Dear Parents and Carers, 

Sir Link a lot

You may well have heard about a this week's visit by Sir Linkalot (aka Andy Salmon) who introduced all the children (Rec to Year 6), staff and parents, who attended their child's workshop, to the World of Linking, primarily, to help them with their SPAG (spelling, punctuation and grammar).

We have just purchased his extremely innovative and fun app called 'Sir Linkalot' (funnily enough) that we, strongly believe, is going to transform how spelling is taught in schools, especially for those tricky non-phonetic, patternless words all the way from was, two and they up to manoeuvre, onomatopoeia and even diarrhoea!

To find out what it's all about, please click on the following clip (you'll be hooked in within 10 seconds when the boy says 'I was terrible at it')...The Future of Spelling

It is not solely for spelling, however. It's covering the whole of the technical requirements on the National Curriculum, i.e vocabulary, homophones, punctuation, grammar, rules and patterns. You will see in the above clip that Countdown's Susie Dent is on the app as 'Susie Lexicographer' who will tell you the etymology of words that have an interesting story to tell. Her animations will be uploaded next week with many more bundles for the aforementioned categories to follow throughout the year. More subjects will follow with the first one being Maths in 2021. Linking knows no bounds!

Here's an example of a ''Susie Story''....Biscuit - Etymology Biscuit - Spelling

We'll be using it with your children but you can access the app via a mobile, tablet or laptop (type app.sirlinkalot.org in to a browser) to enable your child(ren) to practise at home.

Once you have downloaded it from an online store, please tap on the log icon (for 'Log in') at the top right, clicking on ''Sir Linkalot's Code (schools only)''. Type 'Wise' in the username and the following password AAV7SLEU8W

Each bundle contains two types of test after the animations: a multiple-choice one and two crosswords (there are no crosswords in the Level 1 bundles)

If you have any questions or would like some advice on how to use the app, please email sirlinkalot@sirlinkalot.org and he will gladly talk you through it.

We think this will be an extremely useful resource now and all the way through your child's education. Many dyslexia associations endorse the approach as, it's proven, that visual resources are the most powerful way to commit something to memory. The app has got to the final of the 'Best Educational App' category at this year's Bett Show - the world's largest 'Technology in Education' exhibition taking place at the London Excel (Jan 22nd to 25th)

It is a genuine game changer.

Right Respecting Award

We are becoming a Unicef UK Rights Respecting School!

Bexhill Academy aims to be a school where children’s rights are at the heart of our ethos and culture, to improve well-being and to develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential.  As part of this plan we are working towards recognition as a ‘Rights Respecting School’, an award given to schools on behalf of Unicef UK.

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation working for children and young people and their rights. In 1989, governments across the world agreed that all children have the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.

Bexhill Academy pupils will learn about their rights by putting them into practice every day. A Rights Respecting School models rights and respect in all its relationships.

We really hope that you will be able to support our school on our journey towards becoming a Unicef UK Rights Respecting School. It would be great if you could spend a few minutes reading through our questions & answers on the back of this letter, and also find a bit more about the Convention on the Rights of the Child by visiting unicef.org.uk/crc.

For further information about Rights Respecting Schools please visit:  www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa

School of the Week

We have been chosen to represent school of the week on Sun FM again next week. Some of our Y5 children are on next week giving clues, listen to them daily from 3:15.

Behaviour

This week Hawking house won and they were very excited about it!

Attendance

This week we have hit National Average again with 97% - well done everyone!

10th - Y4 Swimming to start

25th/26th Macmillan Coffee Morning

7th - Y3 trip

8th - Harvest Festival (Y5)

11th October - Y5/6 trip

23rd - EYFS millitary Event

24th Spooky Disco

25th - school closed for inset. Children off fo half term and return on the 5th November.

4th  - Poppies on sale

4th - School closed for training day

5th November

EYFS launch event

12th - Odd socks day

15th - Children in need Day

3rd /4th parents evening

4th - Y1/2 trip to Boldon Lodge

6th - Reception Class Xmas Play

9th - Panto production in school

10th - Y1/2 Xmas Play

11th SEN reviews

12th Y3/4 Xmas Play

12th Trip to Old Trafford

19th - Y5/6 Xmas Play

18th - Winter Wonderland

19th Xmas Party Day

20th - Break up for xmas Hols

6th - Children return to school
31st - Sportability Festival

6th Nursery End Event

13th Valentines Disco

13th Break up for half term

14th - School Closed for PD Day

13th - Sport Relief

3rd - Break up for Easter Hols

1st-3rd - Y5/6 Ullswater Residential