Newsletter 

12.01.24

Principal's Message

I would like to say a big well done to the members of KS2 who attended our concert at the church this week. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate their hard work in learning how to play a range of musical instruments. Thank you to Mrs Williams for organising the event, Reverend Nicky for allowing us to use the church and to all the families who came to watch. 


The Library and Heritage Centre have kindly offered the school the opportunity for all classes to visit them during the year. This week, Year 2 visited the Library and had a fantastic time exploring all of the books it had to offer. We are very excited about our future visits!


We have noticed that there has been a lot of people parking on Goudhurst Road at the start and end of the day. Unfortunately, some people have been parking on the zig zag lines, over drive ways, on single yellow lines and on the foot paths. I am sure you will understand that this poses a risk to the children when they are entering and leaving the school site. Please can we ask for your support in parking carefully and in appropriate places so as to ensure the safety of our school community during these times. You may have noticed a Police Officer outside the school yesterday. She has asked us to share the following letter with you: Kent Police Parking Offences Letter 


I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Mrs H Penning

Tuesday 16th January 2024 - EYFS Bedgebury Trip

Tuesday 16th January 2024 - 3BEECH Natural History Museum Trip

Wednesday 17th January 2024 - EYFS & KS1 Road Safety Workshops

Thursday 18th January 2024 - KS2 Boys Football Marden vs Coxheath (Home)

Monday 22nd January 2024 - KS2 Boys Football Marden vs Brunswick (Home)

Wednesday 24th January 2024 - 4ACACIA Library Visit

Friday 26th January 2024 2.45-3.15pm - EYFS Storytime (parents invited)

Wednesday 31st January 2024 - 3BEECH Marden Heritage Centre Visit

Thursday 1st February 2024 - Whole School Karate Workshops

Monday 5th February - Friday 9th February 2024 - Mental Health Week

Tuesday 6th February 2024 - Safer Internet Day

Office Messages

World Book Day - Parent Feedback Required!

We will be celebrating World Book Day 2024 in school on Thursday 7th March. During the day, the children will do a range of reading and writing activities linked to a key text. We would also like to create a competition for the children to take part in. We are aware of the rising costs, so we would like to receive your views on how you think it would be best to celebrate this event. 

We would really appreciate it if you could complete a short Google Form to help us in finalising our plans.  We will need all responses submitted by Friday 26th January 2024.

NSPCC Game Safe Festival - Parent Workshop

The NSPCC is holding a workshop about keeping children safe while gaming online as part of the NSPCC Game Safe Festival in February 2024. The workshop, for families and professionals working with children, takes place on 07 February 2024. 


Visit the page: Game Safe Festival 

Find out more: Workshop for parents, carers and those working with families 

Rocksteady Assembly!

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Rock and Pop Band Lessons with Rocksteady!

Exciting news! From Wednesday 21st February 2024 we will be welcoming Rocksteady Music School into Marden Primary Academy. It’s an incredible opportunity for your children to learn to play their favourite songs in their very own band with a choice of drums, keyboards, electric guitar, bass guitar or vocals.

As well as learning new musical skills, lessons also boost children’s confidence, wellbeing, social skills and teamwork. Lessons take place every week during school time. 

These fun and inclusive lessons are taught by highly trained, professional musicians who know how to inspire a life-long love of music. At the end of each term each band will perform in a concert for the school and their families, so you can see how far they have come! A musical workshop has already taken place in school, where the children tried out the instruments and saw what it is like to learn to play in a band.

Here’s what you need to know:

-     All instruments are provided

-     No musical experience necessary

-     Suitable for all ages

-     Most lessons take place during school time

-     Your child will learn up to 300 instrument, band, and performance skills

-     You’ll receive regular online updates via the Rocksteady Parent Timeline

-     There’s a money-back guarantee for the first month

-     You can cancel at any time.

You can sign up for lessons online at bit.ly/parent-sign-up

If you have any questions about Rocksteady band lessons, you can call 0330 113 0330 (local rate, office hours are Mon – Thurs 8am – 8pm, Fridays 8am – 6pm).

Rocksteady Digial Parent Flyer with link.pdf

February Half Term Activities

Mega Camps Feb 2024 Flyer.pdf
February Soccer School 2024 Poster.pdf

National Online Safety 

From using them for communication, work, shopping and entertainment, devices such as smartphones, laptops and the rest are now deeply ingrained into modern society. Small wonder, then, that young people – who’ve grown up surrounded by such gadgets – can sometimes struggle to put them down, switch them off or keep themselves occupied without them.

While limiting our screen time may require a great deal of restraint, the effort can be rewarded with significant benefits to our physical and mental health. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide has simple tips for helping to manage the amount of screen time in your household – encouraging the whole family to spend more quality time together and live in the moment.y 9th February 2024 - Staff INSE