Staff report it has been a lovely to take off facemasks on the playground and chat more easily by the photocopier again! We thank you for supporting us at school over the enforced facemask time but feel free to remove them outdoors now. Visitors into school will be asked to wear masks still whilst moving around until at least half term when we will review our risk assessment. We would ask you to continue to make appointments in advance of entering the building or buzz the office before coming into school, as we confirm Covid numbers are now reduced. Thank you for your support.

We have had a super week in school with lots of great learning going on. Mrs Miffling and Mrs Vogel conducted a whole school reading review on Tuesday and were delighted with progress and accuracy of pitch for teaching. Please continue to support your child at home with regular reading five times a week at least. Pupils can read their library book or a home book if they want to, but we would ask you to ensure they read aloud from their allocated reading book at least twice a week. 

We have all enjoyed ‘Wear what you like day’ and it has been great to see children enjoying lots of games and playtime fun as the weather has stayed dry. This time last year we had few children in school due to the lockdown and it was a tough time for many of them as they missed their friends. Ask your child “What has made you happy this week?” and find out what they are enjoying and appreciating about home and school in 2022!

Have a great weekend.

Mrs Katy Pinchess, Headteacher

 

Covid

We have updated our Risk Assessment in line with current needs - you can read it here.

 

Thank you …

… to the Edwards family for the delicious staff room treats – much appreciated!

… everyone who ordered from Cauliflower Cards - the Christmas cards, gift tags, mugs and wrapping paper you bought raised a grand total of £443.80 for our school funds!

…to the Annible family for the super books for the school library

… to Year 3 for the yummy cakes and biscuits at the sale – and to everyone who bought some helping them to raise over £108

… to everyone who donated cash or online for our ‘Wear what you want’ day today – you raised £367 for the PTFA

 

Improving your child’s writing skills

Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend Mrs Miffling’s information session this morning.  If you would like to view the materials used in the session, please click here.

 

My hair cut

“I had been thinking about getting my hair cut for a while. If I did it I thought it would be kind of me to donate my hair to the PRINCESS TRUST. They make wigs with your hair and give it to children who have cancer and don't have any hair.(and the grownups don't have to pay for them.)  I felt really excited to do it. The hairdresser cut my hair in a bob and I'm really happy with it, I hope I have made a little girl or boy's life better”. By Gemma, Year 5

What a lovely, generous thing to do - well done Gemma!

 

2022 – The Year of Music

We are really excited to be holding a drumming workshop in school on Friday as part of our 2022 - The Year of Music.  Each child will be given the opportunity to try either a Japanese Taiko drum or a Steel Pan drum under the tutelage of The Hampshire Music Service’s skilled musicians. Look out for more about this unique experience on Seesaw next week!

 

Governor Focus

Our Governing Body have a varied and important role play in helping the school run effectively.  They have three core functions; planning the strategic direction of the school, overseeing financial performance of the school and ensuring money is well spent, and holding the Headteacher to account.  The governor role is strategic rather than operational. Governors don’t get involved with the day to day running of a school, instead supporting and challenging the school’s leadership team to drive school improvement. Our governing body is made up of Local Authority, Diocese, Co-opted governors, each selected They meet each half term as a full governing body, and three smaller committees - Resources, Standards & Curriculum, and Personnel - also meet each half term. We currently have 16 members of our governing body.  Nick Austin is our Chair…

“I am the Local Education Authority Governor, and have been a governor of the school since 2002. I was a headteacher of a primary school myself, and I still run an education consultancy, so have a lifetime of working in the education sector. My own children attended the school many years ago which was why I joined the governing body in the first place. Whilst the school has of course changed enormously over the years, it has to my mind, always been at the heart of the community and has always had the best interests of the children whoever the staff, headteacher and governors have been. Results have consistently been excellent and all the governors and headteachers that I have had the pleasure to work with have been clear that the school should stay true to its values and offer children a rich variety of fantastic experiences in their primary years. It has been a real privilege to have been associated with the school, and to have helped to shape its development over these last twenty years.

I have always been a sports enthusiast, and still like to play golf regularly at Alresford although my cricketing days are now sadly behind me. Fishing is also a genteel way to spend a day, and we like spending time in Spain when we can. I am also an enthusiastic amateur woodturner!”

Nick Austin, Chair of Governors

 

Science Club

Don’t forget we are looking for parents and friends of the school to run some of the sessions once again to engage and inspire our budding future scientists.  In the past, the children have explored robotics, forensics, and chemical reactions, as well as activities looking at how the muscles on a horse work whilst running around our school field!  If you have an idea to run a session with the children and are available on a Thursday 3:15 – 4:15pm, please contact me through the school office. 

Mrs Blake, Science Lead

 

Please help

A local resident has written in to say they have been struggling with mobility to get past pairs or groups of parents chatting outside. Please be thoughtful and step away to allow cars to leave driveways and allow pedestrians or wheelchair users to get past.

 

the bike ride is back!

We are delighted to announce the Bentley bike ride is back again this year!  For those not familiar with this super fundraiser, intrepid volunteers and their bikes will be transported to Bombay (the distillery in Laverstoke, not the former City in India) very early on the morning of Saturday 2nd July ready to make their epic 50-mile bike ride journey through the beautiful Hampshire countryside and back to school. Ben Bingham is heading up the event this year – he has put together a really helpful video to tell you all about it - click here to watch.

Would you like be on the team? All you need is a bike, a minimum sponsorship of £70 and lots of enthusiasm! There will be more information coming your way soon, but please do put the date in your diary. 

Whether you join the riders, man a support vehicle, help coordinate the welcome back party or simply sponsor one of the riders – we need your help to make this event as great as the last! If you are interested in getting involved, please click here.

 

Film Night

We have a very exciting film night planned for 11th February! We have limited availability for tickets and sold out very quickly last term, so don't delay in booking!  Click here for more information and to book.

 

 

Click here to find out what’s happening next week and

here to get more information about what’s going on in the local area