Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another busy week in school!

Lenten Challenge

Our whole school Lenten Challenge has begun and the children are running for five minutes each day, in an attempt to get fitter over Lent while also being sponsored to raise money for the people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The sponsor forms and details of the Lenten Challenge have been sent home in the children’s reading packets today. Please do continue the 5 minute runs over the weekend if you can and upload photographs into Google Classroom that we can share in assemblies.

Y2 Assembly

Our Y2 class led a beautiful assembly on Tuesday. Their theme was ‘rules’ and the children explored the idea that when rules are broken Jesus taught us to say sorry and forgive. They recognised that this is not always easy but that Lent is a time for a fresh start for everyone. Thank you to Y2 and the Y2 staff team!

Y3 Safer Walking

This week our Y3 children have been learning how to cross roads and walk safely around our local area, led by the Borough Safer Walking Team. They were also shown how to use the pelican crossing on Queen’s Road. This seems a good time to remind all our children and families to please use the pelican crossing when coming to school through the Queen’s Road gate.

Parents’ Evenings

The booking system for Parents’ Evenings is now open and parents have until Friday 10th March to make their bookings. Please contact the school office if you are having difficulties making your booking and we will be happy to help.

Next Week

Book and Arts Week

We are all looking forward to Book and Arts Week next week. Over the course of the week, all classes will have an opportunity to work with our artists in residence. We are also very excited about our visit by the best-selling children’s author, Smriti Halls, taking place on Wednesday. Smriti Halls’ wonderful books explore children’s sense of identity and relationships with hope and optimism. Please do visit her website at https://www.smriti.co.uk/

Thank you to those who have already sent in their voluntary donation of £5 towards the cost of Book and Arts Week. If you have not already done so, we would appreciate this to be sent in to school on Monday.

Thank you too, to the parents who have volunteered to read stories in their home languages in assemblies next week.

Book Character Day

Book Character Day is taking place on Friday 10th March. On this day all children are invited to come to school dressed up as a favourite book character. If you would like some help finding a costume, please do contact your child’s classteacher as we have costumes in school that we can loan for the day. The school staff will be dressing up too on the day so do look out for them on the playground on Friday morning!

Y3 visit to Chiltern Open Air Museum

Y3 will be going to the Chiltern Open Air Museum on Monday 6th March. This is a fantastic visit where the children experience what life was like for people in the Stone Age and Bronze Age. Please make sure your child is wrapped up warmly for the visit as the weather is turning colder. Y3 children may wear their PE kits and trainers if they prefer on this day.

PE update from Mr Sagar

Both our boys’ and girls’ teams were in action against Deer Park School this week. The boys continued their winning streak with a 4 nil victory, to set up a league decider with St Richards. The girls got their first win of the season with a 3 nil victory! Well done footballers.

We have received confirmation of the swimming results from the borough gala. We are excited to report a strong performance from all our swimmers. The boys’ results placed them 4th in the medium schools’ category, with 3rd place medals also going to Matteo, Ollie and Esme. Well done to all our swimmers and coaches.

Quiz Night Thursday 9th March at 7:30pm

Parents, family members and friends are welcome to come to the PTA Quiz Night on Thursday 9th March. This is always a fun event so please see the separate flyer sent earlier today for details.

Upcoming dates

Monday 6th March – Y3 Visit to Chiltern Open Air Museum

Monday 6th March – Y6 Dodgeball tournament

Wednesday 8th March – Smriti Halls, visiting author in school.

Thursday 9th March – PTA Quiz Night

Friday 10th March – Book Character Day

Monday 13th March – Parents’ Evening

Tuesday 14th March – Parents’ Evening

Wednesday 15th March – possible industrial action by NEU

Thursday 16th March – possible industrial action by NEU

Congratulations to the following children who have received Values Awards today:

Y1 – Lois

Y2 – Yoma

Y3 – Charlotte

Y4 – Ava

Y5 – Alex

Y6T – Charlie

Y6A – Mia-Mai

Have a lovely weekend,

Kind regards,

Jane Hines