1. Back To Our Own Country

2. Welcome Back

3. Returning to school - quick recap (I promise)

4. Rowan's Adventures...

5. Hazel's Exploits...

6. Oak's Endeavours...

7. 'Work It with Hurkett'

8. Forest School Returns

9. OPAL Opportunities

10. FREE Easter Sports Clubs

11. Staffing Changes

12. Chromebooks

13. Health & Safety Audit

14. SCC Easter Holiday food scheme

15. School Milk and School Fruit & Veg

16. Exciting Events On The Horizon

17. Safeguarding & Wellbeing

Good afternoon everyone,

We can't wait for you all to return.

It's another smorgasbord of news, events, and looking ahead. So without further ado, please enjoy this week's edition of the Bardwell Community Newsletter!

Mr. Francksen

Executive Headteacher

• Please drop off from 8.35am, the school gate is closed at 8.45am in time for registration. The County Council taxi services will drop off from 8.30-8.35am so avoid the main gate at that time. Please say goodbye to your child at the gate, children in YR/Y1 can be taken to their classroom door but please maintain a 2m distance from others as you do so. Pick up is at 3pm, you are welcome to wait on the playground at a 2m distance from others. Only one adult to pick up please, to avoid overcrowding.

• Please wear your usual school uniform, but do wear layers as the school has lots of doors and windows open for ventilation.

• Ensure you have a waterproof coat and gloves/hat to put on for OPAL - Outdoor Play and Learning.

• Also keep a pair of wellies and spare socks in school - our Breckland pingo pond is very full at the moment and there are plenty of muddy puddles to play in.

• Pupils only need a water bottle and book bag in school, no other items from home.

• On PE and Forest School Days, please arrive at school in your outdoor/sports clothes

• If you have a Chromebook on loan please return it to the office or to your class teacher.

• School dinners are being provided following the regular menu, don’t forget that you can have a jacket potato or a school packed lunch - just let your teacher know at registration.

• After School Club is available every day. Breakfast Club is available on Wednesday and Thursday. Book sessions, as usual, via Arbor. If you need to cancel a booking, please let the office staff know.

We have had such a lovely week making cardboard looms and learning about warp and weft to turn yarn into fabric! This was quite tricky at first but we all persevered and produced some wonderful work. This week we have been busy learning about 2D & 3D shapes, the children have been exploring the properties of these shapes and are getting increasingly confident with identifying features and using mathematical vocabulary. Some of us have been looking at measuring and getting to grips with converting units of measurement. The children have put so much enthusiasm and effort into their learning this week, well done, I am so proud of you all!

One of this week’s highlights was our art and DT lesson which taught us about the proportion of the human figure and techniques for drawing a face. We then put this into practice drawing characters from ‘The Princess & the Pea’ who will eventually move into 3D scenes from the book which we have already planned and are soon going to be building! In PHSE we have been learning about conundrums and understanding how to deal with difficult problems that may have no clear ‘right’ answer.

It's great to be back everyone. I hope you have enjoyed the remote 'Work It with Hurkett' offer. I have been blown away by the number of participants from Bardwell. There's nothing like face-to-face PE, however, to see so many of you taking part from your homes, in parks, and with your family has been awesome!

This past week has also seen a special 'Rise and Shine Work It Hurkett' (where I have been working out at 6.45 am) along with a healthy breakfast blog shortly after; again, to see some of you has been amazing. It was great to see Mrs. Webber, too!

This week, I returned and it was great to be back...

We worked on exploring different ways to travel. What body parts we could travel on. We explored how to travel up, down, across, and through.

We spoke about the Courageous Cog, what it means and how we can show it throughout gymnastics and everyday life.

I'm looking forward to the whole-school return on 8th March. Remember to send your child(ren) into school in their clothing/footwear for PE and Forest School as follows:

• Rowan Class - PE & Forest School on Wednesday;
• Hazel Class - PE & Forest School on Thursday;
  
• Oak Class - PE on Wednesday, Forest School on Thursday.
  

The picture of her and Sidney speaks a thousand words.

Sidney was inquisitive and reflective when Mrs. Elliott asked him to test out his rope swing idea on a small twig branch.

You could really see him thinking about how he could adapt his idea.

We have agreed to circulate details of this Easter holiday club programme to be held in Bury St Edmunds. Please note that the School is not involved in the event and any queries should be directed to the organiser.

We have agreed to circulate details of this Easter holiday tennis activity programme. Please note that the School is not involved in the event and any queries should be directed to the organiser.

Upon Mrs. Webber's return, I am delighted to confirm that she will be working with Miss. Trotter and Hazel's Class.

If your child has been loaning a school Chromebook (to aid them with their remote learning) please can you ensure they return it with its charger upon our return?!

Each year the schools in the Tilian Partnership are independently audited for their compliance with statutory Health & Safety requirements. I’m delighted to say that the auditor gave us a score of 100% this year, up from last year’s 96.4%.

This information comes from Chrissie Geeson, Head of Localities at Suffolk County Council

If your child is eligible for free school meals, or if you are facing hardship, we encourage you to register for a food parcel that will be delivered to you by our partner The Pink Orange. To register, you must complete a short online form on the Smart Survey web page smartsurvey.co.uk/s/easterholidays, or scan the QR code in the attached letter. You will be required to provide your child’s details and to consent to these being shared with us at Suffolk County Council to enable us to check eligibility. Alternatively, if you are unable to complete the form online, please call The Pink Orange on 07553 894 233. You must register before 5pm on 15th March 2021. Visit our website healthysuffolk.org.uk for further information about the Holiday Activity and Food Programme.

We are pleased to hear that the School Milk scheme will resume from next week. If your child has School Milk (either under the free milk scheme or paid for by you), this will restart.

Our supplies of school Fruit & Veg resumed recently, so all pupils aged 4-6 (YR, Y1, Y2) are offered a daily piece of fruit or veg.

During this lockdown, the staff at Bardwell have been busy preparing for some wonderful activities throughout the remainder of the academic year. We will, of course, let you have more detail as you need it.

• Monday 8th March - Return to School for all pupils and distribution of World Book Day vouchers;

• Tuesday 9th March - World Book Day costume day. Dress as a word that inspires or interests you, or as your favourite book character. If you can, please bring in a £1 donation for Book Aid International;

• Wednesday 17th March - Jamie Knight, world-renowned freestyle footballer in for a whole school Enrichment Day. See Jamie’s website showreel for a taster;

• Wednesday 24th March - Whole school Enrichment sessions on maps and orienteering with Adrian Hall of Active Outdoor Discovery;

• Saturday 27th March to Sunday 11th April - Easter holiday;

• After 19th April (date TBC) - Woodland Trust tree planting session;

• Friday 30th April - England Does the Daily Mile;

• Monday 12th April - the launch of new EATS school menu;

• Monday 3rd May - May Day bank holiday, no staff or pupils in school;

• Thursday 6th May - Whole school trip to Thorpe Woodlands;

• Thursday May 20th - Outdoor Classroom Day;

• Spring/Summer Term - Parents/carers’ Consultations (TBC);

• Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June - May half-term holiday;

• Tuesday 8th June - Class and whole school photographs, smart school uniform, please;

• Wednesday 30th June, Thursday 1st July - Suffolk Agricultural Association event in school (taking place of Schools Farm & Country Fair);

• Y6 pupils transition events (TCC transition days 13th & 15th July, SET Ixworth 29th June & 30th June);

• New YR transition morning - Wednesday 14th July. Families of September YR starters will be contacted after Offer Day with further details;

• Y6 Leavers’ trip - Wednesday 7th July (Provisional date, TBC);

• Leavers’ service & achievement awards, whole school - Monday 12th July (Provisional date, TBC);

• Sports Day (Thursday 10th June with 17th June as ‘backup’, in case of poor weather);

• Monday 19th July - last day for pupils in school;

• Tuesday 20th July - PD Day, no pupils in school.