Harvest is always a really special time of our school year, especially before we head into Advent, as it allows us to stop and think about how we can help others. We do this so well already at Our Ladys with our food bank and regaular donations that we bring in. Thank you all for your donations of cereal that has been brought into school. We have 200 boxes ready to donate after half term. If you have not managed to bring yours in, please do; then we can make our cereal domino as big as it can be.
Yesterday I attended a meeting about becoming a School of Sanctuary; a school that is a place for anybody who needs refuge. After half term, our Mini Vinnies will become our Sanctuary Squad, who will lead us through what it takes to be acredited. Our Mini-Vinnies are for anyone in Year 3, 4, 5 or 6 who want to get involved. The dates of the meetings will go on the extra-curricular timetable for next half term. Please do encourage your children to get involved.
On Tuesday, 25 children from our school and others within our parish started the next stage of their sacramental journey to being confirmed. Session 1 was all about knowing who God is and how he revealed Himself to man. Through the covenants that was made, God challenged those around Him. Being confirmed means that this group of children will be renewing their baptismal promises for themselves, they will be speaking directly to Bishop Paul. They have another session after half term before the Service of Confirmation on Thursday 12th November. Please keep them in your prayers.
OPAL Play Launch
This week, we had the next stage of our OPAL training ready for our playground launch. All of the staff met with Jess, our OPAL mentor, and talked about how we want playtime to be and the barriers to why children do not play as much as we used to do. It was FABULOUS, and has had us talking about it for days.
So what next…
This half term, the trim trail flooring is being lifted and replaced with sustainable bark. It will be wider and will enable us to replace it more frequently.
The field has been cut, but only in certain areas to allow growth to continue. This will start to be developed into our strategy. We want to have more wild areas.
Welly storage is on its way and will be delivered after half term. Welly boots and waterproofs will be part of our school uniform so get them ready!
I have met with our grounds maintenance who will be digging out our new sandpit and using the soil to make a mound that we can attach slides onto. The men who are building our welly storage will be building the frame for our sandpit!
Storage will start popping up in different areas - and hopefully a stage too!
OPAL bingo will start after half term where each class will start to collect things for breaktimes. If you are having a big clear out ready for Christmas, we will use some of those things!
We are in need of pallets! If you have any pallets at home - please donate them to school. We will be opening the bin store next to the bike sheds for drop off of things - we will need your help to get this off the ground!
After half term, we will be having our grounds meeting to plan out how things will be looking in the long term! If you did not have chance to complete the Parental Consultation, please do! I will collate results from pupils, stafff and parents after half term to share.
TASKS for HALF TERM
Why not enter the BBC 500 words competition?
BBC 500 Words Competition
We want our children to get involved in this year’s 500 words competition. It does not mark spelling or grammar - but stories that really capture the imagination! The UK's biggest children's story-writing competition for 5-11 year-olds opens for entries from Tuesday 29 September and closes 9pm, Friday 6 November 2026. The competition celebrates children's creativity and imagination, encouraging children from across the UK to create an original story in 500 words or fewer.
There are two age categories: 5-7 and 8-11 year-olds.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked - as has always been the case for 500 Words, it's all about our writers' brilliant creativity!
The celebrity panel of judges include Malorie Blackman, Charlie Higson, Francesca Simon, Sir Lenny Henry, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Click on the button below to find out more information. Writing clubs will be held in school for children to come and get inspired or to bring their stories to share. Get writing!
If you enter, don’t forget to send us a copy of your story so we can celebrate it in school!
Parents’ Day and Book Looks
I hope that you have all enjoyed book looks and parents meetings this week as much as we have. This is something that we have definitely got right and seeing the children’s pride and excitement as they share their work with you is really special. Thank you to everyone who attended meetings today; both in person or virtual.
Those in school will have spotted our Proud Post Box. This was a selection of postcards for parents to write to their children to tell them how proud they are. Don’t worry if you did not get chance today, the postbox will be in the entrance during the first week back for you to complete before the post is delivered to the children.
Friday 6th November - Maths Challenge Day
As a core subject, maths has a huge importance in our school - but it can be tricky and take some years to master skills. The priority for us is that the children enjoy maths, have fun with maths and learn gradually; building on key concepts as they move through the year. To help us, we have a range of tools that we use: Numberblocks, Numbots and Times Table Rock Stars. The children will meet these at different stages of their primary life.
To celebrate all things maths and to be challenged by it, on Friday 6th November, there will be a Maths Challenge Day and we are inviting the children to come dressed up for the day. The themes are as follows:
Nursery, Reception and Year 1 - Number Blocks
Year 2 - Numbots
Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 - Times Table Rockstars
The day will be full of mathematical fun, some child v teach challenges aswell as some inter school competition. We cannot wait to see what the children wear!
Office News
Snack Booking Form
Here is the snack booking form for next week. Please book before 8am on Tuesday.
The Lunch Menu is now live for Autumn and Winter. You can see a copy here below and also on the lunch page of the website. Next week we are on Week 2 of the menu.
No earrings - including retainers - to be worn in school.
Dates are available on the calendar until Christmas.
All Parent Pay debts need to be paid.
Extra-curricular clubs are now available to book for Autumn 2 on the Sports Page of the website.
Fundraising Squad Coffee Morning - Thursday 5th November @ 9am. If you want to get involved and help support school events, please do come along.
School reopens for the Autumn 2 half term on Tuesday 3rd November at 8.45am.
Have a lovely half term holiday.
God bless
Mrs Gregan