We have had positive feedback from parents about the car drop off. A quick note that if you are dropping off by car please be thoughtful to other drivers and pull close into the curb side. I have been in touch with our local police and it is acceptable to pause on the zig-zags so please prep your children to be ready to exit quickly and safely.

It has been another busy week of learning here at school…

Year R are starting to get a little tired but we have been SO IMPRESSED by their kindness for one another. They are such a supportive team of children and a pleasure to teach. Miss Smith and our supply LSA Miss Hunt are so pleased with their ongoing development. Keep it up Year R and lots of early nights now it is getting further on in the term.

Year 1 are learning about how minibeasts adapt to their environment and we have set up an experiment to test out our theories.

Year 2 have been debating during our history lessons; what was Florence Nightingale’s most important change to the nursing profession? Lots of fervent opinions and great ideas!

Year 3 are budding cookery writers. They have been writing creative recipes for the best pumpkin soup.

Year 4 are learning about animals and their diets. Like Year 1, they have looked at evolution as they have analysed diets and adaptions in the animals’ teeth.

Year 5 were decoding Roman numerals and tackling number puzzles confidently using their knowledge.

Year 6 have wowed their teachers (and themselves) with their written work this week. They are enjoying a wonderful Shakespearean afternoon today to inspire them even further! The weather seems very appropriate for Macbeth!

It is going to be a soggy weekend everyone so I hope that some autumn comfort is in your plans…roast dinners, family films, and it’s the ideal weekend to perfect your family favourite recipe for the PTFA Recipe Book - click here to find out how your delicious recipe can be included.

Mrs Pinchess, Headteacher

 

COVID UPDATES

We sent out a document last week for parents to take a peek at what is happening in school this term. In case you missed it, it can be found in our COVID section by clicking here.  

 

THANK YOU TO…

…Mandy Lanning for taking some amazing photos during the CMSports session this week

…the Ince family for the lovely reading books

…the Cavell family for the super chapter books

...the Ormond family for the wonderful craft supplies

 

YEAR R FOR 2021

We are now taking bookings for one-to-one showrounds for those parents looking at school places for next year. If you know someone who is interested in school places please ask them to contact the office to sign up.

 

PE UPDATES FROM OUR NEW PE LEADER

Hello everyone, in case we have not met my name is Miss Wiggins and I am delighted to have taken up the PE baton and have lots of exciting plans for PE at school this year. We have already started the year with a PE bang! I am pleased to say that I have sourced new equipment for the children to use (the staff are all under strict instructions to keep the PE shed today this year so we can all enjoy using it!) and making sure that what we use is being done safely inside and outside with COVID expectations. I have worked hard with the SLT to ensure that PE remains a key priority this year so children can keep fit and really enjoy their two lessons of PE a week. We are doing everything we can to maintain the super level of sport at Bentley, the ‘Sprint to Sitahuma’ (see below) is a great way to stay active as a school. I look forward to sharing the news of the progress and when we can return to external competition, we will be the first to be there!

The junior bubble is working on their basketball skills with the class teacher every week and improving on team play through football with CM Sports every Wednesday.

The infant bubble is working on multi-skills with their class teacher every week and on a Wednesday with CM Sports they are practising team work through football.

As you can imagine it is a lot harder to set up competitions for the children, however at the end of every term the children will compete in a junior or infant interschool competition to maintain the competition experience and to put all their new skills to the test.

A reminder that all PE kit should remain in school (with the exception of year 6) and the children really have the correct kit for the lesson (stated on the school website);

- White t-shirt and green PE shorts/or green or black skorts for everyday PE lessons

- House colour t-shirt for House events in Red/Blue/Green/Yellow according to colour of House with green shorts.

- Trainers and a change of sports socks for outdoor PE lessons (please supply a plastic bag in case the trainers get muddy), indoor lessons will be done barefoot. The socks need to be short and white.

- Black or green tracksuit bottoms/leggings can be provided in the colder half terms, but please substitute them where possible as we lack space to store them.

- School jumpers will be worn at school and no separate jumper is required, certainly NO hooded jumpers as this creates a hazard.

- Plain black, white or green football/hockey socks.

We are delighted so many children are in external teams but we request no team kit is used in school for PE lessons as children do need to follow the set Bentley uniform. We have our own special green Bentley kit which we use for competitions. 

 

SPRINT TO SITAHUMA

A new year must mean a new PE challenge! This year we are aiming to reach our school friends in Sitahuma in The Gambia by running there (virtually), which is 3,359 miles. The children are all ready to take on the challenge. We will be completing this challenge as a whole school team, adding up our miles each week as we try to run to our target.

Will C, our Year 6 Sports Ambassador, is helping me gather the laps recorded and track our progress. He says; “I think the whole school challenge is a great idea because it will get us fit after six months of quarantine. The sprint to Sitahuma challenge involves all classes running twice a week for five minutes and eighteen laps equals one mile, we have a lot of laps to run!”

The challenge was introduced to the children this week, however the teachers kept track of their class laps last week so we could get off the starting mark, and so far we have run 183 miles and made it into France. The children can track our progress on the map in the foyer every week and we aim to reach Sitahuma by the end of the year! We can do it!

You can get involved at home by walking, running and getting fit however you want to – you might even want to set your own family target? We will keep you updated on our school running progress too and appreciate your support. 

 

Data Collection

Each year we send home a copy of the data we hold for your child at the school office.  This includes address, date of birth, medical information and a list of contacts.  These will come home early next week.  Please look at the information, make any necessary changes, sign the form in the space provided on the back, and return in the envelope either in your child's book bag or in the Office Daily Collection Box, which can be found at the school entrance each day.  Please return your signed form by 9th October at the latest.

It is vital you check the telephone numbers are correct as it is these we use to contact you in an emergency.

 

Christmas Cards

It’s that time of year again to don the Santa hats and begin thinking about Christmas!  In school the children have been busy making their Christmas cards ready for you to order and receive in time for the big day. 

This year the order process is having to run slightly differently as, unfortunately, we are unable to invite you into school to view the cards as usual.  Instead, your child’s card and order form will come home on Monday 5^th October.  If you would like to purchase your child’s card, please clearly complete the order form (with card attached) and return it in the envelope to your child’s class teacher by Friday 9^th October at the latest.  We will be asking for online payment this year via Scopay.

Orders received without payment or orders placed after Friday 9^th October will not be processed. 

Price List (this is also included on the order form): 

• Pack of 12 cards - £5.50 
• Mug - £6.50 
• 2 x A1 sheets wrapping paper - £5 
• 16 adhesive gift labels - £2.50 
• Value pack (2 x pack of 12 cards, 1 x pack of 16 labels) - £10 
• Bumper pack (2 x pack of 12 cards, 2 x pack of 16 labels, 2 x sheets A1 wrapping paper) - £20 

Cauliflower Cards pay a small percentage of your order to the school.  This year, your orders are even more vital to us as a school as we are unable to hold our annual fundraising events such as the bonfire and Christmas Fair.

We really do appreciate all your support and look forward to receiving your completed orders in the next week. 

Merry Christmas everyone!! 

Mrs Miffling, Deputy Headteacher 

 

Click here for to find out what's happening at school next week