Newsletters

Newsletter 73 (22.09.2023)

Swavesey Primary School Newsletter

Issue 73

 

 Easy fundraising here,

Amazon Wish List here and My School Fund via ESPO here.

Updates from Mrs Norden

Another week has swept by, as has the weather, which has presented some extremes this week.  The temperatures are definitely getting colder though and the rain returning during the school day, so please remind your children to bring their coats to school. 

We have had several complaints this week about our neighbours' drives being blocked during drop of and pick-up times.  Please can we ask you to support our village community and walk if you possibly can to school, and if you have to drive to park considerately and legally. 

As you will see from Mrs Sprawson's news article below, we have started the year, as in previous years, with a whole school shared text.  'Journey', the book chosen this year, has inspired our imaginations and helped us all to re-engage with reading and writing activities.  I wonder where your children went on their journey - hopefully they will share this with you. I wonder where you would want to go yourselves.

We will be celebrating the harvest in our school assembly next Friday (29th Sept) and will again be collecting for Jimmy's Shelter in Cambridge.  Jimmy’s is a community-based, people-focused organisation working alongside people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge.  We hope you will support us in donating items (foods and hygiene products) which we can then pass on to Jimmy's - these should be non-perishable items.  As we have little storage space please can any donations be brought to school on Friday and not before.  Children should take these into their classrooms, so they can bring them into the hall as part of our assembly.

All children should have brought their Cauliflower card designs home for you to see now, and in order to meet our return deadline of 2nd October (must be with the company by 2nd) we ask that they are returned, with any orders completed, to school by next Wednesday (27th).

Thank you to those who have completed our volunteer form (the link for this is still below) we are very grateful for your support. You should now have received an email from me on the next steps in the process if you have offered regular time or gardening/chicken time.  If you have offered more specialist time, one of our subject leaders will contact you shortly.

To support your access to information already sent out, our newsletter will keep many of the links previously set up for ease of access.  Please check down the newsletter, especially for those which become regular links as these will be towards the bottom of the page.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Anna-Claire Norden 

Headteacher

20 Sep 2023
Journey By Aaron Becker
Journey, a picture book, by Aaron Becker.
Read more

Click here to access previous News Articles

Full Governing Body Meeting
All Day
27
September
Harvest Assembly
All Day
29
September
Talk and Tour
2:00pm – 3:00pm
02
October
PTA Annual General Meeting
7:00pm – 9:00pm
02
October
National Poetry Day 2023 - Theme is Refuge
All Day
05
October
CLA Committee Meeting
All Day
05
October
Individual (and sibling) Photos
All Day
11
October

PE days Autumn Term - First half term 

Rabbits and Mice - Thursday and Friday

Yr1/2 Foxes, Squirrels - Monday and Tuesday, Otters -Tuesday and Thursday

Yr3/4 Kingfishers and Badgers - Tuesday and Wednesday, Swans - Monday and Tuesday 

Yr5/6 Owls and Swallows - Wednesday and Thursday, Ravens - Wednesday and Friday

 

Autumn Term Clubs

Overview

Monday pm - Yr3/4 Boys Football and  Yr5/6 Netball 

Wednesday pm - KS2 Girls Football 

Thursday pm - Yr5/6 Boys Football 

Friday am (0800hrs) - Golden Mile (entry to school is via the back gate)

Afternoon clubs start straight after school and pick up for afternoon clubs is the back gate.

Autumn Term Updates and Admin

Office hours - please note that the outside of these hours the office is not manned and so phone calls and emails will not be able to be dealt with.

Monday Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 8.30am to 4pm

Wednesday - 8.45am to 4pm

Individual and Sibling Photos - 11th October 2023 

Children need to come to school in school uniform not PE kits on Wednesday 11th.  The curriculum will be adapted to support this. 

Between 8.15 and 8.45am on the hall will be open for the photographer to take sibling photos with preschool age children.  Therefore, if you would like a photograph of your 'primary children' with a 'preschool age' sibling, please attend school between these times. Primary only sibling photographs will be taken during the school day.  

New Intake 2024 Talk and Tours - if you have a child starting school in September 2024 please come and join Mrs Norden for a tour of the school, to see our environment, organisation and ask questions. To support our organisation please complete the form which can be accessed here, which gives details for the three sessions we are offering across the term. 

Total Clothing - their shop will be closed for stock take on Thursday 28th September.

Diary Dates - updated list can be found here. (15/9/2023)

Volunteering -  Please click here to access our volunteering 'form' and help if you can in any way.

Chicken Eggs - If you would like a pack of our chickens' eggs please complete the very short form accessed by clicking here. 

Community News

Swavesey Village College Open Evening for Year 6 pupils and families

We would like to warmly welcome you to visit Swavesey Village College as part of the secondary transfer process. 

Our Open Evening is on Thursday, 28th September from 5.30pm until 8.00pm, and the presentation by the Headteacher will be delivered to Swavesey Primary at 5.50pm.

A College Prospectus, together with our 2020 Ofsted Report and the School Information Booklet, which gives further details about the College, will be delivered to school early next week

Swavesey Music School

Swavesey Village College have sent us some up-to-date details for this term's music school - initially detailed in last week's newsletter. These can be found below and their poster accessed here.

Saturday mornings, at Swavesey Village College, there are the following opportunities for primary aged children:

09.30 -10.15 am Music Theory class for those just beginning to learn an instrument up to those working for Grade 5 Music Theory aged 7 upwards

10.15 – 11.00 am The Little Sing for those aged 2 to 6 years with their parents an introduction to music and learning through sound.

10.15 – 11;00 am The Big Sing A choir for those aged 7 to 70 years who would like to sing no experience required

10:00 to 10:55 am Rock School I For those with some or no experience of being in a Band Guitarists, Singers, Keyboard players and Drummers.

11:05 – 12:00 noon Rock School II Open to those starting out on their Band journey for Guitarists, Singers, Keyboard players and Drummers.

11:00 to 12:00 noon Community Orchestra for beginners to advanced players.  Are you a child learning an instrument? Are you a adult who used to play and would like to take up playing again then please come along to Community Orchestra and try us out. 

The first two sessions are free of charge, £5 per session thereafter.

Arrangements are possible for pupil premium students as well.

Net Zero Now Overview

Following on from the successful Spring Programme of Net Zero Now, applications are now open for another Net Zero Now course for residents of South Cambridgeshire. This is a free, 6-week community climate action course designed to provide you with the knowledge and confidence to support your community on its journey to net zero. This challenge to net zero is a unique opportunity to build communities that are not just more sustainable but also healthier, happier, and more resilient. 

“Really enjoyed the course and found it very beneficial. … Great speakers and interesting, inspiring participants. It has been very informative and always interesting and engaging.” - Spring 2023 Net Zero Now Participant.

Run by Cambridge Carbon Footprint with the support of South Cambridgeshire District Council and the National Lottery Community Fund, Net Zero Now will give you the opportunity to connect with others working on community climate action in the area and discuss a range of themes including: how to communicate climate action effectively; engaging with volunteers; working towards a clear goal; and what support is available locally to you.

Not sure whether Net Zero Now is right for you? We are also going to be holding an online and informal Q&A on Wednesday 27th September at 7pm to answer any questions on the programme. More info here: https://cambridgecarbonfootprint.org/events/net-zero-now-qa-is-it-right-for-you/.

Applications close on Sunday 8th October. Find out more and apply now.

15 Sep 2023
Eco Committee Blog - Green Flag Award
The Eco Committee are pleased to announce that we have been awarded with an Eco Schools Green Flag award.
Read more
15 Sep 2023
Council's first meeting of the year
The newly elected school council met for the first time today.
Read more
03 Sep 2023
Bronze: Right Committed
First stage of the RRSA achieved
Read more

To find out more about Pupil premium and Free school meals, please visit our Pupil Premium page by clicking here. 

SEMH (Social Emotional Mental Health) resources for parents - Please click here to access an overview sheet with signposted resources for you to use at home to support your children.  The overview sheet can also be found at the bottom of the SEND page on our website here.  

We hope you find these useful and easy to access.

SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) information can be accessed through our SEND website pages here

Click here to find the MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS from Jane Rogers, our Education Inclusion Family Advisor, and team. 

Latest workshop details for this term on:

  • Digital safety
  • Parental wellbeing
  • Support your child with worried feelings
  • Support your child with angry feelings

 Click here to access the Cambridgeshire Young Peoples Safer School's Newsletter

This month's includes:

  • Return to school: Safety tips to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Cannabis Edibles: Awareness message for parents/carers
  • NSPCC: Report Remove Campaign

   

School Lunches

 Click here to access School Meal menu and information

Please see allergen information sheet

Click here to find information on Clubs and wider community events.  Use the right-hand tabs of the webpage to access different groups/events.

Links to each Phase page under the Curriculum tab on our website.

                                Reception    Yr1/2    Yr3/4    Yr5/6

Access SCOPay Parent Information here and EYandP Fees and Funding Page here

Could you foster? 

Would you like to find out how you can provide a family home to children in your area? Nexus Fostering is a well-established and highly regarded fostering agency, based in Cambridgeshire, who are urgently seeking new foster carers. The agency is rated Ofsted 'Outstanding' in all areas and provide 24/7 support and care to every one of our foster carers and, in turn, the children and young people placed with them. To find out more about becoming a foster carer in your area please call 0800 389 0143 or email foster@nexusfostering.co.uk

Please access their poster here