BISHOP MARTIN NEWS Headteacher – Mr IJ McDonald Tel No. 01695 724730
Autumn Term 1, 21st October 2022
Follow us on Twitter @SkemBishopM and check out our website www.bishopmartin.lancs.sch.uk for lots more! Dear Parents/Carers, Well what a half-term we’ve had at Bishop Martin! There has been so much to enjoy and celebrate. Highlights: 1. The Year 6 North Wales Residential Trip was a HUGE success and the children had a brilliant time! 2. Successful Year 5/6 and Year 3/4 Football Tournaments we took part in against the other Skelmersdale schools (where the children represented the school brilliantly!) 3. Lots of extra-curricular activities taking place for your children to enjoy at lunchtime or after school (from Chess, to Spanish to Dodgeball!) If you haven’t already done so please sign up to our Twitter Feed: @SkemBishopM as we don’t just post school updates there but community and local authority information as well. Thank you for your amazing support as parents for making this first half-term of the new school year such a successful one! Please have a restful half-term break with your loved ones and we will see you all back safe and sound when school re-opens on Monday 31st October. A Message from Mrs Warrington (Deputy Head and English Lead) about Home Reading at Bishop Martin In Reception and KS1, children follow the ‘Read Write Inc’ scheme, which was proven last year to drive up pupil standards in Reading. Phonics is taught every day and this scheme helps them to blend, segment and decode words. The children practice their reading with books that match the phonics and ‘tricky words’ they know. In school they are taught the skills to read it and practice this for several days before sharing the book with you at home to build their confidence and stamina. Your child’s class teacher will allocate the colour band to their ‘Oxford Owl’ online account and send home the title of the book they have just completed. Using this online resource enables you to see all the new words they are learning (red words, green words, tricky words) as well as sharing their success when they are reading the story to you with increasing confidence. It also allows you to access the stories they have already ‘mastered’ so they always have books available. This resource includes activities that they can complete to further support their reading journey and understanding of the story. Whilst this online resource has so many exciting features, nothing replaces a story the children can 'hold' and you can share with them. Each week your child will bring home a story book for you to read and enjoy together. Children in KS2 have access to ‘Bug Club’ which works in a very similar way to ‘Oxford Owl’. It was the success of this online resource during COVID restrictions that led to us purchasing ‘Oxford ‘Owl for our younger children. Your child’s teacher will set a series of books for your child to access online and complete activities to further their understanding. They will also bring home a reading book matched to their reading ability. Your child will have a home school reading diary (which will have their log in details inside). We will write in this when we listen to your child read and encourage you to write in this when you read or share a book at home – whether this using our online resource or a book. We will be holding parent workshops next term about how to support your child’s reading at home and also holding a parental survey on Reading in school at the Parent’s Evening next half-term. It is always a privilege to work in partnership with parents supporting pupil’s learning from home.
REMINDERS ABOUT SCHOOL GROUNDS (for the health and safety of children and adults) Bikes ridden by children, parents and visitors should be dismounted and pushed along the footpaths.
Please take care where there are fallen leaves, the ground can become very slippery.
Dogs should be carried or left securely outside school, away from the main entrance No Parking Please don’t park in Beechwood Courts car park at anytime. (Fenced car park by the schools main entrance) Access is needed at all times for residents and emergency services.