Family Matters Februrary 2020 | North East Somerset edition

NORTH EAST SOMERSET EDITION

ISSUE 76 • FEBRUARY 2020

TIPS TO KEEP ACTIVE AT WORK

SCHOOL NEWS

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

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WELCOME Hello and welcome to not only our first issue of the year, but also the first issue of a new decade!

We hope you’ve started this new year feeling refreshed after the holidays and settled smoothly into your usual routines and if not, hopefully this jam-packed issue will help ease you back in.

This issue we’ve got suggestions for a great Mother’s Day, ideas for treats on Pancake Day and ways you can help save the insects. That’s as well as all of your amazing achievements from last term! We always love seeing what you’ve been up to, so don’t forget to keep sending over your submissions for our WOW feature and keeping us in the loop when it comes to all your school news. If last year is anything to go by, you are all going to have an amazing 2020!

So, sit back, pop on the kettle and enjoy our first issue of the roaring twenties!

p10 help save the insects!

p14 how to cut down on sugar

p16 are you ready for

p19 world book day!

mothering sunday?

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10 ways to stay

active at work

If you’re an office worker, you’ll know that staying fit and active while at work can be a real challenge – especially if the majority of your day is spent behind a desk or on the phone. You might also know that a lack of activity during the day is one of the major causes of heart problems and other health conditions – so it’s always good to get as active as possible.

If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to be more active in 2020, we’re here to help with our handy list of easy ways that you can become more active during the working day.

Park further away or get off the bus a stop earlier, and walk the rest of the way.

Go for a walk during your lunch break if you can – getting out and about will help boost your creativity during the afternoon.

Take the stairs instead of the lift where possible.

Rather than call a colleague to ask them something, walk over to their desk.

When answering the phone, stand up rather than stay sat down.

You can discuss projects with colleagues while stood up or walking around the office.

Offer to make tea or do a bit of tidying so you can get up from your desk and move around more.

See if you can have the office equipped with standing desks, this will enable you to move around more and you won’t be sat all day.

Do a variety of muscle toning exercises at your desk including leg lifts (straighten one or both legs and hold in place for 10 seconds before releasing and repeating).

Check with your boss, and swap your desk chair for an exercise ball. These are a great way to help with core strength. ukfamilymatters |

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Pancake Day – 25th February Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Day, is by far the most exciting day in the calendar apart from birthdays and Christmas, it’s a day where we get to eat pancakes and because anything goes, we can have sweet, savoury or a mixture of both!

Pancakes are really easy to make and you can flavour them however you want, they’re also very easy to adapt if you’re following a gluten free or dairy free diet.

Here’s some basic pancake recipes for you to get your started.

traditional pancakes

vegan pancakes

100g plain flour 2 large eggs 300ml milk

220g plain flour 680ml of plant based milk 5 tbsp of vegetable oil

dairy free pancakes

gluten free pancakes

100g plain flour 2 eggs 300ml of plant based milk

(There are a number of brands to choose from in supermarkets or visit your local health food store for more options)

125g gluten free plain flour

Such as soy, almond or rice milk, or alternatively, buy a lacto free version of your usual milk from the supermarket.

2 eggs 300ml milk Or altern ati use the d vely, airy free recipe an d substitu the eggs for a ripe te ban – simply mash it in ana to the mixture fo r the sam e effect.

Once you’ve mixed your ingredients into a batter, you simply need a tablespoon of oil or cooking spray to coat your frying pan and then cook them, either as crepes or as fluffy, thick American style pancakes which you can then cover in whatever toppings you like! Make them savoury, make them sweet, shape them into different characters – it’s completely up to you! ukfamilymatters |

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TOP TIPS FOR TODDLER We’ve all been there. We’re in public, having a lovely time and suddenly your child spots something colourful or sugary, they ask the dreaded question, you tell them no and then the screaming starts.

Maybe you’re in the supermarket, maybe you’re in a department store, maybe you’re just walking down the street.

Perhaps you’re trying to drop them off at school/nursery/their best friends house.

Wherever you are at that moment it is never easy. You feel like the entire world is staring at you and of course, your child is clearly distressed – so what do you do?

Some people laugh it off, others find it hard to keep their cool, some roll their eyes and through gritted teeth try to be the voice of reason, whatever your reaction, we sought out some top tips with dealing with tantrums to help you out.

Firstly, what is a tantrum and why do they happen?

Well, according to the experts, young children particularly throw tantrums purely because they haven’t learned other coping skills yet and it’s the only way they know to express themselves. It all stems from trying to communicate that they want something, whether that’s more food, to take their shoes off, a new toy…

All that red faced screaming just comes from wanting something, not having it and getting frustrated by not being able to express that in a way that gets them the thing. When older children throw a tantrum it’s usually more of a power struggle, they want something and they try to assert themselves. Only when their parents or supervisor say no they have an outburst as a way of getting you to comply. Basically, until they grow out of it, it’s something you’re going to have to deal with, so we took to the internet to find out what you guys think is the best way to deal with a tempermental child.

• PAY ATTENTION TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES of the tantrums, if they tend to happen because your child is hungry, make sure to keep snacks on your person at all times, if it’s because they get tired, make sure to prioritise having naps during the day. That way, when you spot that they’re getting grouchy you can prevent a tantrum before it really gets going.

• ENFORCE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR. Make sure to praise them for even small good behaviours, they’ll learn that being calm and happy is more likely to gain your attention than screaming.

• IF YOUR CHILD IS HAVING A TANTRUM at home, ignore them unless they’re actually in danger of hurting themselves or others, by taking away your attention you won’t reinforce this kind of behaviour. If you can, walk out of the room and stand the other side of the door where you can keep a check on them without them seeing you. When they realise they can’t get you to do what they want when they scream, it’ll happen less and less often.

• THE LOUDER THEY YELL, the softer you should talk to them. Because kids are trying to engage with you when they’re having a tantrum they’ll try to make themselves as loud as possible, so the softer you speak to them they will lower their volume too. If you’re in public, take them aside and give them a space where they can quiet down, some kids throw tantrums because they feel a lack of control, so having a choice to go somewhere else will give them a chance to retake that control and calm down. Just make sure you don’t give in to the original demand once they’re calm and continue to only reward positive behaviour.

• CREATE A DIVERSION. If your child starts throwing a tantrum because they’ve seen something they want, be sure to have a toy or snack that you can whip out and offer them as a distraction, some parents swear by this method saying it can even help stop a melt down before it even really begins.

There was one thing that everyone had in common, don’t give in, no matter how tempting, sometimes kids just need to vent, but it is important to keep your cool, you can work on getting your own rage out later. For some kids, they snap out of a tantrum as quickly as they went into it, as they start to calm down don’t dwell on it, focussing on negative behaviour causes them to inadvertently reinforce them in their minds.

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S M U R T N TA

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Can you help save the insects?

A report published in November 2019 has shown that the insect population of Great Britain has drastically declined in recent years and that this is having a huge impact on other wildlife, including bats, fish and birds.

According to the report, it isn’t just bees that are in trouble, but a great many insects. It has been found that the main causes of this decline has included habitat loss and the use of pesticides. Because of this, the Wildlife Trust is campaigning for the government to issue a new Environment Bill to help reverse this decline.

What can we do to help the insects?

If you have a garden, there are lots of things you can do to help provide a safe habitat for insects. Firstly, don’t use any pesticides on your garden plants – this can be tough, especially for those of you who want to grow roses and other flowers, but by leaving them to grow naturally, you can attract a whole range of bugs, including ladybirds and lacewings which will get rid of the problem of aphids (they’re the ones that eat flowers!)

You could also make a compost heap – this is a good way of helping your garden grow but it will also provide a good home for insects! Similarly, you could build a log pile, if you bury the bottom part of the pile, you’ll find that plenty of insects come to live there.

Make a bug hotel – not only are these a great way to encourage insects to live in your garden but they’re fun for the whole family to build! You can either create your own or you can buy kits from garden centres which will offer step by step instructions. These are a great way for the kids to learn more about the natural world.

Have you got a bug hotel? Send us your suggestions for building the perfect bug hotel and together we can work towards helping save the insects! @ukfamilymatters 10 |

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Enter now at www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

Win Prizes

Win 4 tickets to see BIG UP! At The Egg

Win Day Tickets to Cheddar Gorge & Caves this Easter!

We’re giving you the chance to win tickets for 2 adults and 2 children to Cheddar Gorge & Caves’ event: The Enchanted Cave, from 4th to 19th April. You can roam an underground and under cover, illuminated trail discovering mystical chambers where fairies glisten, flowers grow, crystals sparkle, and eggs glow. But there’s a problem, the mischievous troll has hidden the fairies’ precious eggs. Can you find the missing eggs and help the fairies before it’s too late?

Theatre-Rites and 20 Stories High present BIG UP! For children aged 4 plus and everybody who looks after them. What happens when a Beatboxer, a Singer and a Puppeteer arrive on stage but nothing is ready? No set, no instruments, no puppets. No rules.

Come and watch as they create a world full of joy and chaos, where objects come to life and everything is possible. BIG UP! celebrates the power of music, the power of play and the power of our imagination. A perfect show for little people who want to be Big, and Big people who... just might have forgotten how to play.

Win Longleat Day Tickets to meet their tiger family!

Win day tickets for 2 adults and 2 children and bring your family to Longleat to meet our tiger family.

Venture into the Park to discover animals from all over the world by road, rail, boat and foot including our tigers in the Safari Drivethrough. Immerse yourself in the animal kingdom with a visit to the UK’s original Safari Park. Gain hands-on experience feeding the lorikeets and sea lions with opportunities to handle tarantulas or snakes in the Animal Handling Hall. Delve into history as you enter Longleat House then discover the Adventure Castle, Hedge Maze, Longleat Railway and much more on your day out.

Find out more at longleat.co.uk.

Win a family ticket to Bath Racecourse’s Easter Eggtravaganza Tickets are for two adults and two children.

Bath Racecourse’s Easter Eggtravaganza is arriving on Thursday 9 April for an exciting Easter Holiday Raceday! There will be Easter packed fun for all the family, as well as 7 thrilling horse races throughout the afternoon! Why not join us for fun, food and racing before you begin to unwind for the Easter weekend!

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING THESE FANTASTIC PRIZES, simply visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk, click on the Competitions button and complete the form. It couldn’t be easier! Closing date for entries: March 3rd 2020

what’s on 15th - 16th February Snowdrop Weekends Snowdrop Walk to guide visitors around the Gardens and Palace.

There will also be a range of children’s crafting activities in the Undercroft, based on a snowdrop theme, and a children’s trail to lead them around the site. Included with admission - Palace Members FREE. Bishop's Palace, Wells.

15th - 23rd February Crafty Half Term Hop aboard the Hope Hub, and let your creativity run free on a variety of decorative items. Paint, glitter, pens, the choice is yours! Hope Nature Centre, Trowbridge.

15th - 23rd February February Half Term Trail Family activities will be based around a “Nature” theme, with a children’s themed trail running throughout the holiday week.

Little ones can take a journey following images of flowers in bud around the site, discovering different locations within the Gardens. Bishop's Palace, Wells.

15th - 23rd February Winter Warblers Celebrate and support birdlife at Stourhead. Get to know different species by trying our spotter challenges, testing out tunes and making a birdseed feast to hang in your garden. Stourhead House and Gardens, Stourhead.

17th - 21st February With daily entertainment, Puxton Park is the place to go this February!

Puxton Park, Hewish.

17th - 21st February Children's bird feed making Make your very own suet balls to take home. You will also get a bird feeder to hang your suet balls in your garden. All equipment in provided. Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacocok.

18th February Farmyard Fun Meet the animals from ‘Second Chance Petting Farm’ all of which have been rescued. They include a miniature pony, donkey, sheep and goats. Enjoy farm animal themed arts and crafts and a special themed trail around the museum. Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

18th - 21st February The Very Hungry Caterpillar The timeless classic has made its way off the page and onto the stage. The Bristol Old Vic, Bristol.

18th February Lily and the Albatross Lily & the Albatross is a story about a small family of three, the legend of Great Captain Markham and how they learn to fly in the face of a storm. A tale of wild weather, wild birds and wild ambitions for ages 5+. Merlin Theatre, Frome.

For further information about each event

19th February Family Charcoal Workshop Produce your own artwork inspired by the rural landscape with artist Alison Jacobs, who will be leading a fun and creative drawing workshop using charcoal. Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

19th February Hobby Horse Show Jumping Hobby Horse show jumping, create and make arts and crafts, cookie decorating, Valentine's trail and lots more. Farm open from 11am - 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday, free admission. A small charge will be made for activities.Go online and book your tickets now at https://tickets.worldhorsewelfare.org. Glenda Spooner Farm, Somerset.

20th February Traditional Weaving - Family Fun Join our Family Fun Day to see traditional Iron Age loom weaving and try your hand at stick weaving to create a bookmark or bracelet to take home. Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

28th February - 2nd March Frome’s Window Wanderland Frome Window Wanderland is a fun community event where anyone can make a display in their own window (or garden) and light it up for others to wander around and enjoy!

The event is completely free with no fees to participate. It is easy to sign up, just register and put your address on the online map on the Window Wanderland website: www.windowwanderland.com/event/frome-2020.

6th - 8th March The Three Musketeers Armed only with a baguette and his questionable steed, join hot-headed D'Artagnan as he travels to become a Musketeer.

Featuring hilarious heroics, raucous romances and some bonkers fun with BMX bikes, Le Navet Bete condense Dumnas' 700-page classic into two hours of non-stop comedy gold.

Bristol Old Vic, Bristol.

14th - 15th and 21st - 22nd March, Lambing at Lackham See the ewes with their newborn lambs, watch the dairy herd being milked, visit the cows, pigs, sheep and other animals. 10.00am - 5.00pm.

Last entry 4.00pm Visit shop.wiltshire.ac.uk to book your tickets NOW! Lacock, Wiltshire.

21st - 22nd March Mother's Day at Stourhead Treat Mum to a special lunch and relaxing stroll at Stourhead.

Paint a beautiful stone as a gift or souvenir to remember your special day together at these drop-in workshops. Stourhead House and Gardens, Stourhead.

22nd March One off Special Elizabethan welcome tour for Mothering Sunday Find about mothers and parenting in times gone by whilst enjoying a 45 minute tour of the grounds.

Montacute House, Montacute.

22nd March Mother's Day Express Join the Avon Valley Railway on this special day and treat your mother to a 3 course pines express. Our dining trains aim to recreate the glory days of the railway dining car. Avon Valley Railway, Bitton.

22nd March Mother's Day Lunch Treat mum to Sunday Lunch or our Afternoon Tea this Mother's Day, a delicious meal out for all the family! Hope Nature Centre, Trowbridge.

please visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

Sugar Awareness Week might be over, but that doesn’t mean you can revert back to old habits.

If you’re concerned about the amount of sugar in your family’s diet, then here are a few ways to help you cut down and have a healthier 2020.

There are lots of different ways that sugar can be listed on food labels – labels these days have a colour coded system so it is easier to spot foods that are lower in sugar, salt and fat, but for those of you who want to be more aware of hidden sugars, here are a selection of the names to look out for.

According to the NHS, the UK eats far more than the recommended allowance of sugar. The stats show that each individual in the UK is eating on average 140 teaspoons of sugar a week. That’s ridiculous!

They say that sugar shouldn’t make up more than 5% of the energy you get from food every day, but as sugar hides in many different forms, it can be hard to keep track of how much is in our diets. Many ingredient lists have different names for sugars too, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible to cut down.

SUCROSE, GLUCOSE, FRUCTOSE, MALTOSE, MOLASSES, HYDROLYSED STARCH, CORN SYRUP, HONEY, INVERTED SUGAR, FRUIT PUREES AND JUICES.

BREAKFAST Many breakfast cereals are high in sugar, even those marketed towards families and especially those that claim to be healthy such as granola. There are a few that are naturally sugar free or low in sugar, such as plain porridge, plain wholewheat biscuits, like Weetabix, or plain shredded cereals, like Shreddies. By making changes to your breakfast you can cut up to 70g of sugar out of your diet a week!

We know that having plain porridge or plain

You’ll find that many of your favourite foods, even those marketed as being healthy will have at least one of those ingredients listed, so here are some suggestions of swaps you can make during the day to reduce the sugar intake of you and your family.

ing, but instead anything isn’t very appetis topping your try not y wh of adding sugar, en fruit? You breakfast with fresh or froz med milk or skim i could also swap to sem biscuits with eat wh and e even make porridg water. ily, wholemeal If you’re a toast kind of fam n white, tha ter bet or granary bread is er in hidden low and e fibr in they’re higher ead or sugar spr sugars – try using a low fat spread for ate col cho free/ low sugar jam or sugar ed add no use or eet something sw g for a pin top a beans or scrambled egg as non savoury option.

ER

LUNCH & DINN

different names sugar can hide under Like we said before, pect like ready things you wouldn’t ex and even pops up in ner options din y da ndiments. Every meals, soups and co r in a jar and ga su of g 13 have up to like pasta sauces can n have up to 23g! even tomato sauce ca o contain ches and salads als wi Pre-packaged sand ad – so you bre the in ssings and hidden sugars in dre by making your of your daily intake can eliminate some the go. on than buying lunch own lunches rather gar options su er low ndiments for You can also swap co time, create and if you have the or leave out entirely you know y m scratch. That wa your own sauces fro n and you can rtio po gar is in each exactly how much su t. w much is in your die easily cut down on ho

SNACKS This is where the ma jority of sugars can be found, of cours e we know that chocolates, sweets, biscuits and cakes are all high in sugar as are cereal bars and dried fruit. You do n’t have to give up on your favourite sn acks – but eating less of them will de finitely help. You can also swap to smaller packs and eating unsalted nuts, unsa lted rice cakes, oatcakes, plain popc orn or malt loaf.

DESSERTS If you’re the kind of family that has dessert after every meal, why not try lim iting it to only a few times a week? That way you can enjoy your favourites without having to cut out desserts completely. There are a few tasty alternatives which have less sugar, suc h as fruit cocktails, low fat yogurts or rice pud ding.

You can also make a game out of choosing desserts by creating a shortlis t while in the supermarket and then com paring the labels and getting the one that has the least amount of sugar.

That way you can also help get the rest of the family more clued up about what is in their food too.

DRINKS

nks has hidden sugar, dri It isn’t just food that diet the s, nk dri are fizzy do too. Obvious ones ntain co do r ga su ve ha not versions which may it juices Fru . hy still not healt sweeteners which are se the t bu r, ga su o high in and smoothies are als ins am vit e lik ts ien red nt ing are contain other importa aw be t bu n’t cut these out and minerals, so do n. tio m for hydra and don’t rely on the tions and if squash are great op e fre r ga su d Water an eetener sw a e drinker, try using you’re a tea or coffe t way. tha wn do t nules and cu rather than sugar gra l tea, rba he a e lik w, ne mething th You could also try so wi n ow sweet or make your which are naturally r. ge gin or of fresh lemon hot water and a slice

Are you trying to reduce your sugar intake? Do you have any suggestions for meals or snacks that are low in sugar but still high in taste? Get in touch with us on Twitter or Facebook, you can find us at @ukfamilymatters

Mother’s Day is coming!

We have a couple of weeks to prepare, but Mother’s Day will be here sooner than you think – this year, the big day is 22nd March and because we appreciate all the mums out there, we thought we’d give you a few suggestions of how to show how much you care.

When it comes to Mother’s Day, you don’t have to splash out, you might want to get the mums in your life an extravagant present to show your appreciation, but that isn’t always possible, so here are a few options that you can do to treat your mum without exceeding your budget.

Pamper her This can be as simple as making her lunch or giving her a nice foot rub! Alternatively, surprise her with a trip to your local spa.

Go for a family trip Again, this doesn’t have to cost the earth, go out for a walk somewhere picturesque, maybe a trip to the coast or her favourite place.

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Invite some of her friends over for a mum party!

Give mum a chance to let her hair down by inviting over a couple of her friends and providing drinks and nibbles. This gives the mums a chance to catch up and also gives dad or other family members the chance to spend time with the kids!

Personalise

Make a slide show or video Get together with your siblings (if you have any) and create a show that will make her laugh, cry, and want to hug the bunch of you.

Provide housecleaning Your mum spent enough time pushing a vacuum and mopping up your messes, so show her some love by cleaning her house. ukfamilymatters |

Put together a collage of photos from the past or make a mug with her nearest and dearest on.

This Mother’s Day why not make sure that mum takes some time for herself and really show your appreciation of all the work that she does! And mums, don’t forget, whether you’re a step mum, a biological mum, adoptive mum, grandmother or auntie – you’re fabulous and you’re doing an amazing job – thank you!

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Can you colour in Floss so she's ready for a

Mother's Day party?

Celebrate World Book Day on 5th March!

World Book Day turns 23 this year and is a huge celebration of reading that not only encourages reading but also gives kids (and adults!) the chance to dress up as their favourite characters!

Schools across the UK take part with activities and workshops as well as the chance to get your hands on tokens to pick up special editions of popular books.

Is your school getting involved with World Book Day? We’d love to hear all about it, don’t forget to tell your teachers to get in touch with us and let us know what you did for the big day – they can email us on info@familymatters-uk.co.uk!

To help you get excited for the big day, here are a few of our favourite books for you to check out together.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan Matilda – Roald Dahl Wonder – R J Palacio Goodnight Mr Tom – Michelle Magorian A Series of Unfortunate Events – Lemony Snicket Coraline – Neil Gaiman The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe – C S Lewis The Christmasaurus – Tom Fletcher Charlotte’s Web – E B White Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls – Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer Harry Potter – J K Rowling The Wolves of Willoughby Chase – Joan Aiken Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney Gangsta Granny – David Walliams

Have you read any of these or have any other suggestions?

You can get in touch with us on Twitter and Facebook at @ukfamilymatters ukfamilymatters |

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Ready to take on myopia MiSight ÂŽ 1 day

The first daily contact lens proven to slow the progression of myopia in children.

Slowing myopia progression can reduce the risk of myopia-related complications and vision loss in later life. The lens is specially designed for myopic children between -0.25 and -6.00DS. Three-year clinical study findings indicated that the use of MiSight ÂŽ 1 day was effective in slowing myopia progression by:

52%

as measured by mean axial elongation of the eye when compared to the children in the control group wearing a standard single-vision, one-day lens contact lens.

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Established in 1939, we have provided eye care for nearly 80 years

LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews CAREERS DAY AT ST MARY’S On Friday, 17th January, St Mary's Primary School in Timsbury held its inaugural Careers Day. A host of volunteers came into school to give presentations about their careers and the role that education played in these. There was a wide range of inspirational speakers, including a doctor, a policeman, a research engineer, an interior designer, a film prop maker, a cycle shop owner, a pharmacist and an employee from Mars UK food company. The children found the day to be very interesting and it really got them thinking about all of the different, interesting and exciting jobs people have and what they might want to do in their own future lives.

CELEBRATING PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS IN PENSFORD Last term, Pensford Primary School celebrated the achievements of Freya, Theo and Loris.

Freya and Theo were both successful in their music exams achieving Piano Foundation Grade 1 with Distinction and Classical Guitar Grade 4 with Distinction respectively, well done guys! Meanwhile, last term Loris took a trip to the Velodrome in Wales where he was able to experience taking his cycling to another level on the successful track. We’re all keeping our eyes out for an appearance in the Olympics in the future!

WELL DONE TO TIMSBURY’S SWIMMERS

CHEW STOKE FUNDRAISER SUCCESS

Back in December, St Mary’s Primary School in Timsbury took an elite squad of swimmers to compete in a local gala. The team was made up of Eva, Lily, Jasper, Darcey, Freya, Ralph, Joe and Finley who all gave amazing performances and finished third overall. A big thank you goes to everyone who came along to support them and to the team themselves!

Chew Stoke has had several successful fundraising sessions during last term. The Amateur Dramatics Night in the village hall raised nearly £600 for the school, their clothing collection raised £193 and £160 came from a wine tasting event at Aldwick Court. A further £88 was then raised by the cake sale run by children in Badger Class! Well done everyone!

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CHRISTINGLE AND SANTA LUCIA AT SHOSCOMBE Everyone at Shoscombe School would like to thank parents for sharing this very special service with them. The hall was packed out with children, friends and family as they learned of the first Christingle and how they can spread God’s love today. Your donations for the Children’s Society totalled £232.80. The traditional candle-lit Santa Lucia service at Foxcote church was beautiful.

DOWNSIDE SCHOOL REPRESENTS UK IN JAPAN! Downside School in Stratton on the Fosse represented the UK at the Asia Europe Foundation Conference during last term.

Around 1,700 schools from across Asia, Europe and Oceania applied for a chance to appear at the event, which focused on Educational Sustainable Development and the use of AI in classrooms, with representatives from 51 countries attending. The aim of the conference was to introduce teachers to these concepts and gauge their reaction to exploring their roles further in schools.

Mike Randall, the Deputy Head at Downside School, hosted a presentation with Alex Wright from ScienceScope, the school’s education tech partner, about their new collaboration which aims to bring the Internet of Things and big data into classrooms. The project will lead best practice in over twenty schools across the world and will empower young people to be creative in dealing with real world issues. For instance, one aspect of the project will allow children to be able to track the progress of weather patterns using this technology which will enable them to monitor ecosystems and human effects following this.

FUNDRAISING AT PAULTON INFANT SCHOOL

THANK YOU TO FARMBOROUGH PUPILS

The pupils at Paulton Infant School have been working hard with fundraising over the last term. They raised an impressive £208 for Children in Need and a grand total of £1903.45 from their sponsored walk. The school will be donating £300 to Paulton’s swimming pool. Thank you to everyone who got involved and well done every one who took part!

The children and staff at Farmborough School have received a letter of thanks from Kate, the co-ordinator for Boys in Mind, Girls Mind Too for the money that was raised by the school on World Mental Health Day. The scheme aims to make boys and girls feel ok about speaking out when they are struggling and the money raised will go towards helping this happen.

Well done everyone for raising money for this great cause!

St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton BA3 4BD ‘Growing Together Through Christ’

Where every day is an OPEN DAY We are a smaller than average school and pride ourselves on our caring approach and our ability to meet every child’s needs, helping them develop and ensure they reach their full potential, whilst growing in the love of Christ. We welcome children of all faiths.

We also offer wrap-around care as well as an independent on-site Nursery.

Come and see for yourselves what the St Benedict’s experience can do for your child.

Please call 01761 418594 to make an appointment Email: stbenedicts@educ.somerset.gov.uk www.stbenedicts.info

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CONGRATULATIONS ON TWENTY YEARS! In November, Carol Hancock from Magic Box Pre-School in Wellow, celebrated an amazing twenty years of service!

Speaking to reporters, Carol said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my day, I was spoilt with some lovely gifts and a cake.

Twenty years have gone by so quickly! My children went to Magic Box, I started as a parent helper, did my training and have not looked back. I enjoy welcoming new families all of whom make Magic Box a very special place. I would like to say a big thank you to my colleagues, Amanda, Vicky and Karen for making it such a special day.”

MIDSOMER NORTON PRIMARY HEAD TO BRISTOL TO LEARN ABOUT ANCIENT GREECE At the end of November, Midsomer Norton Primary School’s Cherry Class took a trip to Bristol Museum to take part in an Ancient Greek workshop and to explore the artefacts on display. During the workshop, the children had the chance to have a go at being archaeologists, which involved learning about Greek myths and handling authentic artefacts. Everyone had a wonderful day and definitely learned more about the Ancient Greeks!

KILMERSDON VISIT FESTIVAL OF LIGHT Pupils in Falcons Class at Kilmersdon Primary School got to visit Longleat’s Festival of Light last term and despite the windy and wet weather, had a great time!

Mrs Ramsey and Miss Callaghan also took Falcons class to see the Myths and Legends on show this year, as well as the animals on the safari tour, they even saw a tiger!

HEDGEHOG CLASS’ ROYAL CORRESPONDENCE Pupils in Hedgehog Class at High Littleton received a letter from Buckingham Palace last term! The pupils had written to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to congratulate them on their 72nd wedding anniversary. The Queen’s Lady in Waiting responded to the letter with a note from the Queen thanking them for their well wishes.

Family owned & run A caring & professional service

Midsomer Norton’s and Radstock’s only independent veterinary practice Puppy & kitten starter packages Puppy parties Pet Health Club Vaccinations Pet passports Pet behaviourist Neutering

01761 412132 enquiries@midsomervets.co.uk www.midsomervets.co.uk ukfamilymatters |

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NEW SCHOOLS CLIMATE EMERGENCY NETWORK LAUNCHED A new network of schools taking collective action to help tackle the climate emergency has been launched in Bath and North East Somerset and the council is calling on more schools to sign up.

The B&NES Schools Climate Emergency Network’s first meeting was attended by representatives from more than half of all of the schools in the district, including primary and secondary schools from both the state maintained and independent sector.

The Network has been set up by members of Family Action on Climate Emergency (FACE), Councillor Tom Davies, Bursar of Monkton Combe School and Jo Marsh of the Palladian Academy Trust in response to the council’s Climate Emergency declaration in March.

The network has written a Schools Climate Emergency Declaration template for schools who want to show their commitment to the issue by making their own declarations and a number of schools are already in the process of doing so.

The first meeting also discussed the council’s initial climate emergency priorities which are increasing renewable energy generation, a major shift to public transport, walking and cycling and making new and old buildings as energy efficient as possible.

There were also presentations from three projects that

schools can take part in right now, that align with each of the priority areas including the Energy Sparks energy monitoring programme, Mode Shift Stars school travel scheme, and Bath & West Community Energy’s search for new solar roof sites.

Councillor Sarah Warren, cabinet member for Climate Emergency, said: “It’s brilliant to see schools proactively pushing for collective action in response to the climate emergency that we declared in March. We applaud the creation of this network as we recognise the crucial role schools have to play in community leadership as well as education. I look forward to continuing to support the network and would strongly encourage other schools to join in and play their part in tackling the climate emergency.”

Tom Davies & Jo Marsh from the Schools Network said: “We had a fantastic turn out for our first meeting which shows how seriously the schools sector is taking this issue in our area and how determined we are to play our part in addressing it. Over the next few weeks we’ll be using the feedback from this meeting to develop the network going forward but we hope in the meantime that a large number of schools will adopt the Climate Emergency Declaration we have prepared.”

PEASEDOWN ST JOHN’S MINI POLICE UPDATE The Mini Police from Peasedown St John Primary School have been busy working alongside the local PCSOs to look after their local community in Peasedown St John. The children had the opportunity to create posters on how to stay safe in the community to communicate with parents on how to safely park during school drop off and pick up times and to action Mission Clean Up Village. The team also carried out speed checks outside the school and spoke to speeding motorists.

Ashton and Elizabeth both won a special torch for their efforts with their posters showing the Mini Police’s values:

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Caring, Courageous, Inclusive and Learning – well done!

The school are very proud of the incredibly contributions the children have made to the community.

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SHOSCOMBE SCHOOL IS HIGHLY PRAISED

SMALL SCHOOLS’ SWIMMING GALA

Shoscombe School has received a glowing report from the Church of England Education Office, following an inspection at the end of 2019 where the school’s Christian vision, collective worship and religious education were looked at.

The report said that the school was “inspiring” to pupils and that the children are “growing in confidence and self esteem”. Other comments included how the staff were “passionate and dedicated” and that the school’s values helped all the pupils get the best of their time at the school. It said: “Pupils feel valued and part of a family. They recognise how staff live out the Christian values making enriching relationships.”

Speaking about the report, Ruth Noall, Shoscombe’s headteacher, said: “We are proud to be ‘Good’ in every aspect of our Christian values. Our school’s Christian vision is to inspire and nurture our children to discover their unique potential. I am very pleased to say that this can be clearly seen through the report.

“Shoscombe Church School is a caring community, our pupils make strong relationships and show respect to each other. It is wonderful to know that our pupils are growing in confidence and selfesteem. Well done and continue to grow and shine, everyone! I want to thank the parents, carers, staff and governors for all the support you continue to give to your children and to the school.”

Congratulations to everyone at Shoscombe!

During December, pupils at High Littleton took part in the Small Schools’ Swimming Gala which was held at the pool in Midsomer Norton, with High Littleton winning the event! In the girls’ freestyle relay, High Littleton’s team of Poppy, Ava, Erin and Matilda came home with a gold medal each and the boys’ freestyle relay team, Ben, John, Billy and Henry came in second.

The team also took part in a number of other races including the 25m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, 25m backstroke, and butterfly. All the pupils did really well in their races. Erin, Matilda, Billy and Ben then took part in the cannon relay and won first place! Well done everyone!

WELL DONE HIGH LITTLETON FUNDRAISERS!

WHEELCHAIR BASKET BALL TEAM AT KILMERSDON Congratulations to Kilmersdon’s amazing Wheelchair Basketball team who played brilliantly at the School’s Tournament last term. They won a trophy which they got to show everyone at the school’s Celebration Assembly.

Well done to all the pupils and staff at High Littleton for their recent fundraising efforts. Last term, they raised £115 for Children in Need with their cake sale and £240.29 during the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal!

The British Legion thanked the school for their continued support.

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MIDSOMER NORTON PRIMARY SAY THANKS TO LOCAL VOLUNTEERS Before the Christmas break, Midsomer Norton Primary welcomed local fire fighters to the school who volunteered their time to help revamp and clear the school’s outdoor play area alongside staff and parents.

Everyone at the school is extremely grateful the all the help – thank you!

OPERATION XMAS CHILD AT ST JOHN’S PRIMARY Thank you to everyone who donated presents, shoeboxes, paper and of course, those who helped to wrap the 34 boxes which were collected by the school last term. These were collected and sent out to children overseas ready for Christmas.

TRINITY BOUNCED INTO CHRISTMAS!

MONEY RAISED WITH BEDTIME STORIES Shoscombe Church School raised £340 in the lead up to Christmas by hosting a bedtime story. The cosy night in was organised by teachers and parents and saw the children return to the school in the pyjamas and slippers for stories and a book sale.

Headteacher, Ruth Noall, said: “Thank you to everyone who came back to school to enjoy a bedtime story. The teachers enjoyed reading a selection of their favourite stories while the children drank hot chocolate and munched on biscuits!

Whilst the children settled down for stories, we were delighted that so many parents came in to browse our book sale.”

The books were provided to the school from Oldfield Park Bookshop in Bath who donated the profits from the sales to the school so that they could buy new books for the school library.

Ruth added: “The parents’ shopping spree was impressive and raised £340! Thank you also to FOSSA, our Friends of Shoscombe School Association, who ran the second hand uniform school alongside the book sale.”

ENRICHMENT WEEK Peasedown pupils had a creative time during their Enrichment Week. Children from Red, Blue and Green classes used a range of techniques to explore the idea of winter with these art pieces!

Towards the end of last term, after weeks of practice, preparation and rehearsals the children of Willow and Cherry classes from Trinity Church School joined with other schools for the annual B&NES Carol Concert which was held at Bathwick St Mary Church. The children led the singing with beaming smiles and between them, Evie, Rocco, Hermyone, Lloyd, Aaron, Evie B, Ava, Sophia, Bertie and Marcus read the five reading beautifully. Following the concert, the team made their way around to the Better Extreme Leisure Centre of an hour of much deserved bouncing in the trampoline park. The children had a fantastic time and their highlights included the wipeout and trapeze areas!

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WOW

UPLOAD YOUR WOW! PHOTOS AND DETAILS TO OUR ONLINE WOW! FORM VISIT WWW.FAMILYMATTERS-UK.CO.UK

WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT Name: Amaya Achievement: Congratulations Amaya! Her wonderful Christmas card design was chosen from hundreds of entries to be the official card for the school in 2019.

Name: Harvey Age: 7 Achievement: Passed his Grading at Judo, well done Harvey!

Name: Raya Achievement: Well done to Raya who won a competition to design an angel for her school Christmas tree!

Name: Skye Age: 5 Achievement: Skye took part in her first gymnastics competition and won 3rd on vault, 3rd on floor, and 3rd overall giving her a bronze medal! We are very proud.

Name: Ariane Age: 8 Achievement: Swam 600m to get the respective STA distance badge, good work Ariane.

Name: Samuel Age: 10 Achievement: Swam 3km to get his 3,000m distance STA badge. Well done, Samuel.

Name: Chloe Age: 6 Achievements: Chloe achieved a Distinction in her Tap Preparatory Grade Exam with Susan Hill School of Dancing.

Well done Chloe!

Name: Beth Age: 8 Achievement: Goldfish 3 Swimming Award – good work!

Name: Felicity Age: 5 Achievement: Stanley 5 Swimming Award – well done!

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