Volume 4 Issue 9

Blackfriarsacademy.org.uk

Blackfriarsfeacademy.org.uk

Safeguarding

Contact Information

Staffordshire

First Response :

0800 1313 126

Outside office hours:

0845 6042886

Stoke-on-Trent

Advice and Referral Team:

01782 235100

Outside office hours:

01782 234234

Cheshire East

Referral Team :

0300 123 5012 Option 2

Outside office hours:

0300 123 5022

Shropshire

Referral Team:

01743 254 259

Initial Contact Team:

0345 678 9021

Outside office hours:

0345 678 9040

Adult Safeguarding

referral numbers

Staffordshire: First

Response –

0845 604 2719

Stoke on Trent: Adult

Social Care –

0800 561 0015

Blackfriars Bucknall Reception:

01782 987180

Blackfriars Newcastle Reception:

01782 987150

Snow and school closure :

I would like to personally thank all of our

parents and carers for their support last week

- it is one of the hardest decisions that a

Head has to make: keep school open or

close due to weather conditions. I luckily do

not have to make that decision alone, Phil

Hurst, our fabulous caretaker provides his

input from a health and safety perspective

and I also listen very carefully to weather

forecasters and the transport companies. It is

important to point out here that students are

transported from all parts of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Stoke. My role is

to make that very fine judgement about what is right for OUR students.

In making that decision, I am mindful that many of our students have

very serious medical conditions which could worsen if they are cold or

cannot have food or treatment at the usual time and that some of our

students do not cope well with change. To get up, dressed and be

waiting for your taxi and then suddenly find out that school is not open

can be very tough. Therefore, last week, I did make ‘the call’ in the

evening. Whenever we can, we will give you as much notice as

possible, but I am hopeful that we have had our quota for this year!

Thank you again for all your messages of support.

Scholar of the Week:

With half term and snow days, we have not been able to share with you for

quite a number of weeks, the outstanding work of some of our students. We

therefore have quite a few scholars this week to announce.

Sam from Class 5 for his excellent handwriting – a great improvement Sam,

well done

Chelsey from Class 8 for her excellent response to the poem ‘Limbo’ about

the Slave Trade – Chelsey showed great empathetic skills talking about how

the slaves would have had no hope. Well done Chelsey, this is a great

improvement.

Pauline from Class 9 for demonstrating great resilience and always giving of

her best. We are so proud of you Pauline.

Jack who works in Class 4, has really improved his typing on the computer,

great stuff Jack!

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Twitter: @BlackfriarsAcad and @Blackfriars_FE

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Parent Forum - Newcastle

Next week is National Science week and Blackfriars will be

playing their part in highlighting issues of national importance.

Our theme is ‘Plastic: Fantastic or Drastic’. Mr Parr has

developed this theme following the high levels of interest at the

beginning of science lessons when he starts by discussing

‘Science in the news’. Students were captivated by the Blue

Planet series and horrified by the distressing scenes of

entangled turtles, polluted beaches and manta rays struggling

to breathe. The students wanted to play their part in minimising their school’s use and disposal

of plastic. It would be great if parents can highlight this issue in the home as well - please can

you engage your child in recycling plastics. Science Week will begin with a themed assembly

and then students, some of whom will be working in different classes, will be looking at plastic

and its impact on the environment in a range of different ways. In our next newsletter, we will

tell you all about it.

Class 6 enjoyed a visit to Dorrington Hall Farm on Monday 5th March. The pupils had the

opportunity to tour the farm, see the animals and create environmental art in the woods.

10:00am All Welcome

22nd March 2018

with special guest Jane Smith from 'Our Space' Staffordshire

Brad ‘The woods were the best, they were fun. Alfie and I made a den’

Owen ‘I loved hearing about the baby sheep being born’ –Mrs Rawlinson and Mrs Blackshaw saw a caesarean on a sheep

‘ We had tractor rides, we went up and down a hill, it was fast’

Luke ‘I enjoyed the woods best because I enjoyed making things there’