Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to school after the Easter break. I trust you all had a wonderful time and were able to enjoy some rest, family time, and perhaps a little sunshine too. It has been lovely to welcome the children back this week and see how quickly they have settled into the routine again. The week has started calmly and positively, with classrooms full of happy chatter as the children reconnect with their friends and share their holiday experiences. There has been a real sense of enthusiasm across the school, which is always a pleasure to see.
Looking ahead to next week, we have several exciting opportunities and events planned. On Monday and Tuesday Year 5 will have their annual 'bikeability training' - please wear sports clothing, coat and gloves in case it's cold and ride your bikes into school, they can be left in the hall overnight. Please return your photo permission form if you haven't done so already as they will be taking promotional photos.
We are pleased to welcome a new volunteer, Mr Greenslade, who will be joining us to gain valuable insight into a career in teaching. He will be working with us for a few weeks, supporting classes every Tuesday and Thursday. Mr Greenslade will begin his time with our Robins class and gradually work his way up through the school to Kestrels. We are delighted to have him as part of our school community and know the children will enjoy working with him.
On Wednesday, a number of our staff will be visiting Liphook Junior School to observe their oracy programme in action and see best practice. This visit marks an important step in what we see as an exciting journey for our school. We are planning to begin developing our own oracy approach from September, with the aim of transforming learning and life chances for our young people. By focusing on spoken language, we want to ensure that every child feels confident using their voice to succeed both in school and beyond. It is a skill that can be explicitly taught and developed over time, allowing pupils to learn through discussion, questioning, and collaboration. It also involves teaching children how to speak clearly, listen actively, and engage respectfully with others.
At our school, we believe that every voice matters.
Also on Wednesday, we have a special treat for our infant children, as a travelling performer will be visiting the school to present a production of Peter Pan. This promises to be an exciting and memorable experience, sparking imagination and enjoyment for our younger pupils.
Finally, on Friday, Year 2 pupils will be taking part in a cross-country event at Froxfield after school. Please sign up, at the moment we have no one interested! In preparation for this, our running coach, Justin, will be working with the children to help them build confidence and stamina ahead of the event.
All clubs start next week except Archery which starts 28th April. Cartoon club will definitely start next Tuesday. There are still places left in the following clubs: Spanish, Running, Archery, Cartoon.
Enjoy the weekend and see you Monday!
PS: Don't forget to mention our 'All About Me' week soon to your friends and family, we have had two people interested in coming in at the moment, the more the merrier.
Julie Robinson
