Principals Update
This morning I had the immense pleasure of sitting in the Year 8 assembly around Diversity. The assembly was led by Form Captains from each house within the year group, and 11 brave year 8 pupils presented to their year group of 186 pupils. Each form group collected information about the religious and ethnic backgrounds of their class and shared this during their presentation. Quotes were taken by other members of their form group around what diversity means to them and why it is important to celebrate, recognise and respect those with different backgrounds to our own. It was truly an assembly with the Avanti Way at it’s core.
This week a number of our Year 7 pupils have been in Swindon for their Avanti Quest residential. I look forward to hearing their stories and adventures next week.
And adventures abounded this week in our primary phase. On Monday we had a “Pets in Primary” event with a number of staff pets coming to say hello to our pupils. And today was the first of two Year 1 trips of pupils to visit the ISKCON temple in Leicester as part of their PRE curriculum.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and introduce our incoming Head Boy and Head Girl for the 2024-25 academic year. As our Year 11 pupils begin their GCSE exams, our Year 10 pupils step up to become the next round of leaders. A big well done to Priyan K (Head Boy), Meisha P (Head Girl), Rudra K (Deputy Head Boy) and Maya P (Deputy Head Girl) – I know you will be excellent leaders in the year to come.
And finally, I want to say a very big thank you to our PTFA. They do a fantastic job of supporting the school and it is very much appreciated by the staff and departments you have supported. Please read more below around their fundraising support.
A reminder: Monday 6th May the school will be closed (May Bank Holiday)
Calendar Updates
Advance Notice
The final INSET day for Avanti Fields will be on Friday 24th May. Please be reminded that the school will be closed for staff training.
Secondary Calendar
- Monday 6th May: Bank Holiday (school closed)
- Tuesday 7th May – 26th June: GCSE Exams
- Tuesday 7th May: Career Providers Access assembly
- Wednesday 8th May: Alternative Post-16 Parent Information
- Wednesday 8th May: HPV, Measles, Rubella and MMR Vaccination for Year 8
- Thursday 9th May: Year 7 Parents consultation Evening (Secondary school Finish at 12:45pm)
- Thursday 9th May: Reading Rampage Programme (selected students only)
Primary Calendar
- Monday 6th May: Bank Holiday (school closed)
- Wednesday 8th May: Y1 Sea life trip
- Tuesday 14th May : Parents Evening (3:00 -5:30Pm)
- Thursday 16th May: Parents Evening (3:00 – 5:30pm)
Primary News
What a busy few weeks we have had! Last Friday Reception pupils visited Stonehurst farm, this week we have had pets in the Nursery, a special cooking week for some of our pupils and Snowdrop class have been to visit our local ISKCON temple!
Sports day
As stated in the academic calendar week beginning 20th May is Primary sports day events. If you would like to attend the event, please sign in at the school office on time to join in the fun!
21st- Nursery Sports day 2.00pm- 3.00pm
22nd- Reception Sports day 1.45pm- 2.45pm
23rd – Year 1 Sports day 1.45pm- 2.45pm
‘Morning’ Nursery Parents information only: If your child attends ‘mornings’ only you will need to complete the following form to confirm your attendance for sports day: https://forms.gle/aTHrpDwgUfzdzqqb9 This is a parent and child event therefore, parents are required to stay during the whole event.
The deadline to submit the form is 13th May 2024. Failure to which unfortunately, can prevent you to attend the said event.
RRSA Article of the Week: Article 24
Every child has the right to life. Governments must do all they can to ensure that children survive and develop to their full potential.
Article 24 (health and health services) – Every child has the right to the best possible health. Governments must provide good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, and a clean environment and education on health and well-being so that children can stay healthy. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.
Here is an activity you can do at home. Take a look at recent Earthshot Prize winners. What would you like to invent to solve today’s environmental challenges?
Article of the Week – Rights Respecting Schools Award (unicef.org.uk)
Primary School Calendar
May
6th – Bank Holiday- school closed
14th / 16th – Parents evening 3.00pm- 5.30pm
21st- Nursery Sports day 2.00pm- 3.00pm
22nd- Reception Sports day 1.45pm- 2.45pm
23rd – Year 1 Sports day 1.45pm- 2.45pm
24th – Staff Training day, school closed
27th- 31st – Half Term
We have an abundance of exciting events taking place throughout the academic year. Please ensure you keep up to date with the Primary school calendar to ensure you do not miss out on anything: Calendar – Avanti Fields School
Secondary News
Junior Maths Challenge
Well done to all students who participated in the Junior Maths Challenge at the end of April. Approximately half of the students who participated in the challenge have achieved either a bronze, silver, or gold
Lord Lieutenant’s Young Person’s Artist of the Year Award
Huge congratulations to Maya Parmar who was nominated as a finalist (one out of just four) for the Lord Lieutenant’s Young Person’s Artist of the Year Award. We attended an awards evening where her work was recognised and she was a runner up and won £100 amazon vouchers.
Eco Warriors
Student Leaders are currently working on achieving the ECO flag for the school. To do this they have to do various projects to show that they are thinking about the environment. One of the projects that they want to do is to create a series of sculptures that have been made out of recycled materials, to raise awareness of how much single use plastic we actually use. We will be starting this after half-term.
To do this we are going to need plastic bottles, and lots of them. Any size. Also, nail varnish to paint on the bottles as apparently that will work better than acrylic. We are hoping to decorate an elephant for each of the houses so any shades of green, purple, blue, red, silver or gold will be very, very helpful
If you are able to donate anything that will be greatly appreciated.
Wellbeing Support and Exam Stress Management Strategies
Tests and exams can be a challenging part of school/college life for young people and their parents or carers. We are aware that exams have the potential to exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress amongst students. Supporting young people through exams is all about reducing stress, optimising wellbeing and putting good study processes in place.
Parents/carers play a vital role in helping their young people maintain a positive outlook in the run-up, during and after exams are over.
There is a range of advice and guidance for students and parents to help alleviate or lesson the anxiety they have about sitting exams, including:
- NHS Help your child beat exam stress: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/help-your-child-beat-exam-stress/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
- Anna Freud: How to identify the signs of academic stress, and ways to help : https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/factors-that-impact-mental-health/school-based-risk-factors/academic-and-exam-stress/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
- Student Minds – resources, tips and blogs about exam stress: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/examstress.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
- Ofqual: Coping with exam pressure – a guide for students : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coping-with-exam-pressure-a-guide-for-students/coping-with-exam-pressure-a-guide-for-students?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
- Mental wellbeing school timetable: https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/media/2933/mental-health-and-wellbeing-school-timetable-summer-term-2023.pdf
If you feel that your child needs any support in managing exam stress, please contact the school via the contact form on the website so that we can work together to support them to achieve the best outcomes.
Community Activities Update
Garba For Fitness
‘We would like to draw your attention to an amazing opportunity to do Garba for Fitness and Enjoyment whilst learning traditional authentic garba moves with trained instructors from the Soni School of Garba Dance (find out more about SSGD here https://danceworks.com/indian-folk-dance/). Although these classes are for fitness and enjoyment, they will follow the SSGD syllabus so if you wanted to achieve grade 1 status this will be available (with a certificate). Classes start on Friday 10th May, 7pm to 8pm at Avanti Fields School, Leicester LE5 1FY. Your first class will only be £1 and thereafter as block of 10 classes is only £40 (Providing you give 48hrs notice if you can’t make a class that session will be added to the end of your block, so you don’t lose out). You can also do ad hoc classes as and when you are available. To book yourself onto the classes please email [email protected] . Limited spaces available so book your space early to avoid disappointment. Please feel free to share with friends and family and come as a group.
We also have some exciting new classes coming soon! To register interest in these please email [email protected].
Many Thanks
Community @ Avanti Fields School’
PTFA News
PTFA Fundraise for the school
Thank you to everyone that has supported the PTFA, we have raised money to help fundraise for the school, money has gone to good causes helping our children to prosper. The attached poster shows where the money has gone so far, these are items that are not in the school budget. Cameras for our children’s to use, new books for the library and so much more. We had no garden, and a lot has gone on behind the scenes to create an area to grow our own vegetables. Sheds were purchased to store the equipment, green house storage for the exotic items. Our children can now learn to grow their own. Over £38k has been invested for our children’s future. We want to grow this further, just support us by attending the events and enjoying yourselves, all contributions go to the school. We need more volunteers, and any contributions are welcome.
If you would like to help the PTFA raise money for the benefit of our pupils please email [email protected].
Contacting the School
Communications – Wherever possible please use the contact form on our website to get in touch. This is detailed on the website at https://avanti.org.uk/avantifields/contact-us/. The appropriate member of staff will pick up the message and get back to you as soon as possible.
Absence
To report an absence to the school, parents should contact us by 8:00am (primary) and 8.30am (secondary)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0116 326 6813 (Option 1 to leave a voicemail)
Please remember to state your child’s full name, tutor group and reason for absence. If your child is unwell, please could you give a brief description of the symptoms.
All education research highlights how crucial it is to a child’s academic progress and wellbeing they attend school , on time, all of the time. Therefore, a reminder that it is important that families organise events or holidays outside of school time to ensure that their child is at school as often as possible.
The school works closely with the Education Welfare Officer at LCC, and we do seek to ensure that any requests for authorised absence are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, in a sensitive manner. However, the school can never authorise a family holiday or a trip abroad to visit family members during term time.
This academic year, families will have two weeks at the October half-term, three weeks at Christmas and two weeks at Easter for extended family holidays. Please do ensure that if booking holidays, they fall within the holiday periods.