12th September 2022 Newsletter
Article 15
You have the right to choose your own friends and join or set up groups, as long as it isn’t harmful to others.
Welcome back
It has been wonderful to welcome all of our children back into school this week. They have come back into school with such a positive attitude and appear really happy to be back into school – seeing their friends again and settling back into school routines. They have adapted extremely well to the new arrangements put into place.
Can I take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to our new Nursery and Reception children and their families. We appreciate how hard it has been for all of you starting school without the usual transition arrangements that would have been in place. Your children have made an amazing start to their time at Blanford Mere – they have come in smiling and positive and have been a credit to you. Thank you for the part that you have played in preparing them to start school. We look forward to working with you all and getting to know you better. We hope that all of our new children and parents will be happy at Blanford Mere.
Thank you too, to parents/guardians of our existing pupils for sending them back to school looking smart and in correct uniform – remember children can wear either summer or winter uniform up until half term. However, if they are wearing winter uniform they should have a tie on. Reception children should wear a red polo shirt, grey trousers/shorts or skirt or a summer dress.
A reminder that all PE kits should be in school as timetables start immediately. Although all classes have timetabled PE sessions, there are often additional opportunities for sporting activities as well as staff making the most of the last of the good weather for outdoor PE lessons. Children are not allowed to take part in PE unless all jewellery/earrings have been removed. This forms part of our behaviour system.
Can we ask that parents check that all of your child’s belongings have been labelled, to include shoes. We have so many children in each class and want each child to learn to look after their belongings and keep them safe. It is so much easier to give the items to the correct child if they are labelled. Many thanks.
Earrings if worn should be a plain stud earring (not hoops). If you wish your child to have their ears pierced, can I suggest that you have this done at the very beginning of the of the summer holidays, so that their ears have the full six weeks to heal.
We understand that siblings have the same arrival/collection time – we are asking that you drop/collect the eldest first. Staff are aware of this and placing younger siblings at the back of the line when dismissing. I’m sure that this will become swifter as the time goes by!
Staffing news
We would like to welcome the following staff to Blanford Mere:
Mrs K Crook – Headteacher
Mr L Kimberley – EYFS Strategic Leader
Mrs M Cope – 3/4 class teacher
Mrs H Maher and Mrs K Patel – After School Club Assistant
We hope that they will be very happy with us.
Meet the Teacher Sessions
Meet the Teacher Sessions – This is extremely important as it will provide information about the expectations for your child’s learning this academic year. Please attend if you are able to.
We would like to invite you to a ‘Meet the Teacher’ session on Wednesday 21stSeptember 2022 at 3.30pm.
These sessions are in addition to our usual Parent Consultation Evenings later in the term when you will have a chance to meet your child’s teacher and discuss your child’s progress. The purpose of this meeting is for your child’s new class teacher to introduce themselves, to tell you about the year ahead, expectations of the use of planners and also about our behaviour system. By the end of the session you will have received information about the curriculum that will be taught as well as the standards that children are expected to achieve by the end of the year. Teachers will take this opportunity to clarify how parents can help to support their children and will answer any questions that you may have.
If you are able to attend then please complete the form online ‘Meet the Teacher 2022’, by Monday 19th September at the latest, so that we have an idea of numbers. Please indicate how many adults will be attending. Sessions will take place in your child’s classroom (children will be looked after whilst you attend the sessions.)
We are aware that some parents will have children in more than one class and can only be in one place at a time! Can we suggest that it may be beneficial to attend the session for your oldest child as you will already have some knowledge of the routines and curriculum for previous year groups?
We appreciate that some parents will not be able to attend due to work commitments. After the sessions, we will post a brief outline on the website in the folder for each class so that you can see what was discussed; details of the behaviour system will be published in a newsletter.
We hope that this will provide a positive start to the year and help to establish a good working relationship between you and your child’s teacher.
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Please support us on Friday 30th September 2022 9.00am – 10.15am with our Macmillan Coffee morning – a great time to get together and join us for a coffee and cake – ask friends, relatives, neighbours etc. The more people we involve, the more proceeds go to support this worthy cause. Please support us to by sending cakes in to sell either home cooked or shop bought from Wednesday 28th September 2022. Children will be singing at intervals throughout the morning. We ask for a minimum donation of £2 for a coffee and cake. We are asking children to support this worthy cause too – they can wear their own clothes and donate a minimum of £2 – if you do not wish your child to take part they should come to school in their uniform. Normal lessons will be taking place, so please ensure children are dressed appropriately. Thank you.
f you would like your child to take part in this fundraiser, we are asking you to do the following:
- Send your child to school on Friday 30th September wearing their own clothes (sensible clothing, as learning will continue as normal)
- A minimum donation of £2 – you are more than welcome to donate more should you wish
- Your child will receive a cup drink and an individually wrapped cake/biscuit
- You will be supporting an amazing charity and our local Macmillian services
Of course, if your child does not wish to take part, then they can come to school in their uniform, as usual.
Times Tables Rock Stars & Numbots Apps
Well done to all the children who have been learning their times tables on Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS). TTRS is a free app that children can access to help them learn their times tables. It is aimed at children in Y2-Y6 but younger children can have a go if they want to. Passwords are on the inside front cover of your child's planner. Please remind your child to play 'little and often'.
Numbots is also a free app download that is brilliant for children of all ages - particularly Reception and Key Stage 1. It helps children with their number work so that they can recognise numbers and improve their number skills. Passwords are on the inside front cover of your child's planner. Please encourage your child to have a go.
TTRS dressing up day 20.10.22
Thursday 20th October will be our first 'TTRS dress up day' of the new term. Any child who has achieved Rock Star, Rock Legend or Rock Hero status (for the 1st time) will be allowed to dress as a Rock Star or come in their own clothes.
'Rock Hero' children who can correctly answer 60 questions in a minute will dress up too. All children who are eligible to dress up will have a sticker in their planner.
Many thanks, Mr Baker.
Dates for your diary
I know that parents find advance notice of forthcoming dates and events helpful to help when juggling family and work commitments. Further details will be sent nearer the time but known dates for this term are:
Meet the Teacher - Wednesday 21st September
Yr 5/6 WW2 Theatre Group - Thursday 15th September
Yr 1-6 Yorkshire Bank Workshops - Friday 23rd September
Macmillan Coffee Morning - Friday 30th September
Parents Evening - Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th October more details to follow
Harvest begins -More details to follow - Monday 3rd October
Inset Day - Friday 21st October
Half Term Holiday - Monday 24th October—Friday 28th October
End of Term - Friday 16th December
Nuts in School
Please note that we have children in school with a severe nut allergy – a reminder please that we are a no nut/nut free school (including Nutella). We really appreciate your support with this as the matter is extremely serious.
Birthdays
It has become a tradition here for children to celebrate their birthday in school by wearing their own clothes. These still need to be appropriate for a normal school day but will help to mark their special day in a fun way. For children who are lucky enough to have their birthday on a Saturday, Sunday or in the school holidays, then they can wear their own clothes on the following Monday. Children can send sweets into school again, should you wish.
Hairstyles:
A reminder that it is not suitable for children to come to school with shaven heads, tramlines or extreme colours. Please remind your children of the rules. Children who have long hair must tie it up.
Can we ask that parents check that all of your child’s belongings have been labelled, to include shoes. We have so many children in each class and want each child to learn to look after their belongings and keep them safe. It is so much easier to give the items to the correct child if they are labelled. Many thanks.
Collection Arrangements
Collection arrangements at the end of the day. If your child attends our After School Club, Playbox or other provider on a regular basis please indicate this in your child's planner. This also applies if the routine changes or another relative is collecting. If the arrangements for collection change throughout the day, then please call the office on 01384818365. Thank you.
A reminder about our Healthy Tuck Policy at break times.
All schools are expected to adhere to the School Food Standards which include guidance for “school food other than lunch.” In addition, food provided in school will be inspected by Ofsted as part of the inspection framework. You will be aware from the media that the healthy eating agenda for children is extremely high profile and schools are expected to play an important part. The inspection framework clearly states that:
“Inspectors will look for evidence of a culture or ethos of exercise and healthy eating throughout their entire inspection visit, in classrooms as well as in the school canteen. They will look at the food on offer and visit the canteen to see the atmosphere and culture in the dining space and the effect this has on pupils’ behaviour. Inspectors will also speak to school leaders about how they help to ensure a healthy lifestyle for pupils by helping them gain knowledge of a good diet, physical exercise and mental and physical well being.”
We ask parents to help us by only sending in
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Water (plain) from home for tuck.
Children can order daily fruit on a half termly basis when letters are sent out prior to each half term. Thank you to all those parents who have sent in healthy tuck. As part of promoting good health, we encourage children to drink water during the day to stay hydrated. Can parents please remind children that plain water is allowed and not squash, juice etc. Children are welcome to include squashes, juices and juice drinks in lunch boxes.
Planners – please read
Planners are an integral part of communications between home and school. The planner will be used daily to aid learning in school as they have valuable resources inside, messages can be written in the planner by parents, children and staff. All children in school have been given their own planner already. The planners have been carefully chosen to include a mixture of information—some specific to Blanford Mere, other more general information in the reference section. You will find a new reading record as well as a diary. Children will be encouraged to record spellings to learn and homework.
Teachers will sign planners weekly.
We would like parents to sign the planner every week to confirm that their child’s reading and homework have been completed.
Homework will be set from next week every Wednesday so that it can be completed by the following Tuesday. This is mainly set online, however paper work may be set occasionally too. Spellings will be checked every Tuesday. Please help your child by ensuring they complete homework set and read daily.
Please encourage your child to check their planner every day so that they don’t miss anything important. We would like the children to value their planners and look after them; we will be asking them not to graffiti or deface them in any way.
Children might like to include the following:
- Homework
- Reminders of things you need to bring to school
- Who is collecting you from school if different from usual
- Team practices
- Rehearsals
- Music Lessons
- Swimming lessons etc
- Other after-school activities
- Going home with a friend
- Parties
- Holidays
Planners and PE kits must be in school every day – as this means that children are ready to learn and have all resources to hand.
In the front section of the planner (pg 4) – there is a home school agreement – we are asking all parents to sign and date this by Friday 11th September please. You may want your children to sign this alongside you, so that you can talk about this together or children and staff will sign them in school. Thanks.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Crook and Miss Stanton
Dates for next academic year
Autumn 2022
Term starts – Monday 5th September 2022
Half term – Monday 24th October to Friday 28th October 2022
Term Ends – Friday 16th December 2022
Spring 2023
Term starts – Tuesday 3rd January 2023
Half term – Monday 20th February to Friday 24th February 2023
Term Ends – Friday 31st March 2023
Summer 2023
Term starts – Monday 17th April 2023
Half term – Monday 29th May to Friday 2nd June 2023
Term Ends – Tuesday 25th July 2023
Bank Holiday
Monday 1st May 2023
INSET Days 2022 / 2023
Monday 5th September 2022
Monday 19th September 2022 (Queen’s funeral)
Friday 21st October 2022
Friday 17th February 2023
Friday 26th May 2023
Tuesday 25th July 2023
Polling Day
Thursday 4th May 2023 (to be confirmed)
