12th November 2024

Dear  Parents/Carers,

We are pleased to confirm the above trip can go ahead, which is due to a parent making contact with us to clear the outstanding balance.  I am sure everyone will be pleased to hear this good news.

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Mrs T Chakmak

Finance Officer/Wraparound Admin Officer

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Good morning Parents/Carers

Further to my email yesterday we still have a shortfall of £235.40 outstanding on the above trip. 

We have extended this until 11am today, to allow for any further payments to be made.  Unfortunately, should we not receive the amount outstanding the trip will need to be cancelled.

11th November 2024

Good morning Parents/Carers of Year 6

At the time of writing, we still have a shortfall of £256.80.

This means unless we can secure sufficient funds by close of school today, we will NOT be able to proceed with the visit. A DOJO has been sent this morning to all outstanding Parents/Carers.

A final decision will be made by 9 am tomorrow morning, and we will confirm this to you. 

Thank you to everyone that has paid, and in the event this is cancelled, you will receive a full refund.

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Mrs T Chakmak

Finance Officer/Wraparound Admin Officer

RE: Holdenby House payment due on or before next Monday 11/11/2024

5th November 2024

Good morning Parents/Carers,

This is a gentle reminder that the payment for the above event is due on or before next Monday 11th November 2024.

Thank you to the Parents/Carers that have already made the payment, and please be aware that should we not receive full contributions and the event is cancelled, you will receive a full refund.

Many thanks

Mrs T Chakmak

Finance Officer/Wraparound Admin Officer

Good afternoon Parents/Carers

A few parents have contacted us today to say they have paid for the Holdenby Trip and asked why is it still showing as outstanding.

Please refer to the email below that was sent to you all on 1st October 2024.

Kind regards

Mrs Chakmak

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01/10/2024

Good morning Parents/Carers,

I wanted to let you all know that once you have paid the above trip payment, it will still show on your account as outstanding until we archive the payment item. I can however see from the school system as and when you have paid for the item.

If you require a barcode letter please can you let us know a week prior to the payment due date.

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Mrs T Chakmak

Finance Officer/Wraparound Admin Officer

National Anti Bullying Week 2024.  11th - Friday 15th November 2024

“Choose Respect!”

Dear Parents, Carers and Pupils, 

Next week across the country, national anti-bullying week will take place in schools and colleges. The purpose of this week is to support children and young people’s emotional health and well-being and ensure they have a voice in asking for support or help if they feel they are being treated unfairly or bullied.

As part of the week, we spend some curriculum time looking at what is bullying and importantly what to do if you see it happening to someone else or it affects you. To support the focus of the week, Olton will be taking part in different activities to promote discussion and further awareness.

In addition to this there are a few other events below:

Tuesday: Odd Socks Day!

Children and Staff are invited to come to school wearing odd socks with their school uniform to celebrate our uniqueness and individuality! Please can we ask that you make a £1 donation - or any donation you think appropriate - to support the Anti Bullying Alliance. However, you do not have to raise money to take part - the most important part is the message of Odd Socks Day - and any money raised is a bonus!

KS1 and KS2 - there will be a live online lesson on Tuesday which will focus on showing respect and how to deal with disrespect and conflict. We are also pleased to share that Olton Primary has signed up to the United Against Bullying Programme and we shall be working with all of our children to stregthen their ongoing well-being about bullying in everyday life and the online world.

Friday: Non Uniform Day to Support Children in Need. Please send in a £1 donation which we will send off as our whole school donation.

Thank you for your continued support,

Yours sincerely,

Mr Chamberlain     Mrs Gray

Head Teacher         Deputy Head Teacher

Good morning Parents/Carers,

Further to our previous communication, the correct payment has now been loaded on your ParentPay account, along with the original payment due date.

This is for Parents/Carers who are paying for the additional 15 hours per week, and for Parents/Carers whose child remains on school premises over the lunch period.

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Mrs T Chakmak

Finance Officer/Wraparound Admin Officer

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Good afternoon Parents/Carers,

Further to the email that has just been sent regarding the floods in the Infant block. I am providing an update on Nursery Fees for Autumn 2.

As we are unsure of what may happen over the next few days, can we kindly ask that you do not make the Autumn 2 Lunchtime wraparound care payment.  This is due for payment on or before 13 December 2024, but once we know when the children will be back in school, I will adjust the cost on your ParentPay account.   

For Parent/Carers who pay for the extended Nursery hours (15 hours) this will also be reduced, once the children are back in school.  Can we also kindly ask you not to make payments until you we are in a position to advise you of the reduced cost.

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Mrs T Chakmak

Finance Officer/Wraparound Admin Officer

Dear Parents, Carers and Children,

It was lovely to welcome so many of you back to school on Monday but for 120 children, I have not been able to say hello because we had a significant flood that started in our Nursery.  A hot water pipe burst over the half term holiday and this flooded not only that room but 4 other classrooms, their toilets, the upper corridor and our pod spaces.  We walked into school on Monday to nearly 3cm of water across these spaces and as some of you may know, water damage is considerable and over the last two days whilst the Local Authority and our Insurers have been supporting us, the extent of the damage is still being pieced together.  May I take this opportunity to thank the many, many offers of help and support from our community in wanting to help us all - it is very much appreciated.

Our key priority is to get all of our 120 children affected by the room closures back into school quickly and from speaking to so many of you who have had to facilitate last minute childcare arrangements, we recognise this is your priority too.

With considerable help and support from a large team behind the scenes, I am pleased to announce that on Monday 11^th November, we are able to welcome back Chipmunks (Nursery), Lemmings (Reception), Bobcats (Reception), Penguins (Year 2) and also reinstate a learning space for Chameleons too.  In order for this to happen quickly, we have had to plan carefully how we use every available space in school to accommodate this and as with any emergency plan, there have to be compromises.  Our large school hall is going to be transformed into 3 Reception classrooms for Lemmings, Bobcats and Meerkats and our team are currently working on putting this plan into place.  Our Nursery children will be making use of the only Reception classroom not affected by the flood.  This classroom is the current Meerkats’ classroom.  More information will be shared later on in the week about drop-off and collections.

A further change of rooms will be for Penguins (Year 2) who will take over the existing classroom space used by Pandas within the infant block.  Pandas class will move over to the small hall for their classroom.  Ironically, during the initial build, the small hall was a Year 3 classroom.  Chameleons new temporary class base will be the IT suite.

A further impact of creating 4 learning spaces in the school halls will mean that we will not be able to provide a hot meal from the canteen after Thursday, until further notice.  A cold sandwich/wrap menu will operate from Friday 8^th November, for those children who currently have a school meal.  Friday’s usual menu has been moved to tomorrow and so the menu for tomorrow will be Fish Fingers or Cheese and Tomato Pizza both with Chips and Baked Beans.  Chocolate Ice Cream or Fresh Fruit or Yoghurt.  We appreciate that menu options being limited for a period of time will be disappointing, however, we are working with all of our partners to look at further solutions for this.

In addition, we have had to temporarily cancel our extra-curricular clubs that run after school which normally utilise the hall spaces.  Cookery, Martial Arts, Rocksteady are cancelled until further notice.  Gym is on tonight (6^th) and then cancelled thereafter.  Dance Club will run on Monday 11^th and Monday 18^th November (in a classroom) as the children are rehearsing for a show and then cancelled until further notice.  Song Squad will continue in a classroom as again, children have external performances which they are rehearsing for. 

Homework club will continue to run.  Clubs which use the outdoor space will also continue to run.  Orchards and Fielders will continue to operate as normal during this time

I am sure you will all want to know how long this arrangement will go on for.  I am hoping that by the start of next week, we will have a clearer picture of what needs to happen and timescales in relation to getting the school back to normal.  We will keep you informed regarding progress and any other adjustments that we may need to make.

Thank you once again for your overwhelming understanding, care and compassion towards getting our whole school community back together despite the unprecedented circumstances that we encountered on Monday morning.  As ever, if you have any questions, please do speak to a member of our team.

Yours sincerely

Mr L Chamberlain          Mrs E Gray

Head Teacher                  Deputy Head Teacher

Dear Parents/Carers,

Due to the works that will be going on in the infant block following the water leak, there will be a number of vehicles around the site and therefore the nursery gates on to site will remain closed until further notice. 

The main school gate continues to be fully accessible.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Kind regards,

Mr L Chamberlain          Mrs E Gray

Head Teacher                 Deputy Head Teacher

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Update on Flooded Classrooms.

First of all apologies, this isn't the start to the term that any of us wanted. As you know, we were alerted to a flood within our infant block earlier on today. The flood was from a burst pipe in Nursery and the water had escaped to adjoining corridors and classrooms. This has caused some damage to some parts of the building and we are working with the Local Authority and our insurers to find a practical solution as quickly as possible. 

For the remainder of this week, we are sorry that we are unable to open up our Nursery, Lemmings, Bobcats and Penguin classes. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause and staff will be in touch regarding learning and ways in which we will maintain contact with children and families each day.

Please accept our sincere apologies once again and we shall be in touch shortly with further updates. If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Thank you for your understanding, 

Kind regards,

Mr L Chamberlain          Mrs E Gray

Head Teacher                  Deputy Head Teacher

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4th November 2024 @ 08:00

Good morning

Unfortunately, we have come into school this morning to find we have had a major water leak in the infants building. While we sort this out, today, there will not be any school for:

·         PENGUINS

·         LEMMINGS

·         BOBCATS

·         NURSERY

We apologise for the inconvenience but we must keep the children safe at all times. An update will be sent later today with regard to re-opening tomorrow.

If you have any queries please contact the school office.

Thank you for your understanding.

Mr L Chamberlain         

Head Teacher     

Dear Parents/Carers

Due to Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 22^nd October and Thursday 24^th October,  the following clubs will be cancelled.

·         Home Work Club – Tuesday 22^nd October

·         Home Work Club – Thursday 24^th October

·         Netball Club – Thursday 24^th October

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Kind regards

Mrs A Fitzpatrick

Senior Administration Officer

Olton Primary School

EMAIL FROM TEMPEST PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dear Parents/Carers,

Have you ordered your school photos yet?  A polite reminder that the closing date for free delivery back to school is Sunday 13th October 2024.  Order through the Tempest website using your unique link or visit www.tempest-orders.co.uk. 

If you need any assistance in ordering your photos, feel free to contact Tempest on 01736 751555 (option 3).

Many thanks.

Tempest

Regards,

Mrs Y Jones

Office Manager

We have school photographs tomorrow so looking forward to all of our children looking pristine in their uniforms! We also have a family photo opportunity between 7.30am and 8.15am.

If you wish to come along, please use the door behind the cycle shelter (adjacent to the Year 6 classrooms) .

Mrs Phillips will be there between 7.30am and 8.15am to meet families.

Good afternoon everyone.

As many of you know, our PTA has raised an incredible amount of money over the past few years to provide those extras to school which will really make a difference. This has included adventure playgrounds across the site, lockers in KS2, resources for Forest School- the list goes on.

On Wednesday 25th September at 7.30pm, we are planning to have an online meeting (approx 45 minutes) to hopefully bring together new members, generate different ideas and hopefully ensure that our PTA is sustained at Olton.

If you are interested in being part of the online TEAMS meeting, please send an email to s12pta@olton.solihull.sch.uk by Tuesday 24th September. We will then be able to send you a TEAMS link to join the meeting.

Many people think being part of a PTA requires lots of time, which many of us do not have. However, there are so many different roles and opportunities, which we desperately need help with in order to continue running our PTA.

Please remember to email your interest to s12pta@olton.solihull.sch.uk.
Many thanks,

Mr Chamberlain and the PTA team.