News from the Park
News from the Park
Parent Newsletter number 21 28.02.2025
Welcome back - I hope you had a good half term break and are looking forward to the half term ahead. This half term, the school value we are discussing and celebrating is 'respect.' Children across the school will be exploring the theme of 'respect' within assemblies and PSHE lessons. Please talk to your child about this value and what respect means to them.
This week Nursery had their weekly Read With Me session at Osidge Library. Their parents met them there and they enjoyed sharing a variety of stories. It was very exciting and lots of the children used their library cards to take a story home to enjoy.
Year 6 took part in a fast fashion clothes swap! Any unwanted clothes were donated and rehomed to a new, loving owner. The Year 6 children loved looking for new clothes and designing their new outfits. All of the left over clothes were used as part of their upcycling art project to make a new bag!
Ramadan
With Ramadan starting next week, we have been approached by some children with regards to their intention to fast during this period. Whilst there is no obligation for children to fast, as a school, we are happy to support children, who have expressed a preference to try. In line with guidance, we will monitor those children who have opted to fast. We will also inform parents if at any stage we are concerned that it has had a negative impact and adjust the approach to the fast accordingly. If you wish for your child to observe this period of fasting or if you have any questions, in relation to this, please speak to your child's class teacher or email the school office.
Book Corner
Here are this month’s recommendations from BooksforTopics.
Detailed book reviews are on their website.
https://www.booksfortopics.com/booklists/books-of-the-month/best-books-this-month-january-2025/
Why not try to find these books in a local Barnet Library or local bookshop!
Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2024
The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize brings science and literacy together.
It inspires young people from across the country to read about science and promotes the writing of excellent, accessible books.
Our panel have read, enjoyed and judged the books on offer this year.
Each book was judged for its ease of reading, interest factor, look and feel and the inspiration it promoted.
Our panel of judges reviewed all their comments made over the last 6 weeks and decided that their overall winner was . . .
The final winner will be announced at an award ceremony in March. Watch this space to find out who the young people in schools and youth groups from across the UK choose as this year’s Young People’s Book Prize Winner 2024.
All the books are now available in our school library, so please come along and enjoy these new, exciting texts for yourselves.
Below are our personal favourites, along with comments that may help you in choosing which book to start with.
To celebrate World Book Day we will be holding a ‘Pyjamarama Day’ on Friday 7th March.
It has come to our attention that some pupils have requested if they can come as their favourite book characters.
We would like every child to enjoy and feel comfortable in what they decide to wear on the day, so all pupils are welcome to come to school in either their pyjamas / cozy lounge wear or dressed as a book character. The choice and creativity is up to you!
All we ask is that you ensure that your child/children are warm for break and lunchtime, and suitably dressed for PE lessons if this falls on a Friday.
COMPETITION TIME!
We have five £5 vouchers to give away as a prize for the Book Fair.
Create an A4 comic strip explaining the importance of reading to you.
Entries to be handed to Miss Jordan by Monday 10th March ready for judging.
Enjoy being creative and good luck!
Comic templates can be found on the internet, but we have also added a link below to help.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IAQ2DHsD8uhmGB67Mtp6PIiIOo9RpI0C/view?usp=sharing
World Book Day Menu 6th March 2025
Pancake Day
Year 6 had a marvellous time this week when they ran pancake day! A big thank you to wonderful Year 6 and the Year 6 team for making it such a fun day.
Smartphones
Please see the attached letter indicating CHBP Federation's support for the Barnet 'Smartphone free Childhood' initiative.
This initiative is due to start at the beginning of next academic year. From September 2025, children in years 5 and 6 - who have written permission to travel to and from school independently - will be permitted to bring an old-fashioned 'brick' phone to school (which will be locked away during the school day) but they will not be allowed to bring a smartphone onto the school site.
Further information will be sent in the summer term to those families of children who will be in either Year 5 or Year 6 next year.
Please may we remind you that children must not wear smart watches to school.
1. PTA Meeting
We would like to invite all parents to an online meeting on Monday 3rd March at 8.00pm. This is an opportunity to discuss events and future suggestions. Feel free to join our meeting.
The link was also shared with your Class Rep.
https://meet.google.com/ujx-grjs-jtp
2. Coffee Morning
We hope to see you all next month on Friday 7th March.
Please come along to the Parent Hub after drop off to get to know other parents in the school. (Toddlers welcome).
3. Mother's Day
NOTE: change of date for Non Uniform Day
Our upcoming event is Mothers Day Secret Room on Friday 28th March. Children will be given the opportunity to choose a present, wrap it and write a note fort heir mother or someone special in their life.
There will be a non uniform day on Friday 14th March in exchange for a gift (appreciated by mothers).
Bookings will be available on SchoolMoney under the 'Shop' section.
4. After School improvements
We would like to make the After School Club more exciting for our children at Brunswick Park.
If you would like to contribute please donate any items on this list:
bingo games
dominoes
large chalks
Big floor Connect 4
marbles
Monopoly
We kindly request that all items provided are in good condition and free from any damage. A massive thank you for everyone who has donated so far. Please drop any items you would like to donate to the office.
5. Easyfundraising
Please follow the link and sign up to help raise more funds for our school just by doing your regular shopping! Minimum effort from you, huge difference to our school and kids!
How it works:
We turn your daily shopping into everyday magic!
Easyfundraising partners, with over 8,000 brands, will donate part of what you spend to a cause of your choice. It won't cost you any extra. The cost is covered by the brand.
Dates for the diary so far - Please keep checking for additional dates
Monday 3rd March - PTA meeting - 8pm
Tuesday 4th March - Pancake Day school menu
Tuesday 4th March - Year 3 Anglo Saxon workshop -in class
Wednesday 5th March - Year 6 to East Barnet School (play and workshop)
Wednesday 5th March - 1A Farm Trip
Thursday 6th March - World Book Day menu
Friday 7th March - Pyjamarama Day for World Book Day
Friday 7th March- PTA Coffee Morning - Parent Hub after drop off
Monday 10th March - Thursday 13th March - Book Fair
Monday 10th March - Parent Consultations Years 1-6
Tuesday 11th March - Year 2 Tower of London trip
Wednesday 12th March- Dance Festival in the evening
Thursday 13th March - Parent Consultations Years 1-6
Friday 14th March - PTA non uniform day in exhange for donating a gift for the secret room
Monday 17th March - Nursery and Reception Parent Consultations
Tuesday 18th March - Nursery and Reception Parent Consultations
Thursday 20th March - 1G Farm trip
Friday 21st March- Comic Relief Day
Monday 24th - Friday 28th March- Year 5 Bikeability
Tuesday 25th March- KS2 School Council to Houses of Parliament
Wednesday 26th and 27th March (AM) - Reception hearing and Vision Screening
Friday 28th March- PTA Mother's Day Secret Room
Monday 31st March- Rocksteady Concert 9.30am- school hall
Thursday 3rd April - Year 6 Easter Egg Tombola (details to follow)
Friday 4th April - Nursery open morning 9.30am-11.30am
Friday 4th April - Break up for Easter 1.30pm
Attendance and Punctuality
Well done to 3JB. They achieved 97.96 attendance before half term.
The punctuality award goes to 2R.