November 20th is World Children’s Day, with this year’s theme: For every child, every right. Monday’s assembly highlighted the significance of this date and discussed and celebrated children’s rights. We considered what rights are, why they are important and acknowledged that the rights of many children around the world are threatened. It was also an opportunity to reflect upon the fact that many children live in parts of the world where there is war or conflict and that, as the innocent victims, their rights are often denied.

The Childcare Choices website brings together existing childcare offers in one place so parents can access help that fits their family. This could be through Tax-Free Childcare, 30 Hours Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare. Some families might be eligible to use more than one childcare scheme together.
• From April 2024, eligible working parents in England with children aged 2 will have access to 15 hours childcare.
• From September 2024, the 15 hours childcare offer will be expanded to eligible working parents in England with children between 9 and 23 months old.
• From September 2025, eligible working parents in England, with children between 9 months up to school age, will have access to 30 hours childcare.
Visit the Childcare Choices website to check what offer you might be eligible for and sign up to the newsletter.

Tomorrow, our Winter Fair takes place, between 11am – 2.00pm. FOBS have been busy organising and preparing, to help make tomorrow a fantastic day for our school community. Come and have fun in the Snowball-nado; win one of the super raffle prizes; and find bargains on the stalls. Lots to keep everyone entertained! Enjoy the food and drink, face painting, dance and choir performances and much, much more! Join in the fun and help raise funds for our school. There might even be a very special guest…

This week was national Anti-Bullying Week. At Bowmansgreen, pupils and staff wore odd socks to support the message that we are all unique and should be allowed to be ourselves,  free from bullying. Monday’s assembly launched this year’s campaign : Make a Noise About Bullying and throughout the week, pupils took part in a range of activities, highlighting and discussing how and why we all play a part in helping to ensure that bullying does not happen at Bowmansgreen and if we think that someone is being bullied what we should do about it, to make it stop.

On Wednesday, the school hall went back in time, around 5000 years, to become part of the civilization of Ancient Egypt. Year 3 spent the day as Egyptians, learning about life in the ancient Kingdom and very much looking the part, in their Egyptian costumes. They had great fun taking part in a range of activities including embalming, lamp making and a banquet which also supported their learning in History. Thank you to the staff, parents and carers who supported Year 3 during this workshop, ensuring that it was a great success.

Hopefully, you have all received the information needed for you to vote in the Parent Governor Election. If you have any questions or difficulties casting your vote, please contact the school office. Voting will close on 28th November, 2023.

Please take a read of the recently published CQC/ Ofsted Area SEND Inspection for Hertfordshire

Thank you to our House Captains and Mr Garwood for laying a wreath at the London Colney War Memorial, on behalf of our school community. Each class also made a wreath to mark this year’s Remembrance Day.

Please be courteous and mindful of our neighbours and pedestrians when parking during the school run. The wet weather has caused more families to travel by car during the last couple of weeks and several incidents of dangerous parking, including blocked driveways and footpaths. Please ensure that parking restrictions are adhered to and the safety of our school community is prioritised.

Our whole school attendance is currently 95%. It has dipped slightly in the last couple of weeks and it would be great if we could tip it back up to 96% which is where it has been for most of this term so far. Please ensure that your child is at school, on time every day so that they benefit from all of the learning opportunities planned for them. The next few weeks are very busy at school, with lots of exciting curriculum activities as well as festive events; a special Shaking up Shakespeare theatre performance; and our next curriculum evening – lots to miss out on if pupils are not at school!

The Department of Health and Social Care has alerted schools to disruption to the national supply for medication prescribed to help manage ADHD symptoms. There are several reasons contributing to the supply disruption, including an increase in demand for the medication and a change in the companies who produce and supply the medication. If you or your child are affected by the supply shortage, your GP or specialist will have already contacted you with more information. The supply issue is improving but could continue until the end of December 2023 or early 2024. Please do let Mrs May (via the school office) know if your child is affected by this shortage so that we can do our best to support you and them until the situation improves.

Hertfordshire County Council is once again funding HAPpy activity camps for children and young people who attend Hertfordshire schools and are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. HAPpy Winter Camps – booking opens Wednesday 22nd November, 2023.

Congratulations to our newly elected House Captains:

They have made a super start in their new roles and I am sure that they will represent their houses brilliantly and with pride.

Enjoy your weekend