Dear Parents and Carers,
Our year 6 pupils should be very pleased and proud of themselves, with their focus and approach towards the Key Stage 2 SATs papers this week. My thanks to governors who invigilated and to Mrs Lewis who prepared a special breakfast for the year group each morning!
Mrs Whelan update
I am pleased to say Mrs Whelan will be in on Monday and Tuesday for parent meetings, however she has been signed off work until the 19th June. Mrs Whelan however will continue to plan work and lessons from home, and Mrs Rowley will continue with the teaching of Year 2, other than a Monday afternoon when I will be taking the class.
Start small, dream big
The school is linking up with the Start small, dream big initiative, which is a free programme, backed by the Department of Education and delivered in partnership with the Dorset Careers Hub, BCP, Dorset Council and The Careers and Enterprise Company, and run through Bournemouth University.
The goal is to encourage children to dream big about their future careers and gain an understanding of the type of jobs available. Starting career-related learning early helps to:
- Remove barriers and stereotypes which limit children’s thinking about their future careers
- Support delivery of an ambitious curriculum designed to give all learners the knowledge and cultural capital to succeed
- Develop understanding amongst children of the link between what they learn in school and the world of work
- Increase parental engagement in supporting children to think broadly about future careers
- Develop teaching staff to become pioneers and part of a strong community.
As part of this initiative we are keen to create a ‘database’ of people who would be willing to talk to the children about their job or industry, as well as individuals who would be willing to share their experiences of volunteering within the community.
I know we have parents and carers from a broad range of industries and in a variety of jobs. Our aim is to offer a number of afternoons where the children can learn about a range of careers and the different skills each requires. If you would be interested in spending an afternoon talking to children about what you do, then please let me know. Dates for these events have yet to be agreed, however we would love to organise one experience in the second half of term.
Keep it simple and cheap!
Please would all parents ensure that children only come to school with low cost watch, preferably analogue. We are seeing an increasing number of fit-bits and apple watches being worn, which on occasions have been used inappropriately, so are best left at home. Thank you for your support regarding this matter.
Read Write Inc reading and QR codes
If your child is pestering you to hear them read each night, this is because they are awarded a sticker or thumbs up on their Marvellous Me charts in school. We would encourage all parents to hear their children read at home each night, as there is strong evidence that reading at home, along with opportunities to read in school, develop and enhance children’s reading skills.
You may also have noticed that in some Reading Records there is a QR sticker and code. This links to a very short video showing the letter sound your child is currently learning. Any support with letter sounds and reading would be welcomed.
Slip, slap and slop
In the hopes that warm weather is on the way, please would all parents and carers ensure sun cream is applied to their children before the start of the school day, and that all children have a sun hat and drinks bottle in school.
Clothes naming
Please would all ensure that clothing brought into school is clearly named, as we have a mounting pile of unnamed items! Many thanks.
THIS WEEK
Assemblies
We enjoyed a special assembly this week from Mr Gasman, (our clarinet teacher). Mr Gasman led a demonstration assembly, which included introducing and playing a variety of wind and brass instruments. If you are interested in your child learning a musical instrument, then do please contact Mr Gasman on:
Pyjamarama Day – 17th May
Many children and staff have come into school wearing their pjs today in support of Pyjamarama Day. The objective of which was to raise money for the Book Trust Campaign, which supports disadvantaged children giving access to books and other resources. Children were invited to wear a pair of pjs all day (other clothes could be worn underneath), and bring in their favourite book to share with their class. Children brought in a £1 donation, which will go towards helping ensure all children can reap the life changing benefits of reading. Thank you to all for their support with this venture.
Parent/Carer Forum Friday 17th May at 14.15
A last-minute reminder about the Forum today, where parents and carers are invited into school to share comments or discuss any element of school. We will be meeting in the school hall at 14.15. I’ll make sure the kettle is on and there are biscuits, if that’s an enticement!
Gardening
Mrs Berwick and her green fingered team have been busy refreshing the tubs at the front of the school.
Those children who are part of Eco Club, which meet on a Friday, visited the pre-school and started clearing beds in preparation for sowing seeds. A small oak tree was found, and two pupils showed this to the pre-schoolers who were fascinated. The small sapling was planted and a pot, and we look forward to monitoring its growth.
You might have noticed two very large bamboo plants down by the willow tree. These were sourced from Freecycle, and they will form part of an oriental garden. Plans are afoot to create ‘gardens from around the world’, within the school grounds, which will include an oriental, Meiterranean and English gardens. Many thanks to those who helped move and transport the colossal plants – a feat in itself!
Lego Club
The challenge this week was to construct a seahorse! Congratulations to Theo who created a lovely 3D model on Monday, while on Wednesday Archie won with a green seahorse.
Sweets and cakes
Many thanks to those who supported our Year 6 pupils, who are raising money for their leavers experience at the end of the term, with the purchase of sweats and cakes at the end of the week. A reminder that the enterprising team will be selling small bags of sweets on a Thursday and Friday at collection time i.e. 3.20pm, as well as selling cakes and/or biscuits on a Friday before, and after, our Praise and Celebrate assembly. Prices range from 20p – £1.
NEXT WEEK
Years 3/4 Tennis Festival at Port Regis
A group of Year 3 and 4 have been selected to participate in the Gillingham Schools tennis festival next Tuesday 21st May at 10 – 14.30. The session is to encourage tennis skill development.
THIS TERM
Reading Awards Launch
In case you missed it last week! At Stower Provost we believe that reading allows us to be transported from our own world to another. Between the pages of a book, we can become immersed in the lives of fictional characters and learn about a culture entirely different from our own. We can also learn new words and phrases, experience a range of emotions, and acquire skills and knowledge.
Because of the learning potential, the effects of reading on child development are vast and multiple studies have highlighted its benefits. As such, teachers and parents are in a great position to ensure reading is a key part of children’s daily routine.
Reading is integrated through our curriculum with the children being immersed in a wide range of texts and using transferable skills in other areas of their learning. We encourage children to read for pleasure, because we know that this has many benefits on a child’s education, social and cognitive development, their wellbeing, and their mental health.
We are launching our new Reading Award, I appreciate that this is late in the school year but we would like to trial the new scheme this coming term ready for September. The children will be coming home with their year group specific book lists, the children then have to read a certain number of books from the list and books of their own choice to receive their Reading Certificate. The more books they read from both the list and of their own choice the bigger the reward. The number of books required to read to earn the rewards increases as the children go up through the school. For example, in FS2 the children need to read 10+ books from the suggested list with 2 of their own choice, and children in Year 6 need to read 10+ books from the suggested list with 8 of their own choice to achieve their Bronze Award.
I appreciate that the number of books required seems quite high to be completed over the term, but it is designed to be completed over the year. I would appreciate any feedback on the scheme, especially regarding the number of books needed to achieve the different awards. (Miss Buxton)
School Clubs
Breakfast and After School Club can be booked online at: https://primesportscoaching.classforkids.io/ (Select Stower Provost Community School in the specific venue box and scroll down to Wraparound Care.
| Club | Day | Time | For year groups | Run by | Cost |
| Lego | Monday | 15.20 – 16.30 | Year 1/2/3/4/5 | Miss Buxton | £3.99 + VAT per session |
| KS1 Multi-Sports
(summer sports) |
Tuesday | 15.30 – 16.30 | Years 1 & 2 | Prime Sports | FREE |
| Gardening | Tuesday (starting 30th April) | 15.20 – 16.30 | 4 spaces (sign up by emailing Mrs Pike) | Mrs Berwick | £6 for 4 sessions i.e. until half term |
| Lego | Wednesday | 15.20 – 16.30 | Year 1/2/3/4/5 | Miss Buxton | £3.99 + VAT per session |
| Eco Club | Friday | 12.30 – 13.00 | All | Mrs B | FREE |
| KS2 Multi-Sports
(summer sports) |
Friday | 15.30 – 16.30 | Years 3/4/5/6 | Prime Sports | FREE |
Signing up for Clubs
Sports Clubs are free for children to attend and subsidised out of the school’s PEPPSA (sports funding).
Please book any Prime Sports Clubs on:
KS1 – https://primesportscoaching.classforkids.io/info/212
KS2 – https://primesportscoaching.classforkids.io/info/213
Lego Club is booked through https://www.kidswithbricks.com/online-store/Stower-Provost-Community-School-YEAR-1-Dorset-Summer-Term-1-2024-Wednesday-p632155811
PTFA – News
There will be a summer BBQ at school on Friday 12th July 15.30 – 17.30, so please ensure you have added this date to your diaries. Activities include bouncy castles, stalls and a BBQ. Any body keen to lend a hand, please contact Phillippa Halberstadt.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Stour Provost Cricket Club
Stour Provost Cricket Club are running dynamo cricket sessions for children aged 7 – 11 years old, starting TODAY, Friday 17th May and running through until 5th July. Sessions are an hour starting at 6pm. To sign up please visit www.dynamoscricket.co.uk. For further information please see the attached flyer.
Class news
Oak
Year 6 have had a fabulous week, working their way through a variety of SATs with equal amounts of enthusiasm and perseverance. We have all been so proud of their excellent conduct and decorum all week – well done all of you. Year 5 have been playing a very supportive role and working away very quietly and considerately in the background, revising their addition and subtraction. In PSHE, we discussed the safety of online communities and what our rights and responsibilities are in them. We also chatted about what we should do if anything online made us feel uncomfortable or unsafe online. Next week, we are really looking forward to catching up on the learning we have paused while we prepared for SATs – hooray! (Mrs Clasby)
Chestnut
In Chestnut class this week we have started 2 new books, expanding our knowledge about the Roman Empire and their ways of life (The Journey of Illiona and Rotten Romans). This also builds the knowledge required to support writing a diary entry in English lessons.
We have had great team work in PE lessons, children practicing balancing whilst transferring items, but also supporting their team members achieve their personal best.
During maths lesson, children in Y4 have worked hard on understanding Decimal numbers and how these relate to fractions. In year 3, we started working with Fractions (adding and subtracting).
In Art, our focus this week has been using leaves and paint to make 2 colour prints. Children have created some beautiful pieces of Art. (Mrs Sanda)
Beech
This week Beech Class have begun their Maths unit on Time. We have recapped learning on o’clock and half past and have been practicing this along with quarter past and quarter to the hour. It’s quite tricky remembering which is which but we’re persevering! We have also been solving problems around time such as thinking about an hour earlier or later and working out how long something will take. In English we have been learning about Paris in preparation for writing an adventure story about a Lion taking a trip there. (Mrs Rowley)
Hazel
It has been a busy week in Hazel Class this week from learning about the impact of litter to creating leaf imprint bowls. In Science and UtW the children have been learning about the impact of litter upon the school environment and then looking at the global impact of litter and rubbish. The children have created posters to be displayed around the school to ensure that we are all reminded to take care of the environment. In PSHE the children have been talking about their achievements and what makes them incredible. In English the Year 1 children have started to write a travel journal inviting you all to go and visit Africa, and the FS2 have been writing about Handa’s Hen. (Miss Buxton)
Diary dates (dates in red have been added this week)
| Every Thursday | 15.20 | Year 6 sweet sales |
| Every Friday | 14.40
15.20 |
Year 6 cake and a cuppa sales
Year 6 sweet sales |
| 21st May | 10.00 – 14.30 | Year 3/4 Gillingham Schools mini tennis festival at Port Regis. |
| 24th May | 12 – 15.20 | Sports Day (please see letter sent out on Weds):
12 – 12.25 Picnicking on the field or children lunch in school 12.40 Key Stage 2 sports (Oak and Chestnut classes) 13.55 Key Stage 1 sports (Hazel and Beech classes) 15.10 Results shared 15.20 Depart for half term |
| 6th June | Timings tbc | Yrs 3 – 6 Gillingham School Athletics Competition at Yeovil |
| 8th June | Timings tbc | Stour Provost Open Gardens – display at 2pm |
| 10th – 16th June | 1 week | Phonic Screening week – year 1 pupils |
| 19th June | 13.45 | M&M show and workshops |
| 28th June | 10.00 -12.00 | Y2 Gillingham Schools Mini Olympics at St Gregory’s school |
| 5th July | Tbc | School play dress rehearsal |
| 8th July | Tbc | Jungle Book visiting performance |
| 9th July | 14.00 | School play performance |
| 10th July | 9.00 – 12.00 | Year 4/5 Gillingham Schools Swimming Gala at Riversmeet |
| 10th July | 16.00 | School play performance |
| 12th July | 15.30 – 17.30 | Summer BBQ |
| 16th July | 9.00 – 11.30 | Year 6 girls PE transition project at Gillingham School (invitation only) |
| 19th July | 14.30 | Leavers Assembly |
| 19th July | 15.20 | Last day of school before the summer holiday |
| 22nd July 2024 | INSET DAY | |
| 23rd July 2024 | INSET DAY |
Best wishes,
Mrs B