1. Pingo Pond

2. Rowan's Adventures...

3. Hazel's Exploits...

4. Oak's Endeavours...

5. Thank you for the donation

6. Early Help Club - After School

7. Mr. Hurkett says Keep Active at Half Term!

8. Webber’s Warriors

9. Free School Meal (FSM) voucher scheme

10. Half Term Planetarium Show

11. Returning to school on Monday 22nd February? - Here’s what you need to know

12. Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)

13. OPAL Open Day 2021

14. School Improvement Activity

15. Safeguarding

Hello and good morning Bardwell community,

I'm utterly bamboozled that today is the end of the first half term of the new year!

It's been a slightly fragmented week. The snow and Storm Darcy definitely halted learning for a few days, however, I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a welcome addition to the past week's focus on Children's Mental Health. Cue...snow...and what a blanket we were blessed with! There's nothing better than wrapping up warm, grabbing a carrot or two, crunching in the snow, building a snowman, and sledging, or sledding (apparently, there's a difference so I had to Google it...Sledging being the act of using a sledge to travel over snow while sledding being the act of sliding downhill on a sled). Oh, how interesting! On our return to school, we were greeted with quite a tremendous sight. Now at first, I'll admit I passed it off as a flood in the forest. However, upon discussion, Mrs Allman quite eloquently informed me that this was in fact something called a Pingo Pond. Now, again, I'll admit, my thoughts veered towards the incredibly annoying children's animation that I remember seeing on TV as a teenager. Anyway, to the point...Mrs. Allman took me on a learning journey of the unique teachings of a Pingo Pond. Please see a description below:

What are pingo ponds?
Also known as a kettle lake, it is a very rare type of pond. There are dozens in the Brecks in Norfolk - the largest density in the UK. They were created at the end of the last ice age and have been left almost untouched since then. As the glaciers retreated they left hard lenses of ice pressed into the ground, with soil over the top of them. When things warmed up it caused the lenses to melt forming a depression filled with water - a pingo pond. Elsewhere in the UK most pingos have been ploughed up. Pingo ponds are a peculiarity of the Brecks landscape. Pingo is the Eskimo word for hill.

So, as we complete this current chapter, we'll most certainly be turning the page soon to enter the next. By that time we may well have some news about a potential school return on 8th March. Although, please don't hold me to that.

Have a safe half term, huge congratulations, and thank you for supporting your child(ren) with remote learning and thoroughly enjoy the break from devices next week!

Mr. Francksen

Executive Headteacher

We have all enjoyed our writing activities this week and new words have definitely started to creep into our vocabulary. We described, ‘How guards can dash.’ (Charlie R) and how, ‘Hats can soar.’ (Sidney G) and Freddie invented the new onomatopoeic phrase, ‘doof, doof, doof’ for the sound that Beefeater’s boots make whilst pounding after a Queen. Amelia A found out that her Daddy’s boots make the loudest sound when she wears them and thunders down a slate driveway. What a creative bunch Rowan Class are.

I hope all of you had a wonderful time in the snow?! Did anyone discover whether Frosty lasted longer with or without clothing? If you didn't get the chance to investigate maybe you could try this out with an ice cube. This week our focus has been on developing our reading skills; we have been analysing poetry and answering questions on 'Into the Forest' by Anthony Brown. The children have enjoyed learning about the Stone Age and making comparisons between a Neolithic settlement and the modern-day. Do you think you could make it in the Stone Age?

In our Growth Mindset sessions we have been thinking about always striving to do our best. We have decided to never again allow the phrase “I can’t,” to be said in the classroom. Each child wrote down something they can’t do, but that one day they would like to achieve. We then went out to the woodland area, dug a hole and buried all our papers. We had a funeral for “I can’t” - something I think the children will remember forever. Hopefully many of them will one day go on to achieve their ambitions that were written down and from now on we will always say 'We will try…' On our return to school after the snow, we were amazed at the sight of the Pingo pond which had entirely frozen over!

We are so blessed to have received some grant funding from our local council as a result of the current Pandemic. A huge Bardwell thank you must go to Joanna Spicer, our local County Councillor, who has generously donated £750 to the school from her locality budget (via our PTA) to further support the purchase of IT equipment. As you may be aware, the school has made a considerable investment in new Chromebooks since the pandemic began and we have been able to lend one out to any pupil that has needed one.

These will continue on Mondays (multisport), Tuesdays (basketball), and Friday (Streetdance) after half term. Bookable, as always, via Arbor and the bookings will open on Saturday 13th February.

Once we know more about the government’s announcement (due 22nd February) regarding the return-to-school date for all pupils, we will be able to give you information about the reinstatement of Wednesday and Thursday after-school and breakfast clubs.

OneLife Suffolk will be running a free activity scheme over the half-term break with activities such as Cook-a-long, Dance East, Martial Arts, and Jumping Jacks and Snacks. Parent/carers just need to book a place by following the link below:

https://linktr.ee/OneLifeSuffolkFYP.

Another exciting challenge that Mr. Hurkett has set you is to exercise 'Around the World in 40 days.' Don't worry, you don't need to achieve this distance on your own. It's a community challenge so please encourage your parents/carers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunties, friends, and dog (maybe not the dog). Please see the form below to learn how to take part. Good luck!!!

It's been another fantastic week of learning from the children. Amazing efforts!

If you have been receiving FSM supermarket vouchers, you should have received codes from Edenred/DfE to cover the period to Friday 12th February (if you are remote learning), then a Suffolk County Council/Voucher Express code for the half term week (all FSM pupils).

We have been informed that we won’t have access to Edenred to order any more vouchers for the period beyond the half term, until Monday 22nd February. As soon as we can, we will place the next order.

You may remember that we had Immersive Experiences’ portable planetarium booked for Science Week last year, but they had to postpone their visit due to the pandemic. They have sent us this information about a half-term activity that you might be interested in...

Ever wanted to learn more about the night sky? What is up there? What you can see?

Then look no further than these daily online shows over the February half term.

Feel free to join us for one or more shows, as each one is unique.

We will begin by following the Sun until it sets and then the show of the twinkling stars takes the spotlight. From planets to the Perseids, the Moon to the Milky Way and stars to supermassive black holes, we have it covered.

All led by one of our experienced Senior Presenters, the shows last for an hour with Q&A encouraged throughout.

£2.50 per household, per show - booking essential (see the link below).

We’ll have a few more children returning to school after half term - we are looking forward to seeing you.

• 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.

• Usual school hours - drop off from 8.35am, the school gate is closed at 8.45am. 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 1 adult to pick up please, to avoid overcrowding.

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

• If you have a Chromebook on loan and are returning full time, please return your Chromebook too. If you are attending part time, you will need to keep hold of your Chromebook for your remote learning days.

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

• Our full Risk Assessment is available below or at the top of any page on our school website.

• After School Club is available on Monday, Tuesday and Friday - book it, as usual, via Arbor.

I am super excited to announce that I will be one of the presenters at the next OPAL Open Day on Tuesday 2nd March 2021. This will give us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our journey so far and to engage with other like-minded schools that also believe in putting outdoor learning and 'Play' at the very forefront of our vision and ethos. Please see the link below if you want to watch and add your support!

2a) The school has a shared vision and culture of mathematics with all key stakeholders - Miss Trotter collaborated with the National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (NCETM) this week by discussing the staff's vision and curriculum.

2b) A clear progression of skills and methods is in place for each year group - each class now closely follows the White Rose Maths scheme of learning alongside supporting resources such as Classroom Secrets. These are having a positive impact and are ensuring our curriculum is sequential and progressive in terms of knowledge and skills learned.

2d) Children are factually fluent as a result of spaced learning in number bonds and times tables (to reduce cognitive overload) - The birth of TTRockstars and subsequent engagement from the children are benefiting their fluency tremendously.

3a) Effective curriculum leadership across the school - The staff has been discussing subject leadership over the past few weeks and how this could look upon a whole-school return.

5b) Pupils (incl. pupil leaders) are involved in a range of broad sporting/outdoor learning opportunities - It's been awesome to see the Bardwell children join Mr. Hurkett for his 'Work it with Hurkett' live sessions. Well done to all those who have joined and put themselves through their paces.

6b) Pupils enjoy a stimulating outdoor and play learning (OPAL) environment - We're just awaiting news on planning permission but fingers crossed, we'll soon be able to utilise storage for our outdoor provision. Exciting times for 'Play' and outdoor learning.

7a) Termly SGC meetings take place and include, safeguarding, HOS report, SIP, budget - The SGC met on 21st January to discuss how the school is functioning under such challenging times. The governors were able to ask critical questions and Mrs Dunnell-Paley and I were able to answer and expand on key priorities for the school. The SGC is due to meet again in early March time.