Newsletters

Newsletter 17 - 30.1.26

{item_alt_tag}

Issue 17

30.1.26

2025 - 2026

 Easy fundraising here,
 My School Fund via ESPO here.
{item_alt_tag}

Looking ahead we have a busy calendar of events coming up as detailed below.

NSPCC workshops - Childen in Year 2, 5 and 6 will be taking part in 'Speak Out Stay Safe' workshops on Thursday 5th February - a separate email has been sent with more details. 

Dress as a Digit Day - Friday 6th of February, come dressed as digit (£1 suggested donation for the NSPCC charity).

Children's Mental Health Week 9th - 13th February

Starting off with a 'Come As Yourself' non-uniform day (this is not a charity collection or fundraiser, it is purely to celebrate who we are). Throughout the week, the children will be doing activities linked to developing positive mental health. 

Safer Internet Day - Tuesday 10th February

The children will be taking part in activities to help them keep safe online. We would like to invite you to a workshop to help you support your child with keeping safe online 2.30 - 3.20 on this day. Please complete the form if you would like to attend - Workshop - How to keep your child safe online - Tuesday 10th February 2.30-3.20pm

Open Classrooms - Tuesday 10th February 3.20 - 4.00

Come and have a look at your child's classroom and their learning so far this year. There will be an opportunity to make an appointment with the class teacher after half-term. 

See below for information on the Rotary Club Competitions.  

Mrs Ogilvie 

Come and join our team!

We are looking for friendly, caring people to join or midday supervisor team, if you think you can support us apply here: 

https://mynewterm.com/jobs/110620/EDV-2025-SPS-54582

{item_alt_tag}
PTA Discos - KS1
4:00pm – 5:00pm
30
January
PTA Disco - KS2
5:15pm – 6:15pm
30
January
FGB Governors Meeting
6:30pm – 8:00pm
04
February
NSPCC Number Day
All Day
06
February
Children's Mental Health Week
All Day
from 09 Feb until 13 Feb
09
February
{item_alt_tag}

St Ives Rotary Club Writer and Photographer competitions 2025/26

‘Happiness in Nature’

St Ives Rotary Club would like to invite your child to enter their Young Writer and Young Photographer competitions. Please refer to the attached guidance about each competition.

Writing Competition information

Photography Competition information

Closing date

The closing date for the competitions is on or before Monday 23th February 9am.

Please can your child give their writing or photography entry to their class teacher or the school office. The school will pass all the entries onto a member of St Ives Rotary Club for judging.

Good luck everyone.

from

The Octagon School Cluster group and St Ives Rotary Club

{item_alt_tag}
18 Jan 2026
A wonderful week of learning in Reception
Reception have been busy this week learning all about the coldest parts of our planet! 
Read more
16 Jan 2026
Swavesey WIN the 2026 Panathlon
All smiles after a great afternoon at SVC!
Read more

Dress as a Digit Day 

Friday 6th of February is the NSPCC's 2026 Number Day. As part of taking part we will be having a 'Dress up for Digits' day, where the children are invited to bring in a donation for the NSPCC and dress up as a Digit or number. This could be as simple as just having a number on a piece of clothing or it can be as creative and as imaginative as you like. A letter has been sent out with a few ideas for costumes your child could wear!

{item_alt_tag}

Total Clothing - Uniform Price Update

Parents, please be aware that Total Clothing will be increasing their prices from 1st March 2026. If you need to order new uniform, you may want to place your order before this date.

We also want to remind you that the school office has a large selection of “New to You” pre‑loved uniform available in many sizes. These items are in great condition and can be taken for a suggested donation of £1 per item.

Thank you for your support.

School Uniform and Lost Property

The school uniform dress code is as follows: 

  • Black or grey trousers, shorts, skirts or pinafores 
  • White or red polo shirt (with or without school logo)
  • Red cardigan, or sweatshirt (with or without school logo)
  • Red and white summer dress (we request no play suits in EYFS, please)
  • Plain white, grey or black socks or tights
  • Sensible black shoes (sandals may be worn in the summer but these need to be practical for indoor and outdoor learning and play)
  • A sun hat for hot days and a waterproof coat for cold/wet days which are suitable/appropriate for school and weather conditions.

Children should not be coming to school in any other items of clothing.

Please make sure that you label every item of your child's school uniform. Every week we have multiple 'lost' items that we cannot return as they are unnamed. If it is named, it will be returned to its owner!

{item_alt_tag}

Please find below links to all the key information about your child's learning this term. All this information is available on the school website, and you may follow these links to find updates about: Termly Newsletters, Termly Topic Overviews and Homework Menus. 

 

Reception
(Rabbits & Mice)

Year 1 & 2
(Otters, Foxes & Squirrels)

Year 3 & 4
(Kingfishers, Swans & Badgers)

Year 5 & 6
(Ravens, Swallows & Owls)

{item_alt_tag}

Welcome to our ‘online safety’ advice, guidance and support page, ‘Wake Up Wednesday (WUW) - what parents / carers need to know’. Each week we will post articles of interest to our newsletter that should help you and your child. 

Children regularly use different websites and apps from their parents, and it can be hard to keep up in this ever-changing digital world. These weekly updates from the National College aim to cover important topics such as online safety, mental health, wellbeing, and climate change.

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

Upcoming events: 

Thursday 12th Feb - Valentine's Bake Sale

Thurs 5th March - World Book Day chocolate sale 

Friday 20th March - Colour Run

Friday 27th March - Non-Uniform

{item_alt_tag}

School PE Days

Just a quick reminder of the PE Days for each of the classes - Please can children come to school on these days wearing their PE kit. Not all classes in a phase have PE on the same day, so please check the class names in brackets to to see which classes this links to. 

Reception: Wednesday & Thursday
Year 1/2: Monday & Wednesday (Foxes & Otters) & Thursday (Squirrels)
Year 3/4: Monday (Swans) & Tuesday & Friday (Badgers & Kingfishers)
Year 5/6: Tuesday & Wednesday (Ravens and Swallows) Tuesday & Thursday (Owls)

After School Sports Clubs

Remember – there is NO Golden Mile Club this half term.

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

Join Cambridge United for their February Soccer Schools from Monday 16th February – Friday 20th February and have an unforgettable Half Term of footballing fun! More details here.

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

Pupil Premium 

Pupil Premium is extra funding given to schools to help children who may face barriers to learning—such as those from low-income families, in care or adopted, or with parents in the armed forces.

If you receive benefits like Income Support or income-based JSA/ESA, your child may qualify. Even if your child gets Universal Free School Meals (Reception–Year 2), you must still apply to unlock Pupil Premium funding.

For more information see: Pupil Premium Information

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

SEND, Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing Links

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

Safeguarding Information - please click here for our Safeguarding page especially should you have concerns relating to the safeguarding of our children and families.  Please click here to go directly to our Safeguarding policy.

Attendance Policy - please click here for the school's attendance policy. It is vitally important parents and carers are aware of their responsibilities and the formal processes for attendance matters.  The NHS have created a useful webpage to support decision-making when children are unwell - you can click here for the link.

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.  

H.A.Y Cambridgeshire Community Wellbeing support -  How Are You South Cambs? | Home (haysouthcambs.co.uk)

NHS Mental Health Services - www.keep-your-head.com and SHOUT - a new Text service on 85258 which provides real-time support to people of all ages who are struggling with their mental health (text the word HEAR to 85258).

Chat Health is a NHS confidential NHS service for help and advice. It’s safe and easy for you to speak to a qualified health professional. Just send a message, you don’t have to give your name. Discreet and quick. It only takes one message to start making a difference. You’ll get confidential advice from trained health staff in your area. Click here to access the site to start a web chat today.

NHS Pharmacy First Service - the NHS Pharmacy First Service enables children and adults to get convenient access to healthcare advice and treatment where appropriate, for seven common conditions without the potential delay of having to wait for a GP appointment. There is no need to make an appointment; parents or carers can pop into their local Pharmacy with their child and ask for help under the service.

Support for the following conditions can be accessed under the service, free of charge (unless NHS prescription charges apply):

Common condition

Patient eligibility

Earache

1 to 17 years

Impetigo

1 year and over

Infected insect bites and stings

1 year and over 

Sore throats

5 years and over 

Sinusitis

12 years and over 

Uncomplicated urinary tract

Women 16 to 64 years 

Shingles

18 years and over
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

Could you foster? 

At Nexus Fostering based in Lolworth, we’re looking for local people like you to become foster carers. By providing a loving and stable home environment, you can support the increasing number of children and young people in the local area who cannot live in their family homes. Not all children require long-term care. We also need foster carers for short-term placements, respite care, and to provide temporary homes to support young parents and their babies. So, if you have a spare room and are ready to change lives, please give us a call on 01223 903 503 or email Leanne on leannea@nexusfostering.co.uk.

Please access their poster here