We are very excited to announce that Onjali Q Rauf will be visiting our Year 5 and 6 children on Tuesday 7th March. Onjali is an award winning and bestselling children’s author. Her books are especially noteworthy for helping the children of today understand and deal with a range of issues in a narrative that they can relate to in an engaging way. Her debut book, The Boy at the Back of the Class, was met with critical acclaim whose awards include the 2019 Blue Peter Book Award and Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. This is a Year 6 text that the children thoroughly enjoyed reading.

 

After her talk, Onjali will be doing a book signing. Onjali Rauf’s ‘The Lion above the door will be available to purchase at a discounted price of £4.50. In order for the day to run smoothly, we ask that if you wish to purchase a copy of the book that orders are placed via the ParentMail app. The book can be purchased by going to ParentMail/Payments/Shop and searching for ‘The Lion above the door- Book purchase’. If you wish to have a copy of the book signed by Onjali Rauf, your order must be placed by 12.00pm on Monday 6th March. You will still be able to place orders for this book after this deadline, but unfortunately they will not be able to be signed. If you have any queries please email KS2Phaseleaders@bithambrook.wilts.sch.uk.

On Friday 17th March at 2.45pm, I will be running a workshop for Year 2 parents. I will be sharing practical strategies on how to support your child with specific methods, in line with our calculation policy and how the children are being taught in school. I hope to share practical resources and approaches you can use at home to support children with their Maths in the run up to SATS. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask me any questions about how to best support your child with their workbooks or Maths learning at home.

 

Please feel free to bring children pre-school age and below with you. The workshop will finish in time for you to collect your child from school at 3.15pm. You will receive a Parentmail form to advise whether you will be able to attend. Please kindly complete and submit this form by Friday 10th March. I look forward to meeting lots of you there and hope it is an informative, supportive session. Do let me know if you have any questions.

On Friday 31st March at 2.45pm, we invite you to attend a meeting that we are holding for Y1 parents. This will be a meeting to share information about the Phonics Screening Check that will take place during the week of 12th June 2023.

Children around the country take part in this check throughout this week and we hope to share further information with you about it during the meeting, including ways to support your children at home and more information about how the check will be conducted.

Please feel free to bring children pre-school age and below with you. The meeting will finish in time for you to collect your child from school at 3.15pm. You will receive a ParentMail form to advise if you are able to attend. Please kindly complete and submit the form by Monday 27th March.

We look forward to meeting lots of you there and hope it is an informative, supportive session. Do let us know if you have any questions.

It is World Book Day on Thursday 2nd March and we are thrilled that we have been able to secure published children's author, Anthony Burt, to come and spend the morning with us. Anthony is an ex teacher and youth worker, turned author and writer of children's TV programmes, who now lives in Frome. His most recent published book is called The Animal Lighthouse. You can find out more information on him by visiting his website https://anthonyburt.com/ Anthony is going to run three assemblies (year 1-2, year 3-4 and year 5-6) which should be really fun, engaging and inspiring for the children.

 

Afterwards he will be available for book sales and signings. His book, The Animal Lighthouse, will be on sale at a discounted rate of £6. This is a funny and adventurous story aimed at children from 8-11. Anthony has suggested that should you want to buy the book, then you should send the £6 to the school office and then the books will be distributed and signed after the assembly. Please ensure all money is with the school office by the end of the day on Wednesday 1st March.

 

Please note that the office will only be able to accept the correct amount of money and will be unable to provide change. We are so excited to welcome him on what promises to be very enjoyable and memorable World Book Day!

 

In addition, the children should come to school dressed as their favourite character from a book.

On Wednesday 1st March we will be hosting a ‘Bedtime story night’ at school. Children are invited to come to school in their comfiest pyjama’s to listen to a wonderful bedtime story. Children will also be welcome to bring a small teddy/soft toy with them if they wish.

 

The bedtime story will be accompanied by a warm drink and biscuit kindly provided by FOBBS. The Bedtime story night will run from 4.30-5.30pm and will be at a cost of £1 per child.

 

Please note that children must be collected at the end of the evening and no children will be permitted to walk home alone without their parent or carer.

 

You will shortly receive a ParentMail form to advise whether your child would like to take part in this event. Could we please ask that all forms are submitted by 12.00pm Thursday 23rd February.

To celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 2nd March, children are invited, if they would like, to come dressed as their favourite book character, otherwise school uniform can be worn. We would suggest that something fairly simple is best, and we would like to note that parents/carers do not need to purchase any special costumes for this day. You can find lots of simple ideas by searching for ‘World Book Day costume ideas’ online. If you have any difficulties then please do contact us at the school.

 

Please note, year 4 will be going swimming in the afternoon so please bear in mind that they will be walking to and from Westbury Pool in their outfits. Please do not send them to school wearing face paints or hair gel (or anything too difficult to take on and off).

Thank you for your support.