Monday) and your child will not be attending school – you must complete a Withdrawal from Learning Request form in advance of the date. Without this, no consideration can be given to authorising the absence. If you continue to go to work on the Monday and your child stays at home with other family members – the absence cannot be authorised.

If Eid al-Fitr was to fall on Sunday 30th March your child would be expected in school on Monday 31st March. If you, as a parent, have taken additional annual leave from work (for example the Monday) and your child will not be attending school – you must complete a Withdrawal from Learning Request form in advance of the date. Without this, no consideration can be given to authorising the absence. If you continue to go to work on the Monday and your child stays at home with other family members – the absence cannot be authorised.

If Eid al-Fitr was to fall on Monday 31st March and your child was absent from school due to celebrating this, your child’s absence will be recorded as “authorised” only if a phone call is made to the school office on the day or an answer machine message left. Absence messages can be left at any time from Sunday 30th March to allow early prayers to be attended without the need to call the school. If there is no communication – the absence will not be authorised. If you, as a parent, have taken additional annual leave from work (for example the Tuesday) and your child will not be attending school – you must complete a Withdrawal from Learning Request form in advance of the date. Without this, no consideration can be given to authorising the absence. If you continue to go to work on the Tuesday and your child stays at home with other family members – the absence cannot be authorised.

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Dates for your Diaries

Science Week
All Day
From 10 Mar until 14 Mar
10
March
Buzzard Class Parents Meetings
All Day
10
March
Y2 Trip to Black Park
All Day
11
March
Parent Workshop: Behaviour
9:00am – 9:45am
12
March
Phoenix Iftar
5:45pm – 7:15pm
14
March
Kingfisher Class Assembly
1:15pm – 1:35pm
17
March
Inclusion Coffee Morning - SENDIASS
9:00am – 10:00am
19
March
Red Nose Day - wear Red (taking place on Thursday due to a trip on Friday)
All Day
20
March
Y1 Trip to the London Eye (Classes TBC)
All Day
21
March
World Poetry Day
All Day
21
March
Magpie Class Trip to Windsor Castle
All Day
27
March
The Autism Group Parent Workshop
9:00am – 10:00am
27
March
Parent Baby Toddler Group
2:00pm – 3:00pm
27
March
Blackbird Class trip to Windsor Castle
All Day
28
March
Y1 Trip to the London Eye (Classes TBC)
All Day
28
March

Community Notices:

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Wishing you all a lovely weekend. 

TOGETHER WE SOAR!