Dear Parents and Carers,
Happy New Year!
We hope you all had a fantastic Christmas break. The children settled back very well last week and were excited to share stories about their fun times at home.
We have a trainee teacher joining us until half term. Mrs Rolfe will be in Year 1 with Mrs Smith.
The Mental Health Support Team are running a free ‘Parent Online Safety Workshop’ at Windhill21 Primary School on Friday 17th January from 9-10am.
The presentation will include:
• Current Issues
• Common difficulties parents are experiencing with their children.
• Different strategies to help including, helping with conversation to keep children safe online.
• Establishing boundaries
If you are interested and would like to attend you can book a space using this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parent-online-safety-workshop-tickets-1140826305189?aff=oddtdtcreator
Attendance matters!
Most children should routinely have attendance rates of 97% or more. This is the equivalent of 6 days absence a year.
95% attendance sounds good, but means that your child is absent for one day a month.
80% attendance is the same as having a day off every week.
If you take a two week holiday in term time your child’s attendance will automatically be reduced to less than 95% and this is without sickness.
Can we ask that you only use your phones on the school grounds in an emergency. Please greet your children with a smile and talk to them about their day as you leave the school grounds. Thank you.
Future Diary Dates
Spring Term
January 2025
Thurs 16th-Sportshall Athletics
Mon 20th- Bikeability Week-Yr6 only
February 2025
Half Term Mon 17th – Fri 21st Feb 2025
Children’s first day Mon 24th Feb 2025
Wed 5th-Sportshall Athletics
Thur 6th-KS1 Dance Workshop
March 2025
Thur 13th- Quicksticks
Thur 20th- Bee Netball
Fri 21st-Red Nose Day
Fri 28th-Great Athletes
April 2025
Fri 4th-Celebration assembly 9.30am
Fri 4th-Term ends school closes @ 13.30
CALL FOR TREE PLANTING VOLUNTEERS!
A partnership between Bishop’s Stortford Town Council, Bishop’s Stortford Climate Group and Essex County Council has resulted in the Forestry Commission providing a grant of £18,545 to plant 1,500 new trees in a field in Jenkins Lane. The Land is owned by the Town Council and already partly used by local beekeepers and by the Council to dispose of green waste safely.
The new community woodland will cover roughly a hectare of land and will be planted with a range of native trees. It will be open to the public and will have pathways and interpretation boards. The planting will include native Black Poplar, a tree which is sadly in decline in the UK.
The aim is to start planting on Friday 24th January and Saturday 25th January 2025 and the Council is calling for interested volunteers to come and help. If you can help, please email the following address providing your name and availability on these dates:
volunteer@bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk
Full details including start and finish times will be provided on registration. Volunteers will need to wear sturdy boots and bring waterproof gardening gloves and coat/over trousers. All other necessary equipment will be on site. The Council has some PPE and has produced a risk assessment for the planting.
The Community Woodland is being planted because of the environmental and community benefits it will bring:
• Absorbing carbon dioxide to combat climate change
• Providing homes for wildlife
• Boosting the number of Black Poplars, which are an endangered native species
• Creating health and wellbeing benefits for visitors to the woodland
• Improving the appearance of this local space
• Helping to prevent flooding
Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) system wants to understand what parents and carers need when they are faced with supporting their child or young person’s poor emotional wellbeing.
It can be difficult to understand why they might be experiencing low moods, anxiety or self-harming behaviours, how to cope as a family, or knowing the strategies that could help at home. In preparation for commissioning a new service, CYPMHS want to make sure parents and carers feel supported, have professionals and peers to speak to and share experiences with, all while knowing they are far from alone.
The survey will be open until Sunday 26 January 2025
Family First is a free publication that covers everything you and your family need in order to build a happier and healthier lifestyle. If you're interested click on the link below to read the latest magazine.
https://familyfirst.co.uk/issue1-25
Thorn Grove works with The Skills Builder Partnership to ensure every learner has opportunities to build eight essential skills to support them now and in the future. This term we have been focusing on speaking, listening and problem solving skills. For more information on on this and how you can access Skills Builder Homezone see our information sheet