The whole school attendance, for this autumn term is 92.14% with also 25.6% being persistently absent.

We encourage parents to continue to notifying the school of any absences due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances. This helps us maintain accurate records and ensures that your child receives any necessary support or catch-up work.

We appreciate the efforts you make to support your child's attendance. Continue to establish morning routines, encourage good sleep habits, and communicate with the school if your child is facing any challenges that may affect their attendance.

We greatly appreciate your partnership in ensuring that your child receives the best education possible. Good attendance is a shared responsibility, and together we can help our children thrive.

With the end of term and Christmas holidays approaching and the dark mornings, we are mindful that attendance can suffer. Please read the NHS information in the link below.

Free Christmas Events in the Midlands

Where kids eat for £1 over Christmas Holidays

The best free things to do in Dudley

Dudley HAF Christmas Activities

Dudley Holiday Activities provide free activities and food for children aged 5 - 16 who are eligible for free school meals and other vulnerable groups.

They have an amazing range of activities on offer during the Christmas holiday period including Christmas crafts, multi-sports, martial arts, nature based activities, Christmas meals, performing arts and SEND only activities.

For more information about activities

For eligibility criteria for non school meal children

To Register & Book

Top tips for looking after your mental health this Christmas.

Feelings of depression, anxiety, and isolation are common at this time of year, especially for those who are living alone or away from their family. Christmas can be tough. That’s why its important to know there is always someone to talk to -

MIND 0300 1233393

SHOUT (TEXT) 85258

SAMARITANS 116 123

YOUNG MINDS (TEXT) YM to 85258

CALM (Helpline for Men) 0800 58 58 58

PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) 0800 068 4141

Dear Parent/Carer,

As we approach the end of this term, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible achievements and hard work that have defined these past few months. It has been a truly remarkable term, and we are filled with immense pride and gratitude for the dedication and enthusiasm shown by every member of our Sutton School community. From academic accomplishments to personal growth and creative endeavours, our school has shone brightly in every aspect, culminating in the inspiring performance of 'A Winters Fairytale'.

As we celebrate the holiday season, let's take a moment to appreciate the warmth and kindness that permeates our school - our motto of 'Safe, Happy Learning > Towards Independence' has been truly upheld. Acts of generosity, compassion, and support have been the hallmark of this term, reminding us all of the true spirit of this festive season. May the holiday season bring you moments of joy, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones. Take this well-deserved break to recharge, reflect, and create wonderful memories with family and friends.

As we bid farewell to this term, let's also look forward to the new opportunities and adventures that the coming term will bring. Together, we will continue to foster a positive and nurturing environment where every individual can thrive. Thank you for being a part of the Sutton School community. Your dedication, hard work, and positive spirit have made this term truly special. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with love, laughter, and success.

Warmest regards,

Ian Curnow, Headteacher

As we approach the end of this term, it's time to reflect on the wonderful moments and exciting activities that have filled our days. Here's a snapshot of what's been happening:

Magical Theatre Experience: Snow White at the Grand Theatre The whole school embarked on a delightful trip to the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton for a relaxed performance of Snow White. Laughter echoed through the halls as we immersed ourselves in this enchanting tale, creating beautiful memories together.

Green Fingers at Work: 8T2's Garden Centre Visit 8T2 indulged their green thumbs by visiting a garden centre, carefully selecting plants for their allotment. Learning through practical experiences always brings joy and knowledge!

Festive Cheer with Christmas Jumpers Our Christmas Jumper Day was a vibrant spectacle! Pupils and staff adorned themselves in colourful, festive garments, spreading joy and getting into the holiday spirit across the school.

Festivities in Full Swing: Parties and Preparations 7T4 and 8T4 are leading the festive charge with their planned celebratory gathering. They've even jumped ahead, crafting their festive party hats in anticipation of the upcoming fun.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: 8T1's Practical Maths Meanwhile, 8T1 took their math skills to the shops, turning everyday activities into practical lessons, demonstrating that math is all around us!

As the term winds down, let's take this moment to wish everyone a restful break and a joyous festive season. May this holiday be filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments with loved ones.

Looking forward to seeing everyone rejuvenated and ready for new adventures when we reconvene in January. Until then, stay safe and enjoy this special time.

It has been a busy final week of term in Hills! 9H1 enjoyed taking part in dodgeball during PE, practicing their aiming and throwing skills. 10H1 have been learning about the Christmas Story. We found out about gold, frankincense and myrrh.

11H1 have been busy developing our reading and writing skills. We’ve been thinking about thoughts and feelings and imagining life from the point of view of a character who has been wrongly accused of a crime. The classroom is feeling very Christmassy and the vibe is festive too! We have created our own individual ice cream cones as part of our Christmas craft activities, thinking about the colours and style we like best.

9H2 and 10H2 have been practicing exceptionally hard in singing their songs and learnt the Makaton for the special school concert and they performed brilliantly. Pupils really enjoyed our trip to the pantomime to see Snow White!

Rivers have been doing lots of fun activities during the last week of term!

9R1 have been working hard on their Crime and Punishment topic in English including reading the story of Oliver Twist, focusing on crime and punishment in the Victorian era.

9R2 have been working as a team in Vocational Pathway studies in organising an event. They have planned, measured and designed an obstacle course in the arena to trial possible ideas for a spring term event.

Pathway Sport and Leisure took part in an induction day at the Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre. They got to trial the cardio equipment and pupils were allowed to use the punch bags too!

10R1 visited Merry Hill as part of their careers . They conducted a survey in various shops asking employees about their job roles, qualifications and skills required to do the jobs. They spoke to staff about hours and wages, which led to the class discussing money matters.

11R2 have been having fun with some Christmas experiments. We have made catapults to help deliver the presents and worked out why marshmallows do not fully dissolve in hot chocolate.

Go team 11R1! We have been delivering our ‘skills and drills’ football activities to the whole of the Rivers Phase in preparation for our football tournament in the Spring term. Every pupil in the class has worked exceptionally hard at planning and risk assessing their activities. Well done team!

The whole school attendance, for this week is 91.49% with also 24.21% being persistently absent.

We encourage parents to continue to notifying the school of any absences due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances. This helps us maintain accurate records and ensures that your child receives any necessary support or catch-up work.

We appreciate the efforts you make to support your child's attendance. Continue to establish morning routines, encourage good sleep habits, and communicate with the school if your child is facing any challenges that may affect their attendance.

We greatly appreciate your partnership in ensuring that your child receives the best education possible. Good attendance is a shared responsibility, and together we can help our children thrive.

With the end of term and Christmas holidays approaching and the dark mornings, we are mindful that attendance can suffer. Please read the NHS information in the link below.

Dudley Holiday Activities provide free activities and food for children aged 5 - 16 who are eligible for free school meals and other vulnerable groups.

They have an amazing range of activities on offer during the Christmas holiday period including Christmas crafts, multi-sports, martial arts, nature based activities, Christmas meals, performing arts and SEND only activities.

For more information about activities

For eligibility criteria for non school meal children

To Register & Book

Christmas can be tough. That’s why its important to know there always someone to talk to -

MIND 0300 1233393

SHOUT (TEXT) 85258

SAMARITANS 116 123

YOUNG MINDS (TEXT) YM to 85258

CALM (Helpline for Men) 0800 58 58 58

PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) 0800 068 4141

On Friday 9th December we had the difficult job of choosing this years winner of the Christmas Card Competition.

Thank you to everyone who entered and Well done to the winners from Trees, Rivers & Hills.

A Winter’s Fairytale

On Wednesday November 29th a host of staff and students performed our Christmas production “A Winter’s Fairytale.” To a sold out Brierley HIll Civic Centre. A fantastic evening of laughter and delight was had by all. Thank you and well done to all of you both on the stage and behind the scenes made it a memorable evening.

Our Headteacher, Mr Ian Curnow said “Our pupils through their hard work and effort have tonight brought the Spirit of Christmas to Life. Absolutely wonderful.”

It's been an eventful and enriching period for our pupils as they've delved into various activities, learning experiences, and heartwarming initiatives. Here's a glimpse of the incredible happenings within our Trees Phase family:

Flapjack Extravaganza by 8T1: The aroma of freshly baked flapjacks has been wafting through our school halls, courtesy of 8T1! These budding chefs have been honing their culinary skills, creating delicious treats for all to enjoy. What a delightful way to blend learning and the joy of cooking!

Letters to Santa and Heartfelt Wishes: Across multiple classes, our students have been expressing their hopes and dreams through heartfelt letters to Santa Claus. It's heartwarming to witness their creativity and genuine aspirations during this festive season.

Maths Money Adventures: Engaging in practical learning, several classes have set up their shops, honing their money skills while experiencing the world of commerce. This hands-on approach to mathematics is fostering a deeper understanding of financial concepts.

Life Skills: Cheese on Toast Edition: In another delicious endeavour, our students have been mastering the art of creating the perfect cheese on toast! These life skills sessions are empowering our students with culinary abilities they can carry into their futures.

Spreading Joy to a Care Home: Our pupils' dedication and generosity have shone brightly as they raised funds. With these proceeds, they've purchased thoughtful gifts, which they joyously presented to residents at a local care home. It's heartening to see our students making a meaningful impact in the community.

Real-World Money Practice: Preparations are underway for a trip to real shops, providing our students with an invaluable opportunity to apply their money skills in a practical setting. This excursion promises to be an enriching and educational experience for all involved.

Parent Engagement Workshop Success: Our recent workshop brought together parents and pupils for a delightful session of crafting tree decorations and coasters. These moments of creativity and collaboration strengthen our school's community bond.

As we continue this journey of learning and growth, let's celebrate these achievements and the spirit of generosity and learning that permeates our Trees Phase.

Hills have been focussing on developing their skills in real-life situations this week. 9H1 have been creating some wonderful art pieces depicting landmarks in London and exploring different jobs people do. 10H1 have been learning about the House of Commons and House of Lords. 11H1 have been practising their mathematical skills by turning 2D shapes into 3d shapes using nets.

Hills 9H2 and 10H2 have enjoyed planning a trip to Dudley Zoo and on Tuesday 5th December 2023 we went to the Zoo. While we were at the Zoo, we got to meet Santa and 9H2 and 10H2 used their big voices to speak to Santa. We had a brilliant day!

Pupils in Rivers have continued to raise money for charity by putting on cake sales. They have raised lots of money for Birmingham Children's Hospital!

9R1 have been working on developing their multiplication and division skills and applying these to real-life scenarios.

11R1 have been focussing on the water cycle during science lessons. We have used shaving foam, water and food colouring to see how rain is made. We have also planned a football skills bootcamp event in Pathways which we are very excited to roll out!

9R2 and 10R2 have been working towards completing their diary entry assessments about the theme of crime and punishment. They have been very creative and have written some brilliant ideas!

11R2 have been developing their technical and creative skills by making their own videos in computing. We can't wait to see the finished product!

The whole school attendance, for this week is 90.90%, with also 24.21% being persistently absent.

We encourage parents to continue to notifying the school of any absences due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances. This helps us maintain accurate records and ensures that your child receives any necessary support or catch-up work.

We appreciate the efforts you make to support your child's attendance. Continue to establish morning routines, encourage good sleep habits, and communicate with the school if your child is facing any challenges that may affect their attendance.

We greatly appreciate your partnership in ensuring that your child receives the best education possible. Good attendance is a shared responsibility, and together we can help our children thrive.

With the end of term and Christmas holidays approaching and the dark mornings, we are mindful that attendance can suffer. Please read the NHS information in the link below.

8T1 represented the School, at the School Games Boccia competition this week. Sutton A & Sutton B won both their groups and will go on to represent the school at the regional Boccia competition on Friday, May 24th, at Portway.

Well done, team!

For those who are unsure. Boccia (pronounced 'Bot-cha') is a Paralympic sport introduced in 1984. Athletes throw, kick or use a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a 'jack' ball .It is designed specifically for athletes with a disability affecting locomotor function

It is played indoors on a court similar in size to a badminton court. The aim of the game is to get closer to the jack than your opponent

The jack ball is white and is thrown first One side has six red balls and the other has six blue balls. The balls are leather containing plastic granules so they don't bounce but will still roll. The side whose ball is not closest to the jack throws until they get a ball closest or until they run out of balls

Once all the balls have been thrown one side receives points for every ball they have closer to the jack than their opponents closest balls.

I’m sure you join us in wishing all our players well in the next round.

For Information on how to access Cost of Living Support Hubs with in the Dudley Borough click here

There is some new criteria from 20th November

To Book an appointment at one of the hubs.

To Good to Go APP - Reduce Waste & Save the Planet

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Every day, unsold food from your favourite restaurants, grocery stores, cafés, and shops goes to waste simply because it hasn’t sold in time. The Too Good To Go app makes it easy to make a difference, allowing you to save Surprise Bags of good food at an even better price.

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We held a double unveiling on the school grounds on 17th November (Children in Need Day). Teachers, staff and students were joined by the family of former student Conner Robinson to help cut the ribbon on a memorial plaque that was placed on a school bench in his name.

Mr Curnow said: "Today we were joined by the family of Conner Robinson. Conner, a former pupil at the school sadly passed away this summer, his time at Sutton saw him build strong friendships and left happy memories for many.

"The school is most grateful for the family's gift of a memorial bench, which will be used by pupils for years to come."

Staff and students at the school also helped cut the ribbon on a new outdoor learning complex funded by the community 'Friends of Sutton' group.

Mr Curnow continued: "Today demonstrates The Sutton School Community at its best. Our fantastic 'Friends of Sutton' group is celebrating the opening of our new outside classroom, which certainly marks a huge fundraising achievement. I am truly appreciative of all their hard work.

"The classroom helps bridge inside/outside learning and will benefit pupils for years to come."

The wooden facility was developed with the ecosystem in mind, also utilising a mostly wood construction to give it a truly outdoor feeling.

Classes will be held in the outside learning facility throughout the year, allowing students to actively learn while getting out of the confines of the classroom

Full Article

What an incredible two weeks it has been for our students here at Trees Phase! There's been an abundance of creativity, teamwork, and success across various activities and subjects.

Garden Makeover Blooms: Pupils from 7 and 8T4 have taken the initiative to transform our school garden! They've been hard at work, planting new seeds of ideas and bringing life to the space. Stay tuned for the blossoming results of their efforts!

Sweet Science of Metamorphic Rocks: The innovative minds of 8T2 have delved into the world of science in a unique way! Using sweets, they've crafted metamorphic rocks, showcasing their understanding of geological transformations. It's impressive to witness learning come to life in such a delicious manner!

Boccia Champions: Huge congratulations to 8T1 for their outstanding achievement in winning the Boccia tournament! Their dedication and sportsmanship have secured them a spot in the regional competition. Let's cheer them on as they continue to shine!

Bonjour à la France! Our MFL day immersed all our pupils in the vibrant culture of France! From savoring French cuisine to exploring the wonders of the country, our pupils embraced the French spirit wholeheartedly. It's wonderful to see our community engaging with different cultures and broadening their horizons.

These achievements and experiences reflect the dedication, enthusiasm, and talent within our Trees Phase family. Let's continue to nurture this spirit of exploration and success as we move forward together.

Hills have been busy doing lots of learning both in and outside of the classroom over the past two weeks!

Hills pupils have been taking part in preparing for and starring in our Christmas production, A Winter's Fairytale. They have helped with set design, promotional materials and supporting roles in the show.

Hills 10H1 visited St Augustine’s Church at Holly Hall. We had a fantastic visit, learning about Christianity and features of the church such as the stained glass, organ, lectern and altar. Pupils behaved with maturity and respect.

Hills 10H2 have been using manipulatives and number lines in our Maths lessons this week. We have enjoyed using them to help us to add and subtract numbers within 20. Pupils are making great progress as you can see!

Pupils in 11H1 have worked extremely hard to complete reading and speaking and listening assessments in English. They have put a lot of effort in and we are all very proud of you!

It has been another busy fortnight in Rivers!

Rivers pupils have been taking part in preparing for and starring in our Christmas production, A Winter's Fairytale. They have helped with set design, scripting and starring roles.

Pupils in 11R1 have been busy practising teaching their 'skills and drills' activity in preparation for our 'contributing to an event' unit of work.

We have set ourselves a big challenge to successfully organise a skills and drills activity in the lead up to our event in the form of a football tournament.

9R1 have been working hard preparing for their Cake Sale on Friday 1st December to raise money for Birmingham Childrens Hospital. Pupils have been making posters, planning and buying ingredients, designing room plans and doing lots of other tasks seeking to make the event a big success. Excellent team work skills!

11R2 have worked really hard planning a charity event. They made 200 cakes to sell and raise money for Birmingham Childrens Hospital. Cakes, hot chocolate & squash were served to customers whilst DJ’s were playing music in the background. Their hard work paid off and an amazing £105 was raised. Well done 11R2 you should be very proud of yourselves! Thank you to all staff that helped achieve this and a big thanks to everyone that supported us by purchasing a cake or two.

The whole school attendance, for this week is 92.66%, with also 21.58% being persistently absent.

We encourage parents to continue to notifying the school of any absences due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances. This helps us maintain accurate records and ensures that your child receives any necessary support or catch-up work.

We appreciate the efforts you make to support your child's attendance. Continue to establish morning routines, encourage good sleep habits, and communicate with the school if your child is facing any challenges that may affect their attendance.

We greatly appreciate your partnership in ensuring that your child receives the best education possible. Good attendance is a shared responsibility, and together we can help our children thrive.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to your child's education. We look forward to a successful second half of the term.

Anti-Bullying Week 2023 is coordinated in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. This year it has the theme 'Make A Noise About Bullying' and took place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th November. The week will be kicked off with Odd Socks Day on Monday 13th November, where adults and children wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

The theme of Make A Noise About Bullying came about following consultation with teachers and pupils by the Anti-Bullying Alliance which coordinates Anti-Bullying Week every year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Teachers and children wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.

Following the success of the campaign in 2022 – when 80% of schools marked the week, reaching over 7.5 million children and young people – Anti-Bullying Week will remind everyone whether it’s in school, at home, in the community or online, we can bring an end to bullying.

As usual, schools are able to download free teaching resources and themed assemblies. These focus on the activities we can take to encourage young people to consider what bullying means to us, how banter can turn into something more hurtful, and what we can do to stop bullying. We have also developed a media, social media and community based campaign to help bring Anti-Bullying Week to life whether you're at home, work or in school.

Our call to action:

Too often, we are silent when we see bullying take place, silent about the hurt bullying causes, and silent when we hear bullying dismissed as ‘just banter’.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Of course, we won’t like everyone and we don’t always agree, but we can choose respect and unity.

This Anti-Bullying Week let’s come together to have discussions about what bullying means to us, how banter can turn into something more hurtful, and what we can do to stop bullying. Together, we can make a difference and take a stand against bullying.

From the playground to Parliament, and from our phones to our homes, let’s make a noise about bullying.

Black Country Women’s Aid is proud to offer a range of services for victims of violence and abuse across the Black Country and wider West Midlands. Go to the website to find out about domestic abuse services in Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall, sexual violence services across the Black Country, stalking services and modern slavery services across the West Midlands, and women’s justice services in Sandwell, Dudley and Birmingham.

Black Country Women’s Aid supports people experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Offering sensitive and holistic support that help victims of abuse and their children to escape from violence, cope with trauma and rebuild their lives.

The Independent Domestic Violence Advice Service offers support in the community and at court, and the refuges offer a safe place for survivors and their children fleeing domestic abuse.

As children get older and more independent, issues that affect them can be harder to spot and deal with.

Learning about potential dangers can give you the knowledge and skills to act if there is a problem. It could also help keep your child safe by preventing problems before they happen.

You know your child best, so if you’ve got a feeling something’s up – you’re right not to ignore it.

It’s not always easy to know the difference between typical ‘growing up’ behaviour and signs that something’s wrong.

It can be worrying if you notice a change in your child. It could be nothing, but it could mean that they need support. Your child may find it hard to tell you, so go with your gut.

Here are some of the common signs that could mean your child is facing an issue:

• becoming secretive or withdrawn

• a change in character

• repeatedly feeling ‘ill’ on school days

• a drop in performance at school or college

• having unexplained money or possessions

• regularly ‘losing’ lunch money or prized possessions

• suddenly leaving long-term friendship groups to join new ones

• a decline in confidence

• having nightmares or other sleeping problems

• knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age

For more information on a range of issues concerning parents visit the Parentwise website

The Trees phase has been delving deep into the realm of climate change, conducting intriguing experiments using plastic frogs and ice. While the intricacies might be a tad puzzling, the excitement and interest generated by their work are undeniable!

In other green-fingered news, our diligent pupils have been actively prepping their mini allotments for the upcoming Great Mini Garden Makeover competition in the spring term. Weeding away and nurturing their plots, they're gearing up for a blooming battle of creativity and cultivation!

Meanwhile, the adventurous minds of 8T1 embarked on an exhilarating journey to Cosford Museum. Their visit was an immersive dive into the history of planes, tanks, and missiles, as they explored, learned, and marvelled at the fascinating exhibits.

Kudos to all our budding scientists, gardeners, and historians for their enthusiasm and dedication to learning and discovery!

Hills Phase have been very busy doing lots of exciting learning over the past fortnight!

10H1 have been learning about The Great Fire of London in 1666. We were amazed at how many parts of London were destroyed, and the methods used to stop the fire. We decided we are extremely grateful for the fire service!

9H1 wore odd socks on Monday, to mark the start of Anti-Bullying Week 2023. We have been exploring what bullying is, and ways to prevent bullying during our Core Studies sessions this week. 9H2 have spent time in Forest School learning outdoor skills and all about different habitats. We have discussed what the weather is like when the seasons change and what we like best about being outside in the Autumn!

10H2 have been creating their own Christmas bottles within their careers lessons to sell at our Christmas show a Winter’s Fairytale on Wednesday 29th November 2023. We chose the designs and with the help of our teachers we were able to put the design on the bottle. 11H1 have created some beautiful artwork showing scenes from Bonfire Night and have learnt about The Gunpowder Plot. Pupils really showed off their creative skills!

Pupils have continued to work really hard over the past few weeks and we are incredibly proud of them. Keep it up, Team Hills!

It has been another busy few weeks in Rivers!

As part of DofE, 10R1 have been learning a new skill of sewing. Pupils worked hard on the planning and design to create a product they are proud of, they overcame difficulties such as threading needles and tying knots in the thread, by doing this and staying on task they have learnt a valuable life skill.

9R1 participated in a woodland school activity making structures. Pupils had to work as a team to build a shelter so that the group could keep dry and warm. Staff were very impressed by teamwork skills shown! Pupils had to work as a team to build a shelter so that the group could keep dry and warm.

9R2 have been working on their careers enterprise task and have sourced, made and calculated a profitable selling price for their Christmas sweet pouches. These will be on sale at the Christmas show. Each pupil had a job role and we made quality control checks!

Pupils in Rivers have taken part in a Social Media Workshop with our local police officers. They covered how to stay safe online, use of different apps and what to do if you are concerned. Our pupils came up with some great ideas during discussions and show real maturity.

Well done for another fantastic fortnight, Team Rivers!

The whole school attendance, for this half term is 93.09%, with also 25.65% being persistently absent.

Congratulations to to Trees 7T1 MGL, Hills 9H2 WSC, and Rivers 4 JCM for all achieving 100% attendance last week.

We encourage parents to continue notifying the school of any absences due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances. This helps us maintain accurate records and ensures that your child receives any necessary support or catch-up work.

We appreciate the efforts you make to support your child's attendance. Continue to establish morning routines, encourage good sleep habits, and communicate with the school if your child is facing any challenges that may affect their attendance.

We greatly appreciate your partnership in ensuring that your child receives the best education possible. Good attendance is a shared responsibility, and together we can help our children thrive.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to your child's education. We look forward to a successful second half of the term.

We hope this message finds you and your children in good health and high spirits. We have some exciting news to share with you! The Friends of Sutton PTA is actively seeking new members to join our wonderful team.

Our PTA has been a cornerstone of our school community, working tirelessly to support the well-being and development of our students. Here's a glimpse of what we've accomplished over the years:

- In 2017/2018, we raised an impressive £2,815.

- In 2018/2019, we contributed £1,819.

- Despite the challenges of 2019/2020, we raised £2,160.

- In 2021/2022, we continued our efforts and raised £195.

- This year, in 2022/2023, we've already raised £2,421 and counting!

With your support, we have been able to provide valuable resources and experiences for our students. Our initiatives include:

- Easter eggs and Christmas selection boxes for all children.

- Organising the Christmas toy appeal.

- Purchasing sand/water tables, table top cookers for the kitchen area, and a new shed for Wellies in the forest area.

- Providing musical instruments for outdoor learning.

- Setting up an outdoor classroom gazebo.

- Ensuring the availability of new bikes for the school.

- Contributing to the seaside trip and Life-skills program.

- Supplying essential items such as socks, pants, trousers, leggings, and coats to students in need.

- Collecting old uniforms to assist children.

- Equipping the children to grow plants with hanging baskets and compost.

- Spreading some Halloween cheer with sweets during the lockdown.

As we move forward, we have big plans to continue enhancing the school experience for our children. But we need your help to do it! Joining the Friends of Sutton PTA is an excellent way to get involved and make a positive impact on our school community. Your time, skills, and ideas are invaluable, and we welcome anyone who is interested in participating.

If you would like to be a part of this dedicated and passionate group of parents, please reach out to us at via school reception.. Your involvement, whether big or small, will make a difference.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to the students at Sutton School. Together, we can achieve great things and provide our children with the best educational experience possible.

Warm regards,

Friends of Sutton PTA

CEOP is a law enforcement agency and is here to help keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online.

We are here to help and give you advice, and you can make a report directly to us if you are worried about online sexual abuse or something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life, or someone you have only ever met online.

We work together with lots of other professionals whose jobs are also to make sure you are safe, this includes other police agencies.

The CEOP Education website also has information and advice to help you to stay safe if something has happened to you online.

CEOP are unable to respond to reports about bullying but if you are being bullied and would like to talk to someone in confidence right now you can call Childline on 0800 1111 or talk to them online - no worry is too big or too small.

Many local restaurants in our community are participating in a special initiative, and for this half-term holiday, children can enjoy delicious meals for free. This is an incredible opportunity for our families to come together, share quality time, and savor some great food.

Each restaurant may have its own age limit for eligible children, so please check with the specific establishment for details and they have a wide array from tasty classics to healthy choices.

Choose a participating resturant from the list provided in this newsletter or check with your preferred local spot.

This initiative aims to support our community, bringing families closer together and making dining out during the half-term a delightful experience.

As always, thank you for being a part of our wonderful Sutton School community. We wish you and your family a fantastic and enjoyable October half-term break!

In a week filled with exciting learning opportunities, our students have been busy exploring a range of engaging activities across various subjects. Here's a quick snapshot of what our students have been up to:

7T1's Bird Feeder Science Experiment

Linking Science and Math Students in 7T1 embarked on a unique science experiment, crafting bird feeders. These young scientists will be observing and recording data over time to understand the feeding habits of local birds. Through this project, they are not only delving into the world of biology but also connecting their findings to maths, using data analysis and statistical skills to make sense of their observations.

7T4 and 8T4 DofE Volunteering Initiative: Blooms for a Cause

Students from 7T4 and 8T4 took a trip to the garden centre, where they purchased copious amounts of vibrant blooms. These blooms will be used in a charitable endeavour as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteering commitment. Stay tuned for updates on how they will be using their green thumbs to make a difference in the community.

Flapjacktastic Creativity in Lifeskills for 8T2

In Lifeskills, 8T2 students showed off their creative side by decorating flapjacks. This activity not only encouraged culinary skills but also allowed our students to express themselves through art and design. The kitchen has never been so vibrant!

Baking Delights in 8T3

Over in 8T3, a delicious aroma filled the air as students baked mouthwatering biscuits. In addition to honing their baking skills, students learned about the chemistry of baking and the maths behind measuring ingredients accurately. These sweet treats will surely make for a delightful snack.

8T1's Maths Adventure at Aldi

Lastly, students from 8T1 embarked on an educational adventure to Aldi, where they interacted with cheerful till assistants and practiced their maths skills. The real-world application of mathematical concepts made for an exciting and insightful outing.

It's been a fantastic week of diverse learning experiences, and we're proud of our students' enthusiasm and dedication to expanding their knowledge in unique and engaging ways. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from our phase.

Have a safe and restful half term.

It has been another fun-filled fortnight across Hills!

As part of our Hair and Beauty pathway, 9H2 have made our own soap using natural ingredients and also packaged them ourselves to sell at the Christmas Fayre.

At Merry Hill we visited many shops including Lush and The Body Shop to look at the different products they sell. We asked questions about how they were made and got involved with demonstrations using bath bombs and a soap bubble blower!

9H1 had a fantastic lesson in the schools woodland this week. We learnt to tie three different knots and then had a go at building a shelter. We worked as a team and used our new knot making skills and our shelters were a great success!

10H1 and 11H1 have been learning about Black History Month and inspirational people such as Marcus Rashford and Simone Biles.

Well done to all our wonderful Hills pupils for a fantastic half term! We hope you have a lovely break.

Rivers have been taking part in lots of wonderful activities both in and outside of school!

During our Science lessons, 11R1 have put down our pens and explored the differences between longitudinal and transverse waves through investigating light, sound and water waves. We had so much fun creating a Mexican wave in class to demonstrate what happens during a transverse wave!

As part of their Work-Related Learning, 10R2 paid a visit to the Merry Hill Centre. We met with the people who manage the centre and we were given lots of interesting information about how the centre is run. We also had the chance to see behind the scenes which was very interesting, for example -did you know that some of the staff have created their own allotment at the centre?

We wanted to find out what sort of jobs are available and what qualifications are needed. We couldn’t visit Merry Hill without a bit of retail therapy, we enjoyed looking around some of the shops and spending our pocket money.

Well done to all our wonderful Rivers pupils for a really positive start to this academic year. We hope you have a fantastic half term!

Last week’s attendance figure was 91.70%, which is decline on the previous week, and slightly lower than the national average. This term we are hoping that you will support us in improving this figure.

It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected, we will be communicating with.

Congratulations to to Trees 7T1 MGL, Hills 9H2 WSC, and Rivers 4 JCM for all achieving 100% attendance last week.

Thank you for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

On the 10th October every year it is world mental health day. The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.

World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health.

It’s also a chance to talk about mental health, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to get help if you are struggling.

We understand that your child's well-being and academic success are of utmost importance to you, and we share that commitment here at Sutton school. We want to reassure you that we have a strong pastoral team and a dedicated school counsellor in place to provide comprehensive support to your child throughout their educational journey.

Our pastoral team consists of experienced educators and staff members who are passionate about nurturing your child's overall development. Our pastoral team takes a holistic approach to your child's well-being. We focus not only on their academic progress but also on their social, emotional, and mental health. We believe that a balanced and healthy child is better prepared to excel academically. Every child is unique, and we recognise this. This means that we take the time to understand your child's specific needs and tailor our support accordingly.

Our school counsellor is a dedicated professional trained to provide emotional support to students. Whether your child is dealing with stress, anxiety, friendship issues, or any other concerns, our counsellor is here to listen, provide guidance, and offer strategies for coping.

Black Country Foodbank helps vulnerable individuals and families in crisis through the provision of emergency food and toiletry supplies while a longer-term solution is developed. The services they provide have an enormous impact on the people who use them, giving them an important breathing space at a time of great need.

Started in June 2006, they are a Christian-based charitable organisation set up to feed local people experiencing real hardship by meeting their most basic need for food. Local people, churches and other organisations in and around the Black Country are joining together to be part of a project that makes a real difference to the lives of those in crisis.

Black Country Foodbank issue food vouchers to local organisations that encounter people in hardship. These local organisation then act as referral partners and give the vouchers to people who they consider need food. The people (service users) then come to one of the 23 local distribution points where they exchange their voucher for the food.

Black Country Foodbank help anybody who needs the support they offer; young, old, single people and families from all backgrounds, religious beliefs and ethnic origins, without prejudice.

At the distribution point they offer a drink and the opportunity to chat with the project team whilst their food package is prepared. They may also be offered help in finding other professionals who can assist them out of their crisis.

Please remember that we also offer referrals to this service in School.

Citizens Advice Cost of Living Support Hubs can provide help to Dudley residents in need of support

The decision to set up these cost-of-living support hubs was made in response to public feedback. Citizens Advice found that many people were struggling to meet basic day-to-day living costs and the recent climb in energy prices.

These hubs can offer support and information on how to save money and make money stretch further. They also provide practical help relating to food, fuel and access to available grants and funds based on qualifying criteria.

•The support hubs are operated by Citizens Advice Dudley & Wolverhampton and have been commissioned by the Dudley Empowerment Partnership. They are supported by Dudley Council Public Health and the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board

How to access the hubs

To visit a hub you must book an appointment. On the day of your appointment you must take two forms of ID.

•One form of ID with your Name (e.g. Passport, Travel Pass, Debit Card)

•One form of ID with your Name and Address. This is to prove that you are a resident of Dudley Borough (e.g. a council tax bill)

Support will only be offered by attending a pre-booked appointment. Appointments cannot be booked at the venues and must be done online.

Please note:

Due to significant demand the hubs have implemented the following criteria:

•Households can attend up to 3 times in total

•There needs to be a minimum of 12 days between each appointment

If you have attended any of the hubs 3 times and/or not with 12 days gap, then please go back and cancel your appointment as you will be declined entry.

•Book an appointment

What can I expect? When you arrive at a hub you will be greeted by a friendly member of staff. They will first help you complete an assessment to find out your support options.

Practical assistance will then be provided based upon this.

This could include:

•Information on how to save money and make money stretch further.

•Practical help accessing: Food. Fuel. Energy. Period products. Available benefits, grants and funds (based on qualifying criteria).

•Advice on saving money on utilities such as energy.

•Household vouchers to purchase essentials (subject to need and availability).

•Fuel bank vouchers (pre-payment meters only - subject to conditions).

•Laptop loan referral.

•Identification of other helpful organisations.

Opening Times and Locations

Citizens Advice support hubs are open for pre-booked appointments from 9.30am to 3.30pm

Wednesday

Halesowen Library, The Cornbow Centre, 7th Floor, Halesowen, B63 4AJ

•Book an appointment

Brierley Hill Methodist Church, 24 Bank Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 3DA

•Book an appointment

Please note: These venues rotate each week.

Thursday

Stourbridge, Christ Church, High Street, Lye, DY9 8LF

•Book an appointment

Friday

Provision House, 80-81 High Street, Dudley, DY1 1PY

•Book an appointment

Additional support

As well as running Cost of Living Support Hubs, Citizens Advice Dudley & Wolverhampton also have a collection of leaflets available. These are full of useful information and can help those who are struggling with the cost of living.

• Citizens Advice Dudley & Wolverhampton - Cost of living resources

We're delighted to bring you an update on the busy and eventful happenings within the Trees Phase over the past two weeks. It's been a period filled with learning, creativity, and exciting activities for our students.

7T1 Cooking Adventures: Rice Crispy Cakes

Our talented young chefs in 7T1 embarked on a culinary adventure as they whipped up delightful rice crispy cakes. It's been a delightful journey of mixing, measuring, and tasting, sparking their culinary curiosity.

8T4 Explores Internet Safety with Smarty the Penguin

In the digital age, internet safety is a paramount concern. Our students in 8T4 engaged in interactive sessions on internet safety, led by Smarty the Penguin. What's more, this invaluable resource is accessible to parents as well, ensuring that the whole family can benefit from the knowledge shared.

Artistic Exploration: Portraits in the Style of Picasso

Creativity knows no bounds in the Trees Phase! Our students have dived into the world of art by exploring Picasso's unique style. They've been creating captivating portraits, giving expression to their imaginations and artistic talents.

Junk Modelling: Unleashing Creativity

We've witnessed some fantastic creations as many of our classes have ventured into the realm of junk modelling. From planes to imaginative other projects, students have been using recycled materials to craft their own creations, fostering a sense of resourcefulness and eco-consciousness.

Upcoming Adventures: Stay Tuned!

Hold onto your seats because we have some thrilling trips just around the corner! We'll be sharing all the exciting details about these upcoming adventures in our next newsletter. Be sure to stay tuned!

In the Trees Phase, we're dedicated to fostering a well-rounded educational experience that nurtures creativity, curiosity, and life skills. Thank you for your continued support, and we can't wait to share more exciting updates with you in the near future.

Hills have had another busy few weeks doing lots of exciting things across the curriculum!

On Tuesday 10th October, pupils took part in a range of mindfulness and wellbeing activities as part of World Mental Health Day. Pupils in 9H1 shared some great ideas about how to improve their mental health.

9H2 and 10H2 have been learning to sew as part of their Performing Arts pathway and in Duke of Edinburgh we have been learning the Makaton signs for Harvest and have learned to sign and sing the song Big Red Combine Harvester. Some wonderful performances were given!

Pupils from 10H1 attended Provision House in Dudley for work experience. We sold lots of items made by pupils across the school. Our customers were lovely!

Across the phase, pupils have been working really hard on improving their reading skills and exploring the characters in The London Eye.

Well done for another fantastic few weeks, Hills!

Rivers have been busy doing lots of wonderful activities both in and outside of school.

11R1 have put our pens and paper down and headed to the forest for school. We have been learning how to tie basic knots when building a shelter. James worked exceptionally hard and managed to tie a clover hitch. A massive well done to James for showing Mrs Billings how to do it!

Rivers and Hills pupils had the most amazing time on our London Residential last week! We spotted dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum, walked in the footsteps of football heroes on our Wembley Tour, saw the incredible show 'The Lion King' and rubbed shoulders with celebrities at Madame Tussauds.

We also saw Shrek on his adventures and had an incredible view of London from the London Eye. What a busy few days!

Last week’s attendance figure was 93.65%, which is decline on the previous week, and slightly lower than the national average. This term we are hoping that you will support us in improving this figure.

It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected, we will be communicating with.

Congratulations to to Trees 7T2 SLN, Trees 3JPL, and Trees 4 DVN for all achieving 100% attendance last week, and to Hills 9H2 WSC who came close with 98.3%

Thank you for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

On the 10th October every year it is world mental health day. The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.

World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health.

It’s also a chance to talk about mental health, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to get help if you are struggling.

We understand that your child's well-being and academic success are of utmost importance to you, and we share that commitment here at Sutton school. We want to reassure you that we have a strong pastoral team and a dedicated school counsellor in place to provide comprehensive support to your child throughout their educational journey.

Our pastoral team consists of experienced educators and staff members who are passionate about nurturing your child's overall development. Our pastoral team takes a holistic approach to your child's well-being. We focus not only on their academic progress but also on their social, emotional, and mental health. We believe that a balanced and healthy child is better prepared to excel academically. Every child is unique, and we recognise this. This means that we take the time to understand your child's specific needs and tailor our support accordingly.

Our school counsellor is a dedicated professional trained to provide emotional support to students. Whether your child is dealing with stress, anxiety, friendship issues, or any other concerns, our counsellor is here to listen, provide guidance, and offer strategies for coping.

Produced in collaboration with Home Office PREVENT and the West Midlands Police Crime Commissioner, Safety Net is a unique educational resource and training programme designed to provide the tools and confidence to engage children and their parents, in a concerted effort to encourage safe online practice in the home.

As the Internet and social media act as the gateway to the adult world, children are increasingly accessing online platforms more and more from an early age. Though they are becoming smarter and growing up computer literate, they are innocent and do not possess the life skills needed to recognise potential dangers. Parents worry about what their children are doing online, yet very few know how to help.

Safety Net embeds the understanding and effective protective behaviour strategies needed to help young people across all year groups stay safe, both online and in the physical world. Adopted by parents, schools, local authorities and multi-agency partnerships across the UK, it is establishing itself as a vital tool in safeguarding children.

You can find out more about our Safety Net programme, along with free resources for parents and carers on our dedicated Skips safety net guide.

October is recognised as Black History Month in the United Kingdom, and we are dedicated to commemorating this important occasion with well thought through curriculum integration.

Black History Month is an opportunity for us to honour the contributions, heritage, and achievements of Black individuals and communities in the UK and within our local area. It serves as a reminder of the vital role they have played in shaping our society and culture.

Teachers will incorporate lessons and discussions about Black history into the curriculum. Students will learn about important figures, current influencers , and their impact on the UK and the world.

There are lots of fun, culturally insightful events happening this month in the local community, such as the Island movements . The island movements is a short ballet that tells the story of Windrush and explores the impact of this generation’s experiences on their families, communities and society so please check it out.

I hope this newsletter finds you well. The new academic year has begun with a burst of enthusiasm, and we're excited to share some of the highlights from our Trees Phase classes.

Our young explorers from classes 8T4 and 7T4 have embarked on an exciting journey into the world of woodlands. They've been learning about the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit our local woodland area. From identifying different tree species to observing wildlife, their experiences in nature have been both educational and inspiring. This hands-on learning fosters a love for the outdoors and environmental stewardship.

Class 8T1 has been diligently practicing their orienteering skills in preparation for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Year 9. Orienteering not only hones their navigation skills but also instils a sense of adventure and teamwork. We're confident that they will excel in this exciting challenge when the time comes.

In class 7T2, our budding geographers have been delving into the world of maps. They've been honing their map-reading skills, understanding topography, and gaining insights into the geography of our planet. These fundamental skills will serve as a strong foundation for their future studies in geography.

Year 8 pupils have been hitting the pool with enthusiasm and dedication. Swimming is an important life skill, and we are thrilled to report that their progress has been excellent. Swimming not only promotes physical fitness but also builds confidence and water safety awareness.

In the realm of science, class 8T2 has been on an intriguing journey to investigate all things bone-related. From the structure of bones to their vital roles in the human body, this hands-on exploration has sparked curiosity and a deeper understanding of our skeletal system.

Meanwhile, classes 7T4 and 8T4 have been on a fascinating adventure, diving into the world of all things furry and scaly. This exploration of wildlife has allowed them to appreciate the incredible diversity of creatures that share our planet and the importance of biodiversity.

We recently conducted an evacuation drill to ensure the safety of our students, and we are pleased to report that it went very well. Our new pupils showed great composure and cooperation, which is a testament to their quick adaptation to life as Sutton.

In summary, the new academic year has started with a bang in Trees Phase, and we couldn't be prouder of your children. Their enthusiasm for learning, coupled with their engagement in various activities, promises a year filled with growth and achievement.

Our picture comes from 8T4 and clearly shows our new furry friend and care dog, Daisy.

We look forward to witnessing the continued progress and success of our students as the year unfolds. A big "well done" to all pupils in Trees Phase!

It has been a busy couple of weeks across our wonderful Hills phase! Hills 10H2 and Hills 9H2 have been enjoying delving into their RE unit, A Sensory Exploration of Sikhism and Hinduism. All pupils demonstrated this term’s core value of courage when they used their senses to experience new foods from different cultures.

Pupils across 9H1, 10H1 and 11H1 have been researching London's famous landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace and London Eye, as part of their BTEC Pathway learning, linked to their English topic.

Hills have also taken part in Forest School this week and have shown off their skills of tying different types of knot alongside learning all about the woodland habitat.

Pupils have also been developing great landbased skills harvesting a large crop of tomatoes, runner beans and chilli peppers which have then been prepared and eaten during Life Skills lessons.

Well done, Hills!

Rivers classes have been busy this week with lots of fun activities!

11R2 are working towards their DofE Skills section First Aid starting with the primary survey DR-ABC followed by CPR covering Paediatric to adult scenarios. One pupil even had to use these skills outside of school to help save a life when they were at Cadets! Well done Luke!

11R1 have put down our pens and have become wired up. We have completed lots of practical experiments about electricity and how it flows through a circuit. We have investigated how electricity flows through a circuits using bulbs, switches, motors and buzzers.

Pupils have also enjoyed making extremely delicious cupcakes in Lifeskills.

At Sutton School we are preparing for the exciting academic year, however I would like to take a moment to discuss the critical importance of school attendance and arriving on time.

Regular school attendance is the cornerstone of a successful educational experience. When your child attends school consistently, they benefit in numerous ways.

This year started off great as we achieved 93.65% attendance for the first week back. With classes 7T4 DVN, 8T4 and 9R1 AAS for all achieving 100% attendance last week.

This year we will be monitoring attendance closely, focusing on those who are persistently absent from school and late arrivals. We expect students to arrive in school between 8:20-08:40, anything after this your child will be marked as late.

Thank you for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. I am incredibly proud of our students' achievements and grateful for the collaboration of our parents and guardians. Let us celebrate this milestone and eagerly anticipate the wonderful opportunities that lie ahead. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

As pupils move through the school our curriculum changes in response to pupils greater maturity and preparation for life beyond Sutton. You may be interested to explore what pupils are learning this term, all of this information is available for you to access on the Curriculum Subject pages of our website. Please do have a look, understanding what your child is doing each day at school can really help with promoting some worthwhile conversations over the dinner table.

As we begin a new school year, we'd like to emphasise the importance of being mindful of our children as they make new friends and engage with social media apps. In today's digitally connected world, fostering safe friendships and responsible online behaviour is essential for their well-being.

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

1. Encourage In-Person Friendships-While online friendships can be enriching, encourage your child to prioritise in-person interactions. Help them strike a balance between building relationships through social media and nurturing real-life connections.

2. Teach Online Safety-Educate your child about the importance of online safety. Emphasise the need to protect personal information, recognise phishing attempts, and be cautious when interacting with strangers on social media platforms.

3. Monitor Social Media Activity- Stay informed about the social media apps your child is using. Consider setting up parental controls and monitoring tools to ensure their safety while respecting their privacy.

4. Discuss Cyberbullying-Have an open conversation about cyberbullying and its impact. Encourage your child to report any incidents they encounter and provide emotional support if they become victims.

5. Set Time Limits-Establish healthy screen time limits for social media usage. Encourage your child to take breaks from screens, engage in physical activities, and focus on academics.

6. Foster Empathy-Teach your child the importance of empathy and kindness online. Remind them that the words they use can affect others deeply, and encourage them to think before they post or comment.

7. Be a Role Model- Demonstrate responsible social media use as a parent. Children often mimic the behaviour they observe, so your example matters.

8. Encourage Positive Content- Encourage your child to engage with positive and educational content on social media. Share resources and accounts that align with their interests and values.

9. Maintain Open Communication- Create a safe and non-judgmental space for your child to discuss their online experiences, friendships, and any challenges they may encounter.

10. Know the Signs- Be aware of the signs of excessive or problematic social media use. If you notice changes in your child's behaviour, such as withdrawal from real-life activities or mood swings, consider discussing their online habits.

Our goal is to help our children navigate the digital world safely while fostering healthy friendships and connections. By working together as parents and educators, we can provide the guidance and support needed for their positive growth.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child's social media use or friendships, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to assist you in ensuring your child's well-being both online and offline.

Thank you for your commitment to our children's safety and development.

Here is a clear guide on how to set up parental controls on your child/ren’s devices.

A group of pupils and staff are heading to London from October 4 - 6th 2023. Pupils will get the opportunity to see a show, visit Wembley Stadium and take a trip on the London Eye. We wish them a wonderful trip and will look forward to the pictures.

Welcome back, students and families, to another exciting school year after a rejuvenating summer break! We extend a warm welcome to our newest members, our Year 7 pupils, who have seamlessly settled into their new classrooms. It's been a fantastic start with staff reporting safe and happy children all around.

In the spirit of growth and achievement, our Year 8 pupils have dived right into the pool, making waves of progress in swimming. We're immensely proud of their accomplishments already!

As the year unfolds, we can't wait to share the thrilling adventures from our upcoming trips and capture the dynamic classroom experiences in photos. Stay tuned for some super exciting updates!

Here's to a year filled with learning, fun, and success!

Welcome back to our wonderful pupils! I has been great to see you all back in school.

This week, Hills 9H1 and 10H2 have been working hard in Core Studies to identify and demonstrate the facial expressions and body language that accompany emotions such as anger and excitement. We have been focussing on how to make ourselves feel calm and happy. We identified our favourite way to cheer ourselves up if we were sad, worried, or anxious.

In English, pupils have begun to explore the novel 'The London Eye Mystery' and put their thinking skills to the test in working out what the mystery might be!

Pupils have settled in really well to the new school year and we are very proud of them all.

A warm welcome to all our students, whether you're returning to school or joining our Phase for the first time! We are thrilled to have each and every one of you as part of our school community. To our returning students, we're delighted to see familiar faces back in our halls and classrooms. To our new students, we extend a heartfelt welcome to our Phase. We're excited to get to know you, support your educational journey, and witness the wonderful contributions you will make to our Phase. As we look ahead to the upcoming year, we are bursting with excitement about all the future events, activities, and opportunities that await us. From engaging lessons to fun field trips – there's so much to look forward to.

I wanted to take a moment to say a "Well Done!" to our previous Year 11 students for your outstanding results this summer. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have truly paid off. Your achievements are a testament to your commitment to learning and your ability to overcome challenges. I look forward to seeing all the great things you will accomplish in the future.

Last week’s attendance figure was 91.361%, which is decline on the previous week, and slightly lower than the national average. This term we are hoping that you will support us in improving this figure.

It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected, we will be communicating with.

This term we will be monitoring closely absence trends, particularly recurring Monday and Friday absences from school..

Unfortunately no classes achieved 100% attendance last week, however Rivers 3 DDM, HILLS 6 SKT and HILLS 4 EAL for all achieving 93.8%

Thank you for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

Dudley MBC are looking to recruit foster carers across the Dudley Borough. Foster care plays a vital part in so many children’s and young people’s lives. In Dudley, the need for foster carers is greater than ever. Please see the attached leaflet regarding taking the first steps into becoming a foster carer. Dudley MBC are looking to recruit foster carers across the Dudley Borough. Foster care plays a vital part in so many children’s and young people’s lives. In Dudley, the need for foster carers is greater than ever. Please see the attached leaflet regarding taking the first steps into becoming a foster carer.

Click here for more information

With the Summer holidays fast approaching this is a reminder to register a place for your child on this programme. HAF is a government funded programme that offers free activities during the Easter, Summer and Winter holidays for Children aged 5-16 who receive free school meals. Here in Dudley we offer a range of different activities from days out, multi sports, dance, crafts, cooking and more!.

You're eligible to register for the holiday activities programme (HAF) if the following applies: You live in Dudley or your child goes to school in Dudley Borough, your child is aged between 5 and 16 years and your child is eligible for benefits related free school meals.

Click here to read more and register

Trees 1 and 2 attended a Bug Hotel ceremony at Dudley College where they received medals for their sterling work.

Trees 3 went bowling where much fun was had, they even analysed their results by flexing their Maths skills.

Trees 1, 2 and 3 went on a Geography field trip which involved, among other things, picking strawberries, yum yum!

As part of their Duke of Edinburgh volunteering activities Trees 4 and Trees 8 made a presentation for Broadway Care Home, well done you!

Trees 5 went to the cinema and enjoyed watching a film.

Greek Day was a massive success, with much food tasting and learning about Hellenic traditions. I wonder what the next MFL (Languages) day will be?

Trees 4 and Trees 8 also visited Haden Hill Park to go on a mini-beast hunt and a picnic.

What a busy week.

I would like to wish you all a safe holiday and look forward to welcoming most of you back into Trees where we will have lots of new faces in Year 7.

Hills 1 had a fantastic time in the school woodland having a go at building a shelter during their Duke of Edinburgh lesson. They had to work as a team to make a shelter out of minimal equipment and using a number of different of knots, which they had learnt to tie the previous week. Well done Hills 1!

Hills 2 had a wonderful picnic at Himley Hall as part of their Duke of Edinburgh studies. They put their life skills into practice by preparing their own sandwiches beforehand.

Hills 3 and 4 have been getting creative within their English lessons and have produced some amazing diary entries and drama pieces.

Hills 5 and 6 have practiced their outdoor skills within pathway lessons. We were all very impressed with the teamwork and communication skills shown!

Pupils have also taken part in a workshop with West Midlands Police all about social media, ways to stay safe online and how to manage our mental health.

This week we say goodbye to our Yr 11 pupils as they move on to the next exciting stage in their lives. They hve had a wonderful final week in school doing lots of fun activities including Drayton Manor, Prom and a special assembly. We are so proud of everything you have achieved and wish you the very best of luck for a bright future.

We’ve had a fabulous last week with our Year 11’s. Congratulations to every Year 11 pupil on reaching the end of their school journey. We’ve watched you grow academically and personally. You’ve overcome obstacles and challenges, we are extremely proud of you all. We know this is only the beginning of an exciting time ahead for you.

We hope everyone enjoyed the Prom on Thursday evening and Drayton Manor on Wednesday.

All Rivers had a visit from the Police on Thursday to discuss the most appropriate ways to use Social Media. This was a really useful session for pupils.

Year 9s and Yr10s also had a great trip Dunstal Race Course for a careers Fair. They even had some free gifts!

Last week’s attendance figure was 92.51%, which is a great improvement , but slightly lower than the national average. This term we are hoping that you will support us in improving this figure.

It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected, we will be communicating with.

This term we will be monitoring closely absence trends, particularly recurring Monday and Friday absences from school..

Well done to Trees 5 HDN, Tress 4 EAL , Rivers 1 KFL and Trees 2 SLN, for all for achieving 100% attendance last week.

School attendance is vital for every one of our pupils and is something we track closely on a day-to-day basis. So please lets all work together to improve our whole school figure.

Thank you for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

Some of you may recognise Mrs Thompson from outside the school gates, but she now also works for a wonderful community organisation called Dudley Voices For Choices. They are a user led charitable organisation that supports people with learning disabilities and autism to speak up for themselves.

Dudley Voices For choices came into school today to deliver age appropriate workshops on topics such as online safety, criminal age of responsibility and hate crimes.

The session was received well by all the pupils and they fully engaged in all parts of the conversation and even shared experiences.

During the summer holidays, without the distraction of school, internet usage for many young people can increase all the way up to September.

This guide is designed to help parents with a realistic approach to help keep their children safe when using the internet, social media and playing online games. Please click to view

LA Edwards, author, famous for writing children's stories, come in to talk to children about her book called 'Hattie's Garden. The pupils asked questions and found out about what it takes to be a good writer.

The RNLI spoke to Trees pupils about the importance of water safety leading up to our summer break. We always invite them in at this time of year and we would like to think it goes a long way to avoiding potential accidents.

Forest school has seen Trees 5 pupils engaging in fire making in a safe and controlled manner. Fire safety was also covered.

Trees 1 spent some time finding out about thunder and lightning.

Trees 6 visited Baddesley Clinton, part of the National Trust and had a great tour around the house finding out all manner of things about this historical venue. The Gruffalo enjoyed the day too!

Trees 4 and Trees 8 have been getting green fingers and doing some planting making our outside spaces beautiful to look at.

Trees 3, continuing the nature theme have been making leaf silhouettes.

Pupils across Hills and Rivers took part in a Duke of Edinburgh expedition and practised their skills of map reading, teamwork and resilience. Staff were really impressed by the positive attitudes demonstrated by all pupils.

Life Skills lessons have been providing pupils with the opportunity to develop their knowledge of food handling and hygiene. Lots of pupils have enjoyed some delicious hot dogs this week!

Pupils in Hills 1-4 have been tapping into their creative sides and taking part in drama perfomances as part of their study of Romeo and Juliet within English lessons. We have seen some amazing speeches and scenes being performed.

Hills have had a really positive start to this half term. Well done everyone!

This week pupils who came first, second and third in Sutton Stage Stars had he chance to go to Drayton Manor as a reward. Staff and pupils had an amazing day in the sun, experiencing all of the rides.

We would like to say a special well done to two of our students who have completed their GCSEs this week. We are extremely proud of their hard work and dedication.

T1 and T2 made green Mental Health awareness ribbons to recognise this important issue.

T4 and T8 have been making puff pastry snails!

Djembe drums have been drumming around the phase as part of our music lessons.

T5 made camps and shelters in Woodland lessons.

T2 practised their photography skills in the woodland area. Some great pictures were taken, see the picture above.

The recent sunny weather has allowed pupils to spend more time learning outdoors and we have had a busy fortnight full of wonderful activties.

Pupils in Hills 1 have been sharpening their racket skills by taking part in sessions at Wall Heath Tennis Club, which they are very much enjoying.

Hills 2 took a trip to Hillcroft nursing home as part of their volunteering unit for Duke of Edinburgh. The pupils made cards for the residents and did some cold baking with them. Staff and the residents at Hillcroft were very grateful for the visit. Pupil behaviour was excellent, and they interacted respectfully with the elderly. Fantastic work, Hills 2!

Hills 3 have been working on their practical maths skills in our outdoor learning environments, practising map skills, compass points, measuring and teamwork.

Hills 4 visited Himley Park for their Duke of Edinburgh expedition. They walked around the lake and spotted ducklings and bird nests. They walked the edge of baggeridge and enjoyed a well-deserved drink and snack at the end!

Hills 5 and 6 worked together to complete a litter pick around the school grounds. They worked incredibly hard and were very proud of how tidy everywhere was once they had finished!

Pupils had the chance to learn about the uniform and kit the West Midlands Police wear and use. Pupils loved having the chance to try on some of the kit, whilst asking question to help their knowledge of our local services.

Some of our Performing Arts Dance team were able to visit Woodsetton School to work along side pupils and show off their skills. Staff were very impressed!

Good luck to our pupils that will be taking their GCSEs next week!

The coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, took place on 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.

Sutton School we actively support British values and institutions such as the monarchy through our curriculum and wider activities.

The children were learning about the monarchy and some royal traditions. They also partook in making crowns which they wore to the party which was fit for a king and enjoyed the ice cream van.

The whole school’s summer terms attendance figure so far is 92.80%, which is a great improvement , but slightly lower than the national average. This term we are hoping that you will support us in improving this figure.

It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected, we will be communicating with.

This term we will be monitoring closely absence trends, particularly recurring Monday and Friday absences from school. On Friday 5th May 2023 there was a staggering 22 sessions of learning being missed.

Well done to Trees 1 IHR ,Trees 2 SLN, Trees 4 DVN for all for achieving 100% attendance last week.

School attendance is vital for every one of our pupils and is something we track closely on a day-to-day basis. So please lets all work together to improve our whole school figure.

Thank for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

Let’s Get Healthy Dudley is a Free service in Dudley that provides an integrated, community centred lifestyle service. It is available to individuals who live, work or are registered with a GP in the Dudley Borough. It aims to promote and protect both the physical and mental wellbeing of the population.

The programme offers a range of lifestyle support, all accessible via one telephone number, allowing easier access for individuals who want to make lifestyle changes.

Let’s Get Healthy services are FREE and on the website have a wide range of information from healthy eating guidance and recipes to bereavement advice.

Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.

Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems we can face. In a recent mental health survey we carried out around stress, anxiety and hopelessness over personal finances, a quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time. Six in ten adults feel this way, at least some of the time. On a positive note, anxiety can be made easier to manage.

Focusing on anxiety for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people's awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. At the same time, we will keep up the pressure to demand change - making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole

I was thrilled to join the Mental Health Foundation earlier this year, having worked in health policy all my life. Many of us have struggled with our mental health in recent years, and it feels like there’s never been a more important time to support and protect our mental well-being.

The Mental Health Foundation’s approach – preventing mental health problems before they happen and supporting everyone to thrive – really resonates with me. And the icing on the cake is being part of Mental Health Awareness Week! I have joined in with Mental Health Awareness Week for many years and am delighted to now be part of making it happen.

This year for Mental Health Awareness Week we are focusing on anxiety. We all feel anxious from time to time. Anxiety is a natural response to the uncertain world around us. For example, in the cost of living crisis crisis, more than a third of adults feeling anxious about their financial situation. But it’s important that we recognise and respond when we feel anxious, so that our anxiety doesn’t become overwhelming.

In school we work closely with who are a Mental Health Support Team (MHST). The service aims to help increase access to mental health support for children and young people in schools. Working alongside Reflectio9sn we are running 3 parent workshops in the month of June to help support children and their families who suffer/ want to understand how to help those with mental health issues. The workshops will be held in school on:

Monday 5th June 2023 - Sleep hygiene

Monday 12th June 2023- Low Moods

Monday 19th June 2023 - Anxiety.

All sessions will last approximately 1 hour.

Trees 1 wrote to Marco Longhi MP about pollution in the sea and received a lovely letter of commendation back, well done! He visited us to talk about different types of pollution, which he is passionate about.

Trees 6 had a fabulous trip to a great resource which is right on our doorstep! Cosford Museum is full of exciting exhibits and the children loved exploring the displays and learning about history.

For work related learning, Trees 5 visited Lunch on The Run, a local eatery, and met with past pupils who now work there and talked to them about having a job.

Trees 3 have spent time in the woodland learning about the wonderful flora and fauna of our country and locality.

It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back into school after our Easter break and to hear all about what pupils have been up to!

Just before the Easter holidays, Hills 1-4 took part in a Boccia tournament and Hills 1 were the overall winners. Well done, everyone!

Hills 4 took part in some work experience at DPD and had a great time selling a range of products they have made. Well done for all your hard work!

Hills 3 have been enjoying reading our new novel ‘Framed’ and have been producing some excellent diary entries from the perspective of different characters.

Hills 5 and 6 have been learning all about gases in their science lessons and showed off their skills and understanding by blowing into some water to create bubbles!

The pupils enjoyed a fantastic workshop last Thursday where they had the opportunity to work with an education theatre company Loudmouth. Loudmouth offered a 'Calling it Out Workshop' and through drama performances and discussions raised awareness of healthy relationships and harmful sexual behaviours which is essential as we prepare our pupils as they approach adulthood. Well done to everyone who took part!

We featured Kel’s Easter Bonnets in our 24th March newsletter. Kelly has been hand crafting Easter bonnets in the bid to raise money for a charity which is close to her heart, which is the Williams Syndrome Charity. Williams Syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that occurs randomly and affects around one in 18,000 people in the UK. It is non-hereditary and causes distinctive facial characteristics and a wide range of learning difficulties. Infants often have delayed development and can develop physical and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression in later life.  People tend to be talkative and excessively friendly towards adults.

Kelly has finally hung up her glue gun with much success and she has sold a whopping 492 bonnets and donated £800 to Williams Syndrome foundation and Make a wish.

Kelly would like to say thank the wider Sutton community for all the support.

Welcome back, we are hoping for a really positive Summer term attendance wise. The whole school’s spring term attendance figure was 90.24%, which was a great improvement from the the Autumn term, but slightly lower than the national average, this term we are hoping that you will support us in improving this figure.

It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected, we will be communicating with.

This term we will be monitoring closely absence trends, imparticulary recurring Monday and Friday absences from school. On Friday 21st April 2023 there was a staggering 32 sessions missed equates to 10.12% of our pupils being absent on that day.

Well done to Rivers 2 SPL ,Trees 2 SLN, Trees 6 PDM and Tress8 AAS for all for achieving 100% attendance last week, and Trees phase achieving an overall attendance rate of 92.34% , well done.

School attendance is vital for every one of our pupils and is something we track closely on a day-to-day basis. We only have a few weeks left before the Easter holidays, so please lets all work together to improve our whole school figure.

Thank for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

Michael, our school mentor has been apart of the Sutton School community since January 2023 and already we have seen some fantastic results.

Mentoring aims to build confidence and relationships, to develop resilience and character, or raise aspirations, rather than to develop specific academic skills or knowledge.

Mentors typically build relationships with young people ( mentees) by meeting with them one to one for about an hour a week over a sustained period, during school hours.

In some approaches mentors may meet with their mentees in small groups which Michael has been doing on a weekly basis with cross section of pupils.

Parental controls allow you to block and filter upsetting or inappropriate content. They work across your WiFi, phone network, individual apps and devices.

Parental controls can help you to:

• plan what time of day your child can go online and how long for

• create content filters to block apps that may have inappropriate content

• manage the content different family members can see.

Please Click to review the content.

Trees 1 wrote to Marco Longhi MP about pollution in the sea and received a lovely letter of commendation back, well done! He visited us to talk about different types of pollution, which he is passionate about.

Trees 6 had a fabulous trip to a great resource which is right on our doorstep! Cosford Museum is full of exciting exhibits and the children loved exploring the displays and learning about history.

For work related learning, Trees 5 visited Lunch on The Run, a local eatery, and met with past pupils who now work there and talked to them about having a job.

Trees 3 have spent time in the woodland learning about the wonderful flora and fauna of our country and locality.

It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back into school after our Easter break and to hear all about what pupils have been up to!

Just before the Easter holidays, Hills 1-4 took part in a Boccia tournament and Hills 1 were the overall winners. Well done, everyone!

Hills 4 took part in some work experience at DPD and had a great time selling a range of products they have made. Well done for all your hard work!

Hills 3 have been enjoying reading our new novel ‘Framed’ and have been producing some excellent diary entries from the perspective of different characters.

Hills 5 and 6 have been learning all about gases in their science lessons and showed off their skills and understanding by blowing into some water to create bubbles!

Year 9 pupils across our phase have had the fantastic opportunity to visit the DPD offices in Oldbury to take part in some work experience. Pupils handmade items to sell which they were then able to sell to staff during their lunch break.

Stock went very quickly, which meant pupil had the task of replenishing orders as soon as possible.

It was really great to see two previous pupils from Sutton School who both work at DPD. They were very proud to see their previous school coming to their workplace!

Easter half term has quickly arrived! It’s a break for the kids to refresh and rejuvenate after a long term at school! We understand that parents can sometimes struggle with finding family-friendly activities to entertain the kids. We can help, especially if you’re looking for FREE half-term activities – we’ve got the some ideas.

Free swimming is returning for children in the borough over the school holidays – but youngsters will now have to be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or above.

The offer will be available at all of our leisure centres - the new Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre in Dudley, Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge and Halesowen Leisure Centre.

Free swimming will run from Saturday 1 April to Sunday 16 April inclusive, and any child aged 16 or under, living in the borough can sign up by Clicking this link .

Go Wild at Dudley Zoo with all the family!

Hundreds of exotic and endangered animals inhabit a 40 acre ancient wooded hillside around the ruins of the 11th century Dudley Castle. Come face to face with free roaming lemurs, feed rainbow lorikeets, meet friends on the farm and look out for ghosts in the 11th century castle. There’s plenty of opportunities to Go Wild at Dudley Zoo! Click here to find out more on what they have to offer.

It will not be too long before the summer holidays are here, so why not register for your HAF code now.

This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to Year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals.

Benefits-related free school meals (FSM) are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, and have a claim verified by their school or local authority. Link

The whole school’s spring term attendance figure was 90.24%, which is a great improvement from the the Autumn term, but slightly lower than the national average. It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected, we will be communicating with.

Well done to Trees8 ASS for achieving 97% attendance this spring, and Trees 4 DVN for achieving 95.6% Well done to both classes for being our attendance champions last week!

School attendance is vital for every one of our pupils and is something we track closely on a day-to-day basis. We only have a few weeks left before the Easter holidays, so please lets all work together to improve our whole school figure.

Thank for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

At Sutton, we appreciate and support the creative arts. One of the most fun and educational activities you can do, is take your children to the theatre. It's an enriching cultural activity that promotes self-expression, creativity and teamwork. Your children will absorb these values for their personal lives.

Places are running out fast so please Click to book.

A massive well done to all our pupils that took part in Sutton Stage Stars 2023!

A huge congratulations to ‘The Brass Band’ who were the competition winners! The band performed a wonderful rendition of Brick in the Wall, by the artist Pink Floyd. These students have strengthened their social bonds through playing together in a weekly basis, and are shining examples of what can be achieved.

We would also like to say a massive thankyou to Miss Mascall, for her creative and directive skills.

Mrs J Charles-Drake - Costumes, Hair and Makeup

Mrs R Foley -Scenery, Props and Film Editing

Mrs S Billings -Choreographer

Mrs Morgan -Merchandise and Costume Assistant

Miss H Allen -Box Office

Mr Z Fellows - Voice Recordings

As part of their Pathway sessions, River’s students have been learning how to do (CPR).

We had the lovely Julie and Kaye from West Midlands Ambulance Service come into the school to deliver the training.

At a young age, children are curious and open to new experiences. As such, their early years are the perfect time to introduce them to healthy habits—like recycling. The importance of recycling is well documented and the subject of innumerable campaigns worldwide; however, we’d like to take the time to remind you why it’s especially critical to be teaching kids about recycling as soon as possible, both for themselves and for the sake of the global society they will inherit.

As part of the the schools DofE awards, the pupils have to help and in the community. This terms topic was recycling and reusable plastics. The pupils collected crisps packets which were attached together and made into blankets for those who are homeless.

Well done everybody for a successful spring term! We have seen pupils making excellent progress in their learning, undertaking a wide variety of trips including volunteering and then ending the term with yet another wonderful show at Brierley Hill Civic. Sometimes in the cold weather and dark mornings, the spring term can seem quite long, but as I walk around the school today, I’m pleased that both staff and pupils alike are still smiling and productively engaged in learning. School attendance remains a focus for all schools and I’m able to report that this has improved as the term has progressed. I’m hoping that the summer term, with your support and its light mornings, should see further improvement.

Today, I recognise the benefit a holiday will bring our pupils, I always think the Easter break is one of my favourites as it comes with all the promise of spring, longer and warmer days and the summer to follow. I would therefore like to wish you all a pleasant Easter and hope that opportunity to pause and recharge batteries is forthcoming.

With kindest regards, Ian Curnow

We are all aware that all our children who attend Sutton School have some amazing talents. We would like to share with you the amazing talents of one our parents, Kelly.

Kelly has been hand crafting Easter bonnets in the bid to raise money for a charity which is close to her heart, which is the Williams Syndrome Charity. Williams Syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that occurs randomly and affects around one in 18,000 people in the UK. It is non-hereditary and causes distinctive facial characteristics and a wide range of learning difficulties. Infants often have delayed development and can develop physical and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression in later life.  People tend to be talkative and excessively friendly towards adults.

This year, Kelly is hoping to raise £800 more to give to the Make a Wish Foundation and the Williams Syndrome Foundation, as her son Matthew suffers from the genetic condition. With the support from the article in the Express and star , Sutton School and the wider community, we are sure that she will smash her target.

Our pupils have really enjoyed looking at the display of bonny bonnets at school, and some have even been purchased.

If you wish to purchase any of theses wonderful bonnets and most importantly make a donation to a fantastic click on the link below.

Kel's bonnets

The whole school attendance figure was 92.08%, which is a great improvement, but slightly lower than the national average. It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected we will be communicating with.

Well done to Hills 1 ETH for achieving 100% attendance last week, with HILLS 2 RSN following close behind with 97.8%. Well done to both classes for being our attendance champions last week!

School attendance is vital for every one of our pupils and is something we track closely on a day-to-day basis. We only have a few weeks left before the Easter holidays, so please lets all work together to improve our whole school figure.

Thank for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

At this drop-in event, attendees will be able to browse through a 'provider market place', have an opportunity to talk face to face with providers organisations and services from across the local authority, health, voluntary and third sectors and find out what Dudley has to support children, young people and their families.

This is for anyone who supports or works with babies (including pre-birth), children young people and their families.

Our vision is for Dudley to be a wonderful place for children and young people to grow up. We are aspiring to be Child Friendly Dudley. It takes all of us to raise a child, where we understand that all people and partners need to work together to create an environment where children and young people can flourish help them face life’s challenges; and realise their hopes and dreams.

Let’s give our children and young people a fair chance in life by keeping them:

• Safe, cared for, healthy, happy, educated, valued, welcomed.

• In an environment full of fun and opportunity, where they have a say.

We know there is a depth and breadth of support available for children and young people across the borough from the public, private independent and voluntary sectors. However, understanding exactly what is available at any given time isn't always so easy, particularly when this support is usually required at the time of crisis.

There will also be opportunities to attend a number of seminars throughout the day.

Refreshments and lunch will be available on the day.

Click on the here to book a place.

Digital platforms have made it easier for anyone to share information online, and it can be difficult to determine whether something is real or false.

What a young person sees online can shape how they view the world and impact their overall wellbeing. It’s important to talk to them about how misinformation spreads and how to look out for it.

Inside the Parent fact sheet you will find some very useful tips on how to distinguish between real and fake news.

On 2 March, we celebrated World Book Day. Look at this lovely picture of our pupils and staff all dressed up!

Trees 6 have been doing work to support children from Ukraine.

Trees 1 have concluded their volunteering experience as Reading Buddies for the Duke of Edinburgh Award preparation.

Trees 3 have been making treasure maps as part of their Topic coverage.

All of Trees have been working hard with the music teacher from DPA on their recorder practice.

Hills 5 and 6 held a plant sale this week and practised their skills of communication, handling money and working together as a team. Pupils were very polite and professional and all of their customers were very impressed!

Hills 3 and 4 took part in a visit to Halesowen College and were able to explore what college life might be like. Pupils were mature, sensible and asked some great questions.

A number of pupils across Hills took part in a visit to The Black Country Living Museum as part of National Science Week. They had a great time exploring the use of different chemicals, conducting experiments and even had the chance to create a small explosion using gunpowder!

To celebrate Science week, on Thursday 16th March, pupils had the chance to meet a range of animals when we had a visit from the Animal Man! What a wonderful collection of animals, insects and birds we got to see. The interactive animal presentations covered a wide variety of topics from classification, which animals were endangered species, habitats, which animals were nocturnal, as well as stories and fun facts. Pupils got the chance to see a skunk, an owl, snakes and giant cockroaches!

Some of our pupils went on a visit to our local gardening centre to collect fruit trees.

You can save money, as fresh fruits and vegetables can be pricey. Part of their expense is due to the fact that produce is often shipped from remote countries to local supermarkets. When you grow your own produce, you cut down on these transportation expenses and on the middleman . Not only does this save money, but reducing the need for transportation benefits the environment. Keep in mind that if you’re not careful, you can end up throwing money away when you garden. The costs of plants or seeds, containers, soil, and other supplies can be costly if you don’t plan judiciously!

You can consume more nutrient-rich produce. It’s easier to consume fruits and vegetables when you have them on hand, than when you have to run to the store for them. Because they’re freshly picked, they haven’t lost as many nutrients as vegetables that were picked days, weeks, or even months before reaching grocery store shelves. Children who loath eating their veggies may be more eager to eat them if they’ve been able to watch them grow.

Our children are raised in an era characterised by instant gratification. It is so good for children to experience the process of gardening—planting seeds, watching plants grow, weeding, watering, picking produce, etc. This process teaches children to wait and work hard for an outcome. It’s also good for children to understand and appreciate the origins of the food they eat. Many children don’t know that milk comes from cows or that chips come from potatoes that grow in the ground. Growing a garden can help your child learn about food sources.

All the staff at Sutton School were delighted to open the doors again to our amazing pupils, after the half term break. We know getting back into a routine after a school holiday can be a challenging, and we thank you for your continuous efforts and support.

The whole school attendance figure was 91.69%, which is a great improvement, but slightly lower than the national average. It is the parent’s legal responsibility to get your child to school, and those parents whose child’s attendance rate is below the expected we will be communicating with.

Well done to Trees 4 DVN for achieving 100% attendance last week, with Rivers 3 DDM following close behind with 98.3%. Well done to both classes for being our attendance champions last week.

School attendance is vital for every one of our pupils and is something we track closely on a day-to-day basis.

Thank for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to Miss McPherson, our Family Liaison Officer, who will be able to help you.

Black Country Foodbank helps vulnerable individuals and families in crisis, through the provision of emergency food and toiletry supplies, while a longer-term solution is developed. The services they provide have an enormous impact on the people who use them, giving them an important breathing space at a time of great need.

All the donations of food and toiletries come from local churches, schools, individuals and corporate donors. Through the donations local organisations can play a huge part in directly helping those in need.

In addition to emergency food parcels BCFB also work with ‘Partner Projects’ who are community focused organisations who provide one off events or regular events such as soup kitchens. BCFB can often provide any items that we have in abundance and are close to their use by date.

Sutton School will now be working alongside this fantastic organisation and we will be able to make foodbank referrals in school. If this is a service that you need please do not hesitate to contact the school and ask to speak to Miss McPherson, Mrs Charles or Mrs Baker.

Foodbank

Place2Be website offers some important resources for parents and carers

This Parenting Smart site is filled with a number of resources for parents and carers of 4-11 year olds. The latest articles on supporting healthy gaming habits, developing a child's talent and safe social media for younger children can all be read or watched in under ten minutes. These are perfect for those with limited time.

Click the link to access the information.

Parenting smart site

On 2 March, we celebrated World Book Day. Look at this lovely picture of our pupils and staff all dressed up!

Trees 6 have been doing work to support children from Ukraine.

Trees 1 have concluded their volunteering experience as Reading Buddies for the Duke of Edinburgh Award preparation.

Trees 3 have been making treasure maps as part of their Topic coverage.

All of Trees have been working hard with the music teacher from DPA on their recorder practice.

Hills 5 and 6 have been working hard in Maths this week to add coins to a written value through role playing shops.

We all took part in World Book Day and had a wonderful time dressing up and celebrating reading! Well done to everyone for all your effort and participation throughout the day.

Hills 4 have been working hard on producing materials for the school show. Watch this space…

Pupils in Rivers had the opportunity to take part in a careers fair at the end of last term. They had mock interviews and met with different employers including DPD, hairdresser and building firms. Throughout the day pupils spent some time learning about different careers and how they could do these.

As many of you have noticed by now, the British flag has been erected in the school playground as a visual reminder of how important British Values are at Sutton School; it also serves as a strategy for embedding these values in the way we learn, think and socialise.

A reminder of these values are:

• Democracy

• The rule of law

• Individual liberty

• Mutual respect

• Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

At the end of this term, the schools whole school attendance figure is 89.93%, which is slightly lower than the national average.

Well done to Trees 1 IHR , Trees 4 DVN ,Trees 8 AAS , Rivers 1 KFL and Rivers 2SPL for all achieving over 90% attendance this half term.

School attendance is vital for everyone of our pupils and is something we track closely on a day-to-day basis.

Thank for your continued support to ensure attendance remains strong. Should you have any attendance difficulties please do speak to A McPherson our Family Liaison Officer who will be able to help you.

With 250 acres of space, lakes for watersports, a sports hall as well as classroom space and all the adventure activities you’d expect, Boreatton Park is a popular choice with school groups from all over the UK.

This opportunity is open to all students as we believe it will be an enriching experience with a memory that lasts a life time.

This experience will begin on Monday 3rd July 2023- Friday 7th July 2023 and will cost £450.

Information about the experience has already been sent out to parents however if you do wish to discuss please contact the school office.

We are delighted to offer a FREE Breakfast provision in school for our children.

The breakfast, that is provided by the National School Breakfast Programme runs from 08:20-08:40 each morning. Breakfast includes a bagel spread with soft spread

The National School Breakfast Programme is funded by the Department for Education and run by Family Action to support schools in England to provide children with a healthy breakfast at the start of the school day.

Family Action is committed to supporting child development, and believe a healthy school breakfast, without barrier or stigma, can set up children to succeed and give them the very best chance to learn.

In a normal school year, schools are open just over half the year (taking into account weekends and school holidays). This means even where breakfast is available within school, children are still having breakfast at home almost 50% of the time. Below you will find tips, ideas, information, recipes, videos and quizzes to make breakfast time an easy part of your morning routine at home.

https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/children-families/food/breakfast-support/breakfast-at-home/

Last week in Trees 4 and Trees 8, as part of our Turrets and Tiara’s topic, we have been making our own soap using soap base and soap fragrances. During the Medieval period people rarely washed, but when they did they used soap made of animal fat and tree ash! This week, to finish our Medieval topic, we made our own 'peasant' dish; vegetable soup, made from scratch and then enjoyed it with warm crusty bread. Yummy !

Trees 1 are continuing with Reading Buddies, as part of their volunteering skills for Duke of Edinburgh. We have been helping children read across Year 7 and 8.

Trees 3 have acted out the Battle of Hastings and dressed up, and made fires as part of Duke of Edinburgh.

On Wednesday 22 March 2023, Sutton pupils will be learning all about China! During China Discovery Day, pupils will look at the Chinese language, arts, culture and food; there'll also be opportunities to dress up and be creative. Please await further details about the day.

On 10th February Trees 1 visited St Augustine’s Church at Holly Hall. We learnt about the altar, pulpit, the stained glass windows and christenings.

Over the last 6 weeks the salon apprentices in Hills have been learning about the science of hair, it's structure and how to maintain it as part of their Hair and Beauty qualification.

During their lessons they get to apply the theory by inviting peers to have their hair professionally shampooed at our 'Salon Backwash'. They practice their techniques and ensure that the students receive a quality experience.

The girls have grown in confidence during this half term and it has been so wonderful to stand back and watch them in action!

Hills 1 and 2 have spent an afternoon at Halesowen College this week, exploring college life and the courses on offer.

Hills 3 and 4 enjoyed a trip to see a production of Peter Pan in aid of Mary Stevens Hospice. Pupils behaved impeccably and had a great time!

HIlls 5 and 6 have had a delicious time in Maths, using food to help them identify a half. They were very enthusiastic about using sandwiches and donuts to demonstrate equal and unequal parts of different shapes. Then they used sweets to help them calculate half of a quantity up to 20. Great work!

All pupils have had the opportunity to take part in work experience as part of their work-related learning module. Pupils have been selling items they have made at a pop-up shop at Provision House in Dudley.

This has given them the opportunity to interact with the general public, practising their communication and money skills.

All pupils who have attended have enjoyed these sessions and learned some new skills.