Newsletter 3 - 19th September 2025

Early Years

Key Stage One

Dear Families,

The School photographer is visiting us on Friday 26th September to take individual photographs of all the children. If your child has a sibling within the infant school, and you would like a sibling photo taken please visit Yellow's web site below and complete the online Sibling Request Form.

Visit website www.smileYellow.com/sibling

• School password is: frinf260925

• Closing date for requests is: midnight 19/09/2025

If your child has a sibling within the junior school, and you would like a sibling photo taken, please note the details below:

• The photographer will be set up in Green Class (Year 1), and families can arrive at 8am on Friday 26th September to have their photo taken. Please queue up outside the classroom, and a member of school staff will see you in one family at a time. Pushchairs can be left outside due to limited space in the classroom. Once your photo has been taken you will leave through the outside door again to make your way to your usual classrooms.

• Photos will only be of children who attend both the Infant & Junior schools - no older or younger siblings, or siblings who only attend FJS etc.

• We may reach a point that we need to stop to allow the photographer time to set up for our individual photos, and to allow children to get to both schools on time for registration. We would recommend coming as close to 8am as possible.

• Children will need to be in their classrooms for register at the usual time at both schools, or they will be recorded as late even if they have seen the photographer.

• Siblings who attend only the infant school do not need to come in early - you need to complete the form via the link above, by the deadline, and we will manage those siblings during the school day.

If you have any queries regarding any of the above, please get in touch.

We are very excited to be holding an online session with families about the Empowerment Approach, which we have been implementing in school for a year. We hope to see lots of you join in the meeting to learn more about the approach, and how it can be used both in school and at home to support our children.

FISHES

Thank you to everyone that attended the FISHES AGM on Tuesday it was lovely to see you all and hear your ideas. We said goodbye to Bebe our Treasurer and hello to Hayley who has kindly stepped into her shoes, she has a child in Year R.  The Chair continues to be Carly and the Secretary continues to be Chloe who has a child in Year R. We talked about events for the upcoming year and also ways to spend the money. There is an outdoor classroom which is being built at the end of September which is fully funded by FISHES and we are in the process of working with the school to design the pond area and this work will get underway later in the year.  Without the money that FISHES have raised projects like this would not be possible so thank you to everyone that has helped in anyway they can. 

Bags2School - 9th October

Please don't forget to bring in any bags of unwanted items on this date. Donations can be dropped to the wooden gazebo on this morning by 9am. If your child attends Pippins the gates will be open for you to put your bags in when you drop them off. 

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATES. We have had to change the date of the quiz night and the Wine and Wrap night. These dates are on the attached poster. 

Wine and Wrap - 18th November

This was a new event last year and because it was so lovely we thought we would do it again! Ahead of the Christmas shopping event there are a lot of presents to be wrapped so we have an evening of wrapping, drinking and Christmas songs! If you would like to come along it is held at school all you need to bring is some scissors, sellotape and your own drink and glass. If you could let us know if you are planning on attending just so we know a rough idea on numbers. 

Quiz Night - 14th November 

For anyone that is new the school we run 2 quiz nights a year. These are always fun and well attended. Tickets are £5 per person and you can have a team of up to 8 people.  There is a mixture of fun (some slightly rude) quiz rounds and some games. This is a bring your own event so bring your alcohol and any snacks - we love to see the amazing spreads that some tables lay on!  Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased from our ticket platform https://buytickets.at/fishes

Wreath workshop - 27th November

We are excited to welcome back The Hampshire Flower Hut this year to run another amazing wreath workshop. Everything is provided for you to create a beautiful festive wreath. Your ticket includes a mince pie and hot drinks, you are welcome to bring alcohol if you wish.  Spaces are limited and tickets are now on our ticket platform https://buytickets.at/fishes 

And last but not least not forgetting the Laser Show!!  Although the early bird tickets have ended, tickets are still on sale here: https://buytickets.at/fishes please continue to share this with friends and family.

If there is anyway in which you can help FISHES not just by volunteering but donating raffle prizes, sponsoring events or helping to sort things before events please do get in contact either by the school office or you can email freegroundsfishes@gmail.com 

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.