Here is this week's news:
What a lovely sunny week we have had. It has been amazing to see all the children dressed up for World Book Day today - they have each been given a book token to spend in a local bookshop. Alison's Bookshop in Tewkesbury has a lovely selection, as always.
Next week, it is British Science Week and we are looking forward to seeing some amazing things! Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to come along and run workshops or help out.
Finally, I am sure you will all join me in wishing Tom, Leighton, Leo H, Leo N-S and Isla all the best for the cross country race on Sunday when they will be representing the Tewkesbury district cross country teams at the Gloucestershire Championships at Ashley Manor Preparatory School in Cheltenham.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend - hopefully we will have some more sunshine!!
Miss Gladstone
Congratulations this week go to...
Holly P
Alex W
George B
Sofia C
Harry A
The Y3&4 Football Team
19th March - Cyber Security evening
25th March - Rabbits Class visit from 'The Animal Man'
31st March - Bag 2 School Day
14th - 25th April - Easter Holidays
28th April - INSET DAY - school closed
5th May - Bank Holiday - school closed
26th May - 30th May - Half Term holiday
11th June - "Biker Night" on the green. PTFA/School providing refreshments from 5:15/30pm
19th June - Bag 2 School day
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
Hopefully everybody who wanted to enter has posted their form into the box by the office. The box has been emptied today - if you have forgotten, please hand your form directly to Mrs Bowen on Monday next week. We will soon be holding auditions, when a small panel will decide who will go through to the final on the 10th April. Auditions will be held on a notified date during the school day. Please note: If your child needs a song / background music, please can you provide the music on a memory stick in good time so that we can make sure it works beforehand. Children won't need costumes for their audition unless they progress to the final. Good luck!
On Tuesday the second part of the Tewkesbury years 3&4 football league took place at Tewkesbury Academy. We played three games, drawing two games 0-0, but dominating the possession and play, and unlucky not to score. We lost the last game to CofE 0-2 with the second goal being scored just before the final whistle. What was so impressive was the determination and resilience shown by all our players, and how supportive they were of each other, never letting their heads go down. Most of our team were year 3, and some of the opposition from large schools towered above our children, but they were undeterred. Very well done to Jesse, Joe, Isla, Lucas, Jacob, William B, Lachlan and Charlie.
Wednesday 19th March 2025, 6pm - 7:30pm in the school hall
We are looking forward to this informative event. PC Williams from Cyber Intelligence, Gloucestershire Police will be presenting an information evening for parents about safe internet use for children which I would like to urge a parent from every family to attend please. The presentation was recently shared with headteachers in Gloucestershire at a conference and it was extremely useful although at times quite hard-hitting! The Cyber Intelligence team will be able to share statistics, information and advice about how you can make your child's internet use as safe as possible. I have decided to hold a creche service in one of the classrooms so that we can support anyone who may not be able to get childcare. I have sent out a survey regarding your childcare requirements for this event - please respond if you have not already done so, so that I can arrange staffing. Many thanks. Miss Gladstone.
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/
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/
Sadly our PTFA Committee 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. The minimum requirement for a committee is a Chair and a Treasurer/Secretary. 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 .
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
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.
Please click on these links to view our guides to contacting school. We have also linked relevant policies for reference.
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 .
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.
Please see below some useful links to a few excellent wellbeing and mental health resources and an amazing digital therapy app for children:
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
Register for School Milk: https://www.coolmilk.com
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