Twyning School - Newsletter 14.02.2025

Here is this week's news:

I hope that you have all had a great week - it's been a busy one here with the added excitement of the discos on Wednesday. Thank you to the PTFA, staff and parents who volunteered their time to help out before and at the discos - it really does make the event more manageable and the children have so much fun. An amazing £457 was raised at the discos! Thank you all!

On Friday 7th March we will be celebrating World Book Day - children (and staff) are invited to dress up as their favourite book character for the day.

Mrs Abell is asking for volunteers who might be able to help us in Science Week (see below) - if you work in a scientific environment and are willing to come into school to talk to the children or even run a small workshop please contact Mrs Abell on habell@twyning.gloucs.sch.uk .

Also a reminder that on Wednesday 5th March there is NO after school club due to staff training after school. Hopefully you have all been able to make alternative child-care arrangements for this date.

I hope you all have a lovely week. See you all on the 24th February ready for another fabulous term!

Miss Gladstone

head teachers awards!

I am delighted to have been able to present two Head Teacher's Awards in assembly today :

Bethan F for always working hard, being kind, friendly and always having a positive attitude. Well done Bethan - we are so proud of you.
Josh W for being an excellent role model to all children and for working hard at all times. Josh, you are a delight to have in our school and we are very proud of you.

Platinums

Congratulations this week go to...

Jack N-S

Lily T-P

Hallie B

Jessica P

Scarlett O'H

Henry A-T

Dates for your Diary

17th - 21st February - Half Term holiday

5th March - No After School Club today due to staff training

7th March - World Book Day! - Dress up as your favourite book character!

19th March - Cyber Security evening

25th March - Rabbits Class visit from 'The Animal Man'

14th - 25th April - Easter Holidays

28th April - INSET DAY - school closed

5th May - Bank Holiday - school closed

26th May - 30th May - Half Term holiday

25 June and 26 June - Tewkesbury School Big Step Transition days 2025

11th July - Year 5 trip to Tewkesbury Medieval Festival Schools Day

18th July - Last day of term

science week 10-16 march

As you may already be aware, it is British Science week during the week beginning Monday 10th March. During this week we will be completing lots of different science activities in our classes. We are keen to involve you as parents so if you work in a scientific environment and are willing to come into school to talk to the children or even run a small workshop please contact Mrs Abell on habell@twyning.gloucs.sch.uk Many thanks!

PTFA CHANGES - can you help?

Sadly our Chair and Treasurer are stepping down this year. After many years of volunteering, it is time for them to pass on the reins to a new committee. Without a new committee forming, our PTFA will have to fold. So far, no one has stepped forward to fill these roles. Please have a think and put your name forward if you can - the existing chair and treasurer are willing to give a full handover and offer any assistance that you may need. Please see the posters in the PTFA noticeboard on the playground, or come and see Mrs Bowen if you are interested in forming a new committee and/or volunteering as a committee member. Email admin@twyning.gloucs.sch.uk .

feet first dance festival

Wednesday 26th March

Tickets are now on sale for the dance festival. Please see the following link. I suggest you purchase tickets promptly as they sell out quickly. This is for the parents of the children in years 1-3 who took part in dance club before Christmas, and those in years 4-6 who have replied to the recent letter and will take part in dance club after half term.

https://cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/event/feet-first-dance-festival-part-one/

school dinners - price increase from 1st april

We have been advised of a price increase for school dinners with effect from 1st April. The cost of a school dinner will rise from £2.71 to £2.85. Of course, if you qualify and have registered for Pupil Premium your child will receive free school meals throughout their time here at Twyning School. See this link to check if you qualify www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-transport-and-free-school-meals/apply-for-free-school-meals/

world book day

On Friday 7th March we will be celebrating World Book Day. Children are invited to dress up as their favourite book character for the day. Children will be given a World Book Day free book voucher to bring home on the day.

clubs for term 4

Thank you for all your club requests. All requests have been accommodated. If you haven't yet emailed to request a club for your child please email Mrs Bowen in the office admin@twyning.gloucs.sch.uk

Mondays: Dance (years 4-6), Mrs Abell (festival preparation) .

Tuesdays: Multi-sports (years 1-3), Miss Thomas (16 maximum).

Wednesdays: Tag rugby (years 4-6), Pete Healey.

Fridays: Netball (years 4-6), Mrs Leggett.

Dance club has already been filled by those returning Feet First dance festival reply slips.

There will be no multi sports club on Tuesday 4th March.

Clubs will start after half term but multi-sports will not take place on Tuesday 4th March due to parents evenings.

cross country race 5

Yesterday, the final competitive race of the season took place at the Vineyards. Best performances were as follows: Leo H placed 6th and Leo N-S 10th in the boys' race. Isla placed 9th and Lea 11th in the girls' race. Credit should be given to all of our runners who ran with determination as always: Isla, Lea, Scarlett, Florence, Beau, Leo H, Leo N-S, Tom, Leighton, Joe, Jesse, Alex, Ethan and Oliver. After half term, the fun run and presentations will end the Tewkesbury races.

Parent pay accounts

Please can everyone make sure all school dinners accounts are in credit at all times. Many thanks.

Menus for this term are now available from the school website - click to download or ask at the office for a printed copy. www.twyningschool.co.uk/page/school-lunches/106163

snacks and water bottles

Please can I remind you all that our policy is for children to drink water only as part of our healthy schools status.

Can we also remind you that we encourage the following foods as suitable snack choices at break time:

Fruit, vegetables, cheese, cereal bar, fruit bar.

We do remind children not to eat crisps and chocolate at break times where possible.

Thank you so much.

communications with school

Please click on these links to view our guides to contacting school. We have also linked relevant policies for reference.

communications with school

guide to contacting school

communications policy

parent code of conduct

Before and After School Care

Fees for our before and after school care facility are £3.50 for a morning session and £7 for an afternoon session.

Balances should be cleared by the end of each month at the latest. Many thanks. If you use government vouchers please email Mrs Tingle at bursar@twyning.gloucs.sch.uk to advise when you have made a payment, each time you do this.

How do I register my child?

To register for Before or After School Club, please complete and send in the booking form which can be downloaded from our website or ask Mrs Bowen for a printed copy. These forms should be returned to Mrs Bowen at admin@twyning.gloucs.sch.uk .

sickness information

There are a lot of coughs and cold about at this time of year, as is often the case, but unless your child is really unwell (see below) we encourage you to still send them in to school. We are able to administer Calpol and antibiotics in school - forms are available from Mrs Bowen in the Office so please call in with any medication and complete one if necessary.

Please click the link below to see NHS guidelines regarding illnesses.

www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Please remember to report sickness/illness daily to us via School Spider or email to Mrs Bowen on admin@twyning.gloucs.sch.uk. It is important that illness is reported to school first thing in the morning, otherwise your child's absence could be recorded as an 'unauthorised absence'. If your child is frequently absent due to illness we may ask for a doctors note as per our attendance policy.

WELLBEING & MENTAL HEALTH

Please see below some useful links to a few excellent wellbeing and mental health resources and an amazing digital therapy app for children:

luminova.app/gloucestershire

www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk/

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/mujkq12k/gcc_3002-cyp-mental-health-handout_aw-crop-large.pdf

hubofhope.co.uk/concerns?concerns=86&latitude=52.0286023&longitude=-2.1466844

Some useful links:

Safeguarding and E Safety: www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/curations/anti-bullying-week

Gaming and social media : www.askaboutgames.com/pegi-age-ratings#:~:text=Essentially,%20the%20PEGI%20rating%20on,deemed%20suitable%20for%20adults%20only.

If you believe your family to be eligible for Free School Meals, please click on this link: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-transport-and-free-school-meals/apply-for-free-school-meals/

Health and sickness information "Is my child too ill for school?" https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Please click this link to view our School Attendance Policy, Absence Request forms, and other attendance documentation. www.twyningschool.co.uk/page/attendance/101727

A collection of links to find and get help in all sorts of situations from Anxiety, Health related, young persons help, depression and much more:

hubofhope.co.uk/concerns?concerns=86&latitude=52.0286023&longitude=-2.1466844

Contact

Please feel free to make contact with me via email head@twyning.gloucs.sch.uk should you need to speak to me. During evenings and weekends, I may not be able to respond to you straight away but I will make contact with you during normal working hours as soon as I can. Many thanks for all of your support.

Kindest regards

Miss L Gladstone

Headteacher

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