Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Harvest celebrations

  Fri 08 Oct 2021

  Thank you to everyone this week who contributed to our Harvest celebrations.  We had an amazing array of food and other essentials to donate to the Kip project locally which supports homeless people locally as well as supporting the work of the local foodbanks which anyone can access if they need some additional support.  The Year 1 and 2 children delivered a beautiful assembly - The performance of Little Red Hen was a particular highlight.  We were delighted to welcome SImon, from the KiP project alongside Stuart and Ann who hosted our visits to Christchurch earlier in the week.  Following their visit to the church to see their harvest displays the children had made their own bread to add to our harvest display.  This week has been an excellent opportunity to understand how some of our food is produced, but also a time to reflect on the importance of sharing and how we build stronger communities by working together.

   

  Year 6 have been immersed in their Arts fortnight.  Having explored a range of artistic skills and techniques to discover how to build texture for fur, the resulting pictures have blown us away.  It has also been delightful to hear how having time to be totally focussed on the art work has helped pupils understand the positive impact on their emotional health.  We hope to have some of the wolf pictures displayed around school and online - accompanied by the soundscapes composed by the pupils. 

   

  Visits to the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham this week for Years 3 and 4 were a real success.  Pupils were amazed and intrigued by the range of plants and animals they encountered.  Being able to take the children out on these experiences is such a crucial part of our curriculum, we have missed being able to go during the pandemic, it really brings the topics alive.  We are looking forward to seeing the resulting work this half term and how the children use the knowledge they acquired during the visit back in school.

   

  Our Early Years children are getting to know Squirrel school.  They are finding out about what grows in and around our school site, with a particular focus on the apple trees near the sports hall.  We are looking forward to working with the National Trust at Sunnycroft this term to use the apple press to create our own juice.

   

  Congratulations to our Year 6 pupils achieving their swimming awards in recent weeks.  So much swimming time was lost through the pandemic, however we are working hard to ensure we catch up as quickly as we can.  

   

  Next week we will be putting our special golden leaves onto the tree in Tim's Garden.  This is a really important part of being a Short Woody, they act as a reminder of the promises we make to care for each other, to work hard, to follow the rules and to believe in ourselves.  If you haven't already returned your home school agreement please do so as soon as possible. 

   

  Have a great weekend, hopefully we can enjoy some bright Autumn days.

   

   

• So far this term!

  Thu 30 Sep 2021

  It has been delightful to welcome everyone back into school this term.  The Short Woodies have shown brilliant resilience as they have settled into their new classes, staff are enjoying getting to know the new pupils they are working with.  

   

  The new year has not been without challenges as we respond to the regularly updated guidance around COVID 19.  Thank you to everyone who is continuing to follow the one-way system around school as this does ensure we are avoiding bottlenecks at the gates.  We continue to work closely with the local health hub, and follow their guidance around positive cases.  As always if your child displays any symptoms please do not bring them to school and book a PCR test as soon as possible.

   

  The planned curriculum offer this term is developing well and children are excited by their learning. 

   

  Early Years are getting to know Percy the Park Keeper, they are adventuring to squirrel school and getting to know their daily routines well. 

   

  Key Stage One's topic of 'Celebrations' is heading into the celebration of Harvest, the children are learning why this is an important time of year, they will hold their own Harvest celebration in school on Thursday 7th October, we are supporting the KIP project in Wellington by donating the food we collect in school.  If you are able to send in any packets, tins or toiletries they will be gratefully received.

   

  Years 3 and 4 are 'Turning Over a New Leaf' with their Rainforest topic.  Next week they will be visiting the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham to experience how it feels to be in a tropical atmosphere.  They will be looking at and comparing tropical plants with those grown in their local environment.

   

  Year 5 have already been up the Wrekin to find out more about the Cornovii Tribe, some of the earliest settlers in our local area.  Throughout the year through their 'Shadow of the Wrekin' topic they will travel through time to discover how our community has come to be the one it is today.

   

  Year 6 are focusing on 'Community and Belonging' this term.  The pupils have been inspired by the Wolves in their class read Wolf brother to find out more about how Wolves live and in some parts of the world have changed their environment.  Their Arts fortnight is providing opportunities to develop their painting skills to enable them to paint their own wolf, capturing the personality of their wolf in their work. They have created colour palettes, are exploring brush techniques and considering different types of paint. A visit from the Animal Man has also been a highlight this week - they have been able to build on their understanding of classification in Science and have learnt so many new facts - ask any Year 6 how the frog swallows their food - you may be surprised by the answer.

   

  We are very fortunate this year to have been selected by Sunnycroft, our local National Trust property, to be their first partnership school. We are collaborating to use the property to enhance our topics and curriculum.  We will be using their grounds, performing at events and holding some events of our own.  By sharing expertise we hope to offer our pupils a unique insight into this local gem of a property, to find out about the people who have lived there over time and how they have contributed to the local community. We hope to be able to invite our families to come along to some of the events too.  This is a really exciting opportunity that we are looking forward to developing over the coming months.

   

  As the weather is getting chillier please ensure your child comes to school in warmer clothes, we are still maintaining good ventilation across school so doors and windows are regularly opened.  They need to have coats and suitable shoes for outdoor play too.  Outdoor learning is becoming a weekly part of the timetable this year too.  We would be grateful if you have wellies and waterproofs that your child can bring in for their sessions as we will go out in most weathers.  We do have some school waterproofs that we will lend to children if they need them so no one misses out on the fun.

   

  Following parents calls this week we have received some really positive feedback about the start of term, thank you. We realise some of you may prefer face to face sessions but while the local rates of Covid are high we are working to keep everyone as safe as possible and reduce risk of transmission where we can.  Please continue to use Dojo to keep in touch with your child's teacher.  The teachers will respond at an appropriate time in their daily timetable, this is unlikely to be during lesson time or beyond 6pm. If you need an urgent response or have a message for a child during the day please call the office and a member of the team will be pleased to help you.  As always you can always call to speak to a member of our senior team too or catch us on the playground at the start and end of most days.

   

   

   

   

• The Flag is Finally Flying!

  Fri 02 Jul 2021

  This morning, our wonderful Eco Warriors have set our Green Flag flying! Make sure you look out for it at the front of school!

   

  A huge well done to every single Short Woody for their amazing dedication to our Green Flag work! We are so proud of our award and of everything we have achieved by all working together! 

   

  "I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you for continuing to work on your Eco-Schools Green Flag during these unprecedented times - it is a true reflection of your schools determination to make a real difference."

  Karyn Fullerton

  Eco-Schools Delivery Officer

  

• Year 6 - Epic Adventures!

  Fri 18 Jun 2021

  This week, our Year 6 Short Woodies have been having the most amazing adventures! They have canoed down the River Severn, through the Ironbridge Gorge and under the famous Iron Bridge; they have spent a day in the Limekiln woods, and have even been lucky enough to see deer; and they have had a whole day at Forest School, making fires, clay sculptures and generally thoroughly enjoying themselves!

   

  Thursday was the day of our Year 6 picnic at lunchtime, followed by an afternoon of sports: cricket, football, rounders, boules and archery. And then Thursday evening, we welcomed the children back to school for an evening of pizza, baking bananas on the BBQ, outdoor discos and incredible inflatables! An amazing time was had by all - including the teachers!!

  

• An Exciting First Week Back!!

  Fri 11 Jun 2021

  Although we've only been back a few days, what an exciting and jam-packed few days they have been!

   

  Wroxeter Visit

   

  All of our Year 3 and 4 Short Woodies have been for a Roman experience day at Wroxeter. They all donned their laurel leaf crowns and spent the day learning about life in the Roman era. They managed to link their visit to the International Schools Mosaic Competition currently being run by the British Iron Works Centre in Oswestry. Whilst at Wroxeter, each child made their own individual mosaic, surrounded by the Roman ruins. And then, back in school, each of our Year 3 and 4 classes have worked together to create a collaborative, whole class mosaic - and they look amazing!!

   

  Time Capsules

   

  Across school, each phase has created a Covid era time capsule and the children have written letters to their future selves! We're are hoping that in 2040, the then Short Woodies will dig up our time capsules and be able to learn, from primary evidence, about what like was like during the pandemic. To make both the occasion and the space super special, we have planted four beautiful cherry blossom trees to mark the location of our time capsules.

   

  Eco Warriors

   

  A huge thank you to Finn and Lily Cosh who spent part of their half term holiday litter picking in our local area! Finn is one of our Year 4 Eco-Warriors, and we are very grateful to, and very proud of, the whole Cosh family for doing their bit to make our community a lovely place to live and come to school.

  

• A Week of Wombling and Blue Bells!

  Mon 31 May 2021

  This week, our youngest Short Woodies have been setting an amazing example for us all to follow! Prompted by Evie, our Eco-Warrior in Class 2, our Reception children have been out litter picking in our local area, all earning themselves the 'Wombling' badge! The world might be a better place if we were all a little bit more like our Wombling Short Woodies! 

   

  And keeping her Eco-Warrior hat on, Evie has also been writing to both Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough to ask for their advice on saving the Rainforest! You can see her amazing, independent writing below! 

   

  And on Tuesday, all of our Year 5 children enjoyed the Blue Bell walk through Lime Kiln woods - fortunately, the weather was kind to them and the rain held off! Our Year 5s will be out and about in Wellington quite a bit over the remainder of the Summer term as they find out about our local community and what it means to grow up to become a responsible Wellingtonian! Look out for their future adventures here, on our school news page!

   

   

  

• Short Wood News - 17.5.21 - 21.5.21

  Fri 21 May 2021

  What an amazing week we have had in school! We have had exciting things happening, right across school, every day!

   

  We are delighted to have been presented with a special award from Wellington Town Council. This was in recognition of services above and beyond during the Covid-19 national lock down period. Well done wonderful Short Woodies!

   

  Our Year 6s have spent the week on their STAR (stop, think, act, reflect) project. Each day, one of our local community support officers from West Mercia police has been in school, working with the children to help develop their understanding of what it means to be a responsible citizen.

   

  We have been awarded our 2nd Green flag for our dedication and commitment to environmental learning. This is a really fantastic achievement and a recognition of all of the amazing learning our Short Woodies undertake! 

   

  Thursday was our special Eid lunch! Everyone enjoyed a delicious feast and looked so colourful in their party clothes!  

   

  Every year our school enters the Wellington poetry competition. This year we have had 4 winners! And on Friday afternoon, the Mayor of Wellington awarded prizes to our lucky winners.

  Well done to Aleem and Alice in Year 4, and Warisha and Emre in Year 5 - we hope you enjoy spending your £30 prize money! 

  All of the winning entries will be displayed in Wellington Library. Why not pop along and have a look! 

  

• School reopening - update

  Wed 28 Apr 2021

  We have sent out a further letter this afternoon with the following information about school reopening tomorrow:

   

  We have met with a Health and Safety Officer from the council this morning at school and have taken advice as to how to ensure we can maintain a Covid secure site alongside managing the pollution from the local fire.

   

  We are confident that all is well to reopen school tomorrow. Our risk assessments have been updated and are on our school website.

   

  Thank you for your ongoing support.

• School closure

  Wed 28 Apr 2021

  Due to the smoke plume, from the fire locally, school will be closed today  (Thursday 28th April 2021) as a precaution. A letter to all families will be sent in due course this morning. Thank you for your ongoing support.

• Celebrating Short Woodies

  Tue 30 Mar 2021
  We were delighted to hear about one of our Short Wood pupils who has received a community heroes award from the Town Centre.  Sophie is a young carer and throughout the lockdown period she has been writing to a local care home to keep the spirits of their residents up.  This shows true Short Woody qualities and we are really proud of her.  She has received a hamper of goodies as recognition of her achievement.  Well done Sophie.