We had a wonderful, sunny day in the grandeur of Audley End House this week as the Silver Birch class consolidated their learning about the Victorians. The children enjoyed seeing a full-size laundry and knew exactly what everything in there was for, thanks to their previous experience of the Moyse's Hall Museum loan box. We talked about how many servants would have been needed - the kitchen was enormous!

We were awed at the splendour of the 'posh' parts of the house too and marvelled at the library and the luxurious bedrooms with their four-poster beds, complete with chamber pots and hip baths. We also spent ages exploring the multi-roomed Nursery that the eight (8!) Braybrooke children would have spent most of their time in. We all enjoyed working in the Coal gallery too - a huge room set up to provide the coal and hot water that would have been in constant demand in such a large house. Some of us loved the smell of carbolic soap, others were not so keen.

Parent feedback:
Thank you so much for putting on such a great school trip to Audley End House today. The boys have become very knowledgeable about Victorian times, it’s been enjoyable listening to all they have learned at school.
They have certainly had fun learning about Victorians.
The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves today, “thank you all”.

We were pleased to welcome Katie to the classroom this week. Katie is a printmaker and worked with the pupils on a range of printmaking techniques including lino cutting.

The class took inspiration from the 'Language of Flowers' to produce work which represented some of our behaviour cogs, for example Harebells for Aspiration.

Katie said afterwards, "Didn’t they all do brilliantly?! Such a great group of children to work with and it was so wonderful to see them taking to printmaking so well!"

Hazel Class parents/carers:

As part of our theme ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, Hazel Class pupils have been learning about portraiture. I’d like to invite you into the classroom for a family portrait session next Friday, 1st April from 1.30 pm to 3 pm. This is so that you can be a sitter for your child(ren) to take your photograph. If you need to bring them, younger siblings are also welcome to attend but you will be responsible for them at all times. We can host up to 3 members of each pupil’s family, so do feel free to bring grandparents, aunties/uncles, etc!

This will coincide with the PTA’s fundraising day - Foolish Friday - so if you’d like to dress up or arrive looking suitably foolish, please do.

I look forward to seeing you.

Mrs. Pratt, Class Teacher

We have, so far, raised well over £100 for the DEC Ukraine Appeal. Thanks to all families for coming up with blue and yellow costumes last Friday and to Oak Class for using their printmaking skills to make beautiful cards. There will be a few more for sale after school this week.

During Collective Worship on Friday, we learned about refugees and then made a collaborative artwork of a sunflower, which is now on display in the reception area.

Oliver, who came up with the fundraising idea, says, "The day was great and I'm sure we've helped. I'm so happy to have been able to make a difference and I'm overwhelmed at the amount raised so far."

Oliver - I am so proud of you for coming up with this brilliant idea! Mrs. Boyd

Dear Headteacher,

I am writing to inform you of two parent workshops the Psychology in Schools Team are delivering in April around “How to talk to young people about the war in Ukraine”. Given the scale of media attention the conflict has been given, and some of the rhetoric around World War 3 and nuclear warfare, adults and children alike have been experiencing anxiety around the ever developing situation. The workshop has been developed to support parents in having conversations with their young people to help make sense of what is happening. The workshop will aim to discuss why it is good to talk, to consider the importance of how we talk, managing exposure and time spent on the news, and turning feelings into helpful actions.

I have attached two posters, one digital and one printable, which contains information on how parents are able to sign up. Please would you be able to disseminate the posters to parents within your networks to support them in being able to access this free event.

The Psychology in Schools Team have also created an accompanying podcast which can be found here: Talking to our Children about the war in Ukraine - Mental Health and You podcast - YouTube . Please can you share this with parents also.

Kind regards,

Dr Beth Mosley MBE

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Lead Psychological Therapist

Lead for Suffolk Psychology in Schools Team - Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Foolish Friday on 1st April - Non uniform / crazy hair day / dress like a Fool and please bring in Easter chocs as a donation for the Easter Raffle.

Cake Sale at the end of school on Thursday 7th April - this time it's Oak Class pupils' turn to make/buy cake and bring them into school that morning. All children/parents/carers/staff can then bring in money to buy in the afternoon.

Easter Raffle - tickets will be on sale in the last week of term. Please buy lots of tickets!

Image credit

Here are this week’s recommended reads from me, with a non-fiction theme.

Miss Mansfield, Literacy Co-ordinator

We are very keen to get the village Baby & Toddler Group up and running again particularly to help extend/build social networks for all those who've had a baby during the pandemic and had limited opportunities to meet with other families. Also, it's a great way for any September YR starters to meet the little people that will become their classmates!

The group will meet in the School Hall on Thursdays from 1.30pm, so we'd love it if you came along with your pre-school age child.

Our school uniform supplier has advised us that their web address for Bardwell ordering has changed. It is now

https://www.gooddies.co.uk/product-category/schools/bardwell/

Thetford Voices Singing Workshop: It's a Spring Sing Thing!

Saturday 23 April 1.30 – 5.00

Thetford Voices is launching its fifteenth year of singing with our first Easter Workshop and our first-weekend scheduling. We hope the event will prove an attractive taster session for those joining us for the first time as well as an early opportunity for our regulars to get back to singing live.

The Workshop is open to all interested 6-16-year-olds; the programme of songs chosen with something for all, across the age range.

Schools across our wide, two county catchment area have in the past been immensely helpful in bringing our events to the attention of likely participants. We greatly appreciate your help in this way and would be very grateful if you could help again. The COVID years have understandably checked the momentum of recruitment, which we should love to pick up again.

I attach for your information as pdfs a poster and booking form.
If you were able to share these electronically with your families, this would most effectively enable us to reach those who would like to take part.

We see our work as an enjoyable, but at the same time educationally valuable activity, one which I hope over the years has fed positively into the musical life of our schools. Thank you for any help you can give us at this busy time. It is much appreciated,

John Weeks

Director, Thetford Voices

Camp 11-14 April 2022

Mon 11 April: AM- Skateboarding OR Target Games / PM- BMX OR Skateboarding

Tue 12 April: AM-Ipswich Town Football OR Gymnastics / PM - Ipswich Town Football OR Dance OR Parkour

Wed 13 April: AM-Nerf and Laser Tag / PM- Nerf and Laser Tag

Thurs 14 April: AM Multi games and Inflatables / PM -Multi games and Inflatables

AGES: 5 – 12 Venue: Beyton, Thurston Sixth (IP30 9AQ)

Flyer /Booking form Attached

www.gvtssp.org

Walsham Le Willows Tennis Club, 8 Summer Road, Bury, IP31 3AH

A great way to get into tennis or to improve your existing skills

Aged 4 – 14 - Children Ranging from Beginner advanced level will be grouped of similar ability. On each day a different stroke will be coached & practiced. The course will cover the ABC, (Agility Balance & Control). We will also play popular games like Tennis Cricket, Friend like Foe which the children love.

Dates Times

Camp :- 13th, 14th & 15th April 9am - 12 noon

3 day Camp Costs: £65 (Payment Can be made online to secure)

Single Days: £25 10% Sib Disc on 2nd Child

Please note- Appropriate clothing in case of inclement weather/ sunshine, plenty of drinks & snacks. Contact Giles Davey 07887 547981

or Email Giles@daveytennis.com for further info.

See attached application form

Running on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th April in Claydon and Bury St Edmunds, with the additional dates of the 13th in Bury and 21st and 22nd April in Claydon. Our clubs run from 10:00 - 15:30.

Come and join us for some Holiday Club fun. We have action packed days planned with lots of seasonal themed games, arts and crafts, team games and science activities!

Our Holiday Clubs are for children aged from 6 -14 years, and are broken into the below age groups:

● KS1: For children from 6-7 years old

● KS2: For children from 8-11 years old

● KS3: For children from 12-14 years old

Our clubs are £30 per day and we provide lunch and snacks. Payment is taken via BACS. There are fully funded spaces available for school referrals for those in receipt of ‘free’ school meals, “looked after children” or vulnerable children. To reserve a space, please email for a booking form, instructions on how to make the payment if needed will then follow once the space has been reserved.

We have limited spaces available; therefore, all spaces will be reserved on a first come first serve basis.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to working with you more closely in the future.

For any questions or advice, please contact us on:

Tel: 01473 830077
Email: kinetickidseastanglia@gmail.com

The organisers of the Easter Country Show have kindly given us a ticket to be used as a prize in the PTA Easter Raffle. The show takes place on 17th and 18th April at Henham Estate, Southwold.

Your child may be eligible for free school meals throughout primary school. This could save you approximately £437 per year.

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To check or apply online, visit: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/schools/school-meals-uniforms-and-trips/apply-for-free-school-meals/

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Check if you're eligible

Your child will get free school meals if you receive any of the following:

• Income Support

• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit but no element of Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenues & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190

• If you are supported under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment finishes or after you start to work fewer hours per week

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (£616.67 per month), as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).
  

To check if your child is eligible, apply online for an immediate response or call 01473 260989.

We encourage you to apply, because the school receives additional funding (Pupil Premium) for all children on income-related Free School Meals.

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