End of Week Newsletter

A Message from the Principal

I want to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of school attendance.

Regular school attendance is absolutely vital for a child’s success and is the single best factor in achieving their full potential. Every day spent in the classroom builds crucial knowledge, ensures mastery of core skills, and fosters the strong friendship and routines that support well-being. When a child misses school, they miss out on key learning steps that can be difficult to catch up on, ultimately hindering their academic progress, reducing their confidence and limiting their future life opportunities. Strong attendance is a shared responsibility and is essential for developing motivated, resilient and successful young people. The Academy target for attendance is 97% and whilst we understand that this won’t always be possible we must all be aware that absence will likely lead to less progress. Particularly, those students whose attendance is below 90%, classed as children who are persistently absent from school, have significantly less chance of securing grade 4 or above in their GCSEs. Let’s work together to build a culture of high attendance at Ipswich Academy.

Keep the date!

For those children who are recognised as having displayed all three of Paradigm’s values (integrity; community; excellence) by the end of June, there will be a special ceremony at Ipswich Academy on Friday 3 July, starting from 2:15pm. Parents/carers of children receiving awards will be invited to attend. We will confirm nearer the time if your child has been invited to the ceremony, along with additional details.

Christmas Toy Drive for Ipswich Hospital

We are so excited to announce that we have teamed up with REED IPSWICH again collecting toys for their annual Christmas Toy Drive for THE IPSWICH HOSPITAL CHILDREN’S WARD!

Our mission is to spread a little festive cheer and comfort to young patients and their families who will be spending Christmas in the hospital. We are asking members of the school community to donate what they can for children who won’t be at home this Christmas.

Here’s how you can help:

What to Donate
We are greatly appreciative of donations of any small toys, books, arts, and crafts. Here is a link to help: Amazon.co.uk 

IMPORTANT: TOYS MUST BE BRAND NEW, NOT PRE-LOVED.
This is a critical requirement for the hospital.

Donations Due
Please drop off all donations BEFORE 10th DECEMBER.

Drop-off Location
Donations should be handed into the School Reception (during school hours). Every single donation brings a smile to a child facing a difficult time. Thank you for helping us support these amazing young patients!

Useful Tips for Parents/Carers

Safeguarding

Be Aware of Substance Use:

If you find signs of alcohol or drugs, your teenager may be experimenting. Talk to them about the risks and encourage safe choices. If you’re worried, let the school know so we can arrange support.

Attendance

Encourage Positive Friendships:
Support your child in building healthy relationships with classmates. Children who feel socially connected are more likely to attend school regularly.

Reading/Literacy

Limit Screen Time, Increase Book Time:
Encourage your child to swap some screen time for reading. Explain how reading benefits them in school and helps expand their imagination.