Headteacher

We expect pupils to wear full uniform every day, including footwear and PE kit. Our school uniform policy gives the flexibility of logo and non-logo items but with clear expectations about types of items and colours. Footwear is expected to be plain black shoes or trainers – any visible logos are also expected to be black. Pupils are regularly reminded about appropriate uniform but we rely on parent and carer support and reinforcement to ensure that our policy is adhered to.

At the end of May, we will be holding nearly new uniform ‘sales’ to enable families to stock up on uniform items for free. Dates to follow.

Please ensure that your child does not use the playground equipment before or after school. As staff are not on hand to supervise this play, we ask that you do not allow your child on any of the equipment pieces. This request is to avoid any accidents before or after the school day, when the playgrounds are not monitored or supervised in the same was as during the school day, when your children are in our care. It can be awkward for staff to intervene and speak directly to pupils they see whilst they are in your care but they are following our policies and health and safety guidance so please do not be offended if a member of staff asks your child to come off the equipment.

Next Friday is our Coronation celebration, with pupils encouraged to wear red, white and blue or dress as a king or queen for the day. We look forward to families joining us between 2 – 4pm to get the Coronation bank holiday weekend off to a great start.

Harrison (Y6) was acknowledged in yesterday’s celebration assembly by Mr Sanders, for his contributions to the Bowmansgreen football team and also for his participation and success in his footballing achievements outside of school. To learn that Harrison is one of only 24 players across the district to be part of the St Albans Primary Schools Representative Squad, is certainly something to celebrate. Congratulations, Harrison – what a fantastic achievement! You should be very proud of yourself as we all are of you.

Enjoy your bank holiday weekend.

Eid Mubarak!

Many families within our school community are celebrating Eid. We hope that you enjoy your festivities and family celebrations, during the next few days.

Thank you, if you have kindly responded to Mrs Stanley’s recent request for donations of plants or seeds. Any donations of the following would be much appreciated, to help pupils restore the beds and planters around school and learn to grow their own flowers, fruit and vegetables:
-bags of compost/grow bags
-strawberry plants
-seeds (lettuce, radish, tomato, runner bean, beetroot, rainbow chard, carrot, parsnip, pumpkin, courgette, sunflower, cornflower, meadow/country wild flower… or any other favourite flowers!)

This half-term’s school values are truth and honesty. Monday’s assembly explored the importance of these values and throughout the half-term, staff will be looking out for pupils who are excellent role models in demonstrating these values.

On Wednesday, photographers were at Bowmansgreen to take class photos. They will return later this term to take photos of our school teams and House Captains.

Thank you to the many families who helped create an enormous pile of donations as part of yesterday’s FOBS Bag2School fundraiser. Thank you for supporting this event and joining Mrs Stanley for a cup of coffee, to help raise money for our school.

Recent FOBS fundraising has helped purchase new playground equipment for each Key Stage. The static gym equipment is proving very popular and great fun for pupils across the school. We were able to add some FOBS fundraising to a generous donation from a local resident and former pupil. Thank you everyone!

The FOBS committee are hard at it again today, busy setting up for today’s Circus Sensible at Bowmansgreen. We hope to see lots of families at the workshops and/or shows, joining in the fun and helping to raise more valuable funds to benefit our pupils.

Throughout the week, pupils in Year 5 took part in Bikeability training, learning how to ride their bikes safely on the road. Miss Allen was very proud to have received some extremely positive feedback from the instructors about how supportive and caring pupils were towards each other, especially when individual pupils lacked confidence when facing a new challenge. Well done, children. You should be very proud of yourselves.

After seven and a half-years at Bowmansgreen, yesterday Mrs Rea worked her final day at Bowmansgreen. She will be taking up a new job locally and therefore expects to still see lots of families around in the local community. Pupils said goodbye to Mrs Rea in yesterday’s celebration assembly and she received a steady stream of cards and flowers throughout the day. I am sure that you will join me in thanking her for her hard work and commitment to Bowmansgreen over the years and wish her the best of luck for the future.

Good luck to the Year 5 boys football team, currently taking part in the six-a-side finals this morning!

Enjoy your weekend.

It has been a very busy few weeks at Bowmansgreen!

Last Friday, FOBS held a Mothers’ Day sale. Pupils excitedly browsed and selected their gifts – leaving the tables almost completely bare! Thank you to FOBS for organising this successful event, helping to raise much needed funds for our school. We hope that your Mothers’ Day was made even more special by the extra little surprise you may have received!

Pupils who eat school meals have been enjoying taking part in this year’s Eat Them To Defeat Them campaign which aims to encourage children to eat more vegetables. Pupils have had fun trying something new; increasing the number of portions they eat throughout the week; and being surprised to find out about the vegetables hiding inside some of the very tasty desserts!

If your child is entitled to free school meals (either because they are in EYFS or KS1 or they are eligible due to family, income-related benefits) I would encourage you to take up the offer. You can choose for your child to eat school meals as regularly or infrequently as you would like – some children prefer to switch between packed lunch and school dinners throughout the week. If your family is eligible, choosing free school meals for your child makes sense financially and ensures that your child receives a nutritious meal, daily.

The cost of living crisis is affecting us all, including in terms of rising food prices. Regrettably, as a direct result of these and other rising costs, the price of school meals will go up after Easter – you will receive a letter on Monday detailing the increase. As above, if you think that your child is eligible for free school meals or you have not yet taken up their entitlement, please check online or ask at the school office.

Since the last blog, we have held two curriculum evenings, focusing on the subjects of English and science. As always, it is lovely to welcome families into school and share aspects of the curriculum with you. Pupils are always so proud to show you their learning and it is an important experience and skill for them, to discuss and explain what they have been busy learning at school. Thank you to Mrs Campbell and Miss Allen for organising these two events. Our next curriculum evening takes place on 13th July.

Please be reminded to adhere to the parking restrictions around school. The restrictions were long fought for to help ensure the safety of our school community and local residents. We expect an increased volume of school traffic during inclement weather but there have been several days recently where the parking has been inconsiderate and dangerous for our families and neighbours. The restrictions have made a significant difference to the flow of traffic and safety of drivers, pedestrians and residents which we cannot afford to compromise.

Families with blue parking badges have been able to use the disabled parking spaces within the staff car park. The significant rise in the number of families with blue badges, however, means that we can no longer safely accommodate the number of cars, with the badges, into the car park alongside staff vehicles – there are often too many cars for the number of spaces available which has created a few dangerous obstructions and very stressful situations. The situation was not sustainable before our building work began and it has since intensified. We are carrying out a review and risk assessment to ascertain the level of need for these spaces and decide upon a criteria and conditions for the use of these spaces by families and visitors. Moving forward and as part of the risk assessment, if both disabled parking spaces are in use, families with blue badges will be informed of this at the gate and asked to park out on the road. This decision is to help ensure the safety of both drivers and pedestrians and to minimise dangerous obstructions and manoeuvres on-site. Blue badge holders are able to park on both single and double yellow lines. Details of this review and risk assessment, to follow.

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan began on Wednesday. Every year, some of our older pupils fast during Ramadan – sometimes for part or all of this time. If your child chooses to fast, please let the school office know so that we are aware and can be mindful and accommodating of their decision, especially in terms of lunchtime and physical activities.

Some very happy news to share…. Congratulations to Mrs Davis who is now a very proud mummy to her baby son. Both mother and baby have been doing well and we look forward to seeing them both soon.

Please be reminded that Monday 8th May, 2023 will be a national bank holiday, in celebration of the Coronation of King Charles lll. We will be holding our own celebration event on Friday 5th May, with families welcome from 2pm. More details to follow.

Enjoy your weekend.