Newsletters

17th May 2024 - Friday Letter

${item_alt_tag}$

Friday Letter - 17th May 2024

Dear Parents,

Another busy week draws to an end and what an adventure we have had. Our wonderful Reception Rescuers have responded to an email from one of our neighbours who was concerned about air pollution, particularly at the beginning and end of the day. The children have made some excellent posters to inform everyone about how to reduce this. Please look out for them on the school boundary fencing in the coming weeks. They have also made a beautiful piece of collaborative art, reusing the bottle tops they have been collecting.

In year 1, there was a very unusual smell in our outdoor area as we thought we may have had a visit from some time-travelling dinosaurs who had deposited an awful lot of waste! Our fabulous scientists took it in their stride and have used it as a learning opportunity to find out what Dinosaurs ate.

Our fabulous year 2s have begun practising for their end of year show. They sound incredible already. Everyone at school enjoys the atmosphere that these practises create.

Finally, I was so proud of our children when I went on a learning walk with two of our Governors. The children in KS1 spoke so confidently about their sequences of learning and how they are answering their "Big Questions."

Have a lovely weekend.

Love from Miss Morris and the team.

${item_alt_tag}$

Pre-School News

This week in Pre-School we have implemented a new way to enjoy our morning snack. We call it rolling snack. This is where the children can come over to the snack bar at any time throughout their morning to enjoy their crackers, fruit, milk, water etc. The children are encouraged to independently pour their milk and select their fruit. We are excited about all the learning opportunities we can give the children through rolling snacks such as adding role-play money so they can buy their snacks, discussions on healthy eating etc.

The purpose of rolling snack is to support the children's independence, so they can decide when they would like to have their snack and to not interrupt their playing and learning as they can come to the table when they are ready.

${item_alt_tag}$

New Classes for September 2024

We know this time of year can be an anxious one as you await news of who your child's new teacher will be.

Here are the class teams for September 24.

Orange Class - Mrs Aitken and Miss Morris with Mrs Wisdom and Mrs Farmer

Yellow Class - Mrs Norman and Miss Mason with Mrs Gowing

Green Class - Mrs Pain and Mrs Skelton with Mrs Lloyd and Mrs Farmer

Blue Class - Mrs Spence and Miss Bilton with Mrs Seyers, Miss Parker and Mrs Selby

Indigo Class - Miss Boakes with Miss Nugent and Mrs Pearson

Violet Class - Miss Pates with Mrs Newman and Miss Slender

This is how classes will move up through school this year:

Orange to Blue
Yellow to Green
Green to Violet
Blue to Indigo

${item_alt_tag}$

Year Group in Focus - Year 2

What a wonderful week in Year 2! We started the week by learning all about the 'Great Fire of Benhall' and wrote newspaper articles about the disaster! The children loved learning about the history of the school. We have also been enjoying the sun and practicing for Sports Day, we are so excited! Finally, end of year performance rehearsals has begun, and we are all looking forward to it all coming together. The children cannot stop singing our songs around the entire school.

Purple Learning

It has been a joy to welcome some of our wonderful Pre-School children to our Friday celebration assembly. We are all so proud of them, they are so respectful of coming into the hall and leaving the hall, as well as joining in with lots of our celebrations. The Silver and Gold family are now nominated each week into our purple learning book, and it has been so exciting to find out which children have been superb purple learners each week. There have been a few proud older siblings too – just wonderful watching them celebrate their younger sibling.

Purple Learners

River

Oli

Finley

Yeva

Ben

Jack

Rupert

Sophia

Mrs Russell

Lunchtimes

Lunchtimes are such a joy and this is down to our hard-working, friendly and caring lunchtime team. They play such a vital role in our school and we really appreciate all they do. Just a reminder that if your child is packed lunch, they will eat outside when the weather is dry. It would be great if their lunch box could be named so that if it does go for a wander, we can make sure it gets back to the correct classroom quickly and smoothly. During lunchtimes, the children have so many opportunities – colouring, the field, playpod, table football, the trim trail, the quiet area, music, dressing up and free play. It really is a great hour all together!

School Council

School Council are going to be litter picking next week. They will be choosing a friend to bring along with them so that we can make sure school is looking tip-top.

${item_alt_tag}$

Pyjama Day for the Pied Piper Appeal

Alongside St Mark's Junior School, we will be supporting this charity on Friday 24th May.

The Pier Piper Appeal works with sick and disabled children in Gloucestershire. They fund the children's centre at Gloucester Royal Hospital and provide funding and equipment for those children in need, together with Wish holidays for children with life-limiting diseases.

Please support those children in hospital by wearing pyjamas (or any comfy clothes if you would prefer) and make a donation (if you can) to raise funds for the appeal.

${item_alt_tag}$

Clubs in summer term

We have had a couple of queries about where to collect children from. Here is the list.

Photography - Monday, 6 sessions 10th, 17th, 24^th June, 1st, 8th, 15^th July. Pick up from the main door at 4.00pm.

Gymnastics - Tuesday, 10 sessions from 16th April. Pick up from the main door at 3.50pm

Tennis - Tuesday, 10 sessions from 16th April. Pick up from playground at 4.00pm

Football - Wednesday 10 sessions from 17th April. Pick up from ?playground at 4.05pm approx.

Street Dance - Thursday 10 sessions from 18th. Pick up from the main door at 3.45pm

Multiskills - Thursday 10 sessions from 18th April. Pick up from playground at 4.00pm

Athletics - Friday 5 sessions from 19th April & last session is 17th May. Pick up from the playground at 4.00pm

For all clubs except photography, children can come in school PE kit for the day. Football shirts and football boots can be brought to school to change into for the club - not worn all day.

${item_alt_tag}$

Sports Day - Wednesday 5^th June

Please save the date and time, so you can join in the fun with your child's year group.

9.00 - 10.30 – Reception

10.40 – 12.00 – Year 2

1.15 – 2.45 – Year 1

More information to follow nearer the time.

Safety before and after school

To help keep all our children safe, please can you make sure that no children use the climbing frame or other play equipment before or after school.

We have also had a few reports that children and parents are walking in the car park whilst staff are arriving. Please make sure that you use the footpaths to enter into school. Please also ensure that you have your child in sight and near to you there was a near miss this week when the child had gone ahead of the parents and cut across the car park. Thank you as always for keeping our children safe.

Children arriving late into School in the mornings.

We have noticed an increase in children arriving late into school in the morning.

Lateness not only disrupts the lesson in progress but can have an adverse effect on your child’s education. If your child misses the initial part of the lesson they often struggle to grasp the new concept being taught.

Children who arrive late for school are often upset and embarrassed by joining a lesson in progress and find it difficult to contribute.

Children should arrive at 8.45am for starting their learning at 8.50am. We will be monitoring and contacting parents if we have a concern.

If there is anything that you wish to discuss, please contact Miss Morris.

${item_alt_tag}$

We would like to wish members of our Benhall Family who have celebrated their birthday a really happy birthday. Happy birthday to:

Ellie B
Josh R
Byron M
Daniel O
Mrs Skelton

${item_alt_tag}$

Class Routines

PE Kit

What a great start to wearing school PE kit on PE days – thank you parents for your help with this.

PE Kit reminder:

Navy blue shorts or tracksuit bottoms
Plain white or purple T-shirt
Navy blue hoody or sweatshirt
Trainers

If your child has joined an after school sports club they can wear their school PE Kit on club days too (no football strips).

Orange Class
PE Days - Wednesday and Friday
Forest School Days - Every other Tuesday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Bring in on Wednesday go home on Friday
Sound Books - Back in on Wednesday
PPA Day and Cover - Weds am by Miss Bilton

Yellow Class
PE Days - Wednesday and Friday
Forest School Days - Every other Tuesday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Bring in on Wednesday go home on Friday
Sound Books - Back in on Wednesday
PPA Day and Cover - Weds am by Mrs Skelton

Green Class
PE Days - Tuesday and Thursday
Forest School Days - every other Thursday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - When 3 reads in class completed
Spelling Books - Thursday
PPA Day and Cover - Tuesday am by Mrs Selby

Blue Class
PE Days - Tuesday and Thursday
Forest School Days - every other Thursday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - When 3 reads in class completed
Spelling Books - Thursday
PPA Day and Cover - Tuesday am by Mrs Skelton

Indigo Class
PE Days - Monday and Thursday
Forest School Days - every other Wednesday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Friday
Homework - Thursday (Tapestry)
PPA Day and Cover - Thursday am by Mrs Wisdom

Violet Class

PE Days - Monday and Friday
Forest School Days - every other Wednesday
Book Bags - Every day please
Book Changes - Friday
Homework - Thursday (Tapestry)
PPA Day and Cover - Thursday am by Mrs Skelton