Sheet Primary School Parent Portal - Newsletter : 23 May 2025

Hello everyone!

Another fun filled kind of a short half term. It's been packed with exciting events and achievements, and I'm thrilled to share them with you all.

This week, we've jumped back into our WOW registers for Walk to School Week. It's fantastic to see so many of our pupils earning their active ways to school badges. A big shout-out to our Year 5 Junior Road Safety Officers who led an assembly and organised today's 'Be Bright Be Seen' mufti day. You've done a brilliant job!

I've been busy showing potential SENCos around our school. We're hopeful to welcome a great new teacher to this role come September.

Our girls have been kicking goals - literally! The Year 4/5/6 girls' football team brought home runners-up medals from the Small Schools Girls Football tournament on Monday. Mrs Mifsud did a stellar job preparing them, and what a morning it was! We're so proud of you, girls!

Tuesday saw our Year 5/6 athletes head to Bohunt School for an athletics meet. They had a fantastic time honing their skills and representing Sheet Primary.

On Thursday, we threw open our 'Porte' for a French Café experience. A massive thank you to Mrs Hines for organising the food and decorations, and to all the parents who attended. It was a wonderful opportunity for our children to practise their French in a real-world setting.

Remember when the whole school had their Engineering Week and we sent off all of our designs? Well we have the results and we have one winner from our school - Edison Childs, well done Edison (he will be off to Southampton to the final).

Looking ahead, we've got half term next week - a chance for everyone to recharge their batteries. When we return, our Year 6 pupils and our new Year R pupils will begin their transition to their new schools, alongside a packed agenda of events planned. Exciting times!

Kestrels will be making a splash on Monday as we prepare for the Small School Swimming Gala (now on Friday 4th July). Every Kestrel who wants to participate will get the chance, whether it's a width or a length. Let's bring that trophy home this year!

And don't forget, on Friday 6th June, our two mixed Year 5/6 football teams will be showing off their skills at the Small School Group football tournament in West Meon. Spectators are more than welcome - let's see what our boys can achieve!

Finally, a few reminders: please fill out our annual questionnaire, read our Smartphone Free letter, and most importantly, have a restful and fun-filled half term. There has been a case of campylobacter in school - a bacteria that can make people ill with diarrhea. See attachment information sheet.

A couple of asks if anyone would be so kind....

We have a small shed that needs putting up for the playground toys.
We have been offered 3 horseshoe style tables from Petersfield Infant School which would be ideal in our Infant classes. They are too big to go in a car or on a roof rack and I wondered whether any parent has a van who could pick them up for us (obviously it would need to be in term time).
We have a small amount of wooden bits, pallet, bench, pieces of wood that need disposing of, it is at the back of the car park if anyone is off to the tip!

Also, Robins wishlist is attached so if anyone is having a clear out over half term and can provide anything from the list, please do send them in after half term.

If you haven't already, join the parent pact for 'smartphone free childhood' see the link to a really useful YouTube video on the subject. The stats on playing outside and mental health issues are astounding. If we all do this together we can really make a difference for our children. click here

It's been a joy to see everyone's hard work and enthusiasm this half term.

Keep it up, Sheet Primary, have a great break!

Julie Robinson
Head

The Anxious Generation Jonathan Haidt

Chapters 10 & 11 Summary

These chapters highlight the importance of collective action from governments, tech companies, and schools to address the mental health crisis among today's youth

Chapter 10: What Governments and Tech Companies Can Do Now

In this chapter, Haidt outlines actionable steps that governments and technology companies can take to mitigate the adverse effects of smartphones and social media on youth mental health:

Government Actions:

Assert a Duty of Care: Governments should establish legal frameworks holding tech companies accountable for the well-being of minors using their platforms.
Raise the Age of Internet Adulthood: The current default age of 13 for online accounts should be increased to 16 to better protect younger users.
Facilitate Age Verification: Implement robust systems to ensure that users are of appropriate age before granting access to platforms.
Encourage Phone-Free Schools: Schools should adopt policies that prohibit smartphone use during school hours to reduce distractions and promote healthier social interactions.

Tech Company Responsibilities:

Implement Privacy by Default: Design platforms with privacy settings that protect young users by default.
Enhance Parental Controls: Provide tools that allow parents to monitor and limit their children's online activities effectively.
Promote Age-Appropriate Content: Ensure that content is suitable for the user's age and maturity level.

Additional Recommendations:

Support Real-World Experiences: Encourage policies that allow children to engage in unsupervised outdoor play and exploration, fostering resilience and social skills.
Design Child-Friendly Public Spaces: Urban planning should include areas where children can play safely and independently.

Chapter 11: What Schools Can Do Now

Haidt emphasises the critical role schools play in shaping children's development and mental health. He advocates for several changes to the current educational environment:

Implement Phone-Free Policies: Schools should enforce rules that ban smartphone use during school hours to minimise distractions and promote face-to-face interactions.
Enhance Recess and Play Opportunities: Increase the duration and quality of recess, allowing children more time for unstructured play, which is essential for social and emotional development.
Create Engaging Playgrounds: Design playgrounds that encourage imaginative play and physical activity, moving away from overly structured environments.
Encourage Risk-Taking in Play: Allow children to engage in activities that involve manageable risks, helping them build confidence and resilience.
Integrate Vocational Training: Offer programs that provide practical skills and experiences, preparing students for real-world challenges and reducing the pressure of academic achievement alone.
Diversify Teaching Staff: Employ more male teachers and staff who can serve as role models and mentors, particularly for boys who may benefit from diverse perspectives.

By implementing these strategies, schools can create environments that support the mental health and development of all students.

Let's be part of the 300,000 who are choosing to delay giving our children a smartphone and instead giving our children the freedom to be children away from algorithms and addictive habits. click here it's only 10 mins long!

Summer 5 23 May 2025

Attendance

Internet Safety

Things to do over half term...

Head Teacher Awards

Housepoints