Diary Dates

Term Dates

Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the course of this half term the children have been spending some time each week in the key stage that they will transition to in September. This process has been really successful over the last few years at helping to alleviate any anxieties and familiarising children with the learning environment and routines. I am so pleased with the way that the children have embraced these taster sessions over the last few weeks and am looking forward to our whole school transition day on Wednesday 1st July. We will also be thinking about children who are leaving us on this day as they too spend some time in their new schools.

Robins and Owls classes spent a wonderful day at Whipsnade Zoo this week - the staff reported that the children were amazing and they all really enjoyed seeing the animals across the zoo. I am sure there were many tired children (and adults) after this trip. Thank you to any parents and carers who supported this trip, or offered to support; your help is much appreciated. Key Stage One have also been out and about in the local area this week, exploring the high street to support their learning about how things have changed over time. They even managed to squeeze in a visit to Bennetts Rec on the way back.

This week we have welcomed some beautiful weather and it is looking likely to still be sunny as we head into next week but with increased extremely high temperatures. Therefore we have made the decision to postpone Sports Day to Wednesday 8th July. Please see further details below. Due to the expected heatwave we would advise all children to wear their PE kits (shorts and t-shirt) to school every day throughout next week. Please ensure children have full water bottles, sunhats are worn and sun cream is applied before school.

Our Year 6 children have had an incredible week making memories at Caldecotte on their residential trip. A massive thank you to all of the staff who stayed for the duration of their trip and those who have been able to go there and spend time with our pupils before they leave at the end of term. These experiences are so valuable to the children and each and every child gains something from being able to take part. What a week they have had with water sports, team building activities and watching the England game on Wednesday night! #magicmoments

Things to look out for in the coming weeks - our infamous Lark Rise Summer party on Friday 3rd July - always a huge success. Year 5 and 6 will be heading to Cadbury World in the coming weeks, L Factor is being planned, transition meetings for parents and carers (see more detail below), Summer/Leavers Disco and end of year reports. There is always so much to squeeze into the final weeks so it will definitely be busy. Remember to keep an eye on emails and social media updates for further information on upcoming events.

As always, thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you over the coming weeks at our various events. Have a lovely sunny weekend.

Mrs Hannah Hartley

Head of School

Attendopoly

Each week in our whole school assembly we celebrate children's attendance by playing a game of Attendopoly (based on Monopoly). The class with the highest attendance figure is rewarded with a class prize.

The winning class for the last couple of weeks was:

Week of 8th June : Penguins class with 100% attendance

Whole school attendance : 97%

Our whole school target attendance for this academic year across all classes is 97%.

Sports Day RESCHEDULED

Due to the extreme heat due next week, we have taken the responsible decision to postpone Sports Day which was due to take place on Thursday 25th June and have rescheduled it for Wednesday 8th July. Timings for the day will remain the same:

EYFS (Ducks, Owls & Robins) : 9.10 - 9.40am
KS1 (Hummingbirds, Parrots & Penguins) : 10.00 - 11.00am
LKS2 (Macaws, Peacocks & Red Kites) : 11.15am - 12.15pm
UKS2 (Eagles, Falcons & Hawks) : 1.30 - 2.30pm
Afternoon Nursery (Ducklings) : 2.40 - 3.10pm

Parents/carers are welcome to come and spectate at the specified times but you are politely requested to please leave the school site over the lunchtime period.

Please could the children wear an item of clothing to represent the colour of their house (eg children in red house wear a red hairband/t-shirt/socks) as part of their PE kit. All should come into school in their PE kit (and coloured clothing/accessory) on Sports Day.

Lark Rise Summer Party

Lark Fest!

Don't forget to buy your tickets for the Lark Rise Summer Party (Lark Fest) which will take place on the school field on Friday 3rd July from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Tickets are available on MCAS. Tickets are £5 each which covers entry to the party - you are welcome to bring picnics but there will be an array of food and drink items to purchase on the day. This year there will be a festival theme therefore we invite children and parents to come dressed in their best festival inspired outfits.

Tickets are NOT required for Lark Rise children.

L Factor

It is time once again for our very special Lark Rise music event 'The L Factor.' This really is one of the highlights of our school year for the children and I would encourage all children to enter an act if they would like to as it is lots of fun. The children will be coming home with a slip to fill in if they have requested one from their teacher and will need to hand it back in as soon as they have decided on what they would like to perform. We usually have a range of singing solos, groups, dance acts and children playing musical instruments etc. We are looking forward to seeing what the children have prepared for this event; I'm sure it will be another great musical success.

Grab & Go

Preparations are well underway for our next Grab and Go taking place Wednesday 24th June before and after school. Grab and Go is an opportunity for anyone to take pre loved freshly washed and labelled school uniform either completely free of charge if in need, or for a small donation of 50p per item towards the cost of washing uniform and staff time to prepare the event. You may need to replace uniform to get you to the end of the term, or might want to think ahead and look for the next size ready for September.

A box will be out to receive your donations, so don't forget your pennies! We are proud to work with our Lark Rise Community to prevent good uniform ending up in landfill before it should, and to help each other in these financially challenging times.

Please name any items you take to make sure they can be returned to the right classroom if your child mislays them in school.

Outstanding Payments

Please can you check on your child's MCAS account that you have no outstanding payments (trips, clubs, SATs books, dinners, Nursery fees etc) as all debts must be cleared before the end of the academic year. Thank you in advance for your support with this.

Transition Meetings

You should have now received the transition booklets for your child's new key stage together with links for virtual meetings which will take place as follows:

Monday 22nd June 7.00pm: KS1 (current Year R & Year 1 children)
Tuesday 23rd June 7.00pm : LKS2 (current Year 2 & 3 children)
Wednesday 24th June 7.00pm : UKS2 (current Year 4 & Year 5 children)

The meeting for parents/carers of children starting in the Reception class (current Ducks class) will take place in school on Friday 26th June at 9am.

All children will spend the morning in their new classes on Wednesday 1st July when most of the Year 6 children will be visiting their new secondary schools. Annual reports will be sent home on Friday 10th July and there will be an opportunity for parents/carers to visit their child(ren)'s new classroom on Wednesday 15th July between 3.30pm and 3.45pm.

Year 6 Leavers Award Ceremony

We will holding our Year 6 Leavers Award Ceremony at Dunstable Conference Centre on Wednesday 15th July (10 - 11.30am). All children (Reception to Year 6) will attend - see Google form which will be sent out shortly.

Parents/carers of Year 6 children only (max 2 per child) are welcome to attend - tickets will be sent out in due course.

Suncream

Hopefully the current lovely weather will continue for the last few weeks in school. Please ensure that your child has suncream applied before coming to school and has a sunhat and water bottle with them. If you wish them to apply further suncream later in the school day, you are welcome to send in a named bottle of suncream for them to apply themselves - please note we cannot apply the suncream for them but will supervise them doing so.

FALLS Summer/Leavers Disco

The FALLS team will be organising an end of year Summer/Leavers Disco which will take place on Monday 13th July at the following times :

5.00 - 6.00pm : Reception (Owls & Robins) & KS1 (Hummingbirds, Parrots & Penguins)

6.15 - 7.15pm : KS2 (Macaws, Peacocks, Red Kites, Eagles, Falcons & Hawks).

Tickets (£4 per child) are available to purchase on MCAS. Any children leaving Lark Rise at the end of term can attend free of charge.

Fun Week Menu

13th - 17th July

For the last week of term, Aspens will be serving a special 'Fun Week' menu. Please make your selections only from this menu, as the standard menu will not be available. The menu can be found on MCAS Dinner Ordering as normal.

Staff News

We will sadly be saying goodbye to some members of staff at the end of term.

Mrs White is moving to a post in Early Years in a Luton school. Miss Spokes is moving to a school nearer home to ease her childcare commitments.

Mrs Bilenkyj is moving to Lancot School to take on the role of SENDCo and class teacher.

We wish them every success in their new roles and thank them for everything they have done during their time at Lark Rise but know they will be greatly missed by children and staff alike.

Staff News & Changes

We are delighted to confirm that Mr Wildman has successfully completed his teacher training qualification and has been appointed as a permanent full-time teacher at Lark Rise from

Miss McGoldrick will be sharing responsibility for a Year 5/6 class alongside Mrs Smith.

Mrs Smith will take over as SENDCo from September under the guidance and expertise of Mrs Hartley.

Mr McAleese will be taking on more teaching responsibility from September across Key Stage One and Reception.

FALLS Facebook

If you are a Facebook user, please follow the FALLS Facebook account www.facebook.com/share/1G9XqxXgA9/?mibextid=wwXIfr for updates on events they are organising.

Writing to be proud of (Year 5)

Alfie (Year 5)

Yahya (Year 5)

Zayd (Year 5)

Teddy (Year 5)

Arlo (Year 5)

Nicolas (Year 5)

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