It is wonderful to have all the pupils and students back at Sybil Elgar School. Everyone seems happy to return to the school routine and see familiar faces of their friends and staff.  Being with peers and taking part in exciting activities and events are fantastic reasons to be excited to return to school. 

There is always a new fun challenge or celebration around the corner at Sybil Elgar. In fact, we believe that celebrating a diversity of special events with curriculum and individual targets incorporated in the planning is a fantastic way for our pupils and students to learn. It also puts them in the centre of what is happening globally and helps to structure the year. 

Some of the things to look forward to this term are:

Student Council Meeting 

Our student council is excited to get the year going with their first meeting. Having the opportunity for their voices, opinions and ideas to be heard is of utmost importance, both for their own confidence development and for the school to identify opportunities in line with pupil and student wishes. 

Director of Education visit 

We value professional visits that benefit the education and development of our pupils and students.  We are looking forward to hosting the NAS Director of Education this half term. This is a great chance to showcase the accomplishments of our pupils and students and discuss future plans. 

Our emergency Ofsted inspection report is now available. We are proud to work together with parents, carers and staff to make our school community a place where everyone is kindly welcomed, respected and safe.

Chinese New Year 

Chinese New Year is a favourite for many, with plenty of learning opportunities, from language and communication to arts and crafts, science, performing arts and catering. Keep an eye out for updates on this event, it is going to be spectacular! 

ASDAN / OCR Award Ceremony 

It is always heartwarming to see the significance an awards ceremony has for our students; to receive recognition for the work they have done and be celebrated by friends and family. 

National Handwriting Day 

These days, typing may be our most common way of capturing thoughts, but the sensory aspect of pencil or pen on paper is an important form of expression. We encourage our students to use mixed media in a manner of ways as we celebrate National Handwriting Day towards the end of January. 

Big Birdwatch 

This year we will again join the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, going out in our community to discover, record and appreciate the diverse birdlife that exists even in the heart of our cities. To give our feathered friends an extra hand, we’ll also be putting up bird boxes that our students have made in their Design Technology class to provide a haven for nesting birds in the spring. 

National Puzzle Day

 
Jigsaws offer students the opportunity to collaborate in a calm and relaxing team activity that stimulates their focus and helps them work on a problem systematically. 

National Storytelling Week 

To end the month, we join the National Literacy Trust in celebrating National Storytelling Week. This event takes place every year to celebrate the power of stories. Stories teach us and our students about the world we live in and the people we share it with. Social stories are a highly effective medium for presenting our students with new information and helping them internalise crucial skills for navigating social situations.