Keep up to date with all the news happening in school at the moment.

Please click a headline to read more or visit our school Facebook page: Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School.

• Year 1 Maypole Dancing

  Fri 27 May 2016

   

  Thank you to everyone who came to see the amazing Maypole dancing this week.  There were so many smiling faces from children, staff and guests!  Another fantastic example of the wonderful breadth of curriculum opportunities planned for your children. 

  

• Leadership from a Year 6 star

  Thu 26 May 2016

   

  We were thrilled to receive this email from Dan Smith, Hartsdown PE Teaching Assistant and coach at Margate Youth Football Team regarding Harry Rowland, Year 6.  We are immensely proud of Harry's amazing leadership qualities.

   

  Where do I start!

   

  Harry is simply fantastic. He is not only the captain of our team, he is the true heart and soul of what the team is about, our ethos and how we conduct ourselves. He is 11 years old and has 13 teams mates that adore him, respect him and take on everything he has to say. He leads warm up on match days, he has learnt a great deal about leadership and himself during this time and as a bonus is a superb footballer.

   

  Off the field he is a character. He has the natural ability to make people laugh, he has a heart of solid gold. When the team has lost or had tough times, he has put his arm round players and supported everyone. Examples of this are the Herne Bay tournament, we lost on penalties  and the team was gutted, he, without my input, got him team together and spoke to them, I have no idea what he says to the boys, but whatever it is, it works. The level of respect everyone in the team, parents, players and coaches, is one of the many reasons why he is my captain and leader.

   

  On Sunday 22nd May we took the team to play a tournament at Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC. What a day! Harry himself lead the team all day, he took them for a warm up on the biggest stage, in front of around a thousand people, including scouts from Chelsea. Even when he is on the side line as a sub, he is still encouraging the boys, giving them belief. Off the field at this tournament he showed three things that most 11 year olds struggle to show, humility, respect and professionalism. He truly represents our team in the perfect way.

   

  I could go on and on.

   

  He is a true credit to his fantastic family, myself as his coach and to you as a school. You should all be as proud of him as I am.

   

  

• CRY fundraising 26th June

  Thu 26 May 2016

   

  School staff and friends of the school will be completing the Heart of London Bridge's Walk on the 26th June.  Fundraising will support the CRY charity and staff will be walking in memory of Oliver Thompson.  It would be great if parents could make a donation no matter how small to support this amazing charity.

   

  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Cliftonville-Primary-School-Staff1

  

• Mrs Adams wins Kent teaching award

  Thu 26 May 2016

   

  The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards – designed to showcase those going above the line of duty to provide children with the best quality education – were staged at Maidstone’s historic Leeds Castle on Thursday, May 19 in which fifty one finalists from across Kent, Medway and Bexley were commended for their service.  I am thrilled and so proud to report that Mrs Adams was awarded overall winner for Kent in the literacy teacher of the year.  She was nominated by her colleagues for her work in leading Talk4Writing which has had such a positive impact on outcomes for the children across the school.

  

• Year 1 Lifeboat station visit

  Thu 26 May 2016

  Donation for Margate lifeboat and educating children on sea safety

   

  Margate RNLI has received a donation from Cliftonville Primary School following a visit to the station by their pupils which is to be followed by a talk on sea safety from local RNLI lifeguards.

   

  It was a big day out for pupils of the whole of year one when ninety in total were shown around the lifeboat station and allowed on board the all-weather lifeboat. The RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign includes educating people of all ages of the dangers associated with enjoying the sea and shoreline and the local RNLI lifeguards are now also planning a visit to the school to tell them of their work and highlight the potential dangers.

   

  Peter Barker, volunteer lifeboat press officer, Margate lifeboat station said: “We welcome visitors of all ages to the station and these occasions are particularly rewarding when we have the opportunity to educate young people on the potential dangers while enjoying the beauty of our sea and shoreline.”

   

  Photo: Two of our children on behalf of Cliftonville Primary School present a donation cheque to the lifeboat crew during one their training evenings. (RNLI Margate)

  

• Instagram update for parents

  Wed 25 May 2016

   

  We have had some concerns raised about children posting inappropriate messages to each other on Instagram.  The age guidance is 13+ so the children shouldn't be using it.  Please read the information in the link below.  If you need any additional guidance please speak to Mr Clayson.

  https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/instagram/

• Thank you Y1 parents!

  Wed 18 May 2016

   

  Thank you to all the Year 1 parents who came in to the phonics workshop this afternoon.  There was some very positive feedback from you with great suggestions on what we could do to support you in helping your child!  The clip below is useful in knowing how to correctly say the sounds.

   

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwJx1NSineE

   

  Don't forget that you can use the Phonics Play site, too.  We will text the username and passwords which are unique to our school.

   

  http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/

   

  Many thanks again

   

  Mrs Wilson and Mr Sharpe

   

• Kent Test (11+) info for Y5 children

  Tue 17 May 2016

   

  Dear Parents and Carers of children in Year 5

                                                                                

  You will no doubt be starting to think about transition to secondary school and as such Cliftonville Primary School would like to support you as much as possible through this process.

   

  You must apply for a secondary school place for your child to start year 7 at secondary school. You will need to do this by the end of October when your child is in Year 6. When thinking about which schools, it is important to find out more about the schools you are interested in before you apply. You can apply for up to 4 schools which must be placed in order of preference. More information about this process will be given towards the end of July.

   

  If you are thinking about applying for a grammar school, your child can only be offered a place if they have been assessed as working at a suitable level. As you are probably aware, assessment takes place via the Kent Test ( previously known as the 11+).  All children who want to go to a Grammar School must sit the Kent Test. You will find more information at the following website:

  http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/secondary-school-places

   

  To help you make this decision about whether or not to apply for a Grammar School, please speak to your child’s class teacher, Year group leader or member of SLT. Whatever your child’s ability, a Grammar School may or may not be the right school for them. For this reason, it is important to consider all schools within your catchment area.

   

  Should you wish to apply to complete the Kent Test, registration for testing opens on Wednesday 1st June and closes on Friday 1st July. This is done online via www.kent.gov.uk/ola

   

  The date of the Kent Test is Thursday 8th September (this is the same date across all Kent schools) with the results being sent out on the 13th October. You then have until the 31st October to make your four secondary school choices.

   

  If you have any questions regarding the Kent Test, please do not hesitate to contact the school and we will be happy to help you.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

  Ms Whichcord

  Deputy Head Teacher

   

• School to work with Oxford University

  Fri 13 May 2016

   

  I am thrilled to report that, through our work with the Kent & Medway Maths Hub, we will be helping shape the teaching of maths nationally.  We have been asked to be part of a research project led by Oxford University.  The focus is on the teaching of mathematical reasoning.  Letters will be coming home soon to parents of the children involved with more information.  Our thanks must go to Mrs Weitzel and Mr Michael for their work with the Maths hub that has provided this prestigious opportunity. 

  

• School meals this week

  Fri 13 May 2016

   

  We have had some technical problems with hot water to the new kitchen which is being sorted out.  It has meant that we have used paper plates and plastic cutlery to reduce the amount of hot water used and some minor adjustments to the menu.   Whilst not ideal, this is a temporary solution to the problem which the builders are working on with our premises team.  Thank you in anticipation of your understanding.