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.
Dear parents and carers,
A very warm welcome back! What a glorious first week back in the sunshine! It was lovely to welcome everyone back to a new Autumn Term this week! We trust that the children are rested and ready to immerse themselves into their new Year Groups, they certainly looked like it!
We hope that you all had a good summer break with your children and families whatever you managed to do over the summer. We very much appreciate your support for sending your children in so smartly in their new school uniforms. They did look lovely!
The children seem to have settled well and we welcome our new families that have started at Blanford Mere Nursery and Primary School. Our new Reception and Nursery children have settled extremely well into school life very quickly. We thank you for your support with this transition, it has been extremely smooth. We are looking forward to the many planned curriculum activities throughout this term.
Ice cream Parlour!
At the end of last term - on a fantastic, sunny afternoon - the children enjoyed a visit from the ice cream tricycle. The visit from the Ice Cream Parlour was supported superbly by the children and all of the profits we helped to raise were donated to help patients at The Mary Stevens Hospice. Incredibly, we managed to raise £312.80. Thank you for your kindness and generosity in supporting this amazing charity.
Mr Baker
Staffing news
We would like to welcome back Mrs Dorricott – who got married over the summer – congratulations! and Miss Jordan.
Welcome to Mr Brierley our new site manager and Miss Lewis – After School Club Assistant, who we hope are very happy at Blanford Mere Nursery and Primary School. We hope that they will be very happy with us.
A few reminders to continue with our extremely positive start to the term and maintain high expectations:
Parents wishing to talk with the teacher.
Communication with parents is very important to us and to working in partnership to support individual children in all aspects of their school life. If you would like to talk with your child’s teacher, please make a note in your child’s planner and we will contact you to discuss the issue.
School Uniform
Thank you for your support with ensuring your child has come back looking smart and ready for school. This really helps the children to be prepared for learning and be part of the school community. Can I just remind parents that shoes need to be black and not trainers or converse shoe. These can be saved for the days they have PE. If you have yet to purchase shoes or boots ready for the winter months, can you ensure that they are black please.
A reminder that all PE kits should be in school as timetables have started this week. 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), one pair. If you wish your child to have their ears pierced, can we 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!
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 can.
We would like to invite you to a ‘Meet the Teacher’ session on Wednesday 13th September 2023 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 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 2023’, by Monday 11th September at the latest, so that we have an idea of numbers. 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.” 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.
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 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
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 paperwork 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 15th 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.
Dates for the diary
W/C 11th September - KS2 cycling – see separate letters for details.
Wednesday 13th September – ‘Meet the Teacher’ – Parent Meeting.
Monday 25th September – Year 3/4 Trip to Blist Hill. Year 5/6 Ancient Greek Workshop
Tuesday 26th September – Reception Parents Phonics Meeting 9.00am-9.30am
Tuesday 26th September – Blanford Babies – The Hub – 9am-10am
Blanford Mere warmly welcomes all parents/carers from the local community to come along to our Blanford Babies group. This group takes place on the last Tuesday of every month at 9am in our hub. This is a lovely group where children and parents can relax and get to know each other. We offer the chance to play, sing and take part in craft activities. All pre-school ages welcome.
We ask for a donation of £2 per session. Refreshments provided.
Tuesday 26th September - is European day of languages. On this day, Key stage 2 children will be celebrating all things European. We will have exciting learning opportunities such as Flamenco dancing and food tasting. These activities will enable children to develop linguistic competence and enhance their awareness of a multicultural world.
The children will come to school in their uniform as normal and will need no additional equipment.
Feel free to research facts about France, Spain and Italy with your children to support their learning on this day.
Friday 29th September - MacMillan Coffee Morning. Help us to make this event extra special by joining us for a coffee/tea and a slice of cake – only £2.00 donation. Everybody welcome from 9.00am – 10.15am. Music Club will be singing throughout the morning too.
We are asking for your help by donating cakes either home cooked or shop bought. Please send these in with children on Thursday 28th or Friday 29th. We are asking children to wear their own clothes and make a minimum donation of a £1 via School Money. They will receive and drink and a cake. Let’s try and beat last year’s amazing total.
Monday 2nd October – Harvest – more details to follow.
Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th October – Rec – Yr 6 Parents evening. More details to follow.
Tuesday 24th October – Blanford Babies – The Hub – 9am-10am
Thursday 26th October – Fun night -Monster Mash. 4.30pm-6.00pm. More details to follow.
Friday 27th October – INSET day
Monday 30th October – Friday 3rd November – Half term
Monday 6th November – Children return to school at the usual time.
Friday 10th November – Remembrance Day in school. Children who attend Cubs, Rainbows, Beavers, Brownies, etc can come dressed in their uniform.
Tuesday 14th November – 3.30pm and 5.15pm. Year 6 Parent SATs meeting. More details to follow.
Friday 17th November – Children In Need. Children to wear own clothes and donate £1 via School Money.
Tuesday 28th November – Blanford Babies – The Hub – 9am-10am
Thursday 30th November – Film Night. 3.15pm-5.15pm. More details to follow.
Thursday 7th December – Year 1 - Year 6 Christmas Church Service. More details to follow.
Friday 8th December – Christmas Breakfast – Year 1 – Year 6 only. More details to follow.
Thursday 14th December – Nursery/Reception Christmas Workshop and Singalong. More details to follow.
Tuesday 19th December – Blanford Babies – The Hub – 9am-10am
Tuesday 19th December – Christmas Lunch
Wednesday 20th December – Santa’s Grotto. More details to follow.
Friday 22nd December – School closes for Christmas Break.
Monday 8th January 2024 – Children return to school at the usual time.
Have a wonderful weekend in the sunshine!
Mrs Crook and Miss Stanton
