Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• 22nd November 2019

  Fri 22 Nov 2019 Jacquie Vanstone

  Dear Parents,

   

  We have had a wonderful week; signs of Christmas are creeping in and the children are getting exciting about the Christmas play and the fair.  Today you have received tickets for the play and also Christmas lunch choices; the term is going to fly by!

   

  It was wonderful to see so many children being awarded certificates and Step badges this week in our Achievement assembly; I have also given out lots of stickers which is always a treat.

   

  As mentioned previously as staff we are working hard to develop the curriculum.  I was delighted to share our progress with governors at our meeting on Tuesday.  This was followed by Mrs Wirth and I attending a day of training on curriculum design.  We are excited about developing our curriculum further and enhancing the provision we currently have.

   

  The children have enjoyed coming to school in non-uniform to support the Christmas fair, thank you for your donations; they make a huge difference.  Could you make sure that any raffle ticket money and stubs are returned to school; we receive matched funding on the raffle ticket money so it raises a lot for the school.

   

  We finished today with the football team playing a match against Hillside Primary School, this is a large school with over 400 pupils.  We lost 3-0 but the boys were brilliant and worked incredibly hard.  Well done to all of them for showing such determination and commitment.

   

  Finally, I would like to thank you for your patience whilst we complete the fencing at the front of school.  Hopefully within a few days next week the work will be complete and the grassy area will also be turfed.

   

  Wishing you all a lovely weekend

  Jacquie Vanstone

• 15th November 2019

  Fri 15 Nov 2019 Jacquie Vanstone

  Dear Parents,

   

  It suddenly feels like Christmas is just around the corner.  There are Christmas play rehearsals starting, Loddon preparations for the Choir and preparations for the Christmas fair in full flow!

   

  Showing the children, the conservatory fully furnished was a great way to start the week; I hope you have taken the opportunity to have a look.  We purchased the furniture with some of the money raised from the Sponsored walk last year.  It was lovely to see Rosefinch in there for a story this week; I know the children are keen to make good use of it.

   

  At 11am on Monday we held a 2 minute silence of Remembrance; staff were so impressed by the Reception children; they all sat beautifully showing great respect.  It was wonderful to see so many families at the Finchampstead service on the Sunday with many children proudly wearing their Brownie, Guides, Cubs and Scout uniforms.  The Poppy collection has already been collected; thank you to the Year 5 children who sold them on our behalf.

   

  Fofsa presented the Reception children with their Bibles following our Collective Worship on Tuesday.  The children were delighted to receive them and I thank Carolyn Fox for purchasing and organising this on behalf of Fofsa.  Rosefinch were so excited this week to help unpack the new tables and chairs for their classroom.  Fofsa have allocated money to refurbish the classroom and this new furniture is a great start.  I was delighted to have made contact with someone who would ship the furniture to The Gambia for a school there.  The old tables and chairs were collected on Tuesday evening and the gentleman has promised me a photo in December of the furniture being delivered to their new school.

   

  On Thursday Goldfinch held their Greek learning event; it was very well attended and it is always a pleasure to see the children working alongside parents.  The children enjoyed sharing their dance following lots of hard work in PE.  Thank you to so many who were able to support the event and the staff for organising it.

   

  We finished the week with some great Children in Need fun.  We had a whole school 5 minute fitness session with the fitness coach, Joe Wicks.  He was doing an online session at 9am; we all enjoyed it and it demonstrated how valuable it is to squeeze in an extra 5 minutes of exercise for our physical and mental health.

   

  Next week we will be having the front fencing removed and new fencing will be installed.  We envisage the work will take 10 days and we will do whatever we can to minimise disruption. It will be wonderful to see the work completed.

   

  Every week is so busy but it is exciting to see the school developing in so many ways.  As you can imagine staff are all working incredibly hard every day but seeing all the developments taking shape is rewarding for us all.  Much of what we can achieve is thanks to your support for Fofsa.  If you are able to help the Fofsa team during the Christmas fair I know they would be incredibly grateful.  

   

  Wish you all a lovely weekend

  Kind regards

  Jacquie Vanstone

   

   

• 8th November 2019

  Fri 08 Nov 2019 Jacquie Vanstone

  Dear Parents,

   

  I hope you all had a great half term especially our Year 6 PGL children who must have needed the rest.  The photos from PGL look fantastic and the feedback from the children is all positive!  When I was on the playground on Monday there was a group sharing their PGL chants!  Thank you Mrs Anders, Mrs Wirth and Mrs Stangroom.

   

  We have been so  busy, it feels strange that this is only the first week back since half term!

  Rosefinch and Bullfinch were full excitement with their Guy Fawkes learning.  They enjoyed making chocolate apples, rockets and much more.  The bonfire on the playground is something I am sure the children will remember and enables their history learning to come to life.  Thank you to all the staff.

  Mrs Wirth led our Achievement assembly on Wednesday and was pleased to present our Prefects and School Council representatives with their badges.  She also gave the sports leaders a whistle each which they enjoying testing at playtime!!

   

  Mrs Dodds, Mrs Gan and I spent Thursday morning reorganising our reading scheme.  There were many books out of date and thanks to FOFSA we will be purchasing new books for the scheme this year.  We have organised the books so that the children can select a book from the correct range; we will supervise and help but it should provide the children with the independence to choose a book that appeals to them.

   

  I am delighted to have now ordered the furniture for the conservatory which arrives on Monday; I know the children and staff are as keen as I am to begin using the room.

   

  Finally I wanted to share with you updated information regarding the front of school.  On 18th November work should start on the front fencing.  The company and I will ensure there is safe access at drop off and pick up.  It will be fantastic to get this work completed. The following week Legal and General will be laying turf for us which is incredibly generous.  I thank you for your support whilst we complete the front of school to a satisfactory standard; it has taken time and patience!  I would like to remind all parents that the zig zag lines in front of school are not to be used as a drop off point.  There should be no stopping on the lines even if you remain in the car with the engine on.  

   

  FOFSA have had a meeting this week and tonight you have raffle tickets and a jarbola letter. I thank you for your support and the FOFSA committee for their time and dedication in this busy run up to the Christmas fair.

   

  Next week we will be having a remembrance assembly with the children.  I have created a new page on the website under Information which shares photos and videos used in our Collective Worship; your child might enjoy talking to you about them.  

  We look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday at the Finchampstead Remembrance parade; details are on the school calendar.

   

  Wishing you a lovely weekend

  Jacquie Vanstone