The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel De Souza, launched her national survey, The Big Future and she wants to hear from children at OLSK!

https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture 

'At a time of significant change for children and young people, it is more important than ever that their voices are heard. Through The Big Future, I can take the views of your students directly to government and ensure their priorities help inform the decisions that affect their lives.

I would be grateful if you could share the survey directly with pupils through your school or college communication channels, and with parents and carers across your wider school community.

I am asking for your support in ensuring that your pupils take part here: 

https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture

It is vital that I hear from children and young people in every school, college and community across England. If students from your school do not participate, their experiences, views and aspirations will be absent from the national picture that will help shape future policy and decision-making.

Thank you for your support in helping ensure that every child’s voice has the chance to be heard.

Yours sincerely,

Dame Rachel de Souza

Children’s Commissioner

A huge, heartfelt thank you to Mr Hyde, Mrs Harris and Mrs Turner for giving up your own family time to take our children away on residential. We know that being away from your own loved ones isn’t easy, especially after already giving so much of your time and energy throughout the school year.

Thank you for looking after our children so well, keeping them safe in this incredibly hot weather 🥵, making sure they stayed hydrated, supported and cared for, and for going above and beyond to ensure they all had the most amazing experience.

Residential trips are about so much more than just a few days away from home. They’re about building confidence, trying new things, making friendships even stronger, overcoming challenges, and creating memories that will stay with them for years to come. None of that would be possible without the dedication, patience and kindness of teachers who are willing to give up their own time to make it happen.

I know our parents will want to thank you personally; it’s reassuring to know our children were in such caring hands, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you’ve done. Thank you for every early start, every late night, every word of encouragement, every laugh, and every moment you spent making this trip so special.

We truly appreciate all that you’ve done. We hope you manage to get some well-deserved rest now you’re home—although we’re sure you’ve got lots of tired but very happy children returning with stories to tell! 😎❤️👏

Thank you for all you do, love from Mrs F 💖💖

Extreme heat alert

The Met Office has issued a Red extreme heat alert for the West Midlands from 9am on Wednesday to 11pm on Friday. Hot weather can be dangerous, especially for vulnerable people. For advice on staying cool, signs of heat exhaustion, swimming safely outdoors, fire safety, and more:  https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/care-and-health/summer-wellbeing/
 

This is detail that can be found within the Dudley link:

Swimming outdoors

If you swim outdoors in the sea, a pool or river to keep cool, make sure it's a safe place to swim. Look out for warning signs and hidden dangers by following the tips below:

• If there's no lifeguard – don't go in
• Check the depth – it can be deceptive
• Avoid floodwaters – never swim during floods
• Throw something that floats to somebody that has fallen in
• Hidden dangers – underwater hazards include rocks, glass, refuse, and pollution
• Raise the alarm – if someone is in trouble, call 999. Never attempt a rescue yourself
• If you fall in or become tired while you are in the water – stay calm, float on our back and call for help
• Don't drink and drown – avoid alcohol or drugs while swimming. They impair your abilities and judgment
• Rock bottom – avoid jumping from heights, especially bridges. The water below can be shallow with hidden dangers
• Wild water – swimming in natural waters is different from swimming pools. Be wary of strong currents and cold temperatures
• Look before you leap – check for safe exit points before entering. Steep and slippery banks can make if difficult to get out of the water

Children should never swim in these areas unaccompanied. Young children need constant supervision around water, they can drown in less than 2 inches of water.

Organised open water swimming sessions take place all year round at Netherton reservoir. See the Netherton Open Water Swimming website for more details.

More advice is available from:

• Royal Life Saving Society
• Outdoor Swimming Society
• National Water Safety Forum
• Healthy Dudley – Water Safety

Sent on behalf of Children & Young Peoples Public Health

Red heat health alert from Wednesday 24 June

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red heat health alert for the West Midlands. It is in place from Wednesday 24 June until Thursday 25 June.

Severe impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures. Including:

• increased risk to life across the whole population, with significant impacts on older people
• significantly increased demand on all health and social care services
• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
• hot indoor environments making provision of care challenging and national critical infrastructure failures, such as generators and power outages
• water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning

Guidance to assist professionals in protecting vulnerable people from the health impacts of severe heat are set out in the Adverse Weather and Health Plan for England. 

Please click here for this week's newsletter

Over the past few weeks we have had a huge revamp of our school throwing away old stock (some of which was published in the 1970's!)

We would now love you to help us to update the books that we do have.

We require donations of:

Children's Fiction

• Mystery, Sci‑Fi, and Adventure books
• Modern, appealing early chapter books (e.g., Harriet Muncaster, Claude, Little Gems)
• Graphic novels - we only have 4!
• Less well known authors
• Poetry
• Plays
• Shakespeare plays
• Joke books
• Poetry

Children's Non-Fiction

• History
  • Egypt
  • Victorians
  • Vikings
  • Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age
  • Romans
  • Greeks
  • Tudors
  • WW2
  • Mayans
  • Monarchs

• Geography
  • Weather
  • Cold and hot places
  • Antarctica
  • The Alps
  • Settlements
  • Deserts
  • Oceans
  • Rivers

• Science
  • Minibeasts/insects
  • Natural world
  • Space
  • Volcanoes
  • Animals
  • Plants
  • Human body
  • Materials

• Languages
• Religion - Catholic and world
• Art and music
• Different sports
• Famous people

We can't wait to build our library into a wonderful place full of exciting texts for all of our children to access!

We are hoping to hold our annual Sports Day on Wednesday 17th June (weather permitting).

As before, the day will run with the following times:

9.15-10.30- Pre-School, YR, Y1 and Y2 Races

10.45-12.00- Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6 Races

12.00-13.00- Family Picnic on Field

14:30 - 15:00 - Race for Life for Cancer Research: Please donate to using this link!

Parents are welcome to join us for one or both of the sessions, the field will be open at 8.40 once you've dropped children off. You are welcome to bring camping chairs etc. if you will be with us for a while!

Parents are welcome to come along and run our Race for Life on the field.

A decision on the weather will be communicated as early as possible. If the weather is too bad, we will postpone.

Please click here for this week's newsletter

Please click here for this week's newsletter