Newsletter Date Volume 1, Issue 1
Newsletter October 2015
Welcome Unbelievably, we are at the end of the first half-term of the 2015—16 academic year— and what a half-term it has been! Not only have we held two Parents Information Sessions, Grandparents Day and Parents Evenings, but we have also appointed the first ever Bexton Pupil Senior Leadership Team. Made up of a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Leads for learning, behaviour, safety and e-safety with an additional seven pupils on the consultation committee. The team will focus on a range of issues from the viewpoint of the children such as ways to improve the playground, make breaks and lunchtimes more fun and tackle issues such as e-safety. We’re sure you will hear from them in future issues of the newsletter. We hope that you enjoy our new newsletter format
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
and would welcome feedback on
Take a Challenge ......................2
admin@bexton.cheshire.sch.uk
Importance of Reading ............3
Pobble ......................................3 Anglo Saxons ...........................4
TAKE A CHALLENGE “Take a Challenge” is our new whole school half term challenge activity, replacing our very successful Reading Challenge. Supporting growth mind set, independent learning and our school values, our aim is to encourage new ways of thinking that will help our Bexton children own their own change and growth. Take a Challenge gives the opportunity, with parental support, for our Bexton children to achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations. It builds confidence, self-belief and shows that through perseverance and determination all our Bexton children can achieve amazing things. Each half term the children will receive a new challenge theme, October half term is “Helping Others”. The children are already very excited and making plans for their challenge activities. We would be very grateful for all parents to support and help your child to plan ideas, set targets/goals, turn ideas into reality and help your child to be successful. A “Take a Challenge” entry form and booklet with suggested ideas will be sent home with your child shortly. Children are encouraged to take photographs, write a short piece to share their challenge and experience with the rest of the class. On completion please hand in the entry form to your child’s teacher.
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POBBLE—BLOGGING FOR PUPILS After half term we will be launching our new blog. Each class will have their own account and teachers will be uploading examples of writing produced in their classes each week. All children will get their own password to log into the blog and comment on the work produced.
return this to them before half term. If you haven't received a letter please see the office or your child's teacher for a copy. For more information please follow this link. https://pobble.com/
Blogging is a fantastic way to share children's writing with the whole world and motivate young writers. We are looking forward to working closely with Pobble.com to celebrate and share the wonderful writing produced at Bexton. In order to do this we need parental permission to share your child's writing. If you have been given a letter by your child's teacher please
READING FOR LIFE
This sign was spotted by one of our parents who thought how well it fitted with the recent message from the Parents Information Evening on reading to your children.
We agree!
Spotted in a local library!
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ANGLO-SAXONS AND VIKINGS Year 4 had a wonderful day out on Monday 18th October at Tatton Old Hall learning all about the Anglo Saxons and the Vikings. The children looked very authentic in their costumes and it really helped them get into the spirit of the activities, especially when they were pretending to attack in formation! Throughout the course of the day the children took part in a range of different activities from bread making to weaving to tracking animals in the park. Some were even lucky enough to witness two stags rutting with grass draped across their antlers- just as they would have done in Anglo Saxon and Vi-
Baking Bread Anglo-Saxon style
king times. Everyone agreed that the trip was a great introduction to the history topic.
RECYCLING DESIGN As you are probably aware, everyone now has to pay 5p for a bag at the supermarket, consequently the new Junior Recycling Officers, Alex and Daisy, launched a competition to design and make a carrier bag out of recycled materials. The response has been overwhelming! Many children have been truly inspirational in their use of materials and extremely creative in their designs. We have asked the governors to come in and make their recommendations before prizes are awarded. Thank you to everyone who took part and watch this space for the announcement of the winners. Good Luck to everyone who entered. .
WEBSITE NEWS As you may be aware, we have recently been experiencing one or two issues with the school website. We are very excited to tell you that we are hoping to launch a new website before Christmas. Hosted by School Spider, we are hoping that the website will look nearly as lovely as our old website but have added functionality. An app will also be available for Android and Apple phones which will allow you to receive push notifications and give you easy access to newsletters and the school calendar. As soon as the website is ready to go live, we will let you have the full details and will issue usernames and passwords to children once this section of the website is prepared.
GARDENING DISPLAY We would like to say a massive thank you to the kind parents and members of gardening club who spent a lot of time digging and preparing the soil ready for seeding. The display is magnificent and a credit to all the hard work.
STAFF NEWS Sadly, we are saying goodbye to Mrs Vickery in Year 2 who is leaving for personal reasons but has very kindly offered to continue working with us on a supply basis. Mrs Brand who taught the current Year 5 children (she was Miss Connor) as part of her teacher training, will be joining us after half-term in Class 5.
Part of our wildflower meadow.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Monday 2nd November Friday 6th November
Children return How to help your child sheets out
Monday 7th December
KS2 Rehearsal at St Johns Church 1.30
8th
Tuesday December Wednesday 9th December Wednesday 9th December Thursday 10th December Friday 11th December Wednesday 16th December Thursday 17th December
Friday 18th December
KS2 Church Service at St Johns Church 1.30 Infant Nativity 10am Pre-school children only KS2 Christmas Service 6.30 Infant Nativity 2pm Year 5 cake sale Infant Nativity 10am Children’s Christmas Lunch Children’s Christmas Parties Dress up day £1 donation for Ethical Enterprise project Children break up for Christmas INSET day for teachers
Bexton Primary School Blackhill Lane Knutsford Cheshire WA16 9DB
01565 632816