School Newsletter Newsletter No 25 Spring 2020-21 Stoke Bishop C of E Primary School Cedar Park, Stoke Bishop, , BS9 1BW Telephone: 0117 3772173 Email: [email protected]

Hello to all our Parents, Carers and Children,

Happy Easter!

A great opportunity for all of us to take stock of the winter months and refresh ourselves for the Spring and Summer ahead. It brings with it a sense of opportunity and freshness that is now, so heavily interlinked with ‘Spring Cleaning’, grass cutting and (for some) the dreaded DIY jobs. Most importantly it is a time for dusting ourselves down and making as much as possible of the great outdoors.

I guess the sense of freedom that comes with the lighter evenings and warmer weather is greatly connected to the gradual reduction of Lockdown measures this year. Whilst there are still important limitations for usto observe, I hope that you get the chance to spend time with those you care about and haven’t had the chance to see for a while.

A challenge for all the children out there. What can you find out about this picture?

There are no prizes from me but I suppose you may be able to convince an adult at home to reward you if you can tell them something they didn’t know? It’s a chance to use your skills as a historian and have a bit of fun.

Have a great holiday. We look forward to seeing you all again in a couple of weeks’ time on Monday 19th April.

Best wishes

David Forrester

We have been very busy in the Explorers Hub getting ready for Easter. The children have been learning about the Easter story and how Christians celebrate this very special time of year. They have made Easter cards, tasted Hot Cross Buns and created Easter gardens in the outside area. In Mathematics the children have been learning the names of 3D shapes and using mathematical language to describe them. During our phonics sessions, we have been playing a game called ‘What’s in the box?’ The children are given a few clues and then given a sentence stem to help them write what they think is in there. There was a tiny chick, a chocolate egg and duckling!

The children had a very exciting Big Play session on the field. They took part in an Easter bunny hunt and chased bubbles around the field. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for all your support and we hope you all have a very Happy Easter. The Discoverers

We had a fun filled Easter week in the Discoverers Hub this week!

In Year 1 we have been making yummy Easter nests and we had lots of fun making Easter hats too! We have been continuing our learning around measure and have been looking at capacity and volume.

Year 2 have made some Easter hats too and are continuing their learning all

about giants, by creating their own giants!

The Discoverers were excellent learning their Easter play script and their songs too! We hope you have enjoyed watching their Easter video. If you haven’t had a chance yet please watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV_tWkL5QQA.

Have a wonderful Easter everyone! The Inventors Hub!

YEAR 3 This week, Year 3 were privileged enough to take part in a STEM Lego workshop. The children engineered a Lego lion and then used coding to make it move and dance. In maths, we finished off looking at perimeter using lots of games.

The Inventors Hub!

YEAR 4

This week Year 4 took part in a Lego STEM workshop. The children were able to build upon their skills from last year as well as apply their existing coding knowledge from their Scratch Coding unit of work in Computing. Their brief was to use their engineering skills to build a Marvellous Musical Monkey out of Lego. In addition to this, the children had to use their programming skills to write algorithms to control their monkey and its sensor. The children had a really fun time and produced some impressive work!

CHECK OUT OUR YEAR 4 VIKING DAY SONG! https://youtu.be/bBJ0aS83hWU This week with the ‘Innovators’

This week with the INNOVATORS in Year 5 Here are some pictures of our art. We have been thinking about perspective and

using watercolours to create paintings of scenes with rivers flowing into the

distance.

Year 5 have worked incredibly hard this term, at home and at school. Our focus this term has been rivers and the journey they take as well as doing research on famous rivers from around the world. In English, we have been studying the book, Journey, which is a wordless picture book. We have been writing the story for the book and recorded our own audio versions of this. Log into SeeSaw to see all of this wonderful learning!

AMAZING HOME LEARNING PICTURES

The journey of a river in The journey of a river in Aye & Billy 5L Top Trump Cards 5L

cake form—Stanley 5L EASTER EGG HUNT

After learning about the story of Easter, we did an Easter egg hunt this afternoon where the children worked in their table groups to find as many Easter eggs as possible. The winning team won 5 table points!

This week with the ‘Innovators’

This week with the INNOVATORS in Year 6

As the sun shined on Tuesday afternoon, 6Q and 6H followed in the footsteps of the Year 5 Innovators and traversed the route of the . Armed with an I-Pad and a river check list the children explored the passage of the river identifying its features and we also found time to create some interesting Andy Goldsworthy inspired works of art…

In our Art lessons we have used water colours to create these wonderful river scenes. We were so impressed with the results and the work that the children produced—it was simply wonderful!

This week Year 6 have been busy creating a video which demonstrates some of our learning this term. Please log onto your SEESAW account to view the video. The production was filmed, written and directed by the children and we think they have done an amazing job—well done everyone!

Finally from all of the teaching team—we hope that you have a fantastic Easter break and we will see you all on Monday 19th April. Reading Project We are very proud to tell you about a new reading project that we have joined in school. It is called Silver Stories, connecting children in school with an elderly member of our community. We have begun with children in Year 1, who have been reading weekly to a “Silver Listener”. We plan to roll this out to the rest of the school after the Easter holidays. More information can be found on their website:

https://silverstories.co.uk/

Mr Quinton and Mrs Preston

Looking for a Job?

Cleaner required to start as soon as possible - Stoke Bishop CofE Primary School Stoke Bishop CofE Primary School is seeking a cleaner. This is a permanent position and we are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.

Working hours are 15 hours per week, 3 hours each day Monday to Friday, between 3.30-6.30pm. This is an all year round post with 5 weeks paid holiday per year.

Rate of pay £9.50/hour.

Experience of cleaning is desirable but not essential as full training will be given.

Please contact the school office to obtain an application form or if you have any queries regarding the role on [email protected] or call the school office on 0117 3772173.

School Meals Supervisory Assistant required to start as soon as possible - Stoke Bishop CofE Primary School

Stoke Bishop CofE Primary School is also seeking a School Meals Supervisory Assistant. This is a permanent position and we are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.

Working hours are normally 7.5 hours per week, 1.5 hours each day Monday to Friday, between 11.50 to 1.20pm. The job is term time only.

Please note that additional hours of 45 mins per day are currently being worked due to Government COVID regu- lations and this can be charged as overtime. Normal hours will resume when regulations are relaxed.

Rate of pay £9.50/hour.

Experience of this role is desirable but not essential as full training will be given.

Please contact the school office to obtain an application form or if you have any queries regarding the role on [email protected] or call the school office on 0117 3772173. Staffing Update

As promised. I am writing to keep you updated with staffing changes that will be taking place over the next few months.

Miss Scutt, one of the Teaching Assistants in Y3, is leaving us today. We have appointed Miss Becky Burnett to her role. She knows the children and school and we are looking forward to her being a great addition to our teaching team in the Inventors Hub.

Mrs Jo Gough, one of the teachers in Y3 will be taking maternity at the end of the year and so , due to Covid measures, will not be teaching the class directly from the end of Term 5. She will however still be around supporting the team and working with children remotely in different ways right up to the end of the year. Her position in class is being taken by Mrs Lydia Bird, who many of you will know, left on maternity last year and is returning to Y3 and the Inventors team. It will be great to have her back on board.

We also completed a two day interview process for the Deputy Head Teacher role last week to begin in September. We have appointed Mr Darren Hunt to this post. He is currently the Deputy Headteacher at St Peter’s School in Pilning. He will be visiting on occasions over the next two terms before starting with us and will hopefully get the opportunity to meet with the children and some of the parents in various ways.

Clubs

You will see from the attachments that we have begun the opening up of some after school activity clubs. These are being offered by external providers and the range of what is on offer will grow over the coming weeks.

Our newest provider is a company called Sports Project, who specialise in sport and children’s emotional health and wellbeing. We are using them across the school to enhance the daily provision and they are also happy to provide after school activity clubs on every day of the week between 4th May and 16th July.

Please complete the slip which has been emailed to you to indicate which provision you would be interested in and return to the school office with Sports Project Reply in the subject line by Tuesday 20th April.

PTA

PTA Easter Cook-Along

Thank you to the PTA and Emma and Lucy for hosting a very Chocolatey Easter Cook-Along. Here are some pictures of the chefs and their delicious creations!

PTA News

How much have we raised?

Such a huge thank you and congratulations for all your efforts in fundraising for the PTA this year. Unfortunately we are still unable to do our usual activities but we’ve managed to raise a great amount of money by doing the small things instead!

The Christmas activities that we ran, including the Window Trail Map, Christmas Tree sales, Christmas Cards and Tea towels raised an amazing £1,296. Through Second Hand Uniform Sales, Rags-to-Riches donations and the Dress-up Day we raised £263. Add to that £259 for the Virtual Disco and a hugely generous £83 of donations, we have raised £1,907 so far.

The fees for the Virtual Disco were kindly donated by Si & Julie Marshal, and Sophie & Dan Summers, a HUGE thank you goes to them for their generosity. DJ Ryan from Party Peeps did an amazing job at both the KS1 & KS2 Virtual Discos.

A special THANK YOU also goes to Lucie Harvey and Emma Marshall for their amazing Cook-along Zoom sessions last week. So many of you enjoyed making their Easter treats, we hope you enjoyed eating them too!

What have we spent it on?

The fundraising has been put to good use as part of the PTA Hubs Fund. This fund was set up 2 years ago, to give the teachers the opportunity to run activities that would normally be outside of the school budget. There is an allocated budget of £350 per year group per year, so far we have been able to fund activities for Year 3, 4, 5 & 6. Year 3 & 4 attended a Lego Workshop, Year 5 have used the funds to purchase Ukuleles and Year 6 will be doing a Life skills Training Day.

What's happening next?

As the government restrictions are lifted over the coming months, we really hope to be able to bring you all together for a few events. The role of the PTA is not only to fund raise but also to organise Community Events, and we know these are so needed!

We hope to be able to hold some Coffee Mornings for the 2020 Reception Parents, who have missed the usual Welcome from the PTA. We would also like to hold a similar event for the 2019 Reception Parents, who had their first year at school cut so short. We have a few plans underway for an event to mark the end of the school year, hopefully with restrictions easing we should be able to go out with a bang! More details will be published next term.

If you would like to get involved in any PTA activities, or if you have an idea for an event you would like to happen, or you'd like to hold a role on the PTA Committee, then please do get in touch with us via [email protected]. Every Parent and Teacher is automatically a member of the Parent Teacher Association, and any level of involvement is always very welcome!

Wishing you all a Happy Easter

Whilst indoor activities are still not open, there are still lots of events taking place outside and online during the Easter Holidays. Here are some ideas - have fun!

Discover a new Nature Reserve – free https://www.bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/nature-reserves

Enjoy story time with online books, quizzes and games - free https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/

Get creative and join in with an online art tutorials by the Arnolfini – free https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/we-are-family-hidden-self/ https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/lets-make-art-drawing-with-sound/ https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/word-art/

Connect with nature with these online events - free https://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/mywildcity

Struck with what to do at home - free https://parentzone.org.uk/lockdown-advice-and-resources

Get crafty and have a go at making some of these amazing Easter ideas – free https://www.craftwithsarah.com/diy-easter-crafts/

Get active and have a go at tennis – free https://www.bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/tennis-in-bristol

Join in with an Easter trail at reserve – free https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/easter-trail-at-stockwood-open-space-nature-reserve-p2934053

Enjoy a drive in movie at Ashton Gate – ticketed event https://tickets.bristol-sport.co.uk/en-gb/categories/events

Watch a live theatre show - Horrible Histories at Bristol Airport – ticketed event https://bathboxoffice.org.uk/whatson/horrible-histories-live-on-stage-barmy-britain/

Join Pongo and his friends for an online show – ticketed event https://showcatcher.com/show/38/pongos-party?ref=redgrave

Watch the live Easter Bunny hunt show – ticketed event https://redgravetheatre.com/event/2021/03/easter-bunny-live-live-stream/952/

Have some Easter fun at Old Down Estate – paid entry https://olddownestate.co.uk/events/easter-eggstravaganza/

Community Links After School Clubs

Drama Club is starting again after Easter for KS1 and 2!

There will be two sessions a week available to fill (Wednesday / Thursday) after school at 3.30-4.30pm.

As the children will have to be in their bubbles, I will need to know how many from each year are keen to join so that I can try to give all year groups a block of classes.

More details will follow, but in the meantime, parents whose children would like to join should register their interest and preferred day to Emma at [email protected]

Classes will be £5 per session. Holiday Clubs

FANCY PLAYING CRICKET THIS SUMMER?

WHY NOT JOIN US AT TWYFORD HOUSE CRICKET CLUB, PENPOLE LANE, , BS11 0EA.

MALE AND FEMALE QUALIFIED COACHES WILL BE RUNNING EACH SESSION, ALL COACHES AND HELPERS ARE DBS CHECKED.

ALL STARS CRICKET IS FOR 5-8 YEAR OLDS AND WILL RUN FOR 8 WEEKS FROM FRIDAY 14TH MAY STARTING AT 5.30PM. £40 FOR THE COURSE WHICH INCLUDES PERSONALISED KIT. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars

DYNAMOS CRICKET IS FOR 8-11 YEAR OLDS AND WILL RUN FOR 8 WEEKS FROM FRIDAY 9TH JULY STARTING AT 5.30PM. £40 FOR THE COURSE WHICH INCLUDES PERSONALISED SHIRT. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT www.ecb.co.uk/play/dynamoscricket

ALTERNATIVELY PLEASE CONTACT KELLY ARMFIELD WITH ANY QUESTIONS ([email protected])

Please note that the services advertised in Community Links are not endorsed by the school. Parents/Carers will need to make their own decisions about the benefits of these services.