Friday 9th October

Happy Friday!

It is amazing just how quickly Friday comes around! I have been so impressed with the learning that has taken place this week at Olive Hill.

Our year six children have been creating a sequence of movements in their gymnastic lessons. This started off on the floor, before moving to the equipment and they have now added ribbons. From a distance, I was able to observe 100% engagement in their learning. There were some well-controlled movements - including cart wheels, the splits and inventive jumps. It was one of those lessons where I really wanted to be more involved, although I am not sure I would be able to do a spinning jump off the box! Well done year six, I look forward to seeing your final performance.

Our year five children have been learning about the Victorians this term. Earlier in the week, they had a visit from a Victorian teacher - who was very strict! I heard that she made the children stand up when she entered the room, asked them questions that they had to answer straight away or they had to stand in the corner, and she was waving a cane about! The Victorian teacher’s name was Miss Richardson, and strangely enough she looked exactly the same as our very own, modern day teacher - Miss Richardson. Some parents may have even caught a glimpse of her when collecting their children at the end of the day, with the addition of a modern day mask.

Year three have been learning about Invaders and Settlers as part of their history curriculum and today they had a topic day. The children have enjoyed making round houses, complete with fire pits and mini characters. I am slightly concerned that the hay they used for the roofs may have actually belonged to Oreo and Margo.

As you will all be aware, we have three expectations of the Olive Hill community, ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe’. As a school, we feel it is really important that our children show good manners at all times. Using please and thank you at lunchtime is something we have been working on this week. Today was pizza day and that often means that the majority of our children have a hot dinner. I was very impressed with all of the children who used their manners, but I must make a special mention for year five. They were so happy as they walked down, all talking to each other and chatting to members of staff and every child said please and thank you to the kitchen staff, with a smile. Thank you year five, you were wonderful role models.

To all of our families coming onto the school site, please can I ask that you adhere to the government guidance: Hands. Space. Face. We respectfully ask that you wear a face covering, unless you are medically exempt. As a group of staff, we know that they are not always comfortable to wear (I find myself eating mine sometimes). We want to keep our community safe and our school open. Please do not gather in groups to talk and please don’t arrive early in the morning - our gates will open at 8.30am. Thank you to the huge majority of our community who have been amazing. Your support means we can focus on the children.

We continue to have complaints about how people are parking outside of school. If you need to use a car for the school run, please park sensibly and legally - even if this means walking a bit further. We do have people who have recorded the number plates of vehicles parking in ways that endanger the lives of the children, we have advised that the information needs to be passed to the relevant authorities such as the police and parking enforcement.

If you have been very observant, you may have noticed some builders on the school site. They have been on site measuring up for our new gates and the redesign of the inside entrance area. The work is still planned for the half term week. We are very much looking forward to having electronic gates installed as we know that this is going to make our school even more secure.

Our partnership with our community is really important to us. We are continually aware that the current situation means you are not having the same relationship with your child’s class teacher - although you can always phone the school and they will get back to you when they are not teaching. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be looking at a when class teachers can be available for drop-off and collection, we will then communicate this with you, even if it just gives you the opportunity to put face to a name.

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend. We look forward to seeing you on Monday.