Newsletter: Issue 121

Welcome to issue 121 of our whole school newsletter. Don't forget to follow us on X for regular updates on achievements, class news and whole school updates.

Coming up in this issue:

Learning updates
Attendance
This Week's X Posts
Kindness Week
Vision Screening
Upcoming events
Clubs
Diary of events- term 2
Parent consultations
The gift of a book
Fayre and Feast
Topic overviews
Notices
RSE Parent Voice
FOMS
Waterstones upcoming events
Remembrance
Scarecrow Entry
End of Term

Learning Updates

Foundation Stage Children in Reception have enjoyed making portrait biscuits. Tasting them was the best treat!

Key Stage One This week in KS1 we have taken part in our House Competitions in Dodgeball and Football - the children displayed fantastic sportsmanship and great competitive attitudes. As part of Kindness Week, we have shared kind words and delivered cards to our friends. We've started learning our Nativity songs and we are really excited to have found out what our parts will be. In Art we have been creating our final masterpieces of printing in the style of Andy Warhol. It's also been Inspire Week, so we have visited each KS1 classroom, learning about lots of different career choices. What a busy end to the term! Have a wonderful half term break.

Lower Key Stage Two This week, Lower Key Stage 2 have been inspired! We've been exploring the theme Little People, Big Dreams, using a range of brilliant books as the spark for our learning. In one session, we discovered the incredible work of Jane Goodall, finishing with a fun tutorial on how to draw a gorilla. In another, we learned about the life and art of Vincent van Gogh, before trying our hand at recreating a section of his famous painting, Starry Night. We also explored a variety of inspirational people from history and the present day, choosing one that really caught our interest. We thoroughly enjoyed reading about them and creating fact files to showcase what we learned. To finish off this exciting week—and the term—we took part in a vibrant Diwali dance workshop, where everyone joined in to move and shake to the rhythms of this joyful festival. What an inspiring and creative way to round off the term!

Upper Key Stage Two As we near the end of the first term of this new academic year, we are incredibly proud of what UKS2 have managed to achieve and how far they have come over the past seven weeks. It has been a busy and exciting start, filled with learning, discovery, and plenty of progress! In English, the children are approaching the end of their RED writing unit. It’s been wonderful to see how confidently they can now express themselves through their writing, applying the full range of skills and tools they’ve developed this term. Their creativity, imagination and ability to write with purpose and independence have truly shone through. In Maths, our focus recently has been on exploring and consolidating understanding of the four operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The children have shown great resilience and reasoning as they tackle more complex problems and deepen their mathematical fluency. In RE, the children have been thinking deeply about the enquiry question: How can Brahman be everywhere and in everything? This has prompted some thoughtful discussions and reflections as they explore Hindu beliefs and perspectives on the divine. Our History lessons have transported UKS2 back in time to Ancient Greece, where they have been investigating the fascinating differences between the Athenians and Spartans. The children have explored who they were, how they lived, and why there was conflict between these two powerful city-states. Finally, in Science, the children have been busy experimenting and investigating how new materials are formed through changes of state. They’ve been asking — and answering — some big scientific questions, such as: Is this change reversible?

attendance

147 pupils have maintained 100% attendance so far this academic year.

Last years whole school attendance figure was 96.4%

Current whole school attendance is 96.6%

Our attendance figures for term 1 are as follows:

Thank you to all those classes maintaining a good level of attendance. Those children who had 100% attendance in term 1 will be celebrated with a certificate when we come back to school.

This week's X Posts

Kindness week

Our wonderful Happy and Healthy Ambassadors put their plans into action during Kindness Week. They received a small grant from The Kindness School and were able to buy resources to support them, and have their sticker design published. Children across school have enjoyed listening to stories about kindness, watched short clips about the effect our behaviour has on others and celebrated each other's qualities and talents. Staff have been busy recognising kind gestures and the children have worn their stickers with pride. Thank you to all of our families for your contributions too. The staff nominations and comments of thanks have really put a smile on our faces.

vision screening

On Monday 10th November (KS1 and Reception) and Monday 24th November (KS2), a free vision screening is being offered to your child whilst they are in school. The test consists of an instant screening of your child’s eyes to determine the presence of eye disorders: this is done using a specialist camera. No physical contact is made with your child, and there are no eye drops involved.

Please note that if your child wears prescription spectacles already, we will screen your child without them wearing the glasses. Please see attached for more details.

If you would like your child to take part, please complete the consent on ParentPay

upcoming events

Thursday 23rd October- Last Day of Term 1

Advanced Notice

Monday 3rd November- Start of Term 2

clubs

Please find our amazing clubs offer for term 2. All sessions are now bookable on ParentPay.

diary of events- term 2

Diary dates for term 2 and the whole of the academic year are available on our school website: Click Here

parent consultations

Thank you to everyone who attended Parent Teacher Consultations last week. We feel incredibly lucky to have you all championing our pupils and school. It was incredible to hear so much positive feedback and see parents celebrating their child's learning and progress.

Please help us by working on the 'next steps' shared by staff. Through continued partnership, our little ones will achieve their potential.

the gift of a book...

If you would like to gift a book to school for a special occasion or 'just because', please see our Amazon Wishlist for some ideas. All books donated are marked with a special 'gifted by...' message and added to our library.

Click Here for our Amazon Wishlist

fayre and feast

We received a lovely email from the Fayre and Feast committee who wanted to celebrate the children's entries into the Branston potato competition. We hope you all enjoyed taking part as much as the community enjoyed seeing your designs. Well done to our list of winners:

Reception - Age 4

1st- Alice, 2nd - Vincenzo, 3rd - Beatrice

Reception - Age 5

1st - Lester, 2nd - Stirling, 3rd - Isaac

1st - Ben, 2nd - Jake, 3rd - Jaxon

1st- Amelia, 2nd - Amber, 3rd - Henry

1st- Zachary, 2nd - Sienna, 3rd - Maia

1st - Isla, 2nd - Frankie

Joint 3rd - Florence & Jacob

1st - Alison, 2nd - Amelia, 3rd - Charlie

1st - Darcie, 2nd- Lois , 3rd -Thomas

topic overviews term 2

Please find a link to next term's topic overviews for parents. Click Here

Notices

RSE Parent Voice

You may be aware of the media coverage back in the summer after the release of the new RSHE (Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education) Guidance in July 2025.

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/07/new-rshe-guidance-what-parents-need-to-know/

With this in mind, we are keen to gather parent voice along with the voice of all our school community about what must be included in the new curriculum before we have a proper chat later on in the year. In the meantime, Mrs Wilcox (PSHE/RSHE/PD Lead) will be working on reviewing the policies and curriculum in line with the guidance, so that we are ready to deliver the revised curriculum in September 2026.

Here is a link to a survey to gather your voice as part of our parental engagement. Click Here

We would be very grateful if you would take the time to support us with this, so we can get this right for your children.

FOMS

Well done to all the children who took part in the FOMS Halloween colouring competition - we raised £88. Below is a selection of the entries that were received. It was very difficult to choose winners as there were some amazing entries. All winners have received their prizes this week. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.

Waterstones upcoming events

Family Event with David Walliams

Tuesday 21st October - 5pm

The Drill, Free School Lane, Lincoln

Hosted by Waterstones Lincoln

An opportunity to join one of Britain's favourite storytellers, David Walliams, at the Drill Hall. Prepare for a supercharged, one-hour spectacular which will include hilarious performative readings and a chance to get YOUR questions answered live on stage. Fun for all the family - laughter guaranteed.

Booking page: https://www.waterstones.com/events/family-event-with-david-walliams/lincoln-high-st

Spooky Half-Term Event with Piers Torday x Emma Carroll

Wednesday 29th October - 5.30pm

Waterstones, High Street, Lincoln

Trick or treat... Waterstones Lincoln are thrilled to be hosting a spooky Halloween event with two of our favourite children's authors, Piers Torday and Emma Carroll! Join us to hear about the myths and legends behind their fang-tastic new books, try your luck with a spine-chilling Halloween quiz and discover the perfect ingredients to crafting your own spooktacular stories. Fancy dress highly encouraged!

Booking page: https://www.waterstones.com/events/piers-torday-x-emma-carroll-halloween-event-at-waterstones-lincoln/lincoln-high-st

remembrance

Our School Councillors will be selling Poppy Merchandise after school every day during the first week back. This will be cash donations only. Please visit their stall at the front of school if you would like to purchase Poppy Appeal merchandise.

scarecrow entry

At Forest School we have been busy making a scarecrow for this year's Doddington Hall Scarecrow competition.

He will be on display at Doddington Hall during half term. Please share any photos via the school office if you pay him a visit.

end of term 2

Term 1 ends on Thursday 23rd October at 3:30pm

We wish you all a happy and fun break with your families.

Term 2 starts on Monday 3rd November at 8:45am

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