Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Free 'Get Pedalling' sessions available to all families!

  Tue 17 Oct 2023

  This is the perfect opportunity for children to learn, ride and improve their cycle skills and coincides perfectly with autumn walk to School Week and International Walk to School month.  See picture gallery below for more details.

  

• Autumn Walk to School Week - politeness and respect is the name of the game!

  Sun 15 Oct 2023

  During this week's autumn Walk to School Week, please take some time to reflect on the following message:

   

  Greswold is always incredibly grateful when so many vehicle users and families work in partnership with school’s values and expectations, particularly in relation to ‘drop-off’ time in the morning.  We realise that as a very large primary school, we have a duty and obligation to ensure all families are completely safe as they travel to school, along with raising awareness of the local residents and some of the difficulties they may face each day.

   

  Our school values are incredibly important to everything we set out to achieve and that is why it’s imperative that everyone shows mutual respect to one another during that very busy time of the day.  Greswold is aware that a number of parents highlight our expectations to vehicle users, in particular, and we appreciate this ambassadorial role. 

   

  In situations which involve parents talking to other parents about parking choices, politeness is always key even if there is a degree of frustration.  As a community, we have to remember that there may be challenges being faced by others that we’re unaware of and, as a result, occasional or one-off mistakes may take place as a consequence, such as dropping off or parking in the wrong place. 

   

  Also, children are always present during parental encounters so we must remain aware of the impact any sort of confrontation or raised voices may have on them, including the tooting of a car horn, something which can induce anxiety amongst young people.  Greswold is a very inclusive school and there is a significant number of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities as well as pupils who require help with their Social, Emotional and Mental Health and this should always be taken into account by our community,

  especially in the mornings, a time which can be a rush and therefore stressful.   

   

  By communicating with each other in a cordial, respectful and polite manner, especially when pointing out school’s expectations, then these messages will undoubtedly be received more openly, therefore enabling  Greswold's values of respect and belonging to be promoted and sustained.   

   

  Enjoy this week's Walk to School Week and don't forget to log your child's journey on the Travel Tracker! 

• A fantastic effort rewarded with a bronze medal for our Year 4 Mathematicians!

  Fri 13 Oct 2023

  On Friday, Mr Hobday accompanied four year 4 children who were part of the Greswold team taking part in this year's King Edward School's annual Maths competition. 

   

  The children did fantastically well and managed to achieve 3rd place.  Mr Hobday commented on how incredibly well they worked as a team with everyone contributing.  They were each awarded with a medal and a certificate.  Well done children, you've made your families and Greswold proud!

  

• Harvest donations delivered...

  Fri 13 Oct 2023

  This morning, all generous harvest donations were delivered to the Community Essentials Food Bank in Olton, Solihull.

   

  Two car loads of items were delivered and gratefully received.  The representatives at Community Essentials wanted to pass on their thanks and appreciation to everyone for their generosity, especially at a time when the food bank is being inundated with customers. 

   

  The link below provides more information about the organisation itself. 

   

  Thank you to our whole school community for helping to make the lives of others a little less difficult.

   

  https://community-essentials.org.uk/ 

  

• Attendance on the up

  Fri 13 Oct 2023

  We're pleased to say that after several dips our attendance is back up again. Last week was our highest of the year so far with 95.9%. We've still got a way to go to reach our target of 97% but we are pleased to celebrate this success. Thank you, as always, for your support with this. 

  

• Autumn Walk to School Week starts Monday!

  Thu 12 Oct 2023

  As part of International Walk to School month, Solihull Sustainable Travel team are running an autumn Walk to School Week starting on Monday 16th until Friday 20th October 2023.

   

  Their aim is to challenge families to travel sustainably by walking, scooting, cycling or, for families that live further away, parking at least 5 minutes away from school and walking the remaining journey.

   

  This is an ideal opportunity for all families to engage with this year's Living Streets' Travel Tracker, our national programme for rewarding pupils for travelling actively to school.  At present, only 17% of the school population are engaging in it and this is chance to significantly increase that figure.  

   

  In the gallery below, you'll see the password for logging on with instructions available in Parents/Sustainable Travel.  Below, you'll also be able to view a 5-minute Walking Bubble around school to help you decide how far away vehicle users can park and walk the rest of the way.

   

  It is also a chance to encourage all parents to treat each other with respect and politeness when helpfully pointing out examples of unauthorised parking or vehicle use which doesn't match school expectations, to other parents.  

   

  Link to International Walk to School month: 

  https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/international-walk-to-school-month 

   

   

  

• The Journey of Water - A visit from Seven Trent!

  Thu 12 Oct 2023

  Today, all of the children in years' 1-6 enjoyed a special assembly delivered by a representative of Seven Trent Water. 

   

  The assemblies aimed to raise awareness of the importance of water in our lives and very much focused on the Water Cycle, recycling and the journey of water, important curriculum aspects of both Science and Geography.

   

  A very interactive assembly helped to engage and enthuse the children, along with some astounding facts and information.  Apparently, there are enough water pipes under the ground in the Seven Trent area to wrap around the world 2 1/2 times! Amazing!  

   

  The next time you're travelling by car on the M42, look out for the Seven Trent sewage plants at Barston, Coleshill and Minworth to help add to extra context to their learning today! 

  

• The whole school community comes together for Harvest time!

  Mon 09 Oct 2023

  This morning's Harvest Festivals were both very positive occasions for everyone involved.  As well as a lovely autumnal walk for staff and pupils, passing through the wooded area behind Buryfield Road, the children were treated to a lovely service of songs, messages from speakers, fun activities and chances to reflect on the reasons to be grateful for Harvest.

   

  Thank you to Reverend Sue from St Helen's Church along with Linda Hicks and Chris Carrington for helping to make it a very memorable event and something staff and children always look forward to. 

   

  A special thank you must go to our Greswold families for their very kind donations, which Mrs Rochelle used to great effect to decorate the hall this morning, and which will be shared amongst various charities and food banks later this week. 

  

• World Smile day at Greswold today!

  Fri 06 Oct 2023

  'Use your smile to change the world, don't let the world change your smile'

   

  Both children and adults celebrated World Smile Day today with staff wearing the colour yellow and badges to help spread the positive message.  The children took part in a special assembly this week by Miss Ceillam dedicated to the day and have shown their consideration and care by asking each other how their World Smile day has been.

   

  A lovely day and a pertinent message all around!  

  

• September's Travel Tracker results are in! Over 100 badges already given out!

  Fri 06 Oct 2023

  Today, the Junior Travel Ambassadors distributed the first set of WOW badges to children who had earned one by travelling actively to school at least once a week during September.

   

  So far, engagement across the school is at 17%, something Greswold would like to improve so it nears our aim of 30%.  If families haven't yet logged their travel for September or have missed a week, you can still go back and do it meaning your child will receive a badge soon. 

   

  However, 96% of all logged journeys were classed as active out of nearly 1200 trips made which is fabulous. 

   

  Reception earned the most badges (21) with Nursery and Y3 Robins accumulating the most per class (11).  

   

  Thank you to all families who are actively participating but for those who aren't sure what to do, click on over the Sustainable Travel webpage in the Parents section of the website where there are instructions for you to follow.