St Patrick's Catholic Primary School News

  School Photos: Monday  9th October 2023 will be the  individual and siblings photos with DSP  School Photography .  Please make sure your child is in full uniform, including tie.  

  In a bid to keep up with everyone else, Snapchat introduced their AI chatbot a few months ago  by default  into users accounts. No choice was given and it can't be turned off unless you pay. Children use Snap MyAI (and other AI chatbots) for a variety of reasons such as boredom and loneliness. And of course, as with all technology, there can be positives. But, on the flip side there are always negatives, such as inappropriate content, misinformation (AI is only as good as the data it's trained on), privacy and much more. Even Snapchat admits that the AI can be tricked into saying pretty much anything. Please follow the link  here   for a really good article explaining Snap MyAI. It has information about how it works, its features, the issues and tips for parents and is definitely worth the read.

  Community Nurse Visit: Our Community Nurse from GP Care Group have been allocated to carry out the school drop-ins. Please see the dates below for this term.   Autumn Term:   Friday October 20th - 9:30am to 10:30am                                                            Friday November 24th - 9:30am to 10:30am                                                          Friday December 8th - 9:30am to 10:30am  

  Parent-Teacher Meetings will take place on Monday 9 th and Tuesday 10 th October from 3.30-6pm.  The appointment sheet for your child’s class will be available from Monday for you to sign up to a meeting time.  

  T he Rosary: During the month of October, we will be saying a decade of the Rosary every Thursday morning at 8:30am in the Library. This year, it will start on 5 th October and every Thursday morning thereafter until the 19 th October.  Anyone wishing to attend needs to come through the Stoneydown Park playground entrance at 8.25am where they will be collected by an adult.  Please be prompt as parents/children arriving after this time will not be able to join in and will need to wait for their school start time outside with an adult. If you are a parent and wish to come, you can join us.  

  From managing screen time, the fear of missing out (FOMO) and body image. All these and much more can affect the wellbeing of children and so   Internet Matters   have put together a great series of articles for parents. Although it is aimed at 9-10 year old girls, it is also worthwhile for all older and younger children, boys and girls. You can browse and read the advice page   HERE .

The world’s most popular instant messaging service,  WhatsApp  has been appearing in the headlines even more often than usual recently over its opposition to aspects of the UK government’s Online Safety Bill. Encrypting messages to protect users’ privacy has undeniable merit, but it  also  poses obvious risks – especially to young people. Updated to reflect the newest version of WhatsApp, this Parent’s Guide brings trusted adults the latest essential info. Click Here to find out more

  Week commencing 25th September we will be collecting donations of dried food i.e. tins, pasta, rice etc., for our Harvest Mass in school on Wednesday 11 th October. All donations of food will go to the Christian Kitchen in Walthamstow. This is a very admirable charity that provides hot meals for people who are less fortunate than ourselves. All donations are very welcome. Please send them with your child into their class teacher. Thank you all for your support in the very worthy cause.

O ctober Half Term Holiday Club:  Monday October 23rd to Friday October 27th 2023 .  If you wish your child to attend, please complete the booking form on the school website and hand it into the school office or email to  cpc@st-patricks.waltham.sch.uk      The daily cost is £26.00 per child, £20.00 for siblings.   The club runs from 8am to 6pm.   A range of exciting   activities will be offered for the children.   We will also be offering daily Reading and Mathematics   to help children with their learning.   If you would like your child to take part please let Miss Allen know when you are   making your booking.   Outdoor activities will also be available (weather permitting).   Children will be offered a healthy breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack with choices of fresh fruit, fresh juice, milk or water.      

  Holiday Clubs We wanted to let you know that we will be making some improvements to our holiday club this year to ensure that the children receive an all-round enrichment experience.   We will be providing a set timetable with the activities and learning the children will be doing each day. The children will be provided with breakfast, a hot meal at lunchtime and a snack at teatime. Fresh fruit, juice, milk and water are available to the children throughout the day. As the Holiday Club is very popular in the local area and we have limited spaces, we have set up a new booking system using Parent Pay.   To book your child’s place , you will need access to ParentPay and follow the instruction below: If using a computer:   Log into ParentPay Click on the name of the child you wish to book the club for You will see a menu on the left hand side Click clubs – a list of current clubs available for the child will be displayed Find the club you wish to book and click view club   The

 Setting Boundaries Around Gaming Almost half (46%) of 8- to 11-year-olds in the UK play online video games with people that they don’t necessarily know. Most children find gaming immensely enjoyable, but its volume of potential risks – and capacity to influence behaviour – often make it problematic for parents. Our Parent’s Guide this week suggests some sensible ground rules for promoting safer, healthier gaming habits. Click Here to Learn More

  Applying for a reception place for September 2024:   If your child was born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020, they are due to start in reception class at a primary school in September 2024. You must apply for a reception class place for your child even if they attend a school nursery or have an older brother or sister at your preferred school. If your child currently attends our nursery this does not give them any priority for a place in reception class at St Patrick’s.   If you and your child live in Waltham Forest, you must apply through Waltham Forest. If you and your child live outside Waltham Forest, you must apply to the local authority in which you live, even if you are applying for schools in other areas. How to apply:   The brochure Starting Primary School 202 4 (3MB PDF) contains all the information you need to know about applying for a reception class place.   Please check the latest admissions information below for updates to this brochure.   Download Start

 

  We are pleased to announce our Reception Open Days for children who wish to apply for  Reception  September 2024.   Open Days Dates Wednesday 8 th November 2023  and Tuesday 5th December 2023. 1 st session 9.30am to 10.30am 2 nd Session 1.30pm to 2.30pm Please email the school which day that you would like to visit:   school@st-patricks.waltham.sch.uk  

  Parents are invited to come and visit classes, to share in a Maths session, on Thursday 5th October  between 9.00am – 9:30am. Please enter through the Office Foyer. 

  Prayer for the start of term Lord God, bless our school as we enter the start of a new academic year. May ours be a community of welcome and hope. Watch over our pupils - so that they grow in understanding and love. Encourage our staff - so that their service reveals your generosity and mercy. Inspire our leaders - so that their actions show your wisdom and justice. Loving Father, through the Trinity you teach us the importance of relationship, help us work together to accomplish your mission: that all your children may have life to the full. Amen

  "FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024 :  Application forms are available (Church porch) for children who will be in Year 4 in September who wish to make their First Holy Communion in 2024. Please ensure you have a completed application form, with a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate attached. ONLY APPLICATION FORMS WITH A COPY OF BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATES WILL BE ACCEPTED. The deadline for application forms is Sunday 24th September.  All parents are invited to attend the First Holy Communion Meeting on Saturday 23rd September at 11am in the Church. Information about the program will be given on the meeting and there will be an opportunity to buy Communion text books and a Bible. The first lesson will be in the Church on Saturday 30th September at 1pm. We are looking for parents of FHC children who are happy to be teachers and co-ordinators. "

  Applying for a secondary place for September 2024   The information on this page relates to those children born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013 who need to apply to start secondary school in September 2024.   If your child is currently in Year 6, they are due to start secondary school in September 2024.   You must apply for a secondary school place for your child even if they have an older brother or sister at your preferred school. If your child attends an All Through school and you wish them to automatically transfer to year 7, please contact the school who will advise you what you need to do.   If you and your child live in Waltham Forest, you must apply through Waltham Forest. If you and your child live outside Waltham Forest, you must apply to the local authority in which you live, even if you are applying for schools in other areas.   How to apply:  The brochure Starting Secondary School 202 4  (10.4MB PDF) contains all the information you need to know about