Happy January to all our families at Ascot Road. The Spring term is always very busy with many exciting things planned for the children; please make sure you keep up to date by visiting the school website and synchronising calendars.

Our recent 'KS1 Bedtime Pyjama Reading Event' was a huge success. It was an enchanting evening filled with warmth, imagination, and a celebration of the joy of reading. Thank you to Miss Wright and Miss Arber for organising it. We have also kickstarted our term with our new clubs and children have really enjoyed them (see pictures below).

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank parents for helping and supporting the school last term whether supporting on school trips, helping in the classroom or by attending any of the PTA events; your help is greatly appreciated.

Ensuring the safety of our children begins with responsible parking practices. A reminder to parents to not stop your car in the middle of the road and allow your children to get out. There is ample parking in Morrisons and it is much safer for you to park and then walk your child over to the gate. It also causes a buildup of traffic which can create hazardous situations. Please be considerate of fellow parents and follow the traffic flow guidelines to prevent congestion. We also ask you kindly to follow the one way system in and out of school. We believe in the strength of our community, and together, we can make a positive impact if we all follow these rules.

Natalie Beere

Natalie Beere
Head of School

Latest news

Reception

As part of our new topic 'A Starry Night,' Reception have been accessing a range of activities exploring what happens at night. This includes, nocturnal animals, night time routines and Space.

Year 1

In Year 1, they have enjoyed creating weather motifs using natural materials. See above our amazing work!

Year 2

Year 2 have been busy creating story maps for our text 'Meerkat Mail', ready to innovate the story with our own changes.

Year 3

Year 3 had a visiting workshop come in and the children had great fun being creative, making sock puppets!

Year 4

In year 4 we have been exploring unusual materials that have more than one property.

Year 5

In year 5 this week the children have been studying how to create a dangerous atmosphere in their writing.

They have been using their analysis and inference skills on other stories as well as exploring different monsters and dangerous settings before creating their own versions of these. From this they have gone on to produce their own dangerous vocabulary lists, writers toolkits, and are now beginning to write their own dangerous atmosphere based writing.

Year 6

In Year 6, they have been exploring the features of flashback narratives and have created a toolkit to help them with their own writing. They will be using this toolkit throughout the term to build their confidence in writing their own flashback narratives that effectively engage the reader.

Key Dates Coming Up

1st February -Parents Join us for Reading Classroom Session
6th February -Barbican Class Assembly
12th February -PTA Film Night
13th February - Green Park Assembly
15th February- Year 4 Trip to Tate Modern
16th February- Reception Coffee Morning
6th March -Notting Hill Assembly
7th March- World Book Day
7th March- Book Bazaar Showcase (Parents and Children Welcome)
18th March PTA's Ascot Sustainable Clothing Shop
20th March - Wembley Park Class Assembly
20th March -Reception- Dinosaur Workshop
20th March- Parents Evening
21st March -Parents Evening
27th Classroom innovation Showcase
28th March- Spring Term Ends 1.15pm

Football Tournament

Mr O'Toole and Mr Russell selected 9 students across Years 5 and 6 to the Annual School Tournament. This was an invitation by Watford FC and took place at London Colney. The boys played 4 games against other schools. They showed real commitment, good team spirit and excellent attitude throughout the day, which was a credit to them and the school!

School Value - Kindness

We continue to look at the value 'Kindness' at Ascot Road. During our Values Assembly, we have been asking children to think of acts of kindness they can do each day.

To keep track of their acts of kindness and record something kind that you do every day, they could download the Power of Kindness Calendar from the Red Cross website at:

https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/teaching-resources/kindness-calendar

Current Attendance 93.5%

The schools attendance stands at 93.5%. While we are committed to providing a positive and engaging learning environment, it's crucial for us to collectively address this issue as our current attendance is slightly below the national average, which is 94.3%.

Regular attendance is fundamental to a student's academic success and overall well-being. It contributes significantly to their academic progress, social development, and future success. As a community, we play a vital role in ensuring that every student attends school consistently.

We kindly request your support in emphasising the importance of regular attendance with your child. If there are any challenges or concerns affecting their attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to work collaboratively to find solutions and provide the necessary support.

Hot Chocolate Reward

Each month we recognise one outstanding student from every class for their exemplary behaviour, kindness, and positive contributions to our school community. This special recognition will take the form of a delightful hot chocolate session with the Head Teacher.

We believe that fostering and acknowledging positive values is essential for the holistic development of our students. This initiative not only encourages good behaviour but also provides a platform for students to connect with our school leadership in a warm and relaxed setting.

The selected student will have the opportunity to share their thoughts, experiences, and ideas with the head teacher over a cup of hot chocolate, creating a memorable and rewarding experience for them.

Parent Governor Wanted!

We are still looking for a parent governor. If you are interested and would like to find out more details, please contact the school office at office@ascotroad.herts.sch.uk.

Extra-curricular Activities

The number of students actively participating in the new extracurricular activities has exceeded our expectations. It's heartening to see so many eager faces taking part in a wide range of activities.