Newsletter: 6th January 2023
Posted on January 6, 2023 | By Mr Cole
Welcome Back and Happy New Year!
It has been absolutely lovely to see all of the children back in school this week, particularly after the snow disruption of the final week of term. The children have settled back into routine remarkably well, particularly in Tythecott and Alminstone classes where children are getting used to their new teachers as well. We’re looking forward to a very busy Spring Term!
I hope you all had a great Christmas break and didn’t have too much illness.
School Times
We have been really pleased at virtually all of our families have successfully made the transition to our new start and finish times across the Partnership which came about so that all schools meet the DfE’s new expected opening hours per week. We very much appreciate your support!
Just to re-cap, gates at all three schools will open at 8:35am each day enabling parents to bring their children to school from that time. In Buckland Brewer and Woolsery, parents are free to “drop and run” as there will be a member of staff on the playground each morning to supervise the children (although you’re welcome to stay until the children go into classrooms if you wish). At Parkham, there aren’t enough staff to do this so we’re asking that you continue to supervise your own children until doors open.
Children will be taken into class in time for an 8:45am start and gates will close once all children have left the playgrounds.
At the end of the day, children will be released from class at 3:15pm and normal pick up routines will apply.
New Chromebooks
Both FOBBS at Buckland Brewer and FOWS at Woolsery have funded a new set of Chromebooks for the children to use. These will either replace broken units or supplement our existing stock. The additional machines will make a huge difference to our provision and we’re very grateful to our PTAs for supporting iin this way – and also to all of you for supporting PTA fundraising, which in turn has allowed this investment to be made. Tim, our IT Technician, will be setting the new Chromebooks up on Wednesday next week so children will begin using them very soon.
Tasty Tuck Shop
We’re really pleased that School Voice members at Buckland Brewer have asked to start a weekly “tasty tuck shop” which will be similar to the one already operating at Woolsery. At Buckland, this will be held on Friday morning breaktimes from next week. All items will be 50p and children will be able to buy one item if they wish. This is a really important opportunity for the Enterprise and Charity School Voice children to learn about stock control, profit and loss and handling money. All profits from the weekly tuck shop will be reserved for School Voice to spend towards the end of the Summer Term on something that will benefit all of the children in the school. The tuck shop is entirely optional but if you would like your child to be able to buy something, please send them with a 50p next week, thank you.
Woolsery’s Tasty Tuck day will continue to be on Thursday mornings.
Tea Towels
Before Christmas the children in Buckland Brewer all drew portraits of themselves to go on class tea towels that FOBBS have designed. We were going to sell them before Christmas but there was a delay in delivery so they didn’t arrive in time. They have been printed now and ready for parents to buy. Order Forms will be in books bags for Buckland Brewer children very soon but here is a preview of the tea towel….
Art at Appledore
From next week, children in Tythecott Class will be visiting the art studio at Appledore School for four weekly specialist art sessions. This is a part of a project funded by ACCT to give children across the Atlantic Coast Trust access to high quality art teaching and resources. This will take place on Wednesdays and the children will be travelling either by our minibus or in Mrs Kersey’s car. We will be leaving shortly after the start of the day and returning in time for lunch. The work from this project will be on display at the Burton Art Gallery Schools Exhibition next helf term.
Swimming Lessons
Swimming begins for children in Ashmansworthy and Gorwood Classes from next week.
Gorwood Class lessons take place on Thursday afternoons. The children will be ferried to Torrington Pool by our minibus in two batches. Please ensure your child has their swimming things and a towel with them each Thursday. We will see how timings work out but it may that the second group coming back to Buckland Brewer may be a little after the end of the school day, but we’ll do our very best to return on time. All children who use DCC School Transport will be in the first group to return to school so will definitely be back at school in time for their transport home.
Ashmansworthy Class lessons take place on Friday mornings. The children will travel to Torridge Pool, Northam via coach and will return in time for their lunch. Please ensure your child has their swimming things and a towel with them each Friday.
In both classes, if they aren’t able to swim for any reason, your child will still need to travel with the class to the pool and do some written work at the poolside instead.
If children have their own swimming goggles they may bring them but please don’t send full-face masks, thank you.
Bikeability
Just a reminder that Bikeability starts next week at Woolsery – your child will have been told by the end of the day which group they are in and therefore which days they need to bring their bike and helmet to school. There are four groups altogether – Group 1 is Monday and Tuesday next week, Group 2 is Wednesday and Thursday next week, Group 3 on Monday and Tuesday 16th/17th Jan and and the final group is on Wednesday and Thursday 18th/19th January. If you’re unsure, please check with Tina in the Office. Thanks.
M&M Theatre Visit
All of the children will be enjoying a visit from M&M Theatre Group on the afternoon of Thursday 19th January. This will be at Woolsery Village Hall and is being subsidised by our three PTAs. More details will be released nearer the time but children from Buckland Brewer and Parkham will be transported to and from Woolsery Hall by coach to enjoy the show.
Christmas Lunch
The children had a lovely, if delayed, Christmas Lunch yesterday. A huge thank you to Dave and his team and to FOPPS, led by Kelly, who put together such a wonderful spread for everyone. It was a super atmosphere in all three schools and a great way to round-off the Christmas period.
Finally, just a reminder that from the start of this term, the cost of school lunches as gone up to £2.50 per meal to offset our losses brought about by rising food costs. Governors will continue to keep this situation under review. Thank you for your understanding.
Headteacher Awards return next week.
| Monday |
Bikeability Group 1 – Woolsery Early Years Adviser Visit – Woolsery and Buckland Cranford Class Forest School Governors’ Meeting 6pm, Buckland Brewer |
| Tuesday |
Bikeability Group 1 – Woolsery Alminstone Class Forest School Ashmansworthy Class Forest School |
| Wednesday |
Bikeability Group 2 – Woolsery Foxdown Class Forest School Orleigh Class Forest School Tythecott Class to Appledore Art (AM) |
| Thursday |
Bikeability Group 2 – Woolsery Gorwood Class Swimming (pm) |
| Friday | Ashmansworthy Class Swimming (am) |
Mr Cole’s planned schedule
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| Monday | All Day | ||
| Tuesday | All Day | ||
| Wednesday | Morning | Afternoon | |
| Thursday | All Day | ||
| Friday | Morning | Afternoon | Afternoon |
with best wishes,
Mr Cole