Isabella is trying out her cooking skills ready for junior bake off with Mary Berry, by spending her whole weekend practising baking cakes! This weekend she baked a three tier cake, themed: Under the Sea, and brought it in for staff to try!! The staff were so overwhelmed with the skills and effort that went into making the cake, they were frightened to cut it!! However, that wasn't the case at the Governors meeting tonight-they all tucked in and loved it!! Governors and staff would like to congratulate Isabella on her cooking skills and they look forward to the next 'Bake Off!' Well done Isabella, we are really proud of you! Watch out Mary Berry!! 

Staff and children celebrated World Book Day by dressing up as their favourite book characters. Can you guess who they are? 

Today we celebrated World Thinking Day with a wonderful assembly, led by Vicky, our very own leader of the Brownies. All the children who belong to either the Beavers, Brownies, Rainbows, Cubs or Scouts, wore their uniforms with pride to share with the rest of the school. All the children made their promises; to do something positive for someone else! 

 

On Thursday 4th February 2016, Y5 rocked the Birmingham Town Hall with their fabulous singing, as part of the Hagley Pyramid Concert! Nine schools, including OLSK, went to celebrate Mass at St Chad's Cathedral before performing in the concert in the evening! We are extremely proud of our children; they were great ambassadors for our school; they looked really smart and they lifted the roof with their singing! A huge thank you to Miss Alsop, Mrs Foley, Mr Ginder and Miss Costello for supporting them on the day! Well done everyone; you were truly amazing! 

 

As part of our ongoing vision, and with science firmly on the map at OLSK- in the hearts of our children, we were delighted to be able to share teaching and learning with our local school Halesowen C of E primary. We invited their year 6 class to come and learn and take part in new science investigations, ranging from creating rainbows in test tubes, to meteor craters using flour and cocoa powder.

 

 It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and Halesowen were so well behaved and talented, they really shone out on behalf of their school! Our OLSK science assistants (pupils) ran directed the experiments, each having their own group from Halesowen C of E. All o the children worked so well together and as a specialist in science, I defiantly feel that I was in the presence of future budding scientists! Well done to all who attended, creating curiosity all around us!

Well, once again the pupils and parents of OLSK have proven to be super scientists, driving our passion for creating curiosity, by taking part in out whole school science Fair.  We had entries from across all year groups, from year 1 right up to year 6!

 

 The projects were based upon investigation carried out by the children at home, starting with their own question, followed by a hypothesis, practical, results write up and evaluation.  The standard was phenomenally high and I feel so proud that we are blesses to work with such enthusiastic and talented children (and parents!)

 

 From erupting volcanoes to the science behind the colour spectrum, every aspect of science was covered by these children, showing particular interests in physics, chemistry and biology. I hope this enthusiasm continues as the children grow up, and maybe one day we could be looking in the eyes of our future Einstein generation. WOW!

Pupil Premium 2016/17
Please be reminded that the Pupil Premium for 2016/17 will be based on pupils recorded on School Census at January 2016 who are / have been entitled to Free School Meals at any time during the 
last 6 years.
Therefore schools are advised to encourage parents/ carers of pupils that may be entitled to Free School Meals but who have not yet submitted a claim to do so as soon as possible in order that pupils may be recorded on the January 2016 School Census enabling schools to receive Pupil Premium funding for 2016/17.
Attached is a link to Dudley’s FSM on line application 
http://www.dudley.gov.uk/resident/your-council/benefits/free-school-meals/

This year in school, we celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

The build up to a special anniversary is always exciting, especially when it commemorates over a century of partnership between school and parish.

In 1965, Our Lady and St Kenelm Catholic School first opened. This year marks 50 years since the school first opened! Although many things have changed over the years and the school and church are in separate buildings, the powerful amalgamation of the two families is clearly visible for all to see and experience.

 

Leading up to the anniversary, each class held dance workshops to create a festival of dance and song to honour this jubilant occasion. Beautiful productions included dancing through the decades. Staff and children alike, dressed in bright and colourful clothes from the 1960s. All of the marvellous dance creations were celebrated outside in the playground in front of all the parents and a whole school family picnic, was enjoyed by everyone. The varying renditions of songs, dances and drama pieces, showed life through the ages of OLSK School and Church.

 

On Tuesday 29^th September, the celebrations were bought to a joyous end, led by Fr Bruce, with the school and parish community uniting in a beautiful Mass, followed by refreshments in the Phizz Lab. The Mass preceded an after-school tour, which gave past and present pupils, along with parents, friends, parishioners and members of the community, the chance to see how the school has changed and developed over the years. A museum of old photos, year books, newspaper cuttings and relics was also set up in the Phizz Lab for all to enjoy and others to reminisce!

Thank you to all those involved in helping ensure our celebrations were so memorable; we look forward to the next 50 years of ever-blossoming partnership.

 

It was a truly beautiful Mass and Fr Bruce blessed our new Altar candles, donated to school by Grace Kalinski's family- a past pupil who is currently very sick. Please pray for her and all of our school community.

 

 

In partnership with our local artist and past pupil Matt Johnson, we have created a piece of art; 'Tree of Life' which is displayed in the corridor by the new offices! The inspiration for the tree is taken from the Bible.; I am the vine and you are the branches.  All the children in school have placed their picture on the tree to show that they belong to our school family, knowing that they are all God's children.