Newsletter 21.11.2025

Diary Dates

Term Dates

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week was Anti-Bullying Week and we began the week with an assembly where Mrs Hartley shared the story 'The Friendship Bench' by Wendy Middour. This story had themes of friendship and feeling lonely; the character in the story learnt how to make a friendship. We reflected on how this happens in school and how we can receive help with our friendships if needed. We also discussed the importance of sharing our feelings with a trusted adult by finding our voice or using one of our worry boxes. Promoting such care for one another was so lovely to hear from the children.

This week was Maths Week which saw the week start with our annual Rock Star day and had us 'rolling our numbers' in assembly with our times table songs led by Mrs Shilvock. The focus of the week was launched and the children have put so much thought into creating their own Maths games which they've enjoyed playing across the classes today. Thank you to Mrs Waterman and Mrs Shilvock for organising Maths Week.

Thank you to all of our parents and carers who were able to pop into school yesterday to see their child's books; don't worry if you were unable to come along to this; there will be another opportunity later in the year and at a later time in the day.

We ended the week with a showstopper of an assembly from Falcons Class. What a fantastic showcase of learning; I could have listened to them all day long. Thank you to those parents and carers who were able to come and support their child.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and wrap up warm if you are heading out!

Mrs Romina Lang

Headteacher

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 week was:

Week of 3rd November : Owls class with 100% attendance

Whole school attendance : 97.8%

Week of 10th November : Parrots class with 99% attendance

Whole school attendance : 97.6%

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

Children in Need

Thank you for supporting Children in Need last week. We raised the incredible total of £325.

After School Clubs

There will be no after school clubs running in the last week of the Autumn term (week of 15th December) so all children will need to be collected at the end of the school day (3.30pm).

If you have absolutely no alternative childcare until 4.30pm on that week, please contact the school office and we will try and assist. There will be NO childcare available on Friday 19th December. Any requests for the last week of term need to be with us by Monday 1st December.

Tissues

We are well and truly in "runny nose" season and desperately in need of tissues in school. If you are able to donate a box, we would be extremely grateful. Thank you in advance for your support.

Christmas Dinner Day

We very much hope the children will join their friends and staff for Christmas dinner on Wednesday 17th December as this will be a really festive occasion. There will be no charge for children in Reception and KS1 due to universal free school meals. The cost of the Christmas dinner for KS2 will be at a slightly higher price of £3.25 but we very much hope all children will want to take part in this event. A Google form has been sent out to children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 which needs to be completed for ALL children (from Reception to Year 2). Any orders & payment for children in Years 3-6 should be made on MCAS in Store.

Christmas Jumper Day

Thursday 11th December is Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day. Children can wear any Christmas related clothing on this day. No school uniform needs to be worn and there is no charge for this day.

Christmas Performances

We are delighted to be able to hold our Christmas performances again this year and welcome parents/carers to attend them. Dates for your diaries are as follows:

Afternoon Nursery (Ducklings):

Tuesday 9th December 2.30pm

Morning Nursery (Ducks) & Reception (Owls & Robins):

Tuesday 9th December 9.00am

Thursday 11th December 10.30am

Key Stage One (Hummingbirds, Parrots & Penguins):

Tuesday 9th December 10.30am

Thursday 11th December 9.00am

Key Stage Two (Macaws, Peacocks, Red Kites, Eagles, Falcons & Hawks): Wednesday 10th December 6.30pm. The Key Stage Two Christmas performance will take place at Dunstable Conference Centre (opposite Peacocks on High Street South).

A Google form to order tickets for the EYFS & KS1 performances will be coming out at 6pm tonight (Friday 21st November). Tickets for the Afternoon Nursery and KS2 performances will be sent out automatically - no need to order.

Christmas Movie Night

Following on from the success of previous Christmas movie nights, we would like to run this event again for the children. This will be held on Monday 8th December immediately after school until 5:00pm. All children from Reception to Upper Key Stage Two will be invited to stay in exchange for a book from one of our Amazon wish lists. The event will be free of charge, all that we ask in exchange is that you log on to our Amazon account (details to follow) and purchase a book for your child’s class library from the Amazon wish list that the teachers have created. Your child’s name will then feature on a book plate inside the book to say that they have bought the book for the school libraries. The overwhelming support from all of you last year meant that we were able to purchase lots of lovely books for your children to enjoy. We still have many more titles that, with your help, we would like to purchase for the libraries in order to make them the best that they can be for the children.

A Google form for you to register your child's interest in attending the Movie Night will be sent out on Monday 24th November.

After school clubs will NOT be running on this evening so if your child is not attending the Movie Night they will need to be collected at 3.30pm. Refunds will be issued for clubs already paid for on this evening.

FALLS - Santa's Float

On Sunday 14th December, the FALLS team will be helping Santa on his float on the roads surrounding the school. This is a really fun event, bringing so much joy to the children (and adults) in Dunstable and raising valuable funds for our school in the process!

If you would like to help on the night please let the office know to ensure we have enough helpers - we need at least 10 adults.

We will be meeting at the school at approximately 4:30pm. Unfortunately, due to safety reasons, we can not have children accompany us.

Thanks in advance for your continued support.

The FALLS team and Santa

Sustainability Update

We are delighted to keep you updated on our most recent sustainability update. We have managed to achieve our Modeshift Stars accreditation. This is in recognition of our sustainable and active travel plan and the number of initiatives that the children have successfully taken part in to travel to school sustainably.

CLT's 2025 Christmas Card Design Competition

We are delighted to have been asked to take part in a competition from Chiltern Learning Trust (CLT) to design the Christmas card they will be sending out this year. The competition is open to all children from Nursery to Year 6 and designs should be submitted on a folded piece of named A4 card by Monday 1st December.

One card will be chosen from each year group by the Art Ambassadors and staff and will be submitted to CLT for judging. The winners will be chosen by CLT directors and will be announced on Thursday 11th December.

The top 3 overall winners (selected by the Directors) will receive:

1st Place: £40 All 4 One Voucher and design featured as the CLT 2025 Christmas Card.
2nd Place: £20 All 4 One Voucher
3rd Place: £10 All 4 One Voucher

We look forward to receiving your child's submission for the competition.

Wishing everyone who enters lots of luck.

Christmas Jumpers & Costume Donations

The Inclusion Team would be pleased to accept donations of any outgrown Children in Need and Christmas t shirts and jumpers. They are also building up a supply of outgrown costumes for theme days in school (eg Tudor Day etc) if you have any you are able to donate to allow children to take part in the future. Each donation will receive a gold coin for the child's house.