I can’t believe we have already been back at school for a whole week – the time has flown by so quickly and the children have all been impressing their teachers with their enthusiastic, back-to-school attitude. The word ‘perseverance’ was mentioned a lot in Gold Book Certificates this week, which shows that our children are great at trying new things and keeping on going even when they might be finding their learning tricky.

It has been lovely to see the appearance of the sun on a few occasions this week and watch as more blossom appears on the trees and flowers begin to grow. As the weather gets warmer and children begin to enjoy playing in the park with their friends after school, just a polite reminder that school toilets are not available once school has ended and children have left the site. This is due to safeguarding purposes.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Mrs Miffling

Acting Headteacher

Coronation Celebration Day Friday 5th May

To mark the occasion of King Charles III’s coronation we are going to have a special celebration day on Friday 5th May. Children may come to school wearing red, white and blue clothes, Union Flag inspired clothing, dress as royalty for the day or come to school in their uniform as usual. There will be some special coronation themed activities and, if your child is having a school dinner, the kitchen will be preparing a coronation themed lunch. Year 3 and 4 will be on the last day of their residential visit to the Gordon Brown Centre but can still take part in the fun as they might like to save an item of red, white or blue clothing for that day. Their teachers will also make sure they take part in some coronation themed activities when they return to school. We have been busy learning some coronation songs in our collective worships and are all looking forward to celebrating this historic event together.

Collective worship

This week Year 4 will be leading collective worship on Wednesday 26th and parents are welcome to join us to see their child.  Worship will last around 20 minutes and will take place in the Sports’ Hall at 9.05 a.m.

Bentley Earth Day Celebration – Wednesday 26^th April    

Earth Day takes place every year on the 22^nd April – click here for more information. This year we are going to be hosting our very own Earth Day celebration on Wednesday 26^th April.  Following a poll lead by Eco Council, we would like to invite the children to come to school dressed for the day in Earth Colours – blue, green and brown - in exchange for a suggested £1.00 donation.  This money will be used to fund our new Nature Reserve in the school woods, enabling us to buy bulbs, bird seed and other items to increase the biodiversity in our school woods.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Madame Jones, Miss Durrant and Eco Council

Forest Explorers at Bentley

Forest Explorers takes place on Monday afternoons in our beautiful Bentley School woodland, with all children from Year 1-Year 6 attending for a half-term block of sessions (Year R have regular sessions in the woods at other times).  Based on the Forest School ethos, our weekly child-led Forest Explorers sessions aim to provide children with opportunities to immerse themselves in nature, developing deep nature connectedness as well as independence, resilience, confidence and creativity.  Thanks to recent research, we also know that time spent is nature is brilliant for our mental health and this is a very important reason why we are offering the children at Bentley these weekly sessions.

Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees’.

(Forest School Association)

Forest Explorers is led by Madame Jones, who is a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader, assisted by volunteers from our school community.  The Monday afternoon sessions run from 1-3pm with the children split into two groups, allowing each group one hour in the woods.  Every session is themed e.g. birds, tools or fire and linked as much as possible to the season.  We always start and finish the sessions as one group with time in the middle for self-directed play. This could involve muddy play, den building, bug hunting or a craft. During each half-term unit, we aim for all the children to experience using tools such as peelers and palm drills, as well as cooking on the fire.

Here are some of the children’s thoughts about Forest Explorers:

Year 2

• “I enjoyed Forest Explorers because I like going outside.”
• “I love Forest Explorers because we had a lovely time around the fire.”
• “I liked Forest Explorers because I like birds and I got to see lots of them.”
• “I enjoyed Forest Explorers because I like to go outside and see nature.”

Year 3

• I love Forest Explorers because it’s really fun spending time outdoors.  I really liked making mud food, litter picking, having a fire and everything else.”
• Forest Explorers was the best thing to ever happen in school because you get to do so much. “
• “The best thing about Forest Explorers is that we get to see nature in the woods and I just love being in nature.”

Year 6

“Forest Explorers was amazing. I really enjoyed it. It helped with my stress and anxiety.”

• “Forest Explorers was the best part of my week because I love connecting with nature.”
• “I loved Forest Explorers because it made me really happy and calm.”

 

COMMUNITY NOTICES

For information on available clubs and to find out what is going on in the local area please Click here.

Jam Coding

Please see the community pages for details of after-school sessions Jam Coding are running for years 3 to 6.

Bentley Archers Cricket Club

Bentley Archers Cricket Club would like to invite children from the local area to play in a commemorative cricket match for the coronation celebrations of King Charles 111 on Sunday 7^th may at 11am.  Please contact Steve Hawkes for full details 07891606421

 

PTFA

What is coming up this term?

There is so much to look forward to!

• Ice cream sales (bring on the sun!) – first one on 19^th May
• Summer fair – after school on Friday 23^rd June. Expect sunshine, fun and a chance to catch up with friends. Please keep an eye out for more information.
  • We have sponsorship from Hamptons Estate Agents for this event, and will be looking for houses to volunteer have a sign outside to advertise this event. Please let us know if you’d be happy to be one of these families or know someone who would.

Bentley Bike Ride! This year this event is aimed at families and riders who want a challenge of a 30km ride. We recommend families with teen children (aged 9+ if they are experienced cyclists). Please share the word! Each family sign up is £75 minimum sponsorship. Please see the poster for more information. All riders and families will be welcomed back to school with a BBQ! Here is a launch video explaining the event and how to enter. The launch video refers to this Google Form

• Once again, the PTFA will have an ice cream and drinks stall at Bentley Fete. Please get involved.
• Camping night on Froyle Rec! This is going to be such a fun event! Pitch up for 1 night at Froyle recreation ground on the last weekend of term. We can play in the park, have bbqs, toast marshmallows and sit round the camp fire. Tickets are available for this NOW via the PTFA website. Book early to avoid disappointment. We can only have a limited number of pitches. Each pitch booking MUST have an adult accompanying. Each pitch is £25, which includes breakfast on Sunday morning.
  • www.pta-events.co.uk/bentley

The PTFA has a new Instagram account! 

https://instagram.com/bentley_ptfa?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=