Welcome back to all of you. I hope that you had a lovely summer and were able to enjoy some of the beautiful weather. We have another exciting year ahead of us and look forward to working together to help our wonderful children go from strength to strength. Please keep an eye out for our weekly newsletter as it will contain important information and reports on what your children have been learning that week.
Miss Henley
Diary Dates
September
- Thursday 26th - Flu Immunisation
October
- Tuesday 8th - Portico Sports Afternoon
- Friday 11th - Individual School Photos
- Friday 25th - INSET Day
- Monday 28th - Friday 1st November - Half Term
November
- Monday 4th - Return to school
December
- Friday 20th - INSET Day
- Monday 23rd - Friday 3rd January - Christmas Break
February
- Monday 17th - Friday 21st - Half Term
- Monday 24th - INSET Day
April
- Monday 7th - Thursday 17th - Easter Break
- Friday 18th - Good Friday
- Monday 21st - Bank Holiday Monday
May
- Monday 5th - Bank Holiday Monday
- Monday 26th - Bank Holiday Monday
- Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th - Half Term
June
- Monday 2nd - INSET Day
July
Wednesday 23rd - Last day of term
Year 1
Year 1 is in full swing and the children are loving their new adventure. The children have been working hard to write their names independently, naming the letters of the alphabet and using capital letters correctly in their names. Also, we have been saying our numbers from 1-10 in order, writing numbers 1-10 as digits as well as writing them as words.
We have been working hard to sort out the children’s new reading records and reading books to send home ready for the weekend.
REMINDER: Please ensure PE kits are in school. Our PE days are Thursday. No jewellery to be worn, including earrings.
All reading books and reading records must come to school every day, so we can track the children’s progress.
Year 2
Welcome Back! We had an exciting first three days back at school! The children have settled in well, and we've been getting to know our classrooms and new timetables. We've also been reconnecting with our friends and exploring the exciting new playgrounds where we can play. This week, we made bookmarks for our books, which will be sent home today along with our Home School Diaries.
REMINDER: A reminder that P.E. will take place on Tuesdays. Please ensure your child comes to school with the correct P.E. kit so they can fully enjoy their session. We encourage you to read with your child daily and record it in their reading record.
Year 3
Welcome back everyone to Year 3. It has been lovely to see you all and we hope you had a relaxing break. The children will be getting their new reading books by the end of next week and they will have a reading journal for when you read with them at home.
Our PE days are Tuesday and Friday so please could the children have their PE kits in school as soon as possible.
REMINDER: Children can continue to practise their times tables on Times Table Rockstars and can read any books you have at home.
Year 4
Welcome back and welcome to Year 4! The children have already been busy thinking about how they are going to use their learning powers this year to achieve their goals and aspirations. They have been concentrating on the importance of handwriting and good presentation in all areas of the curriculum. They have also begun to practise times tables on TTR.
REMINDER: PE is on Monday and Wednesday so please have kits in school for those days.
All children will have a new school diary and reading book so please record their reading at home.
Year 5
Welcome back Year 5! We have started our first week in Year 5 by making some rules and thinking about our goals/aspirations for this year.
Every child has a reading book and home school diary. Please ensure that you hear your child read daily and sign the diary.
REMINDER: PE is on a Monday and Thursday. Please ensure that your child has the correct kit in school.
Year 6
Welcome to Year 6 everyone! It has been fantastic to see everyone on time and so keen to learn. Your children have chosen their new reading books and we have started recapping place value in maths. In English, we have collected some descriptive language to describe our class names (Octopus and Stingray).
PE is on Wednesdays and Fridays. Thank you everyone that has sent their child’s PE kit in already. Please let us know if we can help.
REMINDER: Reading – please aim for reading every day and recording the book title and pages read in their reading journal.
Times tables are still really important in Year 6 so please practise on Times Table Rockstars.
Second Hand Uniform Shop
Our Uniform shop is located within the front reception area of the school and is open Monday-Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm. All items are 50p each. We always have a good selection of skirts, trousers, jumpers, tops, dresses and P.E items. Please ask at the office to point you in the right direction.
We always welcome school uniform donations for us to sell at our school uniform shop. Could we please ask that the clothes are in good, clean condition. All items can be dropped off at the school office between 8.30am - 4.00pm. Thank you so much for doing this for the school as it helps our parents out tremendously.
Thank you
Animals in Action Photography Competition
This summer, Portico Academy will be running their second photography competition which will also become an online exhibition.
We would like to invite you all to take some snapshots that are linked to nature and the beautiful world of animals in action. You may take inspiration from interesting insects or animals found in your natural environments. Why not snap your own pet in action? Your entry must showcase animals ‘in action’, whether that is indoors or outside in the natural world. Whilst out and about this summer, can you find some minibeasts in action? Or maybe a naughty seagull along the seafront?
Please send your photographs to: ArtSubjectLeaders@porticoacademytrust.co.uk along with a title for your photography entry. You must include your full name, school and new class for September 2024. Please only send in one entry per child.
Last Year's Results
As voted for by the pupils
Attendance
Welcome back!
Well Done Parents and Carers you have all helped your children make a fantastic start to the school year.
Our overall attendance for this week end is 93%. For the start of a school year this is a personal best for this school, that is all thanks to you for making the start of term a positive and punctual one despite difficulties and challenges.
Reporting Absences
Please continue to report all pupil absences in the usual ways.
- Call or email the school on the first day of an unplanned absence, giving your child’s full name , year group, class and reason for their absence
- Complete a Pupil absence request form for a planned absence
- Where medical appointments take place within the school day, support your child in attending school before and or after the appointment where this is possible
Attendance Policy Update and Changes
Please look out for a letter and links on the website to revised attendance and absence procedures and policy. The DfE has produced a series of documents and policies that schools are required to follow, outline specific school action and procedures in the event of specific types of absences.
Contact Us
If you would like to talk to someone for support or advice on attendance or punctuality at any time, please do not hesitate to contact the Attendance Team: Mrs. S. Wyer, Attendance Administrator, or Mrs. D. Morris, Assistant Principal and Senior Leader for Attendance. You can visit the school office to speak to one of us face-to-face if we are available. Alternatively, you can call the school or email us at attendance@pgps.porticoacademytrust.co.uk We are here and always happy to help!
From the first day of term to the last, the small moments in a school day make a real difference to your child.
Dinner Menu
Week 2
Monday - Pork Sausages with mashed potato & gravy - Vegan Sausage with mashed potato & gravy - Pasta & tomato sauce - Sweetcorn & Baked Beans - Chocolate Rice Krispie Cake
Tuesday - Chicken & Sweetcorn Pasta - Vegan Tomato & Mixed Bean Sauce with Fusilli - Baked Jackets with Grated Cheese - Carrots & Broccoli - Mandarin Jelly
Wednesday - Honey Roast Gammon with Roast Potatoes & Gravy - Sweet Chilli Stir-Fry Mushroom & Steamed Rice 0 Wholewheat Pasta & Tomato Sauce - Seasonal Greens & Peas - Vanilla Ice Cream
Thursday - Beef Keema with Turmeric Rice - Vegan Layered Vegetable & Sweet Potato Bake - Baked Jackets with Baked Beans - Carrots & Sweetcorn - Apple & Carrot Flapjack
Friday - Breaded Fish Fingers with Chips & ketchup - Vegan Fajita Wrap with Chips & Ketchup - Pasta & Tomato Sauce - Peas & Baked Beans - Lemon Drizzle Sponge
Community
Cost of Living Advice
Click here to access cost of living advice from Southend City Council. It contains information on housing support, energy cost advice and benefits and support for those with children.