1. Rowan's Adventures...

2. Hazel's Exploits...

3. Oak's Endeavours...

4. Primary Science Quality Mark

5. Cars on the Green - Sunday 30th May from 10 am

6. Aspirational Displays

7. WE NEED YOU!
8. Year 6 Staycation Residential

9. Change to After-school Club 23rd and 24th June

10. BMX...Starters ready, pedals ready, GO!!!

11. Yoga

12. Monday Mile/Lourdes virtual pilgrimage

13. School photos - Reminder

14. Sports Day

15. Voicemail Superstar

16. Contact tracing over May half-term

17. Communications Flow Chart

18. Safeguarding & Wellbeing

We are all very tired and are definitely ready for our week off! However, this has not stopped us from writing some marvellously creative sentences and working very hard on counting forwards and backward to 100. The 100 square is a very confusing beast! Our drama session this week was very entertaining and the children created some interesting and comedic scenes on how to be and not to be a kind communicator.

This week we have all been extremely busy planning and writing our own non-chronological reports about pirates. Our reports include all the information we researched, from books, about what pirates liked to eat and some of the different jobs onboard a pirate ship. In maths, we have been skip counting and developing our fluency in multiplication.

We have been continuing with our topic on space, this week. The class has been creating their own stories to show the relative positions and sizes of the planets in our solar system. In English, the class have been planning and writing their own version of a chapter from the Frank Cottrell-Boyce book “cosmic”. The chapter is about a boy going for a drive in a Porsche, so it’s very exciting. We have also been using digital design software to create our own front covers for that book.

We are so proud to announce that we have been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark. This is an achievement for the whole staff team, but particularly for Mr. Morris who led on this initiative.

The PSQM ensures effective leadership of science, enables schools to work together to share good practices and is supported by professional development led by local experts. Schools that achieve PSQM demonstrate commitment and expertise in science leadership, teaching and learning.

The assessor commended the school by saying:

“There is very clear evidence that the school values science in and around school, its grounds, and the wider community. The school’s curriculum design also supports seeing the importance of science and how it links to the wider learning and real life. The school has identified clear goals and made progress in increasing practical science and problem-solving. The collaborative development between staff is fantastic. The fact that the science profile was maintained, and strategies adapted, during home learning shows your commitment to leading science.”

Cars on the Green is taking place this Sunday. This is the first of the village’s many summer events to return and, happily, it coincides with the start of half term so let’s make it a BIG one! Vintage vehicles of all shapes and sizes will be on display, with refreshments and stalls, all taking place on the beautiful village green. Musical entertainment will be provided by The Knightingales and tractor rides around the village are available. The weather is always kind to Cars on the Green and it’s a great family day out, so why not come along to support local causes including the school’s PTA.

The PTA is also hoping to recruit some new volunteers to help sell raffle tickets, please contact Tracey, Laura, or Emma in the playground or via the PTA’s Facebook page if you are able to volunteer - even an hour of your time would help.

In light of the obvious challenges this year, we are unable to embark on an external residential trip with Year 6. However, having discussed potential ideas and opportunities with the children, I am thrilled to be able to offer Y6 pupils the opportunity to take part in a school ‘Staycation’ trip from Wednesday 23rd June to Friday 25th June.

What’s it all about?

It’s about rising above the pandemic by having fun while taking part in all sorts of activities designed to help your child learn, develop new skills, shine as an individual, and also as part of a team.

For many children this may be their first experience of staying away from home without you; by having a staycation with Bardwell staff, we can ensure we are on hand throughout to encourage, reassure and help so that your child returns home even more confident and independent with a real sense of achievement.

Y6 parents/carers - if you’ve not already done so, please complete the Google form, below.

Mr. Hurkett will be busy running our Y6 pupils’ Staycation on the dates above, so his after-school clubs will be covered by Gipping Valley Sports Partnership. Please note that this means numbers will be limited - Mrs. Allman will reallocate any Y6 places that have been booked, and then contact you if your child’s place is affected.

Children from Y3 and above took part in a BMX workshop this week. It was a huge success and such a great way to inspire the children by providing something alternative to the normal curriculum!

Local resident and yoga teacher Carole Baker recently offered one free yoga class per week to the school. This will be offered to Hazel Class in the first instance on Fridays at 2.15 pm - a great chance to wind down after a busy week. This will run weekly from Friday 11th June to 9th July (except on 2nd July when Carole is busy with Bardfest!). Please can you ensure that your Hazel Class pupil has suitable clothing on Fridays?

In the last couple of weeks, we’ve really gone the extra mile, particularly this week when 22 pupils ran or walked the full mile and we collectively managed 43 miles!

We are now close to halfway to Lourdes - I think that means we are southwest of Paris.

It’s class and whole school photos on Tuesday 8th June, just after we return following the half term. Please ensure your child is wearing a smart school uniform on that day. The class photos will be in Tempest Photography’s ‘Vista’ style. A Y6 Leavers group photo will also be taken for us to send to the East Anglian Daily Times for their special supplement - please ensure you have your hoodie with you. Similarly, on Friday 11th June, Y6 will be photographed by Mecha from the Bury Free Press for their leavers’ supplement so, again, hoodies will be needed.

We will be holding Sports Day on Thursday 10th June. The PTA has kindly agreed to sell refreshments in the afternoon for adult spectators.

The sporting challenges will then take place in the school’s afternoon session from 1 pm - please ensure you are dressed for the weather, the rear field can be very exposed. We will only postpone (to Thursday 17th June) in the event of very inclement weather.

Request for gazebos, please! This will enable us to keep the children protected from the sun.

Children can wear a T-shirt or hat in their house colour, if they have one available. T-shirts are preferable.

Our current voicemail star is Tobias; listen out for him if you need to leave a message on the School’s voicemail.

Schools and colleges continue to play an important role in contact tracing for pupils, students, and staff. We recognise the challenges of this responsibility during holidays, but this remains vitally important in the continued national effort to limit the spread of the virus.

Where pupils, students, or staff test positive for COVID-19 during half-term, having developed symptoms more than 2 days since being in school or college, no action is needed. Staff, young people, parents, and carers should follow contact tracing instructions provided by NHS Test and Trace. However, where pupils, students or staff test positive having developed symptoms within 2 days of being in school or college, you are asked to assist in identifying close contacts and advising self-isolation, as the individual may have been infectious whilst in school or college.