28th May 2021

This is not Mrs Reynolds this is Miss Imogen Gill.

This week we had a Pentecost service and that was really nice because we could see everyone again.

The Year 2 have been learning about water in science this week. They had been trying to catch water in a rain gauge. Year 1 have had a Seaside day and made seashells out of clay. I have seen them, and they look just like real ones. They are even painting them today. Reception have been doing some lovely play learning and mini beast hunting at the woods on Wednesday. This week Mrs King came back to school and everyone was so excited.

I hope you have a lovely break.

Miss Gill, Headteacher for the day

Pentecost Service

On Thursday 27th May our Worship Leaders held the whole school worship to celebrate the festival of Pentecost which was last Sunday 23rd May. Pentecost is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter Sunday and commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples. Pentecost is also sometimes called 'White Sunday' or Whitsun and Whit Monday was a public holiday in the UK, now fixed as the last Monday in May. 

In many churches, the colour red is used at Pentecost to symbolise joy and the fire of the Holy Spirit. Other symbols used at Pentecost are the dove which often symbolises the Holy Spirit. Our Worship Leaders handed out paper doves to each class and asked them to write their prayers on these to be hung in the school hall. 

Wesak Celebrations in Reception

This week Buddhists celebrate the festival of Wesak, the most important festival in their calendar. In Reception, Mrs Samaraweera, shared with the children some of the ways that Buddhists celebrate. She spoke about visiting the temple, they made lanterns and lotus blossoms and played some Sri Lankan Games.

Science Council

We have 9 science councillors this year, 4 in Year 2 and 5 in Year 1. They work with Mrs Thirlway to ensure that our science curriculum is interesting and fun and work on special events such as the recent Science Week.

Rights Ambassadors - Refugee Week

We will be marking Refugee Week,14th to 20th June, at Sandygate with activities to learn about the plight of refugees and by taking part in some actions to raise awareness and funds for them. The Rights Ambassadors will be planning after the half-term and will be working with Marlow Refugee Action to help make a difference for refugees.

Marlow Refugee Action, in partnership with Action for Education, is enabling children and young people to access education programmes and safe spaces in Athens and on the Greek islands of Chios and Samos. This year they are supporting three key areas of their work:

• Education resources for children
• Funding spaces where children and young people can learn, share a meal, take a shower and wash their clothes
• Funding accommodation for refugee teachers who would otherwise be living in tents in a noisy, overcrowded refugee camp

The Rights Ambassadors will share their plans in the Newsletter after the half-term.

Half Term Home Learning - Reflection Area

Mrs Reynolds would like to set the children a little project for half-term which will help with the decoration of an outdoor Reflection Area. There are some pictures below which show the structure that we would like to turn into a Reflection Area for use at break and lunchtime. 

We would love to see some of the children's ideas on how to decorate the shelter and some thoughts or sayings that relate to our School Values.

• The school values are Thankfulness, Respect, Perseverance, Service, Forgiveness and Kindness. The children could choose one value and describe what the value means to them or provide a quote or saying relating to the value they have chosen. We are hoping to make some 'stepping stones' leading up to the area, one for each value, and will choose some of the children's ideas to be 'engraved' or painted onto the stones.

• Ideas for decorating the shelter should be in the form of a picture with some simple labels to tell us what materials or colours could be used.

Please send pictures and Value ideas to school by Wednesday 9th June.

This is what it looks like now....

Some ideas

Whole School Trip - Kew

A letter with outline details regarding our school trip was emailed to all parents on Monday. The consent form can be found on ParentPay where you can also make a voluntary donation towards the cost of the trip and indicate if you can come along to help us on the day. 

Please could all consents be completed before Friday 11th June, you do not need to make a donation in order to give consent and can make a donation at a later date should you wish. A further letter will be sent out next half-term with final information for the trip.

International Day Friday 25th June

On Friday 25th June we will be holding an International Day to celebrate other nationalities and cultures and learn something about them. This will enrich our geography learning across the school and celebrate the diverse heritage of our school family. 

On this day we would like to invite children, should they wish, to wear something to represent another country for instance they could dress in the colours of the flag, wear the national football kit, or the national costume. 

We are aware that we have a very diverse parent body and if there is anyone who would like to come and share something from their home culture we would love to hear from you. 

Reception Class Worship

The Reception classes this week shared their class worship with the rest of school and this is now available for parents to watch via the Class Home Pages on the school website. You will need to log in to access these pages.

COVID-19 Risk Assessment

The latest update of the COVID-19 School Risk Assessment is now on the school website here

This follows the latest government guidance and incorporates some changes to our 'bubble' system to make the two KS1 year group bubbles into one key stage bubble allowing them to mix more freely at break and lunchtime for their wellbeing and to help with transition.

We will continue to stagger drop off and pick up and parents should continue to maintain social distancing when on arriving and leaving the school site.  Reception and KS1 will remain as two separate bubbles.  

Wanted - Plant pots

In the first week after the half-term break we will be undertaking a community project, in conjunction with Wild Marlow, to grow seeds for the Marlow community. In order to do this we need donations of smallish plant pots, 9 to 14 cm, and so if you are doing any planting up over the half-term and have pots to spare please bring them in on Tuesday 8th June and place them in the boxes which will be at the front of school.

We will give you more information on this project as it progresses.

Headlice

As with all communities of children we do from time to time suffer from infestations of head lice.  We would ask that you regularly check your child’s hair and treat as necessary and the half-term break is a good opportunity to check their hair. Once your child has been treated they do not need to be excluded from school.

Your child has as much chance of being infected as any other and this is in no way a reflection on a family’s standard of hygiene. To reduce the chances of infection as much as possible we suggest:

· Hair that falls below shoulder level should be tied up at all times for the child’s own safety as well as preventing the spread of head lice. Head lice can easily transfer from head to head in a school environment.

· Using conditioner when washing hair to help prevent the spread of head lice.

· Checking your child’s hair every week. For further information see http://www.onceaweektakeapeek.com

Summer Term Clubs

For the second half of the summer term we have two new clubs starting

Youth Moves - Year 1 & 2 Monday after school.

Youth Moves will be running their dance class for Year 1&2 on Monday afternoons. Children will go straight to class and it will finish at 4.20 pm. For details and to book see their flyer here

Marlow School of Dance

There are two classes running for Marlow School of Dance on Tuesday afternoons - 3.30 to 4.00 pm for Reception and 4 to 4.45 pm for Years 1 & 2. Children will need to be collected from school at their normal time and then return for the class as we have no provision to keep them in school until it starts . For details and to book see their flyer here

PFA 

Bag 2 School

Our next Bag 2 School collection is on the first day back after half-term, Tuesday 8th June. If you are having a clear out over the break please bag up any clothes, shoes, bedding and bring it in on the morning of the 8th June. Please note Bag 2 School will not take duvets, odd shoes or uniform items with logos.

PFA AGM

The PFA AGM will be held at school on Monday 12th July at 8 pm.  Further details will follow about the roles we need to fill for the next academic year but even if you do not want to get involved in an official capacity this is a really great opportunity to find out more about what we have spent our fundraising on and what the plan is for the 2021/2022 academic year.  This is your opportunity to have your say on events and help shape that plan.

Without the input of parents we don’t know what you want!!!!

For more information on the PFA email marlowcofepfa@gmail.com