St Margaret's Newsletter

Hello all. Welcome to this weeks newsletter.

Today we have held our first 'Santa Dash'. Children from all across school have participated in a mile long run/jog/walk, it has been wonderful to see the children get out and be active, made even more special by the added magic of wearing Christmas jumpers or hats. Thank you all for your support. If your child enjoyed doing a run, perhaps you may be interested in junior Park runs which are held locally. Perhaps there is a future Keeley Hodgkinson or Jake Wightman within the school. The most local Junior Park Run is in Sutton Park each Sunday https://www.parkrun.org.uk/suttonpark-juniors/ .

Next week we have a range of Christmas events in school and I know many of you will be looking forward to joining us in school. Please see the dates and times of various upcoming events below.

I am very grateful to the parents who took the time to complete their views on the homework survey. The homework policy has now been finalised and is uploaded to the policy section of the website. There are not many changes to what we had previously been doing. I hope that this gives clarity for parents and carers. We are aware from the surveys that parents value home learning, but also have very busy lives and very much value family time and other out of school activities. This is something we have considered when writing a new policy. I was also very pleased that 100% of the replies highlighted the value of reading, spellings and multiplication tables as being at the core of learning. These will form the basis of home learning tasks, with supplementary tasks added. For those that enjoy project based independent learning, each half term pupils will have the opportunity to do a project of their choosing based on one of the topics they are studying at that time. This could be creative- art work, a model etc, a piece of writing such as a biography of a famous person or something tech based such as a presentation they could then deliver to the class. These are just suggestions and children are encouraged to do something that excites them. These can be completed at any point over the half term and are entirely voluntary. This will commence from the start of the Spring term in January.

 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

Tuesday 9th December - Year 2 Christmas Play 9.20am

                                         Year 1 Christmas Play 10.30am

 Wednesday 10th December - Rocksteady Concerts. Concert 1: 09.30 start. Concert 2: 14.30 start

 Thursday 11th December - Christmas Jumper day (£2 donation for save the Children & PTA). Christmas Dinner day. Year 5 & Year 6 Christmas Concert 5.00pm

  Friday 12th December - Nursery Christmas play 9.15am (for all Nursery children)                                

                                         Reception Christmas play 10.30am

Tuesday 16th December - KS2 Church Christmas Service 2.00pm at St Margaret’s Church

Wednesday 17th December- Christmas workshops with Georgina

Thursday 18th December- Animal Family visit (PTA funded)

Friday 19th December -  REPORTS OUT TO PARENTS    

Story: An adventurer named Darren Edwards, who is paralysed from the chest down, is preparing to travel 137 miles across Antarctica using a sit-ski.
Question: How might challenges help us grow?
Virtual Picture News: www.picture-news.co.uk/discuss

Sunday 7th December

11 am Christmas Tree Family Service

Sunday 21st December 

11am Christmas Carol Service followed by drinks and mince pies

Christmas Eve

4pm Crib Service

Christmas day

Midnight Communion Service with Carols (Commencing 11.30pm on Christmas Eve)

11am Family Service

12 Noon Said Communion

Sunday 28th December

11am 1st Sunday of Christmas Communion

Mobile Flu and Covid Vaccinations

As winter approaches and viruses spread, flu mobile vaccination clinics are being set up to encourage people to stay well this winter.

The community mobile clinics are being hosted at a range of locations in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, and Sandwell, with no appointment necessary.

Those eligible to receive their flu vaccine at the mobile clinics include:

• All adults aged 65 years and over
• All children aged 2–3 years old on 31 August 2025
• Pregnant women
• Frontline health and social care staff, including those working in care homes for older adults

Those eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine can also receive it at the mobile clinics.

You can get the winter COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• are aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2026)
• are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment (check https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/keep-warm-keep-well/ for a list of Health Conditions/Treatments that mean you are eligible)
• live in a care home for older adults

To see locations of clinics, please click the following link: Mobile vaccination clinics :: Black Country ICB

Winter Clothing Donations/Collection opportunities across Sandwell:

Sandwell Library Donations

• All Sandwell libraries are now accepting donations of clean, good-quality winter coats plus scarves, hats, gloves (in pairs), and other warm clothing for adults and children. For more information - https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/wintercoatsappeal
• Find library locations, contact details, and opening hours here: https://prism.librarymanagementcloud.co.uk/sandwell/assets/-/libraries.html
• Follow updates on Sandwell Libraries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandwellLibraries

Sandwell Library Free Coats & Warm Clothing Collections

• Need something warm? Every library has a rail of coats and clothing available — take what you need, no questions asked. Last winter, hundreds of families benefited.
• Please check opening times before visiting.

Ideal for All, based in Smethwick are hosting a winter coat donation and collection point

• Based at the Independent Living Centre, 100 Oldbury Road, B66 1JE
• Drop off donations – between every Monday – Thursday, 10am – 5pm until Thursday 4th December
• Collect a coat – Monday 8^th December 11am – 3pm
• To find out more, call 0121 558 5555 (option 2) or email contactifa@idealforall.co.uk

Kore Padel Taster Session

Saturday 6^th December, 9:30am – 1pm, Tipton Sports Academy
Following the success of bringing Padel to Sandwell, Kore Sandwell is hosting an open day of celebration to come and have a taste of Padel. With coaching taster sessions, fun challenges, general play, street food, DJ and memberships available. They would love you to join them on Saturday 6^th December from 9.30am to 1pm. Please spread the message, everyone welcome and they look forward to introducing more people to Padel.

Pre-booking also available on the Playtomic App, you can also click on the direct link below.

Visit Santa at Utilita Energy Hub

Saturday 6^th December, 11:30am – 3pm, West Bromwich Energy Hub, 3D Astle Park

Come and Visit Santa at Utilita! Recommended ages 3-10 years old but all welcome.

Whilst this is a free event, we would like to ask people to bring a food donation to support our local foodbank.

Our Thursday after school sports club next half term is Years 1 and 2 Multiskills. Children can be signed up through: Aspire Sports Portal https://aaeg.magicbooking.co.uk/  Club times: 15.30-16.30

PE days for the Autumn term:

Year 1:  Wednesday and Thursday

Year 2: Tuesday and Friday

Year 3: Thursday and Friday

Year 4: Monday and Wednesday

Year 5: Monday and Thursday

Year 6: Tuesday and Thursday

Children need to arrive at school ready for PE. PE Kit is as follows. A plain white t-shirt, plain black jogging bottoms/leggings/shorts, trainers, school jumper or cardigan. No jewellery should be worn, long hair needs to be tied back, piercings that cannot be removed must be taped up- tape/plasters provided from home. Any religious/cultural jewellery that cannot be removed must be secured/covered- sweat bands are perfect for this.

As a school we like to promote health and well being and while we allow children to bring a snack to have at break time, we ask please that this is a healthy snack such as a piece or pot of fruit. We have noticed an increase in children wanting to have crisps to take out at break time. We do not consider crisps to be a healthy snack and while these may be fine as part of a packed lunch, we ask that children do not have them for break time snack. Thank you for your support.

All reading and library books will be given to children over these first couple of weeks. We aim to ensure that the books children are issued are in line with their need and ability. Children will have 2 books, one school 'levelled reading book' and one Reading for Pleasure book. The Reading for Pleasure book is aimed to foster a love of reading. We expect children to be heard read at least 3 times per week and comments written in their reading record. Children should have their reading book and reading record in school each day. We ask for your support with this.

Any lost or books damaged beyond repair will incur a  £5 fee to allow us to replace them.  This will be issued via ParentPay. 

Many children like to bring their own pencil cases and stationary items into school. This is fine, but please remember that all items needed for school work will be provided by school. We ask that no scissors or sharp items come into school. School will provide children with safety scissors to use in school when required.

Useful items may include: pencils, rulers, crayons, a protractor (Y4+), a blue handwriting pen (KS2), felt tips and a glue stick in a sensibly sized pencil case. Again there is no requirement or expectation that pupils have their own items from home.

Children can also have a water bottle with a sports cap, containing water unless agreed otherwise, their reading book and reading record. In most circumstances there should be no need for other items to be coming into school without prior agreement. We ask for parents support with this. Please ensure all items of uniform are named to ensure that we have the best possible chance to return lost items to the right people.

A reminder to parents and carers to be careful and considerate with their parking when dropping off and collecting children. It is imperative that the front of school remains clear, and that we respect neighbouring properties and ensure they are to access and egress their homes and businesses. This seems to be a particular problem with parents parking in the Grove and on the resident car park at Sophie Gardens, and more recently in Vicarage Rise. We ask that parents and carers do not park across people drives or in residents spaces at Sophie Gardens, and remember our school value of Respect when talking to one another.  More than anything we need to keep everyone safe. I hope that you have seen the signs that we have purchased to help remind parents and carers about parking, one is outside the main gates and another on the 'island' in the layby towards the under passage on the Birmingham Road. 

We are pleased that we are able to have an arrangement with the Holiday Inn J7 to allow parents to use car parking facilities at appropriate times. If you are interested in this please contact the school office and they will help arrange a pass for you.

Safeguarding is very important to us at St Margaret's, and we firmly believe that everyone has a role to play in keeping children safe. Should you have any safeguarding concerns please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Mr Jones, or in his absence Mrs Boud or Mrs Humphries via the school office. If you have a concern for the safety of a child outside of school time you are able to report this directly to Sandwell Children's Trust on 0121 569 3100 or https://www.sandwellchildrenstrust.org/report-child-risk/ . If a child is in immediate danger, you should contact the police (call 999).

Should you have any need to contact school to discuss anything, your first port of call will most likely be your child's class teacher. The way to do this is via the school office who are happy to pass on a message, or arrange a call back. We ask that you do not engage teachers in conversation on doors when dropping off or collecting children, as the primary focus has to be the safe arrival and dismissal of children. Further information on communicating with school can be found by following the link below.

Address:

St Margaret's CE Primary School

Birmingham Road

Birmingham

B43 7AP

Telephone:

0121 357 2758

Email: postbox@st-margarets.sandwell.sch.uk

OR

Use contact us page on website: https://stmargaretscofeprimaryschool.co.uk/about-us/contact-details/

Website: https://stmargaretscofeprimaryschool.co.uk/

Information on our Communications Protocol and Procedures and Parent Code of Conduct can be found on our website.

https://stmargaretscofeprimaryschool.co.uk/parents/policies/