Welcome to the new look newsletter for February. We are still tweaking the style so you should probably expect further changes in the months to come too. But for now, let us welcome February and show love to all we meet.
It is Bird Week this week and Mrs Owen saw six different breeds of bird in her garden. Are you among the half a million people counting over nine million birds? Thank you to Miss Pottle for organising all our brilliant bird week activities!
Unfortunately, we have had some instances of headlice reported to class teachers. Please make sure you check your child's head regularly and treat with an over the counter remedy if necessary.
School Attendance
Please remember:
School attendance is important because the law requires it.
As a parent you are legally responsible for making sure your child gets a full-time education.
This means that registering your child at school and making sure they attend regularly and on time.
If you fail to do you can be fined up to £2,500!
If your child is too ill for school, please keep them at home until they are well again and always ring in to let us know.
Playground opens at 8.40am
Bell goes at 8.50am
Gates close at 8.55am
~~~
School finishes at 3.10pm
Clubs finish at 4.00pm
Please make sure you drop and collect your children on time every day.
Birdham Pre-School offer wrap around care should you need it.
Medical and dental appointments should always be made outside school time where possible please. Where this is not possible, evidence of the appointment should be provided. This can be in the form of a copy letter or appointment screenshot. Thank you.
School Uniform
Our lovely head boy and girl agreed to model our school uniform for me this month.
There was much silliness and fun and you should have seen the outtakes!
Our school uniform is:
Royal blue school sweatshirt or cardigan
White polo shirt or shirt with collar
Grey shorts or trousers/ grey pinafore dress or skirt (no leggings or joggers please)
Grey or white socks
Black shoes (not trainers or above the ankle boots)
Masters of Multiplication
I like to devise a tough challenge for our children once they are confident with their times tables. It can involve division and multiplication and bigger numbers than 144!
Congratulations to Finlay, Isla, Otto, Eliza, Frankie & Oliver in Golden Eagle class for passing this ridiculously hard challenge with flying colours.
You truly are Masters of Multiplication.
DOGS
We have noticed a number of parents of both the School and the Preschool bringing dogs onto the school premises.
Unfortunately, dogs (including held small dogs) are not legally allowed on the premises unless they are guide dogs, trained support dogs or for a supervised class lesson.
We have children (and staff) who are allergic to or scared of dogs so please leave them outside the gate!
Bumped Heads
Please click here to see WSCC leaflet with some advice about what to do if your child bumps their head.
More easily translated advice is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-injury-and-concussion/
Canine Partners
Remember when our choir sang Christmas carols and songs at Chichester cross in the pouring rain before Christmas?
We helped Canine Partners raise £260 for their charity. Very well done everyone.
Birdweek
Bird week started with a rather foggy morning but we still managed to see lots of birds including the two I saw (pigeons and a herring gull) on my way to school on Monday morning.
Thank you to parents for coming and supporting our birdwatch too.
In addition to our birdwatch we have had visits from the RSPB and Brent Lodge to talk to us about how we can help.
Owls about Town
Robin and Goldfinch classes had a visit from Owls about Town this week as part of Bird Week.
Andy brought Wizzy the Barn Owl and a Little Owl that he has bred together with his co-driver Hazel the Eagle Owl!
The owls flew around the hall so that we could hear how silent they were when flying, even though some of the owls were as vocal as the children!
Thank you to Andy from Owls About Town and to Miss Pottle and Mr Byrne for organising.
Wrap around childcare survey
The national wraparound childcare programme is part of the childcare reforms announced at the 2023 Spring Budget. The government’s ambition is that by 2026, all parents and carers of primary school-aged children who need it will be able to access term time childcare in their local area from 08:00-18:00, so that parents can access employment and improve labour market participation.
There is also a parental survey to understand what your current and future childcare needs might be which can be found with supporting information here: https://yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/family-information-service
The survey closes on 2 February 2024.
Parking
Parents or carers arriving to collect or drop off children must not park on the zig zag lines painted outside the school on the lane. Please be aware that traffic wardens are now making unannounced visits and have issued parking tickets to cars left on zig zag lines regardless of how long they are left there.
Traffic wardens can also ticket cars that are parked opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction and even partially across a property entrance or on a bend in the road.
Please also consider our neighbours. Local residents often make complaints to us and to the council about parking, particularly on the corners of Pescott’s Close, Longmeadow Gardens and Church Lane which not only blocks the road, but is dangerous to any and all road users.
There is always plenty of parking available at the village hall and church car parks should you need it.
From the Church
Shrove Tuesday
All-Age Party!
13th February at 6.30pm for 6.45pm
in the Church Room, Pound Road, West Wittering.
Fish and Chips! Pancakes! Raffle!
Fun Beetle Game!
Tickets: £8 (adults) £4 (children) available from:
Rohan: rohanwilson60@gmail.com
Susie: susielargeis@gmail.com
Victoria: poppijane@gmail.com
Stella: stella.pendleton252@hotmail.co.uk
SONGS OF PRAISE
For St Paul's School, BO, Sierra Leone
Sunday 11th February @ 3pm in West Wittering Church
Celebrate our village charity, see the new computer lab, the Dermot Wright Block and all you are supporting in BO and stay for a chat over tea and cake, and;
Sing your favourite songs of praise.
A collection will be held for St Paul's School, BO
Hosted by Harbour Churches for Alistair Ghinn who has been working for us since 2007 offering children youth and family support.
On 5 Monday evenings – 19 & 26 February and 5, 11, 18 March at the Church Room, Pound Road, West Wittering PO20 8AD
There is an optional £10 charge and plenty of easy parking in Pound Road
Please contact Alistair on 07780 875837 or akghinn@gmail.com to book your place
And finally...
Can February march?
No, but April may 😊
Dates For your Diary:
Further dates will be added as they become available. Please look at the school calendar on the website for the most up to date information.
February 2024
Tuesday 6th Parents evening
Thursday 8th Parents evening
Monday 12th Start of half term
Monday 19th INSET Day 4/5
Tuesday 20th Return to school
March 2024
Friday 8th World Book Day
Thursday 28th Last day
April 2024
Monday 15th Return to school
May 2024
Monday 6th Bank holiday and school closed
Monday 13th – Thursday 16th KS2 SATS week
Friday 24th INSET day 5/5
Monday 27th Start of half term
June 2024
Monday 3rd Return to school
July 2024
Wednesday 3rd Transition Day
Friday 12th Open afternoon
Tuesday 23rd Last day
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Academic Year 2022/2023
