Phoenix School Parent s Newsletter

Phoenix School Parent s Newsletter Issue 23 September 2015 Contents Welcome Back to School 1 Parents Evening 2 19+ Provision at the College 2 Satellite Classes 2 Summer Holiday Play Scheme 2 After School Clubs 2 Youth Club 2 School Uniform 3 Senior Managers 3 Dates for the Diary 3 Summer Fete 4 Clothing Recycling 4 Phoenix App 4 Duke of Edinburgh Award 4 Sibford School 5 Phoenix Training Film 5 Healthy Schools Gold Award 5 Phoenix School Dog 6 KS4 School Journey 7 Art in the Garden 7 Welcome Back to the New School Year Autumn Term 2015 Dear Parents & Carers, I hope you all enjoyed the long summer holiday. Children returned to us on Thursday 3 rd September and they all look as though they have grown a little over the holiday! We welcome new children and parents to the school and although we said this last year this has been our largest intake ever. We now have 210 children on roll and a very large staff. We also welcome David Cheshire who starts as our new Deputy headteacher. Veronica Armson becomes the Senior deputy headteacher at Phoenix. Along with new teachers and teaching assistants we also welcome Curtis the new School Dog. He has already been a big hit with the children and I am sure he's going to be great addition to the school. You will be able to meet your child's teacher at the parents evening on Tuesday, 6th October between 6pm and 8pm. You will already have heard from your child's class teacher and I would like to encourage you to make sure your child is well-prepared every day with the right clothing and equipment. Teachers send a home school book to you each evening which you must read and comment on. If there is anything you wish to tell us about your child please write it down. At the very least parents must sign the book to show that they have read what the teacher has written. I look forward to seeing you in school during the term and if you have any concerns please contact either myself, senior managers or Priti Chanda our home school liaison officer. If you want to tell us or OFSTED how we are doing go on the OFSTED website Parent View. Stewart Harris Headteacher CALENDAR DATES Please check dates on your calendars for parent s events

of 7 A very successful summer scheme took place at Phoenix in July and August. Well done to all staff and pupils. When I was there children were having a brilliant time. We get really good attendance at parents evening so please make sure that the date is in your diary- Tuesday, 6th October between 6pm and 8pm. During October and February half terms we will be running holiday play schemes and parents can choose which one they would like their child to attend. Due to demand we are only able to offer one half term playscheme per child and a letter will out to you shortly. These playschemes are open to children aged 5 19 who live in Tower Hamlets Phoenix has set up a charity known as the Phoenix Autism Trust and the Trust is starting a post 19 class at college from Monday, 7 September. This is a very exciting development and one which we hope will be running full time in the next few weeks. The provision is known as PATH which stands for Phoenix Autism at Tower Hamlets college. This September we have started a secondclass in both Marner and Bow schools. Last year was a very successful year and thanks to our excellent partners at Marner and Bow for all the support they have given us. Well done also to the excellent Phoenix teams at both schools.. These clubs will be starting on 23 rd September and are open to pupils aged eight and over. These clubs take place on a Monday and Wednesday evenings. A letter will come out shortly. This is the second year when we are running a Youth Club and it is open to pupils who are of secondary age. This is generally pupils who are 13 or over. We ask you to accompany your young person on the evening and we provide transport for both of you. Dylan Smallwood manages the youth club and he will be sending out letters to all eligible young people within the next few days. I encourage you get a young person along as it's a great evening. I would like to remind parents that all children to including the stage 3(14 years) must wear school uniform everyday. Please make sure that you have a good stock. You can purchase items of uniform from the school office.

of 7 Dates for the Diary Tuesday 15 th September EarlyBird Session 1 10:30am 12:00pm Wednesday 16 th September PASG Meeting 10:30am 12:00pm Tuesday 22 nd September EarlyBird Session 2 10:30am 12:00pm Thursday 24 th September SCHOOL CLOSED FOR EID AL ADHA Tuesday 29 th September EarlyBird Session 3 10:30am 12:00pm Tuesday 6 th October EarlyBird Individual Sessions Wednesday 7 th October PASG Meeting 10:30 12:00pm Thursday 8 th October Parents PECS Course 9:15am 2:00pm Friday 9 th October Parents PECS Course 9:15am 2:00pm Tuesday 20 th October EarlyBird Session 4 10:30am 12:00pm Wednesday 21 st October Friends of Phoenix 10:30am 12:00pm Thursday 22 nd October Last Day of School Monday 26 th October Friday 30 th October Half Term Holiday Monday 2 nd November BACK TO SCHOOL Wednesday 4 th November PASG Meeting 10:30am 12:00pm Tuesday 10 th November EarlyBird Session 5 10:30am 12:00pm Tuesday 16 th November EarlyBird Session 6 10:30am 12:00pm Friday 20 th November Parents PECS Practice Clinic 1:15pm 2:30pm

of 7 of 4 SUMMER FETE We have in other lovely summer fete evening which was well attended and lots of fun. Unfortunately it was during Eid but next year it will be at a time when everyone can enjoy it. CLOTHING RECYCLING To all parents, staff, and pupils, Just a quick thank you to everyone who has helped fill our clothing recycling bank as we have collected over 200kgs this year and raised 150.00 so far. Please keep it going. all clean clothing, bags, shoes and materials welcome, but no duvets, pillows, or books I m afraid. Every little helps so if you are having a clear out at home or in school, you know where to bring it if you don't want or need it. P "Get regular news and updates about Phoenix School by downloading our free app on itunes or Google Play. You can also keep updated by checking out the school website and click on the "News & Gallery" tab." DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD I shall be choosing a new cohort of pupils for the Bronze Award this year from key stage 4 or 5, activities will include cycling, kayaking, as well as camping for two nights in Hertfordshire where there will be lots of walking, cooking food on a trangia as well as a selection of outdoor activities There will be a sailing trip arranged in June for a week, this will be for a whole week, starting at Portsmouth and sailing around the south coast, pupils sleep on the boat and stop off in very picturesque places.

of 7 RESIDENTIAL TRIP TO SIBFORD SCHOOL In KS2 this term there will be a residential trip to Sibford School from 19th - 21st October. More information will be sent to parents in the next couple of weeks. PHOENIX TRAINING FILM Phoenix is making a film and we are working with Magneto Films to create a short film about Phoenix School. The purpose of the film will be to capture outstanding practice so that this can be shared with other schools parents and professionals. Filming will begin before the end of September. There will be a film crew at school for a number of days throughout the autumn term, filming lessons, activities, staff and students. We are not asking parents to re-submit consent for photo/film as this was done when your child first started school. However, if you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Stewart Harris, Headteacher to discuss before the 20 th September. Welcome to Brenda Heron, Speech and Language Therapist; she will be based at Phoenix 4 days a week. PHOENIX SCHOOL RECEIVING OUR HEALTHY SCHOOLS GOLD AWARD Brenda is a locum, she will be having a full handover of the caseload; Brenda will be covering when Louise Lawrence goes on maternity leave.

of 7 Cockapoos are loving, intelligent dogs with low-shedding and dander free coats - making him the perfect school dog. Research has found that children with ASD may benefit socially, emotionally and cognitively through interaction with a dog. This term Curtis will start working with individual and small groups of pupils while we trial the use of animal-assisted intervention at Phoenix. He can work with pupils to support the development of emotional awareness and regulation, empathy and nurturing skills; behaviour management; reading; communication and social interaction. Curtis has received a warm welcome at Phoenix and is already much loved by pupils and staff."

of 7 KS4 SCHOOL JOURNEY Students in KS4 will be going on a residential trip to Gorsefield on Monday 23 rd November Friday 27 th November 2015. It is an opportunity for students to further develop their life skills and social interaction skills. Letters with more detailed information will be sent to all parents in October. If you need any further information please contact Shelina Mannan or Sandra Clarke on 020 8980 4740. SPORTS DAY Secondary pupils enjoying sports day at Victoria Park