Diary Dates

Term Dates

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the final half of the spring term. With it being a very short half term we have been very busy so far and have lots to look forward to.

Last week we welcomed Hummingbirds parents and carers into school and our first KS1 assembly. The children were amazing; I was so proud of their performance and learning showcase - well done everyone. Thank you if you were able to come along.

Thank you to everyone who signed up to the Mother's day present wrapping last week, we raised an incredible £900 which will go back into the school to support the children's learning - amazing! A huge thanks to Michelle Bryson and Karen Kenyon who organised and led the team of parent helpers on the day. Thank you also if you were able to volunteer your time to support with this; not only are events such as this valuable from a fundraising perspective but they are also fun and enjoyable for the children.

This week we were privileged to showcase a live virtual event across the school to 100 delegates to support one of the National Professional Qualifications of Senior Leadership (NPQSL). The delegates that attended the event had lots of good practice to take away and strategy around leadership development in their own school. One of the delegates fed back 'It is always interesting to observe any educational setting at work and this one is clearly very effective! I firmly believe culture is key and staff buy in is invaluable for consistency across any school. Ensuring staff understand what is happening and why/how it supports children's needs! This was clearly evident and everyone seemed very proud to work at this school '. We were delighted to be able to support other leaders nationally and that the expertise and dedication to our school by our staff was noted by other professionals.

Yesterday's World Book Day events were fantastic; I'm sure your child came home and told you all about events such as the 'Masked Reader' and 'Stop, drop and read'. There are some lovely photos on social media for you to enjoy if you haven't already taken a look. I thoroughly enjoyed supporting the Reading Ambassadors who helped take a lead on organising some of the events. Thank you to Mrs Francis and Mrs White for their amazing efforts in organising the events. The Reading Ambassadors will get to work judging some of the incredible competition entries; well done and thank you if your child took part.

Today it was lovely to see so many special mummies and nannies visiting in Early Years for a Mother's day craft event. The children looked delighted to play and learn with you in their setting and make some personalised gifts for you. Thank you for supporting this event; the children adore it!

Finally, we finished the week off with an assembly this afternoon from Mrs True to launch National Science Week which carries on into next week. The theme this year is 'Time'. We will be sure to showcase lots of their fantastic learning across the classes on social media next week so look out for some of these photos.

Next week our Year 6 children will sit their mock SATs tests. The children have demonstrated maturity and increased independence with their learning so far this year; their hard work has been recognised by all the adults and we know that their attitude to learning next week will be no different. I am looking forward to supporting them during this time.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend; see you next week.

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 26th February : Robins Class with 99.6% attendance.

Whole school attendance : 96.3%

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

Easter Activities Event

We are organising an after school Easter Activities event on Thursday 21st March from 3.30pm to 5.00pm. This will be a fundraising event led by school staff for children from Reception to Year 6. Tickets can be purchased on Parentmail from today at a cost of £6 per child. The children will take part in an Easter Egg hunt, make Easter crafts and enjoy a snack and drink together. Please note there will be no after school clubs on this evening,

Red Nose Day

We will be supporting Red Nose Day next Friday (15th March). To raise money, we’re going to host a special Red Nose Day themed bake sale, with all proceeds going to Comic Relief. This will be organised and run by the Safety Squad.

Children will also be able to come into school on Red Nose Day wearing non-uniform; we would encourage them to wear something red. In return we ask that all children bring in £1 to donate to Comic Relief.

We will also be offering our red nose day painting again as an alternative to the shop bought noses, as part of our commitment as an eco-school. Children can bring in 50p to get their nose painted!

Please see details of the bake sale below:

Red Nose Day Bake Sale on Friday 15th March at 3:30pm

Outside the main school entrance.

We ask for donations of cakes; these could be home-made or shop bought. Cakes will be sold by the school’s Safety Squad. There will also be a prize for a child in each key stage for the winning cake entry (red nose themed).

The money we raise will be used to change countless lives, both here in the UK and worldwide.This includes supporting children and young people, including people in the UK experiencing financial and material poverty and also people who have experienced or are at risk of domestic abuse to ensure they are able to access safe accommodation and specialist services.

We’ll also be using Red Nose Day as a learning opportunity to help our pupils explore the issues facing young people across the world, and how the money we raise can help. This will be further explored in a whole school assembly led by the Safety Squad and Mrs Waterman.

We really appreciate your support and hope that the children will have fun in helping us raise lots of money for Red Nose Day.

DT/Art Hero of the half term

Coco Chanel

Our heroine for this half term is someone who completely transformed the world of fashion - Coco Chanel. We enjoyed learning about her life and how she overcame difficulties and the negative opinions of other people to create a world famous fashion brand. Coco Chanel taught us a very important lesson, that we should be who and what we want to be.

The children have been set a challenge to experience what it is like to be a fashion designer and to come up with their own unique clothing design. I look forward to seeing their incredible designs.

Mrs Shilvock

Art & DT Subject Leader

Music Heroes of the half term

Sergio Mendes & Carlinhos Brown

In order for the children to become successful musicians whilst at Lark Rise Academy and beyond it is essential to study the music of different cultures and genres. Therefore, this term's Musical Heroes are Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown. Both are talented Brazilian singers, songwriters, arrangers and composers. In Assembly, we will listen to their song 'Fanfarra Cubua Le Le thinking about: how it makes us feel, what instruments we can hear, if we can tap the pulse and finally clapping out some of the enticing rhythms. Have a listen with your child and see if you can stop yourself moving to the infectious beat of this brilliant Brazilian Samba! Sergio Mendes - Fanfarra Cabua Le Le (Official Visualizer) (youtube.com)

Geography Competition Winners

Congratulations to Sirous and Lylah who are the winners of the recent Geography competition to create logos to represent human and physical geography. These logos will be used in every class across the school. Well done to all entrants.

Mrs Rankine & Miss Hazell

Sirous Saffin (Year 2)

Lylah Bumanglag (Year 5)

Times Table Rockstars

Across the school we have a weekly hall of fame, where we celebrate different aspects of times table recall. This includes effort, speed and accuracy.

Well done to the following children who have logged on regularly at home and achieved a place in our hall of fame in the following categories :

LKS2

12/2/24: Most accurate answers : Arlo, Oliver, Arianna, Neri, Jack, Edward

UKS2

12/2/24: Most amount of effort : Ionut, Aaron, Rian, Beau

26/2/24: Most coins : Sophie, Alexander, Beau, Hugo

Wellies

The Early Years team would love to receive any wellies your child may have outgrown for use in their mud kitchen.

Big Walk & Wheel Challenge

We will be taking part in the Big Walk & Wheel Challenge, the UK’s largest inter-school walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling challenge from 11th to 22nd March. The challenge inspires pupils to make active journeys to school, improve air quality in their neighbourhood and discover how these changes benefit their world.

The event aims to encourage more families to travel to school actively and help create healthier and happier communities. On each day of the challenge, schools compete to see who can record the greatest proportion of their pupils walking, using a wheelchair, scooting or cycling to school.

Today in school, we launched Science Week for the children which we will continue to celebrate throughout next week. To enrich the children's learning at home, there is a competition on Google Classroom set by Mrs True which they might like to enter, linked to this year's topic of 'Time'. The competition is open-ended so the children can explore the topic in any way they want to but there are some ideas they might like to use on the information slides. We would encourage entries in any format the children would like but ask that all entries are in school or on Google Classroom by Monday 25th March.

Toilet Roll Tubes

Upper Key Stage Two would be pleased to receive any empty toilet or kitchen roll tubes for an activity they will be doing in the next couple of weeks. Please send them into school with your child.

EYFS Bikes & Scooters

We would like to remind you that children (including younger children when waiting to collect older siblings) should NOT be using the EYFS bikes and scooters which are stored in the main entrance bike shed. These are solely for the use of children when in school. This includes Reception and Nursery children using the bikes once they have been collected at the end of the school day.

Easter Performing Arts Camp

Christina Marks School of Performing Arts will be running a performing arts camp at Lark Rise Academy during the Easter holidays (8th-11th April).

Any children eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals will be able to attend free of charge. They will receive a free lunch every day and get to be part of an amazing showcase at the end of the week.

For more information contact Christina on 07525 850232 or email christinamarksschoolofperformingarts@hotmail.com

Learning Superheroes - Resilient Roo Spring 1

EYFS

Viyan

Viyan is now working very hard during RWI phonics sessions and has recently become more focused. Viyan used to find recognising sounds very tricky but with his magnet eyes, full participation for speedy sounds and even working at home daily with his family he is now making progress. Viyan has also put a lot of effort into forming the letters in his name correctly. Super job Viyan- Keep up the hard work in school and at home. Well done Viyan!

Aria

Aria used to find concentrating during carpet sessions a little tricky when she first began at Lark Rise and was easily distracted. Aria now sits beautifully on the carpet and always has her magnet eyes to help her concentrate. She volunteers answers and contributes ideas with a talk partner. We are so proud of the progress that Aria has made in all aspects of school life. Well done Aria!

Isla

Isla was a little worried about spending time in the Eatery at lunchtimes. Isla was worried about seeing the big children and them sitting on her table. After lots of talking with the adults in school and her family and putting some different strategies in place to help her, Isla is now so comfortable going into the Eatery and enjoying her lunch. Well done Isla!

David

David has been working so hard to develop his confidence to speak in the class setting. We are so proud and pleased to say that David offers suggestions, puts his hand up and wanting to talk to the adults! David has also been working so hard with his handwriting, putting lots of effort in with great results. Well done David!

River

In nursery the adults encourage the children to be as independent as possible. River has been determined to zip her own coat up and has tried so hard with this skill. It has been lovely to see how proud she has been of herself and her ability to do this by herself. She has even started to help other children with their zips and has tried to teach them what to do. Well done River!

Jameson

Jameson used to be reluctant to join in with energisers and daily singing. Jameson has really impressed us with his improved effort and joining in with these activities. It is lovely to see him enjoying the energisers and singing with more confidence. Well done Jameson!

KS1

Emilly

When Mrs Rankine and Mrs Harrison first became Parrots Class teachers, Emilly seemed to be quite reserved. One half term later, however, we are pleased to say that Emilly has started to come more and more out of her shell. She has become more vocal in her phonics speed sound sessions and is the perfect reading partner, both helping her peers as well as taking on board any feedback her peers have for her. Well done Emilly!

Harry

Harry has really blossomed this term, his confidence in class is tangible, manifesting in his willingness to participate in class discussion, as well as always trying his very best in anything that he does. He is a quieter member of parrots class but it is easy to see how important he is to his friends, always being a kind and steady presence in the classroom! Keep up the amazing progress Harry!

Anastasia

After coming back for Spring term, it has been amazing to see Anastasia really find her place within Penguins class. She has become a confident member of KS1 and it is amazing to see how far she has come with her attitude towards learning, not being afraid to give anything a go. She was initially nervous about the transition to KS1 but it is clear that she is flourishing with her can do attitude and developed confidence!

Sirous

It has been wonderful to see Sirous develop his skills in communication when faced with situations that can be frustrating. Oftentimes Sirous would struggle to find the words to communicate how he is feeling, sometimes being overwhelmed with emotion. He has begun to take a breath and reflect on what he is feeling before responding to others in a reasonable way, diffusing conflict and mediating between friends. He tries hard in all that he does and will always think of ways to develop his skills when learning and playing with others. You are a superstar Sirous and a valued member of Penguins class, thank you for being you! Keep up the amazing work!

Emily

For Emily, this has been a half term where she has taken charge of her thoughts and feelings and advocated for herself despite sometimes finding that tricky to do; fantastic! We have also loved watching Emily flourish as she continues to strive towards her own personal goals. As the saying goes ‘Nothing worth having is ever easy’ and it has been great to see Emily getting back up, brushing herself off and getting started again!

Lilly

Lilly has not let anything hold her back from making progress this year and has been a true learning superstar in Hummingbirds class. There have been times when Lilly has felt unsure and less brave in class but she has pushed through and given everything her best efforts. In addition to this, Lilly loves music and has recently joined Miss. Slough’s recorder band with the older children at Lark Rise. Initially, Lilly found keeping up with the older children tricky but she has shown what a determined and resilient person she is by not giving up and even performing in our Music assembly assembly.

LKS2

Ethan

Ethan has shown perseverance in improving his handwriting this half term. At times, he can find the formation and sizing of his letters tricky but he has worked very hard on improving this; taking time and care and applying the practice from our handwriting sessions to other lessons. Ethan is taking pride in his presentation and becoming increasingly proud of his finished work as a result. Well done Ethan, keep up the excellent work with this. You are a fantastic role model to others!

Shreya

Shreya, your attitude to learning is exemplary! Everyday, you put your all into your learning and come into the classroom with a huge smile on your face ready to take on any task presented to you. Although there have been some challenges in Maths, such as division, you have held your head up high and have been eager to tackle these. When you are unsure, I love that you are so proactive in trying to find out the answer by discussing your learning with an adult to address your misconceptions. This is a fantastic skill to have. Keep up the amazing work Shreya!

Alicja

We are all so proud of Alicja. She started Year 3 feeling a little unconfident in her English lessons but she has made absolutely incredible progress as a result of working hard and always trying her best. Alicja will always listen so well and try to put new learning into practice. All of the adults in Lower Key Stage Two were amazed by her written description of Diagon Alley; where she challenged herself to use more adventurous vocabulary, even if she can find spelling unknown words a challenge. Well done Alicja, you really are a ‘learning superhero’ and you should be so proud of yourself.

Hudson

I have been so impressed with how hard Hudson has been working in our Maths lessons. We have been looking at the tricky topic of Division and Hudson has shown such resilience during every lesson. He started by using manipulatives to explore the concept of division and then after showing a good understanding of this, he went on to explore some larger numbers and more complex problems. Even when it was tricky, Hudson did not give up and persevered till he reached the answer. Well done Hudson; I'm so proud of you!

Poppy B

Poppy has had such a positive and wonderful attitude towards her learning this year. I am so proud of how hard she has been working in her English lessons and this has meant she has seen some fantastic improvement in her writing. It is fabulous to see her carefully planning the content of her writing, using adventurous vocabulary and producing work that she is truly proud of. Poppy, you really are a little superstar; keep going and keep being amazing!

Gracjan

Gracjan, I am so impressed with your determination in your learning. Whilst you have found English a trickier subject in comparison to Maths, a subject you are very confident in, you have always tried your best and worked hard. At first, Gracjan found it challenging to put all of his wonderful ideas down on paper and often sought advice on his creative writing. However, Gracjan’s confidence has grown and grown in English. It especially made my day when you showed me your Harry Potter writing which you completed independently with a huge grin on your face; you should be so proud of yourself! Well done Gracjan.

UKS2

Athena

Athena comes to every maths lesson putting in 100% effort and focus but sometimes, even with these invaluable ingredients, learning can be difficult. When learning about short division, there hasn’t been a lesson where Athena has given up. Instead, she has started each lesson with a positive attitude and as a result, she is now a division superstar! Seeing Athena come to the front of the class and demonstrate how to solve a problem was absolutely fantastic and a complete testament to her determination to succeed. Well done Athena!

Zahra

Being taught in a different country can sometimes mean school is a bit different. When Zahra started Lark Rise, she was learning how to do things in a slightly different way. It would be easy to give up or get frustrated, but Zahra has kept on going with her wonderful enthusiasm and smile. She doesn’t just complete her work; she edits and improves her work in each lesson and this resilience has a great impact on our class. Well done Zahra; you are amazing!

Zain

Zain can sometimes find learning tricky but has been working incredibly hard in all of his lessons. He has become more confident in the classroom, answering lots of questions and getting involved with class discussions. Zain has become more independent in his learning, especially in English and Maths. Zain always tries his best and never gives up. Keep up the amazing work Zain, we are all so proud of you!

Aneeza

Joining a new school can be daunting but Aneeza settled in very quickly when she arrived at Lark Rise last year. She always puts in 100% effort in everything she does. Aneeza is always kind and considerate to others and follows the school values. She is an absolute pleasure to teach and always puts a smile on the adults faces. Aneeza will always try to develop her answers and improve her work showing excellent resilience. Keep working hard Aneeza, we are all so proud of you and everything you have achieved so far!

Millie

Throughout the term, Millie has worked hard on an amazing Digital Leader project which she was lucky enough to earn a place presenting at the Bett Show. There was only one issue: she had to present in a very large arena in front of lots of strangers. Millie was unsure whether she wanted to complete the presentation but went along to the BETT Show to give herself the opportunity and spend the day celebrating her success for getting this far. Right up until the last moment, Millie wasn’t sure about the pitch - getting up on stage and talking in front of lots of strangers can be very scary! However, never one to give up, Millie proudly stood on the stage at the BETT Show with her teammates and gave a presentation worthy of a professional. Millie - all of your adults are so proud that you overcame your wariness; what a true ‘Resilient Roo’ you are!

Jinuki

Jinuki started her Lark Rise journey this year; she was a little bit shy while she was getting to know new routines, children and adults. However, Jinuki is really starting to come out of her shell and show us what a wonderful young girl she is. Jinuki’s learning has shown fantastic progress; this is as a result of her amazing hard work and thirst for knowledge in each and every lesson. Every adult that has had the pleasure of interacting with Jinuki has commented on what a lovely girl and an asset to Lark Rise she is. This all takes real resilience and constant effort and determination in a new situation. Well done on working hard to make such a positive reputation for yourself Jinuki!

Amelia

Amelia has shown true resilience over the past term in all her subjects, but particularly in her Maths and English, leading up to SATs. Determined to better her previous scores from the last testing, Amelia has put 100% effort into understanding how she can do this and has tried so hard in all her lessons. Despite the fact that this has been difficult for her at times, she has ‘picked’ herself up and taken on board advice. It was lovely to see her so determined to work out a Maths question from a booster session that she kept going back to find out if it was right until she had succeeded in doing so. Well done Amelia - keep striving to be the best you can be.

Leah

Leah has worked consistently hard through the last term, trying to do the best she can with her learning. She attends the booster sessions with a smile (setting up the learning resources every time without having to be asked) and, if struggling, is becoming much more confident to ask and question how a method, in maths for example, has been reached. As a result, she can see she is starting to reap the rewards for her hard work, determination and positive attitude. Well done Leah - keep working hard and looking to better yourself.