School will be providing Year 6 with a free breakfast each morning of SAT's week (Mon - Thurs) from 8.15am (entry via Netherby Drive). This is a great opportunity for all children to come together to relax and eat a healthy breakfast.  Year 6 staff will be available to support any pupils who may be feeling nervous or anxious, and we strongly encourage all pupils to attend.  Please email the school office ( office@emcps.co.uk ) if your child will not be attending.  We ask all children arrive at school no later than 8.40am during SATs week.  Many thanks for your continued support. English Martyrs' staff.

Dear Parent/Carer We are pleased to inform you that all parents/carers at English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School have free access  to an online platform called The Wellbeing Hub which Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust have invested in. The Wellbeing Hub is designed to help support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people and has a variety of resources available including parenting courses, webinars, podcasts and blog posts. Please watch this short 5-minute video HERE for a tour around the platform. To register with The Wellbeing Hub use this link - https://club.teentips.co.uk/register/parents/?ca=3c2bb4c1f739bb7fb95d8ef7b5b24e56 . For any specific queries about access, please contact the team at hub@teentips.co.uk  .

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe), we are encouraging the children to come to school on Thursday 8th May , dressed in red, white and blue to commemorate this important milestone. On Thursday and throughout the week, the children will take part in a special assembly and activities to learn about the significance of VE day and mark this event.

Dear Parents/Carers, We will be having a meeting to discuss the Phonics Screening Check which is a statutory reading check that all year one children take in June. In the meeting we will discuss what the test is, how it is administered and how you can help your child at home. It would be lovely to see you all there. This will be on Wednesday 14th May at 2.30pm in the Key Stage 2 hall. Please use the lower gates on Netherby Drive and access the hall via the KS2 Yard. Thank you, Miss Phelan

Please see below PE days for Summer Term 1. Reception - Thursday (Pupils do not require PE kit) Year 1 - Monday Year 2 - Tuesday Year 3 - Friday Year 4 - Thursday + Friday (Swimming) Year 5 - Thursday Year 6 - Wednesday Please ensure pupils come to school in their PE kit on allocated days. Reminder that football kits and bright coloured sports kit is not acceptable PE kit. Pupils are expected to wear the following PE kit on their allocated PE day. White t-shirt/Light blue t-shirt (with or without the school logo); Royal blue PE hoody (with or without the school logo); Royal blue or black shorts, dark navy/black tracksuit trousers or dark navy blue, black sports leggings (without any "sports" branding or corporate logo); Trainers for outdoors; No football strips are to be worn for PE. School Uniform | English Martyrs

Easter challenge for the holidays. Could all images be sent to school by Monday 28th April. Thank you.

Dear Parents/Carers, We are pleased to confirm that we will be hosting our popular ‘family breakfast’ this term on Friday 11th April The family breakfast mornings are very popular among our school community and we enjoy serving delicious hot breakfasts to children, parents, carers, grandparents, and other family members as well as some of our staff! The family breakfast event is open to all pupils and their families. No need to book, please just arrive within the times below. This will take place in the school dining hall and will run from 7.50am until around 8.45am (last orders taken at 8.30am) . Gates to the lower Netherby Drive (KS2) entrance will be opened at 7.50am. There will be no access via the school office. We take cash payment only and small change is much appreciated Children must have an adult with them to join the family breakfast, however pupils in Y6 who walk to school on their own may attend without an adult. Please note – if your child currently attends our own school-based breakfast provision, they can attend as normal on this day. A sample menu is provided below. We aim to keep costs as low as possible, ensuring our breakfasts are not only delicious but also affordable too. ·         Cooked Breakfasts ·         Breakfast Sandwiches: Bacon, Sausage, Egg (Vegetarian options available) ·         Scrambled egg on toast ·         Beans on toast ·         Cheese Toasties ·         Cereals ·         Toast / Bagels (With butter/Jam) ·         Tea/Coffee (adults) ·         Juice/Water/Milk ·         Selection of Fruit   All funds raised at family breakfast events, are used to fund school council projects, improving the school grounds and resources for our pupils.   The KS2 hall will again feature our £1 uniform shop where you can purchase items of pre-loved school uniform for just £1. We have a wide selection of uniform, including jumpers, cardigans, hoodies, trousers, skirts and PE kit. Each item of uniform is only £1 but please bring change along. We will also be accepting donations of any good quality uniform that you would like to pass on. If you have any further questions, please contact the school office. Regards, Senior Leadership Team

Dear Parents/Carers, Hop to it! 🐰 Our Easter Raffle  is officially here, and it’s your chance to win egg-straordinary  prizes! Tickets will be on sale this week, in school. Tickets cost £1 per strip (cash only). Our Y6 helpers will be selling tickets throughout the week with the raffle draw taking place during our assembly, on Friday afternoon. We’ve got a cracking selection of prizes, including: Easter Egg Hampers  filled with delicious treats! Lots of Chocolate prizes  ! Gift Vouchers Berghaus Gore-Tex coats (Donated by Pentland Sports) Plus More Easter theme prizes to be won! Funds raised will go towards future school projects so all purchases of tickets are appreciated. Just a small selection of some of the Chocolate treats on offer!

Dear Families, We are excited to announce that English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School has adopted Arbor, a new School Management Information System. By adopting Arbor we hope to make our communications with you simpler.  Arbor’s Parent Portal & Parent App offers the following functionality which we will be rolling out over the coming months. ·         In-App Messaging ·         Emails, SMS, Letters ·         Parents Evening Bookings ·         Book and Pay for Clubs and Trips ·         Pay for School Meals We will continue to use Tapestry to update you on your child’s learning. We will send further information next week on how to register for the Arbor Parent Portal, please look out for this information and register your child when prompted.  Following your registration it is recommended you download the Arbor app. We are really looking forward to getting started with Arbor and invite all our parents to familiarise themselves using the link below. Getting started - Log into the Parent Portal and the Parent App Please remember initially we will use the system for communications.  Payments and Parents Evening Bookings will be added in the new academic year. We will continue to use IpayImpact for payments until further notice, however please ensure your weekly lunch balances and school trips are paid in full by the due dates and there is nothing outstanding.

We would like to invite you to our 'Getting ready to write in Nursery' workshop. NNG1 Tuesday 8th April at 2.45pm - entrance via Harnham Gardens NNG2 Thursday 10th April at 2.45pm - entrance via Harnham Gardens

You are invited to attend our second Reception “Cuppa and Chat” session for parents and carers which will take place on Thursday, 3rd April at 2.15pm. This will be an opportunity to meet and talk to fellow parents. Mrs Foster and Miss Phelan will also be available and will be speaking to you about early learning goals. We will also have in attendance our OT (Occupational Therapist) who will be around for a chat and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have about your child's physical development etc. This will take place in our Key Stage 2 dining room and entrance to the building will be from the bottom gates on Netherby Drive. You can then enter school via the Year 5/Year 6 entrance/exit. We look forward to seeing you at this event.