14 Jun Head’s Newsletter – June 2023
I hope you are all well and that your children are enjoying the new term. Following on from our recent communications survey, we are trialling this new format for future newsletters. You can find the new format newsletter by clicking here. Please do feel free to contact me head@coleridgeprimary.net.
Finding a Voice Telling a Story Assemblies
Mikaela Loach, a climate activist, came into school on Monday to talk to the junior children about her life, and what had inspired her to become the person that she is today.
Mikaela spoke to the juniors about her journey. She explained how she was born in Jamaica, moving to the UK when she was almost 3. As she was growing up, her parents encouraged Mikaela to consider what she cared about, and what she could do to make a difference to these causes. Mikaela said her first bit of activism was baking cakes to raise money for the Boxing Day Tsunami, when she was just 5 years old. She talked about how she continued to stand up for what she believed in and was unafraid to fight for what she thought was important.
The children were inspired to hear how they could become involved in the tackling the climate crisis and Mikaela told them how they could be lawyers, designers, musicians, cooks, social media gurus and more, in their efforts to help. When asked what kept her committed and inspired to continue in her fight, she said that her ancestors in Jamaica had fought to be free from being enslaved and that if they had the courage and passion to do that, then she could do her bit today.
King or Queen for the Day
Following on from the Coronation of King Charles in May, children spent time in their classes thinking about what they would do if they were crowned King or Queen. Children wrote down their thoughts and we have sent them to the Buckingham Palace for King Charles to read.
Children were very clear about the world that they wanted to grow up in. High on their list of priories was respect and care for the environment. They also spoke about wanting to live in a world where everyone has a home and enough food to eat. They also want to live in a world where all people are treated respectfully and equally, where people are not discriminated because of their race, background or gender. Animal rights were also high up on their agenda. You can see a few examples of their letters below (click to open).
Anti Racism Work
Last week Mpula Lawton who ran our parent sessions came into talk to the children in Key stage 2 about being Anti Racist. She explained to the children what racism is and what it can look like it can look like in school. She spoke to the children about how it feels to be a victim of racism, and who to talk to if they witness or experience racism. Mpula will be back in school later this term to speak to children in the early years and also in Year 1 and 2.
Mpula has also run training for teachers this term. Her session covered, unconscious and conscious biases, the use and misuse of language, microaggressions, how to talk about race? (What should you say? What shouldn’t you say?) We will be inviting Mpula back into Coleridge to work with us next academic year.
The school’s Development Board has met twice since I last wrote to you all. In the last two meetings, we agreed terms of reference for the board. We have also been working on shaping next year’s anti racism action plan. Our next meeting is on July 10th.
Pride Week
One of our school core values is that we teach our children to be ‘caring.’ Intrinsic to this is that children understand about diversity and learn the importance of treating each other with care and respect. One approach we take to this is through our Relationships Education curriculum. The DFE stipulate that we teach children ‘the importance of respecting others, even when they are very different from them (for example, physically, in character, personality or backgrounds), or make different choices or have different preferences or beliefs.’
Therefore, the week beginning 19th June, we’ll be having a Pride celebration week.
EYFS and KS1 children will be celebrating different types of families through picture books and will be enjoying an assembly delivered by Jodie Lancet-Grant; author of The Pirate Mums and The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures. There will be an opportunity to purchase her book.
KS2 classes will be researching a wide variety of LGBTQ+ heroes from different cultures and backgrounds. Children will focus on what their heroes achieved in their lives and their legacy. Within in each year group, children will have the opportunity to view each other’s presentations and share the incredible stories they have discovered.
The week will culminate in a whole school assembly where we’ll be coming together and singing a song ‘We are Family’ by Sister Sledge. Children are invited to come to school on Friday 23rd June wearing a colour from the rainbow.
We’re looking forward to having our first Pride week at Coleridge.
Special Educational Needs Survey
Last term we sent out a survey to all parents of children with special educational needs (SEND). Thank you to all those of you who responded. Following on from the survey, The SEND team have looked through all the responses and have identified the following three actions for improving our SEND offer.
- To continue to build and develop SEND parental involvement and engagement.
- To further develop SEND area on the school website, which will be regularly updated.
- To raise awareness and understanding of neuro-diversity in the whole school community
We will keep you updated on our progress in this area.
Dates for your Diary
Pride Week – week beginning Monday 19th June
The Coleridge Summer Fair will take place on Saturday 24th June.
Healthy Living Week – week beginning Monday 3rd July – this is a week when children get to do a variety of activities about the importance of mental and physical health. More info to follow.
Sports Day – Wednesday 5th July at Hornsey Cricket Club. Please look out for an email with more information about how the day runs.
Parents’ Evening – Thursday 13th July. We will be having the meetings in person in the West hall. You will have received your child’s end of year report before these meetings take place.
Friday 21st July is the last day of school and Toy Day. Children can bring in a toy to play with. Usual rules apply – no weapons, valuables or noisy electronics please.