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Friday 16th January, 2026

🌟🌟Achievement Assembly 🌟🌟

Friday 16th January 2026 

This week the children have all been trying hard to follow our new school rules, Ready, Respectful, Safe and Kind. Year 2 had fun on their TTRS launch day dressing up as rockstars and playing lots of fun maths games. We can’t wait to have another wonderful week next week.  

The Newdale Cup winners who will have a special treat next week:  

Miss Lowe’s class for trying their best to be ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe and Kind- with some fantastic Chance to Shines this week. We are very proud of them.  

House Points 

This week, Ironbridge have taken the lead with an impressive 635 points – well done Ironbridge! They are followed by Wrekin with 501 points in second place and Wenlock closely behind with 486. In fourth place is Severn with 472 points.  

Achievers of the week: 

Year 6 achievers: Aria-Rose for always be ready to learn. Mrs Stack’s winner has been chosen for always being ready, respectful, safe and kind.  

Year 5 achievers: Iris for working hard in all subjects, especially in Maths and in Literacy. 

Kaius for really applying himself in all lessons and great improvement of handwriting 

Year 4 achievers: Bryony for an exceptional first week back being a fantastic role model displaying ready, respectful, safe and kind. William for always being ready to learn, respectful, safe and kind.  

 Year 3 achievers: Mohammed for always being the first for Team Stop and excellent independent working in maths. Lola-Rose for her independent work in literacy and being a super role model to her peers.  

Year 2 achievers: Hayden for his fantastic effort creating and describing a friendly giant with huge hands and a dirty coat. Oscar for showing such resilience in his maths lessons, well done Oscar we are so proud of your commitment to your learning! 

Year 1 achievers: Emily for having a positive attitude to learning, trying her best in all her lessons and working hard to become more independent. Ayda for working hard in literacy, producing a good chance to shine and being a helpful, kind member of the class. 

Year R achievers: Lorenzo for watching others carefully and joining in with PE and Art activities. Miss Hailey’s achiever has been chosen for a wonderful week, listening carefully and for working hard.  

 

Year 6 readers: Charlie for telling me in detail of his Read Theory passages read and enjoyed. Aidan for the variety of books read and additional homework completed in his own time. 

Year 5 readers: Maisie for reading every morning and evening this week and enjoying a range of texts, including a book linking to our art unit. Matilda for an impressive number of recorded reads that are detailed and include a range of writing features.  

Year 4 readers: Rocio for writing amazing summaries about her book and reading 3 books over the Christmas holidays. Lianna for a fantastic vipers question this week. 

Year 3 readers: Oscar for taking a keen interest in our Prehistory books. Miss Watson’s star reader has been chosen for reading every day and writing detailed comments in her diary.  

Year 2 readers: Mrs King has chosen someone for reading every day this week. Archie for reading every day this week and over the Christmas break. 

Year 1 readers: Finley for reading every day this week. Maleek for daily reading at home.  

Attendance Winners 12th – 16th January 2026

Winner of Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3

Miss Hailey = 99.32%

Winner of Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6

Mrs Haymour = 98.67%

Thursday 15th January, 2026

Supporting a Love of Reading at Home

Why Reading Together Matters

 

Reading is one of the most powerful ways families can support children’s learning. Whether your child is just beginning to explore picture books or already reading independently, sharing stories at home builds confidence, curiosity, and joy.

 

Key Benefits of Reading

  • Language development – Children hear new words, phrases, and ideas.
  • Stronger imagination – Stories spark creativity and help children make sense of the world.
  • Better focus – Regular reading builds attention and listening skills.
  • Emotional growth – Books help children understand feelings and relationships.
  • Academic success – Reading supports learning in every subject by improving comprehension and critical thinking.
  • Confidence – Children feel proud as their reading skills grow.

 

How Families Can Support Reading at Home

 

For Younger Children: Share Stories Together

  • Read aloud every day, even for a few minutes.
  • Use expression, sound effects, and different voices to make stories exciting.
  • Encourage children to join in with repeated phrases or turn the pages.
  • Re‑read favourite books—children learn through repetition.

 

For Growing Readers: Listen to Them Read

  • Let your child take the lead and choose books they enjoy.
  • Give them time to work out tricky words.
  • Praise their effort and celebrate progress.
  • Keep reading sessions short, relaxed, and positive.

 

Talk About Books

  • Ask questions like:
    • “What do you think will happen next?”
    • “Which character did you like best?”
    • “Why do you think they felt that way?”
  • These conversations deepen understanding and make reading meaningful.

 

Offer Lots of Choice

Comics, magazines, fact books, picture books, graphic novels—it all counts. Children are more motivated when they choose what they read. Why not visit your local library so children can choose their own books for free? There are also online books children can access via Oxford Owl: Free eBook library | Oxford Owl from Oxford University Press

 

Be a Reading Role Model

Let your child see you reading—recipes, newspapers, books, anything. When children see adults enjoying reading, they’re more likely to enjoy it too.

 

Try Audiobooks

Listening to stories builds vocabulary and imagination, especially during car journeys or quiet time.

 

A Final Thought

Reading together is one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to support your child’s learning. Just ten minutes a day can make a huge difference. Let’s help every child discover the magic of stories.

 

 

Wednesday 14th January, 2026

Free Dog Waste Bags Available for the Newdale community

Dog fouling continues to be an issue in parts of our local area, and we are working closely with the Parish Council to help keep our community clean and safe for everyone.

To support this, free dog waste bags are now available for parents/ carers to collect from the school office. By making bags more accessible, we hope to reach a wider area of the Parish and encourage responsible dog ownership.

Thank you for helping us keep our paths, play areas, and walkways pleasant for all in our community.

Wednesday 14th January, 2026

World Book Day – Stories that Add Up

On Thursday 5th March, the children at Newdale will be celebrating World Book Day, alongside NSPCC Number Day.

Children will enjoy a range of fun activities that combine the magic of stories with the power of numbers. They can:

  • Take part in maths-themed reading challenges
  • Solve story-based puzzles and problems
  • Explore books that bring maths to life

Dress-Up Theme:
Children are welcome to dress as their favourite book character or get creative with a maths-inspired costume (numbers, shapes, patterns – let their imagination run wild).

Please ensure costumes are comfortable and suitable for school activities.

We look forward to a day full of reading, counting, and creativity! Thank you for your support in making this event a success.

 

 

Wednesday 14th January, 2026

Year 2 – Science Homework – Habitat in a Box

As part of our science topic this term, Living Things and Their Habitats, we would like to invite the children to create a “Habitat in a Box” for their homework.

This activity will help the children explore different environments and understand how living things are suited to their habitats.

What to do:

  • Use a box (it doesn’t have to be a shoebox – any box of a similar size will work).
  • Choose a habitat and create a model inside the box using craft materials, recycled items, or natural objects.
  • Include features that show what makes the habitat suitable for the animals and plants that live there.

Examples of habitats they could make:

  • Rainforest – trees, vines, exotic animals
  • Desert – sand, cacti, camels
  • Ocean – fish, coral reefs, seaweed
  • Woodland – trees, logs, foxes, birds
  • Polar regions – ice, snow, penguins, polar bears

Please ensure the project is completed by 06.02.26. The children will receive the boxes and the contents of them back at the end of the half term. Please see some examples below:

 

 

We can’t wait to see the children’s creative ideas!

Thank you for your support.

 

Wednesday 14th January, 2026

Learning About Staying Safe – Share Aware & PANTS Rules

This week, the children from Reception to Year 6 have been taking part in the Share Aware lessons from the NSPCC, understanding how to stay safe online and make sensible choices when using the internet and social media.

We also introduced the PANTS rules, another NSPCC initiative that teaches children about body safety in a simple, age-appropriate way. The PANTS rules help children understand:

  • Privates are private
  • Always remember your body belongs to you
  • No means no
  • Talk about secrets that upset you
  • Speak up, someone can help

These lessons are designed to empower children to stay safe both online and offline. We encourage you to continue these conversations at home. For more information and resources, please visit:

Thank you for supporting us in helping children stay safe and confident.

Wednesday 14th January, 2026

Attendance Winners 5th – 8th January 2026

Attendance Winners 5th – 8th January 2026

Winner of Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3

Miss Lowe = 96.37%

Winner of Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6

Mrs Everall = 96.67%