1. Light

2. Rowan's Adventures...

3. Hazel's Exploits...

4. Oak's Endeavours...

5. Orienteering Themed Day

6. Wraparound provision/Breakfast & After School Clubs back and in full swing

7. Back to Collective Worship

8. Sorry, we missed your call...

9. Gavin Williamson's letter

10. Half term activity clubs

11. Raring2go! Spring digital magazine

12. Bardwell Cricket Club information

13. Welcome to our Work Experience students

14. Change to Risk Assessment

15. ’New’ lunch menu

16. Parent/carer consultations

17. OneLife Suffolk information

18. Farewell

19. Term Dates 2021-2022

20. Safeguarding & Wellbeing

Welcome back everyone,

It's been a brilliant week - all children back, all staff back, and a vibrant atmosphere have been ever-present.

Despite the Easter break, there has been a lot of action...our outdoor front garden is coming together well - hopefully, you've noticed some developments, namely our OPAL provision of a digging area, soon-to-be fully grassed sports area, tyre tunnel, tyre pods, enlarged sandpit, storage sheds jam-packed with exciting new equipment...and so much more. I know where I'm going to spending time at lunch! Mr. Francksen will be at the front of the queue! The first space-hopper is mine! Please?!

Our first stained-glass art window has been installed, too. It is something to be truly proud of! Already the light that shines through (upon walking into the school) gives off such a special feeling...one that this school is a special, enlightening place! We've two more to go in (either side of our centerpiece) so watch this space as we get ready for a big press release very soon!

It's a rather fun-filled newsletter this week, so I'll leave you with one last thought...'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.'

Mr. Francksen

Executive Headteacher

It’s been very clear to see (and hear!) how much the children have enjoyed being back together in this first week of school and everyone seems to have grown very tall over the holidays; I think it must have been all the Easter eggs that I’ve heard so much about! We’ve launched straight into some challenging maths and the children are all trying very hard to count in twos and solve problems related to this. As always, the hunt for phonics sounds continues…...

The children had a wonderful map and orienteering activity on Wednesday which tied in perfectly with our new topic on pirates! We created a giant treasure map on the playground and learned all about the compass directions. We have been extremely busy in our literacy lessons this week, planning and writing our independent write about a dragon! We have lots of fun activities to come including designing and making pirate finger puppets.

After waking up with the Monday Mile, Head Boy, and Girl, Joshua and Imogen began the week quoting the Bible verse: ‘I will be with you always - until the very end of time.’ Matthew, 28:20. Children in Oak class have spent time learning about Prince Phillip’s life and through this term’s reflective cog focus, have considered the message this quote gives; aiming to celebrate life with the knowledge that those who play a significant role in our lives never really leave us. Our exciting new topic, To Infinity & Beyond, takes last term’s focus on the UK and whizzes us off to the wider world and up into space!

Thank you to Adrian Hall from Active Outdoor Discovery for the day of map-making. All the children loved getting outside and learning navigational skills in the real context. The children learned distance, directions, and understanding what information a map can give us.

Oscar and Izzy will be using their new skills to help them achieve Cub/Beavers badges - well done you two!

What a great first week back enjoying the wrap-around care and the beautiful environment at Bardwell Primary School. Remember, they're FREE so don't miss out on this excellent opportunity!

We are currently full on Mondays through to Thursdays, however, there are some spaces on Fridays.

Please remember to let the office know if your child’s place is no longer needed on any After School Club session, as we have a waiting list and would like to offer the space to another pupil when we can.

Our very own head girl, Imogen, is the new Voicemail Superstar. If you hear Imo, please leave a message and the school will get back to you asap.

The Secretary of State for Education has written to children and young people to recognise the impact of the disruption they have faced over the past year and to thank them for their resilience. He outlines his continued commitment to supporting children and young people to recover from the disruption now that they have returned to school and college. The letter also highlights the importance of coronavirus (COVID-19) testing and the vital role this plays in helping to prevent the virus spreading.

The letter is published on the DfE media blog and on DfE’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Following such a successful 2 days of FREE Easter Clubs, we are intending to run sessions on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th June, if there is enough interest.

The provision is FREE but we do ask that you commit to the club session(s) you’ve booked for, otherwise, we will need to make a charge to you (£7 half-day, £12.50 full day) to help cover our costs. The clubs run from 9.00-15.30 each day and children should arrive in suitable PE kit including footwear. REMEMBER to provide water, weather-appropriate clothing/hat, sunscreen, and a packed lunch for those attending a full day.

Please complete this Google form to express an interest in your child(ren) attending sports clubs during the half-term holiday.

Raring2go! Spring digital magazine: http://bit.ly/Raring2goSuffolkSpring21

This edition is full of useful information for local families, including details of clubs, classes, holiday camps, indoor and outdoor activities.

If you could share to your families via email, newsletter or your social media accounts, it would be most appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support.

Emily Parker

Editor Raring2Go magazine

Laura Flowers of Bardwell Cricket Club has asked us to share this information with all families. Their All Stars Cricket course (5-8 yr olds) starts on 7th May; Junior Cricket (Under 9s to Under 15s - see flyer for times) restarts on 23rd April.

We will be welcoming students Ms. Porter and Ms. Lockyear to Bardwell School from next week, for them to complete elements of their work experience to support their studies. Ms. Porter will be with Mrs. Boyd in Rowan's Class for two days a week until the end of term, in support of her Level 3 qualification in Early Years & Childcare. Ms. Lockyear will be with us full time until 28th May, working across the school but primarily in Hazel Class to support her BA in Primary Education, mentored by Miss Trotter.

In the light of recent Covid-19 restrictions being lifted, we have changed our Risk Assessment, so that we can start to allow visitors back into school safely, following our hygiene protocol. This will allow us, amongst other things, to enable on-site parent consultations, new YR transition visits, and visits from prospective new families. Section 18 now states:

• Admin staff will facilitate visits to the school, e.g. by contractors and prospective families, and ensure they are aware of and comply with our hygiene protocols. Visitors will be asked to wear a face-covering if they are able to do so. Where possible, visitors' movements will be limited around parts of the school where pupils are present.

The new lunch menu was shared with you earlier this week and is always available from the Brochure on our website or via this link.

Vertas have essentially offered a continuation of the last menu, as all dishes were proving popular. I am pleased to say that we will soon be moving away from disposable tableware and back to using our usual cutlery and plates; Vertas are awaiting delivery of new cutlery.

We will be holding parent/carer consultations on 28th April and 5th May and I have asked teaching staff to decide whether these will be in person or by phone. They will contact you directly to arrange appointment times. Miss Trotter has already done this for Hazel Class, she would like to remind you to complete the Google Form (below).

Rowan Class and Oak Class families - you will hear from your child’s teacher soon.

OneLife Suffolk offers healthy lifestyle sessions to families across Suffolk. We run 10-week groups and support families up to a year after the group.

We are starting up some new groups in April! Most of these groups are online, but if there is a group local to a family they will be offered that as well as the zoom groups.

The groups we have booked are:

• Haverhill Saturday 11-12:30 pm. Starting 24th April – Haverhill Leisure Centre

• Teenage zoom group Wednesday 6-7 pm. Starting 21st April

• Younger ages zoom group Thursday 5:30-6:30 pm. Starting 22nd April

• Younger ages zoom group Saturday 10-11 am. Starting 24th April

Please could you circulate this information and attached poster to your staff and families. Families can visit onelifesuffolk.co.uk/services/families-young-people/ to sign up or call 01473 718193. To keep to up-to-date with our latest activities and free resources they can follow us at @OneLifeSuffolk

The QR poster attached is designed to always be up to date so can be shared even when we don’t have groups starting soon.

Thank you.

Sarah Maidment

Children’s Programme Co-ordinator

www.onelifesuffolk.co.uk | sarah.maidment@onelifesuffolk.co.uk | 07826516749

OneLife Suffolk, Horringer Room – Ground Floor. ASK House, Northgate Avenue Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6BB