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Welcome to the 12th issue of Fountain Head House School's 'The Splash'!
Headteacher update
Dear Parents & Carers,
I am very proud of our pupils as they enjoy a number of off-site learning opportunities that we have presented to them this month.
Our trip to the Market Hall Dome to celebrate Autism Appreciation Week was a perfect example, with proud parents and carers also able to take part and watch the film some of our pupils created, with support from Gary Futcher (the Dome) and the education team at school. A special thank you goes to our PSHE Lead Kate Buck who designed and led this project, and the whole programme for Autism Appreciation Week.
This event encouraged pupils’ participation with a couple of pupils spontaneously taking the mic to share their thoughts. One pupil referred to FHHS as, “The goodest school in the whole world!"
Lastly, just a polite reminder that our next Afternoon Tea date has moved to Wednesday 28th June (2-3pm).
I hope that you all enjoyed the half term break, and feel suitably rested and ready for the last half term of this academic year.
With kind regards,
Thereza de Lucca
Headteacher
Market Hall Dome event
On Wednesday 24th May, Fountain Head House children of all ages got to visit a world-class space for immersive technology situated in the heart of Devonport, Plymouth. The children experienced a screening of our own FHHS film.
Children from across the school have been busy over the last 6 weeks directing their own film to be shown to the whole school and many of our parents and carers who had the privilege of seeing the premier of this production. We now have a team of experts in the school who will be training other children in using this technology throughout the next year, so we are able to produce more films to screen in this great venue. Watch this space to find out how we develop this great experience further!
Upcoming dates for your diary
Please see below some important upcoming events that we have planned for the school, which parents and carers are most welcome to attend:
- Wednesday 28th June - Afternoon Tea (2-3pm)
- Friday 7th July - Sports Day
- Thursday 20th July - School Community Day (Achievement Day)
We look forward to seeing you there!
Chair update
Hello everyone,
Over the next few newsletters, I will be updating you about the work of governance that might not always be obvious to you all, which is done through the Governance structure below:
Beginning with the Local Advisory Board, which takes responsibility for:
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
This is done through half-termly meetings with standard Agenda Items: Compliance, Finances, Estates, Curriculum, Quality & Standards, Human Resources, Marketing, Policies.
I hope that you all enjoyed the half-term break and I look forward to seeing you all this half term.
Julie
Dr Julie Smith
Chair of the Board
Mental Health Awareness Week
The theme of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week was 'anxiety'.
We discussed how anxiety is a completely normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control. We encouraged pupils and staff to talk about their own personal experiences with anxiety, and talked through some ideas on how to manage our anxiety. From breathing exercises, to physical activity, spending more time outdoors, getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet, we came up with lots of useful ways to help make feelings of anxiety more manageable.
Most importantly, we discussed how vital it is to talk to the people around you and tell them how you are feeling, and to request professional help if you think you need it.
Change of date for the next Afternoon Tea event
Just in case you haven't already seen the information sent out to Parents & Carers about the change of date, the next Afternoon Tea event will be held on Wednesday 28th June, 2-3pm.
We look forward to seeing you all!
Why is autism often harder to diagnose in girls than boys?
For many years, it was wrongly assumed that the majority of autistic people were men and boys, and much less so women and girls. We now know that this is simply not the case – with many women, girls and non-binary people on the autism spectrum. But why is autism harder to diagnose in girls? Click the button below to read our blog article and find out more.
School Uniform stockist - Encore
Take a look at the latest FHHS school uniform items from Encore who are based in Saltash. As well as branded polo shirts, jumpers and a new 'zippy' which we think will be really popular, you can also purchase a range of good quality trousers, skirts and dresses at reasonable prices.
Energy drinks and what parents need to know
You may have read recently about a child in Wales who needed to have their stomach pumped after a 'cardiac episode' as a result of consuming a well-known brand of energy drink which has been promoted by YouTube influencers.
If you are concerned about your child's consumption of energy drinks, please click the button below.
Learning how not to get lost on Dartmoor!
Another successful 'Footsteps of Discover' trip, this time to Nattor on Dartmoor to polish up on our wilderness navigation skills. Click the button below to find out more!
Graffiti project is boosting learning and community engagement
The six week 'Plymouth Artists Together' project at Prime Skate Park is going down a storm! Click the button below to find out more.
Parent/Carer Feedback Survey
As you know, feedback from parents and carers is incredibly important to us as it helps us to improve what we do and shape the future of the school.
We are planning to send out the next survey via email to parents and carers in week commencing 12th June, so please keep an eye out for the email and spare a few minutes to complete the form.
Where else can you find information, help and support?
Parenting and family support - Family Lives: www.familylives.org.uk
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families: www.annafreud.org
Young Minds: www.youngminds.org.uk
SEND IASS Cornwall: www.cornwallsendiass.org.uk/
Plymouth PIAS: www.plymouthias.org.uk/
