Tonight, we held a very exciting and successful disco in aid of Comic Relief! Those children and parents who were lucky enough to purchase tickets enjoyed a night of dancing, singalongs and a well stocked tuck shop. They were also treated to fantastic performances by Ms Aggie “Beyonce” Mesmain, the parent flashmob and our very own Strictly Charles Dickens! Congratulations to Mr Vanson and Mrs Jamois, who were crowned the eventual winners. With so many party-goers in attendance, we are sure to have raised a great deal for the Comic Relief charity – look out in the newsletter for an update as to the final total!
Art Club Trip to the White Cube gallery
Just before breaking up for half term Mr Yusuf and the children in Art Club went on trip to the White Cube Gallery on Bermondsey Street to see a new exhibition by mixed media artist Christian Marclay. The exhibition has paintings, installations, sound works and video. We would recommend it! Here’s some pictures from the trip:
Concert for Winter Performance!
Today, we were treated to an amazing performance by the Year 3 and 4 choir and ukulele clubs. Last term, Mr Oxenham and Ms Gemmell worked very hard with the children in order to compose and perform a fantastic original composition. The children were inspired by Charles Dickens and the resulting song “Hard Times” focuses on Dickens’ life as a child, when he lived on Lant Street. The talented team performed their piece on stage at Shakespeare’s Globe before Christmas and everyone was delighted to finally be given the chance to share their work. We can’t wait for their next creation!
Big Schools’ Birdwatch!
On Tuesday, Year Six were fortunate enough to be visited by Don Fuller, the South East Region officer from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. He helped us to take part in this years’ Big Schools’ Birdwatch, which helps the RSPB to track the number of different bird species found across Britain. Don introduced the Year Six children to some of the birds that they might be likely to see in the local area. He then took us on a walk through the eco-garden and to Mint Street. Although we didn’t spot an enormous amount of birds, we were able to record plenty of Feral and Wood pigeons; some long tailed tits; blackbirds; great tits; blue tits; magpies and a crow. The data will be inputted into the national survey log and we’re looking forward to seeing how our efforts compare with those of other birdwatchers across the country!
Parent Survey 2014
Thank you for your responses to the parent survey in December. We received 63 replies from a possible 215 families. The results were broadly very positive and have been discussed in detail at the Children and Families Governors Committee this month.
In addition to the questions, parents had an opportunity to write freely to identify the strengths and areas for improvement for the school.
The strengths were many. They included the teaching staff, the school leadership, the sense of community, the care provided for children, the creative arts and the school ethos. Thank you for all of these. All the staff work incredibly hard and to have their efforts recognised is hugely rewarding for them and for me.
I have also looked at each of the suggested areas for improvement with governors and have provided responses below.
1. Improve the communication and administration of clubs for children after school.
School Response: Whilst we do our very best to provide clubs, all of which are run for pupil enjoyment and many at no cost to pupils,I am looking into online systems which will make this fairer and easier for working parents. If you are a parent with positive experience of any electronic system, then please do share your ideas.
2. Larger playground and more play space.
School Response: The new building plans will not increase the quantity of play space but will improve the quality of the spaces including landscaping and additional play equipment.
3. Preventing pupils from losing uniform
School Response: We encourage all parents to write their children’s name on their clothes or iron on a fabric label. Left uniform can be found on pegs in the halls on which they are left or in the lost property box. Reception classes have their own lost property box.
4. Changes to the teacher feedback during parents evening (less academic, more long term ambitions) or further structure to teacher’s feedback.
School Response: We will be asking all parents for your feedback on this topic following parents evening this term..
5. Provide Secondary Transition support to parents in year 5 and Year 4.
School Response: We agree that this is an excellent idea and a secondary transfer meeting will take place later this term for year 5 -dates to follow.
6. Improved communication from the Governing Body in relation to Foundation Status. T
Children And Families Committee Response: This was considered this in depth. They concluded that there was a full and statutory consultation period including meetings for parents and the local community. The committee agree the initial letter to parents was not clear and this unduly raised concerns. The committee felt that the governing body had learnt from the consultation experience and the Governing Body has a focus on communication this year.
7. More emails and text alerts rather than paper letters.
School Response: We have increased the use of emails and texts this year. We are also exploring how to send letters electronically which request parent consent.
8. A concern that some teaching assistants are not as positive as others.
School Response: All the teaching assistants enjoy working with children and are providing a good or in many cases outstanding contribution to pupil progress and enjoyment of school. Each teaching assistant receives rigorous appraisal on al aspects of their role. Parents can feedback on any individual teaching assistant at any time via my direct email headteacher@charlesdickens.southwark.sch.uk
9. A request for PTA meetings in the evenings
School Response: this request has been forwarded to the PTA chair.
10. Ensuring that any consequences for inappropriate behaviour of 1 pupil do not lead to an entire class missing playtime
School Response: On the rare occasion when a class does not move around the school silently, the whole class will practice this, This will include all pupils including those who managed the appropriate behaviour first time.
There were also 2 suggestions which related to meeting the needs of particular pupils. If this was your concern, please do get in touch with the school office to make an appointment.
Also within the survey, were questions and answers, Within each set of answers to the questions, I have included where appropriate response from myself or the Children and Families Committee.There were two negative survey responses and these provide the negative responses throughout the survey. Mrs Buchanan has met with one of the two parents ( the other was anonymous) to understand the negative response and to ensure the school learns from this feedback.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We always welcome your feedback and involvement in ensuring that our school remains a happy, safe and fun centre of excellence.
Mrs Buchanan.
My child is happy at this school
Strong disagreeing are 2 parents. Following a meeting with the Headteacher, one of these parents now feels their child is happy at the school. The other response was anonymous.
My child feels safe at this school
Strongly disagreeing are 2 parents who also strongly disagreed with question 1. Disagreeing are 3 parents. If this was your response, please do contact the school office or Mrs Buchanan directly to discuss your concerns.
My child makes good progress at this school
1 parent disagreeing and 1 parent strongly disagreeing.
My child is well looked after at this school
1 parent disagreed and 4 parents stated that they didn’t know
My child is taught well at this school
3 parents stated that they did not know.
My child receives appropriate homework for their age
Parents who disagreed fell into two groups. Some of these parents asked for more home learning and some asked for no or less home learning tasks. It will be difficult to please everyone’s preferences however children report that they enjoy home learning , especially the creative projects.
This school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
Those disagreeing are as question 1 and 2. Those parents who were unsure included some Reception parents but also a parent in Year 3/4.
This school deals effectively with bullying
The parents stating that they did not know were in Key Stage 1 and EYFS. Hopefully this is due to the very rare incidence of bullying in the school. However, the school leadership have recently included an information section on anti-bullying in the school newsletter. The school also celebrates positive friendship in ‘Friendship Week’ where pupils do learn and create lovely relationships with other pupils of all ages. These weeks are also an opportunity to discuss what bullying is and how the school will support children who feel that they are being bullied. During the Spring Term friendship week, we will share children’s learning on keeping safe from bullying, including online and from peers outside of school.
This school is well led and managed
1 parent disagreed on this as they did on all areas. 5 parents stated that they did not know. I parent felt that the governing body could have managed the process of conversion to a Foundation school with more skill and better communication to parents. The Children and Families Committee have accepted that this is the opinion of some parents and are working on ways to further improve communication to and from parents.
This school responds well to any concerns I raise
4 parents disagreed – I have met with 3 of the 4 parents and there relate to moving sports day due to rain, adequate provision for a pupil with additional needs and frustration about the distribution of after school club places. All these parents have no ongoing concerns.
I receive valuable information from the school about my child’s progress
2 parents disagreed.
Would you recommend this school to another parent?
1 parent disagreed.
The school newsletter, website and blogs give me the information I need about the school
1 parent disagreed.
I would know how to communicate a question or comment to the school
1 parent disagreed.
What a lovely Frost Fair again this year!
Thanks so much all of you who came and enjoyed yourself yesterday! It was very clear that a lot of people were having a lovely time – brilliant fun and lots of lovely things to eat.
Special thanks to each and every one who helped do all the things needed to make the Fair a success before during and after!
Science corner organised by Katia and Mark was great – dry ice and washing up liquid volcanoes were fun, and lots of slime too…
Santa had a fan club of devoted children, and his helpers took lots of great present to donate to ‘ Action for Refugees in Lewisham’. Each child had their picture taken too – so watch out for those soon. Thanks to the elves that organised this (Jay, Diana, David, Apple, Rachel et al.)
Nadia made her brilliant Bake Off idea happen, and even managed to persuade Mr Konditor & Cook himself – Gerhard – to come and judge the entries. Moroccan pastries and white chocolate wreath cake won, adn I can vouch for them both being very worthy winners of a Curly Wurly cake.
Kam made a meticulously constructed origami snowman and we want to know who guessed the number of pieces in it?
Hannah made her lovely snow scene again and we managed to persuade MP Simon Hughes and Chair of Governors Nic Nichol to pose on the sledge!
Shane and Olivia made a brilliant enormous Santa puzzle and had times puzzling by all ages – who was the fastest? (let us know)
Teams of volunteers again found wonderful prizes for the raffle – which was announced by Simon Hughes.
Jay and Apple organised another great self portrait effort of two different printed bags. We still have some and they are for sale via the PTA
We must say how wonderful the CD recorded by the school was – there are some really touching moments form all classes in the school. The brainchild of Miss Gemmel and produced by parent Nico – who we are most grateful to!
Thanks go to Malcolm for his help with the money and floats; Diana for her gingerbread, Fran the Jam, Paola, Rebecca, Laura, Simon, Mrs Buchanan, Latifa, Sam, Paula, Rathna, Matty, Hayley, Laura, and a massive cast of teachers parents, and family members who all helped out.
Special thanks to the staff who came in to make it happen – Alec, Alison, Mark, and all the other staff who gave up your time.
We must raise a special round of applause to Miss Gemmel who has been a devoted force of nature the last few weeks, a veritable whirlwind!
Superheroes for ‘Children in Need’!
Well done to everyone who dressed up to raise money for Children In Need last Friday. You all looked fantastic dressed up as your heroes and you sang ‘God Only Knows!’ by The Beach Boys quite brilliantly! A special congratulations to Year 3 and 4 who did a sponsored spelling test and to Year 5 and 6 who did a sponsored long distance run!
The cakes and biscuits made not only looked delicious but also tasted delicious and raised lots of extra money! Thank you to all the parents and families who dusted off their aprons and baked something to donate we are really really grateful for your support!
Tumi was the winner of the Pudsey bear money box with her guess of ‘Hebrew’ as Pudsey’s language talent – Mrs Buchanan chose a language randomly on Monday in assembly.
So…the money is still coming in ( by Friday please) but we have already raised well over £600!
Well Done Charles Dickens Primary!
The Big Dickens’ Draw
Thank you to everyone who joined us for The Big Dickens Draw on Wednesday. We were thrilled to see so many keen artists drawing with such big smiles on their faces and an unstoppable enthusiasm!
The noise was deafening in the middle hall with the buzz of drawing and building construction. The hall was bursting at the seams with children and adults all eager to find their road on the map and start building their houses out of recycled materials. We saw paddling pools, roof terraces, egg box trees in Mint Street park, your own homes complete with windows showing you inside, the Tate Modern and a very shiny Shard!
Downstairs in Artful Dodger, children couldn’t resist the chance to draw on the walls and a colourful and creative underwater landscape was created by our very talented children.
In our classrooms, children also enjoyed drawing to different types of music – from Katy Perry in Oliver class to Jazz Club in Nickleby, Rockabilly in Havisham to Reggae in Bumble! Ivan in Little Dorrit drew a fantastic picture to Katy Perry and said “This is me jumping, that’s how the music makes me feel” while children from Peggotty drew Texas cowboy shoot outs at dusk, inspired by the Rockabilly music.
Charles Dickens, your creativity and imaginations are incredible!
Public Consultation – Charles Dickens Primary School Site Expansion – 22nd Sept at 6pm
Here is a preview image of the proposed new entrance for Charles Dickens Primary School on Toulmin Street. On Monday 22nd September, there is a public consultation event at 6.30pm at Charles Dickens Primary School ( entrance on toulmin street). All local residents and members of the community are encouraged to attend to view plans and share views.
Mr Huxley – Get into teaching! DFE campaign
We are very proud of Mr Huxley for his contribution to the DFE campaign to ‘Get into Teaching’! follows on from initial advert!