Today, we launch our Punctuality Focus Week. During this week, we will be monitoring attendance and punctuality daily and talking to your children about the importance of regular attendance and punctuality.

It has been proven that poor attendance directly effects attainment. Your children can only learn if they come to school every day on time.

There will be a reward for all those children who have attended school every day and on time.

Punctuality Focus Week will take place each half term, look out for your text reminders!

Yesterday, SS Peter and Paul welcomed Palmers Cross Primary for our first netball match of this academic year. Despite the weather (which was freezing), both teams were up for a competitive match. In the first quarter, we were a bit nervous and it took us some time to settle into the game. We did have a few chances of scoring but unfortunately they just wouldn’t go in and after 6 minutes we were down by four goals.

In the second quarter (and a change around of the team), we scored two goals – both scored by Kaloyan in year 6! Our defenders were a lot more active too. The score was now 4-2. Moving into the third quarter, with the weather getting increasingly colder, the score was increased by four goals to Palmers Cross despite us trying our best.

Now we were into the final quarter and yet another change around of positions. The light by this time was fading fast and in this quarter we held off our opponents and increased our score by one, scored by Kaloyan.

The final score was SS Peter and Paul: 3 Palmers Cross: 8. It was a very enjoyable match and considering our opponents had been playing together as a team for two years, we did exceptionally well. Well done to all the team and our supporters – our man of the match was Bartosz in year 6, who never stopped defending. Our team included: Jessica, Kiera, Kaloyan, Karo and Bartosz (yr. 6), Autumn, Blessing, (yr5) and Lyra (yr. 4).

You may have seen our recently appointed ‘Parking Patrol Wardens’ outside of school last week. The children were there to thank the parents and carers that were walking to school and who were also parking safely outside of SS Peter and Paul.

This will continue as we strive to make our school as safe as possible. The children will soon be making notes of any cars that are not parking safely as this could be causing a risk to their safety when leaving school. Make sure that your car is not one of those noted down!

Please continue to park safely outside school and if possible, promote a healthy lifestyle by walking to school.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Yesterday, ten children (5 boys and 5 girls) attended the Sportshall Athletics competition at St Peter’s Collegiate School. They were competing against four other primary schools in six different events. The children competed in teams of boys and girls and then their scores were added together to make a whole school total. The events the children competed in were: –

• Long jump
• Chest throw
• Throwing
• Speed bounce
• Sprint
• Hurdles

The children did really well and showed great support for each other when competing. When all the scores were added together, SS Peter and Paul came third with a combined total of 764 points and were only 5 points off second place. The children all achieved a bronze medal and a certificate. A fantastic effort from everyone involved. A huge thank you to all the parents that came to support their children as well.

On Thursday 16th November, SS Peter and Paul travelled to Palmers Cross Primary School for their second football fixture of the year. This was an opportunity for a few more players to represent the school in a competitive fixture for the first time. Similar to their last game, SS  Peter and Paul were losing 5-0 at half time as they struggled to adapt to the tight pitch and long grass.

In the second half, the children came out with a fighting spirit and caused Palmers Cross a few problems with Alyssia’s pace upfront. The children managed to get a goal back through Bartosz, who scored his second goal in as many games. Kaloyan was playing his first game in goal for SS Peter and Paul and made a few very good saves, however Palmers Cross quality proved too much and the game finished 9-1.

There were some encouraging signs from the children as they are starting to adapt to playing in competitive games. They also demonstrated the ‘never give up’ attitude which I am so proud of them for. This was commented on by the opposing team’s teacher, who complimented our children’s attitude.

Thank you to all the children that attended the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Discos on Friday evening. We arranged the discos so that we could raise funds towards our school pantomime. I am pleased to say that we raised £256.28 towards the cost of hosting the pantomime, thank you again to everyone involved.

On Thursday 9th November, SS Peter and Paul had their first football fixture of the season. We welcomed West Park Primary, who were also playing in their first game. The game started off very evenly, before West Park’s pace and power started to take affect. They quickly raced into a 4-0 lead – catching SS Peter and Paul on the break several times. Just before half time, Theo raced through but his shot hit the crossbar. After half time, SS Peter and Paul started with a renewed belief and started to settle into the game. Eros (captain) made a fantastic run down the right before crossing for Bartosz to score from close range. We quickly had a few more chances but couldn’t quite score. SS Peter and Paul started to tire and West Park once again started to attack and were much more clinical; scoring some more very good goals along with some scrappy ones from SS Peter and Paul’s perspective. The final score was 9-1 to West Park. A very good game, with both teams playing with a great attitude. SS Peter and Paul will be looking to improve on their performance in their next game against Palmers Cross on Tuesday 14th November.

As part of our aim to encourage our children to enjoy and live healthy lives and to try and reduce the traffic outside our school, we have joined the Living Streets – Walk to School Challenge.

Tom from Living Streets delivered an assembly to the children yesterday to launch the walk to school campaign. This scheme encourages children to be active on their way to school. They will get a badge each month for walking once a week at least; there are 11 to collect.

There are options to ‘park and stride’ , as the aim is complete at least a 10 minute walk to school.

The class trackers are available to the children each morning in their classes so they can mark whether they have been active for that day.