This half term our topic is Amazing Adventures! As part of this we will be having a "Pirate Day" on Friday 31st January - this will be an opportunity for your child to dress up as a pirate for the day, and take part in pirate themed activities in school.

We are currently recruiting for a parent governor. If you would like to find out more information about what is involved with this role, please contact Carly in the office.

This year's Wear Your SCARF Day will be taking place on February 7 2025, during Children's Mental Health Week (3-9 February 2025). We're inviting everyone to wear a scarf on this day as a symbol of support for children's mental wellbeing, while celebrating the values of SCARF - Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship. Throughout Children's Mental Health Week we will be providing activities relating to the theme  'Know Yourself, Grow Yourself'.  

We would like to remind parents again to please not put water bottles in your child's book bag. Leaky bottles have caused water damage to several of our reading / library books. Parents will be expected to pay to replace damaged books in this instance.

Happy new year to everyone, we hope you all had a lovely break. 

FISHES are straight back on it with events for the Spring term! Please note the attached dates in your diary. 

Bags2School - Friday 24th January

We have another Bags2School collection arranged for 24th January. This is a perfect opportunity to have a good clear out at home! We are able to accept clothes, paired shoes, handbags, hats, bags, scares, ties, bras, jewellery, socks and belts. Please bring your donations to the wooden gazebo on the playground by 9am on this date. If your child attends Pippins the gates will be unlocked so you can drop your bags at this time also. 

Adult 90s/00s Disco - Friday 28th February.

We are really excited for this new event. Tickets are £7.50 per person and is a BYO event, please bring your own drinks, snacks and cups. The disco is being held at Hedge End Village Hall and all your old favourites will be played by the DJ. Tickets go on sale 6pm Sunday 12th January via the following link: https://buytickets.at/fishes 

Junior Parkrun Takeover 

On 6th April 2 members of the FISHES team will be running the Southampton Marathon in aid of FISHES.

To help the children to be involved in this fundraising event Freegrounds Infant School will be taking over the Hedge End Junior Parkrun at Dowds Farm. This will take place on Sunday 23rd March.  This is a 2km run around the course at Dowds Farm, but the children could challenge themselves by completing 11 / 21 Parkruns which equates to a half or full marathon - if they did this they would receive a wrist band and certificate from Parkrun.  We hope to see as many children there as possible we would also ask for parent volunteers to help marshal the Parkrun - this means you will be able to see your child on the route and cheer them on. If you are planning on joining us and your child has not done a Parkrun before they will need to register on https://www.parkrun.org.uk/dowdsfarm-juniors/

To sponsor us for the Southampton Marathon event or the children running the Parkrun please click and share the following link with your friends and families: https://www.justgiving.com/page/carly-haines-1734518093440?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL 

If you would like to join us in either the 10k, half or full marathon you are more than welcome to and please consider choosing FISHES as your charity.

If you see us running around Hedge End please do give us a cheer out the window as drive past as training is hard going!

Lastly, if you have any unwanted alcohol, presents etc from Christmas please do consider donating them to FISHES as these would all help at future events.

We are holding a meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 7pm (location to be confirmed), this is to plan for future events such as the Easter fayre - if you would like to attend please let us know and make a note of the diary.

What YOU must do:

Try to telephone the school before 8.30am each day of your child’s absence.

Tell the school in advance, of any medical appointments and bring in appointment cards/letters.

If you are not sure whether your child is well enough to attend school, send them in anyway as they often perk up on arrival.

If you and your child are experiencing difficulties with school attendance then talk to us as a first step so we can help!

What WE will do:

Check your child’s attendance every day.

Phone home to discuss your child’s attendance with you.

Invite you into school for attendance meetings if we are concerned.

If we cannot establish a reason for absence, then we may make a welfare home visit.

• Friday 14th February 2025

• Friday 20th June 2025

You can view Hampshire term dates at any time here.