Last week, as the temperatures outside dropped, we turned on our new heating system for the first time. The building and heating works that have taken place during the last year – to change the school’s heating system from gas central heating to air source heat pumps and more solar panels – is now complete. This change will enable the school to be more energy efficient, sustainable and hopefully reduce our energy bills.

Yesterday’s celebration assembly was a very pumpkin occasion! As well as celebrating our fantastic readers, authors, mathematicians and musician of the week, yesterday, children across the school excitedly waited to see if their names were called out as winners of Mrs Stanley’s pumpkin competition prizes. Well done to all of our winners and for all of the children who took part in the competition.

Please be reminded that breakfast club starts at 7.30am and that we ask parents and carers to walk your child to the breakfast club door, to support their transition and handover. It also gives breakfast club staff the opportunity to give messages to you, when needed.

Thank you to the families that visited yesterday’s curriculum evening. We hope that you enjoyed sharing your child’s learning in maths this half-term. We hope that you join us for our next curriculum evening, with a focus on English.

As the cost of living continues to present significant challenges for many families, please be aware that school can make referrals to local food banks. If this is something that you would like us to do, please let the school office know. There is a minimal amount of information that we require from you and then we can issue vouchers directly from school.

Congratulations to Miss Golding who is the very proud mummy of a new baby daughter. I am sure that you will join me in congratulating her and her family and wishing them well at this very happy time. Both mother and baby are both doing well.

Enjoy your half-term.

Last Friday, pupils across the school had lots of fun at the first school disco of the year. It was lovely to see so many pupils, singing, dancing and socialising together, including many of our new Reception pupils enjoying their very first school disco. Thank you to the FOBS committee for organising another successful fundraising event.

This week has been slightly quieter than usual at school… as many of our Year 6 pupils have been away on their residential trip to Manor Adventure. They arrived back yesterday afternoon having had a fantastic time, taking part in a range of activities including bouldering, caving, paddleboarding, axe-throwing and archery. Thank you to Ms Franks, Mr Sanders, Mr Garwood and Miss Goodfellow, for helping to ensure that pupils enjoyed such a great time. I am sure they will all sleep well this weekend!

Please can we remind parents and carers that staff cannot give out, to classes, celebration cakes or any other sweet or savoury treats brought in by families, due to the risk to individuals with allergies. We have a number of pupils, across the school,  who have severe allergies to specific foods, including nuts, eggs and general dairy products and we do not want to risk their health by offering them food items that may contain any of these ingredients.

Next Tuesday, all pupils will take part in an online safety workshop. Each workshop will be tailored to the year group and delivered at an age-appropriate level. The topics covered will include: personal information and privacy; cyber-bullying; grooming and how it may occur; and how to report concerns.

There is a presentation for parents and carers to accompany these workshops, to provide an insight into the online world that our children inhabit and the reality of how they navigate this digital world. The presentation covers a range of topics including: what children are taught about online safety; the latest trends of what children are doing online; and the issues and dangers they face. We will share the link to this presentation next week – it will then be available to Bowmansgreen families, for four weeks.

Next Thursday is our first Curriculum evening of the year. We look forward to being able to share your child’s learning in English this half-term and hope to see you in the school hall, from 3.05pm – 4pm and 6pm – 7pm.

I am very pleased to announce that we have had five parents and carers who have been nominated to stand for election as a parent governor at Bowmansgreen. As we have had more nominations than vacancies, we must now hold a secret ballot. The ballot will take place after half-term, with details to follow about the process and how to vote. Thank you to the parents and carers who have put themselves forward for this vacancy – we really appreciate your interest and support.

Please be reminded that we have an INSET day next Friday and school is therefore closed to pupils. The following week is half-term.

Enjoy your weekend.

Thank you to the parents and carers who baked, bought or turned out bright and early for a drink and a cake or two, in support of Mrs Stanley’s coffee morning. Mrs Stanley did a roaring trade and is very happy to announce that you helped to raise £342 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Thank you Mrs Stanley, for organising the event.

The school entrance was busier than usual today as, alongside the coffee morning, FOBS also held their latest Bag2School drop-off. A mountain of donations were ready for collection, helping to raise much needed funds for our school. Thank you FOBS!

Most pupils have made an excellent start to the year in terms of their attendance, with our whole school attendance currently at 96%. Please ensure that your child attends school on time, every day so that they do not miss the teaching and learning experiences that they need, to enable them to flourish and reach their potential. Let’s see if we can maintain 96% attendance for the rest of this term!

Thank you for attending our ‘Meet the Teacher’ afternoons. We hope that you found the sessions useful and that they gave you an overview of what your child will be busy learning this year.

If you have not already done so, please ensure that you book an appointment at next week’s Family Consultations, to discuss your child’s start in their new class and the next steps that they will be working towards, this term.

Please can we ask that you do not allow or help your child to pull on the branches of the Horse Cheshunt tree that stands very proudly on the Key Stage One playground. It is currently heavily laden with conkers which always causes much excitement at this time of the year but some of the branches have been damaged and broken due to the force with which they are being pulled.

Tomorrow, our annual Open Morning takes place. It is a great opportunity for new and prospective families to find out more about Bowmansgreen, meet teachers and governors and look at work and classrooms. Current families are also welcome – it would be lovely to see you there!

During this morning’s celebration assembly, staff and pupils said ‘goodbye and good luck’ to Miss Golding as she worked her last day before starting maternity leave, next week. I am sure that you will join me in wishing her and her family well as they prepare for their new arrival, in not-so-many days time!

Enjoy your weekend.