Weekly update 20/10/2023
19 Oct 2023
Weekly update Friday 20th October
Our Vision
We believe that our children should have the aspiration and opportunity to ‘Live life in all its fullness and ‘Shine like stars in the sky’.
New this week…
Trip to Murton Park
We are excited to be visiting Murton Park - near York - to consolidate and embed our History topic of the Stone Age.
Years 3 and 4 will be attending on Thursday 26th October.
Year 5 and 6 will be attending on Friday 27th October.
They will be visiting the Stone Age village and will learn about the lives of our distant ancestors. After an introductory talk setting the scene and introducing the key concepts of the prehistoric era, the children will spend the day living and working on the prehistoric village. They will get involved in making early types of clay pottery and find out which crops were cultivated and how grain was ground to make flour. They will try their hand at prehistoric art, handle objects and artefacts and learn the essential skills of hunting. It should be a truly fantastic day.
The children will leave school at
8.45am so will need to be in school for 8.30am that day. They will return to school for collection as normal at the end of the school day.
Your child will need to come in school uniform with suitable footwear for walking around the outdoor learning areas e.g. trainers. They will need a waterproof coat and a backpack containing: a packed lunch and a water bottle.
Allergens – Important Information
We have a member of our federation community who has severe allergens to the following products:
Cashew nuts, peanuts, lentils, chickpeas and peas (including pea protein, pea flour and pea fibre). Please support us to keep our federation community safe by ensuring these products do not come into school and are not included in your child’s packed lunch or snack.
Football Competition
On
Monday 23rd October, 7 children from
years 5 and 6 are going to
Bishop Monkton for a football competition. We wish them the best of luck and know that they will perform to the best of their abilities and be great sportspeople.
Important message from sports crew
On Thursday 26th October Sports Crew will be doing a ‘feel good Thursday’ lunchtime, where they will be doing a healthy tuck shop. We will be selling fruit, vegetable sticks and snack bars at a cost of 10-50p a portion. Please send your child in with change if you wish. We will also be running some clubs, we will let you know what they are and when they will be starting, as soon as possible.
Music
On
Friday 27th October there are three musicians from Bedale band coming to play their instruments to promote the band during Singing assembly time (1-1.30) .
Mrs Harris would like to encourage pupils from Y3 upwards to consider joining the training band at Bedale band. It is a great opportunity to learn an instrument with a group and for very little cost: they have a selection of instruments to lend (for free) and there is no cost to go along - after 6 weeks there is a just a small band membership charge for the year. This is incredible!
Mrs Harris will be attending with her daughter (who has just started cornet). Initially it is for half an hour
6.30pm-7.00pm on a
Wednesday evening,
at Leeming Village Hall and as they improve children can stay a bit longer.
A few of the musicians will be coming into school to demonstrate their instruments next week and talk to the children. If you would like to attend or want more information, please email
ken@birchcottage.me.uk.
Monday 23rd October
We are holding our Science Busy end at
2.45pm on
Monday! All parents and carers are welcome to come into their child's class and carry out an investigation or be part of their learning. We look forward to seeing you.
Sports Crew
On
Tuesday 24th, our Sports Crew leaders will be having an additional coaching session with Debbie Speed. They will be creating and practicing games to play at break times with all the children. This is in addition to the other initiatives they have planned for us, exciting times ahead.
Comets Forest School
Comet class (Years 2,3 and 4) will be in the forest
on Friday 27th October working on our Golden Thread – confident communicators.
Reminders…
Reading buddies
If children would like to bring a book from home to share this with their friends – this will happen every Friday.
Nursery Parents
To parents of children due to start Reception in September 2024, the application window to secure your reception space will soon be opening. Even if your child is already in Nursery here, you must still apply for a school place.
Dates from NYCC website:
From 12 October 2023, you can apply for a school place for children born between:
- 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017
- 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020
Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing Updates…
A few of our children have shared that they access the websites below.
Please find some information that may be useful in terms of safeguarding your children on these sites.
A parents guide to Fortnite: Battle Royale - UK Safer Internet Centre
Roblox - a guide for parents - UK Safer Internet Centre
News from the Wider Community…
The Friends of St Nicholas
The PTA are holding a film night will on
Wednesday 25th October from
3.30pm until 5pm showing the film 'Hotel Transylvania'.
Each ticket will cost £5 including a drink, popcorn and sweets and is payable on the night.
Please note -
Nursery children need accompanying by an adult to this event.
Please see the attached poster for information.
Tickets can be booked by contacting
admin@west-tanfield.n-yorks.sch.uk or via the link sent out. (this did not work for some parents)